The Shaw Charity Classic started earlier than planned on Friday.
A weather forecast that predicted strong winds for the afternoon led to the organizers turning three golfers away from the first and tenth holes from 8:30 a.m. onwards
Some bold Canadian names enjoyed some magical moments on Friday, including former Calgary resident Stephen Ames, who birdied the 11th hole and hit three unders. Ames stumbled a bit, but still finished the day a under.
Former Masters champion Mike Weir made four birdies on the back nine, including one on the 18th hole, earning a three-under point on the day.
Mike Weir is in Calgary getting ready to play the Shaw Charity Classic.
Other prominent players include another former Masters champion, Freddie Couples, who landed a birdie at 18 and finished the day at 2 under.
The leader after one round was Tim Petrovic, who scored an eight under par of 62.
FIRST SHAW CLASSIC
Meanwhile, Major winner Stewart Cink makes his debut appearance at the Shaw Charity Classic.
It’s his first year competing on the Champions Tour, which he mixes with events on the regular PGA Tour.
Cink arrived in Calgary earlier this week for a short vacation trip to the mountains, where he went hiking on Lake Louise with his wife Lisa.
As it turns out, appearing as a tourist in Banff meant the former British Open champ was just another American trying to get good Instagram footage in the mountains with his wife.
“We did the shuttle bus thing,” Cink said. “You know – just like everyone else. We parked at the ski area and took the shuttle bus to Lake Louise and we hiked to Lake Agnus and Little Beehive so we got a few thousand feet of elevation and some beautiful pictures We also took the bus over to the Moraine Lake driven.
“So we explored all the tourist hotspots up there,” Cink added.
Cink has a lot to do on the track: he scored a one over 71 on Friday.
The golfers teed off at 10:25 a.m. on Saturday. The weather forecast expects high temperatures of 17 degrees and partly cloudy skies.
It’s family day at the Shaw Charity Classic.
With files by Glenn Campbell
“Coffeeaholic. Lifelong alcohol fanatic. Typical travel expert. Prone to fits of apathy. Internet trailblazer.”