PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada set for Wigwam
The final PGA of Canada national championship of the year lands next week in Arizona.
The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy takes place December 3-6 at the Golf Course at The Wigwam in Litchfield, Ariz.
A 54-hole national championship featuring PGA of Canada head professionals, head teaching professionals, executive professionals and general managers, will undoubtedly feature stellar play from an impressive cast of players.
The field at The Wigwam includes:
- Past PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada winners John Cochrane, Danny King and Benoit Boudreau
- Past PGA Championship of Canada winners Dave Levesque and Eric Laporte
- Past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winners Phil Jonas, Matt Palsenbarg, Marc Girouard
- PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC highly-touted Scott Allred, Philippe Gariepy, Brian Hadley, David Zibrik, Lindsay Bernakevitch, Ron Kenesky and Gordon Burns
- PGA TOUR winner Ian Leggatt
“We’re very excited to be headed back to Arizona and even more excited to be going to the Gold Course at The Wigwam for the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada,” said PGA of Canada president Mark Patterson.
This year’s field features many first-time players in the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy.
Designed by the master designer himself, the Gold Course was created in 1964 to rival another of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s courses, the famed South Course at Firestone Country Club. At more than 7,430 yards, this long and winding par-72 course will challenge even the finest of golfers, leaving them with club choices that will either reward or reprimand their decisions. The course has previously hosted qualifying tournaments for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.
The Wigwam was originally built in 1918 as a gathering place for the Ohio-based executives of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who discovered the West Valley of Phoenix as a prime location to grow cotton for rubber production. As the retreat grew in popularity, additional accommodations and amenities were added and in 1929 The Wigwam opened as a full-service resort with accommodations for just 24 guests.
In its 100-year history, this Phoenix resort has hosted some of the world’s most recognized public figures and sports legends and maintains a reputation as one of the Southwest’s landmark resort destinations.
In 2017, John Cochrane captured the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy. The 56-year-old posted rounds of 72-69 at the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., bettering Brian Hadley and Jeff Mills by two shots.
This year’s championship will see a few changes—both on and off the golf course. Firstly, the low club professional will be recognized with a separate trophy and monetary bonus. Secondly, all competitors are encouraged to stay at The Wigwam to take full advantage of numerous evening festivities.
The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy was played in Arizona in 2014 and 2015. Matt Peavoy captured the ’14 event at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, while Danny King won in ’15 at Verrado 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 addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Head 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 Head Professional Championship of Canada earn exemptions into the following year’s PGA Championship of Canada.
Former champions of the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada include Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton, in addition to the above-mentioned names.
Click here for the full field.
Team Canada’s Matt Wilson named Ontario’s Golf Coach of the Year
Team Canada Junior Women’s Coach Matt Wilson was one of nine award winners at the 2018 PGA of Ontario awards ceremony on Friday at the Nottawasaga Inn Resort in Alliston, Ont.
The Newmarket, Ont., native took home Coach of the Year honours for the PGA of Canada – Ontario Zone for his outstanding achievements in coaching this season and throughout his career.
In 2017, Wilson was appointed as Director of Next Generation strategy with Golf Canada to further develop and execute a stronger Team Canada program. Since joining the National Sport Federation, Wilson has helped oversee the national team’s centralized program, which sends athletes to train at Bear Mountain from February through to early June in a focused centre of excellence, surrounded by world-class technical coaching staff and experts.
Wilson was honoured alongside eight fellow PGA of Canada members:
- PADRAIG KELLY ~ Retailer of the Year
- CASEY WARD ~ Candidate for Membership of the Year
- RAYMOND MCCORQUODALE ~ Class A Professional of the Year
- JON BLOMME ~ Junior Leader of the Year
- GARETH RAFLEWSKI ~ Teacher of the Year
- MATTHEW WILSON ~ Coach of the Year
- BRIAN HADLEY ~ Player of the Year
- ADAM TOBIN ~ Club Professional of the Year
- IAN WEBB ~ Executive Professional of the Year
Marc-Etienne Bussieres repeats as PGA of Canada Assistant’s champion
CALGARY – For the second consecutive year, Marc-Etienne Bussieres came roaring from behind to capture the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.
