PGA TOUR Champions event sets fundraising goal at $10 million for 2018, names nine official charitable partners

CALGARY—The Shaw Charity Classic will take aim at raising $10 million for 182 children’s charities in Alberta, thanks to renewed support from its title partner Shaw Communications Inc. and AltaLink for the award-winning tournament’s Birdies for Kids program.

Shaw has announced it will become the new title sponsor of the charitable giving program, donating

$1 million to positively impact 182 charities from across the province.  Additionally, AltaLink extended its commitment as presenting sponsor for three more years. Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink will support more than 500,000 youth in the areas of sports, arts, health, development and counselling.

“We are touched by the work of so many people associated with the Shaw Charity Classic to create a foundation of giving and support for the charities that are working tirelessly to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of children, youth and families across Southern Alberta,” said Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications. “We have set a high bar for the tournament this year, and we are eager to work with all of our partners to do even more for the organizations that work every day to make the lives of more children and youth better.”

Building on the title partner’s leadership, it was the tournament’s relationship with AltaLink around the creation of the unique Birdies for Kids program in 2015 that has sparked tremendous growth in the Shaw Charity Classic’s fundraising efforts.

“We are incredibly proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Birdies for Kids program since its inception in 2015 and to announce we are enthusiastically signed on for three more years,” said Scott Thon, President and CEO of AltaLink. “Increasing the number of eligible charities will only help make a greater impact for kids across Alberta and we look forward to working with Shaw Communications to grow this program even more.”

Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink gives corporations and individual donors alike the opportunity to give to the partnered children’s charity of their choice. On top of those donations, the charities will receive a match of up to 50 per cent of each contribution through a tiered matching program.

Having raised a total of $22.1 million over the event’s first five years, Birdies for Kids has flourished from impacting 90 charities with $2 million in 2015 to having raised $6.9 million for 159 charities last year after welcoming donations from more than 2,400 Canadians in all corners of the country. Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink hopes to raise $9.6 million by the time the 2018 champion is white-hatted on the 18th green on September 2.

“The tournament’s charitable spirit is rooted in the generous support of these two community leaders: Shaw Communications and AltaLink,” said Clay Riddell, Tournament Chairman, Shaw Charity Classic.

“Never could we have imagined that year-after-year our tournament would shatter records for charitable giving on the PGA TOUR Champions, but this is not possible without a shared passion we have with these incredible partners for watching the greatest names in golf come to Calgary, and a commitment to helping our youth. I know we will continue to have a tremendous impact on the lives of Alberta youth through the continued support of this program.”

The Shaw Charity Classic also announced nine official charitable partners for the sixth edition of the Shaw Charity Classic, including: Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre, Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, Calgary Police Foundation, Classroom Champions, Horizon Housing, Junior Achievement Southern Alberta, Kids Cancer Care, KidSport Calgary, and The PREP Program. In addition to participating in the Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLink program, each of these nine official partners will receive an additional donation through the tournament.

To mark the occasion, tournament officials paired a representative from each of the nine charities with a community personality for a five-hole team golf competition at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club on Wednesday. The winning team received $1,000 for its charity, representing the first official donation of 2018.

Companies and individuals can begin pledging their donations to Shaw Birdies for Kids presented by AltaLinkby visiting www.shawcharityclassic.com for full list of participating charities. All donations qualify for a charitable tax receipt, and 100 per cent of every donation goes directly to the selected participating charity.

BILOXI, Miss. – Steve Stricker moved into position for his second straight PGA Tour Champions victory, shooting a 3-under 69 in gusting wind Saturday to take a one-stroke lead in the Rapiscan Systems Classic.

Stricker won the Cologuard Classic three weeks ago in Tucson, Arizona, for his first victory on the 50-and-over tour. He tied for 12th the following week in the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship.

“It was a tough day today. It was a grind out there,” Stricker said. “The wind made it very difficult. The greens are very quick, you just had to hit some shots. I made a couple putts on the back side that got things going a bit for me, so in a good spot heading into tomorrow.”

