REUNION, Fla. – Toronto native Christian Westhorpe and Michigan’s Clark Klaasen shared the lead at 2-under par before play was called due to darkness at PGA Tour Canada’s Florida Qualifying Tournament on Tuesday. Play is scheduled to resume Thursday morning at 8 a.m., with 66 players still left to begin their second round.
After Tuesday’s thunderstorms and rain delayed play, Wednesday saw all but 23 players return to complete their first round. With windy conditions testing players each of the first two days, just four players were under par for the tournament midway through the second round at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Reunion Resort, each of whom had yet to tee off in Round 2.
One shot behind Westhorpe and Klaasen were Baddeck, N.S.’s Peter Campbell, who completed his first round Tuesday and did not play at all Wednesday, and South Carolina’s Colby Wilson. Both players shot 1-under 71 in the first round.
“You know the course is going to be tough going in,” said Klaasen, who completed his first round Wednesday morning. “You know you’re going to make mistakes, and that everyone else is going to make mistakes too. A lot of holes I just tried to play for par and ended up making some birdies that way.”
Klaasen, a 27-year old Duke University grad, said the challenge of dealing with delays is just part of playing as a professional, and that there’s still plenty of golf to be played even with two days of competition having already passed.
“You have to be ready to go play at any time. It’s a new tournament each day, and there’s still a lot of golf to be played. My coach is caddying for me this week and we’re just going to try and keep a positive attitude and play smart golf,” said Klaasen.
The top 18 players this week will earn exempt status on PGA Tour Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status.
REUNION, Fla. – With thunderstorms and heavy rainfall rolling through central Florida, round one of PGA Tour Canada’s Florida Qualifying Tournament was suspended for the remainder of the day on Tuesday and will resume Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. local time.
Play was initially suspended due to a dangerous weather situation at 1:33 p.m., and called for the rest of the day at 4 p.m. Just 23 players completed round one before play was suspended, with 10 groups left to tee off.
Tee times for round two will be announced later on Wednesday.
Before play was suspended, Baddeck, N.S.’s Peter Campbell battled through tough conditions to post a 1-under 71, the best score in the clubhouse of all 23 players to complete 18 holes on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Reunion Resort.
“I hit it pretty well for the most part. The winds were pretty strong out there,” said Campbell, who carded four birdies and three bogeys. “It made a tough course even tougher.”
The 31-year old was the medalist at one of the NEC Series – PGA Tour Latinoamérica’s Qualifying Tournaments earlier this year, and is coming off a runner up finish at the Mundo Maya Open, a career-best on that Tour.
“You always like to get in contention and give yourself a chance to get win. I was right there on the back nine and just made a couple of mistakes coming in,” said Campbell. “I’m pretty happy and looking to build on it this week.”
The Cape Breton Islander made three cuts in nine starts on PGA Tour Canada in 2013, with a season-best tie for 21st finish at the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial.
ORLANDO, Florida – Forty-four players earned PGA Tour Canada status at the first of three Qualifying Tournaments last week in Beaumont, Calif., with another field of 132 players looking to do the same this week in Orlando.
Once again, the 72-hole, no cut competition will see the top 18 players earn exempt status on PGA Tour Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status. After an official practice round on Monday, the official competition gets underway April 15 and runs until the 18 at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Reunion Golf Resort.
Last week, University of Oregon alum Daniel Miernicki earned medalist honours and will look to join former teammate and All-American Eugene Wong as a winner on PGA Tour Canada this season.
Baddeck, N.S.’s Peter Campbell comes to Q-School this week hoping to build off strong play on the NEC Series – PGA Tour Latinoamérica, where he earned medalist honours at the Sebring Qualifying Tournament and recently posted a runner up finish at the Mundo Maya Open, the best-ever finish by a Canadian on that Tour. Campbell made three cuts on PGA Tour Canada in 2014, finishing tied for 21st at the Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial and sharing the first round lead at The Players Cup.
Nine members of PGA Tour Canada in 2013 are in the field this week, looking to regain status for the upcoming season. Among the notables are Evan Harmeling, who won the 2013 Massachusetts Open and donated the entire winner’s check to One Fund Boston in support of the Boston Marathon Bombings, as well as Big Break Indian Wells champion David Byrne of Windsor, Ont. Shelburne, Ont.’s David Markle, Texas’ Creighton Honeck and Toronto’s Matt and Mark Hoffman are also in the field.
