EXPERT PICKS

Each week, our panel of Experts will select three players they have their eye on to win on PGA TOUR Canada. The panel is made up of media members, instructors, former players and others with a sharp eye on the best PGA TOUR Canada players.

The year-long standings see Experts count the total earnings of their top two picks each week. Below are this year's standings through the Times Colonist Island Savings Open, with this week's picks below. 

John Randle, Former PGA TOUR Canada Player
@RandleGolf


John is a former PGA TOUR Canada member. He played the tour from 1990 to 1997. His playing career has been highlighted by over 50 professional wins including the PGA of BC Championship. John has been teaching the game full time since 1998 and is presently the Academy Director at the Bear Mountain Golf Academy. He was the PGA of BC Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2007 and works with several tour professionals.

Jose De Jesus Rodriguez  - After winning the order of merit on the America’s Tour, Jose had a poor outing in Victoria after a tough travel schedule. With an extra week to settle in, look for Rodriguez to get back to his usual high level of play!

Cory Renfrew  -  I didn’t pick him last week and this unleashed a series of hostile tweets (all from Cory), explaining what an oversight that was.  His 66 on Sunday vaulted him into the top 10 in Victoria and I’m happy to have him on my team this week. Now stop tweeting at me Frew.

Riley Wheeldon  -  Riley had a strong finish in Victoria (3rd) and followed that up with a playoff loss on the Vancouver Golf Tour.  I’ll happily add another Vancouver Island to my roster and look for another great week!

Jason Logan, SCOREGolf Magazine
@jasonSCOREGolf


Jason was born in Port Perry, Ontario and earned a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University in 2001. He has been at SCOREGolf Magazine since 2003 and was named the magazine's editor in 2012. Jason has covered 10 Canadian Opens, the 2007 Presidents Cup in Montreal and the Tour Championship in Atlanta on two occasions. Jason is a multiple Golf Journalists Association of Canada award winner and began golfing at age six. He considers himself a #niceplayer (on occasion).

Matt Marshall – This seems like a no-brainer pick to me. He was second here last year, losing in a playoff, and T4 two weeks ago in Victoria after taking the first round lead. This guy is going to win soon. 

Chris Epperson – Why not? Wins the VGT's Vancouver Open in a playoff last week and had a top 10 in Victoria. Definitely has a hot hand.  

Derek Gillespie – Call this one a hunch. He's a little more under the radar this year than last and should be better rested after going straight from final Latinoamerica event to Victoria two weeks ago. 
 

Scott Macleod, Flagstick Golf Magazine
@Flagstick


Scott is a member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada and has been the full time Editor at Flagstick Golf Magazine, based in Ottawa, Ontario, since 2000. As both an author and photographer his work has appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites throughout North America. He has been involved in golf for more than 25 years. He is active as a tournament golfer himself and has been involved in player development for his regional golf association.

Joe Panzeri -  With five top-15 performances on PGA TOUR Canada in 2012 and a t-20 in Victoria this birdie machine is a go-to guy for poolies.  He last won on this tour at Dakota Dunes in 2011 and it is time for another.

Albin Choi - The former Team Canada member got his feet wet as a pro in Victoria and fared well with a t-20 finish.  With that in his pocket and knowing he belongs expect him to come out with a lot of confidence in Calgary.

Tyler Aldridge - Coming off a second place showing in Victoria this former PGA TOUR member is hard to ignore.  He made five of six cuts on PGA TOUR Canada in 2012 including two top-tens.
 

Fraser Mulholland, Former PGA TOUR Canada Player and Commissioner of the Vancouver Golf Tour.
@vancouvergolf

The Scottish-born Fraser Mulholland had golf in his genes since the age of 7. Fraser kept his attention to golf while he studied at UBC and played on the Men’s Varsity Golf Team. A PGA member of Canada since 1992, Fraser has accumulated 19 years of experience in professional golf instruction, tournament play and golf course & tournament operations. Fraser has become one of the most accomplished professional golfers in BC and in Canada, winning 38 professional tournaments. In 2006 Fraser embarked on a journey to create a Developmental Tour for the local talent and created the Vancouver Golf Tour, now recognized as Western Canada’s Premier Developmental Tour.

