Nick Kenney made this look easy (it wasn’t easy)
After hitting the cart path and ending up here, he does this to extend his lead to 3 on 12 pic.twitter.com/sQ1IVtE0EV
— PGA of Canada (@pgaofcanada) October 28, 2021
When Nick Kenney’s second shot on the par five 12th hole at Lookout Point Country Club hit the cart path and sailed 50 yards over the green,, it looked like the momentum may have been shifting at the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada.
Dean North had just moved to within two just a few minutes earlier, it it to tap-in length on the hole prior to get within two, but momentum shifted back in in Kenney’s favour when, from behind the green, he blindly hit his next shot to five feet, where he made his birdie putt.
The National Golf Club of Canada Head teaching professional made three more birdies to win by four over Danny King and defending champion Gord Burns.
“I don’t think it’s settled in yet,” said Kenney, who finished the day with a 68 to go seven under over 36 holes.
“I think by far this is the biggest win of my career so far. This is the first time I’ve played the Head Pro Championship, so to be the champion with some of the others on that trophy, it hasn’t settled in yet, but it’s quite an honour and I feel so lucky to have won,” he said.
Kenney noted that this was the first time he has had a chance to win since the 2019 PGA of Ontario Zone Championship, which he recalled at this week’s championship in Fonthill, Ont.
“I figured I had to keep going under par,” said Kenney, who takes home $9,000 with the victory. “I had a great feeling this week and my putter felt good in my hands. You have to think about every shot at this golf course, which really kept me in the moment, and I was able to execute.”
Kenney also noted that he received lots of support between the first and final round and continued into the post-round celebration.
“Every pro I’ve worked with and all my friends and family, I’ve heard from all of them and with social media these days, it has really brought my friends and family into the mix a little bit,” said Kenney. “I briefly looked at my phone, I have lots of messages to get back to and it’s amazing they get to see what is going on.”
A relatively new father, Kenney notes how their support and having them in his life has changed his mindset playing tournament golf.
“Being a parent puts everything in perspective. Having kids now, you appreciate everything and it calms you down on the golf course,” said Kenney. “The pressure isn’t quite there. If I don’t perform, I’m not too upset and I’m a role model for them as well.”
Lookout Point Country Club, which is set to celebrate its centennial season in 2022, was a true test of golf this week, with only four players finishing the week under par.
“The golf course, volunteers and sponsors stepped up big time,” said Kenney. “For the volunteers to come and sit out for hours and show us where our golf balls are and give up their golf course for four days, it was incredible. I had heard nothing but good things about Lookout Point and now it holds a very special place in my heart. I can’t wait to come back here.”
The low club professional this week earned an extra $500 on top of the purse money. The low club pro was Marc-Ettiene Bussieres, who shot 73-70 to win by one stroke over Dean North.
The Ontario InterZone Team, which included Ed Maunder, Gord Burns, Danny King and James Skrypec, captured the InterZone championship after finishing the two days at five under par.
The final leaderboards are here.
