Danny King Wins 3rd PGA Championship Of Canada Title
Danny King Became The First In PGA Of Canada Association History To Win Three National Championships In The Same Calendar Year - Image Courtesy PGA Of Canada
[BUCKEYE, ARIZ.]—Danny King capped off his 2015 championship season in memorable fashion, capturing the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada. With the win, King becomes the first person in association history to win three PGA of Canada national championships in the same calendar year.
He previously won this year's PGA Championship of Canada at Cabot Links and the PGA Team Championship of Canada (with partner Billy Walsh). The head teaching professional at The Performance Academy at Magna also becomes just the third player to have won three or more PGA Club Professional Championships.
“I’ve been preparing for this moment for the past 12 months,” King admitted after his final round at Verrado Golf Club. “It was a vision of mine to really improve my ranking points and win this championship for the third time was really important to me.”
King’s three-day total of 11-under-par 205 (70-68-67) was two shots better than James Skrypec of The Academy at Deer Ridge. Craig Hocknull and 2014 PGA Championship of Canada winner Dave Levesque finished T3 at 7-under. The top British Columbia Club Pro finisher was Lance McCullough from Cordova Bay in Victoria whose even par total saw him take solo 9th place.
“I’ve been working with Bob Panasik for the past little while on my breathing, on my routine and getting into a whole new rhythm,” King said. “It’s really freed me and help me commit to everything from putting to full swings.”
On the final day, King’s commitment translated into seven birdies and two bogeys. His final round 5-under-par 67 tied low round of the day with Skyrpec and Dan Greenwood of Lookout Point G&CC. Redwood Meadows’ Kevin Black, who lead after Monday’s first round, finished alone in fifth at 4-under, while Ron Kenesky finished sixth at 2-under.
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In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn much-coveted ranking points with hopes of moving up on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Players who are ranked inside the top 64 following the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn invites into next year’s PGA Championship of Canada at the Victoria Golf Club.
Currently ranked No. 4, King has aspirations of rising to the top of the PGA of Canada Player Rankings pile and cutting his teeth at next year’s RBC Canadian Open. “To become No. 1 is a real goal of mine,” King said. “I want to play well at Victoria next June, get that top ranking and earn that exemption into the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey.”
King, who turns 48 on Nov. 19th admitted he has another future goal. “The five year plan is to give it a whack and try and play out on the Champions Tour,” King said. “I’ve been working really hard towards that goal and it’s starting to pay off, so I’ll continue to work at it and once I turn 50 I’ll be flying.”
The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), was handed out Tuesday. Team Ontario—Ian Doig, Ron Kenesky, Matt Peavoy and King—captured the title.
Former champions of the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada include Danny King, Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.
To follow the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada online throughout tournament week, visit the PGA of Canada's Twitter feed, Vimeo channel, Facebook page and website.
For more information, contact:
Chris Fry | Managing Director, Corporate Communications & Digital Media PGA of Canada |1-800-782-5764 EXT. 234
Adam LeBrun | Managing Director, Championships & Events PGA of Canada | 1-800-782-5764 EXT. 227
About the PGA of Canada—THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE GAME OF GOLF:
Established in 1911, the PGA of Canada is the second oldest and third largest professional golf association in the world. The PGA of Canada is a non-profit Association comprised of 3,700 golf professionals across the country. The association’s mission is to develop, promote, and support its members in living a better life and earning a better living while growing participation, excellence and passion for the sport of golf. The association consists of the national office located in Acton, Ont., and nine zone offices across the country. www.pgaofcanada.com