Ontario Qualifier Officially Moved

The Ontario regional qualifier for the RBC Canadian Open, as expected, has been moved to June 25 at King’s Forest near Hamilton.

The original date conflicted with the beginning of the PGA of Canada Championship in Calgary, which many of the players also wanted to play.

Possible Date Change For Open Qualifier

No official announcement has been made, but it appears that the Ontario regional qualifier for the RBC Canadian Open will change dates.

The Ontario regional qualifier was originally scheduled for Monday, June 18, at King’s Forest near Hamilton, but that conflicted with the first day of the PGA of Canada Championship, being played at Country Hills, near Calgary.

For more on Open qualifying click here. An announcement about the Ontario qualifier is expected later this week. Stay tuned to GNN for more details.

Open Hopefuls Will Have To Travel To Qualifiers

Being in Hawaii last week, I missed the conflict of dates pointed out in this blog by Jason Logan of ScoreGolf, who points out that one of the regional qualifiers for the RBC Canadian Open is up against the PGA of Canada Championship.

The first day of the PGA event at Country Hills in Calgary and the Open qualifier at King’s Forest Golf Course in Hamilton will be played on June 18, obviously a conundrum for golf professionals hoping to play both events. Read more

Canadian Open Announces Qualifying Sites

A two-stage qualifying procedure for this year’s RBC Canadian Open will feature three regional competitions in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec followed by a final qualifier on Monday, July 23.

The first regional qualifier will take place Tues., June 12, at Bearspaw Country Club in Calgary, with another scheduled for Mon., June 18, at King’s Forest Golf Course in Hamilton. The third regional qualifier will be played at Club de golf de l’Epiphanie in Epiphanie, Que., on Tues., July 3.

“Our three qualifying events this year mark the most Canadian Open regional qualifiers we’ve conducted since 1995,” said tournament director Bill Paul.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer competitors, especially Canadian golfers across the country, more opportunities to play their way into our national men’s open championship.”

Each of the three regional qualifiers will feature 18 holes of stroke play with the low competitor at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2012 RBC Canadian Open field (provided a minimum of 100 competitors participate at each site).

Up to the next top 15 per cent of finishers at each event are eligible to compete at final qualifying.

The entry deadline for the Alberta regional qualifier is Tues., June 5, while all entries for the Ontario regional qualifier are due Mon., June 11. The entry deadline for the Quebec regional qualifier is Tues., June 26.

Final qualifying is scheduled for Mon., July 23, at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont., near Hamilton. The entry deadline is Mon., July 16.

A total of 24 exemptions, including the seven awarded through regional and Monday qualifiers, are available for the 2012 Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Two exemptions have already been awarded, including 2011 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Mackenzie Hughes and 2011 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Rob Couture.

RBC Extends Canadian Open Sponsorship

RBC has extended its title sponsorship of the Canadian Open for five years through 2017. RBC’s first Open as title sponsor came in 2008.

“Without question, RBC’s involvement as title sponsor has lent stability and growth to the RBC Canadian Open and elevated its impact through charitable giving,” said PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

“RBC, in partnership with Golf Canada, also spearheaded a plan to move the RBC Canadian Open to the best golf courses throughout Canada, which has proven to be a tremendous success and has helped to strengthen its field,” added Finchem.

“We are delighted that RBC will continue to provide such a positive influence to this historic tournament in the coming years,” he said.

Golf Canada executive director Scott Simmons added that this agreement solidifies RBC as a key supporter of golf in Canada.

“RBC is one of Canada’s most respected corporations and, as a partner in golf, their brand, strength and continued commitment to conducting a world-class event has elevated the status and prestige of Canada’s national Open championship,” said Simmons.

“Our sponsorship of the RBC Canadian Open has been terrific for RBC, the tournament and the communities that benefited from our charitable commitment,” said Jim Little, outgoing chief brand and communications officer at RBC.

“We are proud to see the tournament back in its rightful place as a prominent stop on the PGA Tour,” added Little.

“Golf is a key driver for our brand here in Canada and internationally, and our renewed partnership demonstrates our commitment and enthusiasm for Canada’s national open championship,” he said.

Open To Royal Montreal in 2014?

This doesn’t comes as too much of a surprise, but Randy Phillips of Postmedia News is reporting that, while a deal isn’t done, the possibility of the 2014 RBC Canadian Open being played at Royal Montreal is getting greater.

This year’s Open is to be played at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont., and it’s generally accepted that next year’s version will be played at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont.

You can read Phillips’ story here.

Hadwin Stays Cool; Zokol To Predator Ridge, Says Rubenstein

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., impressed a nation not only with his talent, but also his composure as he contended for his national title at last year’s RBC Canadian Open at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.

Hadwin continues to display that composure in 2012, a year in which he has conditional status on the Nationwide Tour, where he missed the cut in the season opener in Colombia. Read more

Alternative To A Short Course? A Course Within A Course, Of Course

It’s no secret that affordability and time are two of the greatest challenges facing golf these days, but what if you could offer your members/guests/daily fee golfers an alternative and grow the game for the future at the same time?