Riley Wheeldon - Coming off a great week in Victoria and a near ‘W’ at the Vancouver Open (lost in playoff), Wheeldon seems ready to take his game to the winner’s circle!

Chris Epperson -  Not one to normally pick another flag color, but when a player’s hot, he’s hot.  And after a top 10 showing in Victoria and then taking down one of the hottest players in Canada (Nick Taylor) in a playoff at the Van Open, how can you not?

Clark MacPherson -  Riding a hot hand from the Monday qualifier in Victoria into a 20th place finish, and missing a playoff by 1 shot at last week’s Vancouver Open, “Golden Locks” MacPherson is ready to hold a trophy at the end of the week.
 

Brad Ziemer, Vancouver Sun
@BradZiemer

Brad Ziemer joined the Vancouver Sun in 1985, after beginning his journalism career at the Canadian Press. A former sports editor at The Sun, Ziemer covered the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies before they departed for Memphis. He has been on the hockey beat since 2001. Ziemer, who also covers the local golf scene for The Sun, is a graduate of Western Washington University.

Bryan Outram, Inside Golf
@BryanOutram

Bryan Outram has been the editor of Inside Golf Magazine for 14 years. He also wrote columns for the Coquitlam Now and The Voice, two local weekly papers in the Vancouver area. 

Adam Cornelson - Adam's name seems to keep jumping out at me of late. He had some very good results on the Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) to start the season was T13th at the Times Colonist Open last week. I think his steady play will see him through to a solid finish in Calgary.

Matt Marshall - Matt came out of the gate last week with a fine 63 en route to a 4th place finish in Victoria. He also lost in a playoff to Michael Gligic in this event last year. Matt may be due to cash in at the ATB Financial Classic.

Mike Grob - Yes, you read that correctly. This is one for the 'old guard'. A former winner of this event, Mike had to Monday qualify this year to get in to the ATB, and did so by shooting a nice round of 66. Grob is no stranger to success and that experience could play a part in a good tournament result for him in Calgary.
 

Todd Halpen, Todd Halpen Golf
@swinkeytodd

A graduate from the University of Victoria, Todd was a member of the Golf Canada National Team in 2007, Canadian Tour Member in 2009, co-founder of Swinkey Golf Inc., has competed in two Canadian Opens (2006 and 2008) and now coaches full time at the Golf Canada Centre in Calgary. He also operates toddhalpengolf.com and enjoys beer league hockey, power lifting, and skiing #sendit #deepball #yyc #lifestyle @swinkeytodd

Joe Panzeri - One of the few players who has played at altitude enough to really feel comfortable at Country Hills. I think he'll like the layout at CHills and snipe enough birdies to be in contention.

Matt Marshall - Runner Up last year at the ATB event at Windermere G&CC, Matt is set to follow up a solid finish in Victoria with a dub this week. Matt's a fierce competitor, and will forego bug spray this week and choose instead to punch mosquitos in the face. 

James Love - Smooth swinging Calgarian may be the only guy to accurately gauge a 241 yard downhill downwind 7 iron. Length off the tee is a factor at Country Hills, and I'm thinking that James will be the low man in the field on the tough driving holes 10-13, which may do the trick. 
 

Wes Gilbertson, Calgary Sun
@SUNGilbertson
 
 
Wes Gilbertson is a sports reporter and golf feature writer at the Calgary Sun. As a lifelong Alberta resident, he's living proof that thin mountain air doesn't turn everybody into a long-drive specialist.

Albin Choi - Just his second event as a professional, but this guy has all the tools to contend at this level.   

Matt Marshall - He can be streaky, and a T-4 in Victoria suggests he could be ready to go on a roll.

