The PGA Championship of Canada heads to Whistle Bear
The PGA of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious championship takes place next week at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont.
Seventy-two of the association’s best players look to capture the 98th playing of the PGA Championship of Canada.
Teeing it up at Whistle Bear and looking to add their name to the P.D. Ross Trophy includes 22 past PGA of Canada national champions, eight of whom are past PGA Championship of Canada winners.
Additionally, 43 of the top 50-ranked players from the RBC PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC are in the field, including the entire top 10.
“It’s absolutely wild how stacked the field is for this year’s PGA Championship of Canada,” said the PGA of Canada’s managing director of championships and foundation Adam LeBrun. “When you have all these past national champions, plus a number of up-and-coming players from across the country, you’re going to have a first-rate championship that ultimately produces a worthy champion.”
Built on more than 230 acres, Whistle Bear is regarded as one of southern Ontario’s most distinctive golf destinations. Host of the 2004 and 2005 PGA Championship of Canada (as part of the Nationwide Tour schedule), the links-style venue features more than 100 bunkers throughout the 18 holes, as well as water on more than half of the holes.
Re-launched in 2011, the PGA Championship of Canada was contested strictly as a match play event thru 2014 with players from the four brackets—Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman—looking to advance through the six rounds to capture the P.D. Ross Trophy. However, the 2015 championship at Cabot Links saw a format change, with 64 top-ranked players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC playing two rounds of stroke play. The top-16 players from the 36-hole stroke play portion of the event filled out the four match play brackets with the eventual champion winning four match play rounds.
This year’s championship at Whistle Bear will follow the same format.
Pierre-Alexandre Bedard looks to become the first back-to-back winner of the championship since Knudson won in 1976 and 1977. The 23-year-old from Club de Golf Cap Rouge bested Gordon Burns 1-up on a relentlessly hot and humid Friday at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in the championship’s final match.
“This is definitely the biggest win of my entire life and I’m so proud of myself,” Bedard said after his win in 2018. “It’s so incredible to have my name on the same trophy as all the legends who came before me, not to mention all my fellow Quebecers who have won this championship over the past couple years.”
Since 2011, six PGA of Canada members from Quebec—Vincent Dumouchel, Eric Laporte, Dave Levesque, Marc-Etienne Bussieres, Jean-Philip Cornellier and Bedard—have captured the PGA Championship of Canada.
In addition to Bedard, past champions of the PGA Championship of Canada include Moe Norman, George Knudson, Al Balding, Bob Panasik, Tim Clark, Lanny Wadkins, Jim Rutledge, Wilf Homenuik, Stan Leonard, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer.
PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC points are also up for grabs at Whistle Bear. The eventual winner will take home 60 points, with the runner up gaining 50 points. The player who earns the most ranking points (in national and zone events) in 2019 will be awarded the Mike Weir Player of the Year crown at next year’s Canada Night.
Attendance to the PGA Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.
Titleist & FootJoy becomes presenting sponsor of the new PGA Training Academy
The PGA of Canada is proud to announce Titleist & FootJoy as the inaugural presenting sponsor of the PGA Training Academy.
The PGA Training Academy presented by Titleist & FootJoy—which officially launches later this afternoon with full details becoming available over the coming weeks—is the association’s dynamic new world-class education system designed to increase the value, integrity and employability of the PGA of Canada professional.
“We are so thrilled and excited to have Titleist and FootJoy as the inaugural presenting sponsor of our PGA Training Academy,” said PGA of Canada CEO Kevin Thistle. “For nearly 50-years Titleist & FootJoy have played an integral role in the support of PGA of Canada and its members and we couldn’t be more pleased to have them committed to this longstanding partnership for years to come.”
As part of the partnership, Titleist & FootJoy will be recognized as an education sponsor for PGA of Canada Zone education seminars and will supply keynote speakers and content.
