Six-under 66 Gives Vernon’s Cooper Humphreys A Three-shot Lead Heading Into Final Round Of B.C. Amateur Championship
Vernon, BC's Cooper Humphreys Will Take A 3-Shot Lead Into The Final Round Of The 2023 BC Amateur At Morningstar GC In Parksville - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf
By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf
July 13, 2023 - (PARKSVILLE, BC) - Cooper Humphreys has his game plan all figured out for the fourth and final round of the B.C. Amateur Championship.
It’s quite simple, really. Just play the way he did in the second and third rounds and it should be smooth sailing.
The 18-year-old from Vernon has bounced back very nicely after what he called a lousy start to the 121st playing of the B.C. Amateur at Morningstar Golf Course.
The former Canadian Juvenile Boys champion opened with a lacklustre one-over 73, but rebounded with a five-under 67 in the second round and then followed that up with the low round of the tournament, a brilliant six-under 66 in the third round, that gave him a three-shot cushion heading into the final round.
Forget about all the birdies and eagles he has made the last two days, Humphreys is most pleased about keeping a positive attitude after that first round. “After a bad first day I could have just given up,” he said. “I just stayed patient and figured anything could happen. I am proud of the fact that I kept a good attitude.”
Humphreys began the day trailing co-leaders Dustin Franko of Delta and Denby Carswell of Burnaby by two shots. But there’s nothing like six birdies and an eagle to do a little catching up, even if there was a double-bogey mixed in there.
Humphreys doubled the par 4 sixth hole after his drive went left into the trees. But he rebounded with a birdie on No. 7, another birdie on No. 9 and an eagle on the par 5 10th hole after his 5-iron approach landed two feet from the hole. His six-under 66 left him at 10-under par through three rounds.
“I am happy I could come back after doubling No. 5,” Humphreys said. “That kind of sucked. Other than that, it was a pretty good round.” Humphreys, a member of Golf Canada’s national junior team, won’t be easy to catch. Franko, who trails by three, and Carswell, who is four back, were both mightily impressed with his play in the third round.
Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf
Dustin Franko Sits In Second Spot Three Shots Back Of 3rd Round Leader Humphreys
“The kid is a stud,” said Franko, who fired a one-under 71 to sit at seven-under through 54 holes. “It’s fun watching him play out there. I found myself almost admiring his golf. When someone is playing that good you just kind of sit back and watch and hopefully you can keep within a few strokes.”
Franko, who just completed his collegiate golf career at the University of Hawaii-Hilo, made a clutch birdie on the final hole when his four-iron from 215 yards on the long par 4 ended up three feet from the hole. “I was keeping his card all day so I had an idea he was running away with it a bit,” said Franko, who has his mom Bev caddying for him this week.
“I felt like I stuck to the game plan despite watching him rattle off as many birdies as he did. I managed to make my fair share. It was good fun.”
Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf
Franko Has His Mom Bev Caddying For Him This Week And She's Doing A Bang-Up Job
Humphreys, who will attend Oregon State University after taking a gap year, did have to make a couple of nice up-and-downs for par to keep his round going. That included one on No. 18 when his approach ended up short left of the green. Humphreys said he will not change his approach with a three-shot lead heading into the final round. “I am just going to keep the same mentality,” he said.
“I am not going to focus on winning. Obviously, I want to win, but I am just going to play golf. Maybe I’ll pretend I am three shots back. I am not going to play scared or anything like that.”
Carswell, a 19-year-old who will begin playing for Simon Fraser University this fall, shot an even-par 72 in the third round. He knows he’ll have to go much lower in the final round to have any chance of catching Humphreys.
Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf
Denby Carswell Knows He Needs To Go Low Tomorrow To Come From Four Back
“Tomorrow I know I pretty much have to have the same kind of round that Cooper had today to have a chance,” he said. “But four back is still doable. It’s still possible.” Humphreys, Franko and Carswell will play together again in the final group. “So I’ll know what he's doing all day,” Carswell said. “I’ll know what I have to do and that’s a really good feeling to have.”
John Morrow of Delta, Manu Gandhi of West Vancouver and Junsu Im of Langley are tied for fourth at four-under par.
Click HERE for complete third round scoring and final round tee times.
CHIP SHOTS: A two-man better-ball competition is also being contested at Morningstar. The team of Franko and Im sit at 24-under through three rounds and have a three-shot over the team of Humphreys and Gavyn Knight of Lantzville. . . A 36-hole Zone competition was won by the Zone 5 team of Kevin Carrigan, Alex Cartwright and Brock Holland, all of Victoria. Their score of six-over par was three shots better than the Zone 4 team of Franko, Mackenzie Bickell of Richmond and Dylan Bercan of Vancouver.