On the greens, he was sketchy. On the fairways, he was simply sensational and in the end, Doug Sullivan was sporting a fantastic oldtimer's smile.

Sullivan, 72, the owner/professional of Country Meadows Golf Club at Indian Mountain on the outskirts of Moncton, demonstrated he still has plenty of game, capturing the Diamond Division (aged 70 and older) at the Canadian PGA Seniors championship that concluded at The Marshes Golf Club near Ottawa on the weekend.

On a soggy course, Sullivan was 3-over-par 75 in the final round of the 36-hole event and won the title by a convincing eight strokes. He was 1-over-par 73 in the first round.

Sullivan's victory was the first by a New Brunswick pro since A.J. MacPherson of the Riverside Country Club at Rothesay won the overall title way back in 1947.

"I hit it good, both days," Sullivan said from his home course yesterday. "The first day I didn't hit the ball as close as I did the second but I scored better.

"Let's just say my putter wasn't that hot in the final round," he claimed. "I hit 37 shots and had 38 putts."

Truth is, everything about the championship worked out just swell for Sullivan, who was runner-up in the Diamond Division for three years running.

His friend and travelling companion, John Irwin of Summerside, came up a champion too, by posting scores of 74-72 to capture the Super Senior (aged 60-plus) title. Irwin birdied the final hole to edge Barry Laphen of Ottawa by one stroke.

"We had a lot to talk about on the way home," laughed Sullivan. "There were three trophies up for grabs and we won two of them.

"We drove 11 hours to play in the event, but the trip is always worth it. It is a fantastic venue and I look forward to it every year."

Former PGA Tour veteran Ray Stewart of Abbotsford, B.C., emerged as the overall 54-hole champion. Stewart fired a final round 68 adding to his first round 70 and second round 68 for a three-day, 10-under-par total of 206 to win by two strokes over Ken Tarling of Sandford, Ont., and Norm Jarvis of Surrey, B.C.

Another highlight for Sullivan was performing well in front of a strong supporting gallery of Ottawa friends who, like the Country Meadows pro, spend several months each winter playing at the Cyprus Bay Golf Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

"It was a great following and we had a lot of fun. At times it was just like old home week," offered Sullivan.

Maybe he's aging, but Sullivan still has plenty of special feeling about his game.

"My game has been spotty this spring but the last couple of weeks it's been coming around," he said. "I played a couple of under-par games here (Country Meadows) so I had a very positive feeling heading to the championship."