Barron birdies final three holes to win Shaw Charity Classic

CALGARY — Doug Barron birdied the final three holes at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club to win the 2021 Shaw Charity Classic.

Although he bogeyed his first hole of the day, Barron went on to record five birdies and an eagle on the par 5, 11^th hole to card his third straight round of 6-under 64.

His 54-hole score of 18-under 192 gave the 52-year-old golfer from Memphis, Tenn., just his second-ever PGA Tour Champions victory. His last one was at the 2019 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y.

After Barron rolled his lengthy eagle putt on the par 5, finishing hole to within tap-in range, he started fist pumping to celebrate the biggest payday of his career. Shortly after draining the short putt, he did a victory lap around the final green while fist bumping many of the lucky fans in attendance.

For his efforts, he won $352,500 U.S., which is $30,100 more than he won when he finished third on the PGA Tour at the 2005 EDS Byron Nelson Championship in Texas.

Thanks to three birdies on the front nine and three more in his first four holes on the back side, Steve Flesch, of Union, Ky., was in the lead until Barron rallied for the win. Flesch’s round of 5-under 65 was good enough for second spot as he finished the tournament at 16 under.

Billy Andrade and Brandt Jobe ended up in a tie for third place at 13 under, while Billy Mayfair finished one shot back of them alone in fifth.

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and former Calgary resident Stephen Ames carded a round of even par 70 to finish in a tie for sixth spot at 11 under with David McKenzie.

One day after shooting an even-par round of 70, Mike Weir, of Brights Grove, Ont., improved upon that score by two shots on Sunday to finish in a four-way tie for ninth at 9 under. Also in that group were Matt Gogel, Tim Herron and Ken Duke.

David Morland IV, who’s originally from Aurora, Ont., shot 69 on Sunday to finish in a six-way tie for 16^th spot at 7 under.

Meanwhile, Dennis Hendershott, of Brantford, Ont., had four birdies and four bogeys on his round to finish both his day and the tournament at even par. That left him well back of the leaders in a three-way tie for 47^th.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 15, 2021.

Laurence Heinen, The Canadian Press