WATERLOO, Ontario – Defending champion Hee Young Park and Shanshan Feng topped the second-round leaderboard Friday in the LPGA Tour’s Manulife Financial Classic, a stroke ahead of Michelle Wie.

Park had a 5-under 66 to match Feng at 11-under 131 at Grey Silo. They are both bogey-free through 36 holes.

“The weather was lot better than first round,” Park said. “I hit a lot of greens. My goal was try to leave uphill putts and that worked well. I think that makes me more comfortable.”

Last year, Park beat Angela Stanford with a birdie on the third playoff hole after they finished at 26-under 258 to match the tour record for lowest total score.

“I have a lot of good feelings on this golf course,” Park said.

Feng shot a 66.

“I’m really happy about my playing today because it’s a bogey-free round again, six birdies,” the Chinese player said. “I think I did pretty well. … I heard the weekend’s supposed to be nice, so we need to go for many, many birdies.”

Wie, the winner in Hawaii in April, followed her opening 65 with a bogey-free 67. She’s seeking her second victory in Canada after winning the 2010 Canadian Women’s Open in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

“Just wasn’t getting anything close to the hole today,” Wie said. “Just got a lot of putts close. But yeah, it’s not a really easy golf course. Definitely, the wind was changing a lot today. There were a lot of times where I thought it was downwind and it was into the wind, so that was definitely difficult.”

Anna Nordqvist, a two-time winner this year, was 9 under after a 64 – the best round of the week. The Swede, the winner in Thailand and Carlsbad, played her opening nine – the back nine at Grey Silo – in 5-under 30 and added birdies on Nos. 3 and 4.

“I got off to a really good start. I hit it good all day,” Nordqvist said. “I think I hit all fairways and all greens, so that makes it a little bit easier. I’m a little bit disappointed with the last couple holes because I hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in. Last one I left it about a roll short dead in the middle.”

Second-ranked Inbee Park four strokes back at 7 under a 66.

“I putted really a lot better than last couple weeks this week, yesterday and today,” Inbee Park said. “Even if everything’s not going in, I see it going really close to the hole. So I’m really happy with my stroke and I just need to hit more shots a little bit closer because there’s obviously a lot of opportunities here. Just trying to make a lot of birdies.”

Stacy Lewis was 4 under after her second straight 69. She’s making her first start since taking the top spot in the world from Inbee Park with a victory Sunday in New Jersey.

Third-ranked Lydia Ko also was 4 under after a 67. The 17-year-old Ko, the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic winner in California in late April, won the Canadian Women’s Open as an amateur the last two years.

“I feel great when I play in Canada,” Ko said. “The support is humungous and that’s, I guess, where we get our power and confidence from.”

Team Canada’s Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. share top spot among Canadians. The trio are 1-under and tied for 46th.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp has a share of 60th at even par, while Monday qualifier Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont. is tied for 70th at 1-over.

Maude-Aimee LeBlanc (+2) of Sherbrooke, Que., Erica Rivard (+4) of Tecumseh, Ont., LPGA veteran Lorie Kane (+8) and Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham (+11) all failed to make the 36 hole cut.

Winnipeg (Golf Canada) – The University of Manitoba Bisons claimed their first national title on home soil at the Southwood Golf and Country Club on Friday,  while the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds took home their 10th Canadian University/College Championship.

In the men’s competition it couldn’t have been sweeter for the Bisons who stormed back over the final two days of the championship to win by 12 strokes over the Thunderbirds.  The local favourites posted a 4-over 292 during Friday’s blustery final round in front of a large gallery.

“I’m just so proud of these guys, proud of the program and so appreciative of all the people that have helped us over the years,” said Bison’s Head Coach Garth Goodbrandson.

Scott Mazur led the Bisons’ squad over the final 18 holes carding a 1-under 71 – the only under-par round of the day at Southwood.

“We kept on talking about it all week to stay within yourself because it’s only natural to think about the final results,” Goodbrandson continued. “I think the key was they’re an experienced group and when they found themselves getting too far ahead they came back and just stayed in the moment.”

