LANGFORD, B.C.—Evan Holmes was not as crisp as he was Monday when he opened the Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Mountain Course event with a sterling 63. On a day where he only managed three birdies and two bogeys, shooting a 1-under 70, it was still enough to get him to 9-under and good for a one-shot advantage over Lawren Rowe heading into the final round Wednesday. Zach Anderson is alone in third, three shots behind, while Golf Canada team member Laurent Desmarchais and Albert Pistorius are at 5-under and four back.

“It was a little tricky all day. I didn’t really get off to a good start. The wind was swirling so it was tough to commit to some clubs out there,” said Holmes, the former University of British Columbia standout. He opened his day with three pars and a bogey, at the par-3 fourth, not exactly breaking quickly out of the gate. Holmes got that stroke right back with a birdie at the fifth before parring out, making the turn at even-par.

“Conditions were a lot tougher today. The pins were a little bit harder, and there was a lot more wind, a lot more swirling. The back nine was tough.”

Even so, Holmes made a textbook birdie at No. 10, hitting his tee shot to the island green to about a foot. His final birdie of the day came at the 13th, with a bogey at No. 11 squeezed in. From there, he parred out.

Rowe began the day three shots behind Holmes but narrowed the gap with his 68, on the strength of five birdies.

“My round was pretty similar to [Monday] actually. I started off a bit slow and just got through the front nine at even. I hit the back nine and was able to make a few birdies from there. I made a few putts finally.”

Rowe’s most-memorable hole of the day was his birdie on the par-3 14th. Although he wasn’t going directly at the pin, his tee shot landed 15 feet from the hole. He rolled that putt in during what was the middle of a four-birdies-in-six-hole stretch.

WINNIPEG – Canada Life is proud to announce they will support charitable causes at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada-affiliated Canada Life Series. Canada Life will donate $5 to charity for every birdie made and $20 for every eagle made over the course of this four-event golf series.

“We’re proud to support Canadian golfers through the Canada Life Series. Adding a charitable component to the events made sense and is another way we can help Canadians,” said Jeff Macoun, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada, Canada Life. “This program will also add another element of competition to the tournaments, which is always fun. We’re eager to see how many birdies and eagles are made.”

The Mackenzie Tour created the Canada Life Series to give Canadian-based players the opportunity to continue pursuing their goals in a season where international events have been suspended. The series features two 54-hole events at Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort Community in Langford, BC and two more at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, ON.

In B.C., donations from the Canada Life Birdies for Kids program will go to Canucks Autism Network (CAN). CAN was founded in 2008 by Vancouver Canucks co-owners, Paolo and Clara Aquilini, whose son has autism. CAN provides programs to individuals with autism and their families and works to promote acceptance and inclusion through community engagement and training initiatives in BC and beyond.

In Ontario, donations will go to Start2Finish. Start2Finish’s mission is to break the cycle of child poverty by providing ongoing educational support to at-risk children in Canada during their school years. Since its inception 20 years ago, Start2Finish has equipped over 100,000 children with vital opportunities and skills to help them build a cycle of success.  

“Charity is at the core of everything we do at the PGA TOUR and the charitable impact our events have in Canada is central to what we do week in and week out. This program is going to have a significant impact in these communities and provides a platform for players to give back in a unique way,” said Scott Pritchard, Mackenzie Tour Executive Director. “We are very familiar with Canucks Autism Network and Start2Finish. Both do amazing work, and we were only too happy to associate with these great organizations.”

TORONTO—With the Canada Life Series set to begin next week in Langford, British Columbia, a consortium of PGA TOUR players—past and present—have provided even more incentive for players to play well during the four-tournament Series.

Former PGA TOUR winner Ian Leggatt and 10 other players have each donated (CA) $1,000 that forms a bonus bursary that will be used to reward the player or players who shoot the low 18-hole round at each of the Canada Life Series’ tournaments. Every week, the player with the lowest single-day score will earn $2,750. In the event of more than one player shooting the low round, they will split that week’s money.

In addition to Leggatt, the organizer of this initiative, players who donated are Stephen Ames, Corey Conners, Graham DeLaet, Michael Gligic, Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Mackenzie Hughes, Roger Sloan, Nick Taylor and Mike Weir, who all played on the Mackenzie Tour or its predecessor, the Canadian Tour, in their careers.

Created in partnership with the Golf Canada Foundation, the player bursary aligns with the Foundation’s support of high-performance golf, helping the next generation of athletes inspire Canadians of all ages and abilities.