When the final round at The Winston Golf Club in Calgary began, the 32-year-old from Longchamp, Que., sat four shots off the lead. But by the time the dust had settled after a wild final round featuring impressive scoring from the just about everyone in the field, Bussieres found himself two clear of his nearest competitor.
“I can admit it now, but I was nervous all day long—right from the very first tee shot until I made the birdie putt on the last hole,” Bussieres said. “However, for whatever reason, I usually play my best when I feel the nerves.”
Bussieres’ final round 7-under-65 included seven birdies, five of which came on Winston’s tough back-nine holes.
“All of a sudden I got my groove going on the back nine and the birdies started happening,” he said. “I think it helped that I was playing with Dustin (Risdon) and he was playing so well, that pushed me to make more birdies.”
Bussieres’ three-day total of 199 (65-69-65) saw him two-shots better than Airdrie, Alta’s., Riley Fleming who posted the round of the championship Wednesday, shooting an astounding 9-under-par 63.
“I figured I had to take it really low today to even have a chance,” Riley said after his round. “Unfortunately, I didn’t take it deep enough, but it was still an amazing round with 11 birdies.”
Risdon, who won the 2016 PGA Assistants’ Championship in 2016 finished solo third at -13. Thirty-six hole leader Albert Pistorius and 2013 PGA Assistants’ Championship Billy Walsh shared fourth spot at -12.
Nearly 40 players finished the national championship at even-par or better.
For the full leaderboard, click here.
“Being the No. 1-ranked player is always on my mind because of the prestige and the exemption into the RBC Canadian Open,” Bussieres admitted.
Originally launched in 2011, the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC has received much praise over the past seven years.
Players ranked inside the top 64 earn invites to the PGA Championship of Canada. The player who is ranked No. 1 at the conclusion of the championship earns an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open.
Pistorius surges to lead at PGA Assistants’ Championship
CALGARY – Albert Pistorius is proving the old adage that if you want to be successful on the golf course it’s probably best not to have any expectations.
“Two-days before the tournament I was hitting it so badly that I actually considered not teeing it up,” Pistorius admitted after his second round. “So, I’m really surprised that I’m playing this well, but that’s just it, though—when you don’t have expectations that are too high you usually end up playing pretty well.”
The associate professional at Pinebrook Golf & Country Club in Calgary has rattled off rounds of 66-64 at The Winston Golf Club and leads the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf by four shots heading into Wednesday’s final round.
The 37-year-old native of South Africa holds a three-shot lead over fellow Calgary resident and 2016 PGA Assistants’ winner Dustin Risdon and four shots over the PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player Marc-Etienne Bussieres.
Pistorius—a former Sunshine and European Tour player who was once ranked No. 700 in the Official World Golf Ranking—converted nine birdies Tuesday at The Winston. Pistorius says he’s obviously pleased with his play thru two rounds of the national championship.
“I’ve had a knee injury this year and this is only my 15th round of the season, so I’m pretty happy with how I’m playing,” he said. “I’ve found something in my swing and I’ve only missed two greens over the two days, which has led me to have a bunch of opportunities for birdies.”
Pistorius has converted those birdie looks and leads the field with 16.
Risdon, who sits just three shots back of the lead, knows a thing or two about making a lot of birdies, too. When he won the 2016 PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada at Lora Bay he strung together rounds of 67-67-64, cruising to an 11-shot victory. He says he’ll need another final round tomorrow at The Winston like the one he had two years ago if he has any shot of winning a second PGA Assistants’ title.
“I’m obviously going to have to fire something low tomorrow if I’m going to have a chance,” he said. “The way Albert’s playing I’m going to at least have to fire a round like the one I put together back in 2016 on the final day. I can’t go out there and think that if I shoot 70 I’ll have a chance to win because it’s not going to be good enough.”
