Former Blue Streak All-American golfer Brian Unk had two reasons two celebrate on the evening of August 30 -- it was his sixth wedding anniversary and he'd just won the Seaforth Country Classic golf tournament.

The 1996 John Carroll University graduate edged out California's James Hahn by three strokes to win the $20,000 prize.

Unk, who was billeted by Seaforth's Doug and Kathy Elliot last week, says during the final few holes of the tournament his mind was not only on his game, but on his wife Elizabeth and three-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.

“I'm going to buy some diapers with this cheque,” Unk joked after the win.

Unk said he spoke with his wife on the phone from Seaforth the night before the final day of the tournament.

“I wish she was here but I know she'll be really excited to talk to me,” he said. “Obviously I feel great.”

Unk said he “never took anything for granted” on the course, even when he took a comfortable lead in front of Hahn and the rest of the pack.

“I'm proud of the way I kept my composure and kept my head down and played my own game,” he said. “I really didn't think about what other people were doing.”

Unk, who's been a pro golfer since 1997, finished the final day with a seven-under-par 64 and completed the tournament at 28-under for a score of 256, breaking the Canadian Tour record.

During a reception after Unk and Hahn completed the 18th hole, the winner thanked his caddie – Seaforth's Brian Nigh.

“This year, I tried to listen to him every time and he was right every time,” Unk said. “I couldn't have done it without you, Brian.”

Nigh billeted Unk at his house during the tour last year and also caddied for the pro, when he finished in 22nd place.

“It was pretty crazy but a lot of fun,” Nigh said about his experience with Unk last week. “There were times when you could tell he was a little nervous and I was too.”

Nigh says Unk would ask his advice mostly about the course's putting greens, which Nigh knows well after golfing at the local club for years.

“I tried to help when I could,” Nigh says.

Dan Halldorson, deputy director of the Canadian Tour, commended the fans and volunteers of the event for sticking it out during a week that saw a few days of rainy, cold weather.

“This is a small community, but you still get out and watch the tournament,” he said, also thanking Seaforth Country Classic event organizers the Doig family.

“The players enjoy this week probably more than they do in a lot of our events,” Halldorson said. “The hospitality is second to none.”

More than 100 golfers were billeted at the homes of local residents last week and 220 volunteers also helped out in various ways on the course.

“The spectators were tremendous to come out in this cold weather and watch these guys put on a show,” said Seaforth Golf Club co-owner Cam Doig. “They're bundled up like it's January out here, but they walked the whole course and they were fabulous.”

The final day of the tournament drew about 600 fans, fewer than expected, due to the weather.

Throughout the week, approximately 4,000 spectators watched the tournament unfold.

The event raised $10,000 for the Gateway Rural Health Institute through ticket sales, and event organizer Carolanne Doig says she expects the golf club will break even, noting that the cost of running the tournament is about $50,000.

Cam Doig says the club plans to host the event again next summer.

“It'll be even better next year,” he said.