San Diego, California’s James Erkenbeck shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday at Whitewater Golf Club to take the first round lead at the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, the sixth event of the 2016 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 26-year old carded one of just two bogey-free rounds on the day and birdied four of his final eight holes to lead by two over Comox, B.C.’s Riley Wheeldon after 18 holes of play.

“I just tried to stay patient and hit a lot of good golf shots, and I happened to hit some close and knock in a few putts,” said Erkenbeck of his round, which came on a day where gusting winds made scoring a challenge. “It was windy all day. I was just trying to make pars, but there are some birdie holes out here and I tried to take advantage, but I was just trying to hang in there.”

The second year Mackenzie Tour player has had an up-and-down campaign in 2016, with a T8 finish at the GolfBC Championship to go with four missed cuts. The University of New Mexico grad said he feels as though he’s played better than the results have shown so far this year.

“I feel like I’ve been close. I’ve had a good first round and a bad second round, or a bad first round and a good second round, so I’ve missed a lot of cuts by a couple of shots. I’ve had a lot of good rounds, so I’ve just been waiting to put four good rounds together,” said Erkenbeck.

Wheeldon, who started the season with four missed cuts of his own before rebounding with a T4 finish at the Players Cup last week, credited a more patient approach than the start of the year for his upward trending game.

“I was struggling at the start of the year, kind of searching. I found a few things last week and regained a little bit of confidence and hopefully I’ll carry it over this week,” said Wheeldon. “I three-putted from a spot on number one that, I think, in weeks past would have made me pretty upset, but I’ve been working on taking it a little bit easier and being more patient with myself out there and not getting so down on my putter. Luckily, the putter turned around quickly.”

One shot further behind in a five-way tie for third were Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Logan McCracken, former National Team member Austin Connelly (Irving, Texas), Taylor Moore and Monday Qualifier Michael Blair (Ancaster, Ont.).

Current National Team member Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., is T13 at 2-under.

WINNIPEG – Syracuse, New York’s Dan McCarthy took his record-breaking season to new heights on Sunday, capturing the Players Cup to become the first player in the PGA TOUR-era on the Mackenzie Tour to win three times in a season.

The 30-year old shot a final-round 7-under 64 at Niakwa Country Club to win by seven over Olympia, Washington’s Cameron Peck and Burlington, Ontario’s Michael Gligic, guaranteeing himself a spot in The Five and Web.com Tour status for 2016.

“It feels amazing. It hasn’t fully set in and I’m kind of shaking here,” McCarthy said. “It never gets old, and it feels better every time. Each time is a new test, and I’m very happy with the way I did today.”

Entering the day with a five-stroke advantage, McCarthy cruised past a flurry of low scores around him by carding birdies on three of the first six holes, never letting his lead shrink to more than two shots. The Le Moyne College graduate went without a bogey over his final 36 holes.

“It wasn’t as easy as the score made it look,” McCarthy said. “That was my plan all day, to keep the foot on the gas. I knew guys were going to make birdies in front of me, and I figured if I went low, then it would be tough to catch me.”

The win adds another chapter to what has already been a record-breaking season, with McCarthy matching his own record for the lowest 72-hole total on the Mackenzie Tour, as well as the largest margin of victory, set earlier this season at the GolfBC Championship. In addition to becoming the first three-time winner in a season, McCarthy is the first player to surpass $100,000 in single season earnings, now sitting at $105,428 for the year.

“It’s a tremendous confidence boost to know that I can do it, even just once. Now three times is really, really special. All these guys out here that are playing well deserve to be at the next level and are good enough. Like myself, they just haven’t played well enough at the right time. It’s a huge confidence boost for me going forward.”

Now with a virtually insurmountable lead on the Order of Merit, McCarthy can turn his sights towards competing at the next level – including a start at the RBC Canadian Open in two weeks. Even with opportunities on the horizon, however, the fifth-year Mackenzie Tour veteran said past experience has taught him not to take anything for granted.

“I’m not going to change anything. I’m just going to continue doing the drills that I always do, that keep me going. I’m going to try to treat it as just another tournament. I’m sure when I get there the whole scene is going to be a bit unusual with the bigger crowds and all that, but I’m sure I’ll handle it okay.”

With the Players Cup win, McCarthy adds his name to a list of champions that includes PGA TOUR players Erik Compton, Graham DeLaet and a long list of other legends of the game, including Moe Norman.

