Milaina Wright

CAMBRIDGE, Ont. – Bruno Event Team, a Birmingham, Ala.-based sports marketing and event management team, announced today that Milaina Wright has been appointed the position of tournament director for the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.  Wright will oversee the popular LPGA event in Cambridge, Ontario, beginning August 5^th.

“We are thrilled to have Milaina join our team,” stated Gene Hallman, president and CEO, Bruno Event Team. “We worked with Sports Properties International to find the perfect candidate to lead the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic team for us as the event transitions to Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge. We couldn’t be happier to bring Milaina on board. She brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to an already successful tournament, and we know she will be a great fit for this community and for this event.”

Wright replaces outgoing tournament director Richard Kuypers, who was also previous employed by Golf Canada prior to his appointment as tournament director of the Manulife LPGA Classic. Kuypers left his role with the Bruno team to join Molson Coors Canada in sponsorships & events.

Wright is the latest to join the Bruno Event Team and brings extensive experience in professional golf tournament management with both the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR. During her seven year tenure with Golf Canada, most recently in the role of manager of professional championships, Wright played an integral role in conducting Canada’s Men’s and Women’s National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open – where she was involved in various aspects of tournament operations, sponsorships, volunteer recruitment and player relations. Wright has also worked for the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport carrying out the Canadian Anti-Doping Program at various national and international competitions including the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. A graduate of both Colgate University (Bachelor of Arts) and Brock University (Master of Art in Applied Health Sciences), Wright is a former women’s collegiate basketball player at both the NCAA Division I and CIS level.

“I’m delighted to join Bruno Event Team and start working on this exciting event,” stated Wright.  “I look forward to working with Sports Properties International and an incredible title sponsor, Manulife.  I know it will be fulfilling to work on such a great event, which is so well supported and celebrated by the community.”

Since the tournament’s inception in 2011, Ontario-based Sports Properties International hired Bruno Event Team to manage all aspects of the LPGA tournament, including marketing, sales, operations, volunteer coordination, sponsor and player relations and all event logistics.

The Manulife Financial LPGA Classic will take place June 3-7, 2015, at its new home Whistle Bear Golf Club, remaining within Waterloo Region in Cambridge, Ontario.  In its first three years, the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic has seen more than 184,000 spectators pass through the gates at Grey Silo. Inbee Park, from South Korea received the top-honor this year, tying a course record with a 10-under 61, making it her 10th LPGA Tour title. Park finished three shots ahead of World Ranked No. 13 Cristie Kerr.

For more information on the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic, visit www.manulifeclassic.ca.

GC: What prompted Club de golf Continental to host the Championship?

JS: Friends of mine from the industry spoke highly of the tournament, the quality of competition, and Golf Canada. In 2008 we hosted the Quebec Provincial Championship, so we are confident that we can host a tournament of this caliber and importance.

GC: Why is hosting this championship important to the club?

JS: We want all of Canada to know that Club de golf Continental’s St-Laurent course is a championship course, and that we are proud to host these athletes.

GC: What preparations have went into hosting this championship?

JS: We have gathered over 60 volunteers and prepared the course to Golf Canada standards.

GC: What does hosting an event like this do for your local community?

JS: We will have the opportunity to see an excellent roster of talented young athletes. In 2008 Brooke Henderson wowed the crowd with her performance and the whole Henderson family charmed the Sorel community. Today she is knocking on the door of the LPGA, so who knows, this competition could reveal the next rising star.

GC: What can players expect when they arrive at your club?

JS: They should expect to see a club with many proud members. It’s a very peaceful and quiet course nestled in a century-old forest.

GC:  Are there any significant holes or sections of the golf course that should provide excitement for the tournament?  

JS: The 9th and 18th holes have extraordinary panorama views. The double greens on 9 and 18 are also spectacular.

GC:  What do you think will challenge competitors the most?

JS:  It’s a challenging course. We have some very straight fairways and fast greens.

GC:  What does your club do to encourage and engage your junior membership each season?

