This year has been a unique one – to say the least – but a big positive that’s come from the lengthy break from event-planning has seen Golf Canada accelerate meaningful initiatives that will benefit the future of the sport.

The Golf Canada Women in Coaching Program, launching this week, is one of those initiatives – an exciting partnership between Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada that will put the sport on the path to further balance between sexes at a high level, coaching-wise.

“Golf Canada has a vested interest in developing the coaching pool to fill the future pipeline of national team coaches – we want to ensure that in the future we have a coaching staff that better represents our players and the golfing community,” says Emily Phoenix, the manager of high performance sport at Golf Canada and one of the leaders of the Women in Coaching Program.

“There are PGA of Canada members out there who are female, that have invested in their own coaching skills and we want to provide some additional tools, along with our partners at the PGA of Canada, to further develop these existing coaches.”

In early 2019 Sport Canada approached all National Sport Organizations for programs or projects it wanted to do but maybe hadn’t had the funding to launch. The idea for the Women in Coaching Program fell under the Safe Sport and Gender Equity Fund while its inspiration came from Level Par, a comparable initiative in Ireland.

Hey @pgaofcanada LADIES!!! Check this out!👀⬇️ Love it!❤⛳ https://t.co/F6FQZkzXEQ

— Lisa Longball (@LisaLongball) August 17, 2020

Golf Canada applied for a wider collection of funding, so not only will it be doing a coach mentorship program, but there are some other exciting initiatives that Golf Canada has outlined either in the safe sport area or with gender equity that will span two years – 2020 and 2021 – says Phoenix.

The development of this particular program also relates well to Golf Canada’s commitment to the R&A’s Women in Golf charter.

In part, the R&A’s Women in Golf charter (of which Golf Canada is a signatory) intends “to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf around the world and enable more women and girls to flourish and maximize their potential at all levels of the sport.”

Tristan Mullally, the Women’s National Team Head Coach, will co-lead the program along with Phoenix. He says it’s huge any time you can support people who want to learn in both a functional program but also with financial aid.

“Good coaches will tell you they have to invest a lot of money in themselves,” said the PGA of Canada Class ‘A’ member.

Mullally also coaches the Women’s Young Pro Squad and led the Canadian Women’s Golf Team of Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Excited to be a part of this project and support aspiring coaches. Information and application details below #leveltheplayingfield https://t.co/brRulF0aB3

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) August 17, 2020

He says although full-time coaching opportunities are limited, for both genders, this is a chance for Golf Canada to help level the playing field.

“There are many great female coaches across Canada but they tend to be a little more isolated and this was a way to bring expertise together,” he said. “This will bring together likeminded female coaches to build relationships and learn best practices from our national team program.”

As part of the mission of the program, Golf Canada will work closely with female PGA of Canada professionals interested in pursuing a career in coaching.

There will be four main elements to the program including lectures, hands-on training, project work, and a self-assessment. Each successful candidate will receive a $2,500 bursary from Golf Canada.

“The time is long overdue,” says Matt Allen, the chief innovation officer of the PGA of Canada, about this kind of program. “I think for us the rationale was really: we have a lot of female professionals who are doing great work and leading at the club level but we really saw an opportunity to grow the pool of high performance coaching in the country.”

The program launch aligns nicely with the continued growth of the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada and the launch of the PGA of Canada’s Women’s PGA Cup in 2019, says Allen. A program like this, he says, helps with visibility and hopefully, growth of the game.

“There are lots of young, female golfers playing the game and picking up the game now. If they don’t see a high-profile female coach in our sport then they don’t see the pathway for them. If you don’t see it, you don’t believe it,” says Allen. “This is the time for us to say, ‘you know what, we’re putting a stake in the ground.’ These young girls who are starting to pick up the game today can have a viable career at the high performance level.”

PGA of Canada professionals interested in the Women in Coaching Program can click here to apply.

