Hoey, Gilman share Q-school lead through 36 holes
Rancho Cucamonga, California’s Rico Hoey and Thousand Oaks, California’s Chris Gilman reached 9-under par through two rounds at Carlton Oaks Country Club to share the 36-hole lead at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s USA West #1 Q-School on Wednesday.
The 21-year old Hoey carded five birdies on the day to shoot a second round 68, while Gilman managed four birdies to shoot 69. The two were one shot ahead of Fort Worth, Texas’ Andrew Presley and two ahead of Plano, Texas’ Craig McCoy through two rounds.
“I’m just trying to hit a lot of fairways. It’s a tough driving course, but I’ve hit it solid so far,” said Hoey, who refused to get ahead of himself with two rounds to go. “I don’t think it will be easier. We’re all fighting for that one spot. I’m just trying to stick to the gameplan and keep focused and keep rolling. That’s the key for me,” said Hoey.
Gilman, meanwhile, was three shots higher than his opening round 66, but actually felt better about his round on day two.
“Yesterday was about making 20-footers, and today was more along the lines of picking the course apart and taking my birdies as they come,” said Gilman.
CURRENT SCORES FOR MACKENZIE TOUR STATUS: After 72 holes this week, every player inside the top 40 and ties will earn Mackenzie Tour status for 2017. Below is a breakdown of where the cut-offs stand:
1st (Exempt for 2017 season): -9/T1
5th (Exempt for first 8 events, subject to 2nd reshuffle): -5/T5
16th (Exempt for first 4 events, subject to 1st reshuffle): -1/T15
40th (Conditional status): +3/T37
BACKGROUND ON THE LEADERS: Hoey is looking forward to his professional career – but he’s not done writing his college chapter yet. As one of collegiate golf’s top players (he’s No. 15 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking) for the No. 5 ranked team in the country, he’s hoping to finish his amateur career with a flourish this Spring.
“This whole year, we’ve been really trying to put it all together and match all the pieces of the puzzle,” said Hoey of his USC Trojans, who just won the Southern Highlands Collegiate by 10 shots.
Hoey finished in the top 10 in five straight events earlier this year, and is soaking in his last few weeks on campus while he can.
“It’s a lot of fun and the campus is great. The classes are fun. I can’t complain. With the facilities we got, it’s awesome,” said Hoey.
Gilman, meanwhile, is hoping to use the Mackenzie Tour as a springboard to return to the Web.com Tour, where he played in 2015. The University of Denver made just three cuts that year, but came away from the season with a renewed vision of where he wanted to get to as a pro.
“I learned that I needed to drive the ball a heck of a lot better. Lately I’ve been doing that a lot better, and hence the scores have been good,” said Gilman. “I played terrible all year, but I came away thinking I’m really close to being someone who can stay on that Tour and then progress to the PGA TOUR.”
The 30-year old owns 23 professional victories, including the 2014 California State Open.
THEY SAID IT:
“I just started my second year. Last year I played on the Adams Tour and had a good year, but I didn’t really get anything out of it in terms of getting to the Web.com Tour. I had a couple of friends that played out here last year that said good things about it so I thought I’d give it a try. I want to get status somewhere.” – Andrew Presley on embarking on his pro career and ambitions for 2017.
“Jamie Lovemark, who’s on the PGA TOUR now, he’s helped me out, and some of the guys who have played the other Tours. It’s a community and it’s great to be a part of it.” – Rico Hoey on USC alumni who have helped guide his career so far.
“I’ve got a really specific game plan for this course. For someone like me who doesn’t hit it crazy far, I probably have to do a lot of that.” – Chris Gilman on his approach to playing Carlton Oaks.
MORE PLAYER NOTES:
Andrew Presley
A second year pro who played at LSU before transferring to Texas Christian University, where he played with Mackenzie Tour alums Paul Barjon and Julien Brun, Presley owns one professional win on the Adams Tour.
