CALEDON, Ont. — When Paul Barjon is on his game – which, when you look at his year so far, seems to be all the time – he is difficult to beat.

And it doesn’t look like the Dumbea, New Caledonia native is slowing down anytime soon at the Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates.

After opening with scores of 64 and 66, improving upon his Mackenzie Tour-best scoring average of 67.05, Barjon fired a third-round 66 on the North Course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley and heads into the final round with a two-stroke lead over Canadian Taylor Pendrith.

“I played really good today,” said Barjon, who has been under-par in each Mackenzie Tour round thus far this season. “I hit the ball really well and then to make a few putts here and there, that’s what you have to do out here.”

Entering the round tied for the lead with playing-competitor JD Fernandez, Barjon got his round started by making eagle on the par-5 1st. He held the lead by himself after that 25-foot putt dropped, and he wouldn’t let go of that position on the leaderboard all day.

After making his only bogey of the week on hole No. 4 (breaking a stretch of 49-consecutive holes without a bogey), the Bayview Place DCBank Open champion made a birdie on No. 6 before a thunderstorm sent players back to the clubhouse for close to 2-hours.

“I hit a lot of good shots, but the pins were pretty tough and the wind was blowing,” said Barjon. “After the delay I came out, hit it to about six feet on No. 8 and made my second eagle, which was really nice.”

On the back side, Barjon made birdie on No. 11, a long par-3 with a hazard on the right and the wind off the left, a hole he said would play a key role in determining the tournament’s champion.

“I just knew if I went a little long of the pin and a little left, I would have the straightest putt you can have there without going right at the pin,” said Barjon. “I had about a 30-footer left and made it, so that was really cool.”

With four top-10 finishes this season on the Mackenzie Tour, a victory would propel Barjon into first place on the Order of Merit.

Barjon will likely have a large crowd following along on Sunday, playing alongside Pendrith, who is in search of his first-career Mackenzie Tour victory.

“It’ll be fun, hopefully they cheer for me a little bit,” laughed Barjon. “He was in the group ahead of me and they had quite a few people following. It’ll be fun.”

With a win on Sunday, Pendrith would become the first Canadian to win on the Mackenzie Tour since Adam Cornelson in 2016 at the Bayview Place DCBank Open.

“I’m in a great position, and any time you’re playing in the final group on Sunday it’s a good thing,” said Pendrith, who finished third on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit in 2015. “I’m just going to go try to make as many birdies as possible and see what happens.”

Full scoring can be found here.

CALEDON, Ont.—Co-leading the Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos and CBM Aggregates at 14-under alongside JD Fernandez through two rounds of play, Paul Barjon has yet to make a bogey this week on the TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s North course as he seeks his second win of the Mackenzie Tour season.

With a scoring average just a hair below 67 this season – tops on the Mackenzie Tour – another trophy to accompany his hardware from the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist would propel Barjon to the top spot on the Order of Merit.

However, even with four top-10s, a T19 at the RBC Canadian Open, and not a single Mackenzie Tour round over par this season, this is the first time the 26-year old heads into a Saturday as a leader.

“So far, I’ve always seemed to be coming from behind, so this is fun,” said the Dumbea, New Caledonia native. “We’ve played 36 holes, but there are still 36 left. As Tyler (McCumber) showed last year, a 61 is out there, so anybody can catch you.”

So far this week, it has been Barjon’s efforts on the par-4s, which he has played 9-under par, that has set him apart – along with his ability to grind for pars when the North course shows its teeth.

“I’m 1-under this week on the par-3s, which is good because they’re not easy,” said Barjon. “I’ve made a couple 15-footers for par when I’ve missed in the wrong place, but I found a little something with my swing on the back nine with my irons, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Heading into the weekend, Barjon says two holes, No. 7 and No 11, are going to be key, and could determine who adds their name to the trophy.

“No. 11, you have to hit a good shot, you don’t have a choice or else you’ll make bogey or worse,” said Barjon. “And then No. 7, those two holes are key because right after you have a stretch of easier holes, so you have to set the tone.”