“Golf Canada Foundation is excited to support this initiative through the Canada Life Series with the generous backing of Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada alumni,” Said Martin Barnard, CEO of Golf Canada Foundation. “Aspiring professionals working to advance their careers have had their competitive seasons impacted significantly during the pandemic, and we hope this bursary will help players emerge even stronger on the various Tours next year.”

“We’re pretty fortunate that we’ve been able to start playing again,” said Hadwin about the PGA TOUR’s season restart after the COVID-19 interruption to the schedule. “Not only that, but we’re pretty fortunate where we are in life, as well.

“Being on the PGA TOUR is the ultimate goal of all the guys who are playing,” continued Hadwin, a native of Abbotsford, B.C., who turned pro in 2009, played two years on the Mackenzie Tour’s predecessor—the Canadian Tour—before joining the PGA TOUR in 2015. “I think it’s our duty and job to pay it forward a little. A lot of us have come through the Mackenzie Tour. I know what it’s like traveling across (the country). You’re not making a ton of money and hoping to get to the next level. This is nice that we can help out and give those guys a little something extra to play for. It’s not much, but every little bit counts.”

The Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Mountain Course on Aug. 10-12 is the first of two back-to-back tournaments at Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort Community. The final two events will be at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, each tournament open to Mackenzie Tour players and high-level professional and elite players living in Canada.

In June, the Mackenzie Tour canceled its 2020 season due to COVID-19. The Canada Life Series is a response to that cancellation, giving players competitive, money-making opportunities.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the generosity of these players who understand what it’s like to be a young pro trying to make his way in professional golf,” said Scott Pritchard, Mackenzie Tour Executive Director. “It truly is a fraternity among Canadian professionals, and to have these 11 players provide this bonus money only enhances what we’re trying to accomplish with the Canada Life Series.”

TORONTO —With the official Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada sidelined this season due to issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tour announced Friday that it will hold a series of four tournaments for players residing in Canada. The tournaments are set for Langford, British Columbia, and Caledon, Ontario, in August and September, all events contested under the direction of the Mackenzie Tour and its staff.

The Canada Life Series will feature two 54-hole events at Bear Mountain Golf & Tennis Resort Community in Langford on Vancouver Island and two more at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. Fields will consist of Canadian professionals and elite amateurs, as well as Mackenzie Tour members, regardless of citizenship, who are already in Canada. Officials anticipate field sizes between 90 and 120 players, with purses set at $50,000 (CAD) per event.

Exempt players for the Canada Life Series will include any Canadian professional who has held status on any of the PGA TOUR’s International Tours since 2018 (Mackenzie Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Series-China). In addition, six sponsor exemptions will be used by Golf Canada for its national team members. Canada Life will receive two sponsor exemptions, while both host facilities will have two sponsor exemptions each. The Tour will fill the fields on a first-come-first-served basis if the exempt categories don’t reach their limits.

“It was certainly disappointing when circumstances surrounding COVID-19 required us to cancel the 2020 Mackenzie Tour season. We were poised for a great summer of golf, but we never lost sight of the purpose for this Tour, which is to give players opportunities to play tournaments on quality golf courses,” said Scott Pritchard, Mackenzie Tour Executive Director. “Canada Life has been an incredible partner in helping us put this together, and with two terrific venues—Bear Mountain and TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley—we will stage four exceptional tournaments.

“To be able to promise the top player from the Canada Life Series additional playing opportunities next season on the Mackenzie Tour only enhances what we’re trying to do, and we’re extremely pleased that will happen,” Pritchard continued.

The player who earns the most points during the four tournaments will be granted conditional Mackenzie Tour status and guaranteed six tournament starts on the 2021 Mackenzie Tour. In addition to those playing opportunities, Golf Canada will also award the top player a spot in the 2021 RBC Canadian Open. The players finishing in the second-through-fifth positions on the final points standings earn conditional 2021 Mackenzie Tour status along with two guaranteed Mackenzie Tour tournament starts. The players finishing between Nos. 6-10 earn a discounted rate into one of the 2021 Mackenzie Tour Qualifying Tournaments.

“At Canada Life, we believe in helping Canadians achieve their potential. The Canada Life Series is one way we can do that,” said Jeff Macoun, President and Chief Operating Officer, Canada, at Canada Life. “We’re very proud to be able to provide Canadian-based players the opportunity to advance their careers.”

The first two Canada Life Series tournaments will be at Bear Mountain’s two courses, both designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve. The Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Mountain Course is from August 10-12, while The Canada Life Series at Bear Mountain: Valley Course is August 17-19.

