The Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club won the 2013 Jack McLaughlin Memorial PGA of BC Pro-Junior Presented By PING Golf at the Summerland Golf & Country Club on Monday afternoon. The team, which included pro Alan Palmer and juniors Alex Francois, Diego San Pedro and Josh Zhang, shot an adjusted score of 125 to beat Jeff Hollman’s Penticton team by two strokes and Vernon’s team captained by Bradlee Jones by three strokes.
The Shaughnessy juniors each take home a PING G25 driver, while the Penticton juniors, Haley Hewer, Jake Black and Jackson Coates, take home PING G25 fairway woods and the Vernon juniors, Dexter Weiten, Brandon Chai and Mac Gourdine, take home PING G25 hybrids.
Shaughnessy was led by 15-year-old Burnaby student Alex Francois, who shot a sterling 63 on the strength of 11 birdies and only two bogeys.
“This was my best round ever,” said the Moscrop High School student. “I made a lot of putts and my team really helped out on the holes I didn’t make birdie.”
“Josh made four or five birdies and Diego chipped in with an eagle,” said Palmer. “They all did a great job and it is awesome to win this award.”
Palmer said the win has a lot of significance because of Jack McLaughlin’s ties to Shaughnessy.
“I recently had lunch with Jack’s son Jim and I told him how important it was for me to personally bring a team to the pro-junior named in his honours,” said Palmer. “Jack’s influence on me and on junior golf is something I really value and to win this makes it even more special. We’ll be hosting the dinner to honour Jack later this year and it’s just a special thing to be able to win this in his honour.”
The tournament featured 23 teams from all across British Columbia and featured four-person teams consisting of one Head, Executive, Head Teaching Professional or Apprentice Professional and three junior members who are members of the club where the professional is employed and under 18 years of age.
Home town favourite, Summerland Golf & Country Club’s Greg Machtaler, who won the PGA of BC Assistant Professionals title in June and the Pro-Assistant earlier this month with head professional Tyrel Babkirk didn’t win with his team, but he did make the most memorable shot of the day.
Machtaler holed out for double eagle on the 18th from 237 yards out with a hybrid.
“Probably one of the best shots I’ve ever hit in my career,” said Machtaler of the shot he didn’t even see go into the hole. “It was into the wind and on a slope on the back left and after I hit it, I knew it was going to be good. I just didn’t know how good until I checked the hole and there it was.”
The award for best dressed went to Richmond Golf & Country Club’s Andrew Chapman, who along with juniors Andrew Thiessen, Ethan Wong and Michael Tilbury, rocked Loudmouth shirts, pants and shorts.
The award for team that travelled the furthest goes to Alberni Golf Club, where professional Brian Rands, along with juniors Jeremy Robson, Carson Rhodes and Spencer Rhodes, travelled 7.5 hours and 560 kilometres to compete in this tournament
The tournament honours the memory of Jack McLaughlin, a pioneer of junior golf in the province. This year marks the 32nd year that it has been contested. The PGA of BC and Golf Canada will be hosting the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Jack McLaughlin on Sept. 30 at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.