FORT McMURRAY, Alta. – Thornhill, Ontario’s Ben Silverman and Fort Myers, Florida’s Chase Marinell carded a pair of 8-under 64s on Thursday at Fort McMurray Golf Club to share the first round lead at the Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON, the third event of the 2015 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 27-year old Silverman, who now calls Palm Beach Gardens, Florida home, was bogey-free with eight birdies, while the 23-year old Marinell carded seven birdies, an eagle and a bogey to stand two shots clear of six players at 6-under par 66 after 18 holes in Fort McMurray.

“I had a lot of good chances early and made a few. I stayed calm and stayed steady and had a few good opportunities and made a few putts,” said Silverman, who birdied four of his first five holes and each of his final two to tie Marinell, who had posted 8-under earlier in the day. “When you start with no mistakes and you’re hitting fairways and greens, there’s a nice flow feeling to it and you just kind of go with it.”

As impressive as Silverman’s finish was, Marinell’s was even better, holing a 58-degree wedge from 110 yards for his final shot of the day on the par-4 9^th hole, capping a solid day from start to finish for the Liberty University graduate. Both Silverman and Marinell posted their best career rounds on the Mackenzie Tour with their matching 64s.

“It was a really nice way to finish. We just kind of stuck to our game plan and found good clubs to hit off every tee yesterday, and stuck to them for the most part,” said Marinell, a Mackenzie Tour rookie. “We executed our game plan and made a lot of putts, and whenever you do that it always turns out pretty nice.”

Alberta natives Riley Fleming (Airdrie) and Stuart Anderson (Fort McMurray) were among those at 6-under, along with Americans Zack Byrd, Talor Gooch, Michael Miller and Sam Ryder.

Victoria, B.C. – With a final round 4-under 66, Toronto’s Albin Choi captured his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory on Sunday at Uplands Golf Club, claiming the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist.

The 23-year old came out of the gate hot on Sunday, making birdie on four of his first five holes to separate himself from the field, then held on down the stretch to win by three over North Vancouver, British Columbia’s Eugene Wong, Surrey, British Columbia’s Adam Svensson and Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Jason Millard.

The win moves Choi to the top of the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit, in position to earn full status on the Web.com Tour for 2016.

“I feel like I just won a battle,” said Choi, who became the first Canadian to win in Victoria since Craig Taylor in 2005. “It feels awesome and it feels even better to do it early on in the year. There are so many events coming up and it gives me so much confidence and momentum going forward.”

After an even par 70 saw his five shot lead disappear on Saturday, Choi entered the day tied for the lead with Svensson and Edmond, Oklahoma’s William Kropp at 11-under. He quickly established himself as the man to beat, however, with four birdies in his first five holes and five over his first seven. After taking a three shot advantage into the back nine, Choi made bogeys at 12 and 15, but bounced back with birdies on the following hole each time to keep the field and bay.

His birdie at 16 was enough to let him cruise with two-putt pars on the last two holes, and after Svensson was unable to hole his second shot from the 72^nd fairway to force a playoff, the title belonged to Choi, along with the $31,500 first place prize. As the top Canadian on the leaderboard, Choi also earned a $2,500 prize as Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week.

“Just looking at the leaderboard, there were so many guys that could win this tournament today, so my job was to try and forget everything that happened yesterday and try and come in here with a clear mind. There are so many good players. Adam was breathing down my neck pretty much the entire day,” said Choi.

A member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, Choi made his professional debut at Uplands in 2013 and went on to earn status on the Web.com Tour for 2014. After finishing outside the top-100 on the Money List, Choi failed to retain status and returned to Mackenzie Tour Q-School this spring, where he was the medalist at the Florida Qualifying Tournament.

“Having full status last year and losing my card and coming back out this year, I looked at it as a positive, another year to work on my game and build myself not only as a player but as a person,” said Choi, who credited an adjustment in his mental approach to his stout play this spring. “I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself the last little while, and I’ve noticed that’s just not the way to play. I’ve been playing a lot more free and enjoyable, and it’s a funny thing, good things are happening.”

Svensson finished in a tie for second for the second consecutive week after losing in a playoff at last week’s PC Financial Open, while Millard posted a career-best finish on the Mackenzie Tour. Wong, who owns two Mackenzie Tour wins, posted his best finish since a tie for second at last year’s PC Financial Open.

Victoria, B.C. – Surrey, British Columbia’s Adam Svensson and Edmond, Oklahoma’s Will Kropp fired a pair of 8-under 62s on Saturday at Uplands Golf Club to share the 54-hole lead with Toronto, Ontario’s Albin Choi heading into the final round of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist.

