A standing ovation by his peers greeted Chris Learmonth when he was officially announced as the 2012 Titleist/FootJoy PGA of Ottawa Zone Championship at The Marshes Golf Club on Monday night. The gesture was not simply in recognition of the victory but of the respect Learmonth’s fellow professionals have for the Deep River Golf Club General Manager/Head Professional.
Having come to the Ottawa Zone in 1986, this was the first Zone Championship win for Chris, an event he has contended for many times but always seemed to elude him. Now the premier title on the Flagstick.com Players Tour is his and he could not be happier.
Although Learmonth shot 69 in the opening round and was just one stroke back of Lee Curry heading into the final eighteen he was surprised to learn at the scorer’s table that his 143 total (69-74) was enough for the win.
“Yeah, really surprised actually. Hearing that Gunner (Graham Gunn) was well under par for the day I figured that Lee and myself were just playing for second place.”
For most of the round Learmonth had his attention fully on Curry, a former Canadian Tour and Nationwide Tour member now working as an assistant professional at Rideau View. As the leader Curry was out in front of the field most of the day but made several bogies late in the back nine. Said Chris of the player he was pursuing, “…he did some things on the back none that were uncharacteristic of somebody who had played on tour for so long so I just kept telling myself to keep making pars down the stretch, not to make any bogies, and just to keep my cool.”
In the end that was enough as Gunn, who had reached four under par for the day early in his back nine, eventually made two double bogeys that left him at 72 for the day and in a tie for 4th place. The only other pursuer was Chris Barber who had opened with a 75 and bounced back with a 70 to earn solo third.
Once he realized he had actually won Learmonth was a little bit in shock but felt a sense of relief.
“I’ve been the bridesmaid for this a number of times. I’d usually shoot a good round and then have a poor one or somebody would just play well and win it. It’s nice to finally say I did it, to have my name on this trophy means more than anything. It’s the one event that alluded me for fifteen years. I don’t know how it happened today but it just happened.”
In the Senior Division Terry Kolar was the victor. Kolar, who is currently unattached after a long stint at the Pakenham Highlands Golf Club, was quite pleased with the turn of events at The Marshes.
“It was a really good win for me. It’s been a few years since I’ve won this event and this year has not been an especially good year for me so it was very gratifying. It makes for a very good highlight.”
