ACTON, Ont. — The final PGA of Canada national championship of 2015 is set to take place next week in Arizona.

Verrado Golf Club, which is located just west of Phoenix in Buckeye, Ariz., plays host to a full field for the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada Nov. 15-18.

“We’re very excited to be headed back to Arizona and even more excited to be going to Verrado Golf Club for the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada,” said PGA of Canada president Constant Priondolo. “Last year was a great success with a full field in Arizona and we expect the same this year.”

Eight past PGA of Canada national championship winners, including last year’s PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner Matt Peavoy, highlight this year’s field at Verrado. Other former PGA Club Professional Championship winners in the field include Gar Hamilton (1987, ’90, ’92, ’97); Ian Doig (2004); Brian Hutton (2010, ’12); Ben Boudreau (‘2009); and Danny King (2005, ’06).

In 2014, Peavoy captured the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada, outlasting Scott Allred in a playoff. The 35-year-old put together rounds of 72-74-69 for a three-day total of 2-over-par 215 at the challenging SunRidge Canyon Golf Club.

Additionally, three PGA Championship of Canada winners—Eric Laporte, Dave Levesque and King—are also set to tee it up.

For first round tee times, CLICK HERE.

Situated in the foothills of the White Tank Mountains, crafted by PGA Tour star Tom Lehman and US Amateur Champion John Fought, the Verrado Golf Club is a spectacular course stretching to over 7,200 yards featuring stunning views, snug box canyons, and considerable elevation changes.

“We’re proud to say that Verrado Golf Club is one of Arizona’s finest championship golf facilities,” said Verrado’s sales & marketing director Doug Foss. “Verrado has been among the top 15 on GolfWeek’s ‘Best Courses You Can Play’ for four years running and most recently made it to the No. 5 spot on the ‘2015 Arizona’ list.”

In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn much-coveted ranking points with hopes of moving up on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Players who are ranked inside the top 64 following the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn invites into next year’s PGA Championship of Canada at the Victoria Golf Club.

The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), is also handed out after 36-holes. In 2014, Team Quebec bested Team British Columbia by a shot. Team Ontario rounded out the top three.

Former champions of the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada include Danny King, Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.

The $85,000 purse Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada takes place Nov. 15-18 the Verrado Golf Club. The nearly 100-player field will be cut to the low 70-players (and ties) after completion of the second round.

SHANGHAI – Sergio Garcia shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over the in-form Victor Dubuisson and An Byeong-hun after the first round of the rain-soaked BMW Masters on Thursday.

Garcia, who started his round on the back nine, made four birdies in his first five holes and added another five after the turn to offset one bogey.

Dubuisson, winner of the Turkish Airlines Open two weeks ago, and An each had seven birdies in blemish-free rounds and were tied for second.

Ross Fisher and Lucas Bjerregaard were another stroke back in fourth.

The BMW Masters at Lake Malaren Golf Club is the third of four events in the European Tour’s Final Series, ending in the DP World Tour Championship next week in Dubai.

Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy is skipping this week’s tournament, giving the players immediately behind him in the standings, including Danny Willett, Shane Lowry, and Louis Oosthuizen, a chance to make up ground.

Garcia, who is 30th in the standings but has decided not to play the World Tour Championship, equaled his best round on tour this year in a persistent drizzle that soaked the course and led to low scoring.

“I drove the ball very well and that gave me a lot of opportunities to hit some good iron shots,” Garcia said. “It was the kind of round that you’re looking for.”

Dubuisson picked up where he left off after his stirring win in Turkey.

“I feel so great, I feel so good on the greens,” the Frenchman said. “When I read the line good, the putt can only go in the hole, and you don’t have this feeling much of the time.”

Fisher, who had six birdies and no bogeys in his round of 66, almost didn’t play this week after receiving only a 10-day visa from the Chinese government before last week’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

He said he was turned away when he tried to extend the visa at the Shanghai Entry-Exit Bureau on Monday, but was finally successful after receiving an 11th-hour letter from local sports officials supporting the extension.

“There were a lot of papers flying around, there were a lot of phone calls, emails being sent,” Fisher said. “To say it was a stressful buildup to today would be an understatement. There were times when I was thinking I might be booking a flight home.”

Paul Casey, who eagled the par-4 14th hole, Thongchai Jaidee, and Justin Rose were three strokes behind Garcia at 5 under, and a group of nine players was another shot back at 4 under, including Henrik Stenson, Ian Poulter, and 18-year-old Dou Zecheng of China.

