VICTORIA – World Golf Hall of Famers Vijay Singh and Colin Montgomerie, as well as four-time European Ryder Cup team member Miguel Angel Jimenez, have committed to play the 2016 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

The Champions Tour event will be contested at Bear Mountain Golf Resort’s Mountain Course in Victoria the week of September 19-25, 2016. The tournament will feature a US$2.5 million purse, with 81 players competing for a winner’s share of $375,000.

Singh, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2005, won 34 times over a standout PGA TOUR career, including major championship wins at the 1998 and 2004 PGA Championship, as well as the 2000 Masters Tournament.

The Fiji native competed on the International Presidents Cup team eight times throughout his illustrious career, where 31 of his 34 wins came during the Tiger Woods era. The 34 victories rank 14th on the all-time PGA TOUR wins list, ahead of names such as Lee Trevino, Gary Player and Johnny Miller.

Montgomerie, who spent the vast majority of his career competing on the European Tour, has made a second home on the Champions Tour. The 53-year-old has notched three victories on Tour, including the 2014 and 2015 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, as well as the 2014 U.S. Senior Open – all of which are senior major championships.

The eight-time European Ryder Cup team member compiled one of the all-time best records in the biennial event, posting a 20-7-1 stat line without losing a singles match. During his tenure on the team, the Scotland native helped the Europeans to five victories, with each coming in his last six years of competition from 1995 through 2006.

Montgomerie won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, including seven in a row from 1993 through 1999. His 31 career victories, which are the most of any British player in Tour history, gave way to a World Golf Hall of Fame induction in 2013.

Much like Montgomerie, Jimenez became a household name through his play overseas, including four stints on the European Ryder Cup team alongside 21 victories.

The 52-year-old earned fan favorite status through the years with his trademark ponytail and well-lit cigar during tournament rounds. On social media, Jimenez acquired an entirely new set of fans via his pre-round stretching routine, which combined the looks of yoga and dance to create an infinite number of posts on numerous outlets.

On the Champions Tour, the Spaniard has won an event each of the last three years, with a victory at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in April serving as the most recent. Jimenez has been the best player on Tour this year behind Bernhard Langer, notching a staggering seven top-5 finishes in eight starts, including the win and four runner-up finishes.

The trio of legends was joined by five other players of note in the event’s most recent commitment list, with World Golf Hall of Fame member Mark O’Meara leading the way.

The two-time major championship winner, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015, has two career wins on the Champions Tour, including the 2010 Constellation SENIOR PLAYERS Championship – one of five senior major championships.

Also announced today were 1982 Masters Champion Craig Stadler, former U.S. Presidents Cup team Captain Jay Haas, 2005 PLAYERS Championship winner Fred Funk and 11-time PGA TOUR winner John Cook.

Tournament week in Victoria will begin with Official Pro-Ams on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by 54 holes of championship play from Friday through Sunday, with no cut. All three competitive rounds will be broadcast live by Golf Channel to more than 200 million homes in 84 countries and 11 languages around the world.

Tickets are also on-sale for this premier event and can be purchased at www.selectyourtickets.com. 

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – Heat and humidity dominated the day as the 2016 edition of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship opened at the Grand Niagara Golf Club. Michael Mercier carded a 4-under 68 to top the Senior division’s leaderboard, while Ottawa’s Dru Lafave and Burnaby, B.C., native John Gallacher share the Super Senior lead. The trio representing Manitoba is ahead in the inter-provincial team competition by two strokes.

Garth Collings of Matlock, Man., and Calgary’s Allan Ross recorded matching 70s to lead the Canadian contingent in the overall competition. Collings Collected three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 8^th hole.

“The course was awesome, but it was obviously very hot and humid,” said the 58-year-old. “The course played very well. I got off to a good start, but then I had a bit of a hiccup. I really worked hard to keep it in play. I made a couple of lucky shots and I was fortunate enough to shoot 70.”

Collings and teammates – and Winnipeg products – Michael Walker and Brad Moore, tallied a team total of even-par 144 to stake a two-stroke lead ahead of Team Alberta. Teams British Columbia and Ontario are T3 at 5-over 147.

