Risdon Continues Winning Ways In Edmonton

Calgary’s Dustin Risdon continued a winning tradition at the Edmonton Country Club on the weekend.

“Yeah, she’s been pretty good to me,” Risdon said after running away with the $250,000 ATB Financial Classic at the venerable Edmonton Country Club, the second time he’s won a Canadian Tour event there, the last one coming in 2007.

“I don’t know; I don’t find her very difficult,” said Risdon, who ended up 17-under for the four days.

Sunday’s final round of the ATB Financial Classic started off as a three-man race with Risdon at 12-under par and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., and Montreal’s Yohann Benson both at 10-under.

Benson tripped out of the gate with four bogeys for a front nine of 40, while Risdon posted a four-under 32 and Hadwin stayedclose with a 33.

Hadwin, however, never got any closer, finishing four-shots back. Four shots behind him were Derek Gillespie of Oshawa, Ont., and Ottawa’s Lee Curry. With two other Ottawa players, Brad Fritsch and Scott Hawley, part of a trio tied for fifth, it was an Canada-heavy leaderboard.

“I couldn’t hit my wedges close enough and when I did, (Risdon) would make a putt on me. I never could get any momentum,” said Hadwin, 22. “He won the golf tournament. I didn’t lose it.”

Risdon, who has been playing on the Nationwide Tour, countered whatever Hadwin threw at him.

On the 11th hole, Risdon was buried in the rough. With Hadwin was on the green with a long putt, Risdon flopped it to a couple of feet.

“Unbelievable; I couldn’t even believe I did that,” said Risdon.

On the next hole, Risdon hit a four iron off the tee while Hadwin ‘hit a driver 340 yards, leaving him just 36 yards to the pin.

“I couldn’t get it inside 10 feet and then I can’t make that putt,” said Hadwin.

On 13, Risdon made a flop shot to within two feet of a tight pin. Meanwhile, Hadwin, stuck on the face of a bunker, couldn’t get up and down and the lead expanded to five.

The trend continued to the end.

“I played a lot of good scrambling shots that saved me a lot of pars,” said Risdon. “When you play bogey-free in a final round, you are usually going to get it done.”

Risdon will be back on the Nationwide Tour next week when he plays in the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in Collingwood, along with Canadian Tour exemptions Brock Mackenzie, Hadwin, Aaron Goldberg and Rob Grube.

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