Edmonton’s Wil Bateman finished on top twice Sunday, winning the Fortinet Cup Championship at Deer Ridge Golf Club in Kitchener, Ont., and in the process, claimed PGA Tour Canada’s season-long points crown, the Fortinet Cup.
Bateman finished the 72-hole event at eight under, closing with a one-under 69 to beat American Jeffrey Kang by two shots for the $40,500 payday and 600 Fortinet Cup points that was enough to put him over the top in that race.
“I don’t even know what to say,” Bateman said. “Some things just go your way when you win.”
Bateman had a chip shot from behind a tree on the par four 14th. After an errant drive, he had to punch out, barely getting his ball out and short of the green.
Facing a short-sided shot to a difficult pin—this time 20 yards out from what he called the “thickest rough” he had ever seen. Bateman nailed it, the ball dropping in the hole for par.
Bateman gathered himself and followed the improbable par with a birdie on the next hole, seizing control of the tournament. He finished the round with just two birdies and one bogey, but it was more than enough.
“I really put in the work and I’m looking forward to getting back to Scottsdale (Arizona) and really pushing myself and putting in more work,” said Bateman. “I feel like when I have success on the golf course, it makes me want to work harder and I really do enjoy it.”
As overall points winner, Bateman wins the Fortinet Cup, earns Player of the Year honours, receives membership to the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour and picks up a $25,000 bonus, along with a a berth in the RBC Canadian Open next season.
He joins Mackenzie Hughes, now playing on the PGA Tour, as the only Canadians to win Player of the Year honours. Hughes won it in 2013.
Final Fortinet Cup standings are here.
Other than Bateman receiving full Korn Ferry Tour status, numbers two through five receive conditional Korn Ferry status, two through 10 receive conditional status and are exempt into the final stage of Q-School and numbers 11 through 25 are exempt into the second stage of Q-school.
All of the scores from the Fortinet Cup Championship are here.