“The launch of the PGA Training Academy represents an exciting time for the PGA of Canada and it’s more than 3,500 members across the country. We are looking forward to this new chapter in our partnership with the Association and to playing an integral role in supporting the advancement of its members. We want to thank all PGA members for your leadership in golf and for your continued support of the Titleist and FootJoy brands,” said Ted Manning, President, Acushnet Canada Inc.
PGA of Canada members will also be privy to Titleist University online training modules that will count towards re-specialization credits within the PGA Training Academy. PGA of Canada equipment fitting workshops will also be held at Titleist fitting centres around the country.
Titleist & FootJoy are also the founding partner of the PGA of Canada Retirement Advantage Program.
RBC and PGA Scramble renew partnership
Following a record turnout in 2018, RBC has renewed its partnership with the PGA of Canada as title sponsor of the PGA Scramble.
The three-year agreement sees the financial institution remain as title sponsor of the RBC PGA Scramble alongside presenting sponsor, The Lincoln Motor Company.
“We couldn’t ask for a better partner than RBC for this amazing, expanding national event series,” said PGA of Canada CEO Kevin Thistle. “RBC’s commitment to the game of golf in this country is fantastic and we look forward to growing the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada in communities across Canada for years to come.”
The RBC PGA Scramble of Canada saw nearly 9,000 golfers from across the country participate in 2018 – an increase of over 60 per cent from the previous year. The 21 teams who participated in the 2018 PGA Scramble National Final at Cabot Links—which are comprised of four amateurs and a PGA of Canada professional—all made it through local and regional qualifying events.
As one of the largest amateur golf competitions in Canada, the 2019 edition of the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada looks to see continued growth, with estimates that more than 10,000 golfers from across the country will participate in the series of local and regional events next summer.
“We‘re thrilled to renew our partnership with the PGA of Canada and support the RBC PGA Scramble in providing amateur golfers with an experience of a lifetime,” said Shannon Cole, Senior Director, Brand Marketing, RBC. “This tournament is a real opportunity to bring together golf enthusiasts from across the country and enable them to have a shared experience at some of Canada’s best in class golf courses.”
For those golfers who qualify, the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada National Final promises to be the golf trip of a lifetime. The 54-hole championship at one of Canada’s premier golf venues will be part of a larger festival of special events, which includes prizing, activations and a chance to interact with celebrities.
For more information about the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada presented by The Lincoln Motor Company, please visit rbcpgascramble.com.
Brian McDonald rallies to win PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada
Brian McDonald claimed his first national title at the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy Thursday as he closed with a 5-under-par 67 for a five-shot victory.
The Director of Golf and General Manager at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, B.C., featured five birdies in his final round at The Gold Course at Wigwam Golf Club, coming from behind to raise a PGA of Canada national championship trophy for the first time in his career.
“If you would have told me at the start of this week that I’d be a national champion when it was all said and done, I wouldn’t have believed you,” McDonald admitted after his final round. “But when I made the turn today I told myself if I kept to my game plan, I would take this championship home to British Columbia.”
McDonald was one of 18 players in the field from British Columbia. His friend and fellow B.C.-native Matt Palsenbarg finished second at -6 after a final round 64 (which was also the low round of the championship).
“Honestly, everyone wants to win, but the support I received last night and this morning from all my fellow pros from B.C. was just amazing,” McDonald said. “They were pulling for me, coaching me and that really means the world to me.”
Gordon Percy of Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Ottawa, who lead heading into Thursday’s final round, finished alone in third at -5. Ian Leggatt of Ontario and Manitoba’s Dean North finished T4 at -4.
With the win this week at The Wigwam in Litchfield, Ariz., McDonald pads his already impressive PGA of Canada professional resume.
A PGA of Canada member since 1993, McDonald was the recipient of the 1999 PGA of BC Assistant of the Year Award; 2003 PGA of BC Merchandiser of the Year Award; 2004 PGA of BC Head Golf Professional of the Year Award; and 2004 PGA of Canada Head Golf Professional of the Year Award.