“It’s extremely special. [Players Cup Executive Director Ryan Hart] was telling me during the trophy ceremony that Moe Norman’s name is on here four or five times, and I’ve studied a lot of Moe Norman’s swing, so it’s pretty special to add my name to the same trophy that he’s on.”

Seven shots back in a tie for second were Peck, who played in the final group with McCarthy, and Gligic, who recorded his best finish on the Mackenzie Tour in two seasons.

With a total score of 18-under par in a tie for second place, Burlington, Ontario’s Michael Gligic finished as the top Canadian on the leaderboard, earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours and a $2,500 prize.

The top Canadian on the leaderboard each week takes home the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Dan Halldorson Trophy, Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours and a $25,000 prize.

Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit leader Dan McCarthy continued his torrid pace on Saturday at the Players Cup, carding a 6-under 65 to take a five-stroke lead into the final round in Winnipeg at 18-under par.

McCarthy’s bogey-free 65 included four birdies on the front nine and two on the back, all while hitting every green at Niakwa Country Club.

“I struck the ball better today,” said McCarthy, who has played the front nine in 14-under over the first three rounds. “I really didn’t get into any trouble all day long and hit a lot of fairways so it was definitely a bit more solid today and even keeled.”

The Syracuse, New York, native will once again play in the final pairing on Sunday, having done so with the lead or co-lead on two occasions this season. McCarthy was able to convert the victory both times, but he still feels the pressure of trying to finish the job.

“There’s always going to be nerves,” McCarthy said. “If you’re not nervous doing what we do then there is something wrong. All I can do is focus on executing what I need to do.”

McCarthy was tied for the lead after 54 holes at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship before winning by one, and led by two through three rounds at the GolfBC Championship. With a win on Sunday, McCarthy would join Aaron Goldberg and John Ellis as the only players to win three times in one season. Goldberg accomplished the feat in 2010 and Ellis did so in 2008, prior to the PGA TOUR era.

“No lead is safe. I’m going to try and go out and be aggressive again and try to make as many birdies as I can to force them to make that many more,” McCarthy said. “I’m not going to try and change my game plan at all – just try to hit fairways and greens. When I do that I usually putt pretty well and that makes me tough to beat.”

Tied for second and five behind McCarthy are Cameron Peck and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., at 13-under. After starting his round with three bogeys in his first six holes, Peck rebounded with six birdies to finish with a 3-under 68.

“I think my timing was just a little bit off because I was hitting everything a little bit right,” said Peck, who is looking to record his first top-10 finish of the season. “I got to 3-over, and I was little worried but I knew there were a lot of birdies out there and I could get them back one at a time.”

Gligic made an early charge at the lead with birdies on his first two holes and an eagle at the par-5 eighth en route to a 4-under 67.

“On Sunday, with me being close the final group with a chance to win, I’d say I’ve done a decent job these first three days and need to play a good one tomorrow,” said Gligic.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is tied for 18th at 9-under.

WINNIPEG – Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit leader Dan McCarthy took a big step towards solidifying his commanding lead atop the season-long money list on Friday, shooting a 7-under 64 at Niakwa Country Club to take the 36-hole lead at the Players Cup.

The Syracuse, New York, native recorded a hole-in-one on the par-3 second hole to go with another eagle, five birdies and two bogeys on the day, earning him a one-stroke lead over James White and Sam Fidone through two rounds in Winnipeg.

“You never expect it. I hit a really good shot, but whenever it goes in the hole it’s always a little bit lucky,” said McCarthy of his ace, the sixth of his life and fourth of his professional career. “It landed about 12 feet short of the hole and we saw it rolling, and then it just disappeared. I was hoping it went and my celebration wasn’t for nothing, I was hoping it didn’t go over the green.”

With two victories already this season at the Freedom 55 Financial Open and GolfBC Championship, McCarthy entered the week with more than twice the earnings of Order of Merit No. 2 Adam Cornelson. Still, the 30-year old said he expects to feel some nerves on Saturday as he looks for his third win of the year.

“I should be comfortable with it, but there’s always a bit of anxiety being in the lead and in the final group, so it’s a good test every time,” McCarthy said. “You learn what happens to you in the moment, but you’re still going to be on edge.”

One shot behind McCarthy were White, playing in a sponsor exemption this week, and Fidone, who ranks No. 5 on the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Order of Merit.

“Being a sponsor exemption this week, I really want to try and finish in that top 20,” White said. “That’s still a big priority of mine so I can play next week as well, and if I get a chance to win I’ll go for it.”

