Justin Shin leads after first-round of Web.com Tour Final Qualifying

Justin Shin (Golf Canada/ Graig Abel)

LA QUINTA, Calif. – Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C. opened up his Web.com Tour Final Qualifying debut by firing a blazing 8-under par 64 at PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament Course in La Quinta, Calif.

The former Team Canada alumni carded six birdies and an eagle in his a bogey-free round to finish the opening day atop the the 152 player leaderboard.

Shin enjoyed much success in 2013 as an amateur and a professional. Among his many accolades, the 22-year old finished 3rd at the Porter Cup and tied for 15th at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. As a pro, he competed in three PGA TOUR Canada events, where his best finish was a tie for 18th at the The Great Waterway Classic.

New Hamburg, Ont. native Cam Burke is tied for 8th after opening with a 4-under 68. Burke, 26, a two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion (2008 & 2009), had six birdies and just a single blemish on the day – a bogey on the par-4 13th hole.

Devin Carrey of Surrey, B.C. and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. are tied for 15th with a log-jam of players at 4-under par.

The 11 Canadians in the field this week will look to finish inside the top-45 after 108 holes of play, which will give them exempt status until the Web.Com Tour’s second periodic re-order of the 2014 season. To see more on the qualifying breakdown, click here.

Canadian Scores after Round 1 of Web.com Final Qualifying

1. Justin Shin, Maple Ridge, B.C. (-8) 64
T8. Cam Burke, New Hamburg, Ont. (-5) 67
T15. Devin Carrey, Surrey, B.C. (-4) 68
T15. Roger Sloan, Merritt, B.C. (-4) 68
T30. Albin Choi, Toronto, Ont. (-3) 69
T30. Nick Taylor, Abbottsford, B.C. (-3) 69
T64. Derek Gillespie, Oshawa, Ont. (-1) 71
T103. Eugene Wong, North Vancouver, B.C. (+1) 73
T103. Yohann Benson, Montreal, Que. (+1) 73
T103. Max Gilbert, St-Georges, Que. (+1)  73
T122. Riley Wheeldon, Comox, B.C. (+2) 74

For complete scoring from Web.com Tour Final Qualifying, click here.