Stricker had a 7-under 137 total at Fallen Oak, the Tom Fazio-designed layout with big, speedy greens. First-round leader Joe Durant followed his opening 66 with a 72 to drop into a tie for second with Jeff Sluman (67). Stephen Ames (68) and Billy Andrade (70) were 5 under.

Today was a good day for @StephenAmesPGA ?

He’s T4 at the @RapiscanClassic, 2 off the lead ?? pic.twitter.com/bMhYDaWVNF

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) March 25, 2018

Stricker bogeyed Nos. 2-3, rebounded with birdies on Nos. 6-7, birdied the par-4 12th and ran in a 75-footer for eagle on the par-5 13th.

“Just trying to get it up there in a 3-foot circle, really, around that hole,” Stricker said about the eagle. “The wind was blowing pretty good at the time, and there’s a lot of variables. Up the hill, it had a pretty big break to it. Just tried to lag it up there. Sometimes those are the ones that you end up making.”

The 51-year-old Wisconsin player has six top-three finishes in eight career senior starts, tying for second behind Durant in the Chubb Classic last month in Naples, Florida.

“I don’t feel as much pressure, but still feel the pressure to try to win,” Stricker said. “It will be a challenge tomorrow for everybody who’s up around the lead. I think we’re going to get a little breezy day again tomorrow and the greens are still fast.”

Durant had an early double bogey and bogey.

“It was tough,” Durant said. “The wind was gusty and the greens were fast, so that combination makes it really difficult.”

The 60-year-old Sluman won the last of his six senior titles in 2014.

“Very, very difficult,” Sluman said. “I think our officials did a great job of setting the golf course up. We had a few tees up on really long holes that were into the wind.”

Mark Calcavecchia, a stroke back after a first-round 67, had a 75 that left him tied for eighth at 2 under.

Two-time defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez was tied for 45th at 4 over after a 76.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Scott Parel beat fellow PGA Tour Champions player Scott Dunlap on the first hole of a playoff Sunday to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the Diamond Resorts Invitational.

The 52-year-old Parel won the 32-player professional division with a par on the extra hole, the 203-yard 18th at Tranquilo Golf Club. Dunlap hit a fat shot short into water and made a double bogey.

In regulation, Dunlap made an 8-foot birdie putt for three points, and Parel failed to get up-and-down and made a bogey to fall into the playoff. Unable to play a practice round before the event because of the flu, Parelearned $125,000.

“Beware the injured animal,” Parel said. “I think low expectations (helped). My expectations were just to try to finish and do the best I can.”

Parel and Dunlap finished with 93 points in the 54-hole Modified Stableford event, Parel earned 32 points in the final round. He spent 10 years as a computer programmer before turning pro at age 31.

Dunlap had 34 points in the scoring system that awards six points for eagle, three for birdie, one for par, zero for bogey and minus-two for double bogey or worse. John Daly was third with 88 points after a 34-point day.

Five-time LPGA Tour winner Brooke Henderson, playing from the same tees as the men, was seventh with 80 points. The 20-year-old Canadian had 25 points Sunday.

Finishes 7th ✔️
Beats most of the @ChampionsTour guys ✔️
Pretty solid week at #DRIGolf for @BrookeHenderson! ? pic.twitter.com/ouQGMJj7IW

— LPGA (@LPGA) January 14, 2018

Former tennis player Mardy Fish won the 52-man celebrity division for the second time in three years, finishing with 75 points. Former hockey star Jeremy Roenick was second at 61.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Shaw Charity Classic, Dominion Energy Charity Classic and DICK’s Sporting Goods Open were among the award winners for the PGA TOUR Champions 2017 season. In all, six awards were presented by PGA TOUR Champions at the TOUR’s Tournament Meetings on Thursday, Dec. 7 in Boca Raton, Fla.

