Hamilton’s Alena Sharp won her second PGA of Canada Women’s Championship in an eight-hole playoff against Toronto high school student Anna Kim at Bayview Golf and Country Club on Friday.
Sharp and Kim played six playoff holes on Thursday before it was called due to darkness. Play resumed Friday morning.
In the final round, Kim finished three groups ahead of Sharp with a five-under 68, while Sharp bogeyed 17 and had to birdie the par four 18th to force the playoff.
“I was in cruise mode yesterday and had the lead pretty much all day,” said Sharp. “I knew I needed to birdie the last hole. I had a perfect yardage and I hit it past the pin and sucked it back, giving me a tap-in for birdie, heading into the playoff.”
On Friday, both Sharp and Kim had pars on the 18th hole before moving on to the 10th where Kim, 17, hit her second shot into a bunker, while Sharp made par.
“This win is huge for me. I haven’t won in Canada since 2005. I’ve had struggles in Canada, just putting too much pressure on myself, so this week, I came out with no expectations,” said Sharp, the 2004 champion of this event.
Sharp collected $12,000 for the win, while Kim took home the low amateur award.
“I learned a lot,” said Kim. “Alena is a great player. I think, to get into the professional level, I need to work a lot harder and make less mistakes.”
The low club champion was PGA of Canada member Sylvie Schetagne of Delson-Laval, Que. Mary-Jane Hall of the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto won the Legends Division, taking home $1,200