The 25-year old finished seventh at the 2015 NCAA Championship and was named an Honorable Mention All-American.
Click here for scores.
Jonathan Khan leads at Q-School after opening round 65
THE RECAP: Tucson, Arizona’s Jonathan Khan shot a 7-under 65 on Tuesday at Carlton Oaks Country Club to take the first round lead at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s USA West #1 Q-School on Friday. The 28-year old carded 7 birdies and was without a bogey to lead by one over Plano, Texas’ Craig McCoy, Thousand Oaks, California’s Chris Gilman and Fort Worth, Texas’ Nathaniel James.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Khan. “I know last year the scores were pretty high, so it was a good start. The greens are so good, if you’re putting well you can make some putts.”
McCoy, who like Khan played the Mackenzie Tour last season, went 6-under par on the par 5s on Tuesday to share second place with Gilman and James.
Round one was suspended due to darkness at 7:01 p.m., with six players left to finish. Play will resume at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
CURRENT SCORES FOR MACKENZIE TOUR STATUS: After 72 holes this week, every player inside the top 40 and ties will earn Mackenzie Tour status for 2017. Below is a breakdown of where the cut-offs stand:
1st (Exempt for 2017 season): -7/65
5th (Exempt for first 8 events, subject to 2nd reshuffle): -2/T5
16th (Exempt for first 4 events, subject to 1st reshuffle): +1/T15
40th (Conditional status): +4/T37
BACKGROUND ON THE LEADER: Khan is no stranger to the Mackenzie Tour, having played in Canada for the last two seasons, including a career-best T3 finish at the 2015 ATB Financial Classic. He co-led through 54 holes at last season’s National Capital Open to Support Our Troops before falling off with a final round 78.
At the end of the season, Khan was unlucky no. 61: he missed out on finishing in the top 60 on the Order of Merit by just $345, denying him exempt status for this season by the narrowest of margins.
It was a “frustrating” year that saw plenty of 64s and 65s but too many tournaments with one bad round. Khan said he spent some time reflecting over the offseason on his goals for next year and realized he wasn’t too far off.
“After [missing out at] Q-School for the Web.com Tour, it was tough,” said Khan. “But I looked back and I had a lot of good rounds and I was leading a tournament, so I just recharged and focused. I knew that I had the game, it’s just about being a little more consistent.”
Khan played collegiate golf at the University of Arizona and was featured in Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd for golf when he was 13 years old.
THEY SAID IT:
“One hundred percent. Adam Cornelson, when I saw him last year, he told me ‘I was in the same spot.’ It just motivates you more, makes you want to stay on the range and putting green a little longer.” – Jonathan Khan on taking inspiration from players who narrowly missed out on keeping their Mackenzie Tour card in previous seasons.
“I had a little falling out with my putter a few weeks ago and put a new one in, and I told people ‘watch out.’ As soon as I put that one in I knew it was going to be a lot better, and it’s definitely showing off right now.” – Chris Gilman on turning his game around heading into this week.
“I got some experience, and I know what to expect. There’s a lot outside of golf, as far as logistics and things like that, so I’m looking forward to having a chance to go back.” – Craig McCoy on trying to qualify for the Mackenzie Tour for a second straight year.
“I kept the ball in play off the tee all day, and I’m striking my irons really solidly. The few times I missed I was able to mitigate the damage, and the putter was really good, so it was a great day.” – Nathaniel James on an opening round 66.
PLAYER NOTES:
Craig McCoy
McCoy was a Mackenzie Tour member in 2016, when he made two cuts in nine starts. The 27-year old earned status with a T20 finish at Carlton Oaks last year, including a final round 67.
Chris Gilman
Gilman played on the Web.com Tour in 2015, making three cuts in 12 starts including a T30 finish at the Nova Scotia Open. The 30-year old played college golf at the University of Denver and owns 23 professional victories, including the 2014 California State Open.