At the annual gathering, six specific tournament categories were recognized:

• President’s Award – Shaw Charity Classic
• Players Award – Dominion Energy Charity Classic
• Sales Award – DICK’s Sporting Goods Open
• Bruno Award – Gene Smith (PGA TOUR Champions Rules Official)
• Outstanding Achievement Award – Tiffany Nelson (Charles Schwab Cup Championship)
• Volunteer of the Year – Maggie Hatcher (Boca Raton Championship)

President’s Award
For the third time in its five-year history, the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta, was named the recipient of the prestigious President’s Award, which captures the criteria of all PGA TOUR Champions awards, as well as the intangibles that make it stand out amidst a plethora of successful tournaments.

“It is remarkable to see a tournament win the President’s Award for the third time,” said PGA TOUR Champions President Greg McLaughlin. “On behalf of PGA TOUR Champions, it is an honor for me to present the President’s Award to the Shaw Charity Classic. This event has achieved great success very quickly and continues to raise the bar every year. Shaw Communications has been a tremendous partner in allowing this event to support the local Calgary community, and the charitable impact throughout Alberta has been extraordinary.”

The 2017 edition of the Shaw Charity Classic carried on the tournament’s tradition of extraordinary charitable giving. The tournament exceeded its fundraising goal by nearly 30 percent, raising more than $8.3 million for children’s charities across Alberta. In all, the tournament secured donations from more than 2,400 donors that ultimately impacted the lives of more than 480,000 children, and in five years, the tournament has raised more than $22 million and donated to more than 150 charities.

Once again, the community came out in droves, as more than 1,200 people volunteered, and the weekly attendance exceeded 45,000 fans. During the tournament, fans were treated to several off-course activities in the Fan Zone, which included a petting zoo, crafting stations, golf simulators, and an interactive Shaw experience where fans had the opportunity to interface with newest home entertainment and communications technology.

“We began our five-year celebrations by encouraging the public to find a small way to make their mark on this powerful event in Alberta. Receiving the President’s Award for a third time is recognition that needs to be celebrated by communities across Alberta who have generously supported our mission,” said Sean Van Kesteren, Executive Director of the Shaw Charity Classic. “We have not wavered in our goals of bringing world-class golf to Calgary, while raising more than $20 million in an effort to provide hundreds of thousands of Alberta kids hope and the opportunity to live a better life.”

Canadians Danny King of Aurora, Ont. and Jim Rutledge of Victoria, B.C., are among the 78 players looking to secure status this week at the final stage of PGA Tour Champions Qualifying in Scottsdale.

Final qualifying runs November 28-December 1 and is conducted over 72 holes, with no cut.

The top five players receive full exempt status, while the next seven are conditionally exempt. Conditionally exempt players are accepted in tournaments on a space-available basis.

Tee times and scoring are available here.

CALGARY — Canadians made a major mark on the fifth anniversary of Calgary’s Shaw Charity Classic by chipping in to raise a record $8,391,413 for 159 youth-based charities across Alberta.

The fifth straight record-setting donation for any event on the PGA TOUR Champions now brings the award-winning tournament’s fundraising totals to more than $22.1 million.

“We began our five-year celebrations by encouraging the public to find a small way to make their mark on this powerful event in Alberta that is having a lasting impact on communities throughout the province. This donation proves Albertans have made their mark in a major way,” said Clay Riddell, Tournament Chairman, Shaw Charity Classic. “More than 2,400 generous donors from around the world played a key role in helping us achieve our goals through their unbelievably generous donations that will help positively impact the lives of more than 480,000 children.”

The tournament’s title sponsor, Shaw Communications, teed off the tournament’s 2017 fundraising efforts with a total $1 million contribution split between the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the RESOLVE campaign, two of the Shaw Charity Classic’s charitable partners.

“Five years ago, we wanted to help bring to our city a world class event that would benefit charities, children, and families across Alberta,” said Brad Shaw, CEO, Shaw Communications. “Since then, the Shaw Charity Classic has become a cornerstone of our community, supporting hundreds of charitable organizations that are making meaningful impacts to families and kids across the province. We are sincerely grateful to the Patron Group, PGA TOUR Champions, the hundreds of volunteers, and most importantly, the thousands of fans who have made this event one of the biggest in Calgary.”

