Eugene Wong won the Canadian Tour Championship with a nearly perfect shot.
The North Vancouver native two-hopped the ball into the 18th hole from 133 yards out on Sunday, eagling to beat American Joe Panzeri by a single shot.
"There's a funny story to that shot," said the 21-year-old Wong. "My caddie and I were walking up the fairway, and he said 'it would be nice to hole it right now, wouldn't it?' I said 'yeah, it would.' "
It is Wong's first professional victory. The 2010 Jack Nicklaus Award winner earned $16,000 for the win and a two-year exemption on the Canadian Tour.
He finished at 14-under par total, a stroke ahead of Panzeri, the 2011 International Rookie of the Year.
"My confidence is really high now. I know I can compete with the pros and I'm happy to get my first win," said Wong.
Playing in his third Canadian Tour event as a professional, Wong got off to a fast start with a chip in eagle on the first hole. That eagle propelled him into the early lead over Panzeri, who began the day a shot back of Wong at 9-under.
"I got myself to the top of the leaderboard and hit solid shots coming in," said Panzeri.
The lead, however, didn't last long as an untimely bogey on the fifth hole coupled with Panzeri's third birdie of the day on No. 6 put Wong in a tie at 11 under. Panzeri would go on to birdie eight to grab the outright lead at 12 under before a bogey on nine put him back into a tie with Wong at 11 under.
It looked more and more like Panzeri would walk away with the victory as he moved to 14-under par, three clear of the field. Panzeri would go on to bogey the par-4 13th hole, moving him to 13-under where he finished the tournament.
The round of the day belonged to American Joel Dahmen, who matched the official course record with an 8-under 63. Dahmen finished the tournament tied for 16th.