Meanwhile Fernandez (65-65) is off to the best 36-hole start of his Mackenzie Tour career and has momentum on his side after firing four sub-70 numbers at the Windsor Championship on his way to a T28 finish.

Sitting one stroke back is a group of three players: Taylor Pendrith, Sean Walsh and Carter Jenkins. Pendrith is seeking his second Canada Life Canadian Player of the Week Award after claiming the prize with a T10 finish at the Bayview Place DCBank Open and is looking to become the first Canadian to win on the Mackenzie Tour since 2016.

Caledon, Ont. — When Taylor Pendrith hits the golf ball, people take notice, especially when he does so in the General Toronto Area.

Growing up in Richmond Hill, Ont, about an hour east of TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, site of this week’s Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos and CBM Aggregaetes, Pendrith feels right at home on the North course’s fairways, proven by Thursday’s 9-under 63, which leads the tournament by one-stroke among those to finish their opening round.

“I’ve been out here a bunch, living kind of close by,” said Pendrith. “I didn’t play very well here last year, so this is a little redemption.”

Being one of the longest hitters on not only the Mackenzie Tour, but any Tour, Pendrith says the wide fairways suit his style of play, despite missing the cut at the event in 2018.

“There’s lots of drivers,” said the 28-year old. “I can cut it over a couple bunkers, which is an advantage for me, and I drove it fantastic today, hitting lots of fairways and giving myself some opportunities.”

Pendrith did his damage on the back nine on Thursday. Making the turn at 3-under, the Kent State alum made four birdies on his next five holes to move to 7-under.

“Honestly, on the front nine I missed two or three very makeable putts and I was a little disappointed to be 3-under through 8,” said Pendrith. “I was hitting it great, I think I only missed one green, so I had a lot of opportunities and I was able to get the putter going on the back nine.”

Finishing with back-to-back birdies, the second coming after a weather delay that lasted nearly two hours, Pendrith signed for his lowest score of the season, and best opening round since his 62 to open the 2018 Windsor Championship.

“I’ve been pretty close to having a good tournament, I just haven’t capped it off,” said Pendrith, who has one top-10 finish this season and is coming off a T16 at last week’s Windsor Championship. “I’ve been hovering around 25^th going into Sunday and I’ve played OK. It’s nice to get off to a good start and hopefully keep it going.”

Paul Barjon, who continued his strong 2019 season by posting a bogey-free 64, looking for his fifth top-10 finish this season, and Jeremy Gandon trail Pendrith by one stroke.

Due to Thursday’s weather delay, play was suspended due to darkness and 19 players will return to finish their opening rounds at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on Friday morning at 8:15 A.M., while second round tee times will begin at 7:15 A.M., as originally planned.

Full scoring can be found here.

WINDSOR, Ont.— Entering the final round of the Windsor Championship with 26 players within four strokes of the lead, the stage was set for an incredible day of golf. Sunday did not disappoint.

Especially if your name is Dawson Armstrong.

Opening with two birdies in his first three holes, the Lipscomb University alum managed a clean card, marking down three more circles throughout the day.

Not having to make a par putt from outside three feet for the duration of the round, Armstrong picked up his first-career Mackenzie Tour title by one stroke over six players.

“I’ve never seen a leaderboard as jam-packed as that one,” said Armstrong following the victory. “Come about No. 16 today there were 12 guys within two shots of the lead, it was just jam packed all day and anyone could make a run at any given time.”

Playing in the third to last grouping of the day, Armstrong tapped in for par on hole No. 18 at 20-under and managed to dodge bullet after bullet as he became a highly-engaged spectator. This was already after Patrick Fishburn missed a short par putt on the last hole in the group ahead to drop to 19-under.

Playing competitor Ryan Ruffels missed a six-foot birdie putt which would have matched Armstrong in the clubhouse. At the same time, the entire final group of Bryson Nimmer, Jonathan Garrick and Will Register, who were all within one-stroke of the lead, made bogey on the difficult No. 16 to fall two back.

Register managed birdie on No. 17, giving himself a chance to force a playoff, but had to chip out from the fescue following his drive, leaving himself 65-yards to the pin.

