It is with great sadness that the Canadian golf community mourns the loss of revered PGA of Canada professional Jerry Anderson of Cambridge, Ont. who passed away suddenly on March 9, 2018 at the age of 62.

He is survived by his wife Barbara and children Chrysse and Luke along with countless friends across the Canadian and International golf community. 

Statement from Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum:

“On behalf of the entire golf community including the golfers, associations and fellow competitors whose lives he touched, we are saddened by the passing of Jerry Anderson. Jerry’s accomplishments on the golf course along with his determination to chase his dream all around the globe define the drive of a champion. As we join family and friends in mourning his sudden passing, his outstanding legacy deserves to be celebrated.”

Statement from Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday:

“The entire Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada community was devastated to learn about the passing of Canadian golf legend Jerry Anderson this weekend. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife Barbara and the rest of the family at this time.”

Born September 22, 1955 in Montreal, Que, Anderson took up the game in 1968 as a caddie at the Whitlock Golf and Country Club near Montreal. He attended the University of Texas (1975-78) and had a strong amateur career before turning professional.

By 1978, he had had earned his Canadian Tour (now Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada) card and would go on to win nine times on the Canadian development tour including the Ontario Open (1979), Players Cup (1979), Saskatchewan Open (1979-80), Quebec Open (1982-83) and Canadian Tour Players Championship (1988). Anderson topped the Canadian Tour Order of Merit on three occasions—1980, 1982 and 1989.

He also won the PGA of Canada Championship in 1987 after finishing runner-up in 1985.

Anderson played on the European Tour through most of the 1980’s, travelling the world with his wife. He became the first Canadian to win on the European Tour when he shot 27-under par (261) to win the 1984 Ebel European Masters – Swiss Open by five strokes. His 72-hole score was a record on the European Tour until Ernie Els shot 29-under at the 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic. In 1984, he finished ninth on the European Tour Order of Merit.

In additional to playing golf in Europe, through Asia, Africa and South America, Anderson also spent two seasons on golf’s biggest stage, the PGA TOUR in 1990 and 1992. Over a total of 66 events played, he made the cut 18 times with three top-25 finishes.

He played in the (RBC) Canadian Open 12 times between 1977 and 1992 with three cuts made. His best finish was T15 in 1982.

Among his many accomplishments, Anderson represented Canada at the Alfred Dunhill Cup in 1985 (with Dave Barr and Dan Halldorson) and at the World Cup in 1983 and 1987 (with Dave Barr), .

In 1991, Anderson won the Ben Hogan Texarkana Open (currently the Web.com Tour).

In 2000, he was reinstated as a Class A member of the PGA of Canada and worked at several clubs including Cambridge Golf Club and Ingersoll Golf and Country Club.

Most recently, Anderson worked as a PGA of Canada Class A Teaching Professional at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

He was inducted in the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2002 and the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame in 2016.

Jerry Anderson’s competitive accomplishments across the provincial, national and international golf landscape included:

• Attended the University of Texas from 1975-78
• #1 Ranked Amateur golfer in Ontario in 1976
• Ontario Open Champion (1979)
• Players Cup Champion (1979)
• Saskatchewan Open Champion (1979-80)
• Quebec Open Champion (1982-83)
• PGA of Canada Champion (1987); Runner-Up (1985)
• Canadian Tour Players Champion (1988)
• Windsor Charity Championship winner (1989)
• Tournament Players Championship winner (1989)
• Three-time Canadian Tour Order of Merit winner (1980, 1982, 1989)
• Member of Canada’s World Cup Team in 1983 and 1987
• Member of Canada’s Dunhill Cup Team in 1985
• European Masters Swiss Open Champion (1984)
• German Open, Runner-Up (1984)
• Canadian Open, Low-Canadian (1992)
• Texarkana Open Champion (1991)

ACTON, Ont. – The PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf heads to the venerable Credit Valley Golf and Country Club this June.

The Mississauga, Ont., venue plays host to the PGA of Canada’s oldest and most beloved national championship, June 25-29.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to bring the PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade and adidas back to Credit Valley Golf and Country Club,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “Credit Valley has been a long-time supporter of both the PGA of Canada member and the association’s national championships.”

Credit Valley last hosted the PGA Championship of Canada 25-years ago in 1993, which was won by 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker. The club has also recently hosted two PGA Women’s Championships (2010 and 2016) and a PGA Seniors’ Championship in 2015.

“Our members are very excited to host PGA of Canada top players from across the country in this year’s PGA of Canada Championship,” said Credit Valley’s chief operating officer and PGA of Canada executive professional Ian Webb. “Much has changed in the 25 years since Steve Stricker’s win, but with recent course and practice facility renovations, we have no doubt the players are in for a real treat.”

