Record playoff ends National Capital Open
The race to the finish line is usually a sprint, but it turned into a marathon at the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops at the Hylands Golf Club on Sunday.
And after sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on the seventh hole to end the longest playoff in Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada history, American Brock Mackenzie summed up his third career win in two words.
“I’m exhausted,” said Mackenzie, 35, who makes his home in Scottsdale, Ariz.
On that front, he wasn’t alone, but give Mackenzie credit because he managed to battle through tough conditions — which included pouring rain and heavy winds at times — to beat out Spain’s Samuel Del Val and Canadian Adam Cornelson in the extra holes after the trio posted a minus-15 in regulation to force a playoff that looked like it would never end.
While Cornelson, who let a twostroke lead slip away in regulation, bowed out of the playoff on the third hole, it looked like neither Mackenzie or Del Val was going to win, as they went back and forth from the 420-yard, par-4 No. 18 and the 185-yard, par-4 No. 3 at Hylands. Nearly eight hours after teeing off, Mackenzie made a putt on No. 3 to secure the win.
He had a 5 p.m. flight booked to return home Sunday night, but he missed that one. So, he’ll head home Monday and plans to celebrate his victory in the ByWard Market instead.
“Winning is hard. Today probably proved it more than anything,” said Mackenzie, who earned a $31,500 cheque and moved up to No. 2 on the money list with only three events remaining. “I thought (Cornelson) had a stranglehold and, unfortunately, he made those two bogeys” on No. 17 and No. 18 to force a playoff.
“I made a really nice birdie on No. 18, and then all of a sudden the playoff started and chaos kind of ensued. I thought I was going to win about three different times in that playoff, but winning just seems like it gets harder and harder on this tour. The quality of guys goes up every year, and you have to be that much better. I don’t take it for granted.”
Del Val sunk a 40-footer for par No. 17 and made par on No. 18 to get into the playoff with Mackenzie and Cornelson.
“I’ve been in a few playoffs before but definitely not a seven-hole playoff, and it was definitely a great battle,” said Del Val, who has also had success on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica. “It’s just too bad. Brock came out on top. He made a great putt on the par-3 and I couldn’t do anything other than congratulate him.”
This day wasn’t easy for the golfers. Concerned there could be thunderstorms in the area, Mackenzie Tour officials decided to move up the tee times between 7:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. by using the No. 1 and No. 10 tees in a crossover to see if they could get the tournament finished more quickly.
The rain didn’t subside until just before the playoff got underway, and even then there were a few drops while Mackenzie, Del Val and Cornelson tried to get the tourney settled.
“The day was pretty tough. From the first hole, it was a grind and it was raining a lot,” said Del Val. “We had a couple of spots where it slowed down a bit but still rained.
“I just tried to stay positive and think about everybody playing under these conditions, and I just tried to do my best, but it was definitely a tough day.”
Accompanied by caddy Matt Goulet, a Hylands member and employee, Mackenzie made the best of the bad conditions, to get the job done.
“It was pretty terrible, to be honest with you,” Mackenzie said. “It was blowing. The rain was coming down sideways. It was just a real grind round, and I’m not really known for that.
“I hit it nicely. I knew the final couple of holes were tough. I knew some guys might have a couple of hiccups, and the putt on No. 18 was kind of a bonus. I didn’t think it was going to put me in a playoff.
“I saw (Cornelson) at 17 (under), and more than anything, ‘This is going to break the log jam at 14 (under) and at least I’ll make an extra $6,000 passing those guys.’ It just kind of fell into my lap that it turned out to be a playoff.”
Working overtime was worth it in the end for Mackenzie.