Defending champion Riley Fleming of Crossfield is among the field of 96 golfers entered in the 2014 Alberta Open which started this morning at Wolf Creek.
Fleming is also among 33 professionals in the tournament competing for a $19,000 purse, including a championship prize of $4,000. Other ‘name’ pros in the field are Darryl James, Randy Robb and Todd Halpen, all of whom are seeking their first Alberta Open title despite strong performances in previous Opens, including James’ runner-up finish last year.
Top-flight amateurs include five-time champion Wes Heffernan and 2010 champ Jamie Kureluk.
Former Red Deer golfer Zak Griffiths, now a pro playing out of the E-Club of Reno, Nev., is joined by 12 other Central Albertans. The list includes Wolf Creek amateurs Tom Boston, Blair Neal, Jared Nicholls and Kolby Vold, Wolf Creek pro Clint McAllister, amateurs Matt Codd and Brett Pasula of Red Deer, Ron Harder of Innisfail, Cody Albert of Sylvan Lake, Dane Thorogood of Sundre and Chad Cargill of Lacombe, and Alberta Springs pro Troy Butterfield.
“This is a top notch field combined with players from the Alberta Golf Development team, PGA of Alberta, PGA Tour Canada and top collegiate ranks,” said tournament director Robert Forshner. “I expect we’ll see some low scoring this week with a handful of players fresh off competing in the PGA Tour Canada’s Syncrude Boreal Open in Fort McMurray this past weekend, and others in the full swing of the tournament season.
“At the same time, the Links Course at Wolf Creek should provide a challenging test as the various elements associated with links golf are present on this particular 18 holes at Wolf Creek.”
The 54-hole tournament runs through Thursday.