RBC, Golf Canada and the PGA TOUR today announced that the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will be moving to a premier spot on the PGA TOUR schedule starting in 2019, one week before the U.S. Open. The 110th RBC Canadian Open, to be played at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club with new dates, June 3-9, 2019, is expected to attract an even better field for Canada’s National Championship.

The 2018 RBC Canadian Open will be played as scheduled, July 23-29, at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario.

“The RBC Canadian Open is one of the oldest and most-prestigious golf events in the world and we’re thrilled to start a new chapter in 2019,” said Mary DePaoli, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, RBC. “As the only Canadian stop on the Tour, the June tournament date will help enrich the experience for fans, players and all Canadians.”

IT’S A DATE! The #RBCCO is moving to June 3-9 in 2019 ??#OurOpen pic.twitter.com/okc6Z3dopB

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) July 3, 2018

In addition to the new spot on the PGA TOUR schedule, the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will also feature an increased purse, set at USD $7.6-million.

“The PGA TOUR, RBC and Golf Canada have collaborated to ensure this new date is the right fit for players and fans of the RBC Canadian Open,” said Andy Pazder, chief tournaments & competitions officer, PGA TOUR. “As title sponsor of both the RBC Canadian Open and the RBC Heritage, RBC has been a tremendous partner of the PGA TOUR, and we’re thrilled to have this opportunity to move one of golf’s most important and historic tournaments to a new date for the event starting in 2019.”

SAVE. THE. DATE. June 3-9, 2019 – Starting in 2019, the #RBCCO will move to a premier spot on the @pgatour – #RBCCO #OurOpen

A post shared by RBC Canadian Open (@rbccanadianopen) on Jul 3, 2018 at 9:04am PDT

With even stronger fields and competition anticipated with the new date, the RBC Canadian Open is expected to:

• Increase global awareness for golf in Canada and the RBC Canadian Open tournament
• Drive deeper interest and participation in golf in Canada
• Positively impact the regional economy with increased ticket sales, hospitality and tourism

“Golf Canada is beyond thrilled by RBC’s overall support for the Canadian Open. Together with the PGA TOUR, the new 2019 date change is a clear demonstration of our combined commitment to the game and Canada’s National Open Championship,” said Laurence Applebaum, chief executive officer, Golf Canada. “This exciting change will inject tremendous energy into the RBC Canadian Open and make Canadian golf better.”

For ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality information on the 2018 RBC Canadian Open, details are available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

Golf Canada and RBC today announced that four of the top five finishers from the 118^th playing of the U.S. Open will be facing off in the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.

Two-time U.S. Open champion and world No. 4 golfer Brooks Koepka, Bubba Watson (world No. 13), Tommy Fleetwood (world No. 10), Tony Finau (world no. 31) and world No. 28 Ian Poulter will all join Dustin Johnson, the world’s number one ranked golfer and Team RBC member in competing for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open, July 23-29 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Koepka, who recently defended his U.S. Open title, is only the seventh player in history to win consecutive U.S. Opens. He is a 3-time PGA TOUR winner who sits 13^th on the 2018 FedEx Cup standing.

#PGATOUR stars @Bkoepka, @TommyFleetwood1, @TonyFinauGolf & @BubbaWatson join this year’s #RBCCO field. #OurOpen

Read ➡️ https://t.co/nKTP9gP9c2
Tickets ➡️ https://t.co/y8VjKms2RO pic.twitter.com/2EZxkos1Xu

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) June 28, 2018

Fleetwood made a fierce charge at the U.S. Open, firing a final-round 7-under 63 to finish runner-up behind Koepka. With four top-10 finishes in 2018, the 27-year old Englishman is ranked No. 10 in the world and No. 28 on the FedEx Cup standing. The European rising star will be making his debut appearance in Canada’s National Open Championship.

