By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

CHASE, British Columbia — Three back-nine birdies propelled Vancouver’s Nonie Marler to an even-par 72 and a four-shot lead after the first round of the B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Talking Rock Golf Course.

Marler, the 2020 B.C. Mid-Am champion who plays out of Marine Drive Golf Club, birdied the 10th, 12th, and 15th holes to finish off her round nicely. Shelly Stouffer, the reigning B.C. Senior Women’s Champion from Nanoose Bay, is alone in second place after opening with a four-over 76.

Jamie Oleksiew of Surrey is alone in third after her 76. Defending champion Jessica Claggett is fourth after shooting a 77. On the men’s side, Ed Bellrose of Campbell River fired a 3-under 69 and has a two-shot lead on three players. Bellrose had just one bogey in his round. Former B.C. Senior Men’s champion John Gallacher of Burnaby, Ryan Krisko of Kamloops, and Billy Hole of Vancouver share second after their one-under 71s. 

The Mid-Amateur Championship is open to players aged 25 and older. A Mid-Master Championship for players aged 40 and over is also being held concurrently at Talking Rock. Stouffer leads the Women’s Mid-Master competition by four shots over Jackie Little of Procter, B.C., and Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. Bellrose leads the men’s Mid-Master competition by two shots over Gallacher and Krisko. 

The 54-hole competition, the first on British Columbia Golf’s 2022 championship schedule, runs through Thursday.

View the complete scoring here.