WAITING HIS TURN: Rising Star Baryla Willing To Learn The Ropes In First Full Season On Tour
by Marty Henwood

May 2, 2005 -- EL PASO, Tex.--There he was, hanging around the 17th tee last Sunday as friend and fellow Canadian Stuart Anderson tried to secure his first Tour championship in Modesto, Calif. Minutes after putting the finishing touches on a tidy final-round 66, Chris Baryla of Vernon, BC, himself one of the shining prospects in Canadian golf, was going to be with his buddy during his finest hour.

Well, okay, for more reasons than one.

When Anderson lofted his tee shot to within ten feet of the pin on number 17 to all but write his name on the winner's cheque, Baryla and fellow Canadians Derek Gillespie and Zoltan Veress let Anderson know he was going to be the guest of honour at an impromptu victory celebration on the 18th green.

Of course, as is so typically Canadian, the festivities would revolve around a beer shower.

"Your boy comes through like that, and you have to be there to cheer him on," says Baryla of following Anderson over his final few holes.

"That was great to see Stuart come through in California. We've become pretty good buddies out on Tour. It's been well-documented how much he has worked getting himself and his game both in shape."

All things being equal, the spur-of-the-moment party last Sunday afternoon in California could very well be a prelude of things to come for Baryla, now into his first full season on the Canadian Tour. It seems like just a matter of time before the former University of Texas-El Paso standout makes his way to the top perch on a leaderboard one Sunday afternoon.

For now, Baryla is content to progress on his own timetable and, it should go without saying, wave the Canadian flag if need be. There is no shortage of homegrown talent looking to advance to the next level, also known as The Show, and Baryla says the scenario is nothing but good news for Canadian golf.

"I think we are all pushing each other to get better. Stuart wins last week in California. You see guys like David (Hearn) and Jon (Mills) doing well, and you know Derek (Gillespie) is going to break through. He just has too much talent. James Lepp won in Vancouver (in 2003), and he isn't even out of school yet. There are just so many good players here. It's a win-win situation for Canadian golf. We can all get there (to the PGA Tour). There's plenty of room for all of us."

Had it not been for a three-time Canadian Tour champion, Baryla may never have had the opportunity to take his college swings in the Lone Star State. Baryla had been fielding recruitment offers from interested schools a few years ago but it was British Columbia native Rick Todd who caught his attention just after taking over the head coaching reins at UTEP. Eventually, and without a whole lot of arm-twisting, Baryla and fellow B.C. prodigy Dan Swanson would make their way to Texas, where Baryla would go on to earn All-WAC Team and Academic All-American kudos.

In 2003, at 20 years of age, Baryla qualified for the U.S. Open and become the first Canadian amateur in two decades to make the cut at the Bell Canadian Open.

Twenty years old. At a time when most kids that age are spending their weekends asking permission to borrow the family car, Baryla was teeing in up alongside the best players on the planet in the national championships of both Canada and the United States

If Baryla senses the need to credit anyone for helping get him to the doorstep of the PGA Tour, it's a safe bet to say that, outside of his immediate family, that person will be Rick Todd.

"When I first got to UTEP, I was more of a borderline player than anything else," confides Baryla, who still meets for lunch with Todd twice a week. "I wasn't what you would call a blue-chip prospect. When I was getting recruited, knowing of Rick certainly helped me with my decision.

"He has everything to do with me being a much better player. Not only has he helped me with college golf, but he has aided me in the transition to the pros."

There is no doubt that Baryla is on the short list of players to watch in Canadian golf. Mike Weir, who will undoubtedly be used as the measuring stick for the foreseeable future, has raised the bar to such a height that it may be unrealistic to expect anyone to duplicate his seven PGA Tour championships.

But there are many waiting in the wings for a chance to strut their stuff.

As modest as he is, Baryla deflects the attention from himself when he is asked about being part of the impressive youth movement in the Canadian ranks.

"Believe it or not, I think the expectations I have of myself are greater than anyone else expects of me," he admits. "I know where I want to be, and if other people see that same potential, I find it quite flattering."

One year ago, Baryla played in handful of Canadian Tour events-five, to be exact-and made three cuts, each time finishing inside the top 21. He still earned enough money to finish 90th on the Tour's money list, good enough to snag the final non-exempt card for this season.

After a disastrous start to the 2005 campaign, where he carded rounds of 82-84 at the season-opening Barton Creek Austin Canadian Tour Pro Am Classic, Baryla has started to find his touch. He has played on the weekend in the three events since, highlighted by a 13th-place finish at the Foster Farms California Classic, the same tournament Anderson prevailed in.

Baryla knows his time will come, but for now he is more focused on learning the ropes in his first full season on Tour. At the tender age of 22, there will be plenty of time for his own victory celebrations and Baryla isn't about to set a bunch of pie-in-the-sky goals for himself. The fall back down can be too hard.

For the time being, he is just as content to spend as much time as possible with Emily, his girlfriend of five years. During the California swing, Baryla's father, Paul, drove down the west coast from B.C. to caddy for his son.

Baryla is a family-first guy, even if on the outside it appears as though he is simply a 22-year-old basking in the early years of life as a touring professional. As he told reporters at the Bell Canadian Open two years ago, he followed this career path because "you never have to work a day in your life."

Not only is the kid witty, but his feet are also planted firmly on the ground. He has more savvy than 22-year-olds are supposed to have.

"Te be honest, I just want to improve and get better. This is my first full year, so I need to get in the rhythm of professional golf. If I can stay consistent and challenge for a victory, I won't be disappointed. Sometimes you will have a great week, but someone will play
a little better and beat you by five shots. Golf can be funny that way."

And last week in California, was Baryla, in tandem with Gillespie and Veress, able to track down the 6'4 Anderson after the winning putt for the post-championship beer bath?

"Yeah, we were waiting for him on 18 but he tried to get away," laughs Baryla. "We still got him enough. For a big guy, he's pretty quick. He was really putting the moves on us."

Rest assured, Chris Baryla was watching those moves closely. Sooner or later, he will need to dodge a beer shower or two himself.