Nathaniel James
James played college golf at Washington and Lee University, where he had a successful college career and was named a Division III 1st team All-American in 2007 and 2008. Following college, James continued into Law School and worked for three years as a Litigation Attorney before turning pro in 2014 and pursuing the game professionally.
Mackenzie Tour Q-school set to begin in California
The quest to earn Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada status begins this week at Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, California, where 120 players will look to earn their cards to compete on the Mackenzie Tour this season. Below are all the details from this week along with storylines to watch for from California:
HOW IT WORKS
120 players will compete at each qualifying tournament with hopes of earning their cards for 2017. Below is a breakdown of the status available at each site:
Finish Position
Status
Medalist
Exempt for 2017
2nd through 5th (no ties)
Exempt for first eight events and subject to second re-shuffle
6th through 16th (no ties)
Exempt for first four events and subject to first re-shuffle
17th through 40th (plus ties)
Conditional status
WHAT THEY’LL FACE
Carlton Oaks, a 7,410-yard layout designed by Perry Dye (son of Pete Dye), has hosted qualifying for the U.S. Amateur as well as the first stage of the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament in 2010. Last year, Californian John Chin claimed medalist honours and went on to have a successful season, recording two top-10s and finishing 29th on the Order of Merit.
“You’ve got to be pretty solid tee-to-green. The course is demanding, and pars don’t really hurt you,” says Chin, who went on to earn Web.com Tour status this year and ranks 39th on that Tour’s Money List. “The key is to stay away from big numbers, put your head down and grind away.”
THE START OF SOMETHING BIG
For many players, earning Mackenzie Tour status represents the first step on the path to the PGA TOUR. From college standouts taking their first crack at the professional ranks to players in search of that big break, earning a card at Q-School is the point of embarkation on the dream.
One needs to look no further than the example of Tony Finau, who had yet to find a footing in the professional ranks when he came to Mackenzie Tour Q-School in 2013. Finau earned his card and played a full season in Canada, and the rest is history; he’s since claimed wins on the Web.com Tour and PGA TOUR, and last year made a deep run in the FedExCup Playoffs.
Other Mackenzie Tour alumni to have earned their card at Q-Schools in California include The Five members Greg Eason, Taylor Pendrith and Sam Ryder, 2015 ATB Financial Classic winner Daniel Miernicki.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Below are five in the field to keep an eye on this week in California:
Rico Hoey (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
Currently the 15th-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, Hoey is in his senior season at the University of Southern California and has already been named an NCAA All-American three times.
Jonathan Khan (Tucson, Ariz.)
A Mackenzie Tour member in 2015 and 2016, Khan was the unlucky No. 61 on the Order of Merit last year to barely miss out on retaining exempt status for 2017. He co-led through 54 holes at last year’s National Capital Open to Support Our Troops.
Kevin Stinson (Mission, B.C.)
A veteran of 38 Mackenzie Tour starts, Stinson Monday Qualified five times in 2014 and 2015 and will look to regain full status this week.
Andy Shim (Duluth, Ga.)
The 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur champion decided to forgo college and turned pro in 2013 at age 18, and will look to earn Mackenzie Tour status for the first time.
Eric Hawerchuk (Barrie, Ont.)
The son of NHL legend Dale Hawerchuk, Eric has played in six career Mackenzie Tour events and led after round at the British Columbia Q-School last season before narrowly missing out on earning status.
CANADIANS IN THE FIELD (12)
Daniel Kim (Toronto, Ont.)
Adam Craig (Stoufville, Ont.)
Brett Kennedy (Waterloo, Ont.)
Kevin Stinson (Mission, B.C.)
Brendan Barrack (Toronto, Ont.)
Darren Day (Victoria, B.C.)
Drew Nesbitt (Shanty Bay, Ont.)
Gianfranco Guida (Maple, Ont.)
Eric Hawerchuk (Barrie, Ont.)
