Top teaching pros tee up for PGA tourney

As long as the water hazard doesn’t freeze over — we’re joking, mostly — prior to Wednesday’s final round, this island-green assignment should be a make-or-break moment at the 2018 PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada.

The Winston Golf Club will play host this week to the three-day national showdown, and the trophyhunters will certainly be wary of the splashy 17th hole, a birdie opportunity that can quickly become a big number.

If tournament officials are feeling nasty, the signature Par-3 can be stretched to 225 yards. It’s the sort of shot that can leave a guy with sweaty palms, even if the temperatures stay in the single digits.

Scott Anderson, an assistant professional at Winston and one of two home-course hopefuls in the 102-man field for one of the PGA of Canada’s marquee events said it’s going to be interesting. “For a guy that has a one-shot lead standing on that tee, it’s going to be a bit more nerve-racking.”

A demanding driving course with a dynamite finishing stretch, the Winston GC should provide a stern test for some of Canada’s top teaching pros. Nearly half of the field for the 2018 PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada hails from Alberta and, with no disrespect to the guy who will be shooting for a repeat, Marc-Etienne Bussieres of Quebec’s Longchamp GC & Academy, there are several locals with a legitimate shot of topping the leaderboard.

Once a regular on the Web.com Tour, Dustin Risdon (National Golf Academy) had his name engraved on this particular trophy just two years back and did so in dominant fashion — an 11-stroke romp.

Wes Heffernan (Golf Canada Calgary Centre) has a splendid resume and continued to add to it at the PGA of Alberta’s Sunice Fall Championship last week at Edmonton’s Royal Mayfair, completing two laps in 7-under 133 to better his buddies by a pair of strokes.

And don’t forget about Riley Fleming (National Golf Academy), winner of two provincial crowns this summer: the PGA of Alberta Assistants’ Championship and the PGA of Alberta Championship.

None of the competitors, though, know the 7,037-yard layout better than Anderson and co-worker Bryce Halverson.

“I definitely have an advantage because I’ve played there more than most guys, but at the same time, I think you put a little bit more pressure on yourself,” Anderson said after Sunday’s frigid practice round. “So it’s just trying to talk yourself out of that and just treat it like any other tournament.”

With national bragging rights to the winner, this isn’t just any other tournament. The action tees off Monday morning. On Wednesday afternoon, there’s potential for a wet and wild finish.

“The last four holes, they’ve gotta be up there as the best finishing holes in Alberta. They’re so good,” Fleming said.