Ryan Yip -- Wasn't satisfied with his performance at U.S. Open and will want to make a statement in his hometown.

Robert Thompson, Sympatico.ca
@Going4theGreen

A bestselling author and award-winning reporter, Robert Thompson has been an influential sports and business journalist for more than a decade. Currently a columnist with Sympatico, and Ontario Golf, and a Senior Writer at SCOREGolf, Robert has been a multiple winner at the Golf Journalists Association of Canada awards in each of the past two years.

Matt Marshall

Ryan Williams 

Hugo Leon

Jeff Dykeman, PGA of Canada
@jeffdykeman


Before he became Director of Business Development & Brand, Jeff served as the Manager of Education & Employment as well as the Assistant Tournament Director for the Canadian PGA National Championships. Prior to that, he spent time as the Sales & Marketing Manager at Crimson Ridge Golf Club and in the Game Day Promotions Department of the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 2010, Jeff was voted one of the Most Interesting People in Ontario Golf by Ontario Golf Magazine.

Riley Wheeldon

Tyler Aldridge

Albin Choi

Morgan Bell, Golf Canada
@vallogolfer

A former professional on the LPGA Symetra Tour Morgan also spent one season caddying on South Africa's Sunshine Tour and has caddied in various PGA Tour Canada events. Now retired from professional golf she is the Media/PR Coordinator at Golf Canada and can be found on twitter at @vallogolfer.

Ryan Yip - Straight from Merion to Country Hills Golf Club, Yip makes his PGA TOUR Canada season debut this week in his own hometown. Somewhat of a veteran on the tour it would come as no shock if he added another victory to his resume in his own backyard.

Riley Wheeldon - Still a little bit mad I didn't pick Wheeldon in Victoria, so call this redemption. Even though he might have been close to home at the Times Colonist I don't think the NGA Tours winner's play was any fluke and I won't be surprised to see more finishes like that from him this season.

Brock Mackenzie - In contention at the last event until getting derailed by a final round 77…Mackenzie knows how to win out here and sneaks in as my only non-canadian pick this week. 
 

 Adam Stanley, Freelance golf writer
@Adam_Stanley

Adam Stanley is a golf writer based out of Ottawa and Toronto. His work appears in SCOREGolf, Golf Canada Magazine, ClubLink Life, Fairways Magazine, and Ontario Golf News. He's also a communications specialist for the golf industry and a journalism graduate from Carleton University.

Michael Gligic – Held off on picking him last week knowing that he was defending this week in Calgary. Struggled a bit on Sunday in Victoria, but expecting him to have another big week at the ATB Financial Classic

Cory Renfrew – Improved each round in Victoria, and hopefully will ride his final-round 66 to a successful week in Calgary

Chris Epperson – Won the Vancouver Golf Tour's "Vancouver Open" last week in a thrilling playoff. Looking to transfer that momentum this week.

Gord Holder, Ottawa Citizen

Gord Holder has been the Citizen's golf columnist since 1997, and an avid golfer even longer than that. The game and the stories of the people who play it have taken him all over Eastern Ontario and West Quebec and to several other parts of both provinces, as well as to Scotland and Sweden. He has also covered LPGA and PGA TOUR events and national, provincial and regional championships too numerous to mention at the amateur and professional levels. A graduate of Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, he worked at newspapers in Portage la Prairie and Brandon, Man., before joining the Citizen.

Stephen Gangluff - My new secret formula is to pick the hot hand, and the hottest hands on this tour belong to Gangluff, the winner of the Times-Colonist Island Savings Open at Victoria. I'm counting on another fine performance in the year's second event.

Joe Panzeri - One of three players to make the cut in every tournament on the 2012 schedule, he tied for third in last year's ATB Classic and was tied for 20th in the 2013 opener at Victoria.

Nick Taylor - Tied for third in the same event last year, tied for fourth in Victoria. Also had a great run on the Vancouver Golf Tour before the PGA Tour Canada season began.