Individually, Scott Secord of the Thunderbirds led wire-to-wire for his first national championship title. The Calgary native finished at 7-under 281, seven strokes ahead of Connor Gann of the University of Victoria Vikes and Queen’s University’s Russell Bowie who finished at even-par 288.

“One of my goals coming into this week was to be low everyday and I think I accomplished that,” Secord said. “I made good strides mentally but unfortunately our team came second so hopefully next year we’ll get the title.”

On the women’s side, the Thunderbirds cruised to their 10th national championship title after a 17-over 233 final round. The squad dominated the field finishing 35 strokes ahead of the Université de Montreal Carabins.

“It feels so great, last year we came in and we didn’t quite have the finish that we wanted but this year we had a really strong group of girls,” said Thunderbirds Captain, Casara Hong. “Our team played really well and persevered through all the conditions. We had some really good competitors out here this week, it was tough competition.”

Playing a few pairings ahead of the final group, the Vikes’ Megan Woodland carded a 2-over 74 to finish at 8-over 296 for the championship. From behind the 18th green she watched her close friend Kylie Barros leave her chip shot short to lose by one. The wins marks Woodland’s first individual title after a handful of close calls.

“It feels amazing and to be honest it’s kind of been my goal since about my second year to come here and to finally win one,” Woodland said. “I’ve come really close the last few years and to pull it off it feels great but it’s a little bittersweet having Kylie come in second but I’m really happy.”

Megan Woodland & Scott Secord

Barros finished at 9–over 297 after a final round 3-over 75, while Sabrina Sapone of Université de Montreal Carabins end the championship in solo third at 9-over par.

For more information on the 2014 Canadian University/College Championship including final results click here.

ATZENBRUGG, Austria – Mikael Lundberg exploited perfect playing conditions for early starters in the second round of the Lyoness Open on Friday in a bid for his first European Tour title in six years.

In sunny and almost windless conditions, the Swede shot four consecutive birdies on the front nine on his way to a 68 and went 9 under for a one-shot lead over England’s Lee Slattery and two over Paraguay’s Farbrizio Zanotti (68).

Slattery carded a 6-under 66, which started with three birdies on the first four holes and was rounded off by an eagle on the par-5 16th.

“I hit some really, really good shots today,” said Lundberg, who won the Russian Open in 2008. “Starting early means the course was slightly softer. On the back nine it started to dry out and that it made it harder.”

Lundberg said he had been “working really hard the last couple of months so I am glad it pays off.”

England’s Adam Gee, who shared the overnight lead with Lundberg, hit a 73 and dropped to 4 under for the tournament, while Sihwan Kim of South Korea improved to 6 under with a 68.

Defending champion Joost Luiten and Rhys Davies of Wales followed at 5 under.

Slattery missed the cut in his last four events but has regained his confidence at the event where he finished ninth last year.

“We moved house, got married and had a baby so it’s been a really hectic six to nine months,” Slattery said. “It’s nice to find a little bit of form.”

Luiten, who finished the opening day on level par, put himself back in contention with a 5-under 67. Starting on the back nine where he dropped three strokes on Thursday, the Dutchman avoided bogeys this time and hit five birdies in total.

“It was a bit easier as there was no wind today. My swing felt a bit better,” Luiten said. “You have to be on the fairway, otherwise you’re in trouble. Five under is a good score, I am definitely back in there.”

Home favorite and 2012 champion Bernd Wiesberger improved to 3 under with a 70 but Miguel Angel Jimenez, a two-time winner this season, dropped to 1-over par. The Spaniard carded a disappointing 75 after suffering three double bogeys on Nos. 7, 10 and 11.

PORT CARLING, ON— Experience paid off for Dave Bunker as he won his third Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) Match Play Championship, June 3-6, at the Lake Joseph Club in Port Carling. The Woodbridge resident defeated Dundas’ Nicholas Ross 4&3 in the final round.

