CONQUERING THE CAPITAL OPEN
Kentucky native takes Mackenzie title
It was an impressive birdie train that put Mark Blakefield in prime position Sunday.
For all that, though, securing victory at the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops came down to making a pair of clutch, par-saving putts on the final two holes.
“You’ve just got to get it done one way or another,” said the longhitting Kentucky native, whose final-round 6-under 65 gave him a four-round total of 264 (20-under par), two strokes better than Kramer Hickok.
“Winning is never easy, no matter what. Hardly ever do you just get a walk in the park to the 18th green. Sometimes you’ve just got to come with something when you need it.”
Blakefield came into the week without a top-10 finish in six previous starts on the Mackenzie Tour this year, having earned only $7,722. Sunday’s triumph was worth $31,500.
He took charge early in the final round, pulling away from the field beginning with a stretch of five consecutive birdies.
He then added birdies on the 11th and 12th holes, a run that included birdies on seven of eight holes.
As comfortable as the lead seemed, he needed to save par after missing the green on his two closing holes, holding off the hard-charging Hickok.
“It was a great week,” he said. “I played great, but the one thing is that I threw a few shots away (early) with some bad up and downs. So to get those last two on the final two holes was great, especially to make those two putts when I needed them.”
While Hickok finished second in the tournament, his strong showing allowed him to jump from third to first in the overall Mackenzie Tour standings with three tournaments remaining. First place overall earns full status on the Web.com Tour for 2018, while a finish in the top five results in conditional status.
“That’s the goal all year, right?,” Hickok said.
“That has been kind of the goal for me, so for it to come to fruition has kind of been exciting for me. This should guarantee a top five and I came on this tour to get Web. com status, so it’s a huge stepping stone for me.”
At the same time, Hickok says the name of the game is to win. After a slow start Sunday, he, too, caught fire, stringing together four birdies of his own to close in on Blakefield.
“I saw Mark making a move out there, so I knew I had to put some pressure on him. I tried to do that, but unfortunately I fell two shots short.”
Charlie Danielson, who held the third-round lead, shot a 1-under 70 Sunday, finishing in a tie for third with Chad Ramey at 16-under 268. Brian Dwyer, Robby Shelton and Lee McDoy were in a deadlock for fifth at 14-under 270.
Jared du Toit earned top Canadian honours, finishing in a tie for 12th, nine strokes back of Blakefield.
The tournament raised $78,200 for Soldier On, a Canadian Armed Forces fund that helps current soldiers and veterans recover from mental and physical illness through sports.
Winning is never easy, no matter what. Hardly ever do you just get a walk in the park to the 18th green.
Immediately after winning Sunday, Mark Blakefield credited his right-hand woman.
That would be Briana Vega, his fiancée and caddie, who has also enjoyed her fair share of success on the golf course.
Vega was the winner of Big Break VII in 2007 and played nine years as a touring pro herself.
“It’s fantastic,” Blakefield said of having Vega by his side all week. “Sometimes even if you know what a putt does it’s nice to hear it from someone else who does the same thing. Just to confirm it a little bit.”
Given the nature of golf, when rounds can go sideways in a hurry, Blakefield says it’s great to have a calming influence nearby.
“She’s somebody that stays constant,” he said. “You don’t want the ups and downs. You want to just float along.”
Vega, who has retired from competitive golf after having surgery to put a plate in her thumb, says she understands the golfer’s life.
It can be a tough, cruel game, especially a few tours removed from the PGA, where it’s hard to stay positive when the results — and winnings — are slow to come.
“I think it works out well because I understand the game and I played nine years myself and I know the struggles and how hard this is,” Vega said. “I know the ins and outs of being on tour, probably more so than somebody else from the outside.”
The couple’s big day is Nov. 17 and Sunday’s victory will no doubt help make the wedding day that much more special.
In crunch time Sunday, Blakefield was leaning on Vega.
“It was funny, she tried to stay so calm,” he said, while celebrating on the 18th green. “But I could just see right through it. She was a nervous wreck. Just like I am.”