A total of 26 Canadians from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Manitoba are in the field this week. They are:
| NAME |
HOMETOWN |
| Jamie Aitken (A) |
New Glasgow, NS |
| Dan Bowling |
Mooretown, ON |
| Russell Budd |
Toronto, ON |
| David Byrne |
Windsor, ON |
| Peter Campbell |
Baddeck, NS |
| Ryan Corbin |
Brampton, ON |
| Jean-Philip Cornellier |
Bromont, QC |
| Ryan Curran |
Thornton, ON |
| Colin Flabbi |
Toronto, ON |
| Mark Hoffman |
Thornhill, ON |
| Matt Hoffman |
Thornhill, ON |
| Colton Kalkanis |
Richmond Hill, ON |
| Elie Koffman |
Montreal, QC |
| Jordan Krantz |
Vermilion Bay, ON |
| David Markle |
Shelburne, ON |
| Matthew McMahon |
Brockville, ON |
| Brad Pardy (A) |
Brandon, MB |
| Jean-Michel Paré (A) |
Victoriaville, QC |
| Sean Perkins |
Whitby, ON |
| Mathieu Peron |
St. Hubert, QC |
| Cody Pickard |
Toronto, ON |
| Louis-Alexandre Pitre |
Quebec City, QC |
| Christopher Ross |
Dundas, ON |
| Sebastian Szirmak |
Toronto, ON |
| Jace Walker |
St. Thomas, ON |
| Christian Westhorpe |
Toronto, ON |
BEAUMONT, Calif. – Santee, California’s Daniel Miernicki fired a final round 64 at Oak Valley Golf Club on Friday to win medalist honours at PGA Tour Canada’s California Qualifying Tournament.
Miernicki, a teammate of two-time PGA Tour Canada winner Eugene Wong at the University of Oregon, carded eight birdies and finished 15-under total to win by two over three players.
Forty-four players finished 1-over or better to earn status on PGA Tour Canada for 2014, with 18 players earning exempt status. Whittier, California’s J.P. Brown, Montgomery, Alabama’s Hunter Hamrick and Phoenix’s Devin Daniels all birdied the first hole of a six-way playoff to earn exempt status at 3-under par, while 1-over was the cutoff for conditional status.
Miernicki, who fired a 6-under 66 in round one, said he’s looking forward to playing in Canada this summer, especially alongside his old Ducks teammate.
“Planning a schedule when you don’t have status anywhere is tough, so to be able to look at 12 events and know you’ll be in is great,” said Miernicki, who along with Wong was named an All-American in 2012 and led Oregon to the semifinals of the NCAA tournaments. “Eugene and I had similar careers and we really pushed each other, so hopefully we can do the same in Canada. We had some really great teams.”
The 21-year old admitted he wasn’t full of confidence heading into Friday’s final round, but was able to get on a run and put together a bogey-free 64, the best round of the week at Oak Valley.
“I played absolutely horrible yesterday and I got it around somehow, so I was pretty nervous going into today,” said Miernicki. “I just kind of found something and made pretty much everything, so that helps. I’ve been playing pretty well this year, and to do it when it counts means a lot.”
Two shots behind Miernicki were Quebec City resident Aléxis Anghert, England’s Greg Eason and Longwood, Florida’s Sam Ryder, each at 13-under par.
Among the notables to earn exempt status were former NEC Series – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica winner Alan Wagner and Hunter Hamrick, a 3-time All-American at the University of Alabama.
Hamilton, Ont.’s Justin Kim shot a final round 73 to finish at even par for the tournament and earn conditional status for 2014. The former PGA Tour Canada member made one of four cuts in 2013 and will look to improve on a career-best finish of a tie for 57th at last year’s Cape Breton Celtic Classic presented by PC Financial.
BEAUMONT, Calif. – France’s Aléxis Anghert shot a 6-under 66 Thursday at Oak Valley Golf Club to take a one shot lead into the final round of PGA Tour Canada’s California Qualifying Tournament.
The 26-year old Quebec City resident will take a one shot advantage over England’s Greg Eason into the final round of the 72-hole competition that will see 18 players earn exempt status on PGA Tour Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status. The cut-off through 54 holes for exempt status stands at 4-under par, while the number for conditional status stands at even par.
“I played really well the first nine holes,” said Anghert, who hit approaches to tap-in range on the first two holes of an opening-nine 32. “The putts didn’t go in on the back nine, but I was playing so good.” Anghert caught Eason, the 36-hole leader, after the first two holes and would card birdies on his 16th and 17th holes to take a one shot lead into Friday’s final round.
“It’s a long day and I was getting pretty tired, but I’m excited tomorrow. I’m in a good position to try and go for the win, which would be nice.”
Anghert, who moved to Quebec to play at Laval, is looking to join former Rouge et Or teammate Max Gilbert, who won the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial last season, on PGA Tour Canada. Sonny Michaud, another Laval grad who helped the team win the Canadian University/College Championship in 2012, shot a 2-under 70 to move into a tie for 40th spot, in position to earn conditional status for 2014.