The 49-year-old Bunker was able to take a 3up lead after the front nine, but Ross, the Hamilton Golf and Country Club member, looked to cut the lead when he chipped in for birdie on the 10^th hole. However, Bunker, the third seed in the tournament, also chipped in ending any momentum swings. The 19-year-old Ross would go on to take the 11^th hole, but Bunker won the 13^th and 14^th holes giving him a 4up lead with four to go. Ross, the 20^th seed, knew he had to win out to force a playoff and found the green on the par-three 15^th, while Bunker’s shot landed in the rough. However, Bunker chipped to within a foot forcing Ross to sink his ten-foot putt to keep the match going. He pushed his putt just right and Bunker, the Brampton Golf Club member, won the match and the Championship.

“It’s fantastic!” said Bunker after the win. “I really played well this week, I hit the ball well, kept it out of trouble and it was a good, fun week.”

Bunker knew that one of the biggest moments in his win came with the double chip-in on the 10^th hole. “Nick chipped in from the fringe and then I chipped in as well, both for birdies. That kind of kept me going. I did make a mistake on 11 and he won the hole, but it could have been two holes won by him.”

Getting to the final, let alone winning it, is no easy feat in a match play event. The field for the men began with 64 competitors. For Bunker, after winning his way through the first three rounds, he defeated Kingston’s Jesse Hogan in the quarter-finals and Toronto’s Turner Southey Gordon in the semis.

“I played really steady,” said Bunker. “I know this golf course really well so I know where to hit tee shots, I know where to hit approaches. It’s a golf course that if you start hitting it left and right, you lose golf balls so if you keep it in the fairway and make pars you are doing really well.”

As for Ross, his road to the finals included a quarterfinal win over Mississauga’s Eric Flockhart and a semis victory against Woodstock resident Spencer Dunseith.

For Bunker, it is just another GAO championship to add to his collection. He is a former Ontario Amateur Champion, Ontario Mid-Amateur Champion, as well as a Canadian Mid-Am and Mid-Masters Champion.

Recently, he had the opportunity to represent the GAO at the Manuel Prado and Carlos Raffo Cups in Lima, Peru, something Bunker says helped him in preparation for this season. “I think I maybe got a head start because I was preparing for Peru and then had a week in sunny, warm weather, and played a course in great condition. That’s what a lot of people in Toronto couldn’t do. I’ve been working hard on things so I was happy that I was able to hit the ball well this week and that my short game was good too.”

Now, Bunker will turn his attention to the Investors Group Mid-Am June 20-23 at the nearby Taboo. Bunker says that there isn’t much preparation he is focusing on but that he did get a chance to go over and check out the course this week as he looks for yet another GAO title.

Established in 1986, The Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship is contested annually and features 64 of Ontario’s best amateur golfers that have qualified through one of six qualifying tournaments held earlier this season, or who have gained an exemption into the event.  Notable former champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Ian Leggatt, David Hearn and David Byrne.

The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank Clublink and The Lake Joseph Club for their continued support of the Ontario Men’s Match Play championship.

CALGARY—Bernhard Langer, the Charles Schwab Cup points leader on the PGA Tour’s Champions Tour, has confirmed he will tee-it-up at Calgary’s Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club for the 2014 Shaw Charity Classic, August 27-31, 2014.

One of the most successful players in the history of the senior circuit, Langer is currently ranked first in the quest for the Arnold Palmer Award as the Champions Tour’s leading money winner. Langer has finished first on the Champions Tour Money List five times since turning 50 seven years ago. The smooth-swinging German has placed in the top-10 in each of his nine starts in 2014, including two victories and three runner-up finishes. His victory last month in Houston was his 20th career Champions Tour title, making him the 10th player in Tour history, and first since 2001 to hit the milestone.

“There was lots of buzz on Tour about how successful last year’s Shaw Charity Classic was, and I am excited to have the opportunity to make my first trip to Calgary in August,” said Langer, who should fall in love with Alberta being an outdoors enthusiast and self-described “scratch” skier.

“I’m very blessed to have won 20 times out here. It’s been a great and wonderful achievement. I feel like I’m playing some of my best golf in my career so I hope to keep that going throughout the summer.”

