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WINDSOR JUNCTION, N.S. - In many ways, the Nova Scotia Open is just another Web.Com Tour event, another chance to move up the money list and get closer to a PGA Tour card for next year. But for the 20 Canadians in the field, it is a rare home game with some tangible benefits. "Its great," said Roger Sloan, who plays out of the Tobiano Golf Club in Kamloops, B.C. "I stopped at Tim Hortons before my round." Perhaps it was the power of that morning double-double that pushed Sloan to a score of four-under 67, the lowest among the Canadians who teed off in the morning wave. "I got off to a really good start," said Sloan. "Birdied my first hole and had a couple of really good birdie opportunities in my first few holes. It was just a solid ball-striking day." Sloan had it to four under through his first nine with birdies on the third, fifth and ninth holes. He pushed that to five under with another one at the 12th before giving that back at the 17th. The New Course at Ashburn isnt long by Web.Com Tour standards but the greens here are providing a suitable defence. The putting surfaces have strong (a polite word) slopes that make getting the ball close on approaches tough and the putting even more difficult. "The greens are tricky," Sloan stated, "so you really have to be in control of the ball to get it close." By the time 36 holes are in the bag, "tricky" might be a nice description for how the players view these greens. They will most certainly be the deciding factor in who wins. Sloan, of course, is hoping that will be him. Hes in his second season on the Triple-A circuit and has been playing some more consistent golf this season, making the cut in seven of 12 starts. However, hes only missed once in his last seven events, showing steady improvement. A year ago, he was anything but consistent, making just five cuts in 19 starts. However there was a slight off-course distraction as he got married. This year, however, his goal was to avoid the highs and lows, and even out his play. "Ive been playing solid all year," he stated, "putting together some solid rounds of golf. Thats what I really wanted to do this year. You never know when those really good rounds are going to come. You just have to keep plugging away and stay focused on one shot at a time." Talking to Sloan its easy to see hes mature and keeps a good perspective on life, something that isnt always found in younger players. He sees the world beyond golf and is obviously well-grounded. He is in the middle of a seven-week run of tournaments but doesnt seem frustrated or burned out or home-sick, despite the fact his wife rarely is able to join him on Tour. He understands his job and the career hes chosen. He prepared himself for this lengthy road trip and is focused on his game. "Theres no job security out here as you might have on the PGA Tour where I can take next week off," Sloan stated. "You have a lot of guys playing really well, lot of great players, too. Theres pressure to play well but at the same time, if youre out here, you have the ability so trust yourself." Unlike a number of the other Canadians such as Adam Hadwin or MacKenzie Hughes, Sloan is playing without much in the way of outside financial backing. He has no major sponsors and wasnt a beneficiary of Golf Canadas Young Pro program when it was announced earlier this year. In fact, hes never really been on the Golf Canada radar, when he was an amateur or now. Its somewhat hard to believe -- actually its shocking -- that with his talent and personality, a company wouldnt embrace him and get behind him. Still, the ever-optimistic Sloan doesnt see that as a problem, but rather a fact that will change only by his doing. "Ive been blessed to play this game professionally on my own accord," he stated. "Its taught me a lot of good values. Its been tough, Ive had to make a lot of sacrifices, my wife and I, in order to make that work. Its tough but at the same time I have to keep focused on playing well and ultimately achieving my goal of winning on the PGA Tour and the money kind of takes care of itself." Cheap New Balance Shoes Australia .