Anghert and Eason will play in the final threesome tomorrow along with Indiana native Seth Fair, who shot a 3-under 69 to sit 10-under overall. Anghert’s 66 was tied for the lowest round of the day with Little Rock, Arkansas’ Joe Doramus, who moved up 31 spots into a tie for 10th.
Michaud and Hamilton, Ont.’s Justin Kim, who shot a 2-over 74 to sit tied for 32nd at 1-under total, led the Canadian contingent of players in position to earn PGA Tour Canada status for this year.
BEAUMONT, Calif. – England’s Greg Eason carded a bogey-free round of 6-under 66 at Oak Valley Golf Club on Wednesday to take the lead by one at PGA Tour Canada’s California Qualifying Tournament.
The 21-year old University of Central Florida student, playing as an amateur this week, made six birdies to take a one stroke advantage over France’s Alexis Anghert and Peter Campbell of California with two rounds to go. Thirty-three players are under par through two rounds of the 72-hole competition that will see 18 players earn exempt status on PGA TOUR Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top 40 plus ties earning conditional status.
Eason, who has seven individual collegiate wins at the University of Central Florida – including one this past weekend at the 3M Augusta Invitational – is looking to wrap up his NCAA career later this year, but not before attempting to secure status on PGA Tour Canada. Players can compete in Qualifying School as amateurs and defer joining as members until they turn professional.
“I didn’t know what to expect. I haven’t been to Tour School or anything like that before, so I’ve just tried to take it as it comes,” said Eason. “I’ve played some smart golf and luckily holed a few putts, so it’s mostly gone all right so far.”
Eason is looking to follow the footsteps of Josh Anderson in 2013 and Nate McCoy in 2012 as amateurs to earn status on PGA Tour Canada through Q-School, and said he’s looking forward to completing his last few weeks in college before taking on the professional ranks.
“I’ve still got finals in three weeks’ time,” said Eason. “And then, conference championships and [NCAA] Regionals and Nationals, so there are a still a few weeks left. This Tour is a stepping stone Tour for the Web.com Tour, so hopefully this will be a nice step to go do something for the summer and see where this leads to. This is a lovely position to be in.”
One shot behind Eason are Anghert, the first round leader, and Campbell at 8-under. A group of three players – Charlie Winegardner, Clayton Rask and Seth Fair – are a shot further behind at 7-under. Hamilton, Ont.’s Justin Kim remained the low Canadian at 3-under after carding a 72, tied for 18th place.
BEAUMONT, Calif. – Alexis Anghert fired a 7-under 65 at Oak Valley Golf Club Tuesday to take a one-stroke lead in the first round of PGA Tour Canada’s California Q-School. Anghert, a native of Deauville, France who now resides in Quebec City, carded seven birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to lead by two over four players through one round.
Thirty players finished under par for the first round of the 72-hole, no-cut tournament that will see 18 players earn exempt status on PGA Tour Canada for 2014, with the rest of the top-40 plus ties earning non-exempt status.
Anghert, a 26-year old Université Laval graduate, is looking to join fellow Quebecer and former Laval teammate Max Gilbert, who last year won the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial, on PGA Tour Canada this season.
“I played well today,” said Anghert. “Max and I travelled together all year long last year. We’ve been in Arizona to play the Gateway Tour. Hopefully I’ll get through this week, but if not I’ll get through the Monday Qualifiers in Canada.”
Anghert moved to Quebec to attend Laval and still makes his home there, and is one of a handful of players from Laval looking to join Gilbert in making a splash at the pro level. The Rouge et Or won the Canadian University/College Championship in 2010 and 2012, with Anghert and Gilbert’s former teammates Sonny Michaud and Clement Herviou also playing this week in California.
“It was a great experience to play there,” said Anghert of playing at Laval. “Our team would play in Florida in the winter and play some NCAA tournaments. We have some other boys from Quebec here this week, so it’s nice.”
One shot behind Anghert in second place was Daniel Miernicki, a teammate of two-time PGA Tour Canada winner Eugene Wong at the University of Oregon, with a 6-under par 66.
“I played well. I just kind of kept it in front me and made my share of putts too,” said Miernicki. “You just try to make a lot of easy pars and it should be good.”
Two shots behind Anghert at 5-under 67 were Argentina’s Alan Wagner, who played PGA Tour Canada in 2013, along with Cardiff, California’s Peter Campbell, Austin, Texas’s Trent Redfern and Brownsburg, Indiana’s Seth Fair. Hamilton, Ont.’s Justin Kim was low Canadian with a 3-under 68.
The 2014 PGA Tour Canada season gets underway this week with California Qualifying School taking place April 8-11 at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Cali.
