Mother and daughter Maudie and Karina Haufort of Victoria, of Danish descent, proudly waved the Denmark flag in the large gallery Sunday at Uplands Golf Club. Dane Frederik Kjettrup gave them plenty to cheer about in winning the $225,000 US Beachlands Victoria Open presented by the Times Colonist. It was the first Canadian event, and seventh of 16, on the 2024 PGA Tour Americas.
“I saw them [Hauforts and the flag] out there,” said Kjettrup, who pocketed $40,500 US for the win.
“Denmark is a long way away. It was cool to see the flag. It was definitely special.”
Right back at you, said Uplands-member Karina Haufort: “It’s exctiting to see Danes doing well. We are following Denmark in the Euros [soccer] as well.”
Kjettrup followed up his pro debut last week in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst with a four-round total of 21-under 259 at Uplands for his first pro win.
“I’m not a pro at this [acceptance-speech giving], yet,” he said, in referring to have to give the post-tournament champion’s talk to the gallery, before being awarded the trophy in the 41st Victoria Open.
“Tied with two holes to go, I knew I had to make a birdie somewhere, after a bit of frustration on the back nine. It’s hard when they don’t drop. I was hoping to make one go in eventually,” Kjettrup told the media scrum, following his victory.
One did drop for Kjettrup, in the most dramatic of fashions, with a 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
“I putted well here this week and at Pinehurst last week. The putting surfaces here at Uplands were perfect,” said Kjettrup, part of the Florida State Seminoles team that was runner-up in the 2024 U.S. collegiate NCAA championship this spring at Carlsbad, California.
It was about 2 a.m. back home in Aabybro, Denmark, when he won on Sunday afternoon in Victoria but he knew his mom Hanna and dad Orla were watching online: “They have to work in the morning but this is huge. It’s all part of the dream to the pathway to the PGA Tour and to make this your living.”
The top-10 players this year on the PGA Tour Americas will earn cards into the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour, which is one step from the PGA Tour.
Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira of Argentina was second in the Victoria Open at 20-under 260 and fourth-year pro Clay Feagler, out of NCAA Pepperdine, third at 19-under 261.
“I am proud of myself. I gave myself a chance to win,” said de Oliveira, a 24-year-old pro out of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, who has played in four PGA Tour events, and the 2023 British Open at Royal Liverpool.
“This Victoria tournament was amazing. They treated us so well. The course was in unbelievable shape and the caddies were great. It was a hell of a week.”
The biggest gallery following was for Neal Shipley, who went from low amateur this year in both the Masters in April at Augusta and the U.S. Open last weekend at Pinehurst, to making his pro debut at Uplands tied for ninth at 15-under 265.
“It was good energy and cool,” said Shipley.
“The community of Victoria rallies around this event. There are a lot of good memories.”
Shipley celebrated his first pro tournament, following the final round Sunday, in the most Island way possible by eating a Nanaimo bar as a box of the famed confection was handed to him.
Shipley is unlikely to return, however, and quite happily so as he will make his PGA Tour debut as a pro this week with an exemption into the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. It’s all about moving up.
“I hope I’m not here next year,” Shipley quipped.
Amiable and easy-going, he is handling well his sudden fame as a potential future PGA Tour star.
“I’m just staying super-focused,” said Shipley.
“The golf hasn’t changed, just the circumstances and stage I’m playing on. I’ll rest up and get ready for Thursday in Detroit.”
Top Canadian among the eight who made the cut was Chris Crisologo of Richmond, tied for 30th at 11-under 269. Jeevan Sihota of Victoria tied for 48th at 7-under 273.
The 2024 Victoria Open tournament raised $604,000 for Easter Seals to help rebuild Camp Shawnigan.
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