PGA TOUR

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., sank a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to defeat Tommy Fleetwood and win the RBC Canadian Open, becoming the first Canadian player in 69 years to win the national men’s golf championship. It was the third win for Taylor on the PGA Tour and his first since the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Mike Weir came the closest to ending the drought in 2004 before losing a dramatic three-hole playoff to Fiji’s Vijay Singh. Taylor was sitting tied for 120th after the first round and barely squeezed over the cut line after the second round. His third-round 63 was a composite-course record and his lowest career score in 35 rounds at the Canadian Open. Taylor also becomes the first male golfer to win the Canadian Junior Championship, Canadian Men’s Amateur and the RBC Canadian Open. The 72.6-foot eagle putt to win the championship is his longest career putt as a PGA pro and it’s the longest made putt on the final hole of a one-shot (or playoff) PGA Tour victory in the last 20 years. …Adam Hadwin posted his best result at this event since 2019 and his fourth top-15 finish in 12 starts. ..Corey Conners was the first Canadian to hold the lead after the first round since 2008. His streak of bogey-free holes at this event came to an end at 53 with a bogey on the third hole of round two. …Roger Sloan recorded his best result in seven career Canadian Open starts. …Mike Weir became the fourth-oldest player at age 53 to make the cut at the Canadian Open. His 30 career starts are just two behind the record held by George Cumming. …The eight Canadians who made the cut are the most at this event since 2002.

NEXT EVENT: U.S. Open  (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Steve Stricker carded a final round 69 to win the American Family Insurance Championship by five strokes. It was his fourth win of the season which includes two major championships. He has not finished worse than a tie for eighth in 11 tournament starts this year. Paul Broadhurst and Steve Alker finished tied for second. …Stephen Ames notched his fifth top-10 result of the season.

NEXT EVENT: Dick’s Sporting Goods Open (Jun 23)

LPGA TOUR

Ashleigh Buhai birdied four of her first five holes but needed a birdie on the final hole to hold off Hyo Joo Kim for a one-shot victory in the ShopRite LPGA Classic. It was the fourth win worldwide over the past 10 months for Buhai and second LPGA victory. At 34 years, 11 months, Buhai is the oldest winner this year on the LPGA. Rookie Yan Liu finished third, three shots back. …Brooke Henderson has shot par or better in eight of her last 13 stroke play events. 

NEXT EVENT: Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Brooke Henderson, Maddie Szeryk, Alena Sharp (alternate)

KORN FERRY TOUR

Adrien Dumont de Chassart of Belgium made par on the first playoff hole to defeat Josh Teater at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. It was his first professional victory in his pro debut. Dumont de Chassart is the 18th player in tour history to win his pro debut and the first to do it since 2019.  Dumont de Chassart made three birdies and an eagle down the stretch to take the lead until a bogey on the final hole put him in a playoff with Teater. It was the seventh sudden-death playoff of the season. There were no Canadians entered in the event.

NEXT EVENT: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Wil Bateman

EUROPEAN TOUR

Dale Whitnell carded a final round 70 to win the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed event  for his first career win on the European tour. The 34-year-old Englishman finished three shots clear of American Sean Crocker, who had cut the lead to two with two to play before Whitnell birdied the 17th to end any threat of a comeback. The co-sanctioned event on the men’s European tour and the Ladies European Tour featured a field of 78 men and 78 women. There were no Canadians entered in the event.

NEXT EVENT: BMW International Open (Jun 22)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill

EPSON TOUR

Siyun Liu birdied the penultimate hole before holding on for a one-shot victory over Amelia Garvey in the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. It was her first victory on the Epson Tour.

NEXT EVENT: Island Resort Championship (Jun 23)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Selena Costabile, Alena Sharp, Sarah-Eve Rheaume, Kate Johnston (reserve), Brogan McKinnon (reserve), Christina Foster (reserve), Josee Doyon (reserve), Megan Osland (reserve)

PGA TOUR CANADA

Jimmy Jones carded a final round of even par and survived a final hole bogey to capture the sixth and final PGA Tour Canada qualifying tournament by one stroke. Jones is the son of the late Canadian golfer Dawn Coe-Jones. The win gives him exempt status for the upcoming 2023 season, which gets underway June 15 in Victoria. Max Sear, who started the day two shots back of Jones, double-bogeyed the final hole and missed forcing a playoff. He finished in a tie for second with Carr Vernon, who birdied his last two holes to catch Sear.

