Nine birdies, one massive putt, and a whole lot of Victoria grit.
Lindsay Bernakevitch and Craig Doell, a powerhouse duo from Victoria Golf Club, roared to victory at the PGA of BC Tournament of Champions on May 28 at Fairview Mountain Golf Club.
They edged the field by a single shot with a 9-under 63 in the best-ball format – sealing a fourth all-time title for Victoria Golf Club and tying the tournament records for most club and individual wins.
It was a day of chaos and class, with the pair handling everything from postcard-worthy sunshine to sideways rain. But when it mattered most, on their final hole – the par-3 third – they delivered.
“Craig hits this shot in there, 18 feet below the hole. I hit it 20 feet right of the hole, and I just missed the putt. You can feel it when you’re out there, you know what the score is going to be," said Bernakevitch in a press release." We thought ‘eight-under is probably a playoff, nine wins it.’ Craig just buried it. Right in the middle, centre-cup, so perfect. We screamed up there, we knew we had it.”
That putt – dead centre – gave them the edge over Kelowna’s Rob Anderson and Mike Byland, who finished one stroke behind.
For both Bernakevitch and Doell, the win was their third career Tournament of Champions crown, matching the individual record. And for Victoria Golf Club, it’s yet another banner moment, adding to victories in 2007, 2015, and 2017 – now tied with Point Grey Golf & Country Club for most club titles in the tournament’s history.
“Winning this again with Lindsay is really special,” Doell said. “It means a lot to Victoria Golf Club. We pride ourselves on our history with a lot of great players over the years. It’s an honour.”
It’s also part of a late-career surge for Bernakevitch, who, after years away from the top of leaderboards, captured the 2024 PGA of BC Championship in dramatic playoff fashion. Now, less than a year later, he’s raising another trophy.
“In all honesty, it’s kind of funny, I’ve been working on my game just to try and beat my kid. My son has been really into golf, he’s started to become a bit of a player, and he’s pressuring me,” said Bernakevitch. “The last couple years have just been a lot of fun. I feel like my game is in a good place. If you play a lot and have a great attitude, good things happen.”
“Lindsay is like a fine wine,” added Doell. “He just gets better with age!”
The Victoria pair earned $1,250 for their win.
Other Greater Victoria teams in the field included Gordy Scutt and Kevin Carrigan of Royal Colwood, who finished eighth at 5-under, and Andrew Hajer and Darren Moilanen of Arbutus Ridge Golf Club, who shot a 2-over 74 to place 34th.
The Tournament of Champions is one of 11 events on the PGA of BC’s 2025 calendar. The format pairs each club’s professional with a current club champion or designated amateur in an 18-hole best-ball showdown. Next up is the Assistant’s Championship at Meadow Gardens Golf Club on the mainland.
Vancouver Island will also host three events this season: the PGA of BC Seniors and Women’s Championships at Cordova Bay in June, the PGA of BC Championship at Gorge Vale in August, and the Club Professional Championship at Victoria Golf Club in September.
