By Dan Kinvig - Abbotsford News
Published: March 27, 2009 11:00 AM

Abbotsford golfer Nick Taylor has had plenty of reason to smile recently. The University of Washington junior set a new single-season school record on Monday with his third victory of the campaign. Taylor finished at five under par to win the Oregon Duck Invitational.

For Nick Taylor, familiarity breeds success. At least, that's the best explanation that the 20-year-old amateur golf sensation could come up with to account for his recent run of hot play in the NCAA ranks.

Taylor, a junior with the University of Washington Huskies, has been absolutely tearing up the Pac-10 conference this season. Most recently, he wrapped up top honours at the Oregon Duck Invitational on Monday, shooting 70-73-68 to claim a one-stroke victory. That marked Taylor's third win of the 2008-09 campaign, which set a new Huskies record.

The Abbotsford product also won the CordeValle Collegiate in November and the Hawai'i-Hilo Invitational in February. "Having played here for two and a half years now, I know what to expect," explained Taylor. "I know what the scores are going to be like, and I don't have to do anything crazy or spectacular to win. I've just got to stick to my own game." Sticking to his own game has been working out pretty well for Taylor, who was No. 27 in Golfweek's NCAA individual rankings as of Friday. His Huskies were ranked No. 12 in the nation.

For Taylor, summertime is typically when he really heats up. In August 2006, he won the Canadian Junior Championship by a record 11 strokes. In August 2007, he won the Canadian Amateur. And the highlight of Taylor's 2008 campaign came in June, when he qualified for the U.S. Open.

So for Taylor to be playing so well so early in the year seems to bode well for success in the warmer months. His summer schedule is still a work in progress at this point, but the RCGA national teamer plans to participate in the British Amateur for the first time, along with the Canadian and U.S. amateur championships.