Sitting alone in third, just four shots off the lead is Bussieres, the PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player. The 32-year-old from Quebec is a past winner of the PGA Championship of Canada (2016) and last year’s PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada, where he came from five shots back heading into the final round.
“Sometimes it’s just easier to come from behind for the win than it is to hold on to your lead,” Bussieres said. “But either way, I need to get my putter going and if that happens I’m pretty confident in my game and my chances.”
2013 PGA Assistants’ winner Billy Walsh sits alone in fourth at 9-under-par, while this year’ PGA Championship of Canada winner Pierre-Alexandre Bedard; 2015 PGA Assistants’ champion Brad Kerfoot; four-time Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada champion Wes Heffernan; local favourite Craig Gibson and Cory Renfrew of B.C., round at the top five at 7-under-par.
The Alberta squad (Risdon, Heffernan, Riley Fleming and Eric Locke) won the 36-hole Inter-Zone competition Tuesday (which is compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds) by a shot over the team from Quebec.
John Shin and Marc-Etienne Bussieres lead PGA Assistants’ Championship
CALGARY—The sun wasn’t the only thing heating up Calgary today.
Nearly 40 players took advantage of prime scoring conditions at The Winston Golf Club Monday, posting rounds under par.
John Shin of British Columbia and the PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player Marc-Etienne Bussieres lead the way after matching opening rounds of 7-under-par 65.
Local favourites Craig Gibson, Albert Pistorius and Dustin Risdon, along with former amateur standout Jake McNulty of Ontario and the reigning PGA Championship of Canada winner Pierre-Alexandre Bedard are all one back at 6-under.
“When you have these many good players posting low numbers it’s a sign the course is set up fairly and it’s a test of golf that will reward good play,” Bussieres said after his round about The Winston Golf Club.
The group at 4-under-par includes past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Billy Walsh, four-time Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada winner Wes Heffernan and Calgary’s own Stefan Cox and Scott Anderson.
Other notables with opening-rounds under par include B.C.’s Kevin Stinson; past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winners Brad Kerfoot and Bryn Parry; Sonny Michaud of Quebec; young guns Riley Fleming and Cory Renfrew; and perennial contenders Oliver Tubb and Adam Bruce.
“The field for this championship seems to be getting better and better every year,” Shin said. “Here in Alberta they produce a lot of great players, the guys from Quebec are obviously very strong, Ontario has a bunch of solid players and of course the guys from B.C. are talented. So collectively the field is just so deep, it’s almost like a tour event.”
This year’s field includes seven past PGA of Canada national champions, plus 11 of the top 20-ranked PGA Player Rankings presented by RBC.
The field will be cut to the low 60-players (and ties) after Tuesday’s second round.
There is also a 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds.
The squad from Quebec leads the way at -15, with Alberta and Ontario three back at -12.
First opened to the public as the Regal in 1923, The Winston Golf Club has matured over 90-years to become one of the finest in Calgary. The course has seen many changes in its day including a major re-design completed in 1992 by renowned golf architect Les Furber.
Formerly known as Calgary Elks, the course has played host to the 2007 Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada’s ATB Classic and most recently the 2012 PGA of Alberta Championship
Admittance to the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.
For the full PGA Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf leaderboard, click here.
Bussieres tops PGA of Canada player rankings to earn spot in RBC Canadian Open
Marc-Etienne Bussieres held on to the top spot of the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC following the recent PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf.
With the No. 1-ranking, the 31-year-old from Club de golf Longchamp in Sherbrooke, Que., earns an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open, which takes place July 23-29 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Pierre-Alexandre Bedard moved into the top-five of the player rankings after his first national championship win at the PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club. Bedard, an assistant professional at Club de golf Cap Rouge in Quebec, is the PGA of Canada’s reigning Mike Weir Player of the Year Award winner. The 23-year-old is now in a good position to become the first back-to-back player of the year in the history of the association.