“The win this week means so much to me as a golf professional,” McDonald said. “I’m a very proud PGA of Canada member and knowing that I’m a national champion I can always hang my hat on that . . . and no one can ever take that away from me.”
The 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone was decided Wednesday.
The squad from Ontario (Burns, John Cochrane, Brian Hadley and Danny King) won for the fourth-straight year. The squad from Quebec finished a stroke back with Saskatchewan rounding out the top three.
This year’s championship saw a few changes—both on and off the golf course. Firstly, the low club professional (McDonald) was recognized with a separate trophy and monetary bonus. Secondly, all competitors were treated to a number of parties hosted at The Wigwam and the Arizona Coyotes.
McDonald adds his name to a list of the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada champions that include John Cochrane, Matt Peavoy, Danny King, Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.
Gordon Percy extends lead at PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada
Gordon Percy of Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Ottawa shot a 3-under-par 69 Wednesday to increase his lead to three strokes over B.C.’s Brian McDonald heading into the final round of the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy.
Percy’s two-day total of 9-under 135 sees him tee it up on the championship’s final group for the second-straight year. McDonald and Gordon Burns, who finished runner-up at this year’s PGA Championship, will join him in the last group out Thursday afternoon at The Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield, Arizona.
“Off the tee today I was about as bad as I could have been,” Percy admitted. “Luckily my irons were great and my putter was pretty good too.”
Percy, who has made just one bogey thru 36 holes, says he’s wasn’t nervous playing with the lead Tuesday and doesn’t really expect to be nervous tomorrow either.
“Honestly this week is more about hanging out with the guys and having fun than it is about winning a golf tournament,” the 46-year-old said.
Jamie Moran of P.E.I. and Ian Leggatt—along with Burns—are six strokes back of Percy at 3-under 141. Eric Laporte, a past PGA Championship of Canada winner, Marc Girouard of Quebec and B.C.’s Padraic O’Rourke are 2-under 142, T6.
Michel Blier, Mark Strong, Philippe Gariepy, Alec Hubert and Dean North round out the top 10 at 1-under 143.
With a come-from-behind win tomorrow, Burns would secure Mike Weir Player of the Year Award honours.
He says that’s not on his mind, though.
“To be honest, I haven’t even thought about the player of the year award,” he said. “I’m just out here trying to win the golf tournament and I’ve got one more round to make it happen.”
The 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone was decided Wednesday.
The squad from Ontario (Burns, John Cochrane, Brian Hadley and Danny King) won for the fourth-straight year. The squad from Quebec finished a stroke back with Saskatchewan rounding out the top three.
Designed by the master designer himself, the Gold Course at The Wigwam was created in 1964 to rival another of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s courses, the famed South Course at Firestone Country Club. At more than 7,430 yards, this long and winding par-72 course will challenge even the finest of golfers, leaving them with club choices that will either reward or reprimand their decisions. The course has previously hosted qualifying tournaments for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.
The Wigwam was originally built in 1918 as a gathering place for the Ohio-based executives of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who discovered the West Valley of Phoenix as a prime location to grow cotton for rubber production. As the retreat grew in popularity, additional accommodations and amenities were added and in 1929 The Wigwam opened as a full-service resort with accommodations for just 24 guests.
The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy was played in Arizona in 2014 and 2015. Matt Peavoy captured the ’14 event at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, while Danny King won in ’15 at Verrado Golf Club.
Gordon Percy leads PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada
Gordon Percy stuck to his guns Tuesday at The Wigwam Golf Club and leads the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist and FootJoy after an opening round 6-under-par 66.
The head professional from the Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Ottawa’s game plan was to keep it simple during the first round, focusing on hitting fairways and greens on the Robert Trent Jones-designed Gold Course at The Wigwam. The plan obviously worked, with the 46-year-old converting six first-round birdies.