Sear earned exempt status through the first half of the season along with three other Canadians, including amateur Matthew Anderson, who just turned pro and finished fourth in the event. Raoul Ménard finished tied for sixth while Jake Lane was part of a four-player playoff for the final two spots. A.J. Ewart was also part of the playoff but missed out and will have conditional membership for the year along with 11 other Canadians including Lawren Rowe, Étienne Brault, Noah Steele and Jeevan Sihota.

NEXT EVENT: Royal Beach Victoria Open (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Matthew Anderson, Étienne Brault, Ty Campbell, Robin Conlan, Chris Crisologo, Jared du Toit, A.J. Ewart, Thomas Giroux, Jimmy Jones, Richard Jung, Jake Lane, Henry Lee, Stuart Macdonald, Brendan MacDougall, Raoul Ménard, Étienne Papineau, Lawren Rowe, Jim Rutledge, Joey Savoie, Max Sear, Jeevan Sihota, Brian Sluggett, Noah Steele, Riley Wheeldon, Chris R. Wilson, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Brendan Leonard (alternate), Marc-Olivier Plasse (alternate)

G4D TOUR

Juan Postigo Arce used a chip-in birdie on the final hole to defeat world number one Kipp Popert at the G4D Tour @ Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed. It was his second win of the season for the Spaniard, who was born without much of his right leg and no knee. Kurtis Barkley birdied his final two holes to finish in a tie for third. It’s his fourth consecutive top-3 finish on tour this season. The event marked the first time an equal number of men and women competed in the same field at a G4D tournament.

NEXT EVENT: G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters  (Jun 26)

The Women’s Four Ball returned to the Gowan Brae Golf and Country Club on June 11th, 2023.  The 2023 event saw 28 two-player teams compete for both gross and net championships.

Sunday brought sunny and warm conditions to the field at the NB Women’s Four Ball, Driven by Audi Moncton, the second event of the 2023 Golf NB Championship Schedule.

In the Gross Division, it was Paula Napke-Flanagan and Morgan Matchett of the Miramichi Golf and country Club who would complete their weekend with a victory in extra holes. Paula Napke-Flanagan and Morgan Matchett were able to fend off Tamara Stephen of Lakeside Golf and Country Club and her partner Claudette Nowlan of Pine Needles Golf and Country Club. Both groups finished 18 holes at +4 (76), however it was on the 1st hole of the playoff where Napke-Flanagan and Matchett would secure their victory.

In the Net Division, it was Lisa Mallet and Sonia Pitre of the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club would would take the crown for the second year in a row, accumulating an impressive total net score of fifteen under par (-14), 58. They were able to outlast runners-up Lucie Davis and Lynn Randall of the Kingswood Golf Club who shot a net score of eleven under par (-12), 60. This was the second year in a row where Mallet and Pitre were able to fend off Davis and Randall. Tamara Stephen of Lakeside Golf and Country Club and her partner Claudette Nowlan of Pine Needles Golf and Country Club ties Davis and Randall at an impressive (-12), 60 net score.

• For more information on the 2023 NB Women’s Four Ball please CLICK HERE.
• For more information on the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club please CLICK HERE.

TORONTO – Nick Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open, holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood in the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.

Taylor tossed his putter into the air and jumped into the arms of his caddie after the longest made putt of his PGA Tour career, and fellow Canadian players Mike Weir, Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin were among those who ran onto the green to congratulate him. Hadwin, Taylor’s close friend, was tackled by a security guard while spraying champagne from a bottle.

“I’m speechless. This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home,” Taylor said with tears in his eyes. “This is the most incredible feeling.”

The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Weir lost a playoff to Vijay Singh in 2004.

With galleries cheering his every move and even serenading him with “O Canada” on one tee box, Taylor curled in an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 17-under 271 at Oakdale, walking backwards with his fist raised as the ball dropped into the cup. He shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday.

Fleetwood needed a birdie on the reachable par 5 to win in regulation, but he missed his tee shot right, laid up into an awkward lie in the right rough and two-putted for par to force the playoff in rainy conditions.

The players traded birdies on their first time playing No. 18 in the playoff. They both parred 18 and the par-3 ninth before heading back to 18.

