The Summer of Greg continued on Tuesday at the Salmon Arm Golf Club as Summerland Golf & Country Club assistant pro Greg Machtaler chipped in for birdie on the second playoff hole to beat Seymour Creek’s Bryn Parry for the Titleist/FootJoy 2013 PGA of BC Championship Presented By Axis Insurance, a $6,000 winner’s cheque and the William Thompson Trophy.
“I can’t explain it,” said an elated Machtaler afterwards. “It’s been a dream summer.”
Machtaler was given new life when he missed an eight-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, which opened the door for Parry to try and win the trophy he previously won in 2000 and 2008.
But Parry missed his four-footer and Machtaler had new life.
"I had my hat off, ready to shake his hand because Bryn Parry is such a great putter and he doesn't miss those putts," said Machtaler.
“I guess I read it wrong,” said Parry. “And then when he’s lining up for his chip, I’m expecting him to make it and then I make my putt and we go on to the next playoff hole.”
One of those outcomes occurred, but Parry’s birdie putt didn’t fall and Machtaler added the PGA of BC Championship to the Assistants’ Championship he won in Chilliwack in June and the Pro-Assistant Championship he won with Summerland head pro Tye Babkirk in July.
Parry said the future for Machtaler is endless and he’s happy to see the Summerland native’s success.
“He’s just getting started,” said Parry. “I cheer guys like Greg on because I’ve been there and I know how hard it is to get to that next level. Greg has a great future in front of him.”
The third member of the playoff, Gorge Vale’s Edd Boudreau, shot 65 to get into the playoff, but a drive yanked left and an unplayable lie on the first playoff hole led to Boudreau being in pocket watching the first playoff hole’s conclusion.
“I’m pretty happy with how I played to get into the playoff,” said Boudreau, who admitted that he struggled with his game earlier this summer before finding magic in Salmon Arm on Tuesday afternoon.
Parry had earned his way into the playoff by making a 40-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to get to -6.
Boudreau also had a memorable finish, lipping out for birdie at 15 before missing his only green of the day at 16 for a double bogey. The Gorge Vale pro would then redeem himself with a birdie-birdie finish to post -6 an hour before the final group finished.
Machtaler had numerous chances to win the William Thompson Trophy, but a lipped out birdie putt at 17 and an approach on 18 that went a hair long into the fringe forced Machtaler into needing to two-putt for the win. His eight-foot birdie putt stayed right and that meant the trio was back to 18 for a playoff.
The two runners-up take home $3,750 cheques for their efforts.
Finishing in a tie for fourth were Olympic View’s Kevin Maxwell, who shot rounds of 69 and 72; McCleery’s James Harper, who shot 73 and 68; Two Eagles’ Dean Claggett, who shot 76 and improved by 11 strokes to 65 on day 2; and Northview’s Kyle German, who also shot 73 and 68 for a 141 total.
The fourth-place finishers each cash a cheque for $1,800.
The top 40 players in the tournament shared more than $32,000 in prize money in the PGA of BC’s most prestigious tournament of the year.
The PGA of BC also announced that the 2014 PGA of BC Championship will be contested at the Pt. Grey Golf & Country Club next summer.