“It’s the main reason why we come here,” reflected Collings, when asked about the 36-hole inter-provincial team competition. “Any individual success we have is great also, but when I teed up in our province to play in the Senior in Manitoba, I played to make this team. That was my goal. For us to play well here, hopefully we can keep it going tomorrow. It’s senior golf, it’s really about the golf and the camaraderie.”

Alone atop the Senior division is Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla. The 58-year-old, who began the day on the back nine, notched seven birdies on the day, including four across his first nine holes for a 3-under 33 showing. Las Vegas native Brady Exber counted five birdies and sits one stroke back of the leader.

Ottawa’s Dru Lafave and John Gallacher of Burnaby, B.C., lead the 65-and-over Super Senior division contested concurrently with the championship’s first two rounds. At even-par, the pair sit one stroke clear of Vineland, Ont., native Kerry Short.

Following the opening 36-holes, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., from September 17-22.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here.

London, Ont. – Golf Canada in partnership with title sponsor Freedom 55 Financial and the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada confirmed today that the Thames Valley Children’s Centre (TVCC) will return as the official charitable beneficiary of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, which will run September 12-18, 2016 at Highland Country Club in London, Ont.

Leading up to this year’s championship, a pair of community donations have been made in the name of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship to kick off the charity fundraising efforts for the season ending event on Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.

London, Ont. native and NHL player Brandon Prust has donated $25,000 through the Brandon Prust Foundation to Thames Valley Children’s Centre in the name of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship. The Brandon Prust Foundation was created in 2014 with a mission to improve kids’ lives. The Foundation strives to help kids be happier and healthier through funding events, programs and activities, especially to aid children experiencing illness or pain.

An additional donation of $25,000 was made to the Thames Valley Children’s Centre by the Harbour Grace Foundation, a collection of companies owned and managed by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ms. Kyle MacDonald. The company is headquartered in London, Ontario and is active in several industries, including real estate, publishing, entertainment, and manufacturing. The Harbour Grace Group is also active in multiple philanthropic endeavours, and Ms. MacDonald has a passionate interest in supporting scholarships for young Canadian students wishing to access world-class post-secondary educations.

The Mackenzie Tour also committed support to the Thames Valley Children’s Centre with a donation of $12,500 in the name of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship on behalf of Mackenzie Investments.

In 2015, more than $44,000 was raised in support of Thames Valley through various fundraising activities during the Freedom 55 Financial Championship.

Thames Valley Children’s Centre (TVCC) works to support children and their families to achieve the highest possible quality of life. TVCC serves more than 8000 children, youth and their families every year through a wide range of services provided out of the main London Centre and 15 regional office locations across Southwestern Ontario. Clients range in age from birth to 19 with services supporting a range of special needs including physical disabilities, communication disorders, developmental delays and autism spectrum disorders.

The 12^th and final event on the Mackenzie Tour schedule will see the culmination of the race for Web.com Tour status at Highland Country Club. Only the top 60 players on the Order of Merit will be eligible, setting up an exciting race to the season’s final event.

The top five players on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit earn Web.com Tour status for the following season, with players finishing in spots 6^th through 10^th earning an exemption into the final stage and players finishing 11^th through 20^th into the second stage of Web.com Tour Qualifying School.

Tennessee native Jason Millard won the 2015 Freedom 55 Financial Championship over 2014 champion and Team Freedom golfer Ryan Williams of Vancouver while fellow Team Freedom player Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. won the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year Award. Both Girard and Pendrith were among the season ending Top-5 last year to advance to the 2016 Web.com Tour.

The 2016 Freedom 55 Financial Championship is also pleased to invite attendees to a FREE live concert following play on Friday September 15. Local rockers Soul Trippers will play an outdoor concert at Highland Country Club and admission to the concert is FREE with your ticket to the Freedom 55 Financial Championship. Daily prize draws will include Two Weekly Passes to the 2017 RBC Canadian Open (Thursday & Friday); Two Weekly Passes to the 2017 Players Championship (Saturday); and Two Weekly Passes for the 2017 President’s Cup (Sunday).

As well, children aged 17 and under get in free all week without restriction at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship – download your free junior tickets here.

Volunteer and ticket information is available at www.freedom55financialchampionship.com.

