Gudmund Lindbjerg's run is finally over. But what a glorious run it was.
The four-time reigning champion from Port Moody was dethroned by hometown favourite Sandy Harper, who knocked off Lindbjerg in a field of 72 finishers to capture the 2012 B.C. Senior Men's Championship at Nanaimo Golf Club.
A Nanaimo Golf Club member, Harper started the day seven ahead of the field, quickly stretching his lead to nine strokes after making birdie on the par 5, 500-yard first hole compared with a bogey from Lindbjerg.
"I started out with a good birdie on one and then got another one on the sixth hole," Harper said.
"I really never had that much pressure on me, so all I wanted to do was hit fairways and greens and get into a flow."
Harper would give both shots back on the seventh hole with a double-bogey six, his first one of the week. He would bounce right with a birdie on the par 3, 155-yard eighth hole.
Similar to round two, Harper closed out his back nine with relative ease, carding a one-under 35 inward half, good enough for a three-day Championship total 210 (72-68-70), eleven strokes ahead of his nearest competitor.
Playing in his threesome were Lindbjerg and senior men's rookie Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver.
Both Lindbjerg and Roxburgh struggled on the day, posting identical seven-over-par 79's. Lindbjerg finished with a championship total 226 (72-75-79) while Roxburgh posted 228, (75-74-79) good enough for a tie for fifth and 12th respectively.
"I played today with my good friend Gudmund and Doug Roxburgh, who else would you want to play with," smiled Harper.