Applications will close on Monday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. ET

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Jim Herman’s got a plan to keep his PGA Tour career thriving – play more rounds with President Donald Trump.

Whenever Herman plays golf with the president, soon after he hoists a trophy.

It happened in 2016 with his breakthrough victory at the Houston Open, again before he won the Barbasol tournament last year – and now before Herman’s improbable rally Sunday at Wyndham Championship to make the FedEx Cup playoffs.

“He’s been a big supporter of mine,” Herman said about Trump, his regular golf partner while working as an assistant professional at Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey. “I need to play golf with him a little bit more.”

Herman gave the president plenty to cheer about on the weekend, a victory even the 42-year-old didn’t see coming.

“This was out of the blue. I’ll tell you that,” Herman said.

Herman shot a 7-under 63 for a one-stroke victory over Billy Horschel, overcoming a four-stroke deficit in the final round at Sedgefield Country Club. Herman moved past Horschel with a birdie on the 71st hole.

A mutual friend passed along the president’s best wishes Saturday, Herman said. He had not heard from Trump yet. “You never know what could happen later tonight or tomorrow morning,” Herman said. “There were some rumours he was definitely watching.”

Herman finished at 21-under 259.

Horschel closed with a 65. He had a final chance to tie on the 72nd hole, but his 8-foot birdie putt slid left of the cup.

Herman got into the playoffs, jumping from 192nd to 54th in the race for the 125 spots.

Si Woo Kim, the third-round leader, had a 70 to tie for third at 18 under with Kevin Kisner (64), Webb Simpson (65) and Doc Redman (68).

Herman had two birdies and an eagle – from 59 feet – on his first five holes to catch up to Kim. Then, trailing Horschel by a stroke, Herman stuck his approach to No. 17 to just over 3 feet for a birdie. to reach 21 under. He gained the lead when Horschel missed a 12-footer for par on 16.

It was quite a week for Herman, who had three birdies over his final four holes Friday simply to make the cut. He followed that up with a career-low 61 on Saturday to get into striking distance before taking the victory.

He had come off a poor showing at the PGA Championship and couldn’t find the fairway early on here. “This is going to be a pretty quick week if we don’t get this figured out,” he told his caddie.

His next tee shot split the fairway and Herman was off and running.

Horschel looked as if he was the one to rally as he moved from three behind Kim to the lead with a birdie-eagle- birdie run on the front nine while Kim struggled with a double bogey and a bogey over his first eight holes.

Horschel had an 11-footer for birdie that didn’t fall on the 17th hole before his miss on No. 18.

“A little disappointed,” he said. “I had two good looks on the last two holes and the way I was rolling, I thought I’d make one of them.”

Kim was a birdie machine with 21 birdies and a hole in one the first three rounds. But he stumbled out of the gate and a pair of bad drives cost him his first win since The Players Championship in 2017.

He drove right into a hazzard of thick grass and, despite six people searching, could not find his shot. Kim made double bogey to fall from the top.

Two holes later, Kim would up near a cart path bridge for a bogey to fall four shots off the lead.

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., was the low Canadian, 12 shots back in a tie for 31st place. Michael Glicic of Burlington, Ont., tied for 59th.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Tom Hoge maintained a share of the lead Friday at the Wyndham Championship, this time alongside Si Woo Kim, Talor Gooch and Billy Horschel.

Hoge, tied for the first-round lead with Harold Varner III and Roger Sloan, kept in front with a steady 2-under 68 to get to 10-under par.

Hoge, whose best-ever tour finish was a second at The Greenbrier this season, was asked what it would take for his first PGA Tour win.

“There’s a lot to that question,” he said.

The answer could be as simple as regaining his first-round form when he had seven birdies, an eagle and one par. This time, Hoge was more up and down with five birdies and three bogeys.

Sloan, from Merritt, B.C., shot a 70 on Friday to drop into a tie for 10th at 8 under. Michael Gligic (69) of Burlington, Ont., was tied for 48th at 4 under. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., both missed the cut.

