Nick Taylor Keeps on Rolling at the US Open

The number one ranked amateur golfer in the World, Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C., continued his great play at this weekend’s US Open. Taylor became the number one player after shooting a six under par score of 136 over 36 holes in his US Open Sectional Qualifier last week. Canada's Matt Hill remains the World number two player after his NCAA Championship victory a few weeks ago. It is believed that this is the first time a Canadian has held the number one position, never mind the number one and two positions.

Taylor continued rolling right into the US Open where he tied the lowest ever 18 hole score by an amateur shooting 65 in the second round. It was a long week for all the players, including Taylor who never even started his third round on Saturday. The final round began late on Sunday with Taylor managing 10 holes and the final group playing two before the USGA called play for the day. Taylor was +3 on his final round and sat at +6 for the tournament tied for 34th place when the horn went to end Sunday's round. On Monday, Taylor played his final 8 holes in one over par with one birdie and two bogeys and finished tied for 36th place with a final score of +8. Still, at the end of the day, Nick Taylor showed the World why he is deserving of his number one ranking and his play at the US Open was one of the greatest Amateur performances of all time. Well done Nick!

The RCGA should receive some credit for his success as he was part of the RCGA's Player Development program for a number of years. The RCGA has taken a lot of heat over the past year about it's Player Development program being considered a 10 year failure. It failed to place any new Canadians on the PGA Tour following last December's qualifying school and had many questioning the program. Then there was the rather vocal Dick Zokal, who left his position or didn't have his contract renewed (no one seems sure which is true), over what appears to be a difference in philosophy with the RCGA on the Player Development program.

However, if the play of Nick Taylor and Matt Hill resemble the future for Canadian golf perhaps the RCGA’s development program is working and we will see more Canadian players on the PGA Tour in the future.