PGA Tour Canada returns to Oak Valley Golf Club, which has hosted numerous qualifying events and shared PGA Tour Canada Q-School with nearby Soboba Springs Golf Club in 2012. That Q-School produced 2012 winners Andrew Roque and Cory Renfrew, as well as 2013 The Five member Mark Hubbard. Oak Valley has also been a frequent host of PGA Tour and Web.com Tour Qualifying School.
This week’s field includes 11 Canadians, 105 Americans as well as players from Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, England, South Korea, Switzerland, Sweden, Venezuela and Wales. The 11 Canadians who will tee it up this week at Q-School in California are:
Rokhun Cho (Toronto); Jerry Christiansen (Saskatoon, Sask.); Jessey Church (Prince George, BC); Greg Doherty (Mississauga, Ont.); Grant Greenwood (Saskatoon); Clement Herviou (Quebec City); Andrew Ledger (Toronto); Kevin Liang (Markham, Ont.); Sonny Michaud (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.); Lindsay Reynolds (Christina Lake, BC); and Chang Wan Woo (Markham, Ont.)
This year’s Q-Schools will open up chances for more players to compete on PGA Tour Canada, with three separate Qualifying Tournaments allowing players to earn status for 2014. This week in California is the first of three 132-player fields, each offering 18 exempt cards and conditional status for the next 18 plus ties.
In addition to three Qualifying Tournaments, this year’s expanded schedule features 12 events from coast-to-coast, including new events in Vancouver, Ottawa and Thunder Bay. Once again, the top five players on the Order of Merit at season’s end will earn status on the Web.com Tour, making the first step on the path to the PGA Tour.
THUNDER BAY, Ontario – In North America, the name Staal is synonymous with the elite professional hockey. However, come July 2014, the Staal family – brothers Eric, Marc, Jordan and Jared – will be associated with another sport popular among NHL players and Canadians alike.
PGA Tour Canada, the Staal family and the Thunder Bay Golf Classic tournament organizers have announced the Staal Family Foundation – a charitable trust fund with a strong focus on family, community and charity – has signed on to a three-year agreement to become the title sponsor of PGA Tour Canada’s Thunder Bay Golf Classic, which will now be known as the Staal Foundation Open presented by TbayTel.
The announcement was made during a media conference at Tbaytel’s headquarters in Thunder Bay that included Eric Staal, captain of the Carolina Hurricanes, who attended via Skype as well as PGA Tour Canada President Jeff Monday and Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel Executive Director Scott Smith.
“When we heard PGA Tour Canada was coming to Thunder Bay, we jumped at the chance to attach our name to the event,” said the elder Staal brother. “It’s going to be really exciting week of sport and entertainment and we think the Staal Family Foundation is a great fit. We love our hometown, and just like PGA Tour Canada, we’re passionate about family, charity and our community.”
The Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel is the sixth tournament on the newly expanded 2014 PGA Tour Canada schedule. As an added bonus, the top three players on the PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit following the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel will earn exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open set to be played at Royal Montreal in Ile Bizard, Que.
The PGA Tour Canada Season gets underway with 12 events starting with the PC Financial Open in Vancouver and culminating with the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial in September where the top five players on the Order of Merit will earn their Web.com Tour cards for the following season.
“Anytime you can associate a PGA Tour Canada tournament with a family like the Staal’s who exemplify the utmost in professionalism and sportsmanship we believe that is a recipe for success,” said PGA Tour Canada President Jeff Monday. “The Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel is certainly setting the bar very high and I know the players are very excited about the opportunity to play in the great city of Thunder Bay and rub shoulders with some of the best hockey players in the world all while making a positive impact for the community and local charities.”
Since the announcement of the Thunder Bay Golf Classic in September of 2013 momentum has been building on a number of levels. The people in the city of Thunder Bay have rallied around the event and with the addition of the Staal Family as the title sponsor momentum and awareness of the event is surely going to increase.
You can watch the announcement below.
OAKVILLE, Ont. – An elite field will compete at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial in 2014, with the top 60 players on the Order of Merit through the season’s penultimate tournament gaining entry into the season-ending event.
The 12th and final event on the PGA TOUR Canada schedule will see the culmination of the race for Web.com Tour status at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ont., with the event once again operated by Golf Canada. Only the top 60 players on the Order of Merit will be eligible, setting up an exciting race to the season’s final event.
“With the field consisting of the players most deserving of playing in our final event, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial should be a thrilling finish to our season,” said PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday. “The recently announced 12-event schedule allows us to make our season-ending event a marquee tournament for PGA TOUR Canada’s elite players, where every player will have something on the line in the race for Web.com Tour status.”
The top five players on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit earn Web.com Tour status for the following season, with players finishing in spots sixth through 10th earning an exemption into the final stage and players finishing 11th through 20th into the second stage of Web.com Tour Qualifying School.