The former No. 1 player in the world on the Official World Golf Ranking in 1986 has rattled off 19 straight top-10 finishes dating back to last year. He has also carded 28 of 29 rounds in 2014 under par.

Langer has won three times on the PGA Tour including the 1993 and 1985 Masters Tournament. He also won two senior majors in 2010: Senior Open Championship, and the U.S. Senior Open.

“Bernhard Langer’s name is synonymous with the greatest names in the game so we are thrilled to have him join us in Calgary,” said Sean Van Kesteren, tournament director, Shaw Charity Classic. “When Rocco Mediate hoisted the trophy last August, he was convinced that with the success of our inaugural event – from the condition of the golf course to the thousands of fans that lined the fairways – that all of the guys would be here this summer. It exciting to begin seeing this statement from our Champion hold true.”

Langer is now the third big name on the Champions Tour who has confirmed to make their first appearance at the Calgary event. Earlier this spring, Shaw Charity Classic officials launched its marketing and sales efforts by announcing that last year’s Charles Schwab Cup winner, Kenny Perry, along with 1989 British Open winner, Mark Calcavecchia will headline what promises to be a star-studded field for the second annual event. Perry recently fired into the winner’s circle for the first time in 2014 after winning his third consecutive Champions Tour major by taking the Regions Tradition title.

The inaugural Shaw Charity Classic, which was recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award for a first year event by the PGA Tour, and a Tourism Calgary White Hat Award for best event/festival/attraction in 2013, made a record-setting charitable donation of $2,276,251 for a Champions Tour event.  The legends of the game will play for a purse of $2.25 million, an increase of $250,000 from last year, when they return to Calgary’s Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club August 27-31, 2014.

Tickets and corporate packages for the Shaw Charity Classic are available online at www.shawcharityclassic.com. Youth 17 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult.

TORONTO – St. George’s Golf and Country Club is embarking on a greens reconstruction project starting July 8^th, 2014.

With a 95 per cent approval rating, members voted to rebuild all the greens to USGA specifications plus two fairways on No. 5 and No. 9.

The golf course, which was ranked No. 30 in the world in the February 2014 issue of Golf Digest magazine, will remain open throughout the renovations including clubhouse operations and the outdoor golf academy. The golf course will continue to operate with temporary greens and a series of rotating hole-closures, while reconstruction on the greens takes place. Construction crews are scheduled to start digging up the existing greens on July 8th. Seeding of all new greens is expected to be completed in early September to give the putting surfaces time to grow in, with a projected reopening date in June 2015.

Consulting golf course architects, Tom Doak and Ian Andrew, who were retained by the club last September to review the greens complexes, as well as other potential capital projects, spoke to members along with Property Superintendent Keith Bartlett, as members voted to accelerate the project to this summer.

“When we were here last fall I certainly didn’t think we’d be looking at doing the greens this summer, but the winter storm and ice damage pushed the decision forward,” said architect Ian Andrew, who is also supervising construction of new greens just down the street at Islington G&CC for similar reasons. “Across the Northern United States and throughout Ontario and Quebec ice damage to older poa annua (annual bluegrass) greens and fairways has been extensive at many clubs. The issues surrounding the viability of the poa annua greens at St. George’s that we talked about with members last fall came to fruition this spring.”

Doak, a minimalist designer from Traverse City, Michigan, is considered by many to be today’s preeminent architect. He has personally designed and built five courses in the Top 100 in the world and helped preserve and restore another 10 on the current list, including a much heralded green rebuilding program at San Francisco Golf Club that carefully preserved Tillinghast’s greens.

“These greens projects that I get involved with are because I don’t like to see old golf courses making changes to the greens without some thought for the original design and the character of the course. Many architects I know go in there and make changes and it doesn’t bother them a bit to tear up original green sites and build whatever they want,” said Doak, who has built 35 of his own courses and consults for another 30 clubs.

The goal of the project is to rebuild all greens based on the original design by legendary Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson who created St. George’s G&CC in 1929. The most significant change to the course will be returning the green to its original design and site to improve pinning locations and exposure to sunlight. Doak ensured members that it will be a fair challenge when complete and certainly not the easiest hole on the golf course.

