Boudreau Wins CPC In Playoff

Ben Boudreau of Longueuil, Que., stole the show at the Titleist and FootJoy Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship after he birdied the 18th hole in regulation and again in a playoff to claim the title over first and second round leader Jeff Buder of Vancouver.

“I was two shots back on the final hole, but I thought if I could hit a big drive down the fairway, I would have a chance to make a birdie and I just tried to do it all over again in the playoff,” said Boudreau, who earns an exemption into the 2010 RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

“Jeff and I had a wild fight all day long and I know he is a little disappointed, but he played great golf all week and I’m just happy to be the last man standing,” added Boudrea

Boudreau, head professional at Le Parcours Du Cerf, made four birdies in the final round at the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but it was his back-to-back birdies on the 18 for the win that had everyone talking after the round.

“(Buder) had to putt first to save his par before I had a shot at my birdie on the last hole and when he missed it, I said to myself, `This is it, just knock it in,’” said Boudreau, who just got back from the final stage of Champions Tour Q-School where he tied for 72nd.

Boudreau, who played in the 1994 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., looked like he was going to run out of steam in his pursuit of Buder, but after par saves on the 16th and 17th holes, the dramatics for the 18th hole were set up.

“I’m so excited to play in the Canadian Open next year at St. George’s,” said Boudreau. “I don’t know how I did it, but I didn’t think about it all day until the final putt dropped.”

Buder was eight under in the first round and appeared to have the tournament in control, but an errant tee shot into the left fairway bunker on the 18th hole led to a bogey.

“I’m obviously a bit disappointed not to close it out, but my hat is off to Ben after making birdie on the hardest hole on this entire golf course, not once but twice,” said Buder, the head professional at Point Grey Golf and Country Club. “I had a fun week and I’ll be back next year to see if I can win this thing.”

Danny King, the 2005 and 2006 champion, fired a four-under par 68 to finish alone in third place. If not for a double bogey on the ninth hole, King would have joined the playoff with Boudreau and Buder.
In addition to the exemption into the RBC Canadian Open, Boudreau won $12,000 with the victory.

For final results and earnings, see the website, www.cpga.com.

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