Former Wahoo Walsh finds his game north of the border

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Thomas Walsh, a two-time ACC individual champion for Virginia’s golf team, may have experienced a breakthrough north of the border the past couple of weeks.

For the second consecutive PGA Tour-Canada event, the former Cavalier posted a second-place finish, this time just one stroke off the winning spot at the Quebec Open, held at Club de Golf Le Blainvillier. Walsh was second with a 15-under-par total, just behind champion Ryan Gerard, a former UNC golfer. Gerard went wire-to-wire for the win.

“I didn’t think catching Ryan was going to happen,” Walsh said afterward. “I played with him [Saturday] and the kid is a stud. So, I just wanted to at least make him earn it.”

Walsh made up the gap on Sunday with an eagle on No. 2 and added three birdies to get to 15-under through 11 holes. He couldn’t continue that pace though, and finished even-par over his last seven holes as Gerard pulled out the win.

Walsh had taken a break from the Korn Ferry Tour after playing in 17 events, hoping to refresh in Canada. Finishing second in two straight tournaments certainly did just that.

“I’ve really worked hard and to go second-second sucks because it feels like I’m always the bridesmaid,” Walsh said. “But I think it shows I’m going in the right direction.”