“I called my fiancé [after finishing] and she said, ‘don’t get excited until you know for sure’,” said Armstrong. “I really kept an even keel and came out here and watched, there was nothing I could do but just accept whatever happened.”

What happened was that Register almost made it, twice. The ball landed two inches from the pin, jumped a few feet past, and slowly trickled back, burning the edge of the cup; Armstrong hugged caddie Derek Bayley.

“That was the most nerve-racking shot I’ve ever seen from someone, he’s got some guts to hit that shot when he needed it,” said Armstrong. “Sadly, he didn’t make it and sadly we didn’t have the chance to perform in a playoff. (Register) is a deserving player and he’s going to get his share out here.”

Entering the week in spot No. 13 on the Order of Merit, Armstrong said that it was his previous professional experience that helped propel him through Sunday.

“This is my 15^thevent up here, so putting myself in contention two of the last four events, I’m really happy with where I was,” said Armstrong. “The game felt great and I’m more confident than I’ve ever been

“To have it all cap off this week was really special, because it feels good to be back in that situation where you have the nerves running and you have to calm down and just perform, that was the best feeling.”

His second year on the Mackenzie Tour, Armstrong had a moderately successful debut campaign, finishing in spot No. 34 on the order of merit following a successful collegiate career where he managed the lowest career scoring average (71.2) in Lipscomb history.

“Last year I never felt like I could get myself in contention, whether it was me backdooring a top 10 or worrying about the cut every week, it was a different mindset last year compared to this year,” said the 23-year old. “Instead of trying to finish top-10, I’m going out trying to win, and this week it worked out pretty good.”

Fishburn, Ruffels, Garrick, Register, Paul Barjon and Anthony Maccaglia made up the grouping one-stroke back, while Riley Wheeldon managed his second Canada Life Canadian Player of the Week title of the season, as well as his first top-10 finish of the year, finishing two-strokes back at T8.

Vancouver, B.C. — Waking up on Sunday five-strokes behind leader James
Allenby, 24-year old Jake Knapp plotted his way around Point Grey Golf & Country Club like a
surgeon, firing a final-round 64 to claim his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory
at the Canada Life Open.

Knapp’s four-day total of 267, 21-under par, set the Canada Life Open tournament record,
breaking Lee McCoy’s mark of 268, 20-under par, from 2017.

“It probably hasn’t sunk in quite yet,” said Knapp. “I got to Facetime my parents for a minute
and my brother, but I think when I talk to them about what actually happened, it’ll sink in a bit
more for sure.”

Plagued with injuries in recent years, Knapp described the past few seasons as a “long and tough
road” and was quick to give credit to his entire team who helped him battle his way back into full
competition mode.

“I love my parents, I can’t thank them enough for everything they do for me,” said the 57thranked
player from the 2017 Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit. “They put up with me 24/7 and
help me with travel and everything else. For them to stick with me through it all means the world
and I can’t thank them and my team and my family enough.”

In contention for the duration of the week following an opening-round 65, Knapp lost some
ground to the field due to a 2-under par 70 on Saturday and figured it would take a round similar
to the one he played today in order to get the job done.

“I’m staying with a host family, and Joe Harrison is there too, and we were talking about what it
might take, I said 20 or 21-under,” said Knapp. “I knew that last group would be playing in front
of a lot of people, like my group was yesterday, so I figured they’d be dealing with a little bit of
the same.

“I sent a text to my coach this morning like, ‘what does a guy have to do to shoot 8 or 9-under
today,” continued the Costa Mesa, California native. “He said plain and simple, ‘go shoot 4-
under on the front and shoot 4-under on the back.’”

Knapp is obviously a great listener. With no bogeys to speak of on the front nine, and four
birdies, he found himself halfway to his number as he spotted his name on the ninth-hole
leaderboard among a log-jam of players around 18-under par.

Making three more birdies between hole Nos. 12 and 15, Knapp holed-out from the bunker on
hole No 17 for birdie, a shot he called “the shot of my life.” One more birdie for good measure
on the 72nd hole and Jake Knapp reigned supreme by three strokes, firing 4-under on the front
and 4-under on the back.

