2005: Americas - Mills wins in front of home crowd

CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO

The Nationwide Tour’s Canadian PGA Championship was a home game for Jon Mills. And he didn’t disappoint the home crowd.

Mills, who grew up about two hours from the Whistle Bear Golf Club, finished with a 1-under 71 July 24 for a three-shot victory over Ken Duke. Mills finished at 19-under 269 and won $81,000.

Mills, who won for the first time, joins countrymen Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Moe Norman and Al Balding as winners of the Canadian PGA.

“There are a lot of big names and great Canadians on that trophy,” said Mills. “Just being on the same list will be something.

“It’s incredible,” added Mills, who moves to No. 5 in Nationwide Tour earnings ($218,808) with 14 events remaining. “I putted really well this week, but then I felt like I did everything well. It seemed whatever club I needed to hit, I felt very comfortable over it.”

The 27-year-old from Oshawa, Ontario, took control of the tournament Saturday with a course-record tying 9-under 63. He had a four-shot lead after 54 holes.

“I made some putts when I needed to make them,” Mills said Saturday. “It just seemed like everything was clicking.”

Mills was steady during a final day that produced periodic rain and threats of lightning that halted play for a total of three hours and 20 minutes and stretched his round to more than eight hours. Mills’ lead fell to two after Kevin Johnson made birdie at No. 1 and he made bogey at No. 4. That bogey was his only hiccup of the stop-and-start, stop-and-start day.

Duke’s finish matched his career best, a runner-up at the 2003 Chitmacha Louisiana Open.