The Mountain Course has twice hosted PGA TOUR-affiliated golf, the PGA TOUR Champions’ 2016 and 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship. Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie won the 2016 event, while American Jerry Kelly prevailed a year later.

“Bear Mountain’s two courses are quite diverse, and Jack and Steve designed them in such a way that we think the tournaments will certainly have different feels to them while at the same time providing excellent tests of golf,” said Rob Larocque, Bear Mountain Director of Golf.

The Series will observe a one-week break, allowing players to travel to the other side of the country for the final two events, outside Toronto. The Canada Life Series at TPC Toronto’s links-style Heathlands course is set for September 2-4. The following week, September 9-11, the players will once again tackle the Heathlands, one of three signature Doug Carrick courses at TPC Toronto, for the Series’ closing event, the Canada Life Series Championship.

TPC Toronto is also no stranger to PGA TOUR-affiliated tournament golf. It has been home to the Mackenzie Tour’s Osprey Valley Open presented by Votarantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates since 2018, with the eventual Mackenzie Tour Player of the Year in each season winning both editions of the tournament—Tyler McCumber in 2018 followed by Paul Barjon in 2019. McCumber is currently a PGA TOUR member, and Barjon is playing on the Korn Ferry Tour.

“The Mackenzie Tour is a familiar and important partner of ours, and we’re thrilled to be hosting two Canada Life Series tournaments here in September. We look forward to seeing some outstanding players compete on the Heathlands and follow in the footsteps of Tyler, Paul and the other champions who have played here over the last two years,” said TPC Toronto President Chris Humeniuk.

“It was gratifying to see TPC Toronto enthusiastically embrace this concept. We planned to play the Heathlands for the 2020 Osprey Valley Open, and we will now use the Canada Life Series events as a chance to showcase this spectacular course to these players,” Pritchard added.

TORONTO – Due to border restrictions, mandatory quarantines for those entering Canada and gathering restrictions in all provinces because of COVID-19, the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announced that it is canceling its 2020 season.

“With growing uncertainty surrounding the border and the 14-day quarantine regulations, among other factors, we’ve weighed all of our options and concluded that it is not feasible to play this summer,” said Mackenzie Tour Executive Director Scott Pritchard. “With the safety of the communities we play in mind, as well as the well-being of our players, sponsors, tournament-organizing committees, volunteers and golf course staff, we came to the realization that this is the best decision for everyone involved.

“We also wanted to be considerate of our players and their desires to play golf,” Pritchard added. “Understanding the complexities that this pandemic has caused, we knew it wasn’t fair to leave our members in positions that might prevent them from pursuing other playing opportunities elsewhere while waiting to see what transpired in Canada.”

The 2020 season was set to be the Mackenzie Tour’s eighth, with 13 scheduled tournaments— the most in the Tour’s history.

“We had built a lot of momentum coming into this season, and we were excited to continue making a positive impact in the communities where we play, while also providing opportunities for our players to progress to the PGA TOUR,” continued Pritchard. “Our commitment to our tournaments and their local communities, as well as our players, is unwavering, and we’re going to use this time to come back stronger in 2021.”

The Tour has already sent Mackenzie Tour members information regarding eligibility for the 2021 season. Status for prior members will be based on Order of Merit results from the 2019 season, with the top-60 players exempt.

Meanwhile, players who earned status at the three-completed 2020 Qualifying Tournaments will retain status for the 2021 season, and those Qualifying Tournament entrants yet to compete will be guaranteed spots at a 2021 qualifying site.

TORONTO – Golf may be returning to Canada soon, but the nation’s professional golf tour is still waiting to see what happens next.

Scott Pritchard, executive director of the Mackenzie Tour, says that although golf courses are opening up on a province-by-province basis, until the border between the United States and Canada is reopened, the lower-tier pro circuit is on hold.

“When you consider that a large number of players that play on the Mackenzie Tour are based not only in the U.S. but also a significant number are international players, it brings some uncertainty in terms of what we’re going to be able to pull off this season,” said Pritchard, who added that there are several scenarios where the Mackenzie Tour will have tournaments in 2020.

“Until we have clarity not only about the border, but also the quarantine rules and what that’s going to look like, we’re just waiting.”

The Mackenzie Tour season was supposed to tee off on May 28 with the Canada Life Open at Seymour Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. But the Canada Life Open, and the next six events through to the Windsor Championship on July 16 at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ont., have been postponed.

