MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – Wind gusts of up to 65km/h forced the delay of the first round at the 2015 Canadian Senior Men’s Championship at Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat, Alta.

Approximately half of the competitors in the field of 156 were able to finish their first rounds after a six-hour delay. The remaining players will begin their opening rounds on Wednesday, September 2 at 7 a.m. MDT with revised tee times. Round two is slated to begin following the completion of the first round.

“Unfortunately the weather didn’t fully co-operate with us for the start of our national championship,” said Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna. “You can play in windy conditions, however when wind gusts become so strong that still balls start to move, the course becomes unplayable. We remain confident that we will catch up and have a full 72-hole championship.”

Leading the way among players who finished their first rounds was Ronald Kilby of McAllen, Texas, who battled through the gusty winds to shoot 4-under 68.

“I felt like I controlled my distance with the irons really well coming into the greens. I didn’t have any really hard putts, I felt like I was below the hole and kind of where I wanted to be most of the day putting-wise,” said the 2014 Texas Senior Amateur champion.

Kilby started on the back nine and was even-par through six holes when play was delayed. “I just stayed out here and chipped and putted through the delay so that I didn’t tighten up a whole lot,” said the 60-year-old who shot five-under par on the front nine after the stoppage. Highlighting his round were four straight birdies through the fifth to eighth holes.

Four shots back is William Jackson of Oklahoma City, Okla., at even-par. Jackson began his round on the back nine at 2-over par, followed by a bogey-free two-under front nine to break even.

John Bracken of Seattle, Wash., Allen Barber of Yorktown, Va., Keith Newton of Olds, Alta., and Randy Fleet of Banff, Alta., sit tied for third at 1-over par.

George Stokes of New Hamburg, Ont., leads the Super Senior Division after a 6-over 78. The 70-and-older division is played concurrently with the first two rounds of play.

An Inter-Provincial competition also takes part over the course of the first 36 holes of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship and will see teams tee off for their first rounds tomorrow morning.

This week’s champion will earn an exemption into the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur at Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., from September 26 to October 1.

The first round of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will continue on Wednesday at 7 a.m. Players who completed their first rounds on Tuesday will tee off for their second rounds beginning at 11:50 a.m. MDT. Scoring, pairings and start times can be found online here.

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – The top Canadian and American senior male golfers will tee off at Desert Blume Golf Club in Medicine Hat, Alta., for the 53^rd playing of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

The 72-hole stroke play competition will feature a practice round on August 31 followed by tournament play from September 1-4. The national championship is open to players over the age of 55, while competitors 70 years of age and older will also be eligible for the Super Senior division to be played concurrently over the first 36 holes of the tournament.

“With a field of highly-touted senior golfers ready to take on Desert Blume Golf Club, the 2015 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will prove to be an exciting competition,” said Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna. “The course is in excellent condition and will test the best senior golfers from across our country and the United States.”

Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh will attempt to defend his 2014 Canadian Men’s Senior title and earn his seventh national golf championship to add to his Canadian Golf Hall of Fame career. Inducted in 1990, the 63-year-old has claimed a Canadian Junior Championship, four Canadian Amateur titles and a total of 13 B.C. Amateur Championships. Last year, Roxburgh finished 7-under par to complete a wire-to-wire victory and capture his first Senior championship.

Challenging Roxburgh for the title will be Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. The 64-year-old made history in 2010 by becoming the first player to win the British, U.S. and Canadian senior titles in the same year. Simson is hoping to carry forward momentum from winning the 2015 North Carolina Senior Amateur title at Champion Hills Club in Hendersonville, N.C.

Simson ranks No. 23 on Golfweek’s Senior Amateur Rankings and will be joined by Steve Hudson of Birmingham, Ala., who finished last year’s competition in third. Hudson, the top-ranked player in the field at No. 3, opened the year by capturing the 2015 Golfweek Senior National Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club in Ocala, Fla.

Collingwood, Ont., native Michael Jackson is the top-ranked Canadian at No. 28 on Golfweek’s Senior Amateur rankings. Jackson, 62, claimed this year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur title in a three-way playoff thriller.

Also in the hunt for the national championship will be Golfweek’s Senior Amateur No. 26, Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Nev. A member of the Golf Hall of Fame in his hometown, Exber is looking to improve upon his runner-up result at this event in 2014. The 59-year-old is joined by a trio of Americans in the top-25 of Golfweek’s rankings, including Pat Thompson of Asheville, N.C. (T18), Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga. (T18), and Gary Robinson of Fayetteville, N.C. (No. 21).

