AUGUST 9, 2021
RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- The Point Grey Golf & Country Club team of Professional Dave Zibrik and amateur Jeff Dagg captured the 2021 PGA of BC Tournament of Champions presented by Tee-On Golf Systems Inc. & PING Canada in a playoff Monday at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club.
Zibrik and Dagg made a par on the first playoff hole to outlast teams from Fairview Mountain Golf Club (Brian McDonald & Thierry Martine) and Chilliwack Golf Club (Ryan Tofani & Mike McGimpsey) after all three squads finished the 18-hole, best-ball event with 6-under-par rounds of 65.
“It feels great. This is such a fun event to be able to come play and Jeff is such a good player,” said Zibrik. “To be able to finish it off like that was the result you want.”
The Tournament of Champions is a unique team event in which PGA of BC Club Professionals (Head, Executive & Head Teaching Professionals) pair up with a club champion or other designated amateur from their facility to compete against teams from across the province. Thirty-two teams vied for the title on Monday.
Zibrik and Dagg finished with seven birdies and one bogey on their round, getting of to a hot start by playing the opening three holes in 3-under-par. With the Fairview Mountain and Chilliwack teams already in the clubhouse with 65s, Dagg made birdie on the par-5 18th to join the lead and the playoff.
In the alternate-shot playoff on Mayfair Lakes’ par-4 first hole, the Point Grey duo was the only team to hit the green in regulation. Neither of their opponents were able to get up-and-down for par, leaving Zibrik with a tap-in to secure the title after a well-judged birdie try from Dagg.
“Dave started off great today with three straight birdies,” said Dagg. “We had kind of a mediocre middle (section) of the round but a good finish at the end there, and we were able to sneak into the playoff and finish it off. It was a good day between the two of us, I’d say, overall.”
Zibrik earned $1,000 for the win –- his first PGA of BC crown since winning the 2016 Club Professional Championship –- while Dagg was awarded the top amateur prize, a set of PING i210 irons.
“For as little as I’ve been playing, this is probably the perfect format for me right now – best-ball,” Zibrik said with a grin. “It’s nice to have your name on any of the trophies from the PGA of BC and this (tournament) is one I’ve only had one other opportunity to play in before … so to be able to come out and showcase what the Professional side offers and to bring such a good player to the event is nice. It’s something we can bring back to the club that I think our membership can be proud of.”
Chilliwack’s Tofani and McGimpsey were among the first groups out Monday and posted the clubhouse lead early thanks to a front-nine 30 that included an eagle and three birdies. They had a long wait to see if any team could match their 65.
“We played really well. We had just one little mistake there on the par-4, but other than that had a clean scorecard,” said Tofani, whose team’s only blemish came with a 14th-hole bogey. “No complaints from our end, for sure. We had lots of opportunities out there.”
McDonald, meanwhile, was seeking his second Tournament of Champions title and fourth victory in a PGA of BC team event, but came up just short. The Fairview Mountain Golf Club Executive Professional has teamed with Martine four times in the Tournament of Champions and Monday’s runner-up result was their best yet.
“Thierry keeps winning our club championship so hopefully we’ll see you again next year with the same team,” laughed McDonald. “Anytime you have an opportunity to play in a provincial event and have a chance to win, it’s a bonus.”
Tofani and McDonald each made $787.50 for second place. Martine took home a PING G425 Max driver while McGimpsey’s prize was a PING G425 3-wood and PING Glide 3.0 wedge.
Fourth place went to host Head Professional Brian Coe, who teamed with Kelin Ainsworth to finish at 5-under-par. Coe’s share of the Professional purse was $600.
A three-way tie for fifth place at 4-under-par featured Northview Golf & Country Club Head Professional Greg Pool and amateur Coco Pei, Kamloops Golf & Country Club’s Alec Hubert and Shawn Vanderwal, and Pitt Meadows Golf Club’s Wes Doka and Ryan Lloyd. Each of the Professionals tied for fifth earned $400; all players whose teams finished among the top 16 earned a piece of either the $5,780 Professional purse or amateur prize pool valued at more than $6,000.
CLICK HERE to view complete results.
In addition to contending for the title Monday, Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club was a fantastic first-time host of the Tournament of Champions. The PGA of BC thanks Coe, Executive Professional Mike Smedstad, superintendent Greg Bond and the entire team at Mayfair Lakes for their tremendous hospitality in welcoming our Professional and amateur competitors.
The PGA of BC also thanks Tee-On Golf Systems Inc. for its ongoing support of the Tournament of Champions, as well as first-year sponsor PING Canada for its patronage and on-site presence at the event Monday.
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About Tee-On Golf Systems Inc.
London, Ontario-based Tee-On Golf Systems Inc. provides a complete suite of premier golf-management software that allows facility operators to take greater control over their business, significantly increase their club’s efficiency and dramatically improve customer service. Tee-On offers a full suite of integrated software solutions for golf facilities and their patrons, including online booking for golfers, tee-sheet management and point-of-sale systems for use in pro shops, food and beverage software with an iPad option, integrated online food ordering, an online store and more. Tee-On technology is employed by golf courses in all 10 provinces, including nearly 25 PGA of BC facilities. Its customizable tee-sheet system provides seamless and efficient bookings for facilities and golfers alike, allowing 24/7, real-time online reservation capability. More than 50 million rounds of golf have been booked through Tee-On since 2001. Learn more at www.tee-on.com.
About PING Canada
PING is a family-owned company, founded in 1959 in the garage of the late Karsten Solheim, a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the aerospace and computer industries. Solheim and his company are credited with numerous innovations that became industry standards, including perimeter weighting, custom fitting and the use of investment casting in the manufacturing of golf clubs. As a brand, PING is synonymous with innovation, quality and service in the world of golf and supports over 100 tour players worldwide including Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, Tyrell Hatton, Tony Finau, Louis Oosthuizen and Canadians Brooke Henderson, Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners. PING Canada is located in Oakville, Ontario and is owned by PING USA in Phoenix, Arizona. PING Canada has operated in Canada since 1996 and is responsible for sales, marketing, distribution and service of all PING equipment in Canada. Visit ca.ping.com to learn more
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For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Eric MacKenzie
Communications & Marketing Manager, PGA of BC
(604) 303-6766
eric@pgabc.org