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player. New Balance Australia Clearance . Kerber will next play Estonias Kaia Kanepi, who beat American qualifier Victoria Duval 6-1, 6-3. In other first-round matches, Lucie Safarova beat 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 6-4 and American Bethanie Mattek-Sands had a 6-4, 6-3 win over Canadas Eugenie Bouchard. http://www.cheapnewbalanceaustralia.com/.com) - Sixth-seeded Feliciano Lopez was a first-round winner on Monday at the Delray Beach Open tennis event. New Balance Australia . Ontario Superior Court Case Management Master Ronald Dash released the decision on Monday, saying John McCaw Jr. must testify in front of a jury by live video conference. Moores lawyer, Tim Danson, asked the court to compel McCaw - who is based in Seattle - to testify in the case back on February 27. New Balance Australia Online . Adding playoff teams. Monitoring instant replay from league headquarters. Possibly creating a set of guidelines to prevent locker-room bullying.CLEVELAND - For months, the Browns have analyzed college quarterbacks as if they were looking to buy a new house. Theyve inspected each thoroughly, measured them, timed them, interviewed them, checked and double-checked their backgrounds to find out if one can lift them from NFL irrelevance. Its time to draft. Unable to resolve their biggest need since their expansion return 15 years ago, the Browns are expected to use one of their two first-round picks Thursday night on a quarterback. Will it be Johnny Manziel, the dynamic mystery man in this years draft, at No. 4? Or will they wait until No. 26 and grab one of the QBs likely to slide such as Derek Carr or Teddy Bridgewater. Or get a second-tier QB like Aaron Murray or A.J. McCarron? Will they trade up, move down, punt? Cleveland fans have been counting down the days until this draft, their hysteria stoked by the movie "Draft Day," a fictionalized account of the Browns manoeuvring to land the No. 1 overall pick. Its unlikely that life will imitate art, but the Browns seem prepared to get a quarterback — either to back up Brian Hoyer or supplant him — and first-year coach Mike Pettine is confident the team has done its homework. "I got to spend time with all of them, a good amount of time," Pettine said last week. "We talk about the it factor a lot with quarterbacks, just that type of personality, those traits that you want to have in your quarterback: a guy that is confident, assertive and poised, that can handle teammates when they need to be handled at things going on in the offensive huddle." With 10 picks, including six of the first 106, the Browns should be able to add talent and depth. Pettine understands they must choose wisely. "Its absolutely critical that we have a solid draft," he said. "We dont need to hit a grand slam." Here are five things to keep in mind when the Browns are on the clock: JOHNNY B. GOOD OR BAD?: Like everyone, the Browns have debated whether Manziels a franchise saviour or bust. Hope or hype? Hes intriguing, for sure, but Cleveland, which hasnt drafted a QB higher than No.dddddddddddd 22 since Tim Couch went first in 1999, cant afford to be wrong. Manziel will likely be available at No. 4. But if they covet him, the Browns might be able to pass on him there and, using the No. 26 pick they got in a trade with Indianapolis, move back up and snag Johnny Football. MACK ATTACK: Pettines roots are in defence, and after Jadeveon Clowney, Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack is considered the best defensive prospect. The 6-foot-2, 251-pounder has the speed and strength to play in any system. Pettine likes him, as does Browns general manager Ray Farmer. "He can rush the passer. He can play in coverage. He can do a little bit of everything," Farmer said. "This guy looks like the real deal." SLAMMIN SAMMY: A game-breaker at Clemson, wide receiver Sammy Watkins is the complete package. The possibility of pairing him alongside Browns Pro Bowl wide receiver Josh Gordon should be enough to keep defensive co-ordinators up at night. Watkins can catch the ball over the middle or stretch a secondary over the top. Watkins would also be a safety net in the event Gordon, who has been suspended for substance abuse, has an off-the-field slipup. UNDER PRESSURE: Farmers first draft is arguably Clevelands most important in decades. He was promoted in February when owner Jimmy Haslam fired president Joe Banner and GM Michael Lombardi. Now, Farmer has a chance to upgrade Clevelands roster and make a favourable impression on his boss, who has promised not to be intrusive. "He hired me to do a job, and hes going to allow me to do it," Farmer said. HAPPY ENDING: After so much disappointment and another coaching change — Pettine is Clevelands third coach in three years — the Browns can energize their fan base with a successful draft. As long as they dont reach, they should get a quality player capable of making an immediate impact at No. 4. Farmer knows this draft is vital to Clevelands success. "Its really the lifeblood of every organization," he said. ' ' '