While Corey Conners has enjoyed notable success on the PGA TOUR over the past two seasons, perhaps his biggest regret during that time was not being able to share that success with Canadian fans on Canadian soil. But with the RBC Canadian Open returning this year, the wait is over for the Listowel, Ont., native as he will be teeing off against the best in the world next week in Toronto.

The RBC Canadian Open was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but will make its long-awaited return this year at the St. George’s Golf and Country Club, with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.

“To have the crowd made up of pretty much all Canadians is going to be amazing,” added the long-time Canadian National Team member. “I know the fans will be really behind all the Canadian players, and that’s something that I’m super excited about and I’ve certainly missed the last couple of years.” 

According to tournament director Bryan Crawford, this year’s RBC Canadian Open will be a treat for players and fans alike. Crawford is quick to point out that the goal is to offer a best-in-class experience for everyone in attendance.

“That’s what we are aiming for, a best-in-class event for players, caddies, volunteers, partners and our fans,” he said. “It starts with a great golf course, and you can’t ask for a better one than St. George’s—it’s one of the premier facilities in Canada.”

2019 champion Rory McIlroy is back this year to defend his crown and reigning Masters champ and current world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler, and five-time PGA TOUR winner and world no. 3, Cam Smith. Other notable names are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Besides the star-studded line up on the golf course, this year’s tournament will feature two chart-topping musical acts on stage as Flo Rida and three-time Grammy award winner Maroon 5 are schedule to entertain fans on June 10 and June 11 respectively as part of the RBCxMusic Concert Series taking place at nearby Richview Collegiate.

“The RBCxMusic Concert Series was an overwhelming success in 2019 and will once again attract new fans to experience the energy and excitement of the RBC Canadian Open,” noted Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer, John Sibley.

At the recent PGA Championship, Conners reiterated his feelings about returning to Canada in early June.

“Apart from the major championships, I don’t know if I’ve been as excited for a golf event or a PGA TOUR event in my life. I’m really excited to get back to Canada. It’s been unfortunate that we haven’t been able to get there the last couple of years,” noted the top-ranked Canadian.

“I know the fans will be out in full force and supporting the Canadians, and hopefully we can put on a good show.”

Given his stellar play, Canadian golf fans are also understandably excited to see their home-grown talent compete against the best in the world.  

Conners has recorded impressive results on the PGA TOUR recently including a tie for sixth place at the Masters in early April—the third year in a row that the talented young Canadian has finished in the top-10 at Augusta National. He also finished in a tie for 15th place last summer at The Open Championship played at the Royal St. George’s Golf Course.

“Personally, I feel now like my game is a lot more refined, so I’m going to be teeing it up (in Canada) with really high expectations for myself,” Conners pointed out.

It is interesting to note that a Canadian has not won the RBC Canadian Open since Pat Fletcher did it back in 1954.  

Besides Conners, there will be a talented group of Canadians eager to end that drought this year at the 11^1th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.  Among those already confirmed are Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Nick Taylor, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, Michael Gligic, Roger Sloan, Aaron Cockerill, and Brendan Leonard. The final field can be found here.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy confirmed his intent to defend his 2019 title this summer at St. George’s Golf & Country Club from June 6-12.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Bromont, Que. – The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds improved their leads in the men’s and women’s divisions in the second round at the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO.

“We brought four really good women here and there are five left at home that also could have won this event […] so [as a team] we are not here without those girls,” said Shania Remandaban on UBC’s depth on the women’s side.

On the backs of Sonja Tang’s 5-under 67 and Remandaban’s 3-under 69, UBC strengthened their grip on the women’s team division and head into the third round with a 55-stroke lead.

The men’s team also cemented their lead atop their division with a trio of 1-under par performances from Aidan Schumer, Ethan DeGraaf and Dylan MacDonald, and an even par showing for Mackenzie Bickell.

“I think resilience is number one; our coach is always trying to get us to play smart and keep grinding,” says Aidan Schumer on the strength of UBC’s men’s golf team.

The University of Victoria Vikes men’s team carded the low round of the day, shooting a collective 9-under in the team competition to jump six spots on the leaderboard into second place. Each of the five players were under par on the day: Zachary Ryujin (-4), John Morrow (-3), Aidan Craig Steele (-1), Marlon Neto-Bradley (-1) and Robin Canlan (-1).

Despite a stellar effort to etch his way back into the competition, Morrow says the best is yet to come from him and knows he’ll have to go low over the next two days to be in contention for the individual title.