Svensson, a 21-year old newly-minted professional who played his way into the field thanks to a playoff runner-up finish at last week’s PC Financial Open in Vancouver, carded six birdies and an eagle on the day, while Kropp was also bogey-free with eight birdies. Choi, who carried a three-shot lead into the day, three-putted the final hole for an even-par 70 to join Svensson and Kropp at 11-under through 54 holes.

“I was talking to my caddie last night and said we had to play pretty aggressive,” said Svensson, who played last week on a sponsor’s exemption, of his approach to the weekend. “We knew Albin’s going to keep going low, so I hit a lot of drivers out there. We had three chances for eagle and made one, so I’m playing very aggressive.”

Kropp, a second year member of the Mackenzie Tour who like Svensson began the day eight strokes behind Choi, brought a similar approach to Uplands on Saturday and saw it pay major dividends.

“I was playing pretty aggressive. I didn’t really look at the leaderboard much, but I figured I had to get to around 10-under over the next couple of days, so getting to 11-under today was a pretty good start,” said the 25-year old, who owns one win on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica at the 2014 Abierto OSDE del Centro.

While Svensson and Kropp saw their strategy pay off, Choi, who began the day with a three stroke advantage over playing partner Eugene Wong, wasn’t as fortunate after taking a similar approach. After making eagle at the par-5 7th, the 23-year old made bogeys on the 9th, 10th and 12th holes to fall back to even on the day. One birdie on the 13th and his closing bogey at 18 left him back in a tie for the lead heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I just didn’t have my best stuff out there today and I was a little off and on with the putter. I tried to play like I didn’t have a lead today. The course was playing tough but fair and I knew there would be some good scores out there,” said Choi, who made his pro debut at Uplands in 2013.

San Jose, California’s John Ellis was one shot behind the leaders with at 10-under thanks to a 4-under 66.

Victoria, B.C. – Toronto’s Albin Choi carded a 5-under 65 Friday at Uplands Golf Club to take the solo 36-hole lead at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist.

The 23-year old carded six birdies and a bogey to reach 11-under par and build a three shot lead over North Vancouver’s Eugene Wong after three rounds in Victoria.

“To get off to such a good start today got the ball rolling early, and I just felt great out there,” said Choi, who birdied four of his first five holes and led by as many as five shots on Friday. “I had no clue to be honest. I was just trying to stay in my bubble out there. I knew I was in a good spot, but I had no idea I was separating myself from some of the players.”

For the second straight Saturday, Choi will play in the final group after holding solo second place through 36 holes at last week’s PC Financial Open. Though he fell to a 1-over 73 at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in that round, Choi said the experience would be helpful heading into the weekend in Victoria.

“It was nice being in the final group on Saturday at Point Grey. There was a great crowd, it was a nice atmosphere and I’m kind of hoping for and expecting the same thing here,” said Choi, who went on to finish T10 for his first Mackenzie Tour top-10 finish. “Last week doing it once, I’m glad to put myself back in contention again and it’s great to be in the mix.”

The 2010 Canadian Amateur Champion and a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, Choi played on the Web.com Tour in 2014 but finished outside the top-100 on the money list to lose status. This spring has been a strong one for Choi, however, with medalist honours at this year’s Florida Qualifying Tournament to go along with two wins on the SwingThought.com Tour.

“Apparently what I’ve been doing has been working pretty good,” Choi joked while saying he wouldn’t try to get ahead of himself on the tricky Uplands layout. “I’m just going to make aggressive swings to smart targets. You really don’t need to try and overpower this golf course. You just need to take what it gives you and play smart.”

Wong, who has posted three top-10 finishes in four starts on the PGA TOUR China Series this spring, carded four birdies and one bogey to hold solo second at 8-under. The two-time Mackenzie Tour winner said playing several events heading into his season debut in Canada would be helpful in the heat of battle this weekend.

“It’s definitely a good thing having a few starts under my belt. I know that I’ve competed very well over the past few weeks, and I know that my game can stack up to most players now,” said Wong.

Seven players, including Victoria native Cory Renfrew, were five back of Choi in a tie for third at 6-under par through 54 holes.

Victoria – Toronto, Ontario’s Albin Choi, Richmond Hill, Ontario’s Taylor Pendrith and Seal Beach, California’s Dan Buchner shot matching rounds of 6-under 64 on Thursday at Uplands Golf Club to share the lead after one round at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist.

