Alan McLean nearly records first 59 in PGA of Canada National Championship history, fires 60 to take six-stroke lead
McLean makes eight birdies and two eagles to take six-stroke lead into final round of the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by GOLFTEC over Marc Hurtubise, Dennis Hendershott and Gordon Burns.
Interview with McLean can be found here
Something special was brewing for Alan McLean on Wednesday at Parcours du Vieux Village.
Putt after putt fell to the bottom of the cup - playing in the same group as Jim Rutledge, on more than a few occasions the seven-time champ could be seen shaking his head with a smile, “this guy is on fire,” Rutledge said on the 12th tee, following an eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie-birdie stretch from McLean from holes 7-11.
Fittingly, McLean bookended the stretch with another eagle on 12, making it a run of 8-under par in six holes.
In total, after the 12th hole, McLean found himself at 11-under, needing only two more birdies on his way into the clubhouse to fire the first 59 in PGA of Canada National Championship history.
“It’s funny when you arrive at the golf course sometimes and the swing feels fluid, I said to my caddie before the round, ‘wow this feels good today’,” said McLean, who won the 2023 edition of the event in a playoff over Dennis Hendershott. “Once I got on a role it was about keeping it going. I was aware of where I was, I knew I was -11 after 12 holes and I gave myself opportunities coming in but couldn’t knock them in.”
McLean had multiple chances from 20 feet following his incredible six-hole stretch, but just narrowly missed on each attempt. From five feet on 17, McLean says he overread the break and then had to try to make eagle on 18 to achieve something he has never done before.
From 150-yards out, McLean hit his shot to 20 feet and then just missed his eagle chance on the high-side, settling for a 12-under 60 – the best round of his career.
“I got to a stage now where I can stay in the moment. Early on I holed a lot of 15 footers but coming down the drag I couldn’t do it – but golf is kind of like an equation and I made my putts early, I played well and I’m really happy with my day.”
“59 would be special, you just don’t have the opportunity to shoot 59 often, so I was bit weary of that today, but it didn’t inhibit my performance, I hit quality shots to 15 feet or in. On 17, it was a bad read from five feet and I didn’t make it but overall I’m extremely happy.”
With a six-stroke lead heading into the final round, McLean will look to be the first back-to-back champion of the event since Rutledge in 2012-2013.
“I was looking before I tee’d off today at some of the back-to-back champions, guys like Moe Norman, it would be a testament to the hard work I’ve put in this year if I’m able to do that tomorrow,” said McLean.
Meanwhile, Parcours du Vieux Village Head Professional Marc Hurtubise wound up winning the Super Senior title on Wednesday at 11-under par, and is tied for second in the main competition with Hendershott and Gordon Burns, while David Morland IV is in fifth, seven-strokes back, after firing 63.
The fifth hole this week has been deemed our ‘E-Z-GO It’s Good to Go Hole of the Week’. Anybody who makes eagle will be put into a draw for $250 cash. Dennis Hendershott had the lone eagle after the first round, while Martin Plante and John Cochrane each made eagle on the hole on Wednesday.
Final round tee times begin at 8 AM ET on Thursday.