“I was able to keep it respectable yesterday, but I still don’t feel like I am controlling the golf ball very well,” said Morrow. “I’m going to have to play solid, hit a lot of greens and make some putts.”

Samuel Breton Gagnon and Élizabeth Labbé continued to pace the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.

Breton Gagnon recorded a 5-under 67 for the second time in as many rounds and holds a four-stroke lead halfway through the competition. The 18-year-old’s 10-under is the lowest 36-hole score in the event since Scott Secord’s 11-under in 2014.

Labbé’s 1-over par 73 brought her to 3-under on the tournament – two strokes ahead of Tang in second place. Grace Bell and Remandaban, also Thunderbirds, hold the third and fourth place spots, respectively.

The highlight of the day came from Remandaban at the 133-yard, par-3 11^th hole. The 2019 runner-up fired her tee shot at a blind front-right hole location and knew it was good, but didn’t know how good. She would find out soon enough just how good it was.

“I didn’t see it go in, but my playing partners’ parents said, ‘Nice shot!’ and I said, ‘Thanks!’ then they said, ‘No, it’s a really nice shot – it’s in!’” she laughed. “I didn’t know at all, so it was a nice surprise picking it up.”

Thomas DeMarco (University of Windsor) recorded six birdies on the day and sits in a tie for second place with UBC’s Schumer. Alexis Leray (Université Laval) is alone in fourth at 5-under after a 69 in round two.

After the third round, the field will be cut to the low ten (10) Male teams and the low six (6) Female teams, including any team within 15 shots of the lead.  Individuals within 10 shots of third place, including any player within the top 10, will also make the cut.

Click here for more information including the leaderboard, third round pairings and course information.

Top-5 Women’s – Individual

Top-5 Men’s – Individual 

Top-5 Women’s – Team

Top-5 Men’s – Team

Bromont, Que. – Albeit three years later, the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds picked up right where they left off at the Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO: on top of the leaderboards.

The T-Birds took a commanding 26-stroke lead in the women’s division, while the men’s squad will enter round two at Golf Château Bromont with a four-stroke lead of their own.

Élizabeth Labbé and Grace Bell lead the charge for the women’s team, firing rounds of 4-under 68 and 3-under 69, respectively. The Thunderbirds duo sit 1-2 atop the leaderboard in the individual competition.

Aidan Schumer, a member of the UBC men’s team, and Samuel Breton Gagnon of the Champlain St-Lawrence Lions share the lead at 5-under in the men’s individual competition.

Labbé, a native of Québec who plays her university golf on the west coast, returned home to La Belle Province and used the familiarity of the course to her advantage.

“I think there’s a fairly good advantage to being familiar with the greens, so my putting was really good today,” said Labbé. ‘‘I gave myself a lot of opportunities and I was able to convert some of them,” added the first-year student, who says she has played multiple events at Golf Château Bromont as a junior.

The Lévis, Que., native caught fire midway through her round, rolling in a pair of birdies and an eagle during a three-hole stretch (nos. 8 to 10).

“I just tried to stay calm and roll with it” said Labbé who, admittedly, even surprised herself.

Breton Gagnon, a native of nearby Quebec City, Que., went out with a bogey-free 4-under 32 before shooting a 1-under 35 on the back nine to finish tied for the lead atop the men’s individual leaderboard.

At the mere age of 18, the Champlain St-Lawrence showed maturity beyond his years at a course he says he knows well. When asked about any possibility of an intimidation factor, Breton Gagnon was quick to shut it down.

Hayley McCallum (Humber College) and Sonja Tang (UBC) finished with a 4-over 76 and are T3 entering Thursday’s second round. Lexie McKay (Western Mustangs) rounded out the top-5 with a 6-over 78.

Matthew Morris (Brock University) and Jacob Armstrong (University of the Fraser Valley) are neck-and-neck at 3-under par, tied for third place.

Armstrong, a third-year student, says this tournament was a long time coming for him and his team from B.C.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time, so to get off to a strong start was neat. After waiting so long, I’m very excited to be here this week – especially at a course like this,” said Armstrong.

Full the full leaderboard click here.

For second round tee times click here.

Top-5 Women’s – Individual

Top-5 Men’s – Individual 

Top-5 Women’s – Team

Top-5 Men’s – Team

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – The NextGen Western Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is set to begin Thursday at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Practice rounds are scheduled for June 1, before the official 54-hole tournament gets underway on June 2. Play is scheduled to wrap up on Saturday, June 4.

