Canadian hopeful Wil Bateman takes aim at Fortinet Cup title at Deer Ridge

KITCHENER — Wil Bateman is very much in the hunt for PGA Tour Canada’s biggest prize.

The Edmonton native continued his run at Player of the Year honors with a bogey-free round of 5-under 65 at the Deer Ridge Golf Club on Friday. Bateman, the only Canadian with a chance of winning the season-long points race, is three shots behind leader Thomas Walsh of High Point, NC, heading into the third round of the Fortinet Cup Championship.

“I’ve had a really good year and I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself moving forward. I’m in a great spot and this is where you want to be, so I’m looking forward to (the weekend), so just stay patient and see what happens,” said the 29-year-old Bateman, who opened the tournament Thursday with an even-par 70.

“I love the test (of playing Deer Ridge); it reminds me of my home course back in Arizona, Desert Forest. I play there a ton and it’s one of those courses that you can’t really let up the whole day. All the way to 18, you’ve got to hit tee shots and good golf shots, so I’m pretty comfortable around here.”

Heading into Saturday’s third round, 13 players are mathematically in the hunt for the Fortinet Cup that goes to the season’s overall points champion. In addition to Player of the Year honors, the champion will earn 2023 Korn Ferry Tour membership, a $25,000 bonus and a spot in next year’s RBC Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

The first-place finisher at Deer Ridge will receive 600 points and a $40,500 check. The second-place finisher gets 330 points, and third place gets 210.

Walsh bogeyed his final hole Friday and posted his second consecutive round of 66 for a two-day total of 8-under 132 and a one-shot lead over Scott Stevens (66-67) of Birmingham, Ala.

The two will play in the final group for the second consecutive day on Saturday and Walsh, who recorded an eagle on the par-4 15th hole and came close to a hole-in-one on the par-3 16th, is looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be a fun weekend. He’s a good dude to play with. He’s chill and relaxed. We have a lot of good fun out there,” said Walsh.

“I think it’s good. I’ve been building on this. I’ve been driving it phenomenally, and I thought today was just as good (as the first round). I didn’t iron it as well today, but from 150 yards and in I wedged it really well.”

Étienne Papineau of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is in a tie for third place and is the top Canadian, two strokes behind Walsh and one ahead of Bateman, after posting rounds of 69-65. Joey Savoie, also of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, is in a tie for 12th after shooting 69 for the second straight day.

Bateman started the tournament as the No. 2 player in the standings, 40 points behind points leader Jake Knapp, and is projected to remain in that spot after Friday’s round that featured two putts of about eight feet to preserve par. Stevens is projected to top the standings, while Knapp has shot rounds of 71-73 and is projected to finish at No. 3.

Bateman drained a pair of putts of about eight feet to preserve his bogey-free round and later credited his 16-year-old caddy, Adam Cotter, for being an asset during his first two rounds. Cotter is a student at Grand River Collegiate in Kitchener who works in the back shop and practice range at Deer Ridge.

“He’s played a lot of golf out here, and he just knows his way around this place, so it’s nice to just, you know, get some ideas off of him,” said Bateman. “He’s been great.”

Cotter smiled when his name was mentioned by Bateman, and said it’s an “honour” to work for the well-traveled golfer who turned professional in 2013 after attending San Diego State University.

“I’m a sponge this week, learning from him and trying my best to help. I know the course pretty well, I play here all the time, and I help him out when I can,” said Cotter.

“It’s been incredible, actually, to see him rebound from difficult shots and the way he’s playing the course. It’s just unreal.”

Bateman won the PGA Tour Canada tournament in Edmonton earlier this year and, in 2015, became the first Canadian to win on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica. He is a former No. 1-ranked junior in Canada and is almost a lock to make a return to the Korn Ferry Tour, a circuit he played in 2016.

Players ranking second through fifth in the season-long standings earn conditional 2023 Korn Ferry Tour status, and those finishing sixth through 10th can skip all stages of the Korn Ferry Tour’s Qualifying Tournament and move directly to the finals, set for Savannah, Ga., in November. The top 60 Fortinet Cup players will all retain their 2023 PGA Tour Canada playing privileges.

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