A Senior Inter-Provincial Team Championship will also be played in conjunction with the first two rounds of competition; British Columbia enters as the defending champions.

The 2015 Canadian Men’s Senior champion will earn an exemption into the 2015 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Hidden Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township, N.J., from September 26 to October 1.

More information on the championship can be found here.

West Vancouver, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh shot a 2-under par 69 Friday to claim a wire-to-wire victory at the 2014 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

Roxburgh, 62, finished at 7-under 277 (69-69-70-69), three-shots clear of runner-up Brady Exber (74-71-67-68—280) of Las Vegas. Exber, 58, is the reigning (British) Seniors Amateur Champion. Steven Hudson of Birmingham, Ala. finished third at 1-over par 285 (71-71-76-67).

The win today at Capilano Golf and Country Club marks the sixth national golf title for Roxburgh, who won the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship in 1970 and Canadian Amateur titles in 1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member and 13-time British Columbia Amateur champion was ecstatic with the win, perhaps even more so because it came so close to home.

“It feels outstanding,” Roxburgh explained. “I had a good week here. It was fun, I had great playing partners and the course was outstanding. Each national championship is special, but it’s nice to win in Vancouver in front of my family, friends and clubmates from Marine Drive (Golf Club) who came out to support me.”

With the win, Roxburgh earns an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship taking place September 13-18 at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif. Surprisingly, the career amateur has played just one previous United States Golf Association (USGA) event during his 40 plus years in competitive golf. Roxburgh was tentative to confirm he’d be taking advantage of the exemption and head south to challenge for the Frederick L. Dold Trophy.

“I still need to talk it over with my wife,” added Roxburgh. “I did try about 10 days ago to qualify for it (US Senior Amateur) in Portland, but I didn’t make it. I’ve only played one other USGA event and it was many years ago – the U.S. Amateur – so it might be sort of fun. And, I hear the golf course is just outstanding. So, you’ll probably see another Canadian flag on the leaderboard… somewhere.”

Final results and a full field list can be found online here.

West Vancouver, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh edged closer to winning his first Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title Thursday, firing a 1-under-par 70 at Capilano Golf and Country Club to take a 4-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s final round.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member once again got off to an unsteady start with a bogey on the 1^st hole, but it proved to be the only blemish on his scorecard for the day.

The four-time Canadian Amateur and 13-time British Columbia Amateur champion carded birdies on holes 9 and 10 to fire his third consecutive sub-par round (69-69-70) at Capilano to sit at 5-under 208.

“I had a bit of a shaky start, but settled into a nice rhythm,” said Roxburgh. “I always enjoy playing with Sandy Harper and it was a fun day. I’m looking forward to tomorrow with Sandy again and Brady (Exber).”

Brady Exber of Las Vegas carded a 4-under 67 Thursday – the low round of the tournament – and now sits alone in second at 1-under 212 (74-71-67), four-shots back of Roxburgh.

“My approach today was to not make the silly mistakes I made the first two days,” he explained. “I’ve been driving the ball really well, and having some 4 or 5 irons into the par-5s, but was missing the greens in very bad spots. Today I did a better job of that, birdieing all four of the par-5s.”

Exber is the reigning (British) Seniors Amateur Champion, winning the R&A’s championship earlier this month in North Yorkshire, England to gain entry into the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

“My goal this week was to just not embarrass myself because people know I’ve won a big tournament and I didn’t want them to think it was a fluke,” he joked. “I think I’ve accomplished that at this point, so the pressure if off there. I’m still riding that high though, trying to play good and hopefully tomorrow will be a good day.”

Nanaimo, B.C.’s Sandy Harper is third, five shots off the lead at even-par 213 (71-73-69).

This week’s champion receives an exemption into the 2014 USGA Senior Amateur Championship taking place September 13-18 at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif.

The Canadian Senior Men’s Championship continues Friday with the final round beginning at 7:30 a.m. (PDT). Scoring, pairings and start times can be found online here.

West Vancouver, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh continued his solid play at Capilano Golf and Country Club Wednesday, posting a 2-under 69 to build a four shot lead thru two rounds of the 2014 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member had a less than ideal start Wednesday, bogeying the 1^st and 8^th holes en route to finishing his front 9 at 1-over par. However, the 13-time British Columbia Amateur Champion rallied to birdie holes 10, 11 and 14 to get below par and shoot his second consecutive 69 (69-69—138) at challenging Capilano.