Mississauga, Ont. — Lorie Kane headlines the field for this week’s PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

Kane, who was recently inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, looks to win her record sixth PGA Women’s Championship of Canada but will face fierce competition from a contingent of players including Nicole Vandermade, Lisa Ferrero and Kylie Barros.

“It’s going to be a fantastic championship this week at Credit Valley,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “Our field is headlined by Canadian golf legend Lorie Kane who has a chance to win an amazing sixth PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.”

The two-day, 36-hole championship will be played Sept. 7-8 at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club. Admittance to the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.

Credit Valley last hosted the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada in 2008, which was won by American Hannah Jun. The club has also hosted the 1993 PGA Championship of Canada and last year’s PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.

“Credit Valley Golf and Country Club has a long standing history of hosting national golf championships and once again we are very excited to showcase our exceptional golf course to the best female golfers in the world,” said Credit Valley’s Chief Operating Officer Ian Webb.

Originally the hunting and fishing grounds of the Ojibway people, Credit Valley traces its golfing beginning back to 1930. Ontario’s then Lieutenant Governor, W.D. Ross, commissioned that six holes be built on the original property which was located where the driving range and parking lot now stand.

Last year at Burlington Golf & Country Club, golf superstar Brooke Henderson won her second-straight PGA Women’s Championship of Canada title. Henderson, who is currently ranked No. 3 in the world, finished two shots better than Jun and Canadian Elizabeth Tong.

The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and in addition to Jun and Henderson, past champions include Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, Kane, Alena Sharp and Jessica Shepley.

NORTON, Mass. – Rory McIlroy rallied from six shots behind Monday and closed with a 6-under 65 to win the Deutsche Bank Championship for his first PGA Tour victory of the year.

One week after working with a new putting coach and changing putters, results came quickly for McIlroy. He closed out the front nine with three straight birdies to take the lead and got up-and-down from a bunker for birdie on the final hole as a finishing touch.

Paul Casey, who started the final round at TPC Boston with a three-shot lead, needed to hole a 60-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff. Casey was trying to win on the PGA Tour for the first time since 2009.

McIlroy won for the 20th time in his career worldwide.

Brantford, Ont., native David Hearn closed with a 1 under for a share of eighth place. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., finished in a tie for 46th.

CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – Brooke Henderson is on a mission to grow the sport of golf.

The 18-year-old phenom, ranked third in the world, wants to make the game she loves more popular in Canada, one fan at a time. Just a year into her professional career, it seems like Henderson’s already had an impact in Canada.

“If I can try to help grow the game or inspire someone to pick up this game, this amazing game, it really makes me feel awesome,” said Henderson after her final round of play at the LPGA Manulife Classic. “They were yelling my name between shots and high fives at the end of the holes.

“It’s just really cool to see and a lot of fun. I think if even half of these people start to play the game if they didn’t before, I think that would be just incredible.”

After answering reporters questions Henderson went to meet dozens of fans, signing autographs and taking pictures for nearly half an hour at Whistle Bear Golf Club. Many of the fans waiting for Henderson were girls not much younger than her, who have taken to wearing her signature pink visor and enjoy the nickname “Brookealike.”

There’s tangible evidence that Henderson is making women’s golf more popular too: Attendance at this year’s Manulife Classic was up to 68,000 from 63,000 the year before, with Henderson drawing the biggest crowds.

Other golfers have noticed the uptick too.

“It was great to see a lot of people out here and especially a lot of juniors,” said world No. 1 Lydia Ko, a native of New Zealand. “I think when we come to Canada, I think it’s probably the most juniors we see on any of our tour schedule, so it’s always good to see the future stars.”

Henderson has allies in her mission too. Fellow Canadian Olympian Alena Sharp, from Hamilton, announced after her final round that she wants “more Canadians out here.”

Sharp was the low Canadian at the Manulife Classic, firing a 2-under 70 in the final round to tie for 26th at 9-under par. At the start of the year it was Sharp’s goal was to be ranked in the LPGA’s top 60 by the end of the season. She’s already accomplished that and is No. 34.

“It seems like Canadian women’s golf is heading in the right direction,” said the 35-year-old Sharp. “We have a lot of great young players coming up, and Golf Canada has been working hard getting these players developed, and they have everything – great coaching, great nutritionists, they have great physio and workout, and it’s starting to show, I think.