A detailed plan outlining changes to individual greens has been provided to members and it addresses poor drainage, shrunken green sizes, slopes within greens, increased pin areas and other issues. Work is starting in July to allow Doak and his shapers to finish up some other projects before coming north, while he continues to oversee two new golf course projects in New Zealand and France this summer.

“This is meticulous work, and we are playing with the smallest percentages,” said Doak who compared it to the exacting detail and pressures of being a surgeon performing open heart surgery on a living patient. “Somebody has to get in there and do it, while all of the time you have to take into consideration the overall condition of the patient.” He told members the key for a successful project is not to over react when making changes, but to focus on ensuring that the greens continue to play as they did in the past.

The Green on Hole No 5 (Photo: Clive Barber)

WINNIPEG – The University of Manitoba Bisons’ stole the top spot on the leaderboard at the Canadian University/College Championship on Friday after firing a 3-under 285 in the men’s team competition. On the women’s side the Thunderbirds continued their strong play and hold a 12-stroke lead heading into the final round.

On the men’s side, the Bisons’ rallied during the afternoon draw lighting up Southwood Golf and Country Club with a 3-under 285 to finish at 1-over 865 after 54 holes.

“I’m really pleased, I thought they handled themselves fantastic, it’s a different experience and something they probably haven’t been in being in the last group,” said Bisons’ Head Coach, Garth Goodbrandson. “I’m really excited at the way they handled themselves, they were composed out there and I think they enjoyed it because sometimes you get in that position and you’re scared by it.”

Josh Wytinck and Scott Mazur stepped up for the host team, both carding 2-under 70’s. The squad has never won a national championship and currently lead by two-strokes over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds.

“We just have to talk as a group and do what we did today,” Goodbrandson continued. “That was kind of our game plan today, focus on our game and not worry about them or any other team, if we do that tomorrow we’ll be just fine.”

As the defending champions, the Thunderbirds stumbled on Thursday carding a 9-over 297. They currently sit in second at 3-over for the championship, while the Western University Mustangs dropped into third place after a 7-over 295.

Individually, UBC’s Scott Secord remains well ahead of the pack at 12-under 204 after a third consecutive under-par round. The Calgary native battled back over his closing three holes, chipping in on the par-4 16th and sinking a long birdie putt on the par-5 18th.

Connor Gann of the University of Victoria Vikes sits in second at 2-under 214, while Russell Bowie of Queen’s University, Université Laval’s Samuel Rochette and Wytinck share third at 1-under par.

On the women’s side, the Thunderbirds’ squad rebounded from their second round, carding a 10-over 226 to soar ahead of Université de Montréal Carabins. The 9-time national champions were led on windy Thursday morning by veteran team member, Kylie Barros who carded an even-par 72. The squad heads into Friday’s final round at 33-over 681 for the championship, 19 strokes ahead of the Carabins. If the Thunderbirds can maintain their lead they will pick up their 10th national championship title at the conclusion of the event.

“We have a great team with four strong players,” Barros said. “We’re feeling confident but we still know we have some work left but ten would be a nice a way to finish my five years at UBC.”

Individually, Barros and the Vikes’ Megan Woodland share first place at 6-over 222. Woodland will aim to pick up her first individual national title on Friday after posting a third round 1-over 73, while her close friend Barros will look to grab her second individual title.

“We’re very close friends, pretty close as proven by our golf games today,” Barros said with a laugh. “It’s fun you always know what you have to do out there, but you also know you have someone supporting you and it makes the 4.5 hour round go by faster.”

The duo currently sits four strokes ahead of Kat Kennedy of the Thunderbirds. Kennedy posted a third round 3-over 75, while 2013 champion, Sabrina Sapone, matched Barros’ low-round of the day with an even-par 72 to jump up to solo fourth on the leaderboard at 11-over 227.

The field was cut to top-10 men’s teams and the top-6 women’s teams following the conclusion of play on Thursday. Individuals within 15 shots of the lead also made the 54-hole cut. 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Phil Mickelson came to the St. Jude Classic wanting to tune up for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst by finishing strong.

