Ray Stewart - - 2009 Canadian PGA Seniors' Champion

Overcoming a tournament plagued by soggy conditions and rain delays at The Marshes Golf Club in Kanata, ON., Stewart, from Abbotsford, BC called upon his years of previous Tour experiences to post a 54-hole score of (68-70-68) 10-under par 206 and outlasted the challenges of  former Canadian Tour president Ken Tarling of Sandford, ON and fellow British Columbian Norm Jarvis of Surrey.

The final round had barely begun when threatening thunderstorms resulted in a 90-minute weather delay. Thirty minutes later another delay was called due to lightning. The course held up through the storm and the field returned to play, thereafter dodging pockets of rain and nearby rumbling thunder throughout the balance of the day.

“I really wasn’t affected by the rain delay,” stated the 55-year-old Stewart, who ended up teeing off nearly four hours after his original time. “It’s something that I have become used to on Tour, so I am quite patient with these types of delays, and I actually didn’t really warm up before I was off.”

Stewart, who collected $4,000 for his victory, is no stranger to competition; he was a former PGA Tour player in 1983 then from 1987 to 1993. He finished T-10th at the 1991 Canadian Open and T-4th at 1990 Greater Milwaukee Open. He is a two-time Canadian Tour champion in 1999. In 1994 he captured the Dunhill Cup with teammates Dave Barr and Rick Gibson representing Canada. Stewart also played on the Dunhill squad in 1995 and Canadian World Cup team in 1999.

“Today (Saturday) I played really solid, hitting every fairway and green,” said Stewart, who now specializes in medical equipment sales. "Greens were tough as they were quite wet and spongy from the rain, but I didn’t make any mistakes today. The birdies that I made were quite easy, I didn’t feel under pressure and I was very much in control of my ball striking."

“It was definitely a fun battle out there today coming down the stretch, we were all still close right down to the last hole,” stated Stewart who is hoping to qualify for one of the nine spots for the Senior Open Championship at Sunningdale Golf Club, July 23-26, 2009 in London, England.

Jarvis, a former Champions Tour member, looked like he was running away with a victory after nearly driving the green on the 7th hole and sinking a birdie putt to place him at nine-under-par for the tournament. But things turned for Jarvis on the par-three 8th hole when he hit his approach shot just right of the flag and it spun back into the water, causing him to double bogey and placing him at 7-under par. On the par five 9th hole Stewart and Tarling carded birdies and moved to 8-under heading into the turn.

Jarvis bogeyed the 10th hole, but battled back with birdies on 11, 12 and 14, launching him to nine-under. while Stewart birdied 11 and 14 to move to 10-under. The group then parred the 15th, 16th and 17th holes. On 18, Stewart and Tarling both saved par, while Jarvis bogeyed to finish tied with Tarling in second place at 8-under 208.

“Having solid ball striking ability out there gives me confidence heading into the qualifier for the British Senior Open,” stated Stewart who is heading to Celtic Mannor in Wales tomorrow to practice for the week before his qualifying round. “I find out tonight what course I play for the qualifier, and I’m hoping it’s nice and long for my sake, as that is my strength.” Stewart plans to attend Champions Tour Qualifying School this fall to fight for five full exemptions for the 2010 season.

“ It was my first year playing in this event, just because the timing hasn’t been right due to the Senior British Open, and last year I was injured, but I really enjoyed the entire week,” stated Stewart.

Frtiday, John Irwin of Summerside, PEI won the Super Seniors’ Division (aged 60 +) by one shot over Barry Laphen of Ottawa, ON when he birdied the final hole of the day posting a 74-72 for a 146 total score earning the $900 purse.

Also, Doug Sullivan of Indian Mountain, NB captured the Diamond Division (aged 70 +) posting a 75 to add to his first round 73 totalling 148, claiming the $750 purse.

The $25,000 Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship was a three-day, 54-hole individual stroke play event. The Super Seniors’ (60 and older) and Diamond (70 and older) divisions were contested over 36 holes in two days.

The Marshes Golf Club, one of the premier golf destinations and leading corporate-play facility in the National Capital Region, is a Robert Trent Jones II design that measures 7,027-yards, with six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s.

2009 Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship

1    Ray Stewart, Abbotsford, BC 70-68-68---206 - $4,000
T2    Ken Tarling, Sanford, ON 71-66-71—208 - $2,400
T2    Norm Jarvis, Surrey, BC 69-67-72—208 - $2,400
4    Claude Tremblay, Repentigny, QC 71-70-70—211 - $1,500
T5    Craig Marseilles, Maple, ON 71-70-70—212 - $1,150
T5    Don Clark, Aurora, ON 73-66-73—2121 - $1,150
7    SergeThivierge, Longueuil, QC 72-71-71—214 - $900
8    John Rushnell, Manila, ON 73-71-72—216 - $800
9    Hocan Olsson, St-Bruno, QC 70-72-75—217 - $750
T10    Bob Panasik, Windsor, ON 75-75-69--219 - $650
T10    Bob Beauchemin, Brampton, ON 72-74-73—219 -$650
T10    Daniel Santerre, Coteau Du Lac, QC -70-76-73—219 - $650

For the complete CPGA scores & standings visit www.cpga.org