Johnson’s solo-third place finish at the U.S. Open was his eighth top-10 finish in 2018. A member of Team RBC, Johnson is an 18-time PGA TOUR winner, including two 2018 victories—the Sentry Tournament of Champions as well as the recent FedEx St. Jude Classic. He is currently ranked No. 1 in both the world ranking and FedEx Cup standing and will compete in his sixth RBC Canadian Open.

Finau is having a career-best season on the PGA TOUR in 2018—his T5 finish at the U.S. Open was one of six top-10 finishes this season. A graduate of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, Finau has one-career PGA TOUR win and is ranked No. 31 and No. 11 on the world ranking and FedEx Cup standing respectively.

Also confirmed to compete at Glen Abbey is big-hitting lefty Bubba Watson who claimed his 12^th career PGA TOUR win last week at the Travelers Championship. The win was Watson’s third of the season including the World Golf Championship—Dell Technologies Match Play and the Genesis Open.  The win was his fifth top-10 finish in 2018. He is currently ranked No. 13 in the world and is 3^rd on the 2018 FedEx Cup standing in a season which includes five top-10 finishes. Watson, whose wife is Canadian, will again be a fan-favourite making his eighth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open.

Ryder Cup star and fan-favourite Ian Poulter is also committed to compete in the RBC Canadian Open. Poulter has three career PGA TOUR wins including the 2018 Houston Open. He has three top-10 finishes in 2018 and is currently ranked 28^th and 29^th on the world ranking and FedEx Cup standing respectively.

The foursome of Watson (3), Johnson (2), Koepka (1) and Poulter (1) have captured a combined seven PGA TOUR wins during the 2018 season to date.

“A growing list of the hottest players on the planet are coming out for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada Chief Championship Officer and acting Tournament Director Bill Paul. “We are thrilled to welcome two-time U.S. Open winner Brooks Koepka along with rising stars Tommy Fleetwood and Tony Finau plus in-year winners Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter to Canada’s National Open Championship.”

Players have until 5 p.m. ET on the Friday of the week preceding the tournament to officially commit to playing. The field is released and published by the PGA TOUR as soon as possible after 5 p.m. ET on that Friday.

More information about the 2018 RBC Canadian Open including tickets, corporate hospitality and volunteer information is available at www.rbccanadianopen.ca.

Juniors and students aged 17-and-under get FREE admission to the RBC Canadian Open.

BLAINVILLE, Que. — An eventful day that involved threats of thunderstorms and a three-hour rain delay ended with a six-way tie at the final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier of 2018 at Le Blainvillier on Monday.

Five golfers from Quebec — Vincette Blanchette of Boucherville, Sonny Michaud of Neuville, Yanik Laforest of Mirabel, Tim Alarie of Saint-Jérôme and Keven Fortin-Simard of Chicoutimi — won the event alongside Jake Scott of Strongsville, Ohio after carding a 1 under par to earn spots at the Final Qualifying event taking place at Heron Point Golf Links in Ancaster, Ont., on July 23.

Sixty-nine golfers completed all18 holes at the Quebec qualifier. In addition to the six leaders, eight players are also moving on to the Final Qualifier at Heron Point. Toronto’s Russell Budd finished one stroke behind the leaders at even-par 72 while Oshawa, Ont., native Derek Gillespie came in eighth with a 1-over-par 73. Six golfers round out the 14 heading to the Final Qualifier tied for 9th at 2 over — Team Canada alumnus Raoul Menard (Ange-Gardien, Que), last year’s second place finisher and amateur Griffin Jones (Manotick, Ont.), amateur David Iaderosa (Ottawa, Ont.), David Morland (Palm Coast, Fla.), Dom Lalonde (Châteauguay, Que.) and Éric Laporte (St-Liguori, Que.).

The Quebec Regional Qualifier was the third and final Regional Qualifying event. Provided that there are 100 or more players in the field, the low qualifier receives an exemption directly into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Otherwise, the top 15 percent of finishers at each qualifier become eligible to compete at the final qualifying event.

A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Heron Point will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.

