Field of 264 will compete in the prestigious tournament; final spots up for grabs in supplemental qualifier on Friday
Caledon, Ont. – The 118th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO is set to begin on Monday, August 7 with a field of 264 amateur golfers competing over four rounds of competition at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.
This year’s field features a talented field of Canadian players, including the following 2023 Provincial Men’s Amateur Champions: Cooper Humphreys (B.C.), Ethan Wilson (Alberta), Josh Nagy (Saskatchewan), Braxton Kuntz (Manitoba), Cameron Pero (Ontario), James Newton (Quebec), Isaac MacNaughton (Nova Scotia), and Teran Newall (Newfoundland and Labrador). In addition to Charles Fitzsimmons (2021, 2022 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion) and Jean-Philippe Parr (2021, 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Champion). Golfers from all 10 provinces and one territory are represented in the field along with nine additional countries: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, England, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, United States, and Wales.
The first two rounds of this year’s tournament will be contested on both courses of The Pulpit Club, The Pulpit and The Paintbrush. Following the opening 36-holes of the championship, the field will be reduced to the top 70 players plus ties. Wednesday and Thursday’s rounds will both played on The Pulpit course with an awards ceremony following Thursday’s final round.
“We are excited to get the 118th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship underway next week at two incredible golf courses,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Adam Cinel. “The staff at The Pulpit Club have been working tirelessly in preparation for this prestigious national championship. The championship field is as strong as we’ve seen in recent years, featuring the best amateur players from across Canada, as well as a strong international contingent. The players competing in the tournament will enjoy the unique tests that are presented by The Pulpit and The Paintbrush.”
Prior to the start of the tournament, there will be a supplemental qualifier on Friday at The Pulpit where a field of 113 players will be competing for the final spots in the tournament.
The inventors of the “Trivial Pursuit” board game, Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, created Devil’s Pulpit in 1990 and the name of the course comes from a rock formation seen from the 7th tee. Haney and Abbott constructed another 18-hole course, Devil’s Paintbrush, two years later. In 2020 Longridge Partners Inc. purchased the Devil’s Pulpit Golf Association and in February 2021, the name was changed to The Pulpit Club. The Courses were also re-named from Devil’s Pulpit & Devil’s Paintbrush to The Pulpit and The Paintbrush.
“It’s an honour for The Pulpit Club to be the host venue for the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur. Hosting any national championship is a great responsibility. But the level of support we’ve received from our membership, ownership and surrounding community is a testament to the positive momentum golf is experiencing,” said Rob Roxborough, General Manager, The Pulpit Club. “The Pulpit Club’s championship courses will offer two completely different tests. The Paintbrush is a Scottish links style design, while the Pulpit is more of a traditional parkland course with incredible changes in elevation. The winner will be a player with great imagination, creative shot making abilities, and a strong short game. Wishing each player in the field an enjoyable walk, and good luck.”
Established in 1895, the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is the third oldest amateur championship in the world. The tournament was first contested as one of the newly formed Royal Canadian Golf Association’s (RCGA), now known as Golf Canada, first orders of business in 1895 at the Ottawa Golf Club.
The national championship originally began as a match play competition but changed to stroke play for the 1969 championship. It remained that way through 1994 when it reverted to match play in honour of the RCGA’s and the championship’s centennial in 1995. The championship once again reverted to stroke play in 2008 and in 2010, the tournament changed to a double field format for the first time ever.
Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George S. Lyon won the Amateur eight times between 1898 and 1914 and was runner-up two more times. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandy Somerville made it to the match play final ten times between 1924 and 1938, capturing six championships. Other past champions include Canadian Golf Hall of Famers and four-time winners, Nick Weslock (1957, 1963, 1964, 1966) and Doug Roxburgh (1972, 1974, 1982, 1988). Most recently, two-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion, Mackenzie Hughes (2011, 2012) and 2023 RBC Canadian Open and three-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor (2007).
Nick Taylor is the only Canadian male golfer to have won the Canadian Junior Boys (2006), Canadian Men’s Amateur (2007) and RBC Canadian Open (2023) titles. Brooke Henderson is the only Canadian female golfer to win the national championship trifecta, having won the Canadian Junior Girls (2012), Canadian Women’s Amateur (2013) and the CPKC Women’s Open (2018).
The new purse payout that was introduced in 2022 will continue at this year’s championship. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Amateur golfers may accept prize money up to a maximum of $1,200 CAD, and payouts will be awarded to the top 10 finishers and ties.
The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will take place over the first 36-holes of the tournament. Team Quebec will be defending their title as nine provinces and one territory will be vying to etch their names into the Willingdon Cup.
The 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion receives an exemption into the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. and the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. from August 14-20.
For the full player field competing in the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.