“It means a lot, there’s so many good players out here,” said Knapp. “So many guys are going
from the Mackenzie Tour to the Web.com Tour and to the PGA TOUR, it’s obvious that this is a
proving ground to get to that next level.”

Not only does the win give the UCLA alumni a notable head-start on the Order of Merit, it also
earns him an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open, taking place from June 3-9 at Hamilton
Golf & Country Club.

“I haven’t played any PGA TOUR events since 2015, I tried not to think about that today, but it
means a lot and we’ll see what I can do against the best players in the world,” said Knapp, who
missed the cut in both his 2015 starts, one at the U.S. Open and one at the Farmers Insurance
Open. “Ideally, I’d go out there and play well and let the chips fall where they do, but it’s just
good to go test your game at that level for sure.”

Firing a final-round 71 and finishing T2, Canadian James Allenby claimed the first Canada Life
Canadian Player of the Week Award of the season and the $2,500 bonus that goes along with it.

Full leaderboard is available here.

Key Information
• Making just a single bogey on Sunday, Purdue alum Brian Carlson dropped a 12-foot
eagle putt on the final hole to sign for a final-round 66 to place T2.
• Playing on the same UCLA Bruins team as Knapp, Lorens Chan had the round of the day
at Point Grey, firing a bogey-free 63 to improve 11 spots on the leaderboard, finishing
T4.
• Firing a bogey-free 68 on Sunday, 2017 U.S. Amateur Champion Doc Redman finished
T19 in his Mackenzie Tour debut.
• Only eight of the 69 players on Sunday played their rounds over par.
• Currently in seventh place on the Web.com Tour’s Points List, Canadian Michael Gligic
earned a spot in the RBC Canadian Open, being the top 2018 Mackenzie Tour alumni on
the Web.com Tour following the Evans Scholar Championship.
• The Mackenzie Tour now heads to the second stop on the BC Golf Swing at Uplands
Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia for the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented
by Times Colonist where Sam Fidone will attempt to defend his title. The winner of the
event will also receive an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open.

Quotable
“Coming from behind like that, you want to do your best to make as many birdies as possible.
Five-back going into the day, you try to make as many birdies as you can and make those guys
feel a bit of heat, if you can. I saw the leaderboard after nine and saw Lorens Chan was 8-under
after 12, so I knew birdies were out there and then I rolled in a putt to get to 17 or 18-under and I
tried to keep my head down and stick to my game plan like I had been the whole week, it worked
out in the end.” – Jake Knapp

“I don’t think there’s ever a time when you think you’re there. Like one of my buddies told me,
‘you’re never as good as you think you are and you’re never as bad as you think you are’. That
keeps you in that middle ground to keep working but to never get down on yourself. I enjoy
going to the gym and working out, I’m at the gym six or seven days a week and then I’m at the
course all day, so I’ve put in a lot of time and I’ve been more honest with myself this off-season
on what I really needed to get better at. I hit it pretty good off the tee but putting was something I
needed to get better at, and I putt it really well this week.” – Jake Knapp

“It’s one step closer to the end goal, moving closer and closer to that end goal, it’s what
everybody out here wants; to be on the PGA TOUR. This is great experience.” – Brian Carlson

“This was one of the best tournaments putting wise I’ve played. I didn’t have a three putt and
had a lot of good makes. I started a little slow and got on a heater on the back nine, I made a
good birdie on No. 12 and then good ones on Nos. 13, 14 and 15. It was nice to be in the hunt
and get that feeling again.” – Dylan Wu

“I got the putter going on the front side, I made four birdies in a row. I started the day 10 back,
so I wasn’t really expecting anything, I was just trying to play well and then see how it goes.” –
Lorens Chan

“Honestly, it was kind of a grind with ball striking this week. I wasn’t hitting it too well and
every day I was talking to my coach on the phone to see if I could do something different and see
if it helped. I worked on it on the range and I wouldn’t say I made too much progress, but I rolled
it really nice.” – Lorens Chan