Additional information and the full leaderboard can be found here.

The following golfers advanced to the Final Qualifier from the Quebec Regional event:

1. Vincent Blanchette, Boucherville, QC, *38-33-71 -1
2. Sonny Michaud, Neuville, QC, *35-36-71 -1
3. Jake Scott, Strongsville, OH, *36-35-71 -1
4. Yanik Laforest, Mirabel, QC, *34-37-71 -1
5. Tim Alarie, St-Jérôme, QC, *38-33-71 -1
6. Keven Fortin-Simard, Chicoutimi, QC, *37-34-71 -1
7. Russell Budd, Toronto, ON, *37-35-72 E
8. Derek Gillespie, Oshawa, ON, *39-34-73 +1
9. Raoul Menard, Ange-Gardien, QC, *36-38-74 +2
10. Griffin Jones (a), Manotick, ON, *37-37-74 +2
11. David Iaderosa (a), Ottawa, ON, *36-38-74 +2
12. David Morland, Palm Coast, FL, *36-38-74 +2
13. Dom Lalonde, Châteauguay, QC, *37-37-74 +2
14. Éric Laporte, St-Liguori, QC, *37-37-74 +2

The final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier of 2018 will take place Monday, June 18th, at Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Que. 80 golfers will be looking to finish in the top 15% of the field and secure a spot in the  RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier, which takes place Monday, July 23 at Heron Point Golf Links in Ancaster, Ont.

The low qualifier receives a direct exemption into the RBC Canadian Open if 100 players or more compete at a regional qualifier. If less than 100 people register for a regional qualifier  – as is the case for Monday’s event – the top 15% of the field and ties beyond the low qualifier, advance to Final Qualifier.

33 players have already advanced to the final qualifying event through the Regional Qualification process. At the first Regional Qualifier at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C., Matt Matheson secured medallist honours to earn a spot in the final Qualifying event.

At the Ontario Regional Qualifier at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont., Nyasha Mauchaza posted a 6-under 66 to claim medallist honours to punch his ticket to his first RBC Canadian Open as more than 100 golfers competed at the event.

The qualifying competitions are open to members in good standing with the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0, who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, as well as other golf professionals.

During the 2017 Quebec regional qualifier, Mack Duke of Camden, Maine earned medallist honours to advance to the final qualifying event, alongside fourteen additional golfers.

Notables
Griffin Jones
The seventeen-year-old amateur finished one stroke behind the winner at this event last year, the highest of all returning players. Jones recently won the Investors Group Men’s Amateur Qualifier at The Marshes Golf Club.

Thomas Baik of Buenos Aires, Argentina
The 24-year-old made his 2018 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica debut at the Molino Cañuelas Championship, where he won in a sudden death playoff. In 2017, Baik claimed medalist honors at the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Qualifying Tournament played at Club Las Praderas de Lujan in Argentina.

Étienne Papineau
Graduate of the Team Canada Amateur Squad who finished T4 at this event last year. The second year West Virginia University golfer is fresh off a win at the Men’s Provincial Match Play Championship that took place from June 5-7. Papineau was the 2015 Amateur Golfer of the Year in Quebec and was twice named the Junior Golfer of the Year.

Derek Gillespie
The 39-year-old Big Break Prince Edward Island winner is currently playing on the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. He has six career top-10s on the tour, including T9 finishes in 2017 at the Aberto do Brazil tournament and BMW Jamaica Classic. Gillespie advanced to the final qualifier from the 2016 Ontario Qualifier.

Charles-Éric Bélanger
Eighteen-year-old Team Canada Men’s Development Squad alumus who won the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Most recently finished T2 at Men’s Provincial Match Play Championship at Royal Bromont Golf Club.

QUICK FACTS
The Regional Qualification process gives players from across Canada and the world a chance to qualify for the RBC Canadian Open, the third-oldest national open golf championship in the world, after the British Open and the U.S. Open.