Kim, whose first tour victory came here in 2016 and made history a year later as the youngest-ever winner of The Players Championship, shot a 65 to move up.

Kim got it going on the front nine (his final nine) after starting with nine consecutive pars. He had six birdies coming in, including the final two holes to move on top.

Kim’s approach shots down the stretch were on target – his final five birdie putts were all from 12 feet or closer.

He said the rough at Sedgefield Country Club was “more sticky and deep” this year.

“It helps more to hit fairway, that’s really important,” Kim said. “That’s why I hit it more, try to focus on ,,, the fairway.”

Like Hoge, the 28-year-old Gooch is seeking his first tour victory. Like Kim, Gooch shot 65 to get into the foursome on top.

It was the first time on tour Gooch, who opened with a 65, had multiple rounds that low in the same event. He had six birdies, including two of his final three holes, to move up.

“Anytime you shoot 65, it does’t matter who, what, when, where, why, you’ve done some good,” he said.

Horschel shot 64 and had birdies on four of last six holes, including a tricky 7-footer on his final one, the ninth, to join the lead group. Horschel won the 2014 FedEx Cup and said this time of year charges him up.

“I like it when the pressure’s on and everyone’s looking at you and you need to step up and doing something special,” he said.

The four were a stroke ahead of Harris English (67) , Varner (69), Andrew Landry (65), Doc Redman (64) and British Open champ Shane Lowry, who shot a 63 to tie for Friday’s low round with Jason Kokrak.

Lowry did not get to defend his major when the tournament was cancelled due to the global pandemic. He also entered the week at 131 in FedEx Cup points, outside of the upcoming playoffs.

After a bogey on his second hole, Lowry had six birdies and an eagle to move into contention.

“Obviously, I’m outside the FedEx Cup number and out of Boston next week, so I need to keep playing some good golf and try and polish off a good week,” he said.

Kokrak was in a group of seven one shot further back along with past Wyndham champ Webb Simpson, who shot his second straight 66.

Those three strokes back included Patrick Reed (68), Paul Casey (66) and Tommy Fleetwood (64).

A pair of major champions in the thick of last week’s PGA Championship in Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose did not make the cut.

Koepka had a 70, including a triple-bogey 7 on the 10th hole, to finish at 2-over, 12 shots behind. Rose rallied to a 67 after an opening 73, but his even-par was not enough to continue.

“Not physically tired, more mentally,” said Koepka, who’s played in sixth straight tournaments with the playoffs ahead. “But I’ve got the weekend off.”

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Tom Hoge maintained a share of the lead Friday at the Wyndham Championship, this time alongside Si Woo Kim, Talor Gooch and Billy Horschel.

Hoge, tied for the first-round lead with Harold Varner III and Roger Sloan, kept in front with a steady 2-under 68 to get to 10-under par.

Hoge, whose best-ever tour finish was a second at The Greenbrier this season, was asked what it would take for his first PGA Tour win.

“There’s a lot to that question,” he said.

The answer could be as simple as regaining his first-round form when he had seven birdies, an eagle and one par. This time, Hoge was more up and down with five birdies and three bogeys.

Sloan, from Merritt, B.C., shot a 70 on Friday to drop into a tie for 10th at 8 under. Michael Gligic (69) of Burlington, Ont., was tied for 48th at 4 under. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., both missed the cut.

Kim, whose first tour victory came here in 2016 and made history a year later as the youngest-ever winner of The Players Championship, shot a 65 to move up.

Kim got it going on the front nine (his final nine) after starting with nine consecutive pars. He had six birdies coming in, including the final two holes to move on top.

Kim’s approach shots down the stretch were on target – his final five birdie putts were all from 12 feet or closer.

He said the rough at Sedgefield Country Club was “more sticky and deep” this year.

“It helps more to hit fairway, that’s really important,” Kim said. “That’s why I hit it more, try to focus on ,,, the fairway.”

