McLean, Plante each shoot 66 for 42 stableford points, lead PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by GOLFTEC
Alan McLean knows Parcours du Vieux Village well.
Two years ago, he nearly became the first player in PGA of Canada National Championship history to break 60 en-route to his second-consecutive PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by GOLFTEC title.
On Wednesday, he looked right at home once again.
McLean made seven birdies and an eagle, shooting 66 to pick up 42 stableford points, using a four-hole stretch on the back nine to surge up the leaderboard.
But he wasn't alone.
Martin Plante, the head professional at Balmoral Golf Club in Morin-Heights, Que., matched McLean's 42-point opening round thanks to a pair of eagles and a blistering front-nine 31.
Plante wasted little time making his presence felt, holing out from a bunker on the third before adding a second eagle on the seventh hole after what he called the longest drive he has ever hit on the hole.
“Well obviously the two eagles,” said Plante, when asked about the highlight of the round. “I blasted one in from the bunker on three and on seven I hit probably my longest drive ever there. I only had a little seven iron in and hit it to about five feet.”
Plante added a handful of birdies and a key par save on the ninth hole before playing steady golf on the inward nine to preserve his share of the lead.
“I played okay on the back nine, no big mistakes,” said Plante. “I'm really happy with the round.”
The round was far from a sprint for McLean.
Through 10 holes, the defending champion remained patient on a golf course that can tempt players into chasing birdies. Then came the stretch he had been waiting for.
A lengthy birdie putt on the 11th kickstarted the run. An eagle followed on 12 after a solid approach shot, and when he added another birdie on 13, he suddenly found himself atop the leaderboard.
“I just stayed in the now and waited for that little stretch to happen,” said McLean. “On this golf course, I think one has a tendency to get a little impatient and feel like you're getting lapped, but it can happen on the front nine or the back nine here. There are lots of scoring opportunities.”
The veteran from Echo Valley Golf Club knows those opportunities as well as anyone.
Parcours du Vieux Village has become one of the most memorable stops in McLean's career. In addition to last year's dominant victory, McLean famously fired a second-round 60 in 2024 and made an albatross during the final round on his way to the title.
While those memories certainly don't hurt, McLean says they're not something he actively leans on when he arrives in Bromont.
“I have good vibes. I feel comfortable,” said McLean. “The course obviously suits my game and I just enjoy it. Every hole feels like a birdie opportunity. You hit a good shot, the greens are good, and you've got a chance to make a putt.”
For Plante, the comfort level comes from familiarity. A longtime competitor in Quebec and a regular at Vieux Village, he embraced the opportunity to compete close to home alongside friends.
“I love the course. I've played many, many times here,” said Plante. “I was with two good buddies with today, so it was just a great day.”
The championship features a field of 45 players, including 14 competitors in the Super Senior division, all competing over 54 holes at the picturesque Bromont venue.
With two rounds remaining, McLean and Plante find themselves exactly where every player in the field hopes to be, tied atop the leaderboard with the championship still very much up for grabs.