The low qualifier receives a direct exemption into the RBC Canadian Open if 100 players or more compete at a regional qualifier. If less than 100 people register for a regional qualifier, the top 15% of the field and ties beyond the low qualifier, advance to final Monday qualifying.

In 2013, Jesse Smith became the first Six Nations golfer to participate in the RBC Canadian Open after advancing through the final Qualifier and the Quebec Regional Qualifier. He will look to advance to the final qualifier for the second consecutive year.

ABOUT THE COURSE
Designed by architect Graham Cooke.

Opened on May 18, 1991.

Designated as the Training Center of the Junior Elite of Quebec (CEP) in 2014.

For more information on the tournament, click here.

HAMILTON, Ont. –  Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC today announced that the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont., will host the RBC Canadian Open in 2019 and 2023.

The tournament’s return to the Harry Colt designed course in 2019 is timed perfectly – marking the 100-year anniversary since the renowned club originally hosted Canada’s National Open Golf Championship.

“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, we are extremely proud to be bringing the RBC Canadian Open back to the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in both 2019 and 2023,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada.  “There are few courses in the country that can equal Hamilton in terms of excellence and storied history and I am delighted that the club’s membership and the City of Hamilton have joined us to bring the RBC Canadian Open back to Hamilton twice over the next five years.”

Consistently ranked among Canada’s best courses, Hamilton’s parkland setting, which includes winding fairways, multi-elevations and undulating greens, have made the club a favourite of the PGA TOUR pros who’ve played it throughout the years.

“Returning to Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 and 2023 is a great fit for RBC and the RBC Canadian Open,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice President, Brand Marketing for RBC. “Our clients and all Canadian golf fans want to see the world’s best golfers playing the world’s best courses and by having Team RBC challenge the PGA TOUR’s best at Hamilton, we will accomplish just that.”

We’re thrilled to be hosting the 2019 & 2023 #RBCCO @HamiltonGolf ??

Read ➡️https://t.co/t2zk4mggR4#OurOpen pic.twitter.com/yQNh9myrZq

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) June 6, 2018

The Hamilton Golf and Country Club previously hosted five Canadian Opens, with the first taking place in 1919 – a championship featured two of the most legendary names in golf – Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet. J. Douglas Edgar would go on to earn a 16-stroke win – a PGA TOUR record that stands to this day as the largest margin of victory.

Other players to have won the Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club include Tommy Armour (1930), Bob Tway (2003), Team RBC member Jim Furyk (2006) and Scott Piercy (2012).

In addition, Hamilton has hosted many other prestigious events including the (former) Canadian Senior Championship in 1996 as well as several Ontario (1932, 1974 and 1991) and Canadian Amateur Championships (1922, 1927, 1935, 1948, 1977 and 1994).

“We are proud to host the most prestigious championship in Canadian golf and welcome the RBC Canadian Open and the stars of the PGA TOUR to Hamilton Golf and Country Club twice over the next five years,” said Hamilton Golf and Country Club’s President Chris Hamel. “Our members are honoured to have the opportunity to help write additional chapters in the long and storied history of Canadian golf and the RBC Canadian Open in 2019 and 2023 and are especially pleased to celebrate a centennial connection in 2019 between our club and Canada’s National Open.”

The confirmation of the Hamilton Golf and Country Club as the host venue for 2019 and 2023 was also made possible through a new partnership between the city of Hamilton and Golf Canada. This partnership will result in Canada’s National Sport Federation bringing multiple events and golf championships to the city to complement the two RBC Canadian Opens.

“We are thrilled to welcome the stars of the PGA TOUR back to Hamilton for two more years,” said Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton. “The RBC Canadian Open is a world class event and I know our citizens take great pride in hosting the championship here in their backyard. In addition, through our partnership with Golf Canada, our region will welcome numerous national and regional golf championships between 2019 and 2023. With a goal to leave an economic, charitable and social legacy through golf, we look forward to becoming a hub community for Canadian golf.”

