Westfield Duo Secures Victory in Nail-Biting Finish at the Callaway PGA Atlantic Team Championship

Written By: Skylar Jardine, Communications, Marketing, and Event Management Coordinator, PGA of Canada Atlantic

There must be something in the water up at Westfield Golf Course, as professionals Steve Leblanc and Braden Duffley lit up the scoreboard with ten birdies and an eagle in round one.

For many, the pressure of competing in their first professional tournament can be overwhelming, but not for Duffley. Fresh off passing his PAT at Mountain Woods Golf Course in June, he made an impressive professional debut, keeping his composure throughout the round.

The duo finished the day with a remarkable 12-under (60), giving them a two-stroke lead over Roger Keating (The Links at Brunello) and Todd Bishop (Dormie Workshop).

“We didn’t get into too much trouble today. We just made putts and put ourselves in good positions to make birdies,” LeBlanc reflected on their successful round.

Every course presents its own set of challenges, and at Hampton Golf Course, the greens stood out as the primary defense. Firm, fast, and filled with subtle breaks, they tested every golfer’s ability to read the lines.

As with most 2-person scrambles, it ultimately came down to a putting contest. “When my partner’s putter got hot,” said LeBlanc, there was no catching them.

It’s well known that staying on top is almost always more challenging than getting there, and no one knows this better than the Westfield duo of Duffley and LeBlanc. After an impressive start to the final round, their lead began to dwindle, making for a tense finish.

“We got off to a hot start, we had a good lead after yesterday, and in the front nine we were three or four up and then we slowed down. Started battling, putts weren’t dropping,” shared Duffley after the round, reflecting on the pressure they faced.

Their early dominance was tested when Team Caron/MacIsaac (Links at Brunello) and Team Jewers/Ward (Golf Town Dartmouth, Golf NB) mounted a fierce comeback. Caron and MacIsaac carded four birdies, while Jewers and Ward added five, steadily chipping away at the leaders' advantage.

Despite their efforts, it wasn’t enough to overtake the determined Westfield pair. Duffley and LeBlanc held their ground, closing out with a solid overall score of 60-65 (-19).

“In the end, it was just enough,” commented LeBlanc. “The up and down on 18 was clutch,” he added, highlighting the decisive moment that sealed their victory.

For both Duffley and LeBlanc, the win marked a special milestone as their first professional triumph. A well-deserved victory to say the least.

A huge thank you to our host, Jon Garron, Director of Golf, and the Hampton staff for putting on an incredible event. Garron not only organized the event, but also stepped onto the course, with a familiar face in the Atlantic Zone, Lindon Garron, former Executive Director.

A special note of gratitude goes to our long-time partners at Callaway. Their continued support has been instrumental in growing this tournament, and we’re fortunate to have Tommy Dunn, the 2023 Atlantic Zone Sales Rep of the Year, in our corner. Joining him on the course was Chris Ouellette, Callaway Representative, their contributions are foundational to the growth of the event.