Taylor’s tee shot found a divot in the fairway, but he hit his second shot 221 yards to the front of the green, while Fleetwood laid up after his drive found a fairway bunker. Fleetwood hit his third shot to 12 feet, but didn’t need to putt after Taylor’s uphill eagle putt hit the flagstick and dropped.

Fans swarmed toward the green, and Hadwin who like Taylor grew up in Abbotsford, British Columbia got leveled amid the chaos. He said had so much adrenaline that the tackle didn’t faze him.

“It’s incredible. I mean, what do you say to one of the greatest moments of Canadian golf history?” Hadwin said. “I think we all predicted that this was going to happen.

“I’m not sure that any one of us predicted a 72-foot (eagle) putt … to get it done, but what a way to go.”

The 35-year-old Taylor, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, won for the third time on the PGA Tour. He shot 75 in Thursday’s opening round but rallied with a 67 on Friday to make the cut, then shot 63 on Saturday to begin the final round three shots behind leader C.T. Pan.

Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy, two shots back of Pan entering the final round, closed with a 72 and finished in a tie for ninth, five shots back.

Fleetwood, a two-time Ryder Cup player from England and a six-time winner on the European tour, remains winless on the PGA Tour.

“I played great today, even though I missed some chances, if you like, on those playoff holes,” Fleetwood said. “Yeah, it was close. I just have to take the positives from it and start practicing tomorrow. I got a major next week. So can’t dwell on it too much.”

Tyrrell Hatton (64), Aaron Rai (69) and Pan (70) finished one shot out of the playoff.

The Women’s Four Ball returns to the Gowan Brae Golf and Country Club on June 11th, 2023.  The 2023 event will see 28 two-player teams compete for both gross and net championships.

Leanne Richardson and Sandy Comeau, the accomplished duo from Country Meadows Golf and Country Club, are gearing up to protect their title as five-time champions in the upcoming Gross championship. Among their challengers are Valerie Whyte and Mary Rossignol, the 2022 runners-up, who are determined to claim the top spot this time around.

Adding further excitement to the competition is the dynamic pairing of Paula Napke-Flanagan, a two-time champion, and her former partner Morgan Matchett, who has secured the championship three times in the past. Together, they are laying the foundation for what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament, as they strive to recapture their former glory.

In the net division, Lisa Mallet, and Sonia Pitre of Gowan Brae will look to defend their 2022 title. The field will also see two-time net division champions (2010, 2016) Beth Leroux of West Hills Golf Course with partner and Golf New Brunswick Past-President, Judy Astle of the Old Mill Pond Golf & Country Club, and 2018 net champions, Amelie and Alexandra Guitard.

• For more information on the 2023 NB Women’s Four Ball please CLICK HERE.
• For more information on the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club please CLICK HERE.

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Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy is ready to make history in defence of the RBC Canadian Open title at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

The world’s number three ranked player will lead a field of 156 of the world’s best players looking to become the first player in history to win three consecutive titles.

“Any time you can come back and defend a title sort of wherever that is in the world, it’s nice to be able to do that, said McIlroy. “Obviously the Sunday last year was, to me, one of the probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had playing on TOUR. Battling it out with JT and Tony down the stretch. Rosie was on course trying to shoot 59. There was a ton of low scores. Battling with those two guys. JT and Tony being two of the best players in the world. Coming out on top. Yeah, it was really nice. Nice to be able to defend a title. I felt like the support I got out there was absolutely amazing and I’m looking forward to playing in that sort of atmosphere again this week.”

It was a simple idea that grew. Why couldn’t we do that? It was a question posed to Jordan Klein by phone by Mark Laurie while the two Oakdale Golf and Country Club members watched the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club from their respective homes.

“They are both very good and passionate golfers at Oakdale,” says the club’s immediate past president Mark Sadowski of that fateful conversation “Jordan replied that he thought their course would be too easy. Mark pointed out that Melbourne Golf Club in Australia hosted a big tournament by using a composite 18 of their 27 holes and Oakdale likewise has 27 holes.” Sadowski said the more the two men thought about it and talked about it the more they got excited at the prospect of actually doing it. A phone call a few days later to Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada who has friends who are members at Oakdale, really got the ball rolling. The concept then took on a life of its own with more and more people at the club getting involved.