The stars of the PGA TOUR won’t be the only ones having fun during tournament week when the RBC Canadian Open stops in Hamilton. Golf Canada, RBC and all tournament partners have embraced the PGA TOUR’s new fans first mantra, highlighted in the Tour’s new “Live Under Par” campaign. The event has become much more than just 72 holes of world-class golf – it’s one of Canada’s most prolific sporting events, chocked-full of activities for spectators, whether they are core golf fans or new to the sport.

This year’s RBC Canadian Open will take place east of Hamilton at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 20-26, 2018. Ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality info is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.

https://www.facebook.com/RBCCanadianOpen/videos/10155202957140728/

To catch up with Todd Fanning is not unlike anyone else who may work in a non-descript office building. Your conversation gets interrupted by a group of people looking to use the meeting room for a conference call, and when asked how often he gets to play golf, the answer (“I don’t”) comes with a hearty chuckle.

But Fanning, who is a sales manager for a large equipment leasing company in Winnipeg, isn’t just that.

For years he chased a professional golf dream, playing on the Web.com Tour and making a few appearances at the RBC Canadian Open before rescinding his professional playing privileges and returning to regular job and a regular life.

That is, until last summer.

Fanning shot a 2-under-par 69 at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wascana Country Club to nip three-time champion Garrett Rank and 54-hole leader Steven Diack in a four-hole playoff a year ago this August.

He didn’t plan on playing a championship schedule in 2017, but when it was announced The Wascana would play host, he signed up to play the Manitoba Mid-Amateur to try to qualify (which he ended up winning), since his father lives in Regina and he had played Wascana a lot in his golfing life.

With the win at the Canadian Mid-Amateur, Fanning will make his fifth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open this summer when it returns to Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

“I’m just going to be the guy in the middle of the range and they’re going to say, ‘well who’s that?’ says Fanning. “It’s going to be quite funny.”

Self-deprecating humour aside, Fanning truly earned his spot in the RBC Canadian Open. He held off one of the furriest charges in the Canadian Mid-Amateur’s history, as Rank, who started the day eight shots back of Diack’s lead, shot a 5-under-par 66 to jump into a tie for the lead.

“It was the best nine holes of golf I’d ever seen,” Fanning says of Rank’s final nine holes, where she shot a 31.

“I just executed down the stretch. I almost won it in regulation. I had an eagle putt from the back fringe and thought it was going in, and I looked foolish when it didn’t. But out of the hundreds of people watching with 45 minutes to go, I don’t think anyone would have thought, other than my wife, that I would have won that tournament.”

But as per usual with golf, the most unpredictable of games, it was indeed Fanning who came out on top. He made a par on the fourth playoff hole, and when the 25-year-old Diack made a bogey, the championship was his.

He unleashed a Tiger Woods-esque fist pump and a little dance (“I don’t know what happened there… it was very bizarre,” he recalls with a laugh) and the accomplishment finally set in.

“I realized what happened. I was turning 50 and I get to play Glen Abbey again. All those thoughts raced through my mind,” he says.

Fanning says one of his good friends arrived in Regina from Winnipeg to watch the final round, and will have “quite a few” people out with him at Glen Abbey later this summer to celebrate his success.

At work, he says, it made for a great story. People would come up to him to say they watched the live-stream of the playoff (Golf Canada’s social media team played it out on Twitter, via Periscope) and his colleagues said he looked calm.

“I said it was because I have a great job and get to work with (them) so that was just fun for me,” says Fanning, laughing.

Before the RBC Canadian Open Fanning will return to defend his title at the Manitoba Mid-Amateur in early July, and says he will also play this year’s Canadian Mid-Amateur at Victoria Golf Club in August.

But he says what he’s most looking forward to this summer is another shot at Glen Abbey.

Fanning had the morning draw on Thursday in 1998, the last time he played there (he played the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal in 2001 and at Angus Glen in 2002), and he managed to get off to a great start. He says he told his caddie he was having fun, but his caddie wasn’t.