Ranked No. 80 on SCOREGolf’s Top 100 Courses in Canada for 2016, Credit Valley traces its golfing beginning back to 1930. Ontario’s then Lieutenant Governor, W.D. Ross, commissioned that a nine-hole course be built on the original property which was located where the driving range and parking lot now stand. Since its original design by Stanley Thompson in 1930, the club most recently underwent renovations to the course including changes to the first five holes, the 10th hole and a complete bunker renovation. In addition, in 2016, the Credit Valley redesigned its practice facility, which now includes 65,000 square feet of bent grass tee decks, eight target greens, a target fairway, two practice bunkers, a short game area, three putting greens and a dedicated teaching area, making it among the best practice facilities in Canada.

Credit Valley was also home to PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Al Balding, a four-time winner of the PGA Championship of Canada.

Re-launched in 2011, the PGA Championship of Canada was contested strictly as a match play event through 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 historic 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 Credit Valley follows the same format.

At last year’s championship at Deer Ridge Golf Club in Kitchener, Ont., Jean-Philip Cornellier sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole of the final match, outduelling Bryn Parry, to win 2-up.

“This is just a great feeling to have my first win as a professional come at the PGA Championship of Canada,” Cornellier said after the win at Deer Ridge. “It means a lot to me to have my name on the same trophy as so many legends.”

Cornellier looks to become the first back-to-back winner of the championship since Knudson won in 1976 and 1977.

In addition to Cornellier, past champions of the PGA Championship of Canada include Moe Norman, George Knudson, Marc-Etienne Bussieres, Danny King, Dave Levesque, Eric Laporte, Bryn Parry, Al Balding, Bob Panasik, Steve Stricker, Tim Clark, Lanny Wadkins, Jim Rutledge, Wilf Homenuik, Stan Leonard, Lee Trevino and Arnold Palmer.

The player who sits atop the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC at the conclusion of the PGA Championship of Canada earns an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

The Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship begins tomorrow at the fabulous Fairmont Southampton Turtle Hill Golf Club in Bermuda.

This year’s 36-hole championship, which takes place March 2-3, sees a number of talented golfers from across the globe compete for the title and their share of the $50,000 (USD) purse.

“The field this year for the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship is incredibly deep with many great players,” said Adam LeBrun, tournament director. “It would be almost impossible to pick a favourite because there are so many nice players. But the player who does come out on top will definitely have earned the championship.”

The field includes:

• Four-time PGA Tour winner, three-time American Ryder Cup member and a member of the PGA TOUR’s ’59 Club,’ Chip Beck
• Golf Channel analyst and WEB.COM winner, Charlie Rymer
• The PGA of Canada’s No. 3-ranked player, Billy Walsh
• Past champions Chris Ward and Daniel Augustus
• PGA Tour player, Omar Uresti
• Golf Digest’s Fashion Director, Marty Hackel
• Actor and comedian, Gerry Dee
• TSN Sports Centre anchors Natasha Staniszewski and Laura Diakun
• Best-selling author and award-winning musician, Jeremy Taggart
• Social media influencers McKenzie O’Connell, Ryan Rustand, Bradley Converse and Stephanie Gibri

For the full field and first-round tee times, click here.

Players in this year’s Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship also have an opportunity to win $1-million (USD). The competitors with the lowest gross scores in the professional, men’s amateur, men’s senior and women’s amateur divisions through the two championship rounds will qualify for the $1-Million Hole-in-One Shootout. One additional amateur qualifier will be determined by the closest-to-the-hole contest on the 18th hole during the final round of the championship.

As in previous years, the PGA of Canada and the Bermuda Tourism will continue as partners for this signature golf event in Bermuda, with WestJet and Travel Edge coming aboard as proud sponsors for 2018.

Past champions of the Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship include Bermudian Daniel Augustus, PGA Tour winner Nick Taylor, PGA of Canada member Ian Doig, American Jordan Mitchell, Mark Mouland of the European Senior Tour, Thomas Curtis, Rafael Becker and last year’s winner Chris Ward

In addition to the professionals in the championship, the field is rounded out by an impressive list of amateur golfers—from Bermuda, the United States, Canada and Europe—vying for titles in the men’s, women’s and senior amateur divisions.

The PGA of America announced recently the formation of an international event, the Women’s PGA Cup – a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world.

The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event.

The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.

The Women’s PGA Cup will be a 54-hole stroke play event with each team’s lowest three scores being counted after each round. The winning country will be the team with the lowest 54-hole aggregate total.

