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Yukon golfers heading to BC Championships

Whitehorse's Phil Mullin is getting back into the swing of things -- hopefully without hooks and slices. "I didn't think I'd play seriously this summer," said Mullin. "But the opportunity came up and I happened to play well enough to get in.
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Whitehorse’s Phil Mullin is getting back into the swing of things—hopefully without hooks and slices.

“I didn’t think I’d play seriously this summer,” said Mullin. “But the opportunity came up and I happened to play well enough to get in.

“I’m back into it again now.”

Next week Mullin will be playing in his third BC Amateur Championships in Duncan, BC. It will be the 25-year-old’s first BC Amateur open since 2005, having taken time off from competitive golf to attend university.

“For a couple summers I didn’t come home—I stayed in Calgary,” said Mullin. “I didn’t do much golfing; I only played a couple times a year.

“It’s just been since I moved back at the beginning of last summer that I’ve been golfing a lot again.”

Mullin qualified for the BCs out of Mountain View Golf Club the weekend before last, defeating four other competitors by hitting a 73 and a 75 in two rounds.

“After the first day I had a seven-stroke lead,” said Mullin.

“I played yesterday and I wasn’t playing as well I was last weekend, so I have a some things to work on. I actually had a minor back spasm the last couple days that I’m hoping goes away quickly.”

Mullin had his best showing at the BC Amateurs in 2004, finishing 44th overall, and tying with fellow Yukoner Derek Baldwin.

He has won two Yukon Opens in Dawson City and the Mountain View Golf Club Junior Championships. However, 2002 was his best year, advancing past the BC level to the Canadian Junior Nationals.

“I had one poor round and I missed the cut because of it,” said Mullin. “After three days they got to the low 70s in ties and I missed it by two shots.

“I played alright though; I wasn’t unhappy with how I played.

“You’ve got to have four good rounds if you want to compete.”

To qualify for the Junior Nationals in 2002, Mullin finished in the top 15 (tied for 13th) at the BC Juniors.

“That tournament I did play four good rounds,” said Mullin.

Having played three previous tournaments at the course hosting the BC Amateurs, the Duncan Meadows Golf Club, Mullin feels he knows the course pretty well.

“I’m actually really familiar with it,” said Mullin. “One of the BC Junior tournaments was at that course and (I played) two others (tournaments there).

“Also my sister lives within a five-minute drive of the course, so I get to stay with her while I’m down there.

“I’ve got a home-field advantage away from Whitehorse.”

Also making the trip south for the British Columbia Golf Association Championships Series is Whitehorse’s John Taylor, competing in the senior class August 11-13 at Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club.

Josh Harlow, from Whitehorse, will have a couple of busy weeks on the links, representing the Yukon in the bantam boys August 20-23 at Hope Golf and Country Club, followed by the juvenile boys August 25-27 at Fort Langley Golf Course.

“(Harlow) was actually the runner-up in the junior division,” said Jeff Wiggins, Mountain View’s golf pro and Team Yukon’s coach for the Canada Summer Games. “There’s three tournaments; one for the bantam, the juvenile and the junior, but a player can qualify for multiple (divisions).

“If a 13-year-old shot a 72 and a 72, technically he can go to all three of them.

“The only reason Josh gets to qualify for the juveniles is because Scott (Meredith) is gone to the Canada Summer Games that week.”

In addition to Meredith, Ian Wintemute and Ricky Schmok have been selected to represent the Yukon next month at the Canada Summer Games in PEI.

Meredith was originally supposed to compete in BC’s Junior Boys event at Pitt Meadows Golf Club this week, but withdrew from the tournament after encountering difficulties with the travel arrangements.

Contact Tom Patrick at tomp@yukon-news.com