Willett, who is just behind McIlory in the Race to Dubai standings and can overtake him this week by finishing in 28th place or better, was well off the pace after shooting even-par. He was in a tie for 48th.

“It’s a long four-week stretch, (and I’m) trying to stay fresh,” Willett said. “Regardless of what happens this week … if we win next week, we’re going to win the Race to Dubai.”

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Team Canada’s Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont., and Eric Banks of Truro, N.S., are gearing up to compete in the Tailhade Cup from Nov. 12–15 at the Los Lagartos Country Club.

Banks and Gil make up one of 16 international two-man teams competing this week in the 72-hole stroke-play event. The Canadian duo will look to defend the title, won last year by Canada’s Corey Conners and Austin Connelly (who also took home medalist honours).

The pair will look to repeat for Canada’s second title in the event’s 20-year history. Gil, a member of the Development Squad, and Banks, a member of the National Amateur Squad, will tee-off at 8:50 a.m. (ART) and 9 a.m., respectively.

Upon completion of the Tailhade Cup, the Canadian duo will also tee-it-up the following week at the Argentina Amateur from Nov. 16–21.

Click here for live scoring.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth completed his early-season Asia swing with Wednesday’s announcement that he will play the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in January.

Abu Dhabi again will have a top-heavy field at the start of the year with Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson among the top-ranked players Jan. 21-24 to kick off the European Tour’s swing through the Middle East.

Spieth previously announced he would play the Singapore Open the week after Abu Dhabi.

Fowler played Abu Dhabi for the first time last year and tied for 66th after opening with a 67.

“I am looking forward to coming to Abu Dhabi, especially after Rickie told me about what a fantastic event it is,” Spieth said. “I love to travel and see the world, and I am excited to not only play in the event but also checking out Abu Dhabi for the first time.”

Spieth, Fowler and Jason Day are expected to play the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Jan. 7-10. Spieth and Fowler then will cross 14 time zones to compete in Abu Dhabi.

McIlroy has been runner-up at Abu Dhabi four of the last five years.

“Abu Dhabi always brings an outstanding player field, and with Jordan and Rickie competing in January, this will be a superb test for me to start off the 2016 season,” McIlroy said. “I’ve come close in Abu Dhabi several times now, so I’ll be 100 percent ready for January’s challenge.”

The second stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school kicks off Tuesday at separate sites across the U.S. from Nov. 10–13 with 13 Canadians in the field. The week following, another 10 Canucks will tee-it-up at two separate events to complete stage II of qualifying.

In total, 23 Canadians will compete for spots in the final qualifying stage held from Dec. 10–13 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Nov 10–13

Southern Hills Plantation Club, Brooksville, Fla.

• Sonny Michaud (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.)
• Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.)
• Christopher Ross (Dundas, Ont.)
• Michael Gligic (Burlington, Ont.)

Nov 10–13

The Clubs of Kingwood-Deerwood, Kingwood, Tex.

• Austin Connelly (Irving, Texas)
• Marc-Etienne Bussieres (Boisbriand, Que.)
• Beon Yeong Lee (Montreal)
• Eric Hawerchuk (Barrie, Ont.)
• Devin Carrey (Burnaby, B.C.)
• Adam Cornelson (Vancouver)
• Cam Burke (New Hamburg, Ont.)
• Danny Sahl (Sherwood Park, Alta.)
• Ted Brown (Peterborough, Ont.)

Nov 17–20

Oak Valley Golf Club, Beaumont, Calif.

• Max Gilbert (Montreal)
• Ryan Williams (Surrey, B.C.)
• Matt McQuillan (Kingston, Ont.)
• Seann Harlingten (Vancouver)
• Ryan Yip (Calgary)
• Brad Clapp (Chilliwack, B.C.)

Nov 17–20

Plantation Preserve Golf Club, Plantation, Fla.

• Lucas Kim (Toronto)
• Jon Mills (Belleville, Ont.)
• Ben Silverman (Thornhill, Ont.)
• Matt Hill (Brights Grove, Ont.)

The number of players advancing from each site will be determined on a pro rata basis with approximately the same percentage of players from each site moving forward; the number will be announced during the second qualifying stage.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad members Albin Choi (Toronto) and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.) have already punched their tickets to the final stage, along with Kevin Spooner (Vancouver), Eugene Wong (Vancouver), Wilson Bateman (Edmonton) and Justin Shin (Pitt Meadows, B.C.). Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.)—also on the Young Pro Squad—earned status already by finishing inside the top-five on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada.