“’Not yet, not until we got to the top of the leaderboard,’” Fanning recalls what his caddie told him.

Fanning hit a 6-iron into the par-3 7th and knocked in the birdie putt, so he got to 4-under par on his round and got to the top of the leaderboard in the morning. He went on to miss the cut, however, and will be thinking about that when he goes back.

But the fact that he gets to go back at all is the most exciting thing of all.

Fanning says there’s nothing on his radar to come to Oakville prior to July to get in a practice round, but he will arrive on site a little earlier than most to ‘cram for the exam,’ he says.

When he played Glen Abbey in the late-90s the golf course setup was different, but there’s nothing that will catch him off guard, as he watches the tournament on television and sees what the current course looks like. He admits he’ll be behind in his preparation, but is looking forward to watch should be a fun week.

“I have a full-time job so I don’t expect to go out there and contend and be in the last group on Sunday, but to me it’s all about family,” he says, as his 17-year-old son will be his caddie for the week. “My whole family is coming. My children never got a chance to see me compete as a professional, and now I have three of them and they’re all going to be there. It’s going to be a really fun time for them.”

ACTON, Ont. – There was nothing but beautiful blue skies at Blue Springs Golf Club as 144 players competed in hopes of earning a direct exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. from July 23-29.

Nyasha Mauchaza, a Zimbabwe native, posted a 6-under 66to claim medallist honours at the second of three Regional Qualifying events and punch his ticket to his first RBC Canadian Open.

“In my preparation, I just tried my best to get the shots I needed,” said Mauchaza, greenside at the 18th  hole. “Reflecting on the positives and the negatives, I’m just really delighted with the way I played.”

Mauchaza, who began the day on the 10th hole, opened with a 4-under 32 on the back-nine. The 30-year-old finished the round with three birdies in a row across his final six holes to secure his victory atop the leaderboard.

Defending champion and Team Canada alumnus Matt Hill of Sarnia, Ont., finished two strokes behind the lead at 4 under par. He is joined by fellow Team Canada graduate Chris Hemmerich of Guelph, Ont., who closed the 18-hole stroke play event at 2 under par.

Hill, Hemmerich and 24 other competitors, excluding the low medallist,advanced to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier taking place on July 23rd at Heron Point Golf Links in Ancaster, Ont.

The first RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C., saw Matt Matheson shoot a 5-under-par 65 to earn medallist honours and advance to the final qualifying event.

A third regional qualifier will take place on June 18th at Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Qué.

Full results can be found here.

The second of three RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers tees off Thursday, May 17^th at Blue Springs Golf Club, in Acton, Ont. Players will be competing for a spot in the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 23-29.

If 100 golfers register for a regional qualifier – as is the case for Thursday’s event – the low-qualifier receives a direct exemption into the RBC Canadian Open. The top 15% of finishers, beyond the low-qualifier, will advance to the Final Qualifier, taking place July 23 at Heron Point Golf Links, in Alberton, Ont..

Matt Matheson earned co-medallist honours at the first regional qualifier on May 8^th, at Bear Mountain Resort, in Victoria, B.C.  Along with Matheson, six players from the event secured their spot in the final qualifier at Heron Point.

A third regional qualifier will take place on June 18^th at Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Qué.

The qualifying competitions are open to members in good standing with the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0 who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, as well as other golf professionals.

Last year’s Ontario qualifier was also played at Blue Springs Golf Club, where Matt Hill of Sarnia, Ont., defeated Jesse Smith of Oshweken, Ont., in a playoff to win medallist honours and an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open.

NOTABLES
Matt Hill, Sarnia, Ontario
The 29-year-old former Team Canada member won the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit in 2012. Hill has spent time on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and the Web.com Tour in recent years. In 2009, Hill had one of the greatest seasons in collegiate golf history, when he won the NCAA Championship, seven other individual tournament titles and the Jack Nicklaus Award as the  top NCAA  golfer.

