The Duel in the Desert

The Duel in the Desert

Matt Peavoy captured the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada making par on the first playoff hole at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

The head teaching professional at Heron Landing Golf Club in Peterborough, Ont., outlasted Alberta’s Scott Allred en route to his first PGA of Canada national championship.

“I’ve been chasing what I call the PGA of Canada majors for 15 years and to win is something really special,” Peavoy said.

The 35-year-old put together rounds of 72-74-69 for a three-day total of 2-over-par 215 at the challenging SunRidge Canyon Golf Club. Peavoy admitted lady luck was on his side this week after starting the championship with three bogeys thru the first six holes.

“There’s no doubt I had luck on my side. I hit some balls in the desert this week and it hits a rock or cactus, takes a good kick and the next thing you know I’m back in play,” Peavoy said.

With the win, Peavoy collects $12,000 as well as 45 PGA of Canada Player Rankings points.

For the second time since 2011, Allred finishes second at the PGA Club Professional Championship after failing to convert a four-foot par putt on the 54th hole. Second round leader Dan Greenwood—who shot a tournament low round of 65 on day No. 2—finished third alone. Two-time PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner Danny King, 2014 PGA Championship of Canada winner Dave Levesque, Kevin Maxwell, Ron Kenesky and 1990 PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Randy Robb. Doug Morgan and Scott Johnson rounded out the top 10.

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The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), was settled Tuesday at SunRidge Canyon. Team Quebec—Girouard, Laporte, Dave Levesque and Greg Cuthill—bested Team British Columbia by a shot. Team Ontario rounded out the top three.

Following his playoff victory, Peavoy admitted he almost didn’t play this week in Arizona.

“On Monday this week I thought I was going to have to withdraw because I have an infected cuticle on my finger and I honestly couldn’t swing with a conventional grip,” he said. “So after the practice round on Monday I went to the range and tried it with a 10-finger grip and it was unbelievable.”

This year’s PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada full-field of 109 players featured eight past champions and 41 of the top 100 golfers from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.