The difference between the two nines proved to be Roxburgh’s flat stick.

“I needed to get my putting going and started to on the 9^th hole,” he explained. “I made a nice side-hiller from about 10 feet to save par. After that I really putted well. I didn’t miss too many (putts) coming in on the back nine. I left myself below the hole and took pars when I needed. I’m happy with my 69 and am looking forward to the next two days.”

Steven Hudson of Birmingham, Ala. sits second thru 36-holes at even-par 142 (71-71), while Nanaimo, B.C.’s Sandy Harper is third at 2-over 174 (71-73).

In the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, the British Columbia contingent of Roxburgh, Lance Lundy (Pemberton, B.C.) and Jim Shaw (Mission, B.C.) combined for a 2-under 140 to capture the Phil Farley trophy with a 1-over 285 total. The squad finished 13-strokes ahead of Alberta, who carded a final round 1-over 143.

In the battle for the Super Senior title (70+), Mickey Batten of Chateauguay, Que. claimed a two-shot victory over runner-up George Stokes of New Hamburg, Ont. Batten carded 77-80 for a two day total of 15-over 157 for the victory.

“This is my first national championship win,” said Batten, a former Quebec Amateur and Duke of Kent champion. “I’m really happy today. I played this course (Capilano) 30 and 40 years ago, but I hardly recognize it. It’s truly a special place.”

The Canadian Men’s Senior Inter-Provincial Team and Canadian Men’s Super Senior Championships are conducted concurrently with the opening two-rounds of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

The Canadian Senior Men’s Championship continues Thursday with the third round beginning at 7:30 a.m. (PDT) off the 1st and 10th tees. Scoring, pairings and start times can be found online here.

West Vancouver, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh shot a 2-under 69 to take the opening-round lead Tuesday at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Capilano Golf and Country Club.

“Overall, I think I played pretty good,” said the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member. “It’s a tough golf course – the pins were tricky and the greens firm. I made some good putts, par savers, to keep my momentum going.”

Roxburgh and his hot putter got off to a great start, eagling his first hole on the day – the par 5 10^th hole – to get into red numbers early. He’d add two birdies and two bogeys to his scorecard en route to becoming the lone player to finish their opening-round under par. He would have been a shot better if not for missing a short par attempt on the 9^th hole, his last of the day.

“Unfortunately I missed that short one for par on the last hole” he added. “Other than that, I was really happy with my score out there today.”

Roxburgh had reason to be content with his round. The scoring average for the field was nearly 10 shots above par (71) at 80.26 during the opening round. The 12^th hole played as the most difficult hole of the day, with the 156 player field averaging the 362 yard par-4 nearly a full stroke over par (4.94).

Roxburgh, a four-time Canadian Amateur champion, had high praises for host Capilano on Tuesday.

“I think Capilano is my No. 1 course anywhere that I’ve played,” he explained. “I’ve played a lot of great events here over the years and it’s always great to come back”

Roxburgh may have been the only competitor to tame Capilano Tuesday, but he still has a great deal of work left if he wants to capture his first Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.

Three players trail the 62-year-old in second. Pat Thompson of Asheville, N.C., Steven Hudson of Birmingham, Ala., and Sandy Harper of Nanaimo, B.C. all fired matching even-par 71s to sit two-shots off the lead.

The Inter-Provincial team championship is conducted concurrently over the first two rounds of stroke play each year at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. Team British Columbia leads by five-strokes heading into the final round. Roxburgh, Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C., and Jim Shaw of Mission, B.C., combined to card a 3-over 145 to sit ahead of Team Saskatchewan’s Colin Coben (Delisle), Paul Grimes (Arcola) and Percy Murray (Delisle) at 150, +8. Team Ontario, which is comprised of Brampton’s Rick Dodds-Hebron, as well as Larry Cooper and Lars Melander of Oakville, are third at 9-over 151.

Mickey Batten of Chateauguay, Que. leads the Super Senior Division (70+) after a 6-over 77. Bob Masukawa of Aurora, Ont. is second at 7-over 78 and George Stokes of New Hamburg, Ont. rounds out the top 3 in third at 8-over 79.

The shot of the day went to Frank Morris of Guelph, Ont. who used a 4-hybrid to card an ace on the 201 yard par-3 16^th hole. The Guelph Lakes Golf Club member opened with a 5-over 76 and sits tied for 30^th.

Defending champion David Schultz of Calgary is tied for 9^th after a 3-over 74.