JS: Our club Pro Christian Maegre offers 3 programs for young golfers: the CN Future Links program for children under ten, the Junior program to help with competition preparation, and also a training team for our regional and provincial competitors. Three of our juniors will participate in the CN Future Links Quebec competition.

GC: What sets your club apart from others in the area, in terms of both the course and/or its membership?

JS: Our club is very family-friendly and accessible. We have very affordable rates for golfers of every level and age.

GC: What is your club looking forward to the most in hosting this championship?

JS: We hope that everyone leaves Club de golf Continental with a positive image of our club. We want everyone to remember it as a magnificent and championship-worthy course with welcoming members in a beautiful and historic part of Quebec.

(Saskatoon, SK) – Grand Haven, Michigan’s Matt Harmon kept the field at bay to capture his first PGA Tour Canada victory on Sunday, firing a final round 6-under 66 at Dakota Dunes Golf Links to win the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open presented by SaskTel.

The 29-year old began the day with a five stroke lead and hardly gave his pursuers a chance, carding seven birdies on the day and never letting anyone get closer than within two shots, winning by three over Will Kropp of Edmond, Oklahoma. Harmon moves to 2^nd on the Order of Merit through four events, in position to earn one of three RBC Canadian Open exemptions available after the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel in two weeks.

“I knew I was playing well and that good results were coming. You never know when you’re going to win, so this feels incredible,” said Harmon.

The win comes at a special time for Harmon and his wife Pagiel, who had their 10-week old son Eli on hand for the first time in his career, making the win even more memorable for the young Harmon family.

“You can’t really describe it. She flew up here with him all on her own. I’m just so thankful that we can be together and be able to travel and share this moment,” said an emotional Harmon after the round. “To have them here is just incredible.”

24-year old Kropp, a rookie on PGA Tour Canada, made the strongest charge of the day, carding a 10-under 62 and getting within two shots of Harmon late in the back nine. Harmon, a former Michigan State Spartan, responded with three birdies in four holes in the middle of his back nine to keep his chasers at bay and secure the title.

“I played well today and made a few putts, but if you start seven back and he shots 6-under that’s pretty tough to catch. Kudos to him,” said Kropp, who captured a win on the NEC Series – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica earlier this year at the Abierto OSDE del Centro.

Harmon, who played full time on the Web.com Tour in 2012 and 2013 and finished runner up at the 2012 TPC Stonebrae Championship, said he’s looking ahead to the rest of the season with an eye on maintaining his spot on the Order of Merit.

“Fortunately I’ve gotten off to a nice start. I’m looking forward hopefully to that RBC Canadian Open exemption if you’re in the top three through Thunder Bay, so the next two weeks I’ve got my eyes set on that,” said Harmon.

One shot behind Kropp was Kalmar, Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, who joined Kropp in the charge to catch Harmon before a bogey at the par-5 16^th derailed his chances. Karlsson’s finish was his third top-10 of the season and moved him to fifth on the Order of Merit.

With a final round 64 to finish tied for seventh, Peterborough, Ontario’s Ted Brown earned Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Canadian Player of the Week honours, taking home a $1,500 prize.

Brown edged out Airdrie, Alberta’s Riley Fleming on a tiebreaker, with the pair finishing together at 16-under par. Each week on PGA Tour Canada, the top Canadian on the leaderboard earns the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s send taking Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours and a $10,000 prize.

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Canada’s Roger Sloan won the Nova Scotia Open on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title, holing a 5-foot par putt on the first hole of a playoff with Derek Fathauer.

The 27-year-old Sloan, a former Texas-El Paso player from Merritt, B.C., played 37 holes Sunday after high wind from Tropical Storm Arthur wiped out third-round play Saturday.

Sloan closed with rounds of 71 and 70 to match Fathauer at 11-under 273 on Ashburn Golf Club’s New Course. Fathauer had rounds of 71 and 66.

Sloan earned $117,000 to push his season total to $149,303.