Consistent with all events on the Web.com Tour schedule, the finals will be contested over 72 holes.

All players who make it to the final stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament will earn at least conditional status on Tour in 2016.

Click here for scoring.

You’re here to inquire about famous golf trophies? Great.

That’s a specialty of mine. You’ve come to the right place.

The Claret Jug? He’s the elder statesman of our group. The R&A has been giving him out to the winner of the (British) Open Championship since 1873. Talk about shelf life. All of us have tons of respect for ‘Jug.’

Every golfer wants a Green Jacket, but the Masters trophy? That guy is majestic. Someone told me it took 900 pieces of sterling silver to build the rendition of the Augusta National Clubhouse on his base. Prettiest trophy in the game in my opinion.

Fire has been real tough on the boys in Far Hills, N.J. The original U.S. Open Trophy and Havemeyer Trophy, the one they give to the United States Amateur Champion, those went up in flames in two separate fires years ago. Tragic? You bet. But the boys the USGA replaced them with look great don’t they?

Since we’re reminiscing, I recall this one time in 1963. There was no fire, but the Wannamaker Trophy? He got so hot sitting in the blazing sun at the Dallas Athletic Club, that Jack Nicklaus, the PGA Champion that year, had to wrap a towel around the guy just to hold him. Lots of funny trophy stories like that one.

Me? Well, I’ve been a fixture here at the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum for a long time. Can’t say I’m as famous as any of those other trophies. Matter of fact, a lot of people don’t even know I exist. That’s okay. Last time they played golf in the Olympics was 1904. Tough to be relevant when you’ve been away more than a century right? That’s a long time out of the spotlight. But guess what? With golf returning to the Games in Rio next summer, I’ve been enjoying quite the resurgence. Seems lots of people suddenly are interested in me again. It’s been the same for the fella who won me, George S. Lyon. Talented player. Beat Chandler Egan to win me and the Olympic gold medal in pouring rain at Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis that year. George has been gone since 1938, but with the International Olympic Committee reinstating golf to the Games, he’s been a hot commodity. Lots of people want to know about him and his career.

Like who? Well, Golf Channel for one. They flew up to see me here in Oakville a few weeks ago. Took all kinds of footage, did a photo shoot, talked to the Hall Curator Meggan Gardner about George and me. It was an exhausting day.

Since then, I’ve been on tour. Golf Canada had me on display at Glen Abbey during the RBC Canadian Open. That was fun. Even had my picture taken with Graeme McDowell and Nick Taylor.

The very next week Alyssa Reynolds, the museum’s assistant, drove me to Akron, Ohio for the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. Nice folks at Bridgestone. Paid all our expenses for five days. In return I did a bunch of personal appearances for them. They even put me in the room during a ‘One Year before Golf Return’s to the Olympics’ news conference with Matt Kuchar, Byeong-Hun An and Henrik Stenson. Those guys are funny. Took a bunch of ‘selfies’ for social media. Cool stuff, huh?

Right after that I was back on the road. Yup, Golf Canada flew me to Vancouver for the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Boy was I a hit with those LPGA players. They all wanted a picture. Funny how some of them wouldn’t pick me up. How come? Superstitious I guess. Don’t want to jinx their chances of being on their respective country’s Olympic teams. Can’t say I blame them.

What’s next for me? Well, it will be 112 years since golf was in the Olympics, but Canada will be the defending gold medalist next summer. They tell me because of it I’ll be in high demand leading up to the Games in Rio. That means more television, media and personal appearances with lots of questions about George and his 1904 victory.

Am I up for it? Definitely. As I was telling the other trophies here just this morning, you know, it’s kind of nice being relevant again.

JACKSON, Miss. – Peter Malnati won for the first time on the PGA Tour, closing with a 5-under 67 to capture the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Malnati finished at 18 under in a rain-soaked tournament that was forced to complete play Monday. He was one shot behind going into the final round but closed with five birdies over his final 12 holes to beat William McGirt and David Toms by one stroke.

The event at the Country Club of Jackson was delayed five times, either by rain, lightning or darkness. The final day was a long one for several golfers, with some playing as many as 30 holes.

It was a crowded leaderboard throughout Monday’s marathon round, with about 15 players moving in and out of contention. Roberto Castro led through the first two rounds but shot a 3-over 75 in the third round and finished at 16 under.

JACKSON, Miss. – Roberto Castro finished just six holes Sunday at a soggy Sanderson Farms Championship.

