New men’s intercollegiate team championship at Öviinbyrd Golf Club marks the first NCAA Division I men’s golf event held in Canada
MacTier, Ont. – The inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational is set to take place at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. from September 16 – 17, 2024. The tournament marks the first time that an NCAA Division I men’s golf tournament will be played in Canada.
The tournament will be conducted by Golf Canada and co-hosted by Kent State University and Penn State University who are both led by Canadian head coaches, Jon Mills (Kent State) and Mark Leon (Penn State). The tournament will feature nine NCAA Division I men’s golf teams with prominent Canadian ties along with the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds. UBC qualified after winning the 2024 Canadian University/College Championship in June at Idylwylde Golf and Country Club in Sudbury, Ont.
Joining the co-hosts from Kent State and Penn State and Canadian champions UBC will be Miami University (Ohio), University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Missouri, University of Notre Dame, Rutgers University, and Washington State University.
In addition, the Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp (Boys) will be contested concurrently with the Canadian Collegiate Invitational. A field of 19 players will compete for an automatic spot on the 2025 Team Canada – NextGen squad.
“We are excited to begin play next week for the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational. We want to thank Kent State and Penn State for co-hosting this event as we welcome some of the top Division I NCAA collegiate programs to compete in Canada for the first time,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Director, Amateur Championships and Rules, Golf Canada. “We also extend our sincere appreciation to Öviinbyrd Golf Club and the partners Paul McLean, Peter Schwartz and Rob Fraser for their incredible support to host the inaugural event.”
Öviinbyrd Golf Club is one of Canada’s premier golf courses, designed by Thomas McBroom and opened in 2004 in Muskoka, Ont. The 7,118-yard layout is set amongst the forests and exposed granite of the Canadian shield in Ontario’s famous cottage country and will create a challenging and memorable experience for the players. Öviinbyrd’s recently renovated practice facility features world class training conditions and state-of-the-art technology and will benefit players competing next week.
“On behalf of the membership and management team at Öviinbyrd, we look forward to hosting our reigning Canadian champions along with some of the top NCAA collegiate players and top Canadian junior boys at our club,” said Lindsay Franklin, General Manager, Öviinbyrd Golf Club. “We are excited to host the inaugural invitational and create a memorable experience for everyone with picturesque Muskoka as the backdrop for this championship.”
The inaugural championship will be contested over 54 holes in two days, with 36 holes played in Monday’s opening round followed by 18 holes in the final round on Tuesday. All three rounds will be played in a shotgun format. The team component will feature five members per team with the top four scores for the day counting to the overall team score. The individual competition will be stroke-play with the winner receiving an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and the top five receiving exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.
ABOUT THE TEAMS…
Kent State Golden Flashes (Co-Host)
The Golden Flashes finished seventh at the Gopher Invitational earlier this month in Minneapolis, Minn. Kent State are led by head coach Jon Mills of Belleville, Ont. and have three Canadians currently on their roster with two Team Canada – NextGen members Ben MacLean of Niagara Falls, Ont., Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. and James Newton of Ottawa. Kent State has been a feeder program to the PGA TOUR for Canadians in the past with Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith all having played for the Golden Flashes during their collegiate careers.
Penn State Nittany Lions (Co-Host)
The Nittany Lions finished 15th in the first tournament of the season at the Visit Knoxville Collegiate in Knoxville, Tenn. earlier this month. Penn State are led by head coach Mark Leon of Toronto and have one Canadian on the roster, Zach Smith, a sophomore from Brampton, Ont.
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks
The RedHawks finished sixth in their lone tournament appearance of the early season, at the Island Resort Intercollegiate in Harris, Mich this month. Miami features two Canadians on the roster, Cameron Pero of Bloomfield, Ont. and Michael Weber of Burlington, Ont. who are both in their junior year.
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines finished fifth at the Island Resort Collegiate in early September and also competed at the Inverness Collegiate in Toledo, Ohio this month. Michigan’s Director of Sports Performance and Assistant Coach is Matt Hoffman of Thornhill, Ont. The Wolverines also have one Canadian on their roster, Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alta. who is in his senior year.
Michigan State Spartans
The Spartans finished fourth at the Folds of Honor Collegiate Invitational in Grand Haven, Mich. earlier this week. 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion and 2023 World Amateur Team Championships Team Canada member, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. finished solo fourth this week and is in his senior year with the Spartans.
Missouri Tigers
The Canadian Collegiate Invitational will be the Tigers first tournament of the season. Last year Missouri enjoyed a strong fall season with one win and one runner-up finish in six tournaments. They added another runner-up finish at the Tiger Intercollegiate this past April.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame finished fifth at the Folds of Honor Collegiate Invitational this season. The Fighting Irish are led by head coach John Handrigan of Bracebridge, Ont. and have one Canadian on the roster, Owen Mullen a senior from Truro, N.S.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Scarlet Knights finished fifth at the Gopher Invitational this month and were led by senior, Noah Kumar who finished second in the individual standings.
UBC Thunderbirds
The 2024 Canadian University/College Champions got off to a solid start earlier this week, winning the Bushnell Fall Invitational in Springfield, Ore. All five members of UBC that were part of the Canadian National Championship win in June are eligible to compete in MacTier, including individual winner, Dylan MacDonald of Markham, Ont. UBC are led by head coach, Chris MacDonald who has led both the men’s and women’s golf programs to multiple national titles and conference championships during his 23 years at the helm.
Washington State Cougars
The Cougars finished fourth at the Palouse Collegiate earlier this week in Pullman, Wash. The Cougars roster features two Canadians, freshman Tate Bruggeman of Edmonton, Alta. and graduate student, Jakob Chicoyne of Calgary, Alta. 2021 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion and Team Canada member Max Sekulic of Rycroft, Alta. is a recent graduate.
For the full player field competing in the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational, click here.