by Marty HenwoodCantour.com
| Mike Mezei won his first professional tournament over the weekend. |
WINNIPEG, Manitoba ? Mike Mezei wasn’t aboutto work overtime for his first Canadian Tour triumph Sunday at the FreePress Manitoba Classic.
With fellow Canadian Derek Gillespie already in the house hopingfor a playoff, Mezei birdied the 17th hole en route to afinal-round-3-under 68 and end a dramatic afternoon in the Manitobacapital.
Mezei finished with a four-day total of 13-under 271, one shot better than Gillespie, who made a final-day charge with a 65.
It was a banner day for Canadians, with players from north of the border taking the four top spots.
Calgary’s Dustin Risdon, looking for his second straight win, and CraigTaylor of Hunter River, PEI tied for third, four shots back.
Mezei became the fourth different Canadian, and third from Alberta, towin in 2007, the first time that has happened since 1996 when sixCanucks found the top podium.
“There must be something in that southern Alberta water,” laughed Mezei. “But this is just awesome.”
Gillespie, who had his second runner-up showing of the season, came upjust short in his a quest for his first Tour triumph in four years butit was still a very productive day for him. His second-place paydaymoved Gillespie into third spot on the Rolex Order of Merit,guaranteeing him a trip to Markham, Ont. for the Canadian Open twoweeks from now. Gillespie joins current money leader Spencer Levin, whowill tee it up in the British Open this week, Adam Bland, WesHeffernan, Alan McLean and Mike Grob as Canadian Tour exemptions intoCanada’s national championship.
“That was the goal coming in here?to get into that top six,” saidGillespie. “Obviously I wanted to win, but I’ve played well all year.It wasn’t just this week.”
Mezei joins Wes-Heffernan, with a pair of triumphs, James Lepp and Dustin Risdon as Canadian winners this year.
Mezei began the final day deadlocked with Risdon but gave himself alittle breathing room with a front side 34 to turn with a two-shotedge. With Gillespie putting the heat on, Mezei kept his cool and ledby two after 15. But just as Mezei was bogeying the par-3 16th,Gillespie chipped in for birdie on 18 to pull even and give somethingfor Mezei to think about over the final two holes.
With a playoff looming, Mezei knocked a wedge from 132 yards to afoot on the par-4 17th to retain top spot. He then two-putted for paron the final hole to rubber-stamp the win.
“I heard a huge roar over on 18 (when Gillespie chipped in), so I knewwhere I stood,” Mezei added. “What a rush. Tapping in for your firstwin. It doesn’t get any better.”
The cream of the Canadian Tour crop will now fly to Toronto forWednesday’s International Team Matches, pitting Team Canada against theU.S. and International squads.