A testy final-round setup somewhat stymied Brett Burgeson Friday, but he overcame the obstacles to win his third PING Canada PGA of Alberta Club Professional Championship title at the Red Deer Golf and Country Club.
While making history as the first three-time winner of the event, Burgeson shot a 1-over 73 to finish with a 36-hole total of 140, five strokes better than runner-up Kevin Broderson of Lacombe.
“It’s definitely satisfying to win a third one,” said Burgeson, the head pro at Calgary Country Hills. “I’ve been really close the last few years.”
After firing an opening round 5-under 67 Thursday, Burgeson struggled with his putter Friday thanks in part to some difficult pin placements that resulted in higher scores all around.
“I hit the ball well today, I just couldn’t get it in the hole,” he said.
“I wasn’t hitting bad putts, but maybe I didn’t have the right read or the right weight, and a couple of times it was just due to a tough pin. I three-putted a couple of times today but otherwise it was pretty good. I hit it in the fairway most of the day.”
Broderson, who bogeyed the final hole and checked in with a 4-over 76 to finish at 1-over 145, insisted that Burgeson deserved the victory.
“He was tough to beat. He played well both days,” said Broderson. “I played with him today and in front of him yesterday and every time we looked back he was within five feet of the hole. He was hitting it really well yesterday.”
Added Burgeson: “I didn’t have to make much yesterday. I was hitting it pretty close, but today I wasn’t getting as close (to the pin) and putting was more difficult.
“This is a tough golf course. You have to hit it well off the tee. When you have greens like they have here are and the pin positions the way they were today, it’s tough to score.”
Burgeson earned $4,700 while Broderson pocketed $3,150 for his second-place performance. Both players earned Team Alberta berths for the Canadian Club Professional Championship in November at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
“I’m having a good year. This is my best finish in this tournament,” said Broderson, who came into the event ninth on the Alberta PGA Order of Merit. “I got it around the two days here. I just wish I could have putted a little better.”
The other two spots on Team Alberta will go to the highest Order of Merit finishers at season’s end among the top 10 players in the provincial club pro championship.
That group includes Joel Johannson of Sylvan Lake Meadowlands, who fired a 75 Friday and tied for fifth with a 149 total, and Todd Fiske of Red Deer River Bend, who tied for 10th with a final-round 78 and a 152 total. Johansson earned $1,586 and Fiske pulled down $1,157.
Scott Allred of Calgary Elbow Springs carded a 74 and finished third at 146. He received a cheque for $2,500.
Tim Sawatzky of Calgary Lynx Ridge finished fourth. He turned in a final-round 75 for a 148 total and a $2,100 payday.
Among the Central Alberta golfers, Scott Bergdahl of Sylvan Lake Lakewood was the best of the rest with a second-round 79 and 36-hole total of 162.
Wade Bearchell of Olds Central Highlands came in with an 84 and finished at 169, Greg Rissler of Stettler Pheasantback fired an 88 and finished at 174, and host pro Ken Frame slipped to a 95 while playing with a pulled muscle in his back and had a 36-hole sum of 179.
gmeachem@www.reddeeradvocate.com