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From the Archives

Pat Fletcher after winning the 1954 Canadian Open Golf Canada Archives

Is this the year a Canadian will once again win the Canadian Open?

With 17 Canadians already in the field for the 2012 RBC Canadian Open, is this the year another Canadian will win the title?

Jason Cheong, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Interim Curator

Published on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2012 09:29PM EDT Last updated on Thursday, Jul. 19, 2012 09:33PM EDT

Canadian golf fans talk a lot about a Canadian winning the RBC Canadian Open and whether or not it can happen. Well, it has in the past, and we’d like to take you back to the last winner.

In 1914, Karl Keffer won his second Canadian Open. Canadians would have to wait until 1954 for another Canadian champion when Pat Fletcher won. That was the last time a Canadian won our national championship.

Born in England in 1916, Pat Fletcher came to Canada with his family when he was just 4 years of age, and learned to play golf when he was 9. He worked as a caddie, eventually becoming a professional, working at Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. While he was not a long hitter, he was extremely accurate, rarely missing the fairway. His greatest strength was his short game. Fletcher was considered by many as the best wedge player in Canada.

Fletcher didn’t intend on playing in the Canadian Open, but he was enticed by friend Stan Leonard who promised him good fishing on the Pacific coast. That year the Canadian Open was held at Point Grey Golf Club in Vancouver.

Fletcher finished with a 65 in the first round. In the third round, fellow Canadian Gordie Brydson took the lead from him. Brydson played with confidence, but in the fourth round Brydson slipped up. Fletcher shot a 32 on the back nine, holding off Brydson and Bill Welch to win by four strokes.

Fletcher, a gracious champion, would go on to become the head professional at Royal Montreal, and served as president of the PGA of Canada from 1962-1965.

With great Canadian players in the field this year, including two time low Canadian Adam Hadwin, could this be our year? I sure hope so.

Below is a list of Canadians who have won the Canadian Open.

Canadian Champions:

  • Charles Murray: 1906,1911
  • Albert Murray: 1908, 1913
  • Karl Keffer: 1909, 1914
  • Pat Fletcher: 1954

As of today, here are the Canadians enlisted in the 2012 RBC Canadian Open taking place July 23-29 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

  • Stephen Ames
  • Albin Choi
  • Rob Couture
  • Graham DeLaet
  • Greg Doherty
  • Brad Fritsch
  • Michael Gligic
  • Adam Hadwin
  • David Hearn
  • Matt Hill
  • Mackenzie Hughes
  • Brian McCann
  • Matt McQuillan
  • Andrew Parr
  • Cory Renfrew
  • Mike Weir
  • Eugene Wong