The way things were going, that wasn’t such a bad thing.

Castro clung to a one-stroke lead at the Country Club of Jackson after playing the first six holes in the suspended third round in 2-over par.

He’ll have to navigate 30 holes Monday to win for the first time on the PGA Tour in more than 100 career starts. He’ll have about a 30-foot putt for birdie on No. 7 when play resumes.

Play was suspended Sunday because of darkness and will resume Monday morning with the final round following immediately. Castro said he was prepared for the grind.

“Just grab your lunch at the turn and keep going,” the 30-year-old Castro said. “If you get on a good run, just ride it as long as you can.”

It’s been a soggy, stop-and-start tournament that has required plenty of patience. Several players had their second rounds stretch over three days from Friday to Sunday as rain swept through the area.

Castro was at 13 under. He started play Sunday with a four-stroke lead, but quickly fell back toward the pack with bogeys on Nos. 3 and 4. They were his first two bogeys of the tournament.

“I just hit two poor shots and paid for both of them,” Castro said.

Former tournament champion D.J. Trahan and Michael Thompson were a shot back. Boo Weekley, Patrick Rodgers and Jhonattan Vegas were among seven players two shots back.

The 42-year-old Weekley, a three-time winner on tour, said he wasn’t concerned about the long Monday ahead.

“You just get after it, do the best you can, chase it around out there and hope you come out a winner,” Weekley said.

The 23-year-old Rodgers shot a 64 in the second round to jump into contention. He was 1 under through seven holes in the third round.

“I was a little up and down today. I wasn’t my best,” Rodgers said. “But I feel good with the way I’m striking it.

Castro had his best round on the PGA Tour on Thursday, firing a 10-under 62 to take a two-stroke lead. He pushed that lead to four strokes after shooting a 67 on Friday.

But he didn’t play at all on Saturday because of the rain and struggled almost immediately on Sunday. He said course conditions had changed some because of a big drop in temperature and a little more wind.

Still, he was encouraged by his par on No. 6 just before darkness ended the round.

“A lot of golf to play tomorrow,” Castro said.

Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, BC, find themselves tied for 22nd at 8 under. Nick Taylor, also of Abbotsford, follows at 7 under.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Billy Andrade won the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Sunday, beating Champions Tour points winner Bernhard Langer with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff.

Andrade two-putted from the back fringe on the par-5 18th, holing a 2 1/2-footer for his third victory of the year on the 50-and-over tour.

The 51-year-old Andrade closed with a 6-under 64 on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course, making a 10-foot birdie putt on 18 to post at 14-under 266.

Langer missed a chance to win on 18 in regulation when his 18-foot eagle putt lipped out. He finished with a 67, then failed to get up-and-down for birdie from the right greenside rough in the playoff.

The 58-year-old German star won the Charles Schwab Cup points title for the second straight year and record third time overall, earning a $1 million annuity. He easily beat Colin Montgomerie and Jeff Maggert in the points race after entering the week third in the standings.

With players receiving a point for every $500 in the $2.5 million tournament, Langer earned 508 points with his $254,000 check to beat Montgomerie by 338 points and Maggert by 377.

Langer also won the money title for the record fourth straight year and record seventh time in eight years, finishing with $2,340,288. The two-time Masters champion successfully defended his Senior Players title in June in Massachusetts for his fifth senior major title and won last month in San Antonio for his 25th victory on the 50-and-over tour.

Montgomerie and Maggert tied for 14th at 4 under, with each earning $52,000. Maggert shot 66, and Montgomerie 67.

Andrade earned $440,000. The four-time PGA Tour winner also teamed with Joe Durant – his playing partner Sunday – to win the Legends of Golf in April and won the Boeing Classic in August.

Andrade made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 13th to reach 14 under, dropped a stroke in the par-5 15th after hitting his approach over the green into a crevice between rocks. He got a big break on the par-3 17th when his tee shot struck a rock and bounced onto the green to set up a two-putt par.

Andrade had a hole-in-one in his opening 65 and followed with rounds of 67 and 70 to begin the day four strokes behind third-round leader Michael Allen.

Allen was third at 12 under after a 70. The Scottsdale resident took a one-stroke lead over Langer into the day after leading by six strokes midway through the third round.

Jeff Sluman and Mark O’Meara tied for fourth at 10 under. Sluman eagled the 18th for a 66, and O’Meara closed with a 68.

Canada’s Stephen Ames tied for 6th at 9 under.