2015 B.C. Senior Amateur winner John Gallacher
(Photo courtesy of British Columbia Golf)
PITT MEADOWS, Canada — It's been eight years since John Gallacher first won the British Columbia Golf Senior Championship and that drought came to an end Thursday when he beat Doug Roxburgh by four strokes for his second senior's title at Swan-e-Set Bay Resort.
"It's a great feeling to win this again," said Gallacher, who carded a final round (+2) 74 to finish at even par 216 for the tournament. "It's great to be in contention and then to win it, it means I was consistent and it's good to be consistent."
Gallacher was rarely in trouble during his final round, making par on 14 of his first 15 holes - his lone blemish was a bogey at 6 - before a gorgeous approach on the par-3 16th led to a five-foot birdie putt that all but salted away the victory.
When Roxburgh hit his tee shot into the right woods on 17, en route to a triple, all that was left for Gallacher was the celebratory walk up the 18th fairway.
"Winning in 2007 was pretty special and this one is special too," said Gallacher, who's off to the British Senior Amateur at Royal County Down on a Friday night flight. "I played well and it's a good result for me."
The Burnaby product had a share of or was solo leader during all three days of the tournament. After opening with a (-2) 70 that had him tied for first after the first round with Summerland's Len Filek, the Vancouver Golf Club member shot an even-par 72 during Round 2 to enter the final round with a three-stroke cushion over Filek, Roxburgh and 2012 Champion Sandy Harper.
Roxburgh fell four behind Gallacher after a bogey on the third, but he got that back with a birdie on the sixth. Gallacher bogeyed the sixth for a two-shot swing, but Gallacher would hold onto that margin for the next 9 holes before pulling away on the final 3 holes. Roxburgh finished solo second at (+4) 220.
"John played really well today," said Roxburgh, who was trying to win a third consecutive BC Senior Men's title. "He's a deserving champion and I congratulate him on his win."
Filek would fall out of contention with bogeys on four of his first five holes, while Harper also lost sight of Gallacher with bogeys on his opening two holes. Harper would finish T3 at (+5) 221 after his final round 76, but salvaged the day with a birdie on the first playoff hole to get the third and final provincial spot at the Canadian Senior's in Medicine Hat, AB in September. Harper hit his approach to a foot on the playoff hole.
Lindbjerg had a steady front nine, making bogey at 6 and birdie at 7 to stay within three of Gallacher as they rounded the turn for the back 9. But three more bogeys on the back nine doomed Lindbjerg to a T3 finish at (+5) 221.
"John strikes the ball so well and I'm very happy for him," said Lindbjerg, who also won the Best Ball competition with Gallacher as his partner. "I made some very bad mistakes and I didn't play well enough to win. I am happy to win the Super Senior title again."
ABOUT THE
British Columbia Senior Amateur
54-hole stroke play event with Senior (55 and older)
and Super Senior (65 and older) divisions. Maximum
handicap 16.0.
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