Curtis Stock, Edmonton Journal
@CurtisJStock

A sports writer for the Edmonton Journal, Curtis has been covering golf for almost two decades. A member of SCOREgolf magazine's Top 100 panel, Curtis was recently presented with an Order of Merit by Golf Canada (Royal Canadian Golf Association).

Nick Taylor

Stephen Gangluff

John Ellis

 Jeremy Estey, VIGolf.ca
@VIGolf

Jeremy Estey is the founder of VIGolf.ca. VIGolf.ca is an interactive and informative Vancouver Island Golf website connecting golfers on the island. He has been playing golf since he was 6 years old, and has aspirations of playing on PGA Tour Canada in the future. www.vigolf.ca

Riley Wheeldon - He looked poised and had his emotions in check all week at the TCIS Open. He is striking the ball well right now, and his putting has been a big part of his success. He continued his solid play at last week's Vancouver Open on the Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) finishing in a tie for second.

Stephen Gangluff - It's hard not to pick Gangluff this week. He played almost flawless at the TCIS Open. He knows how to win, and making birdie on his 72nd hole when needed to, proves he has all the tools to be a top player on PGA Tour Canada.

Nick Taylor - Watch out! I followed him at the Times Colonist Island Savings Open and was impressed by his wedge game from a hundred yards and in. His proximity to the hole was almost a near tap in every time. If it wasn't for the odd mistake, and a rare miss hit I have no doubt he would have won the TCIS Open. Like Wheeldon, Taylor backed his up solid play at last week's Vancouver Open with a T2.

______________________________________________________________

Todd Saelhof, Calgary Sun
@SaelhofGolf

Todd Saelhof is your average golfer -- more a hacker than a low-handicapper -- who loves the sport and how it challenges patience and potential. Todd is the Calgary Sun’s golf editor. He's hoping one day to crack 80 to prove that a golfer with a slice in his 40s can indeed get better with age. After traveling all over North America to golf, Todd believes you can't beat Alberta/B.C. golf, where the mountains offer a fantastic backdrop and a magnificent canvas from which to carve the best courses on the globe.

Ryan Yip -- Calgarian comes home to put behind him a disappointing experience in the U.S. Open. He'll right the ship in front of a hometown crowd.

John Ellis -- The PGA Tour Canada superstar is always in the mix for victory. Time is right for the American to put up red numbers in bunches.

Nick Taylor -- His game only gets better with age. This is his year, and after being in the hunt in Victoria, he's a safe bet to win in Calgary.

Bob Weeks, SCORE Golf
@Bobatscoregolf

Bob Weeks has been with SCOREGolf since 1987 and currently writes, broadcasts, comments and Tweets across its various formats. He began covering PGA TOUR Canada before many of today’s current players were born. 

Ashley Chinner, 1996 Canadian PGA Champion
@AshleyChinner

 
Ashley was a touring golf pro and has been a member of the CPGA since 1989. He has played in golf tournaments in Canada and around the world and is a past champion of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 2001 Ashley joined the insurance industry and since that time he has been instrumental in working with leading golf clubs across the country to develop risk management plans and asses their specific insurance needs. In his role at Signature Risk Ashley is responsible for the growth of Signature Golf across the country. Ashley works with independent insurance brokers and their golf course clients to make the insurance buying process as easy to understand as possible.
 

Ian Hutchinson, Sun Media 
@golfnewsnow

Ian Hutchinson is the golf columnist for Sun Media and editor/president of www.golfnewsnow.ca, Canada's golf industry website, as well as contributing to golf magazines/websites in Canada and the United States.

Peter Robinson, CBC Sports
@PRGolfWriter

Peter Robinson has covered golf in Canada for more than a decade and is a Contributing Editor SCOREGolf and regular contributor to CBC.ca.

Tim McKay, Sun Media
@TimMcKayGolf

Tim McKay is a golf columnist and editor for Sun Media/QMI Agency.