Gord Burns shoots 31 on back nine to win PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by GOLFTEC
By: Brendan Stasiewich, PGA of Canada
Gord Burns, Alan McLean and Danny King were involved in what will go down as one of the great final-round battles in PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by GOLFTEC history on Wednesday afternoon at Manitou Ridge Golf Club.
When the dust settled, Burns’ three birdies in a row from holes 16-18 gave him a one-point win over Alan McLean in what was an emotional win for the 2024 PGA of Canada Teacher of the Year.
“I feel honoured to have my name on the same trophy as Mr. (Bob) Panasik and Jim Rutledge and Moe Norman, it is an honour to win this tournament and I’m super pleased it happened,” said Burns. “This means a lot, my sister was here to watch me. Our family has had a rough go with her husband passing away earlier this year.”
“You don’t know when life is going to hit you, so I was so pleased for her to be here with me. It means a lot that she came and I’m happy to have won this for our family.”
Danny King entered the day two Stableford points clear of McLean and Burns. With all three players at the top of their games, it became clear on the back nine that the champion was going to come from the final group.
“I knew on the back nine when I teed off on 10, if I didn’t shoot 30 or 31, I wasn’t winning,” said Burns. “I had an aggressive mindset and I said I need to make birdies, I need to hit my yardages, because Alan and Danny are super good so all I was thinking was birdies.”
On hole 12, Burns made birdie while King made bogey, a huge swing resulting in a three-way tie for the lead with six holes to play.
Burns’ ball-striking prowess was on full display on the 14th hole after leaving himself more distance than he would have liked into the par-4.
“I heel-flared the drive, but at least it didn’t go left,” said Burns. “I hit a 6-iron and committed to the shot and hit it awesome, to five or six feet and made it, that was a key shot on the back nine.”
After a three-putt bogey on 15, Burns proved why he is one of Ontario’s best ball-strikers on the final three holes, knocking it to 10 feet on the par-4 16th, eight feet on the par-3 17th (where McLean and King each hit it within three feet), and 15 feet with his second into the par-5 18th.
“On 16 I hit a good tee shot in the fairway, had 130 and hit it to six feet and made it, and then 17, teeing off first I knew I needed to hit a good shot because I knew they were going to,” said Burns. “I hit it to 10 feet and they both hit it to two feet and I knew I had to make mine and I hit a good putt.”
“The last hole I had 235 to the pin and it was downhill so I hit a hard 4-iron and it released to 15-feet below the hole. I am super happy with that shot.”
While Burns narrowly missed his eagle look, McLean was unable to convert a 10-foot birdie look which would have sent the tournament to a playoff.
“This is the first time I’ve played Manitou Ridge. I came up Sunday and played a practice round and thought ‘my goodness this is a precious golf course,” said Burns. “GOLFTEC has stepped up to the plate and sponsored several events. They do a lot for our game, helping people get better, and their support of PGA of Canada professionals, I’m so happy they’re able to help us
The Super Senior division wrapped up on Tuesday with Marc Hurtubise winning the 36-hole event by 3-points over Michael Dagenais.
The 18th hole was the E-Z-GO It’s Good to Go Hole of the Week. Thanks to his albatross on Monday, David Morland IV takes home the $250 prize thanks to E-Z-GO.