This week’s champion earns an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif. September 13-18, 2014.

The Canadian Senior Men’s Championship continues on Wednesday with the second round beginning at 7:30 a.m. (PDT) off the 1st and 10th tees. Scoring, pairings and start times can be found online here.

West Vancouver, B.C. – Top male senior golfers from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and the United States will compete at the 2014 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship which will take place from August 25-29 at Capilano Golf and Country Club in West Vancouver, B.C.

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, featuring players aged 55 and over, is played over 72 holes with a cut after 36 holes to the low 70 scores and ties. The Super Senior Championship, featuring players aged 70 and over, is contested concurrently over the first 36 holes of the championship. The Senior Inter-Provincial Team Championship, featuring three-player teams representing each of the ten provinces, also runs concurrently with the first 36 holes of the tournament.

Conducted since 1962, the 2014 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will see 156 players take to Capilano Golf and Country Club.

“The field is incredibly strong at this year’s Canadian Men’s Senior Championship,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna. “Capilano is going to challenge these elite competitors from across our country and worldwide and we’re looking forward to another great championship.”

Calgary’s David Schultz will return to defend his title after his one-stroke victory over Chip Lutz last year at The Briars Golf Club. Additionally, Schultz will be joined by a strong contingent of international players ranked inside the top-50 on Golfweek’s Senior Amateur rankings including, No. 2 Steve Sharpe of Greensboro, N.C., No. 8 Cyrus Whitney of Oro Valley, Ariz., No. 15 Jeff Burda of Modesto, Calif., No. 16 Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Nev., No. 25 Pat Thompson of Asheville, N.C., No. 49 Doug Williams of Hong Kong and No. 50 John Hull of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Capilano Golf and Country Club consistently ranks inside the top-10 courses in Canada. The Stanley Thompson designed course has a rich history in competition as the club has previously hosted seven of Golf Canada’s national championships alongside the World Amateur Team Championship in 1992. Additionally, the Pacific Coast Amateur was contested at the club in 2003 and 2013.

“Our membership has come together to support this championship and we are all looking forward to making this an event to remember for the competitors and spectators,” said General Manager, Brad Burgart. “Hosting a national championship is a great honour and we’re excited to watch as these elite competitors vie for a national championship title at our club.”

Locally, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver headlines the list Canadian competitors. Roxburgh, a 4-time Canadian amateur champion and a 13-time B.C. Amateur Champion, recently defended his title at the 2014 B.C. Men’s Senior Championship. He will look to add his first Canadian Men’s Senior title to his incredible amateur career. 

In the Inter-Provincial Team Competition, the Team Alberta contingent of Frank Van Dornick, Jim Russell and Pat McGowan will look to defend their title after besting Team British Columbia in 2013 by seven strokes.

The 2014 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship winner will earn an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif. September 13-18, 2014. 

More information on the championship can be found here.

WELLAND, ON – It was a crowded leaderboard heading into the final round of the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship as three players entered the day with a share the lead, while nine others were all within three shots.

Conditions were windy at Hunters Pointe Golf Course in Welland for the final round on Aug. 14. First-round leader and co-leader after the second round, Oakville’s Larry Cooper was able to tame those conditions to play great golf and capture his first Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.

“I came down early and played a practice round with Sandy Billyard, who co-owns the course and I really got to learn a lot about it,” said Cooper. “The wind makes a huge difference on this golf course and you really need to pick the right club and I seemed to do that today. I tried to keep the ball down in the wind and made sure I was finishing low at the target.”

Cooper attributed much of his success during the week to his flat stick.

“My putter was really solid. I made a lot of good putts, putts for par when I needed to, so I was very pleased with that.”

Cooper, 57-years-old from the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, took the outright lead after a birdie on the third hole. He would par the remaining six on the front nine and was at one-under at the turn. He continued to play well on the back nine beginning with a trio of birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes. He would go on to finish the round four-under (68) and four-under for the tournament.

“The senior group is a great group of guys. Everyone is pulling for each other, which is really nice. I love the spirit of they have to offer.  Last year, I played the event and lost in a playoff, this year I was lucky enough to win and it feels really nice to come back and win it.”

Finishing second was Lars Melander from the Hidden Lake Golf Club. The Oakville resident finished the final round three-over (75) and the tournament at three-over. Melander had a rough start to the day and was five-over through 15 holes. However, he would birdie 16 and 18 to claim the silver medal. Melander also was crowned champion of the 60+ Division.

