Jared du Toit and birdies just seem to go together at Gallagher’s Canyon. Playing in the final group of the day at the GolfBC Championship, the 23-year-old second-year pro from Kimberley shot a five-under par 66 Friday to grab the 36-hole lead at 11-under par.

Matt Hopley is now going to learn how to drive. Not a golf ball — he is already very good at that — but a car. Hopley celebrated his 16th birthday Thursday so after missing the cut in Friday’s second round of the GolfBC Championship, Hopley was planning to get his parents to take him to the nearest driver licensing office.

Jared du Toit wasn’t hitting it so well during one of his practice rounds earlier this week and had some difficulty believing he somehow managed to shoot a 10-under 61 at Gallagher’s Canyon one year ago. But, it turns out the Kimberley native hasn’t forgotten how to make birdies at Gallagher’s Canyon. He fired a six-under 65 in Thursday’s first round of the GolfBC Championship to position himself nicely in the $200,000 Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada event.”

Grady Brame Jr. arrived at Gallagher’s Canyon with two missed cuts in his wake and his confidence waning. Then Thursday happened. Matching his round 1 low round were Californian Mark Anguiano and Zach Wright of Phoenix.

He didn’t win the Long Drive Challenge, but 91-year-old George Sherstobitoff was the star of the show. Sherstobitoff hit the ceremonial first tee shot Wednesday afternoon that officially started the GolfBC Championship. Some of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada pros participated, as did a number of amateurs who anted up $25 to hit three balls off the first tee. All money raised went to the B.C. Cancer Foundation.