“I shot three 69s in a row, so my friends were like, ‘if you shoot one more 69, it wouldn’t be any
surprise. I was hoping I wouldn’t shoot 69, in the good way, but I didn’t expect 63.” – Lorens
Chan

“We have five UCLA guys here, so it’s kind of like a mini reunion, same as last year, and it
feels really good to represent UCLA.” – Lorens Chan

“This is definitely the way you want to start a season. This is my third year out here, hopefully
my last, fingers crossed, but we’ll see how it goes. My mom is a trooper, she’s been caddying for
me for a while. As long as I’m happy she’s happy” – Lorens Chan

Final-Round Weather: Sunny. High of 23. Wind 7 KM/h.

It was only when he was sitting alone in a hotel room in Argentina that Hugo Bernard truly appreciated that he was finally a professional golfer.

“I usually play events with my good friend Jared du Toit, but that week I was there just by myself,” said Bernard. “I was in my hotel room after every round and I was like ‘well, I just have to keep doing what I’m doing and just play golf.’

“It’s super different than amateur golf. Amateur golf you’re used to staying with host families or travelling with teammates.”

The 2016 Canadian amateur champion turned pro in October and played in four events on the PGA Tour Latinoamerica this winter – making the cut three times – most recently tying for 49th at the BMW Jamaica Classic. He returned home this week to start plying his trade on the Mackenzie Tour, starting on Thursday with the Canada Life Open at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf and Country Club.

Bernard flew from Jamaica to Orlando, Fla., on Monday and then drove himself back home to Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., before flying on to Vancouver on Tuesday night.

“I was so excited to be back in Canada,” Bernard said with a relieved laugh. “It’s so easy here. You’ve got a Holiday Inn in every town or a host family and I’ve got friends on the tour.”

Du Toit, from Kimberley, B.C., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., are two other prominent Canadians on the Mackenzie Tour this season. The Mackenzie Tour is one of three international PGA Tour-sanctioned circuits that provide access to the Web.com Tour, the developmental circuit of the PGA Tour.

Notable alumni include Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., all of whom have gone on to win PGA Tour events.

“I’d say the Canadians on the Mackenzie Tour feel comfortable playing in Canada,” said Pendrith. “Just because it’s their home country. The golf courses are the same kind of grass that you grew up on playing. I think that can definitely translate into the golf game.”

Point Grey Golf and Country Club’s best known as being the site of the 1954 Canadian Open. Pat Fletcher won that year, no Canadian has captured the national championship since.

“You can feel it when you get there that it’s special,” said Bernard, who has previously played the course. “I remember the members form last year are super proud of their golf club. You can feel the atmosphere there.”

The big-hitting Pendrith, who arrived in Vancouver on Sunday, really likes how Point Grey plays, even though it rained a few times at the start of the week with more predicted on Saturday.

“The greens are perfect. They’re still kind of firm despite the rain,” said Pendrith. “It’s in fantastic shape. Should be a good test.

“The rough isn’t overly long, but it’s wet, so hitting fairways will be key.”

Ponte Vedra Beach, FLORIDA – The PGA TOUR announced today that PGA TOUR Canada – Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday will be retiring from the PGA TOUR after more than 30 years of service.

In 2012, Monday led exploratory efforts to determine the PGA TOUR’s role with the Canadian Tour, and he subsequently assumed the position of President when the TOUR agreed to assume operational control of the Tour starting with the 2013 season.

Monday has overseen significant growth of the Mackenzie Tour, with the schedule now including 12 official events with an average purse of $200,000 (CAD). Mackenzie Tour alumni since 2013 include 31 PGA TOUR players, including TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes, Nick Taylor, Aaron Wise, Tony Finau and Adam Long, and more than 190 Web.com Tour players. The Mackenzie Tour has also made an impact in the communities in which it plays, having donated $4.1 million (CAD) to charity since 2013, including more than $1 million in each of the last three years.

“Jeff Monday has made incredibly significant contributions to our business during his career at the PGA TOUR,” said PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Thanks to Jeff’s vision and leadership, establishing the Mackenzie Tour has been a cornerstone of our international growth over the last six years, and the Tour is set up to flourish well into the future. We can’t thank Jeff enough for his contributions and leadership over the last 30 years.”

