Southeastern Alumnus and former Lion’s golfer Hugo Leon took first place at the ATB Financial Classic, his first professional victory, at the Bearspaw Country Club in Calgary, Canada despite the rough weather.
“The course was playing tough today,” Leon stated in an article with the Calgary Herald. “Me and Rissy (Dustin Risdon) played that whole part on very tough winds so we were just trying to make pars, hit greens, and get out of there. It was very windy, for about an hour or so. But I felt that the hard conditions would make it easier because nobody from behind was going to be able to make a big run. So, it became more of a match played between Dustin and me.”
After graduating in 2007 Leon began his professional career as a golfer. Since then, he has competed in numerous tours and events. In 2011 alone Leon has competed and placed in six events, but his overall scoring of a 13 under par 271 at the ATB Classic was his first professional victory, winning him $32,000. His victory also granted him the second place position on the Canadian Tour Order of Merit. Leon’s win at the Classic is his second top 10 finish this year.
Born in Santiago, Chile the 26-year-old golfer enrolled in Southeastern as a Business and Management major in 2003. During his career as a Lion, Leon was a four-year letterwinner, named All-Southland conference performer thee times and recorded a 74.39 stroke average. Also, Leon ranks seventh in school history for career rounds played, with a total of 114 rounds.
During his sophomore semester in 2006, Leon was named The Cleveland Golf All-American Scholar and received medalist honors with a scoring average of 74.6. In 2007, Leon was named to the SLC All-academic Squad.
The ATB Financial Classic is part of the Canadian Professional Golf Tour and took place June 27-July third. Besides ATB Financial, the competition had numerous sponsors including the Telus Corporation, Pepsi, Halliburton and Enterprise Car Rental service. Including Leon, a total of 68 players from around the world competed in the Classic.
Following the ATB Classic, Leon competed in the Dakota Dunes Casino Open and placed second, scoring 14 under par. First place at the open was won by 24 year old Joe Panzeri of Meridian, Iowa, who scored 15 under par. Like Leon with the ATB Classic, the Dune Casino Open was Panzeri’s first Canadian Tour victory. Panzeri held a teo shot lead for most of the competiotion with Leon right behind him. Panzeri’s victory was sealed after Leon missed a seven foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
Depsite this loss, Leon remains on the Order of Merit (thogu now in second place) and has won just over $60,000. Also, Leon’s performance has made hime a likely competitor in the RBC Canadian Open, July 21-24, at the Shaughnessy Golf & country club in Vancouver.