Fidone, who shared the first-round lead after opening with a 64, said he wasn’t as sharp as he was on Thursday but managed a good score to give himself a chance on the weekend.

“In the beginning of my round I was not finding a lot of fairways but ended up scrapping it in and got lucky on a 30 footer on 18 – hit the pin and went in for birdie,” Fidone said. “On the back nine I really dialed in my driver, made a few putts coming in and took advantage of the par 5s.”

Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., leads the Canadian contingent after carding a 65 on the day to reach 9-under.

“I like this golf course, and it suits me more than Pine Ridge. I like Pine Ridge, but I never seemed to play well there and this place suits my eye a little better, so hopefully I can play well this weekend,” said Gligic, when asked about the difference between Pine Ridge and Niakwa.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Corey Conners from Listowel, Ont., holds a share of 28th at 5-under.

Max Rottluff, Jonathan Garrick and Sam Fidone shot a 7-under 64 on Thursday at a calm Niakwa Country Club to share the first-round lead at the Players Cup, the fifth event of the 2016 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Following his first professional victory at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open two weeks ago, Germany’s Max Rottluff continued his strong form in Winnipeg by opening with birdies on five of his first six holes in benign conditions on the par-71 layout at Niakwa Country Club. After a week off to let his maiden victory in Saskatoon sink in, the Arizona State product is in prime position to capture a second victory in as many starts.

“There are quite a few birdie holes out there, but you don’t go out and expect to shoot 7-under,” said Rottluff, who is currently No. 3 on the Order of Merit. “You can only lose a tournament on the first day, you can never win it. It’s still a long way to go and I saw a few really low scores out there, so I’ve got three more days to go out and shoot some low scores.”

Garrick, the recent UCLA grad, began his round on the back nine and opened with six consecutive birdies and added a seventh on the par-4 17^th hole. After a dropped shot at the 18^th, the 22-year-old Los Angeles resident rebounded with a birdie on the par-4 fourth hole to finish with a 64, his career low in eight previous rounds on the Mackenzie Tour.  

“I made a few long putts and hit a couple of wedges close, and the next thing I knew it was six birdies in a row, which I had never done before,” Garrick said of his fast start. “This is a ball striker’s course where you have to hit a lot of drivers, which is my strength, so it has been a good advantage so far and I’m looking forward to the next few days.”

Making his Mackenzie Tour debut, Sam Fidone survived two water balls with a strong putting performance that yielded eight birdies to join the group at 7-under. The 23-year-old Texan has spent the year on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, where he is currently No. 5 on ‘Los Cinco’ after a win at the Honduras Open and three other top-15 finishes.

“When I got here I quickly understood there were going to be a lot of putts made out here,” Fidone said. “The greens are relatively flat and they roll absolutely perfect, but at the end of the day this is a tee-ball course and if you are hitting fairways you are going to be able to figure your way out around this course and shoot a number.”

Three players are tied for fourth at 6-under par: Carter Jenkins, Adam Webb and Andrew Ledger. Jenkins, who finished runner-up at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open, was nearly a co-leader before a bogey at the 18^th hole left him one stroke back. Webb, meanwhile, turned in a bogey-free round, which included a stretch of three birdies in a row from Nos. 2-4. Ledger followed suit with a bogey-free round of his own and birdied the par-3 ninth hole, his final hole of the day. 

Whitecap, Sask. – Germany’s Max Rottluff capped off a marathon Sunday at Dakota Dunes Golf Links by shooting a 6-under 66 to win the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open, the fourth event of the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 23-year old Arizona State University grad finished at 23-under par for the week to win by one over North Carolina’s Carter Jenkins. The win comes in Rottluff’s third start as a professional.

“To win in my third start after missing the first two cuts, that was certainly not on the radar and came unexpectedly,” said Rottluff. “I haven’t had the year that I was hoping for, but coming out with the win today gives me a lot of confidence. It’s a huge boost.”

Rottluff and Jenkins began the day with a share of the lead and 35 holes to play in the tournament due to delays from Saturday’s thunderstorms. After play resumed at 8 a.m. the pair – who played together for every round of the tournament – concluded round three with identical rounds of 67-65-67 to sit tied at 17-under through 54 holes.

“It was fun playing with Carter. We were just throwing those birdies at each other, and I’m sure if we weren’t paired together we wouldn’t be where we are right now. It was fun,” said Rottluff.

