Former Mule tied for sixth in Canada

Former Poplar Bluff Mule Carr Vernon fired an opening round 66 and followed it up with a 72 in the PGA Tour Canada Qualifying Tournament at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Club in Courtenay, British Columbia.

Vernon is tied for sixth and is three shots off of the lead that’s held by Canada’s Jimmy Jones and fellow American Tyson Dinsmore.

Crown Isle Resort and Golf Club is a par 72 with a yardage of 7,025 yards.

Vernon started his tournament on Tuesday with an eagle on the first hole and ended the front nine at -2. After a birdie on the ninth saved a bogey on No. 4.

“I had the eagle on one and just kind of battled it for a bit but then made bogey on the first par 3. I hit a really good drive (on one). It went down there farther than I thought it would be. I think I had 170-ish yards to the pin, hit 8-iron to about seven or eight feet and made the putt. Easy start, which is nice,” Vernon said of his first-hole eagle to PGA Tour Canada on Tuesday.

His back nine featured four birdies, including one on the final hole of the round for his 6-under, 66.

Vernon started on No. 10 Wednesday for his second round and started with back-to-back birdies before a bogey put him at -1 on the day. He rebounded quickly with a birdie on No. 13 before reeling off six-straight parts into his final nine of the day.

After a birdie on No.1 and three more pars, Vernon bogeyed three-straight holes to end his round at even.

There are 117 players in the field with the medalist earning exemption for the 2023 season on PGA Tour Canada. For those that finished second through 10th place without ties, they are exempt through the reshuffle which occurs around the midway point of the year. Those that finished 11th-30th, with ties, earn conditional membership.

Vernon and Dinsmore, along with Austin Fox and Daniel Wetterich represent the United States in the top 10.

The former Mule standout will hit the course today for his third round as he’s hoping a strong final 36 holes.