The top six male competitor will earn a spot in the upcoming Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, August 7-10, at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. The top six female golfers (including ties) will also earn exemptions into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 25-29, at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

The starting field will feature 94 players – 67 Junior Boys and 27 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The NextGen Western Championship is the third of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Alessandra Nagayo and Ben MacLean took home the honours in the latest NextGen Championship at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn, Ont. For the full schedule of 2022 NextGen Championships, click here.

Halfway between Calgary and Edmonton and a 3-wood to the west is home to Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. True to the name of the town in which it is located, Pine Hills offers an array of elevation changes and blind approaches over it’s hilly, yet majestic landscape. In 1989, an additional 9 holes were added to the original layout to complete the 18-hole championship course that requires creativity and shot-making to go low.

For past results of the 2022 NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards: Pacific | Ontario

Additional information about the 2022 NextGen Western Championship can be found here.

NOTABLES

Cole Bergheim (Red Deer, Alta.)

Top 10 results at the 2021 NextGen Fall Series West Championship and the 2022 MJT National Championship sets Cole Bergheim up nicely for another stellar result at the NextGen Western Championship. Bergheim will be hoping to improve on his 15^th place finish at the NextGen Pacific Championship earlier this year, and he will have every chance to do so this week at Pine Hills Golf Club.

Logan Graff (Sylvan Lake, Alta.)

Graff, who plays out of the same club as Bergheim, will be poised to get his hands on the trophy in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. The Sylvan Lake, Alta. native finished as the runner-up at last year’s Alberta U19 Boys Championship and is keen on taking his game to the next level in 2022.

Georgia Barr (Calgary, Alta.)

The 2020 Alberta U17 Girls Champion will look to continue making strides in her young golf career at the NextGen Western Championship. In 2021, Barr’s game trended in the right direction with a 5^th place result at the Alberta U19 Girls Championship, a T8 finish at the Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship and a 13^th place finish at the 2021 NextGen Fall Series West Championship.

Eileen Park (Red Deer, Alta.)

Don’t let Eileen Park’s size or age fool you. As a 12-year-old, Park won every event in her age category on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour last season and finished in second place at the Alberta U19 Girls Championship. She’s proven she can play with the best of them before, and she will be looking to do so again when she tees it up in Rocky Mountain House on Thursday.

About the NextGen Championships series, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

BROMONT, Que. – Canada’s best student-athlete golfers will descend on Golf Château Bromont in Bromont, Que., for the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO from June 1-4. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.

2022 marks the 18^th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best university and college golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.

The 18 teams competing for the Men’s division come from the following conferences (number of teams in brackets):

• Ontario University Athletics (6)
• Canada West (5)
• Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (2)
• Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (5)

The Women’s division is composed of 12 teams from across the country:

• Canada West (4)
• OUA (5)
• RSEQ (2)
• CCAA (1)

After the third round, the field will be cut to the low ten (10) Male teams and the low six (6) Female teams, including any team within 15 shots of the lead. Individuals within 10 shots of third place, including any player within the top 10, will also make the cut.

Golf Canada prides itself on providing an opportunity for university and college players to compete at the highest level of national competition at the end of their seasons.

“The Canadian University/College Championships, presented by BDO provides an opportunity for the best student-athletes from across the country to showcase their talents and compete for a national championship,” said tournament director, Akash Patel. “After a two-year hiatus, Golf Canada recognizes the significance of the return of this event, and we are excited to get the competition underway.”

The 72-hole stroke play event – which was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – was last played in 2019 and hosted by the Fanshawe College Falcons at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. In contrast to recent years, there will be no official host school for this year’s event held in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.

The University of British Columbia enters this year’s tournament as the defending champions of both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. In 2019, the women’s team captured their fourth consecutive national championship with a one-stroke victory over the Laval Rouge et Or, while the men’s team erased a nine-stroke deficit to knock off the Western Mustangs in the final round via a playoff.

The UBC women have won 14 of the last 17 team event titles – easily the most in the competition’s history. The T-Birds also have the most men’s team championships with six.

Sarah Dunning of the University of Guelph was crowned champion of the Women’s individual competition and Charles Fitzsimmons of Western University took home the honours on the Men’s side in 2019. Neither Dunning, nor Fitzsimmons will be returning to defend their titles this year.

