A trio of Canadians will be in the field  of 79 players for the Champions Tour’s Final Qualifying Stage.

The 72-holes event, which has no cut of the field, will be conducted from Tuesday, December 1 to Friday December 4 at TPC Scottsdale’s – Champions Course in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Victoria’s Jim Rutledge will be among those vying for a Top-5 finish to earn exempt status in 2016. In six career attempts, the 56-year-old has managed the feat on three occasions.

Joining him will be fellow native of Victoria, Rick Gibson and Stuart Hendley of Lacombe, Alta. Gibson played in six events during the 2015 season, making the cut three times, including a T20 finish at the Constellation Senior Players Championship. Hendley played in one event, the 2015 Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, and registered a T66 result.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Billy Andrade won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Sunday, beating Champions Tour points winner Bernhard Langer with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

Andrade two-putted from the back fringe on the par-5 18th, holing a 2 1/2-footer for his third victory of the year on the 50-and-over tour.

The 51-year-old Andrade closed with a 6-under 64 on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course, making a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 to post at 14-under 266.

Langer missed a chance to win on 18 in regulation when his 18-foot eagle putt lipped out. He finished with a 67, then failed to get up-and-down for birdie from the right greenside rough in the playoff.

The 58-year-old German star won the Charles Schwab Cup points title for the second straight year and record third time overall, earning a $1 million annuity. He easily beat Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert in the points race after entering the week third in the standings.

With players receiving a point for every $500 in the $2.5 million tournament, Langer earned 508 points with his $254,000 check to beat Montgomerie by 338 points and Maggert by 377.

Langer also won the money title for the record fourth straight year and record seventh time in eight years, finishing with $2,340,288. The two-time Masters champion successfully defended his Senior Players title in June in Massachusetts for his fifth senior major title and won last month in San Antonio for his 25th victory on the 50-and-over tour.

Montgomerie and Maggert tied for 14th at 4 under, with each earning $52,000. Maggert shot 66, and Montgomerie 67.

Andrade earned $440,000. The four-time PGA Tour winner also teamed with Joe Durant – his playing partner Sunday – to win the Legends of Golf in April and won the Boeing Classic in August.

Andrade made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 13th to reach 14 under, dropped a stroke in the par-5 15th after hitting his approach over the green into a crevice between rocks. He got a big break on the par-3 17th when his tee shot struck a rock and bounced onto the green to set up a two-putt par.

Andrade had a hole-in-one in his opening 65 and followed with rounds of 67 and 70 to begin the day four strokes behind third-round leader Michael Allen.

Allen was third at 12 under after a 70. The Scottsdale resident took a one-stroke lead over Langer into the day after leading by six strokes midway through the third round.

Jeff Sluman and Mark O’Meara tied for fourth at 10 under. Sluman eagled the 18th for a 66, and O’Meara closed with a 68.

Canada’s Stephen Ames tied for 6th at 9 under.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Michael Allen held onto the lead Saturday in the Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship, and playing partner Bernhard Langer pulled within a stroke to easily remain in position to take the points title.

Allen shot a 1-under 69, making six birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in breezy conditions on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course. He had a 12-under 198 total.

The 56-year-old Scottsdale resident birdied the par-3 11th to open a six-stroke lead, then played the next four holes in 4 over. He rebounded with a birdie on the par-3 17th and parred the par-5 18th.

“I didn’t really know what my lead was,” Allen said. “It probably would have been a good idea to look at a board at that point, but I was just trying to do what I’ve been doing all week, which is just try and hit good shots, make birdies and pars. I don’t think my strategy would have changed any.”

Langer birdied the final two holes for a 68. The 58-year-old German star is competing with Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert for the Charles Schwab Cup points title and a $1 million annuity.

Langer began the week third in the standings, 66 points behind Colin Montgomerie and 27 behind Jeff Maggert, in a bid to win the title for the second straight year and record third time overall.

“Obviously, I’m in a unique situation this week where I’m sort of keeping one eye on what’s happening there with Monty and Maggert and I’m trying to win the tournament at the same time,” Langer said.