Shaw Communications launched two new initiatives this year to further the charitable giving. Birdies for Charity saw $500 donated for each birdie made on the 18th hole during the tournament. There were 83 birdies made over the three-round event, which raised $41,500. However, the company bumped it up to a $50,000 donation at the trophy ceremony. Additionally, Shaw donated $100,000 for Make Your Mark Day held on August 6, which saw thousands of local golfers attempt to make a birdie on a designated hole at one of 20 participating golf courses across the city.

Building on the leadership of its title partner, the tournament’s Birdies for Kids program once again played a critical role in helping to smash the tournament’s previous annual fundraising totals.

Thanks to the support of Birdies for Kids presenting partner, AltaLink, individuals and corporations have the opportunity to make a one-time 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. This year, Birdies for Kids expanded its reach to include more donors who helped provide a positive impact on more charities.

“We’re incredibly proud of the impact the Birdies for Kids program is making on charities across Alberta dedicated to bettering the lives of children,” said Scott Thon, President and CEO of AltaLink. “This year marks another record-breaking year for the tournament overall and the Birdies for Kids program, and it’s possible only because of the generosity and can-do spirit of the people of this province.”

The records didn’t stop with the financial side of the tournament in 2017. A star-studded field of PGA TOUR Champions players, including Sir Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal, Colin Montgomerie, Fred Couples, Billy Andrade and 2017 champion Scott McCarron, played in front of another record number of spectators, with more than 45,000 people lining the fairways of Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club throughout the week.

Shaw Communications originally launched the five-year anniversary celebrations last spring by reinforcing its commitment to bringing world-class golf to Calgary in an effort to raise big money for charities with a commitment to extend its title sponsorship of the event for three more years through to 2020. Officials are already focused on reaching new goals in 2018. Many of the greatest names in golf will once again tee it up at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club from August 27 to September 2, 2018. Corporate packages for the Shaw Charity Classic are available online at www.shawcharityclassic.com.

PHOENIX – Kevin Sutherland finally broke through on the PGA Tour Champions, taking the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship – and the topping the yearlong competition, too.

Sutherland closed a 5-under 66 on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over Vijay Singh at Phoenix Country Club, the tree-lined course hosting its first tour event since the Phoenix Open left for TPC Scottsdale in 1988.

Bernhard Langer, the winner of the first two playoff events, had a 64 to tie for 12th – five strokes back. Langer slipped to second in the season standings, missing a chance to win the title for the fourth straight year and fifth overall.

The 53-year-old Sutherland won for the first time in 78 starts on the 50-and-over tour. He entered the week fifth in the Charles Schwab Cup season points standings, the last spot where the player had to only win the tournament to take the $1 million annuity. He earned $440,000 for the tournament victory.

The only player to shoot 59 in senior tour history, Sutherland had 15 top-10 finishes this season, finishing second three times and third twice. His lone PGA Tour victory came in 2002 at La Costa in the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Sutherland finished at 15-under 198. He had a bogey-free round, opening with a birdie on the par-5 first, eagling the par-5 seventh and adding birdies on the par-4 ninth and 16th.

Singh shot a 63. He opened with an eagle and birdied the last two.

John Daly (65), David Frost (67), David Toms (67) and Lee Janzen (67) tied for third at 13 under.

Sutherland had a 63 on Friday to move within two strokes of leader Paul Goydos, the tournament winner last year at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale. Goydos closed with a 72 to tie for ninth at 9 under.

Langer led the tour with seven victories, winning three of the five majors, and set an earnings record with $3,677,359. The 60-year-old German has never won the season-ending event.

Canadian Golf Hall-of-Famer Stephen Ames was the lone Canadian in the field, finishing T27 at 6 under par.

PHOENIX – Defending champion Paul Goydos took a one-stroke lead Saturday in the PGA Tour Champions’ season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Goydos shot a 5-under 66 to reach 12-under 130 at Phoenix Country Club, the tree-lined course hosting its first tour event since the Phoenix Open left for TPC Scottsdale in 1988.

