It was Victoria Golf Club professional Lindsay Bernakevitch who won the PGA of BC Championship Tuesday in South Surrey at Morgan Creek Golf Course.
After the first day of the two-round tournament, Zach Olson (Chilliwack Golf Club) was the Round One leader with an impressive -6 (6-under 66), but Bernakevitch's combined scorecard of 68, 69 (137) won him the title and the $8,000 first-place purse.
Bernakevitch secured the win in dramatic fashion – despite the pressure of a missed short putt to clinch the victory on the final hole. The Victoria Golf Club Director of Golf displayed resilience and poise, triumphing on the first playoff hole against Kevin Stinson and Andy Lin, who tied Bernakevitch at 7-under par after 36 holes.
This victory saw Bernakevitch lift the William Thompson Trophy as PGA of BC Champion for a second time, having also won the title in 2011, a PGA of BC release noted.
He fired a 68 on Monday to sit two strokes back of Round One leader and 2023 champion Olson, but Round Two was a tightly contested clash, with Bernakevitch, Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course), Lin (Pacific Golf Academy), Luke Bogdan (Cheam Mountain Golf Course), Jonnie Motomochi (Morgan Creek Golf Course), and Olson all holding a share of the lead at different points of the competition Tuesday.
Stinson tied for second place with Lin, winning $4,275 each. Cheam Mountain's Luke Bogdan came in fourth overall, with a 138 scorecard (67, 71), winning $3,100.
During play on Tuesday, PGA of Canada professional Graham Ogden took the time to chat with Black Press Media.
Ogden is no stranger to playing the tree-lined fairways and challenging greens of the Morgan Creek course. A golf pro of 20 years – 10 at Hazelmere Golf and Tennis Club and the past 10 at Richmond Country Club – he grew up in the area, as his parents owned a house on Morgan Creek's 13th hole.
"I try to play in this event every year – it's really great to meet some of the new guys in the industry, then of course, see friends I've made over the years being in the industry," he said Tuesday, under cloudy skies. "It's just really well run. Our association is a leader in the country for events and community engagement and education and they really keep everybody developing."
Ogden said playing in the events for him, is more about the networking and seeing old friends as well as making new ones.
"My golf game is not as good as it used to be, but it's definitely a pleasure to be out here. ... I've got a friend caddying for me, it's an amazing course and excellent conditions," he said, confessing that the 13th hole is likely his favourite at Morgan Creek.
"13 must be my favourite... my parents used to live there and as a kid, I used to come out and throw golf balls into the middle of the fairway and hit them," he said with a chuckle. "Tom (Doull, Morgan Creek golf pro) hopefully doesn't hear this."
Ogden and PGA of BC communications and marketing manager Graham Abraham gave kudos to Doull and the team at Morgan Creek for the course's outstanding conditions.
Abraham said the championship is the PGA of BC's flagship tournament with the largest field.
"We have 120 golfers out here, and it's the one tournament where any pro of any level can come out," he explained. "We have assistant pros, we have head professionals, executive professionals – they're all eligible to compete in this tournament."
Despite the cloudy skies in the morning, the sun strained to find its way throughout the afternoon.
"It's going to be a real tight battle for the title here," Abraham said.
He also thanked title sponsor Aixs Insurance as well as presenting sponsor GOLFTEC for helping make the tournament happen.
With Olson and other leaders set to tee off at 1:50 p.m., play was still underway early Tuesday afternoon.
More to come
