It wasn’t the most typical handshake following the final hole of a Northern championship, but Jeff Whitfield took home his first career Northern title at Cooke Municipal Golf Course on Monday afternoon.
Whitfield, who plays regularly at Cooke, knocked off Moose Jaw’s Jordan Banilevic in the final to win the title. It was the first appearance in a Northern final for both men.
“It’s a lot of golf, the course is great.” Whitfield explained. “A lot of good players and (I) just kind of held it together, played pretty well and was able to win it.”
There was a little bit of confusion after the 18th hole as both players thought the match was even and required a playoff. After a conversation with officials including Cooke head professional Darcy Myers and looking back at the scorecard, it was determined that Whitfield had won the match by one.
“I wasn’t really focusing on the score too much.” Whitfield said of the scoring confusion. “Apparently I was up one playing 18 and we tied.”
After a successful qualifying round, Whitfield defeated Mitchell Dunning, Darryl Czuy and Jeremy Baetz on route to the final.
Whitfield, who won the 2005 Memorial Cup with the OHL’s London Knights, says the key to his success on the week was picking up strokes around the green.
“I think my short game was really good. I chipped and putted really, really well. I hit it all right for the most part, but I really got it in the hole around the green.”
On the other side of the bracket, Moose Jaw’s Jordan Banilevic reached the final with wins in the match play over Brett Blakely, Brady Leachman and Wyatt Newman.
The championship flight final was tracked closely. More than two dozen golf carts with spectators took in the match, following the pair around the confines of Cooke Municipal.
Banilevic says the gallery didn’t put as much pressure on his shots as he thought it would.
“I’m actually surprised. I’ve never really had that before but it didn’t actually bug me a whole lot. I stayed pretty level-headed and not too bad through it.”
Following the final match, both players raved about the conditions of the course which is maintained by superintendent Pierre Vezeau and the turf care team.
“The course is unreal.” Banilevic said. “You couldn’t ask for a better course. The greens are amazing and the course is in great shape.”
Other flight winners
Championship Consolation: Brent Ryan
First Flight: Martin Ring
First Flight Consolation: Connor Gay
Second Flight: Chris Reid
Second Flight Consolation: Bruce Ede
Third Flight: DJ Sayese
Third Flight Consolation: Chad Grigo
Fourth Flight: Andrew Kutnikoff
Fourth Flight Consolation: Jeff Mckeand
Fifth Flight: Jordan Riggins
Fifth Flight Consolation: Brady Wilyman
Sixth Flight: Shaquile Sanderson
Sixth Flight Consolation: Rene Quintal
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