Each national team will be composed of five players and one captain, who also may be a playing or non-playing captain at the option of the respective country.

The Women’s PGA Cup does not include a purse; rather, each team will vie for bragging rights and the honour of winning the Cup, and bask in the pride that comes with representing one’s country in a distinct and unique international competition.

Those eligible to represent their country in the Women’s PGA Cup must be members in good standing with their respective Professional Golfers Association (PGA). They must also be active in the game, be it as a teacher, coach or working as club professional/assistant. Tour professionals who primarily compete for a living are not eligible to participate.

The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the following:

• Performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DATA PGA Women’s Championship

The following countries are tentatively committed to play in the 2019 Women’s PGA Cup: Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, Sweden and the United States.

More information about the Women’s PGA Cup will be made available over the coming months.

Some of Canada’s top venues have been secured as host sites for RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company Regional Finals in 2018.

From coast-to-coast, these facilities include:

• Talking Rock Golf Resort, Chase, B.C.
• Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course, Banff, Alta.
• Royal Regina Golf Club, Regina
• Elmhurst Golf and Country Club, Winnipeg
• Silver Creek Golf Club, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
• Coppinwood Golf Club, Goodwood, Ont.
• Brantford Golf and Country Club, Brantford, Ont.
• Wildfire Golf Club, Lakefield, Ont.
• Club de Golf Vallee du Richelieu, Sainte-Julie, Que.
• The Links at Brunello, Timberlea, N.S.

“The venues we’ve secured as RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company Regional Final hosts in 2018 are truly impressive,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “Participants who make it through the local stage will enjoy a fantastic day at a first-class facility in his or her region and a glimpse into what the national final is like as well.”

The RBC PGA Scramble of Canada presented by The Lincoln Motor Company is a national series of team events featuring amateur golfers and PGA of Canada professionals taking place at more than 100 golf facilities around the country.

The series of events expects to draw thousands of amateur golfers—who will form their own team of four players— from across the country. Teams will look to make it through local and regional qualifying with the goal of playing in the national final at Cabot Links this October.

The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Regional Finals will feature numerous activities to enhance the event. In addition, playing one of Canada’s best golf courses, participants will be treated to enhanced gifting, interactive activations from RBC and The Lincoln Motor Company, on-course contesting and a post-round dining event where the regional final champions will be crowned.

For more information about the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company, visit the website by clicking here.

The Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship returns for its ninth consecutive year March 1-4 at the Fairmont Southampton’s Turtle Hill Golf Club on the island of Bermuda.

Turtle Hill Golf Club has been recognized by Golf Magazine as one of the “Top 5 Par 3 Courses in the World” and is a recipient of Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play Golf Award.”

As the world’s premier par 3 championship, the event is expected to attract 150 participants from more than 10 countries, including a number of noted professionals and celebrities. In addition, the field will be rounded out by an impressive list of amateur golfers—from Bermuda, the United States, Canada and Europe—vying for titles in the men’s, women’s and senior amateur divisions.

This year’s championship package includes:

• Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship entry
• Three nights single occupancy luxury accommodations at the Fairmont Southampton
• Daily breakfast and lunch
• Exclusive activation event at the iconic Bacardi Limited headquarters in Hamilton, Bermuda
• Premium Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship tee gifts
• Opportunity to take part in the $1-million (USD) hole-in-one contest

For more information about this year’s Grey Goose World Par 3 Championship, please click here.

The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company returns to the magnificent Cabot Links in 2018.

After a successful campaign in 2017, the scramble’s national final will once again grace the town of Inverness, N.S. from Oct. 11-13, 2018.

“The 2017 RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Final at Cabot Links was a huge success with participants from all over Canada enjoying a golf trip-of-a-lifetime,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “In 2018 we look forward to more golfers from across the country sharing the world-class experience of Cabot Links.”

Taking place Oct. 11-13 at the world-famous Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Inverness, N.S., the national final will feature 20 teams—comprised of four amateurs and one PGA of Canada professional—playing in a 54-hole Ambrose-style format.

“We’re thrilled to return to Cabot Links and experience the best of Cape Breton golf for the 2018 RBC PGA Scramble National Final,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “Together with the PGA of Canada, we’re providing even more unique and memorable opportunities that support the game of golf and its continued growth in Canada.”

Located in Inverness, N.S., Cabot Links is Canada’s first and only authentic links golf resort. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque town of Inverness, the Cabot Links course represents a dramatic departure from the typical golf excursion.