Gajan Sivabalasingham (Stoufville, Ont.)
Vincent Blanchette (Saint-Jean-Sur-Richlieu, Qc.)
Colin MacGregor (Hamilton, Ont.)
ALUMNI WATCH
Adam Hadwin’s maiden PGA TOUR victory at the Valspar Championship was the 130th by all-time Mackenzie Tour alumni on the PGA TOUR. The Abbotsford, British Columbia native won twice on the Mackenzie Tour at the 2010 Desert Dunes Classic and the 2011 Pacific Colombia Tour Championship.
Thanks to his epic hole-out and playoff win in Panama, 2015-16 Mackenzie Tour member Ethan Tracy leads the way among alumni on the Web.com Tour Money List through four events this season. Eight alums are currently in position to finish in The 25 and earn PGA TOUR cards for next season:
Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announces 2017 schedule
The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada schedule was announced Tuesday, featuring 12 events from May to September in 2017 as players look to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR.
The season will once again begin in May with the Freedom 55 Financial Open (May 29-June 4) at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, B.C., with purses of $175,000 (CA$) for the first 11 events and a $200,000 purse for the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship (Sept. 11-17) at Highland Country Club in London, Ont.
“Our host organizations have done tremendous work to establish our tournaments for this season, and thanks to the support of our sponsors we have a wonderful slate of events from coast to coast again this year,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “Our goal remains to provide players with the opportunity to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR while making a positive impact in the community, and we look forward to making an even greater impact this year.”
With 11 events confirmed, a 12th event taking place prior to the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship will be added to the schedule in the coming weeks.
Mackenzie Tour players will look to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR by leveraging their performance into advantages to reach the next level. The Order of Merit winner will be fully exempt on the Web.com Tour for the following season, with Nos. 2-5 earning conditional status. Those players Nos. 2-10 will earn an exemption into the Final Stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament while Nos. 11-20 will earn an exemption into the second stage.
Players will look to follow in the footsteps of PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes, Tony Finau and Nick Taylor, who are among the 10 PGA TOUR-era (2013-present) alumni competing on the PGA TOUR this season. 40 Mackenzie Tour players from 2016 went on to earn Web.com Tour status for this year and will look to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR.
Off the course, Mackenzie Tour events will look to build off a record-breaking 2016 season that saw more than $1 million donated to charity, bringing the total since 2013 to more than $2.1 Million.
After beginning the season with the Mackenzie Tour’s first event in Vancouver, the Tour will head to Victoria, B.C. for the 35th playing of the Bayview Place DC Payments Open presented by Times Colonist (June 6-12) at Uplands Golf Club, followed by the GolfBC Championship (June 12-18) at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club in Kelowna, B.C. The Players Cup returns to Pine Ridge Golf Club in Winnipeg, Man. (July 3-9), followed by the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel in Thunder Bay, Ont. (July 10-16) and the inaugural Mackenzie Investments Open at Les Quatres Domaines Golf Club in Montreal, Que. (July 17-23), after which the top three players on the Order of Merit earn exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR.
The season resumes in Alberta, with the Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON at Windermere Golf and Country Club in Edmonton (July 31-August 6) and the ATB Financial Classic at Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary (August 7-13), followed by the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops at Hylands Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont. (August 15-21).
The season’s home stretch begins with the Cape Breton Open at Bell Bay Golf Club in Baddeck, N.S. August 28-3, followed by an event to be added in near future. The top 60 players on the Order of Merit through 11 events will retain exempt status and play their way into the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship at Highland Country Club in London, Ont.
|
Mackenzie Investments Open coming to Montreal in 2017
The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and Mackenzie Investments announced on Thursday that the Mackenzie Investments Open, an official 72-hole event, will take place at Les Quatres Domaines Golf Club as part of a multi-year agreement starting in 2017.
