Media Release

Curren Captures PGA Atlantic Championship

KenWo Golf Club hosted the 2021 Srixon Cleveland Golf PGA Atlantic Zone Championship presented by Nike Golf. KenWo has hosted the Zone Championship for three of the last nine years and as usual was the ultimate host. The course coupled with the overall facility and atmosphere provided a great venue for the championship.

Bradford Curren of Oakfield captured his second PGA Atlantic Zone Championship in three years having won at Kingswood in 2019.

The tremendous support of our partners, Srixon Cleveland Golf and Nike Golf, is truly appreciated.  Thank you!

Thank you to the members at KenWo for allowing the PGA Professionals in Atlantic Canada to enjoy their wonderful course and experience their hospitality. A special thank you to PGA Professionals Rene MacKay, Derek MacKinnon, Laura Reid, Jordan Milne and Ryan Trimper and their team at KenWo for hosting the Championship.

Round one saw great scoring with seven players breaking 70 highlighted by Curren’s course record tying 64. Despite a final hole double bogey, Curren opened up a three shot lead over Maplewood’s Thomas Keddy, the current Order of Merit leader who has finished as the runner-up for the past two championships. Included in the group at 67 were Neal Ryan from Brunello and Brian Affleck from Antigonish.

Curren seemed in complete control especially given his mistake on hole #18 was simply because of a careless mistake rather than poor play. He opened up the final round with a birdie on #1 and appeared to be headed to a relative easy victory although Keddy matched that birdie.

Play from the leaders on #2 lead to a major change on the leader board. Curren’s double bogey coupled with Ryan’s birdie left the lead at one with Keddy and Affleck now only two back.

Others in the hunt were unable to make any move with many finishing the front nine over par. The one exception was Calvin Ross, the defending champion from JH Sports, who turned in 2 under par for the championship and added a birdie at #10.

Curren’s play on day two was less than consistent making a bogey on the par 5 6^th hole. He finished the front nine at 2 over par and 4 under for the championship. Ryan birdied #9 for a two under 33 and was tied with Affleck who shot 34 one shot ahead of both Curren and Keddy.

Holes #10 through #13 before entering the valley seemed to sway the tournament in favor of Ryan although slightly. He played those holes in one under par as did Keddy. Affleck was even along with Curren. The championship now stood with Ryan at -6, Affleck and Keddy at -5 and Curren at -4. Ross slipped with bogeys at #11 and #14. Connor Shea from Andersons Creek made a little noise with birdies on #12 and #14 to get to -2 however parred in to tie for 5^th with Ross.

Uncharacteristic play by the four leaders on the par 5 14^th hole resulted in 3 bogeys and a par with Curren making the only par leaving the leaderboard at -5 for Ryan with the others at -4.

Ryan birdied #15 with both Keddy and Curren making par so his lead was two with only three holes to play. Affleck’s bogey left him three back.

Ryan gave the shot back on #16 with a bogey setting the stage for the final two holes. Ryan, Keddy and Affleck all parred the par 5 seventeenth hole and somehow Curren found the magic again as his eagle vaulted him into a one shot lead.

Affleck’s par on #18 coupled with Keddy’s bogey let them tied for 3^rd at 3 under par. Ryan also parred. Curren put aside his challenge at #18 from day one as he also parred to win by one shot over Ryan.

Rounding out the top ten were Adam Chamberlain of Gowan Brae who finished 7^th at 140. 5^th with Connor Shea. In 8^th was Josh Landine of Ashburn at 141. Tied for 9^th were Alex Egan of Fredericton and Jordan Milne from the host club.

Bradford Curren’s scores of 64-70-134 demonstrated not only great golf but tenacity as he fought back in the final round for the slight one shot victory … well done Bradford … congratulations!

PGA Atlantic President Adam Chamberlain; Zone Champion Bradford Curren; Jaret Connick (Srixon Cleveland Golf and Nike Golf)

KenWo Golf Club

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