Gord Burns wins Teaching Professional Championship, Billy Houle wins Head Professional Championship
Wednesday marked the final round of both the PGA Head Teaching Professional Championship of Canada presented by UpSwing Golf and the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.
While Gord Burns entered the final day of the Head Teaching Professional Championship up by a single-stroke on David Li Sheman – his second-consecutive 66 on Wednesday led to a nine-stroke victory.
“After the front, I was 3-under and the other guys were struggling a bit, so I didn’t really look at the leaderboard, but I knew I just had to keep hitting fairways and greens,” said Burns, who also claimed the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by GOLFTEC. “I had a moment where I asked what Kevin Stinson was at, because he can shoot 10 or 12-under, that’s just what he does, but I learned he wasn’t 12-under, so that was good.”
Ed Maunder was Burns’ closest chaser at 6-under, while Sheman finished in third at 4-under. In addition to his $6,000 first-place cheque, Burns also takes home $5,000 as the low overall players across both events.
“It’s unbelievable how good the teaching pros are in Canada,” said Burns, who carded a bogey-free 66 Wednesday. “A lot of them have played on various Tours and I’m happy to play with them, and trying to beat them keeps me sharp and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Meanwhile, the Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf had a more dramatic finish.
Billy Houle, the Head Professional at Club de Golf de Joliette, entered the day two-strokes behind Weston Gillett, but an eagle-birdie stretch on seven and eight opened up a three-stroke lead for the PGA of Quebec pro.
“No .7 was downwind so that helped, I came in with 200 yards and put it to a few feet. I had a couple good chances early and made some good up and downs for par,” said Houle. “I figured something under par today would give me a chance, so I was trying to not think of the leaderboard, but I knew 3-under on the front gave me a chance.”
Down the stretch, Houle found trouble on 16 when he found the jungle on the right. Houle managed to find his ball and made a bogey after taking an unplayable penalty – his lead was suddenly just a single-stroke over Gillett.
Houle was calm-cool and collected on 17 and 18 though, making par on both holes to claim his first PGA Head Professional Championship victory – and the $9,000 cheque - by a stroke over Gillett and Marc Hurtubise, and his family was there to celebrate with him.
“I’m just so happy to do this with the family here, I had a decent season, I had fun and was healthy and was able to play most of the year,” said Houle. “Winning a tournament, you never know when it’s going to happen or if it will happen again, I’ve won in the past… but winning with the kids was a treat I’ll never forget.
The 18th hole was the E-Z-GO It’s Good to Go Hole of the Week. Matt Kirlin made the lone eagle, taking home the $250 bonus prize.