The Mike Weir Player of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding player among the ranks of the PGA of Canada membership. The Player of the Year is awarded to the member who attains the most points based on the criteria within the PGA of Canada Player Rankings for the calendar year of the award.
Other nice jumps in the player rankings after the PGA Championship of Canada include Gordon Burns (who placed second at Credit Valley) who moved into the top-10 at No. 8, up from No. 16. John Shin of the Northview Golf Academy in Surrey, B.C., jumped 20 spots to No. 21.
The new look PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC are as follows:
- Marc-Etienne Bussieres, Club de Golf Longchamp
- Bryn Parry, Point Grey Golf & Country Club
- Billy Walsh, Modern Golf
- Dave Levesque, Golf Chateau Bromont
- Pierre-Alexandre Bedard, Club de Golf Cap Rouge
- Danny King, The Performance Academy at Magna
- Oliver Tubb, University Golf Club
- Gordon Burns, Gord Burns Golf School
- Lee Curry, Camelot Golf & Country Club
- Dustin Risdon, National Golf Academy Dome
The PGA of Canada Player Rankings is based on a points-based system from a number of national and zone championships.
The remaining events for points are:
- PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada
- PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada
- PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada
- British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northern Ontario, Ontario, Ottawa Valley, Quebec and Atlantic Zone Championship and Club Professional Championship
- Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Ottawa Valley, Quebec and Atlantic Assistants’ Championship
For more information about the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC, CLICK HERE.
Jessica Porvasnik wins DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
THORNHILL, Ont. —Until today, Jessica Porvasnik hadn’t won a professional golf championship outside the state of Ohio. Now, however, the 23-year-old American can call herself national championship winner.
Porvasnik captured the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada Thursday at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, finishing the 36-hole event at 4-under-par, 140.
“I’ve won two professional events in Ohio, but this is my first win outside of the state,” Provasnik said. “There are some pretty impressive names on the trophy, so to win this championship is very special to me.”
The DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and past champions include five-time winner Lorie Kane, Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, and Jessica Shepley.
With the win, Provasnik takes home the first place prize of $10,000 and an exemption into this year’s CP Women’s Open at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Aug. 20-26.
Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C., and Mexico’s Sandra Angulo finished T2, one shot back at 3-under-par.
Hamilton Golf & Country Club’s Emma De Groot finished fourth at 2-under-par for the championship. With her impressive finish, she takes home the low PGA of Canada club professional division title, along with a spot on the PGA of Canada’s PGA Cup team.
The PGA of America recently formed the Women’s PGA Cup, a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world. The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event, which will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.
The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DCM PGA Women’s Championship.
American Jenny Lee, Valerie Tanguay and Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto member Elizabeth Tong round out the top-five at 1-over-par.
Earlier in the week, title sponsor DCM announced the ‘Power Up’ initiative.
Founded by DCM, in partnership with the PGA of Canada, the Power Up initiative aims to support the athletic, personal and financial needs of Canadian female golfers. The initiative has the two main goals of supporting top Canadian female golfers on the brink of LPGA Tour status and create a landmark Canadian championship in women’s golf.
More information about the Power Up initiative will be announced in the coming weeks.
To follow the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada online, visit pgaofcanada.com, twitter.com/pgaofcanada, instagram.com/thepgaofcanada and facebook.com/pgaofcanada
The next PGA of Canada national championship takes place at the Beverly Golf & Country Club, Aug. 7-10 for the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.
Click here for scores.
Jessica Porvasnik leads PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
THORNHILL, Ont. —Players took advantage of ideal scoring conditions Wednesday at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto for the first round of the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.
A total of seven players posted rounds under par on the venerable Stanley Thompson designed gem in Toronto’s north end.
Jessica Porvasnik of Ohio leads the way after an opening-round 4-under-par 68, which included five birdies on the inward nine. Kayla Lawrence, Aram Choi and Sandra Angulo are just one shot back at 3-under-par. Emma De Groot and Brooke Baker were both 70, while local favourite and Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto member Elizabeth Tong was 71 Wednesday.