Prior to his position with the Mackenzie Tour, Monday held leadership roles as Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations for PGA TOUR Champions; Senior Vice President of Tournament Development; Vice President of Tournament Business Affairs for PGA TOUR Champions and Web.com Tour; and Vice President, Retail Marketing. He joined the TOUR in January 1988, leaving to oversee the American Golf Sponsors for five years before returning to TOUR employment in 1995.

“It has been my profound honor to work for the PGA TOUR for these last 30 years. My first thought has been about the great people I have met and the experiences I have had. To be in an environment where you provide competitive opportunities for players while seeing the positive impact these tournaments have in communities has been something very special, and I will always value and treasure my involvement with that,” said Monday. “To work extensively on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, the Web.com Tour and, for the last seven years, the Mackenzie Tour has left me with a great appreciation for how many really good people there are in the golf world. It has been a true joy to be a part of this wonderful sport. I just feel so privileged and grateful.”

The transition in Mackenzie Tour leadership will include longtime Championship Management Executive Director Todd Rhinehart alongside current Mackenzie Tour Vice President Scott Pritchard.

Rhinehart will serve as a Managing Director for several of the TOUR’s international business interests, including the Mackenzie Tour. Previously, Rhinehart oversaw the PGA TOUR’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia as Executive Director, beginning in 2012, also assisting in the TOUR’s business development in Southeast Asia. Prior to his stint overseas, Rhinehart was the executive director of the TOUR Championship in Atlanta with additional responsibilities with various World Golf Championships events and the Presidents Cup. He has been with the TOUR since 1999.

Pritchard will continue to be based in the PGA TOUR’s Canada offices in Toronto, Ontario. As Vice President of the Mackenzie Tour, he will assume additional responsibilities overseeing tournament business affairs, marketing, sponsorships and scheduling. Pritchard is a veteran of the golf industry, having previously worked for the PGA of Canada in a number of roles from 2003 to 2011. He joined the PGA TOUR in February 2012 after working at the Canadian Tour as Director of Business Development and Communications.

The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada announced its 2019 schedule today, featuring 12 events that will once again take the Tour from coast-to-coast.

The season will begin with the Freedom 55 Financial Open (May 20-26) at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia. All regular events feature purses of $200,000 (CDN) and a $225,000 (CDN) purse for the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship (Sept. 9-15) at Highland Country Club in London, Ontario.

“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our host organizations, along with our great sponsors, we are pleased to announce the schedule for our seventh season,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “We look forward to the players taking advantage of the opportunity to advance their careers and are particularly excited to add an event in Atlantic Canada.”

The inaugural HFX Pro-Am is set to take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia from July 15-21 at Oakfield Golf & Country Club and is part of a multi-year agreement with the Mackenzie Tour. The tournament will consist of 128 Mackenzie Tour professionals and 64 amateurs. Sports & Entertainment Atlantic (S|E|A), a leading production company for world-class sports and entertainment events in Atlantic Canada, will serve as the host organization.

Oakfield Golf & Country Club was designed by Robbie Robinson, who apprenticed under the legendary Stanley Thompson, and opened in 1962 before a redesign in 2003 by Graham Cooke. Oakfield has previously hosted the Men’s Canadian Amateur in 1989 and numerous provincial championships over the years, including most recently the 2017 Nova Scotia Men’s Mid-Amateur.

“The club is thrilled to play host to this wonderful event, and our membership and community alike look forward to showcasing our championship golf course this summer to both the professional golfers and amateurs,” said Oakfield Golf & Country Club General Manager Eric Tobin. “I am confident this event will be one of the highlights of the season for the players and will be one they look forward to year after year.”

“We are thrilled to bring a PGA TOUR sanctioned golf event back to Nova Scotia this summer,” said Sports and Entertainment Atlantic President and Founder Derek Martin. “This is an exciting opportunity to bring a fun and entertaining Pro-Am concept to the Mackenzie Tour and showcase our wonderful East Coast hospitality.”

