Matt Palsenbarg - Canadian PGA Assistant's Champion

After torrential rain, wind and foggy conditions in Quebec City, the sun broke through on the 18th green just long enough for the 28-year-old teaching instructor from the Northview Golf Academy at Surrey's Northview Golf and Country Club to par the final hole and collect the $9,000 first prize.

"The last seven holes were such a grind to just save par," said Palsenbarg, who carded rounds of 70-67-69 for a 10-under par 206 total and a one stroke victory over Dave Levesque from Ontario's Rattlesnake Point GC and North Vancouver's Bryn Parry from the Seymour Creek Golf Center.

"I just took advantage of the weather today, I love playing in the rain, because everyone else hates it. Since I am a long hitter, the rain actually helps me hit the ball an accurate length, and makes the shorter hitters hit it short of where they need to be."

One of country's longest hitters, averaging over 330 yards, Palsenbarg made two eagles, three birdies and two bogeys en route to his 69 today, finishing the last seven holes at even par.

Palsenbarg's long hitting paid dividends during his 54 holes over the Club de golf Golf de la Faune. He ended up at 12-under-par on the par five's. Yesterday he drove the par-four 13th hole and sank his eagle from three feet.

"When I got here I realized that this course played to my liking. Today I was trying to play aggressive, but get the ball in the hole. The last few days have been interesting, I eagled two holes today and two in my previous rounds, I had two three-putts and a lost ball today and only birdied one par-three in my three rounds, lost six balls in total and hit it in the hazard 11 times," stated the 28-year-old who won the 2007 BC PGA Assistants' Championship.

Palsenbarg rarely plays competitive golf. He is currently teaching and coaching elite juniors the majority of his time for the BC Golf Association provincial team and at the Northview Golf Accademy.

Asked if he would contemplate going on tour, Palsenbarg says: "I can't picture myself as a tour player or even trying to make it on tour. I am a homebody and that kind of lifestyle is not what I enjoy, but I plan on playing a few Gateway Tour events potentially in the winter.

"I honestly didn't expect to come here to win this week as I haven't been playing much competitively this year, but I would definitely consider this the biggest title of my career and am so happy that I was able to make it this year, although I am going to be a busy guy answering emails as I am running a high performance junior clinic starting Friday and am teaching tomorrow."

Final Scores
Résultats finaux(2).pdf