Last time the event was held in Quebec (2013), the UBC Thunderbirds won the Men’s division, and the Université de Montréal Carabins were named the Women’s champions.

Multiple winners of the event include Christina Spence (2007 & 2008), Kat Kennedy (2016 & 2017) and Evan Holmes (2015 & 2017). 

For more information about the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, including the player list, pairings and leaderboards, click here.
 
MENS TEAMS
Bishop’s University Gaiters
Brock University Badgers
Champlain St Lawrence Lions
Humber College Hawks
McMaster University Marauders
Queen’s University Gaels
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Université du Montréal Carabins
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Calgary Dinos
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Guelph Gryphons
University of Manitoba Bisons
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Windsor Lancers
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks
 
WOMENS TEAMS
Brock University Badgers
Humber College Hawks
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Université du Montréal Carabins
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of British Columbia – Okanagan Heat
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Windsor Lancers
Western University Mustangs
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks

CALGARY, Alta. – Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta., was the lone golfer to shoot even-par or better on a unforgiving day at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.  

The amateur, who plays his collegiate golf at Utah Valley University, rolled in birdies on holes no. 1, 5 and 16 to offset a bogey on no. 3 and a double bogey on no. 11 for an even-par 72 and medallist honours at the fourth and final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier in Alberta.

As there were less than 100 competitors at the Regional Qualifier, McKinlay did not earn a direct exemption into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open but will be vying for a spot in the tournament at the Final Qualifier at Oakdale Golf & Country Club on June 6.

Five others in the starting field of 54 added their names to the tee sheet at the Final Qualifier next Monday in Toronto, Ont.:

• Jeffrey Kang (Anaheim, California)
• Carter Code (Calgary, Alta.)
• David Durbeniuk (Calgary, Alta.)
• Carter Lewis (Calgary, Alta.)
• Dane Thorogood (Calgary, Alta.)

Kang’s 1-over par 73 placed him alone in second. The American pencilled not one, not two but three eagles to his scorecard after starting the day +4 through the first three holes.

Code and Durbeniuk each had eagles of their own on holes no. 4 and no. 9, respectively, en route to a 2-over par 74. The amateur duo finished T3 and will be travelling east later this week to compete for a chance to play in Canada’s National Open.

It was a grind to the finish line for Lewis, but the Calgary, Alta. native prevailed. After 11 holes, Lewis was 3-under par and atop the leaderboard, but four bogeys and a double coming in pushed him back to T5 in the standings – a result that stood up for the former college player.   

Joining him to round out the top-five was Dane Thorogood who, opposite to Lewis, struggled out of the gates before ending his round in style. The former South Alabama Jaguar recorded birdies on holes no. 15 and no. 18 to make the cut on the number and book his spot into the final stage of qualifying.

A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Oakdale Golf & Country Club will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.

For the full leaderboard click here.

For past 2022 results of RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier: Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.

Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation have announced a major gift from the Stollery Family that will see the official title of the women’s national team head coach renamed as the Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach and Stollery Family Olympic Women’s Head Coach.

The Stollery Family, long-time supporters of Canadian golf and especially the women’s game including junior girls and high-performance activities, have donated a total $2M to the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation in support of the Team Canada program to help fund the Women’s Head Coach position over a 30-year term.

“We are so honoured that the Stollerys, a family with such a long history of philanthropy and promoting sport, has chosen to make this meaningful gift in support of women’s golf,” said Golf Canada President Liz Hoffman, who also sits as a Board Member on the Golf Canada Foundation. “We are excited for what this means for the growth of the women’s game, and the powerful statement it makes in support of coaching across Canada.”

Salimah Mussani, recently promoted by Golf Canada to lead the women’s team will be the inaugural Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach.

Seven sisters –Cailey, Victoria, Gillian, Lindsay, Claire, Sarah, and Hannah – have proudly carried on the family legacy of support for the game initiated by their late father Gordon Stollery. Among other successful business ventures, the Stollery Family are the owners and operators of Goodwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont. as well as Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. which has played host to numerous major golf championships including the CP Women’s Open (2001), the Telus Skins Game (2001), the RBC Canadian Open (2002, 2007) and the golf competition of the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Angus Glen is also proud host of the annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargeant Farms, set to return October 12-15, 2022. The Stollery Family have also been long-time supporters of the Golf Canada Foundation including events such as the popular Wine, Women’ & Shoes Fundraiser. The generosity of the Stollery Family has supported numerous charitable legacies including a $5M donation to Markham Stouffville Hospital which named the Stollery Family Centre for Childbirth and Children in their honour.

