Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Colin Montgomerie ensured that the inaugural Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship was not without drama.
In a memorable denouement, the Scotsman sank a 15-foot birdie putt at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off to defeat American Scott McCarron at Bear Mountain Golf Resort’s Mountain Course.
“On behalf of Pacific Links International, I would like to congratulate Colin Montgomerie on his incredible win at the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship,” said Charles Lorimer, Chief Operating Officer at Pacific Links International, a Full Business Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
“We had an extremely talented field of PGA Tour Champions players who put on an incredible event for the fans. We would also like to thank our wonderful sponsors and the more than 600 volunteers who made this year’s event the success it was.”
‘Monty’ closed with a four-under 67 to match McCarron at 15-under 198 in regulation. Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez fired a course record 61 to tie for third at 13-under with Americans Jeff Sluman, Scott Dunlap and Doug Garwood.
It was Montgomerie’s fourth win on the PGA Tour Champions – complementing victories at the 2014 and 2015 Senior PGA Championship and the 2014 US Senior Open.
The event was able to give back to the community through its official local charity partner – Help Fill a Dream – who will use the funds generated through the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship to grant dreams and provide financial support to children and their families living with critical illnesses on Vancouver Island.
The event’s charitable initiatives will contribute to the substantial impact of the PGA Tour’s charitable platform, which has more than US$2 billion in all-time charitable-giving.
Adding to the exciting schedule of events, Canadian PGA Tour star Graham DeLaet hosted the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Junior Clinic for over 150 parents and kids, all with the aim of growing the game of golf amongst youth in British Columbia.
DeLaet and his Foundation also contributed a US$10,000 donation to Help Fill a Dream to assist the organisation with continuing its meaningful work in the community.
All three competitive rounds of the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship were broadcast live by Golf Channel to 84 countries in 11 languages.