With four holes to go, the stalemate had yet to be broken, but after Jenkins bogeyed the par-3 15th, Rottluff took control by giving himself birdie opportunities at each of the last three holes. His birdie at the par-5 16th pushed the leading score to 23-under, and after Jenkins was unable to convert long birdie putts on the 17th and 18th, Rottluff two-putted his way to victory.

Rottluff benefited all week from the support of his girlfriend and caddie Emily Collins, a professional golfer herself who plays on the Symetra Tour.

“She was great. She’s a great player herself, and reading the greens she helped me a lot. I should listen to her a little bit more,” said Rottluff with a smile.

With the victory, Rottluff moves to third place on the Order of Merit through four events, in position to earn Web.com Tour status for 2017.

“I’ve set goals to make it through the Mackenzie Tour on to the Web.com Tour. That’s the goal for a lot of guys out here, but for me to get the win in my third pro start is huge, especially after missing the cut the first two weeks,” said Rottluff.

Two shots behind Rottluff in solo third was Calgary, Alberta’s James Love, who came into the week without Mackenzie Tour status but earned conditional membership for the remainder of the year by being one of the top three non-members on the Order of Merit through four events.

LOVE TAKES FREEDOM 55 FINANCIAL TOP CANADIAN

With a total score of 20-under par in solo second place, Calgary’s James Love finished as the top Canadian on the leaderboard, earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours and a $2,500 prize.

The top Canadian on the leaderboard each week takes home the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Dan Halldorson Trophy, Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours and a $25,000 prize.

CHASE FOR THE FIVE

With a T8 finish on Sunday, Dan McCarthy extended his spot atop the Order of Merit, earning $5,075 for the week. Below are the top five players through two events (bold denotes Canadian):

1. Dan McCarthy $73,938
2. Adam Cornelson $33,810
3. Max Rottluff $31,500
4. Ryan Williams $27,363
5. Carter Jenkins $21,070

Whitecap, Sask. – Co-leaders Max Rottluff of Dusseldorf, Germany and Carter Jenkins of Raleigh, North Carolina completed one hole of the third round at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open on Saturday when play was suspended due to dangerous weather.

After Jenkins and Rottluff recorded opening pars at the first hole, play was initially suspended for 3 hours and 57 minutes at 9:48 a.m. due to dangerous weather in the area. Though play resumed at 1:45 p.m., storms returned and the round was suspended again four minutes later, eventually wiping out play for the day.

“Unfortunately, a number of storm cells producing lightning passed through the area today, preventing us from getting players back out on the course,” said PGA TOUR Tournament Director, Jamie Wiles. “Having made the 36-hole cut, we are confident that without any further delays we’ll be able to get 72 holes completed by tomorrow.”

With players having as many as 35 holes to complete, Sunday promises to be a grind for players in contention.

“It’s more of a mental challenge than anything, staying prepared and being ready for tomorrow,” said Brad Clapp, who had played one hole and was in a tie for fifth at 10-under when play was suspended. “Weather permitting, hopefully we’re going to get the two rounds in tomorrow. I know the Tour does everything it can to get it in, and we’ll try for that tomorrow.”

One shot behind Jenkins and Rottluff were Orlando, Florida’s Ross Beal and Calgary, Alberta’s James Love, who both also opened with pars at the first before play was suspended. 

Round three will resume with players in position at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Players will not be re-grouped for round four.

Dusseldorf, Germany’s Max Rottluff and Raleigh, North Carolina’s Carter Jenkins reached 12-under par through two rounds on Friday at Dakota Dunes Golf Links to share the 36-hole lead at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s SIGA Dakota Dunes Open.

Rottluff and Jenkins, who both turned professional earlier this year after concluding their college careers, played together the first two days and carded identical rounds of 67-65 over the first two days to lead by one over Calgary, Alberta’s James Love and Orlando, Florida’s Ross Beal.

“He bombs the ball and it’s fun to watch, so we were having a good time for sure,” said Rottluff, a 2015 1^st team NCAA All-American at Arizona State, of his high-octane grouping with Jenkins.

Jenkins, a 20-year old who turned pro following his junior season at the University of North Carolina this spring, said he enjoyed treating the pairing like match play and fuelled his own solid play by watching Rottluff.

“He got off to a great start and eagled No. 2, which was our 11th hole. That put him to 10-under, and I had a 4- or 5-footer for birdie on that same hole to get to nine, so I definitely tried my hardest to catch him, and it was great to have someone to feed off of,” said Jenkins.