John Mallinger shot 67-73 to finish third at 8 under.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Angel Cabrera won the Greenbrier Classic on Sunday for his first non-major victory on the PGA Tour, closing with his second straight 6-under 64 for a two-stroke victory over George McNeill.

Cabrera, the 44-year-old Argentine whose only other PGA Tour victories came in the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters, built a three-shot lead before making things interesting with a pair of late bogeys. He finished at 16-under 264.

McNeill shot a season-best 61 for his fourth top-10 of the season and first since mid-March.

Webb Simpson had a 63 to finish third at 10 under.

Third-round leader Billy Hurley III bogeyed four of the first six holes to fall out of contention. He shot 73 and finished in a seven-way tie for fourth at 9 under.

No third-round leader has hung on to win the Greenbrier Classic in its five-year existence.

McNeill was the clubhouse leader at 14 under well ahead of Cabrera, who still had the back nine to play.

Cabrera had no top 10-finishes this season entering the tournament, but had everything working Sunday, hammering drives and approach shots with precision and coming up with clutch putts, especially on the back nine.

Cabrera overtook McNeill with birdie putts of 17 and 7 feet on the 11th and 12th holes, then gave a fist pump after moving to 17 under by holing a 176-yard 8-iron up the hill for eagle on the par-4 13th, the hardest hole at Old White TPC.

By then his lead was three strokes, but he bogeyed the 14th after his approach shot spun off the front of the green and bogeyed the par-3 15th after hitting into the rough on his tee shot.

Cabrera smashed a 330-yard drive over the lake on the par-4 16th and made par, then drilled a 336-yard drive on the 616-yard 17th and two-putted for birdie. He closed out with par on the par-3 18th.

Cabrera won $1.2 million and is projected to improve from 158th to 54th in the FedEx Cup standings. McNeill would move from 60th to 29th.

Joining Hurley at 9 under were Bud Cauley (64), Keagan Bradley (66), Brendon Todd (66), Chris Stroud (69), Cameron Tringale (69) and Will Wilcox (69).

The leading four players among the top 12 not already exempt for the British Open earned spots in the July 17-20 tournament at Royal Liverpool. Those spots went to McNeill, Stroud, Tringale and Hurley.

Cauley’s final shot of the day was a hole-in-one on the 18th, which triggered a $100 prize from the tournament to paying customers in the stands. But Cauley missed out this week on a British Open nod, whose qualifying tiebreaker uses the world ranking. Cauley entered the week at No. 295. Another spot will be handed out next weekend at the John Deere Classic.

Stephen Ames finished at 2-under 278 and tied for 52nd. David Hearn tied for 64th at even par 280.

Wolfville’s Ally Tidcombe won his first individual title at this weekend’s NSGA event at Brightwood Golf and Country Club.

Tidcombe, an accomplished golfer, had never won a provincial championship as an individual until July 6^th, where he claimed the MCT Insurance Men’s Amateur title.

Tidcombe edged out Grandview’s Andrew Reid by two strokes at the rain-shortened 54 hole event, with much of the final round being a back and forth competition between the two young talents.

“It feels great,” said Tidcombe. “I put a lot of work to get into contention. Obviously last year at Northumberland I was disappointed with my result after coming off a good season at school, but that happens in golf, and I managed to use that to fuel the fire and I got the job done here this year.”

In 2009, Tidcombe narrowly missed a chance to become the youngest golfer in NSGA history to win the provincial amateur, however he lost in a playoff to Ken-Wo’s Sam Holland. When asked how it feels to put some of those playoff loss demons to rest Tidcombe explained how that experience helped him.

“I learned a lot from that year,” he added. “It was the first time I had the lead at a big tournament like this, and it really taught me that staying in the present is key, and from that I was better off here today.”

Tidcombe (-1) was paired in the final group with Oakfield’s Brad Curren (-2), who was the leader heading into the final round, and Andrew Reid (-1) who led after the opening round.