“I think five years from now we’re going to have a lot of top players in the world.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., was 1-under 71 on Sunday to tie with Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., who shot a 3-under 69 in the fourth round, to finish 39th. Quebec City’s Anne Catherine Tanguay shot 1-over 73 in the fourth round to tie for 44th at 6 under. All four Canadians said they’d hoped they’d inspired some young golfers with their play this week.

“I think it’s booming, and especially with Brooke, Alena and the Canadian national team has – the program’s been doing so much for women’s golf and young girls, too,” said Tanguay. “So I think it’s getting there, and we’ve seen so many young girls out here this week and throughout this season, too, and it’s so good to see that we can help grow the game.”

Since capturing her maiden LPGA title as a bright eyed 15-year-old amateur at The Vancouver Golf Club, Lydia Ko has become one of the sport’s brightest stars – and one of golf’s greatest ambassadors.

Today, as the current world No. 1, the 19-year-old from New Zealand is excited about the buzz around other young stars who have made their breakthroughs this season.

Looking back, it was in late August of 2012 at the Canadian Women’s Open that the then-15-year-old garnered attention from the entire sporting world by beating out the LPGA’s best – just two weeks after winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

“I never knew I had it coming, and I was so happy to win the U.S. Amateur – To win this, I never think about it.  I just wanted to make the cut,” admitted the talented teenage golfer in her presser after claiming the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open crown.

“When I saw that I was tied first after the second day, I was like, ‘wow, I’m feeling really good.’  And yeah, kind of surprised to have two wins in such a short time,” she added.

Today, with 14 LPGA Tour victories under her belt, the current world No. 1 still has fond memories of her surprising breakthrough victory on Canadian soil.

“I really didn’t expect that win of course but to have won that week it really gave me a lot of confidence and got me excited for the future,” she said during an interview at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Cambridge.

“Playing at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open recently, I really couldn’t believe that it’s already been four years since my first LPGA win in Vancouver,” added Ko, who now has three Canadian Women’s Opens titles and two majors to her name.

As arguably the Tour’s brightest star, the 19-year-old from New Zealand says the emergence and other young stars this year has done a lot to fuel the excitement among golf fans around the world.

One of those young stars is 18-year-old Canadian Brooke Henderson who captured her first LPGA major at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.

Having edged out Ko on the first playoff hole at the Sahalee Country Club – and moving up to world No. 2 in the process – Henderson spoke about the respect she has for the world No. 1.

“I was 14 playing in my first Canadian Open, and she was 15 and she won it. So I thought I was doing pretty well. And then she kind of showed me that there was much more.  And it definitely really has helped me to be better and to believe in myself, too, just watching her,” said Henderson after winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

With both still in their teens and sitting on top of the world rankings, the talented Smith Falls golfer predicted more exciting finishes ahead between herself and Ko.

“It’s pretty cool that we’re both kind of coming on to the stage. She was a little bit before me. But looks like our careers will probably start pretty much close to the same time and probably end at the same time,” added the young Canadian.

“I hope we have lots of extra holes like that or lots of times where we’re contending for the championship.”

Since capturing the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Henderson has been surpassed by the 2016 Ricoh Women’s British Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn in the world rankings.

The 20-year-old from Bangkok, Thailand has been impressive with five victories so far in 2016 and recently captured the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in August.

With her two closest rivals in terms of rankings also being very close in age, the recent Olympic silver medalist acknowledges the likelihood – and benefits – of a budding rivalry in years to come.

“Both Ariya and Brooke have been playing great.  Both of them got their first major win this year and I got mine in the last major of last year,” said Ko about the current world No. 2 and world No. 3.

“It’s been really fun to play alongside them and watch what they’ve been doing; I think we all push each other to get better.”

While a rivalry means there will be uncertainty as to who comes up on top, the thoughtful young golfer from New Zealand recognizes the biggest winners of having others like Henderson and Jutanugarn step into the spotlight are the golf fans around the world.

“We all feed off each other and that’s exciting for the crowds and the media,” said the world No. 1. “Because it means that they will get to see some very exciting golf, which is great for the game.”