Sadowski became president of the club in 2021 and the project fell on his shoulders. He said they had an extremely consultative program involving Golf Canada, the PGA TOUR, and the members. It was important for the members to understand all aspects of what they were getting themselves into. In the end the members voted 73 percent in favor which he says is the highest percentage of membership approval for any club that has hosted the Canadian Open in recent years. As a result, they were approved to host this year’s tournament, June 8-11, as well as the 2026 event which aligns with the club’s centennial celebration.

For Oakdale, which was founded in 1926, it will be a coming out party of sorts, a chance for Toronto and indeed the whole world to see their facility for perhaps the first time and hear their story. “It was out of necessity that this club came into being,” says Sadowski. “A hundred years ago the world was a very different place and there were clubs who would not allow Jewish people to join or even play. And it was the same in the medical community and other aspects of business. There were very clear, no blacks, no Jews, and no Asians rules.” While it was members of the Jewish community who purchased the land a hundred years ago and formed the club Sadowski says it is not now and never has been a club for Jewish people only. He says the membership is predominately but not exclusively Jewish. “There is nothing on our membership application that asks your religion and never has been,” said Sadowski. “What we do ask, and have asked since basically the club was formed, is that you have a willingness to give back to the community in one way or another.” Sadowski points out, as an example, that when Golf Canada introduced the First Tee – Canada program to help inner city kids get into golf couple of years ago, Oakdale was the first private club in Canada to jump on board. And years earlier when a young George Knudson moved from Winnipeg to Toronto to become the club’s professional, a group of members put together some money to send him out on the PGA TOUR. “They told him he didn’t have to pay them back, just to go out and make the club proud,” said Sadowski. Knudson made all of Canada proud winning eight times between 1961 and 1972. And Sadowski says the membership has gotten behind the RBC Canadian Open in a big way. He says the members have bought out the club’s complete allotment of private lodges and have signed up in big numbers to volunteer for the various committees that are required to run an event as big as an RBC Canadian Open. “The members and their families are looking at this as great for Oakdale but also a great life experience, a chance of a lifetime,” he says. “This is something that money can’t buy.”

For more on this year’s RBC Canadian Open, including ticket information go to: www.rbccanadianopen.com.

PGA TOUR Champions

Stephen Ames birdied the penultimate hole to hold off Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly and win the Principal Charity Classic by one stroke. It is his third win of the season, which ties him with Stricker for the most so far this year. Ames improved to 4 for 8 when leading or co-leading a tournament entering the final round and has converted three times after being 1 for 5. The win moves Ames up to second in the Charles Schwab Cup standings behind Stricker, who was looking for his third straight win after winning back-to-back majors. Defending champion Kelly closed with two birdies over his final three holes, but he had to settle for par on the 18th which kept him out of a playoff.

NEXT EVENT: American Family Insurance Championship (Jun 9)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Stephen Ames

PGA TOUR

Viktor Hovland birdied two of his final four holes to force a playoff before sinking a seven-foot par putt on the first extra hole to win the Memorial. It was his fourth career PGA Tour victory. Denny McCarthy, who bogeyed the 18th hole twice – once in regulation and again in the playoff – finished runner-up for the first time in his career in his 156th start. Scottie Scheffler, who made the weekend cut on the number, finished third and missed the playoff by one shot. Sheffler has not finished worse than 12th in his 13 starts this year. …Taylor Pendrith equaled his highest score to par on the PGA Tour

NEXT EVENT: RBC Canadian Open (Jun 8)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Wil Bateman, Aaron Cockerill, Corey Conners, Myles Creighton, Taylor Durham, Michael Gligic, Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Mackenzie Hughes, Drew Nesbitt, Daniel Kim, Stuart Macdonald, Etienne Papineau, Taylor Pendrith, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson, Sebastian Szirmak, Nick Taylor, Johnny Travale, Mike Weir

LPGA TOUR

Rose Zhang made a par putt on the second playoff hole to win the Mizuho Americas Open in her first professional LPGA start. The 20-year-old is the first to win on the Tour while making her pro debut since Beverley Hanson in 1951, and she’s only the eighth woman to win in her first LPGA start since 1992. She’s also the fourth ever player to win on Tour using a sponsor invite. Two weeks ago Zhang won the NCAA individual title in her final tournament as a college player. Jennifer Kupcho, also a former NCAA champion, finished runner-up. … Brooke Henderson, who was two shots back to start the final round, will be looking to defend the first of two titles she won in 2022 this week at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. …Golf Canada women’s team member Lauren Kim finished tied for ninth in the AJGA portion of the event, which was played using the modified Stableford format. …Fellow team member Michelle Liu was T14 while Team Canada NextGen members Vanessa Borovilos finished 12th, Luna Lu was 21st, and Vanessa Zhang was T22.

