Craig Stefureak wins the 103rd PGA Championship of Canada by Three Strokes at Pinegrove Country Club
By: Brendan Stasiewich, PGA of Canada
(Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC) – Pinegrove Country Club is difficult. So difficult, in fact, that the course-record of 64 has held up since Tommy Aaron shot the number on his way to a 1969 Canadian Open victory.
The winning score at the 103rd PGA Championship of Canada – 15-under - came as a shock to many. But for those who witnessed Craig Stefureak plot his way around the course the past three days, the score sounds about right.
“It wasn't easy, let me tell you, but it feels great,” said Stefureak, who is a teaching professional at The Bunker in Ottawa, ON. “This is probably the biggest tournament I've ever won. It feels great. I mean, the story, the history of this event, and the way I had to do it this week. Yeah, it's right up there.”
Entering the day with a two-stroke lead thanks to a Wednesday 66, Stefureak faced some heat on the front nine as playing competitors Yohann Benson and Chris Vandette looked right at home.
“Yohann (Benson) came out hot, he birdied the first two holes and my lead was gone,” said Stefureak, who claimed the Ottawa Zone and Assistants’ Championships in 2024. “I just had to bear down and play my own game.
“At the end of the day, as much as it feels like match play, you're trying to make it not that. So, I just played my game and really tried to stay calm throughout,” Stefureak added.
Benson pulled within one stroke thanks to a deuce on No. 12, but a double bogey on 14 derailed his chances – giving Stefureak a three-stroke cushion down the stretch.
“I was just trying to stay in the moment and do my own thing. They made a few mistakes, but that doesn't give you the leeway or the right to make your own,” said Stefureak, who now has 11 professional victories. “You just want to stick to the game plan, keep hitting good golf shots and stay committed.”
On 17, Stefureak got up-and-down from a greenside bunker to save par, and on 18, he found the center of the putting surface, two-putting to secure the oldest prize in Canadian golf – the P.D. Ross Trophy.
“My caddie, we met a couple of years ago, and he's just such a calming presence on the bag. There were some times where, you know, something happens, a bounce or something negative, and he was able to just pull me right out of it to stay in the present moment,” said Stefureak, who earns $12,035 with the victory.
“Let's go Blue Jays,” he added to finish the interview; sporting a Jays hat through all three days of competition.
Making seven birdies and an eagle on Thursday, Dillon Bastel is taking $7,900 home to Medicine Hat with him thanks to a final-round 66 to finish as the runner up. First-round leader Chris Vandette shot a closing 70 to finish alone in third place.
Wes Heffernan was 8-under through 10 holes on Thursday, but a few missed opportunities stalled him at that number – firing a final-round best 64 (matching the course record) to finish T13.
The 13th hole was selected as the E-Z-GO ‘It’s Good to Go’ hole of the week. All players who made eagle on the were put into a draw for a $250 cash prize. Sylvie Schetagne made eagle on Tuesday, Philippe Couillard and Reggie Harmer made eagle on Wednesday, and Dillon Bastel and Jordan Ells made eagle today.
After a random draw, Philippe Couillard earns the $250 cash prize.