Pendrith, a 24-year old Mackenzie Tour rookie and co-runner-up in last week’s PC Financial Open playoff, birdied his final hole to join Choi’s early clubhouse lead, while Buchner navigated his way around Uplands without a bogey to match the lead at 6-under late in the afternoon.

“Obviously there are a lot of positives last week. Just being in the playoff was awesome. I had a really solid last round and I’m playing really well right now,” said Pendrith, who is now 14-under for his last 36 regulation holes after closing with an 8-under 64 last Sunday in Vancouver. “It’s nice to have another 64 today. I’m pleased with the round. It could have been a couple lower, but I’m happy.”

Buchner, a fifth-year Mackenzie Tour member, credited his solid play to familiarity with Uplands and a well-executed game plan on Thursday.

“I’m not the longest driver out here, but I might be the straightest, so this is a good course for me,” said the 41-year old Buchner of the tree-lined Uplands layout. “The one drive I hooked into the trees I pitched out and got up and down from 150 yards, so for the most part I stayed out of trouble.”

Earlier, Choi, who recorded his first career top-10 on the Mackenzie Tour last week, held the lead for most of the morning before finishing with a bogey on the ninth, his final hole of the day, to settle for a 6-under 64.

“It always stings to end with a bogey, but that’s why it’s a four day tournament and there are still three days left. I’m just looking forward to what’s coming ahead,” said the 23-year old. Choi was born in Surrey, B.C. and made his pro debut at Uplands in 2013. “I feel great being in British Columbia and on the west coast being from here. I had my pro debut here a couple of years ago and I remember this course very well. It was nice to play well today.”

One shot back of the trio at 6-under was Eugene Wong, making his 2015 Mackenzie Tour season debut, along with J.J. Spaun and Ryan Brehm.

Vancouver – Atlanta, Georgi’s Drew Weaver defeated Adam Svensson, Taylor Pendrith, Riley Wheeldon and Ross Beal in a playoff on Sunday at Point Grey Golf and Country Club, capturing his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada title at the PC Financial Open.

The 28-year old carded a final round 3-under 69, including a clutch birdie on the 72^nd hole to get into a playoff, then outlasted Svensson on the third extra hole to secure the win and the $31,500 first-place prize.

“It was an incredible finish,” said Weaver. “All week I tried to keep a level head, and thankfully I was able to maintain that in the playoff.”

The playoff finish capped a wild afternoon that saw several players make a charge to the top of the leaderboard. Pendrith, a Mackenzie Tour rookie from Richmond Hill, Ontario, was the first to post 12-under in the clubhouse after a chip-in eagle at the 72^nd hole. Then, Beal, a fellow rookie from Uniontown, Ohio, matched him with an eagle putt from eight feet to share the clubhouse lead at 12-under.

Wheeldon, a Comox, B.C., native with one Mackenzie Tour win, joined them after knocking his approach from the fairway to within four feet and converting the putt, while Svensson, a Surrey, B.C., native playing on a sponsor’s exemption in his first Mackenzie Tour event as a professional, two-putted for birdie after finding the par-5 18^th in two.

Weaver had previously reached 12-under with a birdie on the 11^th hole, but bogeyed 14 to drop a shot behind. His brilliant approach from the 18^th fairway found the par-5 green in two, and a two-putt birdie added his name to the sudden victory playoff.

After Wheeldon, Beal and Pendrith were unable to get good looks at birdie on the 18^th in the first extra hole, Svensson and Weaver both converted from outside of five feet to keep the playoff going. A second trip up the 18^th settled nothing once again, as Weaver two-putted for birdie and Svensson got up and down from just beside the green.

Both players found the 1^st fairway on the third extra hole, with Weaver hitting his approach in a greenside bunker and Svensson running his through the back of the green into an awkward lie. After Weaver blasted out to tap-in range, Svensson ran his chip past the hole and lipped out his birdie putt, giving Weaver a tap-in for the win in his first Mackenzie Tour start.

“All I know is I’m glad that last putt was about four or five inches,” Weaver said afterward, wearing a look of relief on his face.

The win sees Weaver take the early lead atop the Order of Merit, with 11 events remaining to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour for 2016, a perk the 28-year old said was the main reason for coming to Canada this summer.

“I’ve had very good summers the past four, five years and unfortunately haven’t had great falls in the [Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament]. I made a very strict plan to come up here and build a bunch of momentum, and I’m excited for the rest of the summer. I’ll have 11 more opportunities to get in contention,” said Weaver, who won on the eGolf Tour earlier this spring.

Svensson, Pendrith, Wheeldon and Beal each earned $11,550 in a tie for second and comprise the remainder of The Five heading into next week’s Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist in Victoria, B.C.