NEXT EVENT: Mizuho Americas Open (Jun 1)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Brooke Henderson, Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Alena Sharp

KORN FERRY TOUR

Jorge Fernandez Valdes made a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Trent Phillips in the UNC Health Championship. It was his first career title and moved him to No. 10 on the points list. The top 30 at the end of the season will earn PGA Tour cards for the 2024 season. Phillips birdied four of his last six holes to force the playoff. …Wil Bateman recorded his fifth top-40 result of the season.

NEXT EVENT: BMW Charity Pro-Am (Jun 8)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Richard Jung

EUROPEAN TOUR

Tom McKibbin birdied two of his final four holes for a two-shot victory at the European Open. It was the first career win for the Northern Irelander who made the move up from the Challenge Tour this year. Marcel Siem, Maximilian Kieffer and Julien Guerrier all finished in a tie for second. Siem and Kieffer were looking to become the first German golfers to win a tour event on home soil in 15 years. German players have won six events in the last 10 months on the European tour after previously not having won since 2014. There were no Canadians entered in the event.

NEXT EVENT: Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed (Jun 8)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  None

PGA TOUR LATINOAMERICA

Myles Creighton carded a final round 68 to win the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship by a single stroke. It was his first career win in 27 starts on the development tour and the victory moves him into top spot in the Totalplay Cup standings. With two events left in the season, Creighton can secure exempt status on the Korn Ferry Tour next year if he can maintain that position. The top five players in the standings will also earn an exemption into the final stage of the 2023 PGA Tour Q-School. …Max Sekulic notched his fifth top-30 result of the season

NEXT EVENT: Jalisco Open GDL (Jun 22)

EPSON TOUR

Alena Sharp birdied two of her final three holes for a two-stroke victory at the Champions Fore Change Invitational. It’s her second career win on the developmental tour, the first since 2014. It’s her second top-five finish in four starts this season. With the win, she moves up to No. 8 in the Race for the Card standings. The top 10 players at the end of the year will earn LPGA Tour membership for next season. …Selena

Costabile, who was tied for second after the first round, notched her fourth top-15 result of the season.

NEXT EVENT: FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship (Jun 9)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Mary Parsons, Selena Costabile, Kate Johnston, Christina Foster (reserve), Josee Doyon (reserve), Megan Osland (reserve)

Jackson Jacob fires a 63 to maintain lead in men’s individual division

Komoka, Ont. –  As temperatures continue to soar in Komoka so does the action at FireRock Golf Club. Jackson Jacob (Fraser Valley Cascades) recorded two eagles and five birdies on his way to a 9-under, 63 to continue to hold the lead in the individual men’s division after three rounds of the 2023 Canadian University/College Championship presented by BDO on Thursday.

Jacob got off to a hot start with an eagle on the opening hole. He followed up the front nine with three birdies for a 31. “Today, I didn’t do anything super crazy, I hit a lot of greens, hit a lot of fairways, let the putter do the work and add a chip in here and there,” he said with a smile.

Both the Fraser Valley Cascades and Université Laval Rouge et Or are trailing the Victoria Vikes for first place. The Vikes hold a one-shot lead on Laval heading into the final day. The Cascades had a day to remember, firing a combined 17-under, 271 to move into third place in the men’s team division. Jacob and his teammates have been looking forward to this tournament for a while, “it means a lot, this is the last nationals that Aaron (Pauls), our head coach is going to be with us so we’re all just trying to do our best and win it for him,” said Jacob.

Élizabeth Labbé (UBC Thunderbirds) shot a 2-under, 71 on Thursday. She currently sits in third with teammates Sonja Tang leading at 5-under and Grace Bell in second at 1-over to round out the top three in the women’s individual division.