Curren fell out of the running with +4 after the first 4 holes, leaving Tidcombe and Reid to battle it out.

On #17, Tidcombe redeemed his 2009 loss.

“I had a very similar shot four years ago at the junior, on that one I lipped out,” he explained. “But, I said to myself this time you’re putting it in.”

He did, and eventually took a two shot lead over Reid to win.

Tidcombe, Reid and Steven Spicer will represent the province at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg from August 4-7^th. Ashburn’s Trevor Chow will serve as an alternate.

For full results and information on the 2014 MCT Insurance Men’s Amateur, click here.

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France – Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland came from eight shots back to retain his French Open title Sunday, shooting a 4-under 67 in pouring rain to win by one shot.

McDowell made the best of the tough conditions, making five birdies and a bogey for the lowest round of the day to finish with a 5-under 279 total.

“That goes back to my upbringing a little bit in my teens, playing through all weathers and conditions,” McDowell said. “Playing golf in bad weather is an art form. Some guys are good at it, some guys are not.”

Overnight leader Kevin Stadler only managed a 76 to share second place with Thongchai Jaidee, who carded a 72. Stadler still had a chance to win it on the last hole, but he missed a long birdie putt. He then failed to even force a playoff when he missed a three-footer for par.

“I think it’s very hard to lose the same tournament twice on the same day and I managed to do it,” Stadler said.

McDowell had seven top-10 finishes this year on the European Tour and PGA Tour before entering this tournament.

“I’ve pretty much thought of myself a decent bad weather golfer, until the last five years,” McDowell said. “I feel like I’m spending a little bit too much time in America. I’m a little bit soft, and I needed that type of a day.”

Stadler went into the final round with a four-shot lead over Thongchai and Victor Riu. He even got a five-stroke cushion when Riu found water off the tee of the second hole for a double bogey.

Soon, Stadler put himself in trouble by missing short par putts on No. 4 and No. 6. He then double-bogeyed No. 7 by hooking his tee shot into the rough before missing the fairway with his second shot.

Another errant tee shot from Stadler on No. 8 gave Riu a share of the lead.

“It was absolutely miserable,” Stadler said about the weather. “We don’t play in that stuff in the States.”

Four players then shared the lead when McDowell and Jamie Donaldson made birdies on the 13th and 14th, respectively, to join Stadler and Riu atop the leaderboard.

McDowell sank a birdie putt from more than 20 feet on No. 16 to move three strokes clear. But Stadler made a strong charge to get back into contention, tying the defending champion with a birdie on that same hole.

After finishing his round, McDowell was preparing for a playoff with Stadler, but a huge roar from the crowd told him the American had missed his par putt.

“Last night, I didn’t think I had a shot,” McDowell said. “I had a glass of wine or two last night to kind of drown my frustration.”

Saskatoon, SK – With his young family on hand for the first time in his career, Grand Haven, Michigan’s Matt Harmon cruised to a 9-under par 63 on Saturday at Dakota Dunes Golf Links, opening up a five stroke lead heading into the final round of the Dakota Dunes Open presented by SaskTel.

The 29-year old and his wife Pagiel have their new son Eli, who turns 10 weeks old on Sunday, at a tournament for the first time this week in Saskatoon, and so far the trip has been a successful one. Harmon’s 63 put him five strokes ahead of Sweden’s Robert Karlsson heading into the final round, six ahead of Moscow, Idaho’s Chris Williams.

“It’s our first family trip, so this is very relaxing,” said Harmon, who ranks 10^th on the Order of Merit with two top-10s in three starts. “My guesses were right with the bounces and things went right for me, and I made more putts than I did any of the other days.”

Harmon carded seven birdies on the day, including on two of his final three holes, to go with an eagle to reach 18-under par through 54 holes. The former Michigan State Spartan played the Web.com Tour in 2012 and 2013 and is looking to make his way back starting with a win at Dakota Dunes tomorrow.