The top-flight PGA Tour is holding two charity events in May and a true resume of play is expected on June 11 with the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

The second-tier Korn Ferry Tour is scheduled to return on the same date with the Korn Ferry Challenge at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., but there’s no start date for the Mackenzie Tour just yet.

Pritchard says that’s an advantage, however.

“We feel well positioned, specifically in golf, to adhere to any of the policies and procedures (for COVID-19) in order to operate a safe event in a safe environment,” he said. “We’ll also have the best practices and key learnings from both the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour.

“We’ll be able to take a lot of the key learnings from those two events and implement them into our events at the appropriate time.”

Waiting for the Canadian border to reopen to non-essential travel is the biggest hurdle for the Mackenzie Tour, but there are other factors at play including regulations on quarantines, travel between provinces, and municipal regulations.

The City of Toronto’s decision to cancel all event permits for most of the summer was a nail in the coffin of the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open, which has been cancelled for the first time since the Second World War. Similarly, the Shaw Charity Classic, a Champions Tour event scheduled for late August, is also in danger after the City of Calgary cancelled all of its event permits up to Aug. 31.

Pritchard says the Mackenzie Tour has been in contact with all levels of government and continues to monitor the situation.

“We’re having all the right conversations, we’re not really getting any answers at this point (…) and that’s fine, it’s totally understandable,” said Pritchard. “We’ll just wait for our turn and, hopefully, we can pull something out.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida—Two of the PGA TOUR’s International Tours announced executive restructuring April 24, with Canadian Scott Pritchard elevated to the head of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, while previous Mackenzie Tour head Todd Rhinehart, who has been leading both the Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, will put all his focus and efforts on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica.

“During the last year, we have gone through a transition phase on both Tours due to the retirements of two experienced and long-time leaders in Jeff Monday in Canada and Jack Warfield in Latin America,” said the PGA TOUR’s Rob Ohno, Senior Vice President, International Tours. “It has also been an interesting two months as we’ve dealt with the COVID-19 issue that has affected the entire world. Scott has been such an asset in Canada, and we’ll benefit from Todd giving his full attention to issues in Latin America. With Scott and Todd at the top of this new structure, we feel both of these Tours are well-positioned to grow and continue to offer up-and-coming players strong places to play where they can further their careers once we start playing golf again. We have two outstanding leaders who will see that this happens.”

Pritchard has spent his entire career working in the golf industry. After graduating from the University of Ottawa, he worked for the PGA of Canada in a variety of roles, between 2003 and 2011. In April 2011, Pritchard accepted the position of Director of Business Development and Communications for the Canadian Tour. When the PGA TOUR established the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2012, the Tour’s first full season in 2013, Pritchard joined the new Tour as its Director, Tournament Business Affairs. In March 2017, Pritchard became the Tour’s Vice President, a position he held for a little more than three years.

“I am both excited and grateful for this opportunity to lead the Mackenzie Tour. I know what a great Tour it is, and so do our players, who have consistently used this Tour as their path to their ultimate goal, which is the PGA TOUR. To be a part of this and lead our dedicated team is truly an honor. There is much to do, I look forward to all the hard work ahead and appreciate what Todd did during his time in Canada and Jeff Monday before him,” Pritchard said.

In early 2019, Rhinehart took over the day-to-day operations of the Mackenzie Tour after Monday’s retirement and then temporarily added PGA TOUR Latinoamérica responsibilities upon Warfield’s retirement. Pritchard worked closely with Rhinehart as Rhinehart made the transition back to North America after living in Malaysia for the previous seven years as the PGA TOUR’s CIMB Classic Executive Director.

Said Ohno, “We can’t thank Todd enough for the heavy load he carried for a few months, leading and guiding both Tours, and I’m grateful that Scott comes into this new position extremely qualified, having handled so many different parts of the business and seeing the Tour operation from so many perspectives.

“We have been very impressed with Scott’s growth and achievements on the Mackenzie Tour over the years,” Ohno continued, “and nobody knows this Tour better than Scott. The passion he brings to work every day makes him a perfect fit to run the day-to-day operations of this Tour.”

Along with the seasons of all other International Federation of PGA Tour members, the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pritchard and his team continue working on amended 2020 strategies and plan to unveil a new tournament schedule in the coming weeks.

TORONTO, ONT – The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and Golf Ontario have reached a six-year agreement in partnership with Woodington Lake Golf Club to host and conduct the Ontario Open. The first tournament, an official tournament on the Tour’s 2020 schedule is set for Tottenham, Ontario, on August 24-30.