With players receiving a point for every $500 earned in the $2.5 million tournament, Langer started $33,000 behind Montgomerie and $13,500 behind Maggert. With their current positions, Langer would earn $254,000, Montgomerie $40,500, and Maggert $34,000. Langer also is in position to top the money list.

Montgomerie had a 71 and was tied for 18th in the 30-man field at 1 under. Maggert was tied for 21st at even par after a 71. The runner-up in the points competition will receive a $500,000 annuity, and the third-place finisher will get a $300,000 annuity.

“Right now it’s looking good and it’s still a shootout for the title as well,” Langer said. “Michael played phenomenal on the front and wheels came off a little bit in the middle there, early back nine, and then he pulled himself together again. It’s still anybody’s ball game at this point, the tournament.”

Allen made a double bogey on the par-4 12th after driving into the desert.

“I just think let up for a shot there and it kind of, it really got me. Is that what happened carrying on? Who really knows.I felt like I overcame it all right and I didn’t feel like, ‘Oh, boy, I’m uptight and not doing well.’ I kind of just tried to shrug it off and kind of keep moving forward.”

He bogeyed the par-3 13th, then topped a long-iron approach into the water on the par-4 15th and holed a 10-footer to escape with bogey.

“I was a little out of sorts and probably just didn’t go through the routine quite properly,” Allen said. “I don’t know because it was a perfect number. … I guess it happens once in a while in golf.”

He made an 18-foot birdie putt on 17, and missed a birdie chance on 18 when he pulled his 8-footer to the right.

“I feel good,” Allen said. “I felt like I just lost my swing a little bit there and maybe really my focus more than my swing.”

Allen began the day with a two-stroke lead after opening with rounds of 65 and 64. He won the last of his seven victories on the 50-and-over tour in October 2014.

Mark O’Meara, Canada’s Stephen Ames and Billy Andrade were tied for third at 8 under. O’Meara shot 66, Ames 67, and Andrade 70. Ames was the last player to get into the field, jumping from 31st to 30th on the money list with a ninth-place tie last week at Newport Beach.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Michael Allen made a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th hole Friday to take a two-stroke lead over playing partner Bernhard Langer in the Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Warned for slow play around the turn, Allen finished with a 6-under 64 for an 11-under 129 total on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course. The 56-year-old Scottsdale resident played the final six holes in 5 under with the eagle and three birdies.

Langer was second after a 68, leaving the 58-year-old German star in position to win the season points title and a $1 million annuity.

Langer began the week third in the Charles Schwab Cup points race, 66 points behind Colin Montgomerie and 27 behind Jeff Maggert, in a bid to win the title for the second straight year and record third time overall. With players receiving a point for every $500 earned in the $2.5 million tournament, Langer was $33,000 behind Montgomerie and $13,500 behind Maggert.

Montgomerie had a 68 and was tied for 18th in the 30-man field at 2 under. Maggert was tied for 22nd at 1 under after a 67. The runner-up in the points competition will receive a $500,000 annuity, and the third-place finisher will get a $300,000 annuity.

Kenny Perry (66) and Billy Andrade (67) were tied for third at 8 under, and Jeff Sluman (64) and Olin Browne (67) were another stroke back.

Allen chipped in for birdie on the par-3 13th, two-putted for birdie on the par-5 15th and made a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th. He won the last of his seven victories on the 50-and-over tour in October 2014.

Langer birdied three of the first four holes, three-putted for bogey on the par-3 seventh and birdied the ninth. The two-time Masters champion dropped another stroke after failing to get up-and-down from the greenside rough on the par-4 12th, took another bogey when he missed an 8-foot par on 17, and got up-and-down for birdie on 18.

Langer successfully defended his Senior Players title in June in Massachusetts for his fifth senior major title and won last month in San Antonio for his 25th victory on the 50-and-over tour.

Allen and Langer use long putters with anchored strokes, a method that will be illegal next year.