“I was telling my caddie today, I think I have a few more life experiences than some other guys in the field,” said Harmon, whose best finish on the Web.com Tour was second at the 2012 TPC Stonebrae Championship. “It’s just golf out here. When you get it going, you just kind of relax and let it go.”

Harmon said that having his family here has made things easier than the first three events, when he played well but had his mind back home with his new family.

“It was tough the play those first three events having to leave my wife to do everything, but she’s awesome, so it’s been great,” Harmon said. “I’m going to come out tomorrow and hopefully keep doing what I did today.”

Karlsson shot a 7-under 65 to hold second place alone, while Chris Williams, formerly the world’s highest-ranked amateur and a Ben Hogan Award winner at the University of Washington, shot 64 to grab third place heading into the final round.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -Billy Hurley III doesn’t plan to lose much rest sitting on a third-round lead for the first time on the PGA Tour.

The former U.S. Navy officer shot a 3-under 67 on Saturday to extend his advantage to two strokes over Angel Cabrera entering the final round of the Greenbrier Classic.

“I’ve been working for a long time to win on the PGA Tour,” Hurley said. “I figure if I shoot the lowest score tomorrow, I can’t lose.”

Hurley never relinquished the lead he has held since midway through the second round at Old White TPC. He birdied the par-5 12th and par-4 13th before dropping a stroke on the par-3 15th.

He had a 12-under 198 total. No third-round leader has won the Greenbrier Classic, now in its fifth year. Playoffs have decided the tournament twice.

Cabrera shot 64. He’s looking for his first non-major win on the PGA Tour.

Kevin Chappell was third at 9 under after a 69. Steve Stricker had a 68 to top the group at 8 under.

There will be more than a trophy to raise and a $1.2 million winner’s check available Sunday. The four best finishers not previously eligible for the British Open among the top 12 on the final leaderboard will earn spots in the July 17-20 tournament at Royal Liverpool.

Hurley finished his five-year Navy service in 2009 and would still be a naval officer if golf wasn’t keeping him busy. He returned to the PGA Tour this year after playing on the Web.com Tour in 2013.

He said nerves won’t play a part in how he gets ready for what could be a memorable Sunday.

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I just want to put my mind in position so that I can play well. I slept fine last night. The benefit of the Navy if you learn how to sleep anywhere. I think I’ll sleep fine tonight, too.”

Cabrera wore an Argentine blue shirt in the third round and is riding his country’s momentum in the World Cup, including Saturday’s 1-0 win over Belgium to advance to the semifinal round.

“I was very happy when I found out they won,” Cabrera said, adding that he was equally as giddy when he started his round with four birdies on the first six holes.

Old White sets up nicely for Cabrera’s long drives and he made four birdie putts of 19 feet or longer.

“I was able to get the speed of the greens, and that was the big difference,” Cabrera said.

At the Wells Fargo Championship in May, Cabrera was the second-round leader but closed with a pair of 75s.

Another under-par round Sunday would mark the first time that he has had four rounds in the 60s since the 2010 Deutsche Bank Championship.

Chappell barely got anything going until making a 12-foot putt for birdie on the par-5 17th.

“I don’t think I’ve had my best ball-striking day yet,” he said. “Hopefully, my putter gets hot and (it) should be fun.”

Joining Stricker in the group at 8 under were Michael Thompson (64), Cameron Tringale (64), Will Wilcox (65), Joe Durant (66), Camilo Villegas (67) and Chris Stroud (70).

Stricker, in his eighth tour event this year, will compete next week at John Deere and is leaning against going to the British Open unless he has one or more high finishes before then.

The highlight of Stricker’s third round was a bending 42-foot putt for birdie on the first hole. He was 1 over on his round at the turn before making three birdies the rest of the day.

“Anything can happen and that’s the truth,” Stricker said. “There are not a lot of guys in between me and the lead … but there are a ton of guys right behind us. So anybody can come out of the pack here.”

David Hearn has played three very consistent rounds of 68 to put him at 6 under, while Stephen Ames sits 2 under after shooting 71 in round 3.