North Carolina State University Athletics
Albin Choi Wins Canadian Men's Amateur Championship
8/15/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Aug. 15, 2010
London, Ontario - NC State incoming freshman men's golfer Albin Choi (Toronto, Canada) has added his name to the storied history of Canadian amateur golf after firing a final-round 66 (-6) Sunday to win the 106th playing of the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship at London Hunt and Country Club.
With the victory, Choi earns an exemption into the 2011 RBC Canadian Open at Shaugnessey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver where NC State alum Carl Pettersson will defend his title after winning his fourth PGA TOUR title last month.
The win also makes Choi a leading candidate for making the World Amateur team.
Choi, a member of Team Canada's Development Squad, was solid all week finishing with rounds of 69-68-68-66 for a tournament total score of 17-under to win the historic Earl Grey Cup.
His four-round total of 271 ties Richard Zokol (1971) for the best stroke-play finish in Canadian Men's Amateur history, and lowest since the event returned to stroke-play format in 2008.
A crowd of in excess of 2,500 people took to London Hunt to see Choi - who originally hails from Surrey, B.C. - drain seven birdies during his sizzling final round. Choi stood on the 18th tee with a chance to equal the London Hunt competitive course record of 64, but bogeyed the hole - the lone blemish on what was an otherwise dazzling round - to finish at 66.
"I wasn't thinking about the course record, I was just thinking about the win," said Choi. "A poor second shot led to the bogey, but overall I'm pleased with the way I played today. I got it going on 10, 11, 12 and 13, that's when I felt really in control and got into the right mindset where I could pull this win off."
A victory at Canada's oldest national golf championship came as a surprise to the 18-year old.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to win the tournament coming into today, but I'm glad that I did," added Choi. "This is Canada's biggest amateur event and to have my name added to the Earl Grey Cup is quite an accomplishment."
But, Choi's golf season isn't quite over yet.
"The RBC Canadian Open will be a great experience, but I have to focus short-term for now," added the newly crowned champion. "I want to have a good freshman year, just get used to playing college golf, that will be a new experience. And, I also want to have a good appearance at the U.S. Amateur - that would be a good starting point."
He will look to continue his tremendous 2010 season in a couple weeks when he competes at the 2010 U.S. Amateur, August 23-29 at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash., before heading to North Carolina, where he will join the North Carolina State (NC State) Wolfpack men's golf team as a freshman.
The 2010 Canadian Men's Amateur Championship at London Hunt and Country Club featured 240 players with a cut after 36 holes to the low 70 and ties. Redtail Golf Course joined London Hunt in hosting the opening 36-holes of the championship with the final two weekend rounds being contested at London Hunt.
PLAYER INTERVIEWS AND VIDEO RECAP: Audio files of Sunday's interviews with Cam Burke, Eugene Wong and 2010 Canadian Men's Amateur Champion Albin Choi can be found online at www.rcga.org/canadianmensamateur.