Like Hoge, the 28-year-old Gooch is seeking his first tour victory. Like Kim, Gooch shot 65 to get into the foursome on top.

It was the first time on tour Gooch, who opened with a 65, had multiple rounds that low in the same event. He had six birdies, including two of his final three holes, to move up.

“Anytime you shoot 65, it does’t matter who, what, when, where, why, you’ve done some good,” he said.

Horschel shot 64 and had birdies on four of last six holes, including a tricky 7-footer on his final one, the ninth, to join the lead group. Horschel won the 2014 FedEx Cup and said this time of year charges him up.

“I like it when the pressure’s on and everyone’s looking at you and you need to step up and doing something special,” he said.

The four were a stroke ahead of Harris English (67) , Varner (69), Andrew Landry (65), Doc Redman (64) and British Open champ Shane Lowry, who shot a 63 to tie for Friday’s low round with Jason Kokrak.

Lowry did not get to defend his major when the tournament was cancelled due to the global pandemic. He also entered the week at 131 in FedEx Cup points, outside of the upcoming playoffs.

After a bogey on his second hole, Lowry had six birdies and an eagle to move into contention.

“Obviously, I’m outside the FedEx Cup number and out of Boston next week, so I need to keep playing some good golf and try and polish off a good week,” he said.

Kokrak was in a group of seven one shot further back along with past Wyndham champ Webb Simpson, who shot his second straight 66.

Those three strokes back included Patrick Reed (68), Paul Casey (66) and Tommy Fleetwood (64).

A pair of major champions in the thick of last week’s PGA Championship in Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose did not make the cut.

Koepka had a 70, including a triple-bogey 7 on the 10th hole, to finish at 2-over, 12 shots behind. Rose rallied to a 67 after an opening 73, but his even-par was not enough to continue.

“Not physically tired, more mentally,” said Koepka, who’s played in sixth straight tournaments with the playoffs ahead. “But I’ve got the weekend off.”

– Third annual business summit to inspire empowerment will be held online Tuesday, September 1, with complimentary admission –

– Panelists include CP Ambassadors Brooke Henderson and Lorie Kane; Olympians Marnie McBean and Perdita Felicien; as well as executive and educator, Candy Ho and CP executive Pam Arpin –

OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) — Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) has announced the third annual CP Women’s Leadership Summit will take place virtually on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, with complimentary access.

The intent of the CP Women’s Leadership Summit is to bring together like-minded female business leaders for an opportunity to network, as well as inspire empowerment and philanthropy among women. This year’s Summit will feature four sessions, running from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT, and will be hosted by TSN anchor Lindsay Hamilton.

The CP Women’s Leadership Summit will also help raise funds for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the primary charity partner of the 2021 CP Women’s Open, with online donations supporting the health and wellness of children at the BC Children’s Hospital.

The opening-session of the Summit will discuss leadership in sport and will be led by Canadian rower, Marnie McBean, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and Chef de Mission of the 2020 Canadian Olympic Team at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The second session will be themed around leadership during uncertain times and will feature Candy Ho, CEO of The Cape on Bowen Community Development and a board member of Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon along with Pam Arpin, Assistant Vice President, Customer and Corporate Services with Canadian Pacific who was named 2019 League of Railway Woman of the Year.

Perdita Felicien, a retired Canadian hurdler and world champion turned TV broadcaster and personality, will head up the third session touching on overcoming challenges and adversity.

The final session will touch on the growth and state of women’s golf and will feature emcee Lindsay Hamilton interviewing LPGA golfers and CP ambassadors Lorie Kane and Brooke Henderson.

Kane is a 4-time LPGA Tour winner who received the Order of Canada in 2006. She is an honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame (2016) and was recently named as an inductee into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame (2020-2021).

Henderson, a 9-time LPGA Tour champion and winner of the 2018 CP Women’s Open, became the second youngest player in LPGA history to win a major championship at the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She also represented Canada at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio where she finished T7.