“This golf course doesn’t hide where it wants you to hit the ball,” Goydos said. “You kind of follow the line of the trees and you’ll be OK. I mean, you need to drive it good.”

Lee Janzen was second after a 67. The two-time U.S. Open champion birdied the par-5 18th playing alongside Goydos in the final group.

“Even on good shots today sometimes it was a challenge,” Janzen said. “I expect a challenge. I think even if I was in complete control of my golf game in all regards I should expect a challenge because that’s just the way golf is. But right now, I’m expecting a little bit more of a challenge because I’m not super confident with how I’m swinging.

“I hit some wild shots, but I just keep hoping I have a swing and some sort of opening and I’ll figure out a way to get it near the green and make a par.”

Goydos made a 7-footer for birdie on the par-4 16th, then missed a 6-foot try on 18.

“I get in there, I want to hit a fast one, I looked at the hole and all I saw was the sun,” Goydos said. “I should have backed away and I didn’t. … You talk about the difference between a Langer or a Watson or a Woods or a Spieth and a Goydos is that I was too quick there. I should have stopped.”

Bernhard Langer, trying to sweep the three playoff events and win the Charles Schwab Cup season points title for the fourth straight year and fifth overall, was tied for 22nd at 3 under after a 68.

Kevin Sutherland and former Arizona State player Billy Mayfair were 10 under. Sutherland eagled the 18th for a 63, the best round of the week. Mayfair shot 65.

Goydos won last year at Desert Mountain in Scottdale, about 35 miles northeast of the new venue just north of downtown Phoenix. He’s trying to join Mike Hill (1990-91), Jim Thorpe (2006-07) and John Cook (2009-10) as the only players to win the season finale in consecutive years.

The two-time PGA Tour winner took the 3M Championship in Minnesota in August – shooting a tour season-best 60 in the second round – for his fifth senior title.

Janzen won his lone senior title in 2015.

Sutherland hit a 4-iron from 231 yards to 5 feet to set up the closing eagle.

“That was the best 4-iron I’ve hit in a while,” Sutherland said.

Winless on the senior tour, Sutherland entered the week fifth in the Charles Schwab Cup season points standings, the last spot where the player has to only win the tournament to top the yearlong competition.

“I played good, got myself back in the tournament,” Sutherland said. “But you’re going to have to go out and probably shoot something similar to that tomorrow.”

The only player to shoot 59 in senior tour history, the 53-year-old Sutherland has 14 top-10 finishes this season, finishing second three times and third twice. His lone PGA Tour victory came in 2002 at La Costa in the Accenture Match Play Championship.

“I can’t change what happened yesterday, what’s happened in the past, so I just keep moving forward,” Sutherland said. “I can’t change what happened at a tournament earlier this year, so I’m not going to dwell on that at all tomorrow. It will have no effect.”

Scott McCarron is second in the season standings, followed by Kenny Perry, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Sutherland. McCarron was tied for eighth at 8 under after a 66, Perry was tied for 17th at under after a 66, and Jimenez was tied for 34th at 1 over after a 69.

“I had a lot of really good putts that just didn’t go in,” McCarron said. “They’re right on the edge all day long. So it was one of those days that could have been really, really low. But I’ve got a chance tomorrow. I’ve got one round left, and if you had told me at the start of the year you have one round left to win the Schwab Cup, I’d would say what a wonderful opportunity.”

Langer opened the playoffs with victories in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Virginia, and took the PowerShares QQQ Championship two weeks ago in Thousand Oaks, California.

The 60-year-old Geman won three of the tour’s five majors this season and has a tour-best seven victories. He has never won the season-ending event, finishing in the top 10 seven times in nine starts.

Canada’s Stephen Ames is T22 at 3 under par (70-69).

PHOENIX – Defending champion Paul Goydos and major winners Vijay Singh and Lee Janzen shot 7-under 64 on Friday to share the first-round lead in the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.

Bernhard Langer, trying to sweep the PGA Tour Champions’ three playoff events and win the Charles Schwab Cup season points title for the fourth straight year and fifth overall, was tied for 28th at even-par 71 at tree-lined Phoenix Country Club. The points leader is one of five players who needs only to win the season-ending tournament to top the yearlong points competition.

