Coldstream native Tyler Pitt struggled mightily on the back nine, but did just enough to hold off Nigel Sinnott for the 2012 Canaccord Weath Management Chilliwack Men’s Open title.
One of 41 professionals teeing off Saturday and Sunday at the Chilliwack Golf and Country Club, Pitt went four under par over two rounds to take the tournament by two strokes and claim his first pro victory.
Pitt nearly lost it down the stretch, carding bogeys on the 12th, 16th and 17th holes.
Pitt had to take a double-bogey on a disastrous 13th hole.
But he slipped a birdie in on the 15th hole and earned par on the 18th to wrap up the win.
Sinnott, Bryn Parry and Oliver Tubb tied for second, all at two under par.
CG&CC’s own Sinnott struggled early in the second round, recording a double bogey on the sixth hole and bogeys on the eighth and ninth.
But he came alive on the back nine with birdies on the 11th, 15th and 16th holes.
The 15th hole was almost an eagle, but Sinnott came inches shy of draining a 12 foot putt.
Sinnott, who tends bar at CG&CC, captured a $1,200 paycheque, the biggest of his short pro career.
“Nigel was working late into the night Friday, prepping in the restaurant,” said CG&CC general manager Bryan Ewart. “He shoots lights out golf on Saturday morning, pours drinks behind the bar on Saturday evening and comes so close to winning the tournament on Sunday. Not a bad weekend for the 22 year old kid!”
Curtis Baldwin was in it to the end, finishing three off the pace at one under par.
Baldwin was efficient down the stretch, getting birdies on the 11th and 18th holes and pars on the rest of the back nine.
But a double bogey on the second hole proved costly and kept him out of the top three.
Local pros Jared Rempel, Josh Taylor, Chap McAdie and Brad Clapp had their moments.
Rempel was the best of the bunch, finishing in a tie for eighth at two over par.
CG&CC’s Clapp finished in a tie for 12th at three over par.
Taylor tied for 14th at four over par.
McAdie tied for 17th at five over par.
Danny Hebert finished seven over par.
Former PGA players Phillip Jonas and Ray Stewart joined the field. Jonas finished sixth at even, and Stewart tied for eighth at two over par.
On the amateur side, Colin Gilliam’s four-over-par 146 earned him top spot by four strokes over Mitchell Lock.
Matt Gudmundson’s eight-over-par 150 put him in a three way tie for third with Yves Bisson and Ryan Saran.