“I was a little bit lucky out there today in spots, but I hit most of the greens in regulation and didn’t miss too much with my putter,” he admitted. “The strength of my game is that I usually hit a lot of greens, but I don’t always make as many putts as I did today either, so,” he said, adding, “I’m just here to have fun and there’s just so many good players in the field this week, we’ll have to see what happens over the next couple of days.”
Eric Laporte, the 2012 PGA Championship of Canada winner,sits just one-shot off the lead after a first-round 5-under-par 67.
A win for Laporte this week could cap off an impressive national championship year for PGA of Canada members from Quebec. Pierre-Alexandre Bedard, Serge Thivierge and Marc-Etienne Bussieres have all won national championships in 2018 with Laporte looking to join the group of Quebec winners.
“It would be pretty fun to win this week and join my friends from Quebec as winners of PGA of Canada national championships in 2018,” Laporte said. “But let’s be honest; there’s a lot of good players from all over the country here this week and anyone can win if they play well enough.”
B.C.’s Brian McDonald holds down third at -4, while Ian Leggatt of Ontario—a past PGA TOUR winner—is currently in fourth after an opening round of 3-under-par 69. Six players—Tyler LeBouthillier; last year’s champion John Cochrane; Philippe Gariepy; Dave Zibrik; Jamie Gerlitz and Jame Moran—round out the top five at -2.
The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy continues tomorrow and Thursday at the Gold Course at The Wigwam in Litchfield, Ariz.
The 54-hole national championship features PGA of Canada head professionals, head teaching professionals and executive professionals.
The field will be cut to the low 70-players (and ties) after Wednesday’s second round.
There is also a 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds.
The squad from Quebec leads the way at -7, with Ontario in second at -2 and B.C. rounding out the top three at -1.
Designed by the master designer himself, the Gold Course was created in 1964 to rival another of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s courses, the famed South Course at Firestone Country Club. At more than 7,430 yards, this long and winding par-72 course will challenge even the finest of golfers, leaving them with club choices that will either reward or reprimand their decisions. The course has previously hosted qualifying tournaments for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.
The Wigwam was originally built in 1918 as a gathering place for the Ohio-based executives of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who discovered the West Valley of Phoenix as a prime location to grow cotton for rubber production. As the retreat grew in popularity, additional accommodations and amenities were added and in 1929 The Wigwam opened as a full-service resort with accommodations for just 24 guests.
The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy was played in Arizona in 2014 and 2015. Matt Peavoy captured the ’14 event at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, while Danny King won in ’15 at Verrado Golf Club.
Click here for full scoring.
PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada set for Wigwam
The final PGA of Canada national championship of the year lands next week in Arizona.
The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy takes place December 3-6 at the Golf Course at The Wigwam in Litchfield, Ariz.
A 54-hole national championship featuring PGA of Canada head professionals, head teaching professionals, executive professionals and general managers, will undoubtedly feature stellar play from an impressive cast of players.
The field at The Wigwam includes:
- Past PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada winners John Cochrane, Danny King and Benoit Boudreau
- Past PGA Championship of Canada winners Dave Levesque and Eric Laporte
- Past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winners Phil Jonas, Matt Palsenbarg, Marc Girouard
- PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC highly-touted Scott Allred, Philippe Gariepy, Brian Hadley, David Zibrik, Lindsay Bernakevitch, Ron Kenesky and Gordon Burns
- PGA TOUR winner Ian Leggatt
“We’re very excited to be headed back to Arizona and even more excited to be going to the Gold Course at The Wigwam for the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada,” said PGA of Canada president Mark Patterson.
This year’s field features many first-time players in the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy.
Designed by the master designer himself, the Gold Course was created in 1964 to rival another of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s courses, the famed South Course at Firestone Country Club. At more than 7,430 yards, this long and winding par-72 course will challenge even the finest of golfers, leaving them with club choices that will either reward or reprimand their decisions. The course has previously hosted qualifying tournaments for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.