Mackenzie Investments, the umbrella sponsor of the Mackenzie Tour since 2015, will serve as the event’s title sponsor, with the Circuit Canada Pro Tour serving as host organization. The 2017 event will take place July 17-23, following which the top three players on the Order of Merit will earn exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR.
“We felt it imperative to add a Quebec stop to the Mackenzie Tour, especially as Mackenzie celebrates our 30th year of helping investors in Quebec achieve their financial goals,” said Barry McInerney, President and CEO, Mackenzie Investments. “The addition of the Mackenzie Investments Open in the city of Montreal grows our commitment to Canadian sport, as we invest in player development, local communities and charities from coast to coast. Montreal has lots to offer the Mackenzie Tour so we can’t wait to showcase the city while we host the players, our clients, partners and guests at the first Mackenzie Investments Open.”
“We are fortunate to work with an umbrella sponsor like Mackenzie Investments, whose support of adding an event in Quebec has been instrumental in making this tournament a reality. We look forward to it becoming a world class event in a world class city for years to come,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday.
The event will offer a $175,000 purse with $31,500 to the winner starting in 2017, featuring a field of 156 players. In addition to regular Mackenzie Tour eligibility plus 10 spots for open qualifying, the field will feature 16 sponsor exemptions, including several Circuit Canada Pro Tour players adding local flavor to the tournament.
“The support fans in Quebec have shown for sporting events and golf tournaments is incredibly impressive, particularly ones that feature athletes from Quebec. That support is a major reason we wanted to launch an event here, and we felt it was important to give the tournament a local connection to help establish the event and make an impact in the community,” said Monday.
Circuit Canada Pro Tour, which manages professional golf tournaments in Ontario and Quebec, will operate the tournament, with Circuit Canada Pro Tour President Jean Trudeau serving as Tournament Director.
“Circuit Canada Pro Tour is proud to partner with Mackenzie Investments and the PGA TOUR in hosting the 2017 Mackenzie Investments Open in Montreal,” said Trudeau. “We are eager to work with the PGA TOUR team and Les Quatre Domaines Golf Club to make this event a success. Being the first Mackenzie Tour event to be held in the Province of Quebec, we look forward to seeing golf enthusiasts of ‘La Belle Province’ attend this great international event and see the future stars of the PGA TOUR.”
The full Mackenzie Tour schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.
PGA TOUR Latinoamérica holds on to win Aruba Cup
A late rally by the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada fell short on Saturday at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf, giving PGA TOUR Latinoamérica victory in the first-ever Aruba Cup.
Though the Mackenzie Tour put together a valiant charge, winning five of the first seven singles matches of the day, it wasn’t enough to overcome a daunting 8.5-1.5 deficit, with Latinoamérica prevailing by a 13-7 final score over the three-day match play competition between the two Tours.
“Our guys fought back and made it interesting. It was good golf, and it was fun to see. It’s unfortunate the way it ended, but we rallied back and I’m proud of how our team played,” said Mackenzie Tour captain Stephen Ames, who offered his congratulations to the Latinoamérica team and his counterpart Julian Etulain. “I watched a lot of their golf, and they made a lot of putts. My hat’s off to Captain Etulain and his team on a great victory.”
Early on in Saturday’s singles play, it seemed as though a miracle comeback was in the works, as Dan McCarthy got things started with a win in the day’s first match – a battle of Players of the Year against Latinoamérica Order of Merit winner Nate Lashley.
Taylor Moore followed shortly after with a 2&1 win of his own over Seth Fair, and when a handful of other matches out on the course turned in favour of the Mackenzie Tour, the outcome of the event appeared in doubt for the first time since before one-sided fourball and foursomes matches of the first two days.
“All I could do being the first match out was beat my guy and hope everybody else followed suit,” said McCarthy, a four-time winner this year on the Mackenzie Tour. “We were in there for a while today and we almost pulled off the impossible.”
