DUNROBIN – SPORTS – In an exhilarating showdown at Eagle Creek Golf Club, Stuart Macdonald of Canada triumphed in a playoff against Devon Bling and Luke Schniederjans to claim the title at the Commissionaires Ottawa Open. The thrilling finale saw Macdonald make birdie on the fourth extra hole, securing his first-ever PGA TOUR Canada victory and moving him to No. 6 in the Fortinet Cup standings.
The Playoff Drama: The three-man playoff kicked off on the par-5 18th hole, with both Macdonald and Bling sinking birdies, and Schniederjans bowing out after a double bogey. Moving on to the second extra hole, also on No. 18, Macdonald and Bling both carded birdies. The duo then headed to the par-4 ninth hole, where Macdonald had a chance for birdie but missed a six-footer, leading to a par. Bling three-putted for par, allowing Macdonald to claim victory with a tap-in birdie on the fourth playoff hole.
Macdonald’s Journey to Victory: Starting the day three strokes behind Bling, Macdonald began his final round with an aggressive approach, recording birdies on the opening hole and adding more birdies on the fourth and fifth. An eagle on the seventh propelled him forward, leading to a bogey-free back nine. Macdonald’s exceptional play off the tee proved to be the key to his success as he secured a 19-under total for the tournament.
Reflecting on the Win: Ecstatic about his win, Macdonald expressed his joy, “To get my first PGA TOUR-sanctioned win, in Canada, is huge. I’m really happy about it. I’m obviously thrilled to be standing here as the champion. It’s a long-time coming. I felt like I’ve put myself in this spot a few times this year and haven’t gotten it done. It feels amazing to finally get it done.”
Fortinet Cup Standings: With this victory, Macdonald climbed to No. 6 in the Fortinet Cup standings, having accumulated 505 points. Davis Lamb remains the front-runner with 1,059 points, followed by John Pak at 646 points.
Canadian Players’ Performance: Among the 14 Canadian players who made the cut this week, Stuart Macdonald was the standout performer, securing both the title and the top position. Other notable Canadian players include Joey Savoie, who tied for 8th, and Jimmy Jones, who tied for 12th.
Upcoming Tournament: The PGA TOUR Canada season continues with the Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos CBM Aggregates at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, set to commence on Thursday in Caledon, Ontario.
Did You Know? The last three-man playoff in PGA TOUR Canada occurred in 2022, with Canadian Wil Bateman emerging victorious over Joe Highsmith of the United States and Mexico’s Jorge Villar at the ATB Classic presented by Volvo Edmonton. Bateman went on to win two titles that season, ultimately securing the Fortinet Cup and Player of the Year honors.
