By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PARKSVILLE — To say Kevin Carrigan feels comfortable playing Morningstar Golf Course would be something of an understatement.

Each time he sets foot on the property, he is reminded of one of his most cherished golfing memories. Back in 2007, the then 20-year-old Carrigan shot a course record 11-under 61 in the final round of the B.C. Amateur. That record still stands and probably will for some time.

“I have probably played 20 B.C. Ams and that day, that round of golf, was the most memorable,” Carrigan said after the first round of the 121st playing of the B.C. Amateur Championship at Morningstar.

“That has stuck with me more than any experience I have had through the years with B.C. Golf. This place holds a near and dear spot in my heart.”

Sixteen years later, Carrigan can still play. He didn’t go quite as low as that 2007 round, but his four-under 68 in Tuesday’s first round gave the Victoria native a share of the lead.

Carrigan is making a return to the B.C. Amateur after an absence of a few years. He has a young family — two girls aged two-and-a-half and six months — and a busy job as an investment adviser.
“Life got in the way,” he said with a chuckle.

Carrigan, a longtime Royal Colwood member, has continued to play lots of golf the past few years, just not as much competitive golf. He showed very little rust in the first round. “I feel amazingly good about my game considering I haven’t seen this kind of competition for a long time,” Carrigan said.

He started his round exceptionally well, birdieing the first two holes, and he was three-under through five holes. “I got hot early and made some putts and put myself in some really good spots, but then it felt like I kind of dried up. But I finished with a birdie on 18, so that was great. I am very happy with the outcome.”

Carrigan shares the lead with 19-year-old Demby Carswell of Burnaby. Carswell, who just finished his first year with the Simon Fraser University golf team, had six birdies and pair of bogeys in his round. “I feel pretty good about the round,” Carswell said.

“I left a couple out there, but the putter was working really well. It’s always nice to roll some putts in. I made a 30-footer down the hill for a birdie on 12, which is a tough hole.”

Wyatt Brook of Nanaimo, Dustin Franko of Delta and Gavyn Knight of Lantzville are tied for third spot after firing three-under 69s. Knight, who won the B.C. Junior Boys Championship at Morningstar in 2021, has something of a home-course advantage this week. He figures he has played the course more than a thousand times.

Knight won the B.C. Junior in 2021 with a 72-hole score of one-under par and beat the field by five shots. But Knight, who just finished his first year at Boise State University in Idaho, thinks scores will be significantly lower this week. “The course is much softer now than it was back then,” Knight said.

Carrigan, whose impressive resume includes a pair of Canadian Mid-Amateur titles, would love to win the B.C. Amateur Championship, where he has had many close calls. The year he shot that 61 in the final round he finished tied for fifth. “Most of these kids hadn’t yet picked up a golf club when I shot that score,” he said. “It takes me back. It’s nostalgic being out here again.”

Click HERE to see complete first round final scoring.

CHIP SHOTS: Most of the day’s low scores came from the morning side of the draw. Scores were higher in the afternoon when the wind began to blow. . .Defending champion Jackson Rothwell of Victoria opened with an even-par 72. . .The field will be cut to the low 70 and ties after the second round.