Ledgeview Amateur
Lucas Bogdan wins at Sandpiper

After a course record round of 64 (-8) on Friday’s opening round of the 2008 PERFECT LIES VANCOUVER OPEN, 20 year old Lucas Bogdan maintained his 4 stroke lead on day 2 with a 2-over par 74 heading into the final round today. A shaky bogey start on hole #1 did not deter the Northwood University sophomore as he bounced right back on the 2nd hole with a birdie 3.

The biggest question on a lot of people’s minds was how the young Ledgeview amateur would handle the pressures of playing in the final group of such a major 54-hole Championship. And after his second bogey of the day on the 6th hole, it seemed like the 20 year old NAIA 3rd Team All American star was having a bit of a tough time handling the final group/ final round situation.

Meanwhile, three groups ahead, Nationwide Tour member Bryn Parry was on a bit of a charge. At +1 at the start of the day and 7 shots back, Parry seemed like less of a threat to Bogdan than one would have thought. However, at the turn, Parry had made a small move, getting himself to 2-under for the day and 1-under for tournament. A back nine charge of three birdies in four holes pushed Parry to 4-under for the tournament and only 2 shots out of the lead. At the same time, Bogdan made the turn at 1-over par, and 5-under for the tournament while two groups behind Bogdan, another charge was being laid down by rookie Professional Iljin Chun. Birdies on holes 1, 3, 5 and a hole-in-one on #7 vaulted Chun to -6 for the tournament, taking the outright lead after 9 holes.

With 9-holes to play, Bogdan was at -5 for the tournament, trailing Chun by one shot and had Parry chasing up ahead on #13 at -4. Chun’s lead was short lived, however as he doubled the 11th hole to go back to -4 while up ahead Parry kept his birdie barrage going with two more birdies on #15 and #16, moving him to -6 for the tournament. With both Chun and Parry making their charges ahead, Bogdan seemed unfazed by the Live Leaderboard being waved in front of him and played the back nine like a true veteran. Carding birdies on holes 10, 13 and 15, Bogdan moved his way back to -8 for the Championship, re-claiming the lead on Parry by two shots. With Chun making another bogey on 15 to go back to -3, it looked like it was a two man race coming down the final few holes.

Bogdan continued to play fine shots from tee-to-green on his closing three holes, and other than coughing up a bogey on his second last hole, played like a Champion on the back nine, closing with a score of 71 on the day and a 54 hole total of -7. Bogdan’s excellent ball striking and great touch around the greens throughout the tournament allowed him to go wire-to-wire en route to his first Vancouver Open Championship win, a huge accomplishment considering the amount of accomplished Professionals in the field (11 past or present Canadian Tour players and one Nationwide Tour player). Proving himself in front of this many great players should give Bogdan a huge feeling of confidence in his next tournament outing – the U.S. Amateur Championship. Bogdan beat the odds against some of the top Pacific Coast Amateurs at the qualifier in Oregon, shooting -5 and claiming one of only four qualifying spots for this illustrious National Championship.

Congratulations to Lucas on his tremendous accomplishments this week, both in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur (scheduled for Aug.18-24th at the famed Pinehurst #2 Course) and winning the 2008 Vancouver Open Championship. If he keeps playing the way he has the past couple of months (runner-up to Parry at the 2008 Ledgeview Open), you may just see this local boy’s name on the coveted U.S. Amateur trophy in two weeks time!

Congratulations again to the 2008 Perfect Lies Vancouver Open Champion – LUCAS BOGDAN. Good luck down at Pinehurst!!!!