(Shubenacadie, NS) July 12, 2007
- Tim McCullum, of the Lynx at Kingswood, in Fredericton N.B., rolled in
a 10-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole and made solid pars on the final
two holes to capture the Titleist/FootJoy Canadian PGA Atlantic Zone
Championship, held at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, NS. He
recorded rounds of 71-73 =144, over the 6,600 yard, par 72 layout.
Stu Musgrave, from Moncton Golf & CC, finished in
second spot, two shots back, with
73-73=146. Tied for third, at 147, were thirteen-time champion Kevin
Dugas from Carmen Creek, and John Irwin of Summerside, who was also low
senior in the event. Fifty-seven CPGA professionals, from throughout
Atlantic Canada, took part in the annual championship held 11-12 July.
This was the second CPGA Atlantic Zone Championship
for McCullum, who is Associate professional at the Lynx at Kingswood. He
also won in 2001, at Sussex Golf &CC, in his freshman year as a
professional.
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| Tim McCullum tee shot on par five,
sixteenth hole |
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McCullum talked about his final round: “Today, I
didn’t hit it that bad on the front nine; just a little double bogey
hiccup on number three and a three putt on eight, but the birdies on two
and nine helped out.
On the back, I ran into some problems on the bottom
part of the course, down on the flats. My fiancée, who caddied for me,
said, ‘just relax and enjoy the game.’ From then on, everything seemed
to go smooth and I played the last four holes as good as I could.”
By the end of the 180 yard, par 3, fifteenth,
McCullum’s lead was just one, over Musgrave and Irwin. Dugas, playing in
the group ahead, had just holed his tee shot
on fifteen to get to within two shots.
“Things were getting tight, but I had a feeling that
the championship would come down to the par 5, sixteenth hole. I hit a
great tee shot and knew that I had to capitalize on it.”
McCullum hit his gap wedge second shot to within ten
feet of the flag on the 500-yard hole, then made the putt for eagle.
Musgrave and Irwin made birdies. On the 375-yard par 4 seventeenth,
Musgrave got back to within one of the lead with a birdie three, but was
unable to overtake McCullum, who closed with solid pars on the finishing
holes for a two shot victory.
“The last two holes, I hit every shot in the center of
the clubface,” said a happy McCullum, “I was really pleased with my
overall play and am thrilled to win this championship again.”
During the final round, play was halted due to rain
for nearly two hours, and high winds also played havoc all day. Low
rounds in the event were one under par 71’s, turned in by McCullum, on
opening day, and Scott Frizzell, of the Links at Montague, in the final
round.
The Atlantic Championship was also the Atlantic
qualifier for the Canadian Club Professionals' Championship, which will
be held in Port St. Lucie, Florida in November.
Head Professionals Musgrave, Dugas, Irwin and Frizzell were awarded the
spots for the event.
Following are top scores:
1. Tim McCullum - Links at Kingswood 71-73 = 144
2. Stu Musgrave - Moncton GC 73-73 = 146
T3. Kevin Dugas - Carman Creek 74-73 = 147
T3. John Irwin - Summerside GC 72-75 = 147
5. Scott Frizzell -Links at Montague 77-71 = 148
T6 Gordie Smith - Oakfield 76-73 = 149
T6 Blehr MacPhail - Holland College 76-73 = 149
T8 Shane Grinton - Links at Penn Hills 76-74 = 150
T8 Jeff Wood - Moncton GC 77-73 = 150
T8 Elliott Isenor - Fox Harb’r 77-73 = 150
11 Pat DeCoste - Links at Penn Hills 74-79 = 153
12 Troy Howe - Fox Creek 76-78 = 154
T13 Dallas Desjardins - Fredericton GC 75-80 = 155
T13 Charlie Robson -Links at Penn Hills 77-78 = 155
T15 Derek MacKinnon - Ken- Wo 75-81 = 156
T15 John Lawson - Country Meadows 79-77 = 156