“This golf course is in great shape with perfect greens,” Angulo said. “It’s a very risk and reward type of golf course, so you have to be very aware where to attack.”
“My experience this week has just been amazing,” she said. “The support from everyone here at the club, the PGA of Canada, the sponsors have just been first class.”
The Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto hosted the inaugural DCM PGA Women’s Championship in 1987, which was won by PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Cathy Sherk. The club also hosted the event in 1999 (won by Lorie Kane) and for the third time in 2007 (won by Salimah Mussani).
Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto is North America’s only remaining private golf club established by women for women and was founded in 1924 by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Ada Mackenzie. Designed by famed Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson, the course was officially opened for play in 1926.
The winner of this year’s championship will earn an exemption into the CP Canadian Women’s Open at the Wascana Country Club, Aug. 20-26.
De Groot of Hamilton Golf & Country Club leads the PGA Club Professional division by three shots over Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
Additionally, the PGA of America recently formed the Women’s PGA Cup, a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world.
The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event. The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.
The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DCM PGA Women’s Championship.
Those eligible to represent their country in the Women’s PGA Cup must be members in good standing with their respective Professional Golfers Association (PGA). They must also be active in the game, be it as a teacher, coach or working as club professional/assistant. Tour professionals who primarily compete for a living are not eligible to participate.
Admittance to the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend the 36-hole championship play.
The DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and past champions include five-time winner Lorie Kane, Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, and Jessica Shepley.
Click here for full scoring.
Experience pays at PGA Championship of Canada
ACTON, Ont. — After an arduous 36-hole day of magnificent sun and sweltering heat at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, four players remain at the PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade & adidas Golf.
Past PGA Championship of Canada winners Dave Levesque and Bryn Parry; last year’s Mike Weir Player of the Year Award winner P.A. Bedard; and Ontario’s Gordon Burns all punched their ticket to the final day of the PGA Championship.
Parry, the No. 1-seeded player will play Bedard in the first semi-final at 7:30 a.m., while the second semi features Levesque and Burns at 7:45 a.m.
The two winners will play in the championship’s final match Thursday afternoon, with the winner taking home the historic P.D. Ross Trophy.
In the match of the day, Parry defeated Wes Heffernan in 21-holes, after falling behind three-down on the front nine.
“He won some holes on the front nine and I thought to myself that I can do the same on the back nine, so I stayed patient, plugged away and waited to see what could happen,” Parry said. “It’s in my nature to be patient, it’s in my nature to tenacious and those two things really paid off a the end of the day.”
What happened was another trip to the final day of the PGA Championship of Canada. Parry’s impressive record in the PGA Championship of Canada since 2013 includes a win, a runner-up, a fourth and a fifth-place finish.
His opponent Bedard, on the other hand, will play in his first ever PGA Championship semi-final. However, he promises to be ready to go come Friday morning.
“I’m going to relax tonight, drink a bunch of water, eat some food and tomorrow I’m going to be ready,” he said. “My game is very close to being where I want it to be, so I’m excited to be playing Friday.”
The second semi features Burns and Levesque, who is having a bounce-back campaign this year after spending much of 2017 injured.
“I was hurt for most of last year and over my career I’ve seen a lot of lows and highs in this game, so it’s fun to come in a little under the radar and perform well,” Levesque says. “I’ve got lots of experience winning this championship before, so I’ll know what it feels like when the pressure hits and how I react to keep things positive, moving forward and making the right decisions.”
Attendance to the PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.
Re-launched in 2011, the PGA Championship of Canada was contested strictly as a match play event through 2014 with players from the four brackets—Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman—looking to advance through the six rounds to capture the historic P.D. Ross trophy. However, the 2015 championship at Cabot Links saw a format change, with 69 top-ranked players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC playing two rounds of stroke play. The top-16 players from the 36-hole stroke play portion of the event filled out the four match-play brackets with the eventual champion winning four match play rounds.