Vancouver, B.C. – San Jose, California’s Jay Myers shot a 4-under 68 on Saturday at Point Grey Golf and Country Club to take a one stroke lead over four players heading into the final round of the PC Financial Open, the first event of the 2015 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Myers, a 24-year year old in his second year on the Mackenzie Tour, carded four straight birdies on his back nine to reach 10-under par, one shot clear of Vancouver-area natives Adam Svensson and Bryn Parry along with Americans Drew Weaver and Ty Dunlap through 54 holes.

“My goal was to get to double digits and I thought that would get me in a good spot going into Sunday. I’m ready to go tomorrow and can’t wait to get out there,” said Myers, who will take his first 54-hole lead on the Mackenzie Tour into the final round.

Starting the day six shots off the lead, Myers began his round slowly but steadily made his way up the leaderboard as Parry, the 54-hole leader, fell to a 3-over 75. A teammate of Mackenzie Tour alumnus and current PGA TOUR member Mark Hubbard at San Jose State, Myers said he was excited to get in the hunt for Sunday and would relish the opportunity to be chased as the leader.

“This is why we play,” said Myers. “It’s a lot of fun to be in these positions and grinding and hitting good shots under the gun. Tomorrow’s going to be a lot of fun no matter what happens.”

Svensson, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad making his first Mackenzie Tour start since turning professional earlier this spring, carded a bogey-free 68 to share second place through three rounds and give himself a chance to win heading into the final round.

“I expect to shoot a pretty low number,” said Svensson of his expectations after making a slight grip change with his putter before Saturday’s round of 68. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in my putting now, and I’ve always said if I putt pretty well I’ll usually have a good finish.”

Parry’s 3-over 75 left the North Vancouver native, who currently ranks No. 3 in the PGA of Canada Player Rankings, one off the lead, but the 43-year old said he was still upbeat heading into the final round on Sunday.

“If you look at it holistically it’s totally fine,” said Parry, who played full time on the Web.com Tour in 2007 and posted one runner-up finish. “It’s disappointing on a one-day sample size, but I think as well as I’ve played in Vancouver I’m pretty competitive so I like to push myself. We’ll go get a good night’s rest and see if we can be competitive tomorrow.”

Vancouver, B.C. – North Vancouver, British Columbia’s Bryn Parry carded a 7-under 65 on Friday at Point Grey Golf and Country Club to take the 36-hole lead at the PC Financial Open, the opening event of the 2015 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 43-year old former Web.com Tour member carded nine birdies and two bogeys in his second round to reach 12-under, four clear of Toronto’s Albin Choi through two rounds in Vancouver.

“It’s just been an absolute treat to play golf,” said Parry, who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week and works primarily as an instructor at the Bryn Parry Academy at Seymour Creek. “I still don’t have any expectations. I have a few things I’m going to work on that I want to try and accomplish this month, and tomorrow will be a day to try to get better at those things.”

Parry, who finished second in a playoff at the 2007 Henrico County Open on the Web.com Tour, said he’s gained perspective on the game in his post-Touring career, and hopes to take a fresh approach into the weekend without putting too much pressure on himself. “I did play on the Web.com Tour in ’07, but this is certainly a step up for what I do on a day-to-day basis, and it’s a treat. These guys are good.”

“I’ve got hockey with my kids tomorrow at seven o’clock in the morning, so we’ll go do our family stuff and then we’ll come back out in the afternoon and play,” said Parry, who will play with Choi in the day’s final group at 1:10 p.m. tomorrow.

Choi, who captured medalist honours at the Florida Qualifying Tournament last month, posted a bogey-free 67 to reach 8-under through 36 holes.

“The win at Q-School really kind of set things for me and really got me comfortable coming into this season,” said Choi, who was born in nearby Surrey and lived here for the first six years of his life before moving to Toronto. “Coming back here’s always a treat.”

Mackenzie Tour rookie Logan McCracken carded a 6-under 66 to sit in solo third at 7-under heading into the weekend.

Vancouver – Langley, British Columbia’s Thomas Hay fired a 6-under 66 on Thursday at Point Grey Golf and Country Club to take the first round lead at the PC Financial Open, the opening event of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s 2015 season.

The 25-year-old Vancouver-area native, who earned conditional status at the British Columbia Qualifying Tournament two weeks ago, cruised to a bogey-free round to lead by one over Bryn Parry, Nyasha Mauchaza and Jay Myers after 18 holes.

