Hall, Haigh win SCC Club Championship
By: Spencer Seymour
Rylan Hall shot a two-day total of 138 to win the men's title at the Stratford Country Club's (SCC) Club Championship Aug. 18-19, while Gloria Haigh won the women's trophy with a combined score of 166.
Haigh posted a score of 84 on the first day of the tournament, entering day two with a one-shot lead. Haigh then shot an 82 to pull further ahead and claim the ladies’ title.
Hall's outstanding two days of golf saw him open with a 70 scorecard on the first day, which he then followed by a best-of-the-weekend round of 68 to finish four under par and win the men's side of the Club Championship by five shots.
Hall described the tournament win as especially significant to him due to his lifelong connection to the SCC.
“It's always felt like a home to me,” said Hall. “I've been playing there since I was eight years old. I grew up in Stratford and lived right across the street from the golf course, so it’s always been my home. I've created lots of relationships there with people there, and now, for me to grow up and come back home and play that course, it’s really nice. Everyone has been so kind to me and followed my journey along the way, so it definitely means a lot (to win the Club Championship). It's just really nice to just have that community. It feels like a family over there.”
According to Hall, he felt comfortable heading into the tournament thanks to his familiarity with the Stratford course.
“I've played (at the SCC) so many times; I could probably play that course blindfolded,” admitted Hall. “I didn't get to play last year because I had to leave for school a little bit earlier and they had the tournament a week earlier. I feel like I just know the course so well, and I knew if I just went out there and tried my best, I would be able to put myself in a good spot to win.”
Hall added a more relaxed environment than his university golf experiences helped him find success, including with a big eagle on hole 14.
“I would say coming from playing college golf, all the events are really big, and the stress levels are really high, and playing in (the SCC Club Championship), it was just a lot of fun. I was trying to have fun out there, and I also had one of my close buddies, Carter (Petrie), on the bag caddy for me, which was a cool moment for both of us.
“I would say a shot that sticks out to me was hole 14. It's a par-four. I had 94 yards in on my second shot and holed out for an eagle. I had a nice little drive down the middle, then pulled my 60-degree, hit it 10 feet past the hole, and it spun back and went in. I was playing with Patrick Holloway and Riley Matheson, two good guys I played with growing up, and they actually both played university golf in Canada, and all the guys in our group were pretty fired up for me. It was a cool moment for sure.”
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