He did just that Thursday.

Mickelson shot a 3-under 67, birdieing three of his final four holes in windy conditions before a thunderstorm softened up TPC Southwind. It was his first round in the 60s since the third round at the Wells Fargo Championship. He hadn’t shot below 70 since. He missed the cut at The Players Championship and tied for 49th last week in the Memorial following a visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation. Lefty hasn’t won in 19 events dating to the British Open and is among the players in Tennessee tuning up for Pinehurst.

“I did exactly what I need to do and build some momentum that I need heading into the U.S. Open,” Mickelson said. “Tomorrow’s round, the same thing. Finish strong and play a good round.”

Ben Crane shot a 7-under 63 giving him the lead in the suspended first round, taking advantage of the 3 1/2-hour delay that left nearly perfect scoring conditions with no wind and rain-softened greens. He had five of his seven birdies on his final nine, the last a few minutes before play was suspended because of darkness.

Sixty players were unable to finish the round.

Peter Malnati shot a 65, and Billy Horschel also was 5 under with two holes left to play. Retief Goosen and Joe Durant each had a 66, while Stuart Appleby, Zach Johnson and Jason Bohn were on the course at 4 under. Appleby had a hole-in-one on the 157-yard eighth hole, using a 7-iron. That was his 17th hole, and the last one he completed.

Crane needed only 24 putts for his best round of the season, including a 27-footer for birdie on his final hole at No. 9 with only a handful of people watching because officials closed the course to spectators because of the high winds with the storm.

“We caught a huge break being on this side of the wave,” Crane said. “You know this is ideal Memphis weather. It’s as good as it gets. It was calm, barely any wind. The greens softened up. We were able to attack some of the pins.”

Mickelelson, who tied for second at Southwind last year, was among the 53 players who finished before play was delayed. Even with tricky wind Thursday morning, Mickelson said his focus on each shot was much better. He’s trying to better visualize the shot and curve his irons so that his approach shots land closer to the hole, giving him more tap-in opportunities.

Finishing with the three birdies in his final four holes was exactly what he wanted in a round with five birdies and two bogeys.

He hit his approach from 135 yards on the par-4 sixth to 5 feet and rolled in the birdie putt. He left himself longer putts with a 7-footer on the par-3 eighth and an 11-footer on the par-4 ninth, but knocked them in for his strong finish.

“I’ve been struggling with finishing the round strong,” Mickelson said. “I had a good round last week on Thursday and then played poorly. To birdie three of the last four made it a great round. That’s exactly what I need to do.”

Firm greens made it tough to land balls close, but Goosen credited them with helping him roll in some of his birdie putts. He sunk a couple from 5 feet or closer, but also had a couple birdie putts from 14 feet. Goosen also saved par on No. 7 with a 12-foot putt.

“The greens are as good as greens as you can get,” Goosen said. “The greens are rolling close to 13 on the stimpmeter. They are really good. You hit the right putt, they are going to go in.”

A seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, Goosen hasn’t won on tour since 2009. He has two top-10 finishes this year as he continues his comeback from back surgery in August 2012. He tied for third in Memphis in 2011 and said he really likes the course.

The three Canadians managed to complete their opening-rounds Thursday.

David Hearn shot a 2-under 68, Stephen Ames was 1-over after a 71 and Brad Fritsch was a shot back after a 2-over 72.

Robert Garrigus withdrew after hurting his wrist in the 18th fairway. He had a 79 that included three bogeys, a double and an 8 on the par-4 17th.

Players will resume the second round at 7 a.m. local time, with the second round starting approximately 40 minutes later.

RIDGEDALE, Mo. – Thirty-six years ago, the first Legends of Golf was such a hit that it sparked interest that led to the creation of the senior tour. The Champions Tour event is still breaking ground.

For the first time in a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament, a par-3 course is being used. The Jack Nicklaus-designed Top of the Rock at Big Cedar Lodge Resort is no ordinary par-3 layout.

