Danny Sahl
Danny Sahl won the inaugural Syncrude Boreal Open on Sunday to capture his first Canadian Tour title in his 80th career start.
The 31-year-old veteran from Sherwood Park, Alta., shot two-under 70 in the final round at Fort McMurray Golf Club to reach 16-under 272 and post a comfortable five-shot victory over fellow Albertan Dustin Risdon and David Dragoo of the United States.
Sahl's previous best finishes on the developmental circuit was a pair of fifth-place results last year at stops in Saskatoon and Winnipeg.
With his victory, the 10-year tour veteran earned $24,000, which is not only the largest cheque of his career but it surpasses his 2010 earnings by nearly $2,500.
"I've had some great support from my family and especially my dad who will probably see some of my earnings go back to him from this week," an emotional Sahl said. "I couldn't have done this without their help and support and it makes this win even more special knowing they were a big part of it."
Roger Sloan, the tour's hottest Canadian this year, tied for fourth place with American Brett Kanda. Sloan of Merritt, B.C., won the Western Championship this month and now has three top-five finishes in 2011.
Sloan is second on the money list behind Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, a two-time winner this year who skipped the Fort McMurray event to play on his home soil in the Nationwide Tour's Mexico Open.(Rodriguez tied for 11th, finishing six shots behind winner Erik Compton.)
Sahl moved up to fourth spot on the money list, Risdon to fifth. The top five on the money list after the Players Cup in Winnipeg on July 17 earn exemptions into the PGA Tour's RBC Canadian Open the following Thursday.
With a report from cantour.com