Although more matches went the Mackenzie Tour’s way – Brock Mackenzie clawed back to earn a half point after being three down with six to play, while Paul Barjon, Max Rottluff and Ryan Williams each won their matches – it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit to start the day.
Martin Trainer notched the clincher for Latinoamérica, securing at least a half point by taking a 1 up lead to the 18th and then sinking a long birdie putt to defeat Michael Gligic 2 up and set off a celebration.
“I’m really proud of the team today. We fought hard and made it interesting at the end. It was a good team effort and a fantastic week,” said Williams, who beat Augusto Núñez 4&3. “It was great to play a team event. We’ve all had good years, and it was nice to come down here to Aruba and get together as a team. It was a real fun week and something I’ll remember for a long time.”
Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada team announced for Aruba Cup
Oakville, Ont. and Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s 10-man team for the inaugural Aruba Cup was announced Thursday, led by four-time 2016 winner and Player of the Year Dan McCarthy.
The team, consisting of the top 10 available players on the 2016 Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit with a minimum of five Canadians, will compete against a team of 10 players to be announced from PGA TOUR Latinoamérica in a Presidents Cup-style event at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf in Aruba, December 12-18, 2016. The three competition days will Four-ball, Foursome and Singles matches on December 15, 16 and 17, respectively.
“I’ve been looking forward to this event ever since it was announced in September, and from talking to the other guys on the team, I know they are too,” said McCarthy, who won four times in 2016 on the way to setting the all-time Mackenzie Tour earnings record with $157,843. “We’ve got a really solid team of great players and better guys, and it will be a thrill to play against the guys from PGA TOUR Latinoamérica.”
Joining McCarthy (Syracuse, N.Y.) on the team are Brock Mackenzie (Yakima, Wash.), Taylor Moore (Edmond, Okla.), Adam Cornelson (Langley, B.C.), Paul Barjon (Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia), Austin Connelly (Church Point, N.S.), Max Rottluff (Dusseldorf, Germany), Michael Gligic (Burlington, Ont.), Ryan Williams (Vancouver, B.C.) and Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.).
“We’ve got a tremendous team of guys who have proven themselves to be among the best up-and-coming players in the world, and I expect them to play some great golf in Aruba,” said Team Captain Stephen Ames. “We know the team from PGA TOUR Latinoamérica will be very competitive as well, and I’m looking forward to some great matches in December.”
Mackenzie, 35, captured his third career Mackenzie Tour win in a dramatic seven-hole playoff at the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops, adding five other top-10 finishes and finishing outside the top-25 just twice in 12 starts.
Moore, a 23-year old who graduated from the University of Arkansas in the Spring, excelled in his first season as a professional, finishing solo second in his pro debut at the Bayview Place DC Payments Open and capturing the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel.
Cornelson, 28, rebounded from losing his card in 2015 by breaking through for a triumphant win in Victoria and recording a playoff runner-up in Ottawa to finish fifth on the Order of Merit and take home the Dan Halldorson Trophy as Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year.
Barjon, a 24-year old who completed his collegiate career at the Texas Christian University in May, captured his first pro victory and set the new Mackenzie Tour 72-hole scoring record at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, one of three top-10s on the season.
Connelly, 20, a former member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team, produced a solid campaign in his first full year as a pro, notching four top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the ATB Financial Classic.
Rottluff, a 23-year old former NCAA First-Team All-American at Arizona State University, entered the winner’s circle in his first pro season thanks to a triumph at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open.
Gligic, 27, produced three top-five finishes, including a tie for second at the Players Cup, to earn an exemption into the Final Stage of Web.com Tour Q-School for the first time.
Williams, 35, finished in the top-20 on the Order of Merit for the third straight season, recording three top-10 finishes.
Conners, 24, who plays on both the Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, excelled in limited action in Canada, making the cut in all seven starts and finishing second at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel.
