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Local favourite wins victory

Richard Zokol, a native of British Columbia, fired a six-under-par 66 on Sunday to capture the Buy.com Canadian PGA Championship. Zokol finished with a four-day total of 17-under 271 to win by three shots and became the first Canadian to win this title since 1996.

"I can't say enough about this championship," said Zokol, who earned a first prize of $81,000 for his first Buy.com Tour win. "I would rather have my name on this trophy this year than any other year that I have played in the CPGA.

"I am killing two birds with one stone. I won a Buy.com Tour tournament today and won a national championship."

The Canadian PGA Championship, the second-oldest tournament in Canada, started in 1912 and became a Buy.com Tour event this year.

Gary Hallberg carded a final-round 68 to finish second at 14-under, while Pat Perez and Tim Petrovic tied for third at minus-13. Petrovic started the day tied with Zokol for the lead, but managed only a two-under 70.

Zokol almost didn't play in this event, as he was in Memphis earlier this week as an alternate for the PGA Tour's St. Jude Classic. His number was not called in Memphis and he made the trek to Ontario.

"If I got into (the St. Jude) I was playing there," said Zokol. "I didn't commit to this tournament until late last week, a couple of days before the deadline. I was anticipating getting into Memphis."

Zokol's week in Memphis was not all for naught, as he played in the U.S. Open qualifier at Colonial Country Club and earned a spot in next week's field at Southern Hills.

"I am feeling great heading into next week," said Zokol, who last won a pro tournament at the 1992 Greater Milwaukee Open on the PGA Tour.

Zokol drained three birdie putts on the front nine to make the turn with a one-shot lead at 14-under. Tommy Biershenk and Hallberg were tied for second.

Biershenk, playing ahead of Zokol, birdied the 11th hole to gain a share of the lead, but fell apart from there with two bogeys and a double-bogey.

Hallberg, meanwhile, birdied 11 and 13, while Zokol birdied 10, forging a tie at minus-15.

Zokol, though, moved ahead with birdies at 13 and 14 and parred out from there.

Hallberg, knowing he needed an eagle at the par-five 18th, tried to reach the green with his second shot from 250 yards, but found the water and suffered his lone bogey of the day.

"I knew I needed an eagle to have a chance and as it turned out, that's what it would have taken," said Hallberg. "I had a two-shot lead over the guy behind me so I had to go for it. I felt good that I went for it, but it hit the bank and came in the water."

Petrovic was still in the hunt, just one shot back, when he reached the par- four eighth. However, a double-bogey, following a birdie by Zokol, put Petrovic four off the pace. He never threatened again.

Kevin Burton, who also shared the top spot heading into the final round, blew up with a six-over 78 and finished tied for 35th at five-under par.

Chad Wright, the winner of this event last year before it became part of the Buy.com Tour, finished tied for 19th at eight-under after carding an even-par 72 on Sunday.

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