 Canada’s Stephen Ames has a share of 8th at 5 under.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Bernhard Langer left Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert and everyone else behind Thursday in the Champions Tour’s season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Langer shot a 7-under 63 on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course to take a two-stroke lead.

“I felt tremendous peace today, I really did,” the 58-year-old German star said. “That’s when I play my best, when I’m not bothered by anything, I’m just walking along enjoying the scenery and having a blast playing golf and doing it well.”

Langer began the week third in the Charles Schwab Cup race, 66 points behind Montgomerie and 27 behind Maggert. With players receiving a point for every $500 earned in the $2.5 million tournament, Langer was $33,000 behind Montgomerie and $13,500 behind Maggert.

Montgomerie had a 70, leaving him tied for 17th in the 30-man field. Maggert three-putted the par-5 18th for a bogey and a 72 that dropped him into a tie for 24th.

Langer is trying to win the season title for the second straight year and record third time overall. The champion will receive a $1 million annuity, the runner-up a $500,000 annuity, and the third-place finisher a $300,000 annuity.

“I’m going to keep an eye on it, but the key is I’ve got to play my own golf,” Langer said. “I’ve got to play my game and that was my mindset going into the tournament. I’ve got to play the best I can and if I do really well, then I might end up in front of them, and if somebody else is better than me, so be it. It’s not life and death.”

Scottsdale resident Michael Allen and Billy Andrade were tied for second at 65. Andrade had a hole-in-one on the 190-yard second hole, using a 6-iron.

“It was a great way to start,” Andrade said. “Haven’t started a tournament like that with a hole-in-one before, so, of course, you automatically bogey the next hole.”

Fred Couples, the 2013 tournament winner at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, was at 66 along with Kenny Perry and Olin Browne.

Langer played the front nine in 5-under 30, birdieing Nos. 2 and 5-8, and added birdies on Nos. 12 and 13. He hit 5-irons to a foot on the second and 6 inches on the fifth.

“Got off to a really nice start, hit most of my targets, hit fairways, hit greens and hit it pretty close,” Langer said. “Then started to putt nicely, too.”

The two-time Masters champion had only 24 putts. He made a 12-foot par save on the par-4 16th after hitting into the left greenside bunker, and got up-and-down from the right bunker on the par-3 17th.

The tournament is Langer’s last before the Jan. 1 ban on the anchored putting stroke that he has used with a long putter for 17 years.

“I’ve thought about it a little bit,” Langer said. “I’ve gathered a few putters, different styles, different lengths, different grips. My first thought is I’ll probably go back to what I did before I went to the long putter, which was what (Matt) Kuchar does, holding the putter against the left forearm that way, and Soren Kjeldsen in Europe does the same thing. I putted that way for seven years and I won a number of tournaments including the Masters, and if you can putt on the Masters greens and win with a grip like that, I would think I could do it in other tournaments, but we’ll see. There’s other options.”

Canada’s Stephen Ames has a share of 7th at 2 under.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Duffy Waldorf won the Toshiba Classic on Sunday for his first Champions Tour title, birdieing the final hole for a 5-under 66 and a two-stroke victory.

A day after matching the Newport Beach Country Club record with an 11-under 60, the 53-year-old former UCLA player had 10 birdies, five bogeys and only three pars in the final round.

Waldorf finished with a tournament-record 20-under 193 total. He earned $270,000 to easily qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship after beginning the week on the bubble at 30th on the money list. The top 30 advanced to play next week at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The four-time PGA Tour winner was making his 73rd start on the 50-and-over tour.

Joe Durant was second after a 62.

Kevin Sutherland was third at 17 under after a 65. Paul Goydos (66) followed at 15 under, and 2010 and 2014 winner Fred Couples (69) was another stroke back along with Kenny Perry (68).

A pair of Canadians cracked the top 10. Stephen Ames (67) and Rod Spittle (68) finished at 12 under.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Duffy Waldorf missed a chance to shoot the second 59 in Champions Tour history Saturday, parring the final two holes for an 11-under 60 in the Toshiba Classic.

Waldorf missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th, coming up short and right.

