SEPTEMBER 20, 2022
OLIVER, BC (PGA of British Columbia) – Mark Kitts (Shadow Ridge Golf Club) overcame difficult scoring conditions at Fairview Mountain Golf Club on his way to victory at the 2022 Srixon/Cleveland Golf PGA of BC Club Professional Championship presented by Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP and Nike Golf.
In a week that presented wind gusts of up to 50 km/h and peak-season green speeds, the Kelowna-based Head Professional overcame the elements to top a field of 45 Club Professionals to claim his second Dick Munn Memorial trophy.
Kitts’s win came in dramatic fashion as a trio of players in the final group each had their chance at victory down the closing stretch. After the 17th hole on Tuesday’s final round, Kitts and Dave Zibrik (Point Grey Golf & Country Club) found themselves tied for the lead standing on the tee of the difficult 438-yard par 4 18th. The third member of the group, host Head Professional Rob Tadey, was just one stroke back.
All players hit great tee shots and approaches into the green, with Kitts leaving himself the shortest putt for birdie of the three.
Tadey was first to putt – a delicate 30-foot birdie putt from behind the hole, with dozens of Fairview Mountain Golf Club members cheering on their Head Professional for a chance to force a playoff. He rolled a great putt that trickled down the hill, but the ball just ran out of momentum, stopping a couple inches short of the cup. Tadey tapped in for a third-place finish, posting at even-par after rounds of 71-73. He pockets $1,500 for his efforts.
Zibrik was next play, having a 17-foot, left-to-right hooking putt for the lefty to take the clubhouse lead. He read the putt well, but it narrowly missed on the high-side, leaving Zibrik a tap-in for his par and now a spectator as he watched his fellow co-leader with a 15-footer for the win.
Kitts, who led for the majority of the 35-hole championship to that point, calmly knocked-in the uphill, right-to-left putt to claim victory in front of the gathering crowd.
“It’s an honour to be able to call myself a PGA of BC CPC champion again”, says the 38-year old.
“I played really well all week. The wind was tough, golf course was in great shape but I hit it well and putted great all week. Rob and Brian (McDonald) are always so hard to beat on their own track and Dave is obviously always up there. Fairview Mountain is such a great track and it feels great to be able to win this tournament here”.
Kitts carded rounds of 70-72 to finish the tournament at 2-under par and a $2,700 payday of the nearly $15,000 total purse. He becomes only the fourth player to win multiple Club Professional Championships after he first claimed the Dick Munn Memorial trophy in 2019 at Kelowna Golf & Country Club.
Zibrik posted rounds of 73-70 - a first round that included a quadruple bogey on the par 4 6th. He earns $2,000 for his runner-up efforts. The 2016 winner of this event now adds to a record he established last year for most consecutive runner-up results in any PGA of BC-conducted championship. Tuesday marks his fifth consecutive second place finish in the Club Professional Championship.
“I got up-and-down for birdie on 17 to give myself a chance. It was a lot of fun playing with Mark and Rob today and happy with another solid finish. I’m happy with the way I played”. Zibrik says.
Luke McKenzie (Eaglequest Golf Centre at Coquitlam) finished in fourth place (74-74) to take home $1,050, while 2007 champion Rob Anderson (Kelowna Golf & Country Club) rounds out the top five with rounds of 75-74 to cash $900.
Kitts, Zibrik, and Tadey posted the six lowest rounds of the tournament this week, alongside host Executive Professional Brian McDonald’s opening round of 73.
Dave was not the only Zibrik who found success at this championship. Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club Head Professional and wife, Ashley, finished in a tie for sixth place with McDonald at seven-over par, each cashing $750.
Defending champion Padraic O’Rourke (The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club) finished eighth, earning a cheque for $600.
Club Professionals are defined as PGA members working in the capacity of Head, Executive or Head Teaching Professionals at PGA approved facilities.
Though the gusting winds may have been a major contributing factor to difficult play this week, competing Professionals were thrilled with the opportunity to play the Les Furber-designed course at Fairview Mountain Golf Club and its tremendous conditions. The PGA of BC extends its thanks to host Executive Professional Brian McDonald, Head Professional Rob Tadey, Superintendent Steve Pearson, and the entire team of staff and volunteers at the club for their outstanding hospitality and assistance in making the tournament a great success.
The Association also extends its appreciation to title sponsors Srixon/Cleveland Golf and presenting sponsors Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP and Nike Golf for their generous support and on-site presence at the event.
CLICK HERE to view complete results and payouts from 2022 Srixon/Cleveland Golf PGA of BC Club Professional Championship presented by Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP and Nike Golf at Fairview Mountain Golf Club.
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About Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO
Based in Huntington Beach, Calif., Cleveland® Golf, Srixon®, and XXIO® are all part of the SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD. family and each brand enjoys a strong presence on competitive tours worldwide. Their professional staffs include players such as Hideki Matsuyama, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry, Inbee Park, Nasa Hataoka, Minjee Lee, as well as many others. Cleveland® Golf, founded in 1979, is a leading equipment manufacturer specializing in short game technologies and solutions that benefit all golfers. Srixon®, with more than 80 years of golf ball manufacturing experience, is committed to producing the highest quality, technically innovative golf balls which offer maximum performance to golfers of all levels of ability. XXIO®, with its longstanding tradition of premium golf clubs in Japan, brings the No. 1 golf brand in Japan to North America. Cleveland® Golf, Srixon®, and XXIO® remain steadfastly committed to providing "Tour proven, premium golf equipment to passionate golfers seeking to improve their performance while enhancing their experience playing the game of golf. Visit Srixon, Cleveland Golf & XXIO online to learn more.
About Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP
Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP is Western Canada’s full-service distributor of Toro Commercial Turf Care Equipment, Toro Golf Irrigation Equipment and Yamaha Golf Cars, plus all additional related products. It proudly offers the very best quality products and professional service and support to golf courses, municipal parks, independent landscapers and private clients. Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP has been in business since 1969 and currently employs approximately 100 people throughout the year at its six locations throughout Western Canada. For more information, visit www.oakcreekgolf.com.
About NIKE Inc.
NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Oregon, is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Converse, a wholly-owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiary brand, designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. Nike Golf is distributed in Canada by the Mint Green Group. Click here for more information.
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For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Donald Miyazaki
Executive Director, PGA of BC
(604) 723-2247
donald@pgabc.org