“We’re so excited to have this outstanding group of up-and-coming players competing at Tierra del Sol and look forward to welcoming them to our Island next month. We hope that one day we’ll be watching these guys compete on the biggest stages of the game and remembering the time they spent here competing in the Aruba Cup,” said Oliver Riding, Director of Operations, Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf.
Below is the 10-man roster for the Mackenzie Tour team (bold denotes Canadian):
Dan McCarthy – Syracuse, N.Y.
Brock Mackenzie – Yakima, Wash.
Taylor Moore – Edmond, Okla.
Adam Cornelson – Langley, B.C.
Paul Barjon – Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia
Austin Connelly – Church Point. N.S.
Max Rottluff – Dusseldorf, Germany
Michael Gligic – Burlington, Ont.
Ryan Williams – Vancouver, B.C.
Corey Conners – Listowel, Ont.
Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announces 2017 qualifying sites
Oakville, Ont. and Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tournament will take place at five separate sites next spring, with fields of 120 players competing for Mackenzie Tour membership for the 2017 season.
The five 72-hole, no-cut Qualifying Tournaments will take place at: Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, Calif., March 13-17; The Country Club at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto, Calif., March 20-24; Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club in Sebring, Fla., April 10-14; PGA Village’s Wanamaker Course in Port St. Lucie, Fla., April 17-21; and Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay, British Columbia, May 1-5.
Players will have an opportunity to qualify at one of the five sites, with official details on the number of membership cards and playing status to be announced at a later date.
“The interest from players in qualifying to compete on the Mackenzie Tour has grown in each of our first four seasons, and we felt it was important to add a fifth site in response to give as many players as possible the opportunity to qualify,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “We look forward to hosting players at each of these five tremendous venues next spring as they take the first step on the path to the PGA TOUR.”
Carlton Oaks, which has hosted PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour Q-School, returns as a host from 2016 Mackenzie Tour qualifying in addition to a second California site at Soboba Springs, which hosted the Web.com Tour’s Soboba Golf Classic from 2009-2012.
Sun ‘N Lake, which annually hosts PGA TOUR Latinoamérica qualifying, joins PGA Village’s Wanamaker Course, a past host of PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour Q-School as well as the PGA of Canada Assistants’ Championship, as Florida sites.
The spring’s final Qualifying Tournament will return to Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay, British Columbia, as part of a deal to host Mackenzie Tour Qualifying through 2020.
The application to enter Mackenzie Tour qualifying will be open to the public live at www.pgatour.com/MackenzieTour on January 19th, 2017. Entry fees will once again be $2,750 USD.
The full 2017 Mackenzie Tour schedule will be announced in early 2017.
Stephen Ames and Julian Etulain announced as team captains for Aruba Cup
Four-time PGA TOUR winner Stephen Ames and PGA TOUR member Julian Etulain will captain the teams from the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica at the inaugural Aruba Cup, December 12-18 at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf, it was announced Tuesday along with a new logo for the event.
Ames, who played on the Mackenzie Tour from 1990 to 1991 and has amassed more than $20 million in career earnings and Etulain, a three-time PGA TOUR Latinoamérica winner who earned his PGA TOUR card for the 2016-17 season, will lead the teams of 10 players each in the President’s Cup-style match play event at Tierra del Sol.
“I’m honoured and excited to lead the Mackenzie Tour team into this competition at an incredible venue for the first time,” said Ames. “I fondly remember my time starting my career in Canada and know that the guys on our team are well on their way to making the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR, and it should be a fun week of great golf in Aruba.”
“It’s an honor for PGA TOUR Latinoamérica to have asked me to be the captain of the Aruba Cup,” said Etulain. “It was a pleasant surprise to have been asked and when I was, I didn’t hesitate to say ‘yes.’ This will be a new challenge for me, and I have no doubt that we will form a great team and have a great competition.”