Branson Ferrier, Barrie, Ontario
The 24-year-old was the 2016 medallist at this event. Ferrier played college golf at Alabama State University (NCAA Div I), where he was a three-time first-team All-SWAC selection.

Chris Hemmerich, Kitchener, Ontario
The 25-year-old  earned conditional Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada status in 2017. The former member of  Team Canada and Guelph Gryphon Men’s Golf Team finished T3 at this event in 2016.

QUICK FACTS
Every year since the two-stage regional qualification process was reinstated in 2011, there has been a regional qualifier held in Ontario.

This is the second year in a row  Blue Springs will host this regional qualifier.

The regional qualification process allows amateurs and professionals from across Canada and the world a chance to qualify for the RBC Canadian Open.

There are nine golfers in the field who advanced to the final qualifier from this event last year.

Pairing and more information can be found here.

ABOUT THE COURSE
6,820 yards, par 72, slope 137.

Home of the PGA of Canada headquarters.

Signature features include well protected, heavily contoured greens, and several elevated tee boxes.

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Matt Matheson of West Vancouver, B.C., shot 5-under par 65 on Tuesday to earn medallist honours at Ledgeview Golf Club, host of the first of three RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying events.

Matheson started off strong with birdies on holes 5, 9, 10 and 12 before capping off the round with the day’s only eagle, coming on the par-5 18^th.

“I wasn’t hitting it particularly well but it was about minimizing mistakes,” said Matheson, a 24-year-old amateur. “I feel like I did a really good job of that today.”

Matheson was one of seven golfers to advance on Tuesday, earning a spot to compete in the final Qualifying event on July 23 at Heron Points Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Congrats to medallist Matt Matheson of West Vancouver who shot at 65 to win the Regional @RBCCanadianOpen Qualifier! #RBCCO ?? pic.twitter.com/Jhfr54RzkR

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) May 8, 2018

Khan Lee, of Langley, B.C., fired 3-under par 67 to finish runner-up behind Matheson.

Anton Frondelius of Concord, N.C., finished one stroke behind Lee at 2 under par, while Devin Carrey recorded a 1-under-par 69.

Rounding out the seven to advance were a trio of golfers at even par. Nigel Sinnott from Chilliwack, B.C., Kevin Stinson from Mission, B.C., and Keith Martin from Kelowna, B.C., all recorded rounds of 70 to punch their tickets to the final stage.

In total, there are three regional qualifying events, each consisting of 18 holes of stroke play. Provided that there are 100 or more players in the field, the low qualifier receives an exemption directly into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Otherwise, the top 15 percent of finishers at each qualifier become eligible to compete at the final qualifying event.

A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Heron Point will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.

There are two more regional qualifying events before the final qualifier:

May 17 – Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont.

June 18 – Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Que.

Click here for full scoring.

Additional information regarding Tuesday’s RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Ledgeview, can be found here.

PARINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE.

FOLLOW SCORING ONLINE AS PLAYERS COMPLETE THEIR ROUNDS BY CLICKING HERE.

RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying gets underway May 8^th at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C., where 39 players will be vying for a spot in the RBC Canadian Open final qualifying event, which takes place July 23th at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Players need to finish among the top 15% of the field, including ties, in order to punch their ticket to the final qualifying event.

The 18-hole qualifier at Ledgeview is the first of three regional qualifiers taking place across the country. The second qualifier takes place May 17^th at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont., with the third regional qualifier taking place June 18^th at Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Qué.

The qualifying competitions are open to members in good standing with the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0 who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, as well as other golf professionals.

QUICK FACTS

The regional qualification process allows amateurs and professionals from across Canada and the world a chance to qualify for the RBC Canadian Open.

The low qualifier receives a direct exemption into the RBC Canadian Open if 100 players or more compete at a regional qualifier. If less than 100 people register for a regional qualifier, the top 15% of the field and ties beyond the low qualifier, advance to final Monday qualifying.