With six holes playing directly alongside the water and every hole offers an ocean view, Cabot Links is where traditional links-land golf comes to life against the spectacular Nova Scotia landscape.

The Cabot Cliffs course, designed by the decorated team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is the newest addition to Cabot. Exquisitely carved out of the breathtaking Cape Breton landscape, with postcard-worthy panoramas vying for your attention and every hole calling out to the sea, it is links-land golf at its best.

Cabot Cliffs ranked No. 1, while Cabot Links ranked No. 4 on SCOREGolf’s 2016 Best Golf Courses in Canada list. Cabot Cliffs also debuted 19th on the World’s Top 100 Courses list by Golf Digest.

“We are thrilled to be able to host the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company again in 2018 here at Cabot,” said Andrew Alkenbrack, General Manager of Cabot Links. “Our team thoroughly enjoyed the week and the fact that the sponsors and competitors liked it enough to make a return visit is the highest compliment. We are greatly looking forward to welcoming the winning teams from across the country again next year.”

The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Final, however, is as much about the off-course activities as the on course. In addition to the three rounds of golf, participants will be treated to a number of special events, prizes, meals, activations and much more.

As if it were scripted, the 2017 RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Final came down to a nerve-inducing putt.

Needing to make a four-foot par putt for the win on the final hole at Cabot Links, team Cordova Bay amateur player Rodney Webber stepped up and made the biggest putt of his life.

“I’m no professional golfer, but standing over that putt I definitely felt like one,” Webber said. “That was definitely the most pressure-packed putt I’ve ever had in my life.”

Webber, along with his Cordova Bay teammates—Phil Kondrak, Eric Smith, Eric Watson and PGA of Canada professional Nate Ollis—finished the three-day national championship at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs at 46-under-par, mere 0.8 better than the squad from The Landings.

“Honestly, we couldn’t have asked for a better week,” Cordova Bay said. “We can’t thank RBC and The Lincoln Motor Company enough for supporting this amazing event,” they said, adding, “the experience from the very beginning has been world class—from the golf courses to the meals and the lodging—everything has been the best.”

The 2018 edition of RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company will see thousands of golfers from across the country participate in the series of local and regional events next summer.

For more information about the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company, click here.

Murray Tucker Golf Professional of the Year Award winner Andrew Steep headlines an impressive contingent of PGA of Canada National Award recipients.

Steep, along with his fellow national award winners and two new PGA of Canada Hall of Fame inductees, will be honoured at the association’s annual PGA of Canada Night on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla.

This year’s winners are:

Murray Tucker Golf Professional of the Year
Andrew Steep, Southwood Golf & Country Club, Manitoba

Moe Norman Candidate for Membership of the Year
Sean Murray, Bearspaw Country Club, Alberta

Stan Leonard Class “A” Professional of the Year
Sean Thompson, Calgary Golf & Country Club, Alberta

Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year
Mike Matuch, Bearspaw Country Club, Alberta

George Knudson Teacher of the Year
Matthew Robinson, Rideau View Golf & Country Club, Ontario

Tex Noble Professional Development Award
Jason Schneider, Wildwood Golf Course, Saskatchewan

Ben Kern Coach of the Year
Paul Horton, Heritage Pointe Golf Academy, Alberta

Jack McLaughin Junior Leader of the Year
Kevin Haime, Kevin Haime Golf Centre, Ontario

Mike Weir Player of the Year
Pierre-Alexandre Bedard, Club de Golf Cap Rouge, Québec

“This year’s PGA of Canada national award winners are wonderful golf professionals and on behalf of the national board of directors’ and the association’s 3,700 members, I’m proud to congratulate them today on their achievements,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood.

Steep, the head golf professional at Southwood Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg is the 42nd recipient of the golf professional of the year award. This award is the highest honour paid to a golf professional and is designed to recognize the contribution to developing and improving the game of golf, education, instruction, playing ability and dedication to the PGA of Canada.

“It’s truly an honour to be recognized as the Murray Tucker Golf Professional of the Year award winner,” Steep said. “I can’t thank the PGA of Canada enough for the honour.”

The 31-year-old is a former winner of the Moe Norman Candidate of the Year Award winner and son of PGA of Canada Life Member James Steep.

Additionally, Sam Young and James (Jim) Collins will be inducted into the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame during PGA of Canada Night.

“We will proudly induct two more great PGA of Canada professionals into the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame at PGA of Canada Night,” said Warren Crosbie, PGA of Canada Hall of Fame Chair. “I would greatly encourage those interested in learning more about the members of the Hall of Fame, as well as the history of the association to visit the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame website.”