“This whole event is going to be spectacular on TV,” said Andy North, paired with Tom Watson. “I think that’s what’s going to be so interesting. Any direction the camera goes is going to be spectacular and we don’t find that very often.”

The Champions division will play 18 holes on the par-3 course Sunday, the first nine under foursomes and the second at fourball. The Legends division for players 65 and older will play nine holes of fourball.

The opening 36 holes for both divisions will consist of a fourball round on the regulation Buffalo Ridge course and two nine-hole rounds (foursomes and fourball) on the par-3 course.

Watson noted the foursomes – or alternate-shot portion – of the format.

“Plus, we’ve got the other thing, the alternate shot,” the Ryder Cup captain said. “That’s never been played officially in any PGA Tour tournament. It is in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, but for official money for the Champions Tour, no, it’s never happened before.”

Nicklaus is teaming with Gary Player in The Legends division.

“I’m kind of interested in the format, really,” Nicklaus said. “I think the format using a par-3 golf course is different, something unique.”

Last year, Jeff Sluman and Brad Faxon teamed to win in Savannah, Georgia, edging Fred Funk-Mike Goodes and Kenny Perry-Gene Sauers by a stroke in fourball play. Sluman is playing alongside Funk this year, with Faxon unable to play because of a prior commitment.

“It will be interesting how this all unfolds,” Funk said. “I think marketing-wise it’s probably a great idea because you’re trying to get the concept where people can come out and play a par-3 golf course, and this is not your normal par-3 golf course.”

Mark Calcavecchia noted that the bags will lighter.

“You leave your woods in the car,” Calcavecchia said. “You just bring your 4-iron through sand wedge and it’s just a different feel. It’s going to be fun, but it’s weird not being able to take your frustration out and bash a driver as hard as you can. It’s like, `Oh, God, another 8-iron or wedge or something.'”

RIDGEDALE, Mo. – Thirty-six years ago, the first Legends of Golf was such a hit that it sparked interest that led to the creation of the senior tour. The Champions Tour event is still breaking ground.

For the first time in a PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament, a par-3 course is being used. The Jack Nicklaus-designed Top of the Rock at Big Cedar Lodge Resort is no ordinary par-3 layout.

“This whole event is going to be spectacular on TV,” said Andy North, paired with Tom Watson. “I think that’s what’s going to be so interesting. Any direction the camera goes is going to be spectacular and we don’t find that very often.”

The Champions division will play 18 holes on the par-3 course Sunday, the first nine under foursomes and the second at fourball. The Legends division for players 65 and older will play nine holes of fourball.

The opening 36 holes for both divisions will consist of a fourball round on the regulation Buffalo Ridge course and two nine-hole rounds (foursomes and fourball) on the par-3 course.

Watson noted the foursomes – or alternate-shot portion – of the format.

“Plus, we’ve got the other thing, the alternate shot,” the Ryder Cup captain said. “That’s never been played officially in any PGA Tour tournament. It is in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, but for official money for the Champions Tour, no, it’s never happened before.”

Nicklaus is teaming with Gary Player in The Legends division.

“I’m kind of interested in the format, really,” Nicklaus said. “I think the format using a par-3 golf course is different, something unique.”

Last year, Jeff Sluman and Brad Faxon teamed to win in Savannah, Georgia, edging Fred Funk-Mike Goodes and Kenny Perry-Gene Sauers by a stroke in fourball play. Sluman is playing alongside Funk this year, with Faxon unable to play because of a prior commitment.

“It will be interesting how this all unfolds,” Funk said. “I think marketing-wise it’s probably a great idea because you’re trying to get the concept where people can come out and play a par-3 golf course, and this is not your normal par-3 golf course.”

Mark Calcavecchia noted that the bags will lighter.

“You leave your woods in the car,” Calcavecchia said. “You just bring your 4-iron through sand wedge and it’s just a different feel. It’s going to be fun, but it’s weird not being able to take your frustration out and bash a driver as hard as you can. It’s like, `Oh, God, another 8-iron or wedge or something.'”