MCLEAN CAPTURES FIRST CANADIAN TOUR VICTORY IN WINDSOR
- SURVIVES ROLLER COASTER BACK NINE TO WIN-
FINAL LEADERBOARD (Bold denotes Canadian)
Alan McLean - London, ON - 70-69-65-66 (-10)
Hugo Leon - Chile - 69-67-70-66 (-8)
Michael Gligic - Burlington, ON - 70-66-67-72 (-6)
Garrett Frank - Youngstown, OH - 65-69-71-69 (-6)
Danny Sahl - Sherwood Park, AB - 70-68-71-66 (-5)
Brandon Harkins - Scottsdale, AZ - 70-72-69-65 (-4)
Wes Heffernan - Calgary, AB - 70-66-69-71 (-4)
James Allenby - Langley, BC - 65-69-70-72 (-4)
Will Strickler - Dallas, TX - 69-66-68-73 (-4)
Kent Eger - Regina, SK - 69-71-69-68 (-3)
Roger Sloan - Meritt, BC - 70-69-69-69 (-3)
Jeff Rangel - Martinez, CA - 71-68-69-69 (-3)
(August 19, 2012 - Windsor, ON) - London, Ontario resident Alan McLean survived a roller coaster back nine and made a clutch birdie on the 17th hole to lock up his first Canadian Tour victory in 132 starts Sunday at the Jamieson WFCU Windsor Roseland Charity Classic.
The 42-year old McLean made four straight birdies on the back nine, then made double bogey and bogey on the 15th and 16th holes before righting the ship with a clutch birdie on the penultimate hole. McLean posted 10-under par to win by two shots over Chile's Hugo Leon.
"It's a pleasure to win," said McLean. "You never tire of that feeling."
"This week I felt really, really calm. I had an inner peace."
After making the turn in two-under 33, McLean reeled off four straight birdies starting on the 11th, capped off by a chip-in on the 14th hole. Then, after a stumble on the 15th and 16th, the Glasgow, Scotland-born and South African-raised McLean struck a pitching wedge from 140 yards to eight feet on the 17th hole, making the put and restoring a two-shot advantage.
"When I made that putt, it just eased the nerves coming down the last hole," said McLean. "I knew I was still in the driver's seat and that I could win the tournament with some smart golf."
McLean becomes the oldest winner on Tour this season by 16 years, ahead of Victoria, BC's Cory Renfrew.
"It's a relief to win. I enjoy winning and I don't think I've done enough of it in my career," said McLean. "Hopefully I can use this as a platform to build upon."
The win nets McLean $16,000 and moves him to 10th on the Order of Merit.
Earlier, it looked as though Will Strickler of Dallas, TX was the man to beat, making the turn at three-under par and leading by one before a bogey-double bogey-bogey stretch from the 10th to 12th holes derailed his chances.
Also making a run at the tournament were Burlington, ON's Michael Gligic, who was looking to become the first two-time winner on the Canadian Tour this season, and Leon, who made a birdie of his own on 17 to highlight a round of four-under 66. Garrett Frank of Youngstown, OH posted a one-under 69 to finish tied for fourth, his best result of the season.
Gligic's finish earned him $5,400 and pushed him to second on the Order of Merit, $5,900 behind leader Matt Hill and in position for one of two second stage PGA TOUR Q-School exemptions at the end of the year.
Sherwood Park, AB's Danny Sahl was a shot further behind at five-under after a 66, while Scottsdale, AZ's Brandon Harkins tied the round of the tournament with a 65 to finish four-under, tied with Strickler, Calgary AB's Wes Heffernan and 36-hole co-leader James Allenby of Langley, BC.
The Canadian Tour heads to Scarborough, ON this week for the Canadian Tour Championship at the historic Scarboro Golf & Country Club celebrating its centenary year.