WELLAND, Ont. – A warm summer’s day provided ideal conditions at Hunters Pointe Golf Club for the qualifying event into the 2016 Canadian Senior Men’s Championship. Sandy Billyard – a co-owner of the host club – was able to take advantage of his strong familiarity with the course, shooting 1-under 71 to claim medallist honours.

The native of nearby Ridgeville, Ont., collected four birdies on the day and finished with the lone under-par round.

“The course was good; we had a heavy rainfall here about three or four days ago, so it softened the greens up and they were very receptive to shots. I didn’t have a terribly good putting day, but I kept the ball in play and limited the number of mistakes to a minimum. I just kept my eye on the fact that I had to shoot even-par, maybe 1-under, to qualify.”

The 60-year-old is excited for the competition in the coming days, hoping to add to an already impressive golfing career. Billyard captured the 1973 Ontario Junior Championship and came runner-up in the 1974 Canadian Junior Championship. As a 20-year-old, he took part in the 1976 Canadian Open as an amateur. In 2014, he was added to Golf Ontario’s Wall of Recognition, before joining the Welland Sports Wall of Fame one year later.

“It’s great. I’ve played in a number of national championships over my career as an amateur golfer,” reflected Billyard. “This one, I’m very interested in because it’s a local golf course. Grand Niagara is a wonderfully-designed and beautifully-conditioned golf course. I’ve played it many times and I’m excited to go out there to play and see how I can do against the best players.”

Fellow Ontarians William King of Sault Ste. Marie and John Murphy of Orillia carded even-par rounds of 72, while Ross Eisele of Milton, Ont., shot 73 to claim the fourth and final spot into the 54^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at the Grand Niagara Golf Club from September 6-9.

A 65-and-over Super Senior division and an inter-provincial team competition will be contested concurrently with the national championship’s first two rounds. Following the opening 36-holes, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., from September 17-22.

Additional information from the tournament can be found here, while details from the qualifying competition are available here.

NORTON, Mass. – Paul Casey made a birdie and eagle over the last three holes Sunday for a 5-under 66 and a three-shot lead going into the Labour Day finish at the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Casey hit his tee shot to 5 feet for birdie on the par-3 16th, and then drilled a 3-iron into the swirling wind on the par-5 18th, and it worked out perfectly. It landed just left of the green, caught a ridge and rolled to 30 inches for the eagle.

He was at 15-under 198.

Brian Harman was second after a 68, and PGA champion Jimmy Walker, Kevin Chappell and Smylie Kaufman were four shots back.

The starting times for Monday were moved because remnants of Hermine were expected to produce 35 mph wind and rain.

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot a 69 and is tied for 11th at 8 under. Adam Hadwin (73) of Abbotsford, B.C., is well back in a tie for 61st.

CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – Caroline Masson broke out of a star-filled pack Sunday to win the LPGA Manulife Classic for her first tour title.

The 27-year-old German player rebounded from an opening double bogey to make nine birdies in a 5-under 67. She beat third-round leader Mi Hyang Lee, Minjee Lee and Solheim Cup teammate Karine Icher by a stroke, finishing at 16-under 272 at Whistle Bear.

Masson joined Anna Nordqvist and Brittany Lang as the only players over 23 years old to win in the first 24 events this season – and also joined Nordqvist as the only European winners.

Mi Hyang Lee had a 71, Minjee Lee shot 68, and Icher 66.

Mi Hyang Lee parred the final two holes to miss a chance for a playoff.

Masson didn’t make a par until the seventh hole, following the double bogey with three straight birdies, a bogey on No. 5 and a birdied on the sixth. The former Oklahoma State player had four straight birdies on Nos. 9-12, bogeyed the par-4 13th and birdied the par-5 16th. She birdied all four par 5s.

Ariya Jutanugarn tied for fifth at 14 under in her bid to win three straight events for the second time this season. The second-ranked Jutanugarn made two late bogeys for a 70.

Top-ranked Lydia Ko and 2015 winner Suzann Pettersen also were 14 under. Ko had a 68, and Pettersen finished with a 66. Canadian star Brooke Henderson tied for 39th at 7 under after a 71.

Alena Sharp finished at 9-under and tied for 26th.