Rounding out top three were Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos and Collingwood’s Michael Jackson who both ended the tournament at six-over. For Kertsos, he finished the day at three-over (75). As for Jackson, he was six-over (78).

Georgetown’s Reg Finlayson captured the 70+ Division, for the third consecutive year, with a final round of six-over (78) to end the tournament at 17-over.

With their podium finish Cooper and Melander earned the right to represent Ontario at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Aug. 26-29 at Capilano Golf & Country Club in West Vancouver, B.C. Brampton’s Rick Dobbs-Hebron joined them after earning the third spot in a playoff.

For more information and the final leaderboard, click here.

WELLAND, ON – It was a crowded leaderboard heading into the final round of the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship as three players entered the day with a share the lead, while nine others were all within three shots.

Conditions were windy at Hunters Pointe Golf Course in Welland for the final round on Aug. 14. First-round leader and co-leader after the second round, Oakville’s Larry Cooper was able to tame those conditions to play great golf and capture his first Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship.

“I came down early and played a practice round with Sandy Billyard, who co-owns the course and I really got to learn a lot about it,” said Cooper. “The wind makes a huge difference on this golf course and you really need to pick the right club and I seemed to do that today. I tried to keep the ball down in the wind and made sure I was finishing low at the target.”

Cooper attributed much of his success during the week to his flat stick.

“My putter was really solid. I made a lot of good putts, putts for par when I needed to, so I was very pleased with that.”

Cooper, 57-years-old from the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club, took the outright lead after a birdie on the third hole. He would par the remaining six on the front nine and was at one-under at the turn. He continued to play well on the back nine beginning with a trio of birdies on the 10th, 11th and 12th holes. He would go on to finish the round four-under (68) and four-under for the tournament.

“The senior group is a great group of guys. Everyone is pulling for each other, which is really nice. I love the spirit of they have to offer.  Last year, I played the event and lost in a playoff, this year I was lucky enough to win and it feels really nice to come back and win it.”

Finishing second was Lars Melander from the Hidden Lake Golf Club. The Oakville resident finished the final round three-over (75) and the tournament at three-over. Melander had a rough start to the day and was five-over through 15 holes. However, he would birdie 16 and 18 to claim the silver medal. Melander also was crowned champion of the 60+ Division.

Rounding out top three were Pickering’s Christopher Kertsos and Collingwood’s Michael Jackson who both ended the tournament at six-over. For Kertsos, he finished the day at three-over (75). As for Jackson, he was six-over (78).

Georgetown’s Reg Finlayson captured the 70+ Division, for the third consecutive year, with a final round of six-over (78) to end the tournament at 17-over.

With their podium finish Cooper and Melander earned the right to represent Ontario at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship, Aug. 26-29 at Capilano Golf & Country Club in West Vancouver, B.C. Brampton’s Rick Dobbs-Hebron joined them after earning the third spot in a playoff.

For more information and the final leaderboard, click here.

As part of Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting in London, Ont., the association’s Rules & Amateur Status Committee has approved the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMD’s) for all amateur championships beginning in 2014.

This Local Rule will be introduced at CN Future Links junior championships as well as Canada’s national amateur competitions. Competitors will not be allowed to use DMD’s at Golf Canada’s professional championships including Canadian Women’s Tour events, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial, the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, including their respective qualifiers.

This Local Rule allows competitors to use Distance Measuring Devices that measure distance only – not those devices that can measure other conditions such as wind speed or direction, temperature or elevation.

“With recent technological advances designed to enhance the golfer experience, our Rules Committee felt that this decision to allow DMD’s was a step in the right direction without jeopardizing the spirit and challenge of the game,” said Dale Jackson, Chair of Golf Canada’s Rules & Amateur Status Committee. “We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from golfers and this decision allows us to align with all of our provincial and international partners that have moved to allow DMD’s at their respective amateur competitions.”

Since 2006, committees have had the option of adopting a Local Rule under the Rules of Golf to allow players to use Distance Measuring Devices that measure or gauge distance only. See note to Rule 14-3 of the Rules of Golf.

Recently, the R&A and the USGA Championship Committee’s decided it will allow the use of distance measuring devices (DMDs) in R&A amateur events in 2014.

For more information on the Rules of Golf, please click here.

To ask a Rules of Golf question, please click here.

For more information on how to proceed in various Rules of Golf situations, guidance on the Golf Canada Handicap System and more, please consult our Rules of Golf publications – for purchase in Golf Canada’s eStore, or at your local book retailer.