Dennis Hendershott fires final-round 64 to win PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada, BetRegal PGA Championship of Canada concludes Saturday
By: Brendan Stasiewich, PGA of Canada
(Bromont, QC) – Entering the day four-strokes off the lead, Dennis Hendershott knew that it was going to take something special in order to raise the Albert Murray trophy at the end of the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada late on Friday.
Well, for Hendershott, something special did happen, and it came in the form of a final-round 64 to beat Danny King by a single stroke at Parcours de Vieux Village in Bromont, Quebec.
The full leaderboard can be viewed here.
“It hasn’t settled in yet, but I’m so excited,” said the 52-year-old from Paris, Ontario. “I came into this week lacking some confidence as of late. I haven’t been scoring well in some recent Champions Tour qualifiers and last week’s Mackenzie Tour event. I texted my wife last week wondering if I should even play this week, I wasn’t really confident, even though I’ve been putting in so much work, golf is a funny game.”
Hendershott struck early and often on Friday, beginning his day four under in his opening five holes after making an eagle on the fifth. Despite a bogey at the ninth, Hendershott cruised to open the back nine with five pars before making four-consecutive birdies to end the day on top.
Hendershott wins $9000 for his efforts this week and his name joins the likes of Jim Rutledge, Dave Barr, Al Balding, and Moe Norman on the historic Albert Murray trophy.
“I had in my mind if I could get it to 8-under through the turn that could put a little pressure on,” said Hendershott, who is in fine form as he prepares to play in the Champions Tour’s Shaw Charity Classic next week at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club in Calgary, AB. “Even if they got to 10 or 11-under, they would take notice that I was coming.”
Though Rutledge shot 74 on Friday, his 68-69 efforts during the first two rounds gave him the Super Senior crown for the first time (though, he has six Senior PGA Championships to his name in the regular 50+ division. 60+-aged players qualify for the Super Senior division).
Meanwhile, the third round of the BetRegal PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade Golf and adidas Golf also took place on Friday.
Riley Fleming continued his stellar play, though says the third round was more of a grind than the first two, and fired 68 to head into the final round as the co-leader alongside Kevin Stinson at 19-under par.
“It’s amazing to have this back on the schedule this year,” said Fleming, who is a professional at Lynx Ridge Golf Club in Calgary. “We’re all excited to be back here seeing old friends and people we haven’t seen in a few years and competing, representing our courses and our provinces.”
This year marks the 99th playing of the BetRegal PGA Championship of Canada, an event Fleming hopes to claim for the first time.
“It would be huge to win this, I’m trying not to get too ahead of myself and think about it, but my brain has slipped a lot this week and thought of it,” said Fleming. “The names on that trophy are insane, it would be incredible to put my name on it, but I have 18 holes in front of me tomorrow.”
The NoSweat Hardest Hole of the Day on Thursday was the 235-yard 11th hole. In total, only four players made birdie on the challenging par-3. After a random draw between those players, Ghyslain Allard is the third round’s NoSweat Hardest Hole of the Day champion and will be awarded $250 for his feat.
Players continued to rave on Thursday about the LivRelief product they have been given throughout the week. For more information about LivRelief, click here.
This year’s championship comes on the heels of a historic announcement, as it was announced on Tuesday that the PGA of Canada has inked a three-year agreement with Canadian sports betting company BetRegal which gives them title sponsorship over the championship through 2023.
For more information about the PGA of Canada and BetRegal’s partnership, click here.
The final round of the BetRegal PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade Golf and adidas Golf will begin at 7:30 A.M. on Saturday.