Jerry Smith and Glen Day were a stroke back at 65, and Corey Pavin, David Toms and Joe Durant shot 66.

Goydos birdied two of the last three holes and five of the final seven on the traditional course that hosted the Phoenix Open until 1987.

“The golf course is in perfect shape,” Goydos said. “It’s just you want the scores to be higher, have lousy greens and bad fairways and the scores will be plenty high enough. The scores are going to be good. I don’t think 20 under’s going to win, but I think it’s going to be a pretty low score unless something funny happens with the weather.”

Goydos accidentally moved the ball with his putter on the par-3 eighth green.

“Since the Dustin Johnson situation, you play the local rule and if you accidentally cause the ball to move with the putter, even if you touch it with your putter, it’s not a penalty,” Goydos said. “I have to put it back, which I did, so it was a 3. Then from that point on good things kind of happened.”

In his victory last year at Desert Mountain, Goydos opened with a 62. The two-time PGA Tour winner took the 3M Championship in Minnesota in August for his fifth senior title.

The 60-year-old Langer opened the playoffs with victories in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Virginia, and took the PowerShares QQQ Championship two weeks ago in Thousand Oaks, California.

He won three of the tour’s five majors this season and has a tour-best seven victories. Langer has never won the season-ending event, finishing in the top 10 seven times in nine starts.

Singh played the final 10 holes in 6 under.

“I played nicely,” Singh said. “I drove the ball well, which is key on this golf course. I think you’ve got to hit a lot of fairways. Putted nicely, made some nice good putts. Anytime you drive it well and make some putts, you’re going to shoot a low one. So, very happy with the start and hope to keep it going.”

He teamed with Carlos Franco to win the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf in April for his lone senior title.

Janzen had seven birdies in a bogey-free round. He won his lone senior title in 2015.

“Everybody in the field knows scoring’s going to be low, so I think the mindset is you’ve got to shoot low scores all three days,” Janzen said. “You don’t want to get behind.”

Scott McCarron is second in the standings, followed by Kenny Perry, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Kevin Sutherland. McCarron, playing alongside Langer in the final group on the warm, sunny afternoon in the desert, closed with a bogey for a 68. Sutherland had a 69, Perry shot 72, and Jimenez was tied for last in the 36-player field at 74.

Fred Couples, Colin Montgomerie and John Daly were at 69.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Bernhard Langer made a 30-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat Miguel Angel Jimenez in the PowerShares QQQ Championship on Sunday for his second victory in two events of the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs.

Langer missed a similar putt on the first extra hole as both he and Jimenez made par. He was perfect on the second for his third win in his last four tournaments and seventh victory of the season.

Just wow.

Bernhard Langer makes birdie on 2nd playoff hole to win @PwrShrsQQQChamp.

He takes the first 2 #SchwabCup Playoffs events. pic.twitter.com/q3fFqiRD87

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 30, 2017

Langer and Jimenez, who shared the 36-hole lead with David Toms, both shot 5-under 67 in the final round to force the playoff at 11-under 205. Toms, winless in his first season on the senior tour, had a 69 to finish two shots back in third.

Langer leads the Schwab Cup points standings and is followed by Scott McCarron, Kenny Perry, Jimenez and Kevin Sutherland. The points now reset and any of the top five can win the cup and $1 million bonus with a victory in the Schwab Cup Championship at Phoenix Country Club from Nov. 10-12.

The words of a champion.

Bernhard Langer discusses winning the @PwrShrsQQQChamp in a playoff against Miguel Angel Jimenez. pic.twitter.com/BIEAvTPjNN

— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) October 30, 2017

McCarron shot a final-round 69 and finished fourth at 208. Fred Funk (68), Doug Garwood (70) and Billy Andrade (71) were tied another two shots back. Perry (72) finished in a tie for 12th at 212, and Sutherland (69) was in a group at 217.

Canadian Hall-of-Famer Stephen Ames will advance to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup after finishing tied for 19th.