Duke wins first PGA Tour title with victory at Shaw Charity Classic

Ken Duke birdied the par-5 final hole at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club on Sunday to win the 2023 Shaw Charity Classic.

Duke sank a decisive four-foot putt on the 18th green to win his first PGA Tour Champions event in his 100th career start.

The 54-year-old from Palm City, Florida had three birdies over his last six holes to finish with a three-round total of 14-under-par 196.

That day, Duke posted a round 4-under 66 to finish the tournament one stroke ahead of fellow player Tim Petrovic and Thongchai Jaidee, who finished at 13-under.

Petrovic, 57, of Austin, Tex., led by two shots going into the final round of the three-day, 54-hole tournament, but couldn’t make anything work and finished with three birdies and two bogeys to shoot 69.

Jaidee, 53, of Lopburi, Thailand, had Sunday’s best round of 8-under 62 to take the lead in the clubhouse before Duke overtook him on the final hole.

Jaidee began his round with four birdies on his first five holes before adding five more on the back nine to finish with just one bogey.

Darren Clarke, Billy Andrade and Scott Dunlop finished in a three-way tie for fourth at 11-under, while KJ Choi and David Toms were a shot behind that group at 10-under.

After starting the tournament with scorers of 68 and 66 on the first two days of competition, London, Ontario’s Alan McLean struggled on Sunday and posted a disappointing 3-of-73 round.

“I was there to try to beat the golf course and it beat me today,” said McLean, who still finished as the best Canadian in a tie for 33rd at 3-under.

“It is very small consolation that I am the best Canadian. It’s a bit sad, but overall it was a good week. I enjoyed it and it was nice to be in contention and I just wish I could have taken a better step today.”

Undeterred, McLean will attempt to qualify to play in both The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Michigan next weekend and the Ascension Charity Classic in St. Louis, Mississippi on September 8-10.

“I’ve challenged myself to get to one of the next two (events) and then go from there,” said McLean, who was born in Scotland and raised in South Africa before moving to Canada in 2000.

Former Calgary resident Stephen Ames hit a round of 70 par to finish a stroke behind McLean in a tie for 41st at 2-under.

Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir, of Brights Grove, Ont., shot his second straight round of 71 to finish one behind Ames, while David Morland IV, a native of Aurora, Ont., shot 72 the Sunday to finish tied for 64th place at 2 over.