“Our family recognizes and values the critical role that women’s golf and high-performance coaching can have on the overall growth of a sport that has meant so such much to us all,” said Cailey Stollery who sits on the Board Directors of both the Golf Canada Foundation as well as the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

The Stollery Family’s major gift to fund the Women’s Head Coach position is the first of its kind for a Canadian National Sport Federation head coaching position.

The Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach will also be a first for a Canadian Olympic Team coach as the Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach will also guide Women’s Golf Team that is named by the Canadian Olympic Committee to represent Team Canada at future Olympic Games.

“This gift from the Stollery Family is remarkable, and a clear indication of the entire family’s shared belief in the transformational power of sport,” says Jacqueline Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee and CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. “This contribution is truly inspiring and will help shape the exciting future of women’s golf in Canada for years to come.”

The continued expansion of the National Team Program through major donor gifts is a driving force behind Golf Canada’s enhanced support of the High-Performance Program with a goal to advance 30 Canadian athletes to the LPGA and PGA TOUR by 2032.

PORT SEVERN, Ont. – There wasn’t much for Ben MacLean and Alessandra Nagayo to worry about on Saturday at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn, Ont. 

MacLean (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led wire-to-wire and Nagayo (Toronto, Ont.) made a final round comeback to capture the titles in their respective divisions at the NextGen Ontario Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

MacLean carded rounds of 69, 69 and 70 for an 11-stroke victory for his second championship in as many weeks, after bringing home the 2022 Ontario Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship last week. 

“I made a huge jump in my game last year and I took most of the stuff I did last year and added to that,” said MacLean on his recent success. “[I’m] finding better shots off the tee and hitting my shots a lot better than I was last year which has been pretty helpful, and I’m trusting everything more.”

Next for the 17-year-old is the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on June 6 at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, an event MacLean says he’s confident he can qualify for. 

Nagayo’s week wasn’t as straight forward, but the result was no different. Entering Saturday’s round five strokes back, the 18-year-old carded a final round 71 to win the Junior Girls division by five strokes. 

Swetha Sathish, who held the 36-hole lead in the Junior Girls division wasn’t able to get it done down the stretch, but her confidence remains intact.

“Thinking about those good shots, visualizing those good shots, and then making them happen was really crucial [this week],” said Sathish, and the positive thoughts didn’t end there.

“I see myself probably winning a couple provincial championships, maybe even a national championship, and definitely getting into a good university in the future and [eventually] going professional.” 

From the Junior Boys division, the top eight players have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 6-10, at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Including Nagayo, the top eight players in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship taking place July 25-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

For full results click here.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Germany’s Bernhard Langer and Canada’s Mike Weir made third-round moves Saturday in the 82nd Senior PGA Championship, under improved weather conditions.

The 64-year-old Langer and the left-handed Weir, who started the day two strokes behind co-leaders Scott McCarron and Calgary’s Stephen Ames, played the front side of the Jack Nicklaus designed course on the shores of Lake Michigan in 3 under. They were one stroke behind Ames, who turned at 2 under for the third round and an early 10 under for the tournament.

Ames birdied No. 2 and 3. After he bogeyed the 436-yard seventh hole, Ames finished the front with a birdie on the par-5 ninth to turn in 2-under 34. McCarron turned in 1 under after a front nine that included three birdies and two bogeys.

Following Friday’s rain and temperatures in the 50s, the 72 golfers who made the cut at 3-over 145 at Harbor Shores were taking advantage of the soft conditions and temperatures nearing 70 degrees. It’s the Senior PGA’s fifth visit to the par-71 course that opened in 2010. It’s produced four champions, whose victories totaled a combined 64 under. The record score is 19-under 265 by champions Rocco Mediate (2016) and Paul Broadhurst (2018).

Langer has three top-10 finishes in the 2012, 2014 and 2016. He didn’t play in 2018 because of his son’s graduation but showed up that year for media day after winning the Senior PGA championship in 2017.

On Saturday, Langer, a two-time winner of the Masters who has won the most senior majors (11) on the PGA Tour Champions, picked up where he left off after two straight rounds of 68 by making birdies on holes 1, 6 and 9. Weir, from Bright’s Grove, Ont., who opened with a 65 Thursday before scrambling for a 71 in Friday’s poor weather, started his round with a bogey on the par-4 third hole but then birdied four of his last five holes.