Debuting in 1923, the Ontario Open’s past champions include Sam Snead, along with Canadian golf legends Moe Norman, George Knudson and seven-time champion Nick Weslock. Following a 23-year hiatus, the event returned for its 63rd edition in 2019, an event won by Greg Eason, who five years earlier finished fifth on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit. Eason has 31 career Tour starts.

“The Ontario Open has a rich history in Canada, and the Mackenzie Tour is thrilled at the opportunity to be involved with such a storied event,” said Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Vice President Scott Pritchard. “We’re looking forward to working alongside Golf Ontario and the team at Woodington Lake to deliver a world-class tournament.”

Mike Kelly, Golf Ontario’s Executive Director since 2015, played a large part in revitalizing the Ontario Open and says he is looking forward to adding to the legacy of the event with the Mackenzie Tour’s involvement.

“The Ontario Open is steeped in tradition and history and has a long list of distinguished winners,” said Kelly. “We were thrilled to bring back the Ontario Open in 2019 to Woodington Lake Golf Club and equally thrilled with the success of the event.

“To now join forces and take the event to the next level with The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada is an exciting time for Golf Ontario, and we believe this will be one of the marquee events on Tour this year,” continued Kelly.

Hosting the 156-player tournament is the Legend Course at Woodington Lakes Golf Club, a 36-hole facility north of Toronto. Measuring more than 7,000 yards, the Legend Course opened in 1995 and covers 200 acres of rolling terrain.

“Woodington Lake is truly a special piece of property, and the Ontario Open was a huge success in 2019,” said John Chetti, General Manager of Woodington Lake. “Our Legend course is a great test of golf, having some of the best golfers in the world tackle it is special for all of us at Woodington Lake and we look forward to hosting an extraordinary event.”

Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario’s Director of Golf Services, will serve as Tournament Director of the event. In addition to his experience with Golf Ontario, Loughry was also Golf Canada’s Director of Handicap and Course Rating and was the International Association of Golf Administrators President in 2017.

“We’re very excited about this announcement and the future of the Ontario Open, as well as our partnership with Woodington Lake Golf Club and the Mackenzie Tour,” said Loughry “We are already well down the road to planning some special activities around the event and look forward to unveiling some of those over the next few months.”

The tournament also announced today that the Golf Canada Foundation (GCF) will be the Ontario Open’s official charity recipient.

“The Golf Canada Foundation’s contributions to the game of golf and young golfers fit right in line with Golf Ontario’s mission to shape lives by leading, creating and promoting positive golf experiences,” said Loughry. “We’re delighted to partner and financially support the GCF and its mandate.”

“We are thrilled to partner with Golf Ontario and the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada as the official charity of the Ontario Open,” said Martin Barnard, the CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation. “The event will drive tremendous awareness and fund programs critical to getting more kids playing golf in Ontario.”

The full 2020 Mackenzie Tour schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

Never afraid to try something new, Team Canada alumnus Blair Hamilton decided to attend a 10-day silent retreat in Southern Alberta this past off-season to improve his mental game.

The talkative Hamilton found the experience challenging but rewarding. Communication among the 70 students living at the Vipassana centre was forbidden, with long days focused solely on how to clear the mind.

“The first bell goes at 4:30 in the morning, you meditate from 4:30 to 6:30, then you break down for breakfast,” said Hamilton on Tuesday after completing the first round of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s qualifying tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. “Then you’re meditating in different sessions, but pretty much constantly until lunch, and then you meditate from, I think it’s 2:30 until 9 p.m. and it’s all guided meditation,

“The whole purpose of this is to teach you to observe the things that come into your mind and not react to them and disassociate from your ego. Your ego by definition would be a false sense of self, whether it’s telling you that you’re super good or super bad. You know, that’s just the thing in your mind.”

Attending the silent retreat came at the suggestion of his mentor Kaz Hashimoto, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is the co-founder of Pink Zulu Labs. Hashimoto and Hamilton first connected last season when the 26-year-old golfer reached out to a variety of leading figures in different industries – including Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield – to pick their brains on how they excelled in their field.

Hashimoto and mental performance coach Paul Dewland are helping Hamilton improve his psychology because he believes that’s what separates golf’s very best players from the rest of the pro ranks.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 31: Blair Hamilton of Canada plays his shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on January 31, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“If you were to line up a guy on the Mackenzie Tour, PGA Tour China, PGA Tour Latinoamerica, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour on the range and you’re watching them hit and you just brought in a random person and said, ‘Tell me who’s on which tour,’ they wouldn’t be able to say,” said Hamilton. “Everyone at the level can hit the golf ball, no problem, but it’s the very little mini things that make all the difference.