“I am very excited to participate in the CP Women’s Leadership Summit to share, hear and learn from some amazing female leaders,” said Pam Arpin, Assistant Vice-President Customer and Corporate Services, Canadian Pacific. “This is also a great opportunity to raise funds for a commendable cause and help to leave a lasting legacy for the hospital, children and families who need it.”

For Golf Canada, hosting the CP Women’s Leadership Summit aligns with the organization’s commitment to developing a more inclusive culture in Canadian golf.

“The CP Women’s Leadership Summit is an important event to provide a forum to discuss meaningful topics that can offer change within sport and the workplace,” said Mary Beth McKenna, a member of Golf Canada’s championship management team. “Our speakers are true leaders, both in their respective industries and as women’s empowerment advocates. While we can’t gather in person this year due to circumstances around the pandemic, we are excited to bring speakers together virtually who will provide participants with an inspiring experience and wide array of perspectives.”

The CP Women’s Leadership Summit typically takes place in conjunction with CP Women’s Open tournament week. In late June, Golf Canada, CP and the LPGA jointly announced the 2020 CP Women’s Open would be postponed until 2021 due to continued travel and border restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 CP Women’s Open will be held August 23-29, at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Information about the 2021 CP Women’s Leadership Summit will be announced in the coming months.

More information about the CP Women’s Leadership Summit, is available online at www.cpwomensopen.com/wls. 

GREENSBORO, N.C. _ Canada’s Roger Sloan is tied for the lead after he shot a career-low 62 in the first round of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship on Thursday.

Sloan’s previous best round on the top tour was a 64 at last year’s Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico.

At 8 under, the Merritt, B.C. golfer was tied with Americans Harold Varner III and Tom Hoge toward the end of the first round. Sloan and Hoge were part of the same threesome.

“Tom and I go back to our Canadian Tour days (in 2011), so it’s nice to get reunited out there and share some good stories and memories,” Sloan said. “I think that puts you in a good frame of mind when one guy’s making some birdies. I think I got the early track on some birdies, it kind of motivated him, and then when he’s pushing through and passing me, you know, I want to finish strong.”

Sloan has struggled this season, missing the cut in 13 of 19 events and sitting 178th in the rankings. He needs a big finish in the final regular-season event this week to make it into the top 125 and qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs.

However, unlike in previous years, players outside the top 125 after this week won’t lose their PGA Tour cards. The tour made the change after the COVID-19 pandemic halted play in March.

“I’m very fortunate because it doesn’t matter what happens this week, I have status on the PGA Tour next year,” Sloan said. “That’s comforting to know, so we’re just going to go out, we’re going to do everything we can to win this golf tournament.”

Varner had eight birdies, including four in a row midway through the round, through 15 holes. He finished with three pars.

Hoge had his only bogey of the day on No. 18 to lose sole possession of the lead.

Former U.S. Open champ and past Wyndham winner Webb Simpson was among a large group at 66.

Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., had a 67, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., shot a 69 and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., had a 72.

A pair of major champions who challenged at the PGA Championship last week struggled in the opening round.

Brooks Koepka had a 72 and Justin Rose a 73.

The striking long-range performance of the Titleist T-Series T100•S and T200 player’s irons – powered by breakthrough technology for explosive distance in a player-preferred shape – can now be experienced in a stealthy all-black setup.

Available Aug. 28 for a limited time, the new T-Series T100•S and T200 Black irons are finished with a sleek High Polish Black PVD coating continually requested by tour players and members of #TeamTitleist. Each model is complemented by a glare-reducing matte black shaft – DG Onyx AMT Black (T100•S) or Project X LZ Onyx (T200) – and an all-black Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 grip.

“T100•S and T200 have proven to be incredible feats of engineering that really show what it takes to be a Titleist iron,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing.

