Graham Cooke repeats as Canadian senior men's golf champion

VICTORIA, B.C. — Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que., fired a final round of 1-over 73 Friday to win his second straight Canadian men's senior golf title.

Cooke finished the tournament at 2-under 286, two strokes better than John Marlow of Kettleby, Ont. Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta., finished third at 1-over 289.

Cooke, who went even-par on the front nine, carded three bogeys and two birdies on the back nine for a tournament total of 46 pars, 14 birdies and 12 bogeys.

"The shot that clinched the win for me was my approach shot on No. 11 when I birdied to go up by three," said Cooke. "John and Frank were tough competitors, and played strong games today, so I knew that I had to play well to protect my lead."

Van Dornick used three early birdies to temporarily jump into second place. Marlow struggled early in the round making four consecutive bogeys, but eventually settled down to card two birdies and seven pars on the back nine.

With his win, Cooke claims his eleventh national amateur championship title - four senior and seven mid-amateur - breaking the record for most events won by a male amateur.

"The older you get, the more you appreciate winning a national championship," said Cooke.

Cooke earned himself an exemption into the 2009 USGA Senior Amateur Championship being held Sept. 12-17 at the Beverly Country Club in Chicago.

Canadian Pers