Hadwin Handles the Heat in Vancouver Open Playoff Win

2011 PAINE EDMONDS VANCOUVER OPEN

September 2 – 4, 2011
MCCLEERY, LANGARA, FRASERVIEW

FINAL ROUND REVIEW

After 36 holes, the 2011 Paine Edmonds Vancouver Open looked like it was going to be a total blow-out by Canada’s #1 Ranked Male Golfer Adam Hadwin. Heading into the final round, Hadwin held a 7 shot lead. However, at the end of the day, this year’s Vancouver Open turned into one of the most dramatic finishes in professional golf tournament history!

Starting the final round 7 shots behind Hadwin, Sun Rivers Professional Brad Clapp put the pressure on Hadwin early, carding birdies on 1, 2, 4 and 8 for an outward nine score of 33. However, through nine holes, it wasn’t just Clapp who was narrowing the gap on Hadwin. First it was Surrey’s Ryan Williams, who went on a birdie frenzy getting to 8-under on his day thru 12 holes. Then it was Langley’s James Allenby who reeled of birdies on holes 2, 4, 6 and 9 to get within 2 shots of the lead.

Williams would trade-off a bogey and a birdie coming in to tie the official tournament course record for Fraserview at 64 and earn 4th place overall in the field. Allenby would cool off in the middle of the back nine, carding a double bogey on 13 and a bogey on 16. But would heat up again with an impressive finish, birdying the tough 17th and draining a 15 footer on 18 for eagle. Allenby would take home solo 3rd and a cheque for $3,300.

With Allenby making a backwards move on the midway point of the back nine, it looked more and more likely that Hadwin was going to defend his title. However, Clapp was not done yet. He kept closing the gap with birdies on 10, 11 and 12, and all of a sudden, after an untimely bogey on the par five 12th by Hadwin, it was now all square between the two at -11.

Clapp would continue to play some great golf on the back nine, par-ring 13 thru 18 to finish with a 66 on the day and -11 for the tournament.

When Hadwin made yet another bogey on the par three 16th, he would tee-off on 17 one shot back of Clapp. A solid par on 17 meant that Hadwin would need a birdie on the 520 yard par 5 18th to force a playoff, or an eagle for the outright win. Hadwin absolutely launched a drive 345 yards down the center of the fairway to 175 yards out and aired out an unbelievable iron shot to 6 feet behind the cup to the delight of a couple hundred fans around the 18th green and patio.

Hadwin was greeted with a huge applause as he approached the green, everyone knowing what his put meant: Make it and win the trophy! Miss it and back down 18 for a playoff! Hadwin lined it up, and started his downhill putt slowly on line, but with a foot to go, it veered right and it missed! PLAYOFF!

With darkness approaching, Hadwin and Clapp played back down 18 for a sudden death playoff. Clapp would push his drive into the right fairway bunker forcing him to lay up on his second shot. Then Hadwin yet again launched a perfect drive to within 175 yards, but would pull his mid iron slightly left of the green. Clapp would hit a great pitch shot to 12 feet from 100 yards, but would miss his birdie try and tap in for par. Hadwin would then hit a great pitch from greenside rough to 3 ½ feet above the hole from the same line as he had in regulation. And this time there would be no doubt! He would make it dead center for the dramatic win and crowned the 2011 PAINE EDMONDS VANCOUVER OPEN CHAMPION!!

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Hadwin’s win at this year’s Van Open earned him a 1st place cheque of $10,000 thanks to this year’s new title sponsor Paine Edmonds Lawyers. Clapp would take home a nice sized 2nd place cheque of $5,500. The man responsible for this happening is Paine Edmonds Law Firm partner Brad Garside, who was on site the whole day, enjoying every minute of the tournament. “We are thrilled to be a part of the Vancouver Open as the title sponsor this year” voiced Garside at the trophy presentation. “It has been a pleasure seeing the amount of growth the Vancouver Open event has this year” stated Garside. “This includes not only a sold out field, but the depth of talent in the field, and the amount of media exposure the event has gained due to the players in the field has led to the largest spectator attendance in the events’ history. For all these reasons, we couldn’t be happier”.

During his acceptance speech, Hadwin was quick to thank Mr. Garside and Paine Edmonds for their continued support of the Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) and in particular this year’s Vancouver Open. “Its great to see this event grow in stature in one short year” stated Hadwin. “For the event’s Pro purse to go up $10,000 in one year is a credit to your firm’s sponsorship and we as players can’t thank you enough for your support”. “It was great to see so many spectators out over the weekend watching our local golfers play some great golf on some of the best greens we’ve played all year”.

VGT Commissioner Fraser Mulholland went on to thank Vancouver Parks Golf for playing host to the Vancouver Open Championship for the last 3 years, complimenting all three golf course team members, from the clubhouse and pro-shop staff to the 3 course superintendants for conditioning all three golf courses in absolutely great championship form!

Congratulations to this year’s Van Open Overall Amateur Winner, 17 year old Adam Svensson of Surrey, who fired an impressive 54-hole total of 208 (-6), tying him for 6th overall in the field. “It was a great experience to play with Adam (Hadwin), Bryn and Nick in the first two rounds and I had a great time this week playing against some of the top Professionals in Western Canada. I look forward to playing in more VGT events in the future”.

At the end of the evening, the top 14 Amateur players in each flight would take home some fabulous prizes. Low Net honors went to Ted Kim, who scored 210 (-4) over the 54 holes. Both Kim and Svensson were winners of 50” LG HDTV’s.

For a full list of prize winners, visit VancouverOpen.ca

VGT’s Professional Order of Merit Winner (sponsored by Cleveland/Srixon) was officially announced at the prize presentations. And for the fourth straight year, North Vancouver’s Bryn Parry claimed the title, earning himself yet another trip down to PGA Tour Q-School courtesy of Cleveland/Srixon Golf. Parry will continue his quest for the card in mid October in Lantana, Texas, a site he has qualified successfully two times before. VGT wishes Bryn all the success in the world. All of us at VGT believe in you wholeheartedly. You deserve to be out there, it is where you belong, and it is where you will be in 2012!!

 

Vancouver Open & Charity

Through various initiatives at the 2011 Paine Edmonds Vancouver Open and Augusta Resources Charity Pro-am, VGT is proud to announce that we rose just over $2,500 for a very worthy cause – The First Tee of Greater Vancouver YMCA. The funds will be used to create initiatives that will give youngsters who don’t necessarily have the means to afford golf, a way to get into the game through free junior clinics and golf camps.

Vancouver Open Volunteers

Final thanks must to out to the amazing volunteers who put in countless hours to make this year’s Vancouver Open a Premier Championship for all players to remember! In particular, special thanks to the McCleery Ladies Club, who recruited a significant amount of our volunteers this year and Craig McDowall and Jack Murray for their amazing Video and Photography work!

VGT Team

And to the regular VGT Team members who continued to put in lengthy hours throughout the clock organizing this event and many more this year so that we can continue to give our premier golfers a place to play!

Our organizing committee members are listed here:
Heidi Tran – Marketing and Media
Holly Pearson – Financial Management
Mike West – Website Development & On course set-up & media
Brian Small, Bill Schabes, Chester Jenkins, Helen Simpson – VGT Live Scoring Team
Casey Fischer, Graham Venkataya – On Course set-up
George Sterling – Rules & Site 2 Team Leader
Jim McKinnon – Signage and Printing (Budget Printing)

VGT’s final event on the summer schedule is the Tour Championship hosted by The Q Golf Club in Richmond, September 29th. For more details visit Vancouver Golf Tour.