“It’s the ultimate blend of classic shaping and modern technology. You’re getting the look and feel of a true player’s iron, but with the added speed, launch and forgiveness that allows you to take aim from farther away. We’ve heard from many golfers asking us to build these all-black editions – the combination of the Black PVD finish with the matte black shaft and matching grip is just stunning.”

T-SERIES BLACK ON TOUR

T-Series irons have quickly become the most-played iron model on the PGA Tour, where Titleist has been the longstanding #1 iron since 2005. Cameron Smith won the Sony Open in Hawaii playing a set of T100 Black irons. Lanto Griffin, who put in his request for black T100’s after seeing Smith post a picture of them in Instagram, used them to win the Houston Open.

“The first time I saw these irons they looked so good I didn’t want to put a scratch on them,” said Smith. “The black finish just looks tighter to me and really fits my eye. It also helps to keep a little bit of the shine off which I really like.”

T100•S TECHNOLOGY

T100•S irons are the only fully-forged player’s distance iron in the category, designed to deliver the same tour-level precision and signature feel as T100 in 2-degree stronger lofts for longer distance. Each iron has been individually calibrated to give better players the added distance they need to score lower, while preserving the feel and precision required for superior shot shaping.

T100•S BLACK SPECIFICATIONS

DEXTERITY: Right Hand

FINISH: High Polish Black

SET MAKEUP: 4-P, W48

SHAFT: Project X LZ Onyx

GRIP: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 (All Black)

T200 TECHNOLOGY

T200 irons deliver powerfully playable distance in a tour-inspired shape – with Max Impact Technology, a striking innovation that extends maximum speed across the entire face of mid and long irons while preserving superior sound and feel. A super thin forged face is backed by a unique polymer core – developed in partnership with Titleist Golf Ball R&D – to provide consistently better distance from every swing, without sacrificing looks, feel, trajectory or stopping power.

T200 BLACK SPECIFICATIONS

DEXTERITY: Right Hand

FINISH: High Polish Black

SET MAKEUP: 4-P, W48

SHAFT: DG Onyx AMT Black

GRIP: Golf Pride Tour Velvet 360 (All Black)

AVAILABILITY

Titleist T-Series T100•S and T200 Black irons are available for a limited time beginning Aug. 28, 2020. MAP $270 per club ($2,159/set of 8).

Acton, Ont. – The RBC PGA Scramble announced today the cancellation of its national final, originally scheduled from Oct. 4-6 at Cabot Cape Breton in Inverness, N.S.

The decision comes as a result of ongoing travel restrictions associated with the Atlantic bubble, the recent extension of Nova Scotia’s state of emergency and continued health concerns surrounding COVID-19 across the country.

The program announced its backup plans in June, committing to a decision on the national final’s fate prior to the start of regionals.

“The safety and well-being of everyone involved in the program continues to be our top priority,” said Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC.  “In conjunction with our partners, we have made the decision to move forward with our alternative plans given the information available at this time. While we share in the disappointment of players, we are pleased to proceed with an enhanced and unique regional experience for all participants.”

As a result of the cancellation, the RBC PGA Scramble will move forward with enhanced regional events featuring over $150,000 CAD worth of gifting and prizing. These prizes come in addition to the complimentary Pro-level GOLFTV subscription included with all player registrations at the local level.

“We’ve been able to leverage the funds normally put toward the national final and work with our partners to create one of the all-time greatest prizing experiences available in Canada,” said Kevin Thistle, chief executive officer of the PGA of Canada.

For the first time, all regional finalists (approx. 1,100 players) will receive one dozen Pro V1s and a Titleist hat for advancing beyond the first stage of the competition.

Prizing at regionals will be awarded to the top three teams, with first-place groups winning a $1,500 CAD per person online shopping experience with Titleist and FootJoy and second and third-place teams receiving a Pro Shop gift certificate at their regional venue. The top two teams will also take home a custom leather keepsake thanks to a collaboration between sponsor Lincoln and Nova Scotia-based Dormie Workshop.