A Vancouver, B.C. resident who hails originally from Trinidad and Tobago and became a Canadian citizen in 2003, Ames counts a victory in 2006 at THE PLAYERS among the highlights of a professional career that began in 1987. Ames now plays on PGA TOUR Champions, where he has accumulated 11 top-10s in 42 career starts.
Etulain captured his first PGA TOUR Latinoamérica win at the 2013 Lexus Peru Open and went on to win twice in 2014 to lead the Order of Merit and capture the Roberto de Vincenzo Award as Player of the Year, earning exempt status on the Web.com Tour, where he finished runner-up twice to earn his PGA TOUR card for 2016-17.
“We’re thrilled and honoured to be hosting two great champions like Stephen and Julian along with their respective teams at Tierra del Sol. We can’t wait to get started and are looking forward to an outstanding week of competition and fun in December,” said Oliver Riding, Director of Golf Operations, Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf.
The 10-man roster for the Mackenzie Tour, which includes the top 10 players available on the Order of Merit with a minimum of five Canadians, will be announced in the coming weeks, while the Latinoamérica team will be announced following the conclusion of the 2016 season.
The Aruba Cup will take place December 12-18, with the three competition days featuring Fourball, Foursomes and Singles matches on December 15, 16 and 17.
Paul Barjon wins Freedom 55 Financial Championship
London, Ont. – A day removed from his career-low, 9-under 61 at Highland Country Club, France’s Paul Barjon posted a final-round 2-under 68 to win the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, the final event on the 2016 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada schedule by a stroke over French Polynesia’s Vaita Guillaume at 22-under 258, a Mackenzie Tour record for 72 holes.
With the win and a first-place check of $36,000, Barjon jumped from No. 30 to No. 6 in the final Order of Merit and will advance to the final stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament.
Langley, B.C.’s Adam Cornelson finished T50, high enough to clinch Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honors, which comes with a $25,000 prize.
Members of Dan Halldorson’s family presented Adam Cornelson with the Dan Halldorson Trophy as Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/YYlZMTB4nB
— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) September 18, 2016
Up by six strokes over 18- and 36-hole leader Aaron Wise after his eagle at the par-5 second hole, Barjon remained in the driver’s seat all day and never lost his lead, despite a 10-under 60 by Guillaume. Barjon offset three bogeys with four birdies and an eagle.
“Yesterday was like a round that came out of nowhere,” Barjon said of his 61 in round three. “Today was a little different, when you play with the lead. You have everybody trying to chase you, but I was able to suck it up until the end and it worked out well, even with a 60 by Vaita.”
Barjon’s victory marks his third top-10 finish of the season, bettering a pair of T6 showings at the Bayview Place DC Payments Open presented by Times Colonist and the ATB Financial Classic.
“This is absolutely one of the best golf courses we play all year,” Barjon said of Highland. “It was a good one for me, everything worked out for me and it turned out successful for me.”
Barjon’s nearest threat in the end proved to be Guillaume. Beginning the day nine strokes off the lead at 11-under-par, Guillaume birdied his last four holes en route to a 10-under 60, tying the course record at Highland set by Curtis Reed in 2015. The Campbell University grad finished just a stroke back at 21-under 259.
Wise, the NCAA 2016 individual champion with the Oregon Ducks, finished three shots shy at 19-under after shooting a final round 68.
Freedom 55 Financial established the Canadian Player of the Week award in 2013 to recognize top Canadian players on the Mackenzie Tour. At each event, Freedom 55 Financial presented this award to the Canadian player who had the lowest total score. Winners also received $2,500 to use toward attaining future goals.
With scores of 65-70-67-65—267 (-13) to finish T9, Aaron Cockerill took home top-Canadian honors at this week’s Freedom 55 Financial Championship.
“It’s a huge honour to be the top Canadian at this event,” Cockerill said. “There are so many great players from across Canada here this week, and the competition on this Tour is so strong. Thanks to Freedom 55 Financial for their support in helping players like me chase their dream of making it to the PGA TOUR.”