The Wigwam was originally built in 1918 as a gathering place for the Ohio-based executives of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who discovered the West Valley of Phoenix as a prime location to grow cotton for rubber production. As the retreat grew in popularity, additional accommodations and amenities were added and in 1929 The Wigwam opened as a full-service resort with accommodations for just 24 guests.
In its 100-year history, this Phoenix resort has hosted some of the world’s most recognized public figures and sports legends and maintains a reputation as one of the Southwest’s landmark resort destinations.
In 2017, John Cochrane captured the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy. The 56-year-old posted rounds of 72-69 at the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., bettering Brian Hadley and Jeff Mills by two shots.
This year’s championship will see a few changes—both on and off the golf course. Firstly, the low club professional will be recognized with a separate trophy and monetary bonus. Secondly, all competitors are encouraged to stay at The Wigwam to take full advantage of numerous evening festivities.
The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy was played in Arizona in 2014 and 2015. Matt Peavoy captured the ’14 event at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, while Danny King won in ’15 at Verrado Golf Club.
The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), is also handed out after 36-holes.
In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada earn much-coveted ranking points with hopes of moving up on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Players who are ranked inside the top 64 following the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada earn exemptions into the following year’s PGA Championship of Canada.
Former champions of the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada include Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton, in addition to the above-mentioned names.
Click here for the full field.
Team Canada’s Matt Wilson named Ontario’s Golf Coach of the Year
Team Canada Junior Women’s Coach Matt Wilson was one of nine award winners at the 2018 PGA of Ontario awards ceremony on Friday at the Nottawasaga Inn Resort in Alliston, Ont.
The Newmarket, Ont., native took home Coach of the Year honours for the PGA of Canada – Ontario Zone for his outstanding achievements in coaching this season and throughout his career.
In 2017, Wilson was appointed as Director of Next Generation strategy with Golf Canada to further develop and execute a stronger Team Canada program. Since joining the National Sport Federation, Wilson has helped oversee the national team’s centralized program, which sends athletes to train at Bear Mountain from February through to early June in a focused centre of excellence, surrounded by world-class technical coaching staff and experts.
Wilson was honoured alongside eight fellow PGA of Canada members:
- PADRAIG KELLY ~ Retailer of the Year
- CASEY WARD ~ Candidate for Membership of the Year
- RAYMOND MCCORQUODALE ~ Class A Professional of the Year
- JON BLOMME ~ Junior Leader of the Year
- GARETH RAFLEWSKI ~ Teacher of the Year
- MATTHEW WILSON ~ Coach of the Year
- BRIAN HADLEY ~ Player of the Year
- ADAM TOBIN ~ Club Professional of the Year
- IAN WEBB ~ Executive Professional of the Year
Marc-Etienne Bussieres repeats as PGA of Canada Assistant’s champion
CALGARY – For the second consecutive year, Marc-Etienne Bussieres came roaring from behind to capture the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.
When the final round at The Winston Golf Club in Calgary began, the 32-year-old from Longchamp, Que., sat four shots off the lead. But by the time the dust had settled after a wild final round featuring impressive scoring from the just about everyone in the field, Bussieres found himself two clear of his nearest competitor.
“I can admit it now, but I was nervous all day long—right from the very first tee shot until I made the birdie putt on the last hole,” Bussieres said. “However, for whatever reason, I usually play my best when I feel the nerves.”
Bussieres’ final round 7-under-65 included seven birdies, five of which came on Winston’s tough back-nine holes.
“All of a sudden I got my groove going on the back nine and the birdies started happening,” he said. “I think it helped that I was playing with Dustin (Risdon) and he was playing so well, that pushed me to make more birdies.”
Bussieres’ three-day total of 199 (65-69-65) saw him two-shots better than Airdrie, Alta’s., Riley Fleming who posted the round of the championship Wednesday, shooting an astounding 9-under-par 63.
