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| (Bonjour Quebec Open Champion Michael Carbone ) |
MONTREAL (September 21, 2006) – Michael Carbone of Brewster, Mass., shot an even-par 70 on Thursday to capture his first New England Pro Golf Tour title at the inaugural Bonjour Quebec – the Tour’s first international event.
On a cold and windy day when the average score reached 78.09 and no one else shot lower than 72, Carbone registered four birdies, including three on the back nine, to finish 3-over for the tournament and earn a two-shot victory over Bryan Omelia of Cambridge, Mass.
With a tap-in birdie at the 17th hole, the 25-year-old Carbone essentially wrapped up his first victory since the 2003 Providence Open – a one-day event that was his first start as a professional.
“It feels great, but I know it hasn’t really hit me yet,’’ Carbone said. “I’m sure it will feel even better tomorrow.’’
The three-day, 54-hole tournament in Montreal was the ninth stop on the 2006 schedule for the New England Pro Golf our – the premier developmental golf tour in the country.
Carbone wasn’t the only victor Thursday. Geoffrey Sisk of Marshfield, Mass., finished joint ninth and clinched the Tour’s Player of the Year Award with two events remaining. Sisk extended his single-season record for earnings to $80,208 – nearly $50,000 more than anyone else.
“It’s a real thrill to win it,’’ said Sisk, who has seven top-10s in nine starts. “I had a chance last year heading into the last tournament but wasn’t able to finish it off. To set it as a goal this year and then go out and do it is a real thrill.’’
Julien Trudeau of Montreal shot 78 to finish joint 12th – highest among the five Canadian players to make the cut. Matt McQuillan of Kingston, Ont., finished joint 18th; Brennan Webb of Bracebridge, Ont., joint 23rd; Marc-Andre Roy of Blainville, Quebec joint 30th; and Lee Curry of Kemptville, Ont., joint 36th.
In conditions many players described as the most difficult they’d ever played, none could match Carbone. Starting the final round five shots off the lead, Carbone made few mistakes and jumped into contention with consecutive birdies on the back nine – including a 3-iron to five feet at the 225-yard par-3 12th. In fact, all four of his bogeys came on three-putts.
“That’s as good a ball-striking round, even week, as I’ve ever had,’’ Carbone said. “Especially on course like this and in conditions like this, when you knew if you hit it even a little sideways, you may not find it.’’
The victory represents a remarkable turnaround, for he started the season with three straight scores in the 80s and missed his first three cuts by a wide margin. He slowly began to turn it around over the last six weeks, finishing fifth at Wintonbury Hills and 11th at Atkinson Resort & Country Club and qualifying for the PGA Tour’s Deutsche Bank Championship.
“I wasn’t playing well at all,’’ Carbone said. “But I started feeling a little more comfortable recently. To finally break through is unbelievable.’’
The Tour now heads to Pinehills Golf Course in Plymouth, Mass., Sept. 26-28 for the inaugural Pinehills Open.