August 22, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – The second and final round of the 47th annual PGA of Ottawa Zone Championship was played yesterday on the Premiere course at the Greensmere Golf & Country Club in Carp. Ontario.
This year’s Zone Championship on the Flagstick.com PGA Ottawa Tour was sponsored by Srixon/Cleveland Golf Canada and presented by Nike Golf with their area representative Keith Riley in attendance both days.
A sunny day greeted PGA of Ottawa Golf Professionals on their second day at Greensmere, but a steady west wind brought not only the smell of forest fires but also played havoc throughout the day with club selection for many players.
ROGER BEALE WINS ZONE CHAMPIONSHIP
It took an eagle putt on the thirty-sixth hole of the two-day competition for Rideau View’s Roger Beale to nip seven-time PGA of Ottawa Zone Champion Lee Curry from the Camelot Golf & Country Club by one stroke. Roger won his last zone championship in 2003 and he was thrilled to hoist the PGA of Ottawa Zone Championship Trophy again today after he posted his two-day total score of one under par 143 (71-72).
The PGA of Ottawa 2023 Zone Champion Roger Beale talked about his win and his eagle putt on the eighteenth hole today. – “It was back and forth all day with Lee (Curry) today. I was pretty solid on the front but I fell asleep a little bit on the back. Obviously Lee was making putts and grinding all day but I didn’t give up. I made a couple of nice par saves and then what happens in golf, he made a bad shot at the wrong time on eighteen and I was lucky enough to hit a really good second shot. My caddie James (Ramsay) and I figured out a game plan on the eagle putt and it just had to get there and it did. It’s been twenty years since my last Zone Championship win. It’s been a busy year at the club as it always is and playing is nice but it’s not a priority as I have my Members at Rideau View to look after. I’ve been playing decent and I feel very fortunate to win my second Zone Championship.”
As mentioned, Lee Curry finished in second place with his two-day total score of even par 144 (72-72). Alone in third place was James Sperinck from the Meadows with his score of three over par 147 (74-73). Tied for fourth place with scores six over par 150 were GOLFTEC Ottawa’s Taylor Lafferty (76-74) and Mountain Creek’s Jonathan Schaepper (74-76). Rideau View’s Dan McNeely finished alone in sixth place with his score of 151 (75-76) and tied for seventh place with scores of 152 were Stephen Veenema from Loch March (75-77) and current PGA of Canada President Gord Percy from Smiths Falls (73-79).
GRAHAM GUNN EXTENDS HIS WINNING STREAK
GUNNGOLF’s Graham Gunn can now add a fourth consecutive Senior Division win in the PGA of Ottawa Zone Championship to his record after he posted his two-day total score was one under par 143 (74-69).
Graham has had an outstanding season in the senior divisions of 2023mPGA of Ottawa events. He finished in second place in the Spring Open, first in the Summer Open, first in the Pro-Pro with his Hautes Plaines partner Dany Lacombe, and more recently took home the Stan Kolar Trophy for the eleventh time after his victory in the PGA of Ottawa Senior Championship.
When asked about this Senior Zone Championship win and his overall record this year, Graham responded, – “It was nice to putt well today. I struggled yesterday as I wasn’t lagging the ball well. I missed a lot of greens and had to chip alot and I knew had to get the ball closer. I drove the ball exceptionally well today and made a whole bunch of putts. It was much better today. Pasquale (Mongillo) and Stevie (Hall) are great to play with and it was good to be paired with them today. I did keep the ball in play all day except for one lie that hung in the rough on the seventeenth hole.
My objective all year was to keep the ball in play, stay patient and not get anxious on any given situation. I didn’t play much except in the Zone events and it was great to have Stanley (Hogan) with me all year especially with what he’s gone through. He lost his wife last week and he likes the guys and loves to caddie. I’m fortunate to have him with me and we’ve had a great year.”
Pineview Golf Club’s Steve Hall finished in second place with his five over par score of 149 (77-72) which was three strokes better than third place finisher Dany Lacombe (78-74-152) from the Hautes Plaines Golf Club. First round co-leader Pasquale Mongillo from Archies Family Golf Center in Cornwall, Ontario finished in fourth place with his two-day total score of 153 (74-79).
PGA of Ottawa Zone Director Carol Ann Baxter thanked Keith Riley for his company’s continued sponsorship. She also thanked the management, membership and staff at Greensmere for their assistance and service and for allowing PGA of Ottawa Professionals to hold their Zone Championship over two days on the Legacy and Premiere courses which were both in tremendous shape in spite of the rain over the past couple of weeks.
Next up for PGA of Ottawa Golf Professionals on the 2023 Flagstick.com PGA Ottawa Tour is their Fall Championship at Rideau View on Monday, September 18th.