“It was a trickier putt than I wanted,” Waldorf said. “I didn’t hit the putt hard enough. I had been reaching the hole all day, so I didn’t think that would be a problem.”

He drove behind a tree into the left rough on the closing hole, statistically the easiest hole at Newport Beach Country Club, and hooked a hybrid approach through the green and into the back bunker.

“I tugged it a little,” Waldorf said about his drive. “Yeah, it was nerves, but I felt like if I just hit one solid, I would be in pretty good shape. It didn’t really work out that well. I mean, I thought I might just get a look at the hole.”

Kevin Sutherland is the only player to shoot 59 on the 50-and-over tour. He had a 13-under 59 last year in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

“I wasn’t keeping track until I saw the board on 17,” Waldorf said. “Coming into 18, I knew what I had in front of me.”

Waldorf tied the course record set by Tom Purtzer in 2004 and matched by Nick Price in 2011, both en route to victories. Waldorf had a 15-under 127 total to break Price’s 36-hole record by a stroke.

The 53-year-old former UCLA player had a three-stroke lead over defending champion Fred Couples in the final full-field event of the year. Couples, also the 2010 winner, had a 65.

“I felt like somebody was going to shoot a low round,” Couples said. “What he shot today was exceptional. Duffy went flying by everyone.”

Waldorf birdied the first three holes and added three more on the front nine, including a 20-footer on the ninth. He made two more birdies and had another three-hole birdie streak that he capped with a 50-footer on 16. Waldorf finished with 11 birdies, hitting wedges into seven of the greens.

“If I get 10 drives in the fairway, I like my chances hitting short irons into greens,” Waldorf said. “I definitely want to be in the fairway here.”

Sutherland (66) was four strokes back along with Woody Austin (63), Kenny Perry (65) and first-round leaders Steve Pate (68) and Scott McCarron (68).

Three Canadians are in the field this week. Rod Spittle has a share of 10th at 9 under, Steven Ames is 8 under and tied for 16th, while Jim Rutledge has a share of 70th at 1 over.

The top 30 on the money after the tournament will qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next week at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Former UCLA players Scott McCarron and Steve Pate shared the lead at 8-under 63 on Friday after the first round of the Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic.

McCarron is making his eighth start on the tour after turning 50 in July. The three-time PGA Tour winner eagled the par-5 15th and had six birdies and an eagle at Newport Beach Country Club.

“It seems like every week I’ve had a low round,” McCarron said. “I’ve had some chances to win and I am playing with a lot of confidence.”

He missed six of seven cuts this season on the PGA Tour.

“The first part of the year stunk,” McCarron said. “I was on regular tour not making cuts. I got out here and it’s been wonderful.”

The 54-year-old Pate had an eagle and five birdies in his bogey-free round. He won six times on the PGA Tour.

“The way I’ve played this year I’m really happy it’s almost over,” Pate said. “I had shoulder surgery in November and wasn’t really healthy until June, but I didn’t have a choice.”

Billy Andrade and Rod Spittle were a stroke back in the final full-field event of the season. Defending champion Fred Couples was two shots behind at 65 along with Kevin Sutherland, Paul Goydos, Jay Don Blake, Olin Browne, Scott Dunlap and Peter Senior.

The top 30 on the money after the tournament will qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next week at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

CALGARY – Thanks to a new charitable giving program, a stellar field, and overwhelming support from the Calgary community, the Shaw Charity Classic shattered its own fundraising record for a third straight year on the PGA TOUR’s Champions Tour with a $3,942,712 donation that will be shared amongst 99 youth-based charities in Alberta.

“It is an absolute thrill for me to look back on another record-setting year and realize this spectacular tournament continues to have a tremendous impact on our youth, which was the core goal in bringing the event to Calgary,” said Clay Riddell, Tournament Chairman, Shaw Charity Classic. “I firmly believe it takes an entire community to build a successful international event, so this accomplishment should be celebrated by everyone from the more than 1,200 volunteers, to our generous corporate community, friends in the media, and all of the great citizens of this amazing city that came down to Canyon Meadows this summer. Each of you has made Calgary the number-one tournament on the Champions Tour, and for that, I thank you.”

