Jim Rutledge wins PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada

Rutledge’s three-day total of 17-under par (65-65-69) equals his own tournament record from 2010 at Rattlesnake Point in Milton, Ont.

“I played some real good golf the last three days and I’m proud of myself,” Rutledge says about his three rounds that included 16 birdies, one eagle and one bogey. “I was trying to beat my own record of a couple years ago, but I tied it and that’s OK.”

In 2010, the Victoria native’s margin of victory was 10 shots. This time around, however, there was a 13-shot spread between the champion and the runner-up.

But Rutledge admits this week’s championship was more about reconnecting with old friends, rather than making a lot of red numbers.

“It’s about seeing your old buddies—guys you grew up playing with; guys I learned from when I first started golfing,” Rutledge says. “That’s what it’s all about, seeing everybody that you’ve grown up with over the years.”

Gregg Schubert, the PGA of Canada’s President,   agrees with Rutledge, saying that while the championship showcases the talents of the best senior golfers in Canada, it’s also allows the players to catch up with old friends and make new ones too.

“There is no doubt that this year’s field for the Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon was one of the best in the tournament’s history,” Schubert says. “But what I think speaks volumes about these players is their willingness to enjoy the company of their fellow competitors before, during and after their competitive rounds.”

With his victory, Rutledge claims the Albert Murray Trophy and first place prize money of $9,000.

Norm Jarvis, winner of the Super Seniors division, and Yvan Beauchemin finished at 4 under in a tie for second place. Daniel Talbot finished alone in third at 3 under, with Gar Hamilton finishing fourth, and David Wettlaufer and Serge Thivierge placing T6 at 1 under. Rounding out the top 10 were Danny Mijovic and Jean Laforce (T8), and John Rushnell and Scott Allred (T10).

Rutledge who finished T33 at the U.S. Open last week in Michigan says his win at Emerald Hills gives him the confidence he needs heading into next week’s Senior Open Championship in Turnberry, Scotland.

“We were going to have a week off but the tournament date was good timing, so we worked our way from Detroit up here to play and now we’re on our way to the British Seniors, so it gives us come confidence heading into that.”

The PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the Seniors’ Championship became an independent event and has stayed that way ever since. Among the Canadian golf legends to win this championship are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman, Bob Panasik and Al Balding. Norman won this championship a record seven straight years from 1979 to 1985, while Balding stunned the golf world by winning the championship at age 76 in 2000.

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