Mackenzie Tour players will once again look to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR. The Order of Merit winner will be fully exempt on the Web.com Tour for the following season, with those finishing in the second-through-fifth positions earning conditional status. Players who finish in the Nos. 2-10 spots will also earn an exemption into the Final Stage of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament, while Nos. 11-25 on the Order of Merit will earn an exemption into the Second Stage of the Qualifying Tournament.

Players will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Mackenzie Hughes, Tony Finau, Nick Taylor, Aaron Wise, and mostly recently, Adam Long, who became the fifth alum to win on the PGA TOUR with his win in January, at the Desert Classic. In total, 31 alumni have gone on to earn their PGA TOUR cards, while more than 190 Mackenzie Tour players have earned Web.com Tour status, including 83 for the 2019 season.

Off the course, Mackenzie Tour events will look to build off a third consecutive season of more than $1 million raised for local charities across Canada, bringing the total since 2013 to more than $4.1 million.

Cozumel, Mexico – Despite a valiant Mackenzie Tour – PGATOUR Canada charge, the PGATOUR Latinoamerica held onto their lead and won the Go Vacaciones Cozumel Cup presented by Assist Card by a mark of 11.5-8.5 on Saturday at Cozumel Country Club.

With the Mackenzie Tour picked up points in the first four matches of the day thanks to the efforts of Michael Gellerman, Sam Fidone, Mark Anguiano and Zach Wright, the next five points on the leaderboard went to the blue team, with Tyson Alexander’s victory on the 18^th green securing the 10^th point, and with Ian Holt already dormie, secured the Cup.

“We played good golf, nobody got more than one or two up and we were making birdies and pars, it was fun,” said Alexander, who made a five-foot par putt to win the match on the closing hole. “My (teammates) came out at the end to watch, and it happened to go my way.”

Not a single player on the Latinoamerica team lost all three of their matches, and the team effort turned out to be essential in winning the cup back after the Mackenzie Tour took it from them in 2016.

Meanwhile, on the Mackenzie Tour side of things, Playing Captain Sam Fidone was happy with how hard everybody played on the final day.

“Nobody ever likes losing,” said Fidone. “But those 10 guys over there played awesome all week, and I’m proud of our guys too for putting up a huge fight today and this whole week.”

Fidone was one of the strongest players on the Mackenzie Tour side, like Alexander, winning all three of his matches.

“Just having the opportunity to play in this event was a huge honour,” added Fidone, the 6^thranked player on the Mackenzie Tour this season. “Cozumel is beautiful, and I don’t think you’ll see any of us pouting about this when we get back to Secrets.”

Harry Higgs, the PGATOUR Latinoamerica’s Playing Captain, matched Fidone’s 3-0 record.

“They’re brothers of mine,” said Higgs. “We’ve been together and been on the same flights and see each other at the golf courses sun up to sun down all year, so it means a lot to win a team competition after the years we all have had.

“I will never forget this week with these nine knuckleheads.”

The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada is busy preparing for another strong season, announcing on Thursday the dates and sites for its six 2019 Qualifying Tournaments, events that determine the membership of the Mackenzie Tour.

The six sites will be: TPC San Antonio in San Antonio, Tex. (Feb. 25- March 1), Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howie-In-The-Hills, Fla. (March 4-8), Carlton Oaks Golf Club in Santee, Calif. (March 25-29), Wigwam Golf Club in Litchfield Park, Ariz. (April 1-5), TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (April 22-26) and Crown Isle Resort & Golf Club in Courtenay, BC (April 29-May 3).

Each event is a 72-hole, no-cut qualifying tournament, with fields of 120 players.

“Due to a steady increase in demand seen the past few seasons, we are excited to add another Mackenzie Tour qualifying tournament to the calendar to allow more aspiring professionals the opportunity to work their way towards the PGA TOUR,” said Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday. “With the new season right around the corner, we look forward to seeing which stars of tomorrow emerge out of the 2019 qualifying sites.”

For more information, please refer to the FAQ on PGATOUR.com.