The PGA of Canada Hall of Fame nomination process is available here and members of the association, industry partners and the general public are encouraged to submit the names of individuals they feel are worthy of induction.

PGA of Canada Night takes place in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, at the PGA Merchandise Show (Orange County Convention Centre) at 5 p.m. in room W109A.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — John Cochrane has waited a long time for his first professional championship win.

After rounds of 72-69 at the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., the 56-year-old’s wait is over, capturing the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy.

“Not only is this is my first PGA of Canada national championship win, it’s my first win as a golf professional,” and elated Cochrane said after his final round. “Even though it was a long-time-coming, I really felt like it was my time to win.”

A PGA of Canada member for more than 20-years, Cochrane also played the PGA TOUR Canada – Mackenzie Tour for a number of years in the 1980s and 1990s.

Cochrane’s two-day total of 3-under-par saw him two shots better than Brian Hadley and Jeff Mills. Josh Fleming finished alone in fourth after a final round 67, with first-round leader Scott Allred and Philippe Mongeau rounded out the top five.

Built in 1983, TPC Eagle Trace hosted the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic from 1984-1991 and again in 1996. The layout has some unique characteristics for a Florida golf course, including an island green, three greens surrounded by wooden bulkheads, and it doesn’t have a single palm tree on the property—a rarity in southern Florida. All four par-3s require precise tee shots as water and bunkers protect each green.

“I really like the finishing holes here at TPC Eagle Trace,” Cochrane said. “All week I’ve felt comfortable on the back nine, which helped me stay committed to hitting my shots.”

Cochrane’s final-round back-nine at TPC Eagle Trace featured four birdies, three of which came in succession on holes 14, 15 and 16.

“I felt zero anxiety out there on the back today,” Cochrane said. “I chipped in on No. 11 and also made a bunch of crucial putts as well.”

The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), was handed out on Wednesday. Team Ontario (Hadley, Gordon Burns, Billy Walsh and Ken Tarling) captured the title.

Former champions of the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada include Danny King, Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.

In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Club 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 Club Professional Championship of Canada earn invites into the following year’s PGA Championship of Canada.

Click here for full scoring.

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – To say Scott Allred has been seriously close to winning a PGA of Canada national championship in the recent past might be a colossal understatement.

His record over the past six years speaks for itself.

In 2011 he finished runner-up at both the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada and PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada. Two years later he finished third at the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada. 2014 again saw him finish second at the PGA Club Professional Championship, while in 2015 he finished fourth at the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada and fifth at the PGA Championship of Canada. Earlier this summer he finished fourth at the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.

Now the executive professional at Elbow Springs Golf Club in Alberta leads the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy heading into tomorrow’s final round.

“When you come so close to winning so many times and you don’t, you begin to wonder if you’re ever going to get the job done,” Allred admitted. “But I’m very pleased to be in the position I’m in right now, so let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

The 56-year-old posted an opening-round 2-under-par 70 Tuesday at TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., and leads by a shot over an impressive list of names.

The group at 1-under includes the legendary Gar Hamilton, winner of four PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada titles; Gord Percy and Dan McNeely of the PGA of Canada – Ottawa Valley Zone; Ontario’s Gord Burns and Brian Hadley.

John Cochrane, Scott Dickson, Marc Girouard, and Philippe Mongeau are two-shots back at even-par. Twenty-four players are within five shots of the lead heading into the final round.

Allred, Hamilton and Percy, who were paired together in the first round, will form the championship’s final pairing at TPC Eagle Trace.

“I can’t wait to play with Gar again tomorrow,” Allred said. “He’s just an inspiring man to be around and you can’t help but play well when he’s in your group.”

Allred admitted playing poorly in the practice round but turned it around for the first round.

“I hit it so badly in the practice round, it was embarrassing,” he said. “Thankfully, I got a couple lessons on the range last night and the result is me hitting it better than I have in years.”

Built in 1983, TPC Eagle Trace hosted the PGA TOUR’s Honda Classic from 1984-1991 and again in 1996. The layout has some unique characteristics for a Florida golf course, including an island green, three greens surrounded by wooden bulkheads, and it doesn’t have a single palm tree on the property—a rarity in southern Florida. All four par-3s require precise tee shots as water and bunkers protect each green.

The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), is also handed out at the end of play Wednesday. Team Ontario—which features Burns, Hadley, Billy Walsh and Ken Tarling—leads at 1-under-par, 12 shots better than Team British Columbia and Team Quebec.

Former champions of the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada include Danny King, Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.

In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Club 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 Club Professional Championship of Canada earn invites into the following year’s PGA Championship of Canada.

Click here for full scoring.