One overall winning team will be determined by comparing score differentials (net score minus course rating) across the 11 regional finals, with the national champions taking home a 2021 RBC Canadian Open VIP Package, which includes travel, accommodations and tickets to next year’s PGA TOUR event in Toronto in addition to the $1,500 CAD per person shopping spree with Titleist and FootJoy.

A draw prize for two nights’ accommodation and two rounds of golf at Cabot Cape Breton will also be awarded to one lucky team.

The RBC PGA Scramble saw record-breaking participation this season, with nearly 11,000 players taking part in 140 local qualifying events nationwide. Female participation grew 25% year-over-year following the creation of an all-female spot at every regional final.

The program implemented several safety protocols in response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the use of online registration and scoring to reduce touchpoints, tee-time starts, mailing prizes post-play, mandatory physical distancing and more.

“We are proud to provide an enjoyable opportunity for golfers to safely compete, especially during a time when most team sports and events are unable to operate,” stated Thistle. “We look forward to building on the enthusiasm at local qualifiers to deliver an elevated experience for participants at the next stage of the competition. We would like to thank all PGA of Canada professionals and amateur players for embracing the new safety protocols that allowed us to make this possible.”

The RBC PGA Scramble Regional Final season comprises 11 events over four weeks at some of the country’s top golf courses. Historically conducted as shotgun events with a closing dinner and prize presentation, this year’s tournaments will follow a tee-time format to limit group gatherings.

The first regional final kicks off Aug. 17 at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.

To view the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company Regional Final schedule, click here.

LANGFORD, B.C.—The good thing about shooting a 63 in the opening round is it gives you a cushion for the rest of the tournament. Evan Holmes can definitely relate.

Despite playing the final 36 holes in only even-par, Holmes rode his 8-under start to victory in the Canada Life Series’ first tournament at Bear Mountain’s Mountain Course. Holmes defeated Zach Anderson by two shots to take the early lead on the Points List with three tournaments remaining. Canadians Raoul Ménard and Derek Gillespie and China’s Yi Cao tied for third, at 4-under.

Since Monday when Holmes made three consecutive birdies to begin this inaugural Canada Life Series event, he has maintained his advantage even as Anderson chipped away each day. Anderson moved from five strokes behind after 18 holes to three shots back when the final round began. Anderson shot a Wednesday 71 but bogeyed three of his final four holes after getting to 9-under with a birdie at No. 13. Following a par at the 14th, Anderson made bogeys at 15, 17 and 18. Holmes also struggled coming in on a difficult scoring day. The former University of British Columbia golfer moved to 10-under through 13 but played his final five holes in 2-over. In the end, he benefited from Anderson’s stumbles and his strong beginning to the tournament paid dividends.

“The highlight of the week is for sure the first-round 63. It was nice to get off to that good start,” Holmes explained. “It feels really good. You probably have to win at least one of them to be No. 1 (at the end of the Series), so I couldn’t have asked for a better start, and I’m looking forward to the other three.”

“Chasing Evan all day was good, and getting off to a good start definitely helped,” said Anderson. “I think everyone in the group was tied at minus-8 through three and then Lawren fell off and me and Evan were battling it out pretty good on the back nine. Then we both stumbled coming in.”

Lawren Rowe, who began the final round a stroke behind Holmes, struggled to a 5-over 76 to fall into sixth place, at 3-under.   Holmes was philosophical about what turned out to be the toughest day of the 54-hole tournament.

“It was long and tiring. The same as [Tuesday], swirling winds all day and a little bit stronger,” Holmes said of the final round. “It was tough to hit a lot of good shots out there, but it was nice to grind it out.  “Conditions were pretty tough,” he continued, noting the dryness of the course because of the wind. “It got a little baked out again and a lot of wind. It was very tough to commit to clubs.

Team RBC’s Adam Hadwin provides advice and tips around enjoying time south of the border and managing finances as a Canadian in the U.S.

To learn more about cross-border banking with RBC, visit www.rbc.com/crossborder.