WINNIPEG – The first round of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada Players Cup kicks off bright and early on Thursday. Three Manitobans are in this year’s field including Gunton’s Aaron Cockerill, Winnipeg’s Jay Doyle and Beausejour’s Devon Schade.
Cockerill earned his way onto the tour in the spring at Q-School and he’s had a strong start to his season. He enters this week’s event sitting 65th on the tour’s order of merit.
“It’s gone okay.” said Cockerill. “Good rounds, some bad rounds. It’s kinda a learning experience trying to learn as much as I can every week. But I think it’s gone okay. I know if I play well that my game is good enough to be right up there.”
Cockerill has appeared in four events in 2016 and made the cut on three occasions. He even had a top 25 finish with a 24th place showing at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open in Victoria, BC.
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This year Winnipeg’s only tour stop moves inside the perimeter. After 15 years out at the Pine Ridge Golf Club, they’re playing this week’s event at the Niakwa Country Club for the first time since 1984. Although it’s not Cockerill’s home course, he’s still played his fair share of golf on the course in St. Vital.
“I’m not a member around here or anything but I’ve played here a handful of times, dozens of times. So I definitely have some pretty good course knowledge around here. Obviously a lot more than a lot of the other guys.”
And Cockerill feels his game is suited well for the course at Niakwa.
“I know I have the game.” said Cockerill. “I feel like if I play well, Niakwa sets up pretty well for me. You got to hit the fairways. It’s not overly long. If you drive it in the fairway you can make some birdies. So I think this course sets up good for me and I’m excited for the week.”
With this being the first tour stop at Niakwa in more than three decades, he’s had a few golfers on the tour asking him for course tips. Something he’s not afraid to share.
“Most of the things they’re going to figure out on their own anyways, but there’s just a couple things that I’ve played with some of the members. They tell me where not to hit it on certain tee shots.”
“I feel like if you play a couple practice rounds around here, it’s not anything you have to play a bunch of times. Pine Ridge was a little more subtle on some of the greens.”
Cockerill tees off on Thursday at 8:30 am on the 10th tee. Doyle, who’s still an amateur goes off the 10th tee at 9:30 am. Schade also still has amateur status and his round doesn’t begin until 2:30 pm.
WATCH: Cockerill discusses his keys to success at this week’s Players Cup
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