Remi Bouchard Wins 2008 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistants’ Championship

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Remi Bouchard Wins 2008 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistants’ Championship presented by Simmlands Insurance

Beloeil, QC (September 25, 2008) – The 2008 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistants’ Championship presented by Simmlands Insurance came down to the wire as Remi Bouchard of Le Mirage, QC defeated John McCann of Fairtree Golf Centre, ON by one shot after returning to the 18th hole for a playoff. Bouchard carded 67-68-66 for a 12-under par 201 total to capture his second Canadian PGA Assistants’ Championship title twenty years after his first victory in 1988.

“It definitely felt a lot easier to win a championship 20 years ago, but this is a great feeling to once again be at the top of the field,” stated Bouchard who has played in this event four times (’87, ’88, ’07, ’08). Bouchard got off to a great start with two birdies on the first two holes with seven pars to follow. “I was happy that I got off to a strong start, but I didn’t truly feel comfortable out there until I hit the back nine when I drained a ten foot downhill putt for birdie on the tenth hole. I left a lot of putts short on the front nine, and I knew that I had to pull it together on the back because the conditions were great and I knew someone was going to shoot low out there today.”

Bouchard went on to birdie holes 10 and 11 then bogeyed the 15th where he pulled a shot and ended up in trouble in the rough. “The turning point for me in my game was on 17 where I hit my drive slightly longer than I expected and was about 270 yards away from the centre of the green. I usually hit my three wood 240, so I thought I would give it a shot and luckily hit it strong leaving me about 20 feet from the hole. I just missed my putt for eagle, but was happy with my birdie,” states Bouchard who is playing for the Quebec team at the Titleist Cup next week with his second match slated to be against McCann at Mount Bruno, QC.

“I knew it was a close race out there,” states Bouchard, “I am the type of player that needs to know what is going on with each group so that I know what I have to control in my game.” John McCann was one group ahead of Bouchard and Dave Levesque was one group behind, so Bouchard insisted that his close friend and caddy check with the official as to where the other players stood. “I found out that Dave was ten-under behind me and that John had already posted 12-under and at that point I was 11-under at 17 and knew I had to birdie 18 in order to stay in the game. I used my three-iron off the tee at 18 and it was a tough shot as the hole was very narrow sloping left. I landed in the rough then used my gap wedge to strike it about three feet from the pin, and at this point knew that I could make birdie.”

Bouchard sunk his birdie putt, while McCann was hitting balls on the driving range in preparation for a return to the 18th tee for the playoff. Bouchard was first off the tee and knew he was at an advantage. “I know that it is tough to shoot low like John did then wait around for the playoff to begin, whereas I was fresh off the green and in the zone ready to play again, it must have been a tough position for John to be in, and when I saw him hit it in the rough off the tee, I felt confident that I was going to win it.”

McCann carded the lowest round of the tournament posting a 63 today hitting all greens in regulation with nine birdies and one bogey. “Today it felt very easy and relaxing out on the course, I didn’t get too stressed about anything, and it felt seamless,” stated McCann. “Heading into the playoff, I was just trying to mimic how I felt on the course during the afternoon, stay in the present and not get too worked up about any of my shots. Unfortunately I hit a bad tee shot on 18 in the playoff and knew that I had missed my chance, but it was a great day and I’m thrilled with the way I played over the past three days,” stated McCann who shot 69-69-63 totaling 12 under par 201.

When asked if Bouchard will seek status on the Champions Tour in five years, he stated that he is unsure as to whether that is the path he would like to take. In the meantime, Bouchard will continue to work corporate events at Le Mirage and will be working in the financial business with his father this winter. He plans to take his children to Disney World next March with the $9000 purse he made from this event.

Past champion Bryn Parry of North Vancouver, BC took a run at Olivier Edmond’s back nine record, firing a 7-under par 28. After firing a 2-over par 38 on the front nine, Parry reeled off 7 birdies on the back nine en route to a 5-under par 66 to jump up into a tie for 10th place.

Quebec won the two-day InterZone team competition, after competing against each zone across the country. Going into the final round two shots behind Alberta, the Quebec team (Cuthill 69-69, Bouchard 67-68, Roy 71-68, Gunn 73-72) arrived victorious with a final score of 412 over the Alberta team (Belbin 72-72, James 66-71, Black 69-66, Kureluk 70-78) with a total score of 414, and Ontario (Bogle 75-67, Millage 72-68, McCann 69-69, King 74-70) at 419. The score is determined by the calculation of the best three scores in each four man team. The purse for the InterZone competition is $5000, with $500 going to each player on the winning team, $400 to each player on the second place team, and $350 going to each player on the third place team.

Club de Golf Beloeil has held many prestigious championships over the years, such as the 1989 and 2005 Canadian Senior Amateur, the 1995 Canadian Lady Amateur and the 1998 Québec Amateur. Beloeil’s course record was set by Canadian PGA Member Olivier Edmond of Quebec when he shot an outrageous 26 on the back nine, holing out twice totalling a stellar 61 for his round.

Weather: Sunny and 24 degrees

For more information contact:

Erica Duffy
Communications Coordinator
Canadian PGA
erica@cpga.com
800.782.5764 (x234)

Brad Moyer
Manager of Events and Employment
Canadian PGA
brad@cpga.com
800.782.5764 (x227)

About the CPGA:

Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit www.cpga.com