Fleming captures title with bogey-free rounds
Airdrie golfer flawless over two days to take PGA of Alberta Championship
For two days, I didn’t make a bogey. And that adds a little extra, when you play really well to win, so that was nice.
A lot of guys racked up birdies.
Riley Fleming ’s secret to success at the PGA of Alberta Championship is his scorecard didn’t include a single bogey.
Thanks to two blemish-free laps at River Bend in Red Deer, the 25-year-old from Airdrie claimed his second association title in a two-week span.
“Obviously, winning is always nice, whether you play great or you just get it done,” Fleming said. “But this one, other than honestly one putt, I felt like I did everything I could do. For two days, I didn’t make a bogey. And that adds a little extra, when you play really well to win, so that was nice.
“Even the way the last hole unfolded … I hit my tee shot left, under a tree, and then had to hit it left-handed out and then was 235 yards in on a Par-5 and hit a 6-iron over the green, but I was able to get up-and-down from a really nasty spot to save my par and to win by one.
“It just felt like I earned it the whole week. That was awesome.”
It’s been an awesome summer for Fleming, now a first-year instructor at National Golf Academy after spending several seasons on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.
He posted a two-round total of 10-under 134 at River Bend, edging Wes Heffernan (Golf Canada Calgary Centre/Silver Springs) by one stroke.
He also claimed the trophy at the Assistants Championship at The Ranch, outduelling Heffernan again with a tab of 9-under 133.
Fleming leads the PGA of Alberta’s Order of Merit race, tops the overall money list and boasts the best scoring average, with an average spin of 66.8 in 10 tournament rounds.
He’s also been busy — even busier than he anticipated — as a rookie instructor.
Just like the rest of us, he now has to book time off to play golf.
Unlike the rest of us, he seems able to avoid bogeys.
“I’m just having a lot of fun,” Fleming said. “Obviously, when you’re winning tournaments, it’s easy. But at River Bend and then also The Ranch, I don’t think my heart rate ever got above 75. Everything has been calm, cool, collected … It’s been fun. I haven’t really been fighting myself out there, and on the Mackenzie Tour, that’s hard not to do because you get doors blown off if you don’t play great.
“I think that got to me. I got frustrated with it. The whole process got frustrating. And now, when I’m on the golf course, it’s like, ‘Ok, I’m not working.’ I can turn my phone off, get away from it and just let my game speak for itself.”
CHIP SHOTS
Gord Courage, the longtime director of golf at Hamptons, will be aiming to cash in on home course advantage during Tuesday’s lastchance qualifier for the 2018 Shaw Charity Classic. Elbow Springs executive professional Scott Allred, a five-time winner of the PGA of Alberta Senior Championship, is also shooting for the opportunity to tee it up against the PGA Tour Champions stars this week at Canyon Meadows. Four qualifying spots are available ... Red Deer’s Logan Graf circled a pair of birdies over his final four holes to seal a two-stroke victory at the Alberta Bantam Championship at Goose Hummock, while Calgary’s Jayden Brar (Shaganappi Point) scored bragging rights among novice-aged boys. Jayla Kucy of Camrose and Edmonton’s Delainey Wingnean won the provincial titles on the girls’ side ... Ryan Hounjet, Chris Murray and Chris Snyder combined for a 3-under 207 as the posse from Priddis Greens finished three shots clear of the competition at the Calgary Golf Association’s Southern Messenger City Interclub at Highwood. Snyder topped the individual leaderboard with a spin of 3-under 67.