OTTAWA, ON – After a soggy start to the day and over the span of two weather delays totalling four hours, Ray Stewart of Abbotsford, BC emerged as the champion of the 2009 Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship.
Stewart fired a ten-under-par, 68 adding to his first round 70 and second round 68 for a three-day, 54-hole total of 206 to win by two shots over Ken Tarling of Sandford, ON and Norm Jarvis of Surrey, BC at the at The Marshes Golf Club in Kanata, ON.
The day began with threatening thunderstorms, resulting in a weather delay from 8:50 AM to 10:30 AM. Play resumed, but shortly after, at 11:00AM, another weather delay was called due to lightning. The course held up through the storm and the field returned to play at 1:30 PM dodging pockets of rain and nearby rumbling thunder throughout the day.
“I really wasn’t affected by the rain delay,” stated 55-year-old Stewart who ended up teeing off nearly four hours after his original time. “It’s something that I have become used to on Tour, so I am quite patient with these types of delays, and I actually didn’t really warm up before I was off.” Stewart is no stranger to competition; he was a former PGA Tour player in 1983 then from 1987 to 1993. He finished T-10th at the 1991 Canadian Open and T-4th at 1990 Greater Milwaukee Open. He is a two-time Canadian Tour champion in 1999. In 1994 he captured the Dunhill Cup with teammates Dave Barr and Rick Gibson representing Canada. Stewart also played on the Dunhill squad in 1995 and Canadian World Cup team in 1999. Stewart advanced to the final stage of Champions Tour qualifying school in 2005, but failed t o attain exempt status.
“Today I played really solid, hitting every fairway and green,” said Stewart. “Greens were tough as they were quite wet and spongy from the rain, but I didn’t make any mistakes today. The birdies that I made were quite easy, I didn’t feel under pressure and I was very much in control of my ball striking,” stated Stewart who claimed the $4000 first prize.
“It was definitely a fun battle out there today coming down the stretch, we were all still close right down to the last hole,” stated Stewart who is hoping to qualify for one of the nine spots for the Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club, July 23-26, 2009 in London, England.
Jarvis looked like he was running away with a victory after nearly driving the green on the 7th hole and sinking a birdie putt to place him at nine-under-par for the tournament. But things turned for Jarvis on the 8th hole, par three, when he hit his approach just right of the flag and spun it back into the water, causing him to double bogey placing him at seven-under-par. On the 9th hole, par five, Stewart and Tarling played to their advantage and carded birdies, launching themselves to eight-under-par heading into the turn.
Jarvis had a rough start on 10, bogeying the hole, but battled back carding three birdies on 11, 12 and 14 launching him to nine-under-par. Stewart birdied 11 and 14 placing him one stroke over Jarvis to hold the lead steady at ten-under-par as the group parred the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. On 18, Stewart and Tarling saved par, while Jarvis bogeyed to finish the round.
“Having solid ball striking ability out there gives me confidence heading into the qualifier for the British Senior Open,” stated Stewart who is heading to Celtic Mannor in Wales tomorrow to practice for the week before his qualifying round. “I find out tonight what course I play for the qualifier, and I’m hoping it’s nice and long for my sake, as that is my strength.” Stewart plans to attend Champions Tour Qualifying School this fall to fight for five full exemptions for the 2010 season.
“ It was my first year playing in this event, just because the timing hasn’t been right due to the Senior British Open, and last year I was injured, but I really enjoyed the entire week,” stated Stewart.
Yesterday, John Irwin of Summerside, PEI won the Super Seniors’ Division (aged 60 +) by one shot over Barry Laphen of Ottawa, ON when he birdied the final hole of the day posting a 74-72 for a 146 total score earning the $900 purse. Also yesterday, Doug Sullivan of Indian Mountain, NB captured the Diamond Division (aged 70 +) posting a 75 to add to his first round 73 totalling 148, claiming the $750 purse.
The $25,000 Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship was a three-day, 54-hole individual stroke play event. The Super Seniors’ (60 and older) and Diamond (70 and older) divisions were contested over 36 holes in two days.
The Marshes Golf Club is one of the premier golf destinations and leading corporate-play facility in the National Capital Region. The Robert Trent Jones II design opened for public play in 2001 and has garnered many accolades. The 7,027-yard course includes six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s.
Tournament History:
The Canadian PGA Seniors Championship was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the Seniors’ Championship became an independent event and has stayed that way ever since. Among the Canadian golf legends to win this championship are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman, Bob Panasik and Al Balding. Norman won this championship a record seven straight years from 1979 to 1985 while Balding stunned the golf world by winning the championship at age 76 in 2000.
About the Canadian PGA:
Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit www.cpga.com
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