This year’s championship at Credit Valley follows the same format.
Credit Valley last hosted the PGA Championship of Canada 25-years ago in 1993, which was won by 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker. The club has also recently hosted two PGA Women’s Championships (2010 and 2016) and a PGA Seniors’ Championship in 2015.
Credit Valley was also home to PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Al Balding, a four-time winner of the PGA Championship of Canada, as well as recently deceased PGA of Canada member Jerry Anderson, who won the championship in 1987.
Wild Wednesday at PGA Championship of Canada
ACTON, Ont. —Eleven players. Four playoff holes. One survivor.
The PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player Marc-Etienne Bussieres won a wild 11-for-one person playoff Tuesday at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club and advanced to the match play portion of the PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade and adidas Golf.
“I’ve definitely never been part of a playoff this big, but that sure was exciting,” Bussieres admitted. “Although I didn’t think it would take four times through before someone would finally make a birdie.”
In addition to Bussieres, the marathon playoff included Ken Tarling, Kevin Stinson, Dustin Risdon, Terry O’Brien, Jeff Mills, Eric Laporte, Gary Jeffrey, Billy Houle, Alf Callowhill and Tim Alarie.
With the playoff victory, Bussieres—who won the PGA Championship of Canada in 2016 at Victoria Golf Club—rolls into match play as the No. 16 seed and faces medalist Bryn Parry, who won this championship in 2013 at Magna Golf Club.
“I’m pretty confident in my game and I know he’s (Parry) confident in his game too, so I think we’re going to have a really fun time tomorrow morning,” Bussieres says. “Bryn’s a great guy, a great player and I love playing with him.”
Thursday’s round-of-16 matches include:
- Brynn Parry (1) vs. Marc-Etienne Bussieres (16)
- Danny King (2) vs. Gordon Burns (15)
- Jim Rutledge (3) vs. Jean Philip Cornellier (14)
- Oliver Tubb (4) vs. Pierre-Alexandre Bedard (13)
- Jean Laforce (5) vs. Thomas Keddy (12)
- John Shin (6) vs. Dave Levesque (11)
- Brian McCann (7) vs. Billy Walsh (10)
- Brad Kerfoot (8) vs. Wes Heffernan (9)
For the full leaderboard and match play bracket, click here.
Of the remaining 16; Parry, Bussieres, King, Rutledge, Cornellier and Levesque have all won the PGA Championship in the past. Furthermore, McCann, Walsh and Kerfoot are past PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winners, with Bedard winning last year’s Mike Weir Player of the Year Award.
The winners of the morning matches Wednesday qualify for the afternoon quarterfinal matches. The eventual champion will win four match play rounds, adding his name to the historic P.D. Ross Trophy.
“This is such a great championship because when you have 16 of the top 70 players in the country you know you’re going to face someone with serious skills,” Bussieres said. “You can’t fall asleep during any part of your match or you’ll end up losing. You need to be focused the entire time, play well and maybe get a little lucky to advance through the brackets.”
Re-launched in 2011, the PGA Championship of Canada was contested strictly as a match play event through 2014 with players from the four brackets—Stan Leonard, George Knudson, Al Balding and Moe Norman—looking to advance through the six rounds to capture the historic P.D. Ross trophy. However, the 2015 championship at Cabot Links saw a format change, with 69 top-ranked players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC playing two rounds of stroke play. The top-16 players from the 36-hole stroke play portion of the event filled out the four match-play brackets with the eventual champion winning four match play rounds.
This year’s championship at Credit Valley follows the same format.
Credit Valley last hosted the PGA Championship of Canada 25-years ago in 1993, which was won by 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker. The club has also recently hosted two PGA Women’s Championships (2010 and 2016) and a PGA Seniors’ Championship in 2015.
Credit Valley was also home to PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Al Balding, a four-time winner of the PGA Championship of Canada, as well as recently deceased PGA of Canada member Jerry Anderson, who won the championship in 1987.