“If you can save half a shot a round that’s two shots on the total tournament. I mean, that’s the difference of finishing, you know, seventh or third or third and first.”

Hamilton, from Burlington, Ont., is joined at this week’s PGA Tour Latinoamerica qualifying event by fellow Canadians Zahidali Nathu of Richmond, B.C., Matthew Shubley of Oshawa, Ont., Mathew Iceton of Brooklin, Ont.. and Vancouver’s Trevor Yu.

After hopefully qualifying for the Latinoamerica circuit for the third consecutive year, Hamilton plans to do some mini tour events in Florida and some qualifiers for the Korn Ferry Tour’s events in Colombia, and Panama.

If Hamilton does qualify for the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, then it will be down to South America, playing golf and keeping up with a hectic travel schedule that is akin to crisscrossing Canada on a weekly basis.

“We spend quite a bit of time down in Argentina which, you know, a direct flight from Toronto’s about 11 or 12 hours,” said Hamilton, who is currently based in South Florida. “We’ll be going to Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia all over the continent down there.

“It’s not uncommon to have a five-hour flight between events, which is like flying Toronto to Vancouver.”

One of the highlights of his time playing golf in South America is his unlikely friendship with caddy Leandro Ferreyra.

Hamilton was competing in a tournament in Cordoba, Argentina, and Ferreyra was caddying for one of the other golfers in his group. Afterwards, the pair connected on Instagram and Hamilton asked Ferreyra if he wanted to be his caddy at another event in Argentina.

Since then, they’ve teamed up at five or six events and have become close friends.

“I find that people in Latin America, they’re quite loyal. They’re loyal friends and when they care about you, they truly care about you,” said Hamilton. “His family always sends me messages, just checking in and stuff like that. You build friendships like that.

“Who would have thought that me and Leandro, this guy that’s 40 years old from Cordoba, Argentina, would become close friends? Golf’s kinda funny that way.”

TORONTO — The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada is busy preparing for another strong season, announcing Thursday the dates and sites for its six 2020 Qualifying Tournaments, events that help determine the Mackenzie Tour membership.

The six sites will be Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. (March 3-6); Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Highland Oaks in Dothan, Ala., (March 10-13); Soboba Springs Golf Resort in San Jacinto, Calif. (March 24-27); Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Ariz. (March 31-April 3); TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (April 14-17); and Crown Isle Resort & Golf Club in Courtenay, BC (April 28-May 1).

Each event is a 72-hole, stroke-play, no-cut tournament, with fields of 132 players. An overflow site (TPC San Antonio) will be available if the Tour can’t accommodate a significant number of applicants among other qualifying sites. In the event that all sites exceed their capacities at the entry deadline, and when 78 or more applicants have not been assigned to a site in the lottery process, applicants may be eligible to compete at the overflow site. Having this San Antonio location to accommodate additional applicants will provide the flexibility to conduct a seventh Qualifying Tournament.

“In order to capture ongoing demand, every effort has been made to provide applicants with an opportunity to earn membership to the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada,” said Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Vice President and Managing Director Todd Rhinehart. “Having made adjustments to the registration process and qualifying competition procedures, we have made every effort to accommodate applicants who wish to begin their journey to the PGA TOUR on an equitable basis.”

Registration will open on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at noon EST.

“So many players have come to our Qualifying Tournaments through the years, and not long afterward we see them playing on the Korn Ferry Tour. From there, they go to the PGA TOUR. It’s at the qualifiers where it all begins for many players as they embark on their pro careers,” Rhinehart added. “I’m constantly amazed at the players who come to play on this Tour. Our roster is deep with talent, and it’s at the Qualifying Tournament where we often see them for the first time. We will continue to welcome the best, up-and-coming players from across the globe and then watch them as they eventually progress to the biggest stages in professional golf.”

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is new to the Mackenzie Tour Qualifying Tournament rotation, while the other five sites have all hosted tournaments in the past. This is the second time Mission Inn and Soboba Springs have held qualifiers, while Wigwam Golf Club and TPC Sawgrass are hosting for the third time. Crown Isle Resort is a host for a seventh time.

In 2019, England’s David Wicks captured medalist honours at the year’s first Qualifying Tournament, while Americans John Coultas, Will Gordon, Jake Knapp, Chase Parker and Andrew McCain medaled at the other five sites.