“I figured I had to take it really low today to even have a chance,” Riley said after his round. “Unfortunately, I didn’t take it deep enough, but it was still an amazing round with 11 birdies.”
Risdon, who won the 2016 PGA Assistants’ Championship in 2016 finished solo third at -13. Thirty-six hole leader Albert Pistorius and 2013 PGA Assistants’ Championship Billy Walsh shared fourth spot at -12.
Nearly 40 players finished the national championship at even-par or better.
For the full leaderboard, click here.
“Being the No. 1-ranked player is always on my mind because of the prestige and the exemption into the RBC Canadian Open,” Bussieres admitted.
Originally launched in 2011, the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC has received much praise over the past seven years.
Players ranked inside the top 64 earn invites to the PGA Championship of Canada. The player who is ranked No. 1 at the conclusion of the championship earns an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open.
Pistorius surges to lead at PGA Assistants’ Championship
CALGARY – Albert Pistorius is proving the old adage that if you want to be successful on the golf course it’s probably best not to have any expectations.
“Two-days before the tournament I was hitting it so badly that I actually considered not teeing it up,” Pistorius admitted after his second round. “So, I’m really surprised that I’m playing this well, but that’s just it, though—when you don’t have expectations that are too high you usually end up playing pretty well.”
The associate professional at Pinebrook Golf & Country Club in Calgary has rattled off rounds of 66-64 at The Winston Golf Club and leads the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf by four shots heading into Wednesday’s final round.
The 37-year-old native of South Africa holds a three-shot lead over fellow Calgary resident and 2016 PGA Assistants’ winner Dustin Risdon and four shots over the PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player Marc-Etienne Bussieres.
Pistorius—a former Sunshine and European Tour player who was once ranked No. 700 in the Official World Golf Ranking—converted nine birdies Tuesday at The Winston. Pistorius says he’s obviously pleased with his play thru two rounds of the national championship.
“I’ve had a knee injury this year and this is only my 15th round of the season, so I’m pretty happy with how I’m playing,” he said. “I’ve found something in my swing and I’ve only missed two greens over the two days, which has led me to have a bunch of opportunities for birdies.”
Pistorius has converted those birdie looks and leads the field with 16.
Risdon, who sits just three shots back of the lead, knows a thing or two about making a lot of birdies, too. When he won the 2016 PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada at Lora Bay he strung together rounds of 67-67-64, cruising to an 11-shot victory. He says he’ll need another final round tomorrow at The Winston like the one he had two years ago if he has any shot of winning a second PGA Assistants’ title.
“I’m obviously going to have to fire something low tomorrow if I’m going to have a chance,” he said. “The way Albert’s playing I’m going to at least have to fire a round like the one I put together back in 2016 on the final day. I can’t go out there and think that if I shoot 70 I’ll have a chance to win because it’s not going to be good enough.”
Sitting alone in third, just four shots off the lead is Bussieres, the PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player. The 32-year-old from Quebec is a past winner of the PGA Championship of Canada (2016) and last year’s PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada, where he came from five shots back heading into the final round.
“Sometimes it’s just easier to come from behind for the win than it is to hold on to your lead,” Bussieres said. “But either way, I need to get my putter going and if that happens I’m pretty confident in my game and my chances.”
2013 PGA Assistants’ winner Billy Walsh sits alone in fourth at 9-under-par, while this year’ PGA Championship of Canada winner Pierre-Alexandre Bedard; 2015 PGA Assistants’ champion Brad Kerfoot; four-time Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada champion Wes Heffernan; local favourite Craig Gibson and Cory Renfrew of B.C., round at the top five at 7-under-par.
The Alberta squad (Risdon, Heffernan, Riley Fleming and Eric Locke) won the 36-hole Inter-Zone competition Tuesday (which is compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds) by a shot over the team from Quebec.