Golf courses around North America are not only building short courses, but more and more are also adapting short courses within their traditional 18-hole layouts. Read more

Canucks Crowd Top-10 At PGA Tour Event

With all eyes on Tiger Woods in his comeback, three Canadians finished in the top 10 at the Frys.com Open on Sunday.

In what could be a first for a group of Canadians, Matt McQuillan of Kingston, Ont., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., all tied for seventh at 11-under-par in the Fall Series event.

For Hadwin, who got in on an exemption, it marked his second top-10 of the season after his tie for fourth at the RBC Canadian Open in July at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.

Meanwhile, the top-10 finish willl move Hearn into the top 125 on the PGA Tour who earn playing privileges next year. It also put McQuillan into striking range of the top 125.

All three are expected to play at next week’s McGladrey Classic in Georgia.

Hadwin Picks Up Exemption

After a tie for fourth at this year’s RBC Canadian Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., has been granted an exemption into this week’s Frys.com Open on the PGA Tour.

Hadwin, who earned $228,800 for his performance at Shaughnessy, has picked up more than $300,000 in three events on tour this season.

The Frys.com will also feature the return of Tiger Woods, who was selected recently to the American team that will play at next month’s Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne in Australia.

Hadwin, the top Canadian in International standings for the Presidents Cup after finishing 72nd, will play the Frys.com alongside countrymen Stephen Ames, David Hearn, Matt McQuillan and Chris Baryla.

Weir Out Three To Six Months After Surgery

After withdrawing from the recent RBC Canadian Open, Mike Weir has undergone surgery on the extensor tendon in his right elbow. The surgery was done on Thursday and Weir is expected to be out of action for three to six months.

The surgery was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews at his practice in Pensacola, Fla.

“My elbow has caused me problems over the past year and during the RBC Canadian Open, it essentially became unplayable,” said Weir.

“Dr. Andrews is the best in the business and it’s my hope with patience and diligent post-surgery rehab, I will be able to put my elbow problems behind me and look forward,” he said.

Are Canadians Big League Or Lacking Knowledge?

Despite being named low Canadian at the 2010 RBC Canadian Open, Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., sent many of his compatriots to search his background during his impressive showing at this year’s edition, which concluded Sunday at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.

With so much attention paid to the PGA Tour, or the LPGA Tour on the women’s side, does that make Canadians big league, or are they sadly lacking in knowledge about their rising players who haven’t yet reached those levels? Read more

Open Goes To Playoff

Canadian Tour player Adam Hadwin continued his strong play at the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday, making the turn at four over, but recording three straight birdies on the back nine to tie for fourth at Shaughessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.

Hadwin went into the final round just one shot off the lead, but in the end, it was Sean O’Hair prevailing over fellow American Kris Blanks in a playoff.

For more from Vancouver, click here.

Fletchers On The Hadwin Watch

His dad is the last Canadian to win his national Open, but Allan Fletcher of the Fletcher Leisure Group says he will be keeping his eye on 23-year-old Adam Hadwin in the final round of the RBC Canadian Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver on Sunday.

Fletcher says he’s surprised that Pat Fletcher’s distinction has gone on as long as it has with some of the great Canadian names that have been around since his dad won the Open in 1953 at Point Grey, just up the road from Shaughnessy. Hadwin went into the final round just one shot off the lead held by Bo Van Pelt. Read more

Hadwin Closes In On History

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is just one shot off the lead held by Bo Van Pelt at the RBC Canadian Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.

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Hadwin, who won the Rivermead Trophy as low Canadian at last year’s Open, combined five birdies with three bogeys to record a two-under par 68, which leaves him at four-under. If he should go on to win, Hadwin could become the first Canadian to win the Open since Pat Fletcher in 1954.

“The whole objective today with the caddie was to put myself in a position to win tomorrow. It’s been a very simple process this whole week and that’s just picking a target, picking a yardage and committing to itand that’s it,” said Hadwin.

“This golf course is so difficult once you get off line that you just can’t play from the trees and from the rough. That was our focus going into today. Obviously, getting off to a start like I did, birdieing the first, the third, and the fourth made it very easy,” he added.

For complete scores, click here.

Welcome To The Jungle

With the sun expected to be out all weekend and temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s in Vancouver, Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club looks to be even meaner as we edge towards the conclusion of the RBC Canadian Open.

What little fairway there is at Shaughnessy will firm up, meaning more trips to the gnarly rough by players who have, so far, been kind in their praise of the golf course. Will that continue as the weekend progresses or will the air start to turn blue around players who get caught in Shaugnessy’s jungle?

Perhaps, the United States Golf Association should be paying attention to the Shaughnessy set-up to ease its concerns about classic golf courses becoming obsolete with all the power-hitters on the PGA Tour. Shaughnessy has, in many cases, taken driver out of the hands of the big hitters.

Maybe, it’s time for the USGA to take its nose out of players’ golf bags in its quest for a solution and quit blaming equipment technology. The answer may be in the cabbage at Shaughnessy. Read more

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