With both players heading straight from the conclusion of their college seasons to the Mackenzie Tour last month, a week off after the GolfBC Championship was a welcome sight, bringing a chance for a refreshed approach this week in Saskatoon.

“It was nice to have the off week and to settle back down and think about what happened in the first two weeks. I missed the cut in both events with good opening rounds, so that was definitely disappointing, but I didn’t feel like my game was very far off,” said Rottluff, echoing similar comments from Jenkins.

“It was nice to have an off week, especially coming straight from college and having three weeks in a row. It was nice to get home for a few days and see the family, see my coach and get a little work done,” said Jenkins.

One shot behind were Beal and Love, with Harare, Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent and Chilliwack, British Columbia’s Brad Clapp a shot further behind at 10-under.

Allen, Texas’ Paul McConnell shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday at Dakota Dunes Golf Links to take the first round lead at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open, the fourth event of the 2016 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

The 25-year old managed seven birdies, an eagle and a bogey on day one to lead by two over Chilliwack, British Columbia’s Brad Clapp and Sea Island, Georgia’s Bobby Wyatt through one round at Dakota Dunes.

“I focused on one hole at a time and tried to make birdies, and had a lucky eagle on two, which is great. It was just fun and I was having a good time,” said McConnell.

The second year Mackenzie Tour member is coming off a 2015 campaign that saw him retain exempt status by finishing inside the top 60 on the Order of Merit, as well as an off-season where he Monday qualified for two different PGA TOUR events, two accomplishments the University of Texas-Arlington graduate said were more than a coincidence.

“This is a good proving ground to get to the next level, and last year playing the Mackenzie Tour allowed me to play well for the qualifiers on the PGA TOUR and get some good experience,” said McConnell.

Two shots behind McConnell were Wyatt and Clapp, who carded his best career round in his third start at Dakota Dunes.

“I stayed out of trouble for sure and didn’t feel much stress today. I had a couple of tough chips coming in, but I hit a lot of greens and never really got myself out of position,” said Clapp.

Clapp carded seven birdies and one bogey on Thursday for a 6-under 66. Thursday marked the ninth straight round after which a native of British Columbia has been inside the Top-five.

13 players were tied for fourth at 5-under after day one, including a trio of Canadians Elliott Whitley of Hamilton, Ont., Dundas, Ont., product Christopher Ross, and Edmonton’s Wil Bateman.

Kelowna, B.C. – Syracuse, New York’s Dan McCarthy took a commanding lead on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit Sunday, cruising to victory at the inaugural GolfBC Championship at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club.

The 30-year old managed a final round 7-under 64, including a hole out from 102 yards on the par-5 12^th, to win by seven over Vancouver, B.C.’s Ryan Williams. McCarthy shot 25-under 259 for the week, setting the new PGA TOUR-era scoring record on the Mackenzie Tour for 72 holes.

With the win, McCarthy strengthens his lead atop the Order of Merit to $30,053 over Adam Cornelson, putting him in position to earn exempt status on the Web.com Tour for 2017.

“It hasn’t even fully hit me yet, but I’m sure it will on the way home when I have some time to decompress.” said McCarthy, who also claimed victory two weeks ago at the Freedom 55 Financial Open. “It feels so good. I’ve worked really hard for a really long time, so this is a really nice culmination of it all.”

Starting the day two strokes ahead of Williams thanks to a hole-out eagle from 103 yards on the 18^th hole Saturday, McCarthy built a four stroke lead after 10 holes, then holed out for eagle again on the 12^th to remove any doubt of who the week’s winner would be.

“I think I’ll be laying up to 102 or 103 a few more times this year. That was really fortunate to have two hole outs on the weekend,” said McCarthy.

The victory marks the first time a player has captured two victories in the first three starts of the season since Joel Dahmen won the Freedom 55 Financial Open and Syncrude Boreal Open presented by AECON in 2014. McCarthy said he plans to keep trying to make as many birdies as possible as he chases a promotion to the Web.com Tour in 2017.

“It sets me well ahead of everyone else, and now they’re chasing. I’m not going to let up and I’m going to keep my foot on the pedal. These guys are really, really good up here, and I’m sure many of the guys will give me a run for my money,” said McCarthy.

One shot behind Williams in solo third was Laurens, South Carolina’s Caleb Sturgeon, while Temecula, California’s John Chin was two shots further behind in solo fourth.