“It was pretty stress-free. I didn’t have too many long par putts out there,” said Hay, a Drury University graduate. “I think the longest par putt I had was about three feet, and out here some three-footers can be pretty tough, so all around it was pretty solid.”

Hay’s solid start marked the continuation of success for British Columbians at the season-opening event, which saw local favourites Eugene Wong and Brad Clapp finish in a tie for second in 2014.

“It’s kind of cool that there’s an event out this way in Vancouver now. It’s such a great city and it’s awesome that there’s an event out here now for us. For me to sleep in my own bed is kind of a nice treat to start the year,” said Hay.

Parry, a former Web.com Tour member who works primarily as an instructor in the Vancouver area, is playing on a sponsor’s exemption this week and made the most of it on Thursday, carding six birdies and a bogey for a 67.

“I’ve worked really hard at it to get as prepared as I could,” said the 43-year old, noting the differences between his time as a full-time Tour player and his current role, teaching at the Bryn Parry Academy at Seymour Creek. “I’ve got to get home and take my kids to golf practice. I didn’t used to think about that. This used to be all-encompassing and now it’s just one of the things you do during the day.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and TORONTO – The PGA TOUR and Mackenzie Investments announced today a six-year agreement making the investment management firm the umbrella sponsor of PGA TOUR Canada.

The Tour is being renamed the Mackenzie Tour–PGA TOUR Canada, effective immediately with this week’s season-opening event in Vancouver.

“We are extremely pleased to announce this landmark sponsorship and to welcome Mackenzie as the umbrella sponsor of PGA TOUR Canada,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem. “Mackenzie’s involvement will enable us to continue to strengthen and grow the Tour throughout Canada.”

“Golf has a strong and proud history in Canada and we are thrilled to be umbrella sponsor of the prestigious PGA TOUR Canada,” said Jeff Carney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mackenzie Investments. “As one of Canada’s largest investment management companies, we are pleased to help support and inspire athletes in their pursuit of excellence both through our sponsorship of Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and Snow Sports Canada. We are also excited to be part of an organization that has contributed more than $2 billion to charity and we look forward to partnering with the PGA TOUR and continuing the tradition of giving back to Canadians.”

The relationship provides a good strategic fit in regard to philanthropy as the PGA TOUR’s well known charitable efforts, which has totaled $2.14 billion all time including a record $140.5 million in 2014, complement the goals of the Mackenzie Investments Charitable Foundation. In association with the new relationship, the 12 tournaments on the Mackenzie Tour will share a $150,000 donation being made to support their charitable efforts.

In addition to naming rights, Mackenzie Investments will receive a comprehensive list of benefits as umbrella sponsor, including client entertainment opportunities; branding on-site at tournaments; a strong presence on PGATOUR.COM, which includes a dedicated site for the Tour, as well as the TOUR’s mobile and social media platforms; plus ongoing exposure through the Tour’s half-hour highlight show in Canada, PGA TOUR telecasts and ancillary programming, and Sirius/XM Radio’s PGA TOUR channel.

This is the second significant sports sponsorship for Mackenzie Investments. The company has a long-term sponsorship with Snow Sports Canada, which was expanded earlier this year with a sponsorship agreement with three-time Olympic downhill racer Manny Osborne-Paradis.

This marks the first umbrella sponsorship for the Tour, which launched in 2013 as PGA TOUR Canada after the TOUR lent strategic and financial support to the former Canadian Professional Golf Tour the previous year. The new season begins this week with the PC Financial Open at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver.

“This commitment by Mackenzie will provide long-term continuity to the Tour and impact the charitable mission of our tournaments,” said Jeff Monday, President of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada. “By strengthening our Tour through Mackenzie’s support, our members will have a greater opportunity to pursue their ultimate goal of someday playing on the PGA TOUR.”

The Mackenzie Tour provides direct access to the Web.com Tour for its leading money winners, based on the final Order of Merit. The top five players receive playing privileges on the Web.com Tour, while the next five are exempt into the finals of the Web.com Tour qualifying school. The five players who qualified for this year’s Web.com Tour, based on the 2014 Order of Merit, were, in order, Joel Dahmen, Matt Harmon, Timothy Madigan and Brock MacKenzie of the U.S. and England’s Greg Eason.

All-time, Mackenzie Tour alumni have accounted for 122 wins on the PGA TOUR. Since becoming a part of the PGA TOUR, four players – Nick Taylor, Tony Finau, Mark Hubbard and Carlos Sainz, Jr. – have moved from the Mackenzie Tour to the PGA TOUR. Taylor’s win at the Sanderson Farms Championship came less than 14 months after he played on the Mackenzie Tour.