In June, Shaw Communications Inc. strengthened its focus on Canada’s lone Champions Tour stop in the Stampede City with a two-year extension as title sponsor through to 2017, and a commitment of raising big money for Alberta charities by announcing a total of $1 million of the total funds raised would go to supporting six of the tournament’s core youth-based charitable partners located across southern Alberta, including: the Children’s Wish Foundation – Alberta & NWT Chapter; Classroom Champions; Junior Achievement of Southern Alberta; KidSport Calgary; Ronald McDonald House Charities® Southern Alberta; and the Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre.

“The Shaw Charity Classic was a spectacular success, and we are again honoured to work with so many charities committed to making our communities better for our kids and youth,” said Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications. “On behalf of my family and all our Shaw employees, we’d like to thank Clay Riddell, the Patrons Group, and the Champions Tour for their leadership and support, and we look forward to all that we can accomplish together in years to come.”

Building on Shaw Communications’ leadership, charitable contributions skyrocketed in 2015 with the addition of Birdies for Kids – a program backed by AltaLink that expanded the Shaw Charity Classic’s reach across the province.

Based on a program introduced on the PGA Tour in 1971, Birdies for Kids gives individuals and corporations the opportunity to make a one-time or per-birdie donation, directed to the children’s charity of their choice. Those donations were further leveraged through a tiered matching program that saw a percentage of the first $250,000 donated to each charity.

“The impact the Birdies for Kids program is having in our community has significantly surpassed our expectations,” said Scott Thon, President and Chief Executive Officer, AltaLink. “It is important in these economic times to support the non-profit sector that so many Albertans access across our province. Exceeding our goal for dollars raised this year speaks volumes about the spirit of Albertans to pull together and support those in need when times are tough.”

Champions Tour players, including Jeff Maggert who donned the traditional white Stetson that is presented annually to the winner of the Shaw Charity Classic, combined to fire a total of 858 birdies during the three rounds.

“I have lived in Texas for 40 years and I’ve seen a lot of cowboy hats, but I definitely cherish the one from Calgary,” said Maggert, who ran away with a four-shot victory. “This tournament is an A-plus all around. We all like the course, the crowds are among the best we see on Tour, and it is great to play a small role in helping raise some huge money for charities in the area. I know the top players like to come to Calgary and play. Hopefully Shaw will continue their good graces and stay with us for the long term, and we’ll keep coming back and helping to raise money for youth in Alberta.”

The Shaw Charity Classic has generated over 8.5 million dollars in support of local charities across Alberta. Recognized by the PGA TOUR with an award for outstanding achievement for a first-year event, the Shaw Charity Classic was also the named 2014 recipient of the PGA TOUR’s prestigious President’s Award as the top stop on the Champions Tour.

SAN ANTONIO – Bernhard Langer rallied to win the San Antonio Championship on Sunday for his second victory of the year and 25th overall on the Champions Tour.

The 58-year-old German star birdied the final two holes – making an 18-footer on the par-4 18th – for a 7-under 65 and a three-stroke victory over Scott Dunlap.

Langer won on TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Canyons Course after losing playoffs in the event to David Frost in 2012 and Kenny Perry in 2013. In June in Massachusetts, Langer successfully defended his Senior Players Championship title for his fifth senior major victory.

Three strokes behind defending champion Michael Allen and Scott McCarron entering the round, Langer had eight birdies and one bogey Sunday to finish at 12-under 204.

Dunlap shot a 68. Allen and McCarron, making his seventh start on the tour after turning 50 in July, each shot 70 to tie for third at 8 under.

Langer earned 270 Charles Schwab Cup points to pull within 66 points of leader Colin Montgomerie with two events left. Montgomerie tied for 15th at 3 under after a 72. Jeff Maggert, 39 points behind Montgomerie, withdrew during the second round because of a lingering left calf injury.

Canada’s Stephen Ames tied for 15th at 3-under after a 71.