Oakville, Ont. — The TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial, PGA TOUR Canada’s flagship event, will be played at London’s Highland Country Club in 2015, it was announced Wednesday.
A classic 6,600-yard par-70 Stanley Thompson design located in the heart of London, Highland Country Club has been one of the city’s finest member-owned private clubs since 1922. Conducted by Golf Canada, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial will once again see the culmination of the race to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour.
“We’re thrilled to be heading to Highland for the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial next season. The course is fantastic and should be a formidable test for our players as we showcase the finale of our season,” said PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday. “Fans can expect to see an extremely high level of play as these players battle it out to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour.”
“As a London-based company, we’re excited about the chance to move the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial to a new location and showcase our event to an even greater audience,” said Mike Cunneen, Senior Vice-President, Freedom 55 Financial/Wealth & Estate Planning Group. “We look forward to seeing players achieve their dreams and make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR next year.”
A three-year agreement will see the event contested at Highland Country Club through the 2017 season.
“On behalf of the membership at Highland, we’re thrilled to be the new host of the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial,” said Highland Country Club President Justin Wismer. “We’re confident the players will love the course, and we look forward to doing everything we can to make PGA TOUR Canada’s flagship event a tremendous experience for players, sponsors and fans.”
“London is a tremendous golf market and bringing the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial close to downtown London at Highland will be a great opportunity to showcase the event to new fans in the community,” said Tournament Director Bill Paul.
Last season’s event saw Vancouver, British Columbia’s Ryan Williams secure his first PGA TOUR Canada victory in dramatic fashion, propelling him to the sixth spot on the Order of Merit and Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours.
The event remains in London after two successful seasons at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club, which allowed the event to be contested on a hybrid of its Stanley Thompson and Robbie Robinson-designed courses.
“Golf Canada, PGA TOUR Canada and Freedom 55 Financial would like to thank the Thompson family and the entire Sunningdale team for their passion and commitment in helping launch the event over the past two years,” said Paul.
The TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial is proud to support National Golf in Schools as the event’s charity partner. Through the event’s 2014 community legacy campaign, 18 schools within the London area recieved the Golf in Schools program in honour of the season-ending event of the PGA TOUR Canada season.
Dates for the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial along with the entire 2015 PGA TOUR Canada schedule will be announced at a later date.