“This course sets up really well, not just for me but for our whole team,” said Labbé. “I just try to stay patient and know that the birdies are coming. It’s nice because there’s five par 5’s, definitely good opportunities. Overall, just staying patient and the birdies will come.”

In the women’s team division, the UBC Thunderbirds will be taking their lead into the final round on Friday after shooting a combined 216 on Thursday and currently sit at 6-under with a 45-shot lead.

“I think we just want to keep doing what were doing, we’ve had a really great season overall. I think just sticking to our game plan, having fun, and we’ll manage,” added Labbé ahead of tomorrow’s final round.

The field has now been cut to the top ten (10) men’s teams and the top six (6) women’s teams. Individuals within ten (10) shots of third place have made the cut, in addition to any players in the top ten (10) men’s teams and top six (6) women’s teams.

Full the full leaderboard click here.

For final round tee times click here.

Top-5 Women’s – Individual

Top-5 Men’s – Individual 

Top-5 Women’s – Team

Top-5 Men’s – Team

Fans will be able to play a hole at Oakdale Golf and Country Club when it hosts the RBC Canadian Open next week.

The unique spectator experience is possible because the club in Toronto’s northwest corner has 27 holes on its property, but the PGA Tour event needs just 18 of them.

“It’s going to be a legit 150-yard plus par-3, that you get to play like a real hole,” said Aubrey Levy, senior vice-president of marketing and content for theScore, which is sponsoring the hole through its betting service. “It’s not just come up and take a swing at a simulator or range. You play an entire hole.”

Stations will be set up around Oakdale during the Canadian Open where fans can sign up for a time slot at the so-called Hole Zero. Golf carts will pick them up at the station and take them to the extra hole.

“We’re going to have coaching on site for you, we’re going to have a caddy, we’re going to kit you out with a locker room,” said Levy. “The hope is to make you feel like a pro for a 20-minute block, whether you play like a pro or not.”

This is the first time that fans will be able to play at a PGA Tour event, albeit on an extra 19th hole, according to theScore Bet.

At last year’s Canadian Open theScore Bet sponsored Skyline seats, a dining table that was raised 100 feet into the air by a crane, allowing for a view of St. George’s Golf and Country Club and Toronto’s downtown core.

Levy said that the goal with Hole Zero was to create almost an opposite experience to the Skyline seats.

“We thought ‘OK, if (Skyline) was well received, creating a unique vantage point, then what can we do to bring them even closer to the action?”’ said Levy. “That led to the thought of actually taking them on the course and giving them the opportunity to play a hole during an actual event, like the Canadian Open.”

The RBC Canadian Open starts June 8 and stretches to June 11. The week includes concerts by the Black Eyed Peas and Alanis Morissette on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Johnny Travale, Myles Creighton, Stuart McDonald, David Hearn, Roger Sloan, and Wil Bateman join previously announced exemption recipients, trio of Regional Qualifying medalists and seven Canadian PGA TOUR members as part of 19-player Canadian contingent for the 112^th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship at Oakdale Golf & Country Club

(May 30, 2023)  Golf Canada and RBC have confirmed the names of 12 Canadians who have accepted exemptions into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont.

Leading the way is a trio of Team Canada athletes who will each be making their second start in Canada’s National Open. Johnny Travale of Stoney Creek, Ont., a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida has been a member of the Team Canada program for four years. Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. receives an exemption as the low Canadian player on the current PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season points list, currently sitting 16^th overall. Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver, B.C. also receives an exemption for his strong play on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, finishing top-20 in each of his five starts this season including a solo third at this past week’s Colombia Classic.

PGA TOUR veteran David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. has accepted an exemption to compete in the National Open Championship for the 19^th time while Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta. (Korn Ferry Tour) will compete in his seventh RBC Canadian Open. Also accepting an exemption is Edmonton, Alta. native Wil Bateman (PGA TOUR Canada) who will make his first ever start in the RBC Canadian Open.

The group joins previously announced Canadian exemptions for Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. (Korn Ferry Tour) and Aaron Cockerill of Winnipeg, Man. (DP World Tour).

Canadian golf icon and President’s Cup International Team Captain Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. will be competing in his 31st RBC Canadian Open, one back of fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cumming who had a record 32 starts in Canada’s National Open Championship.

Three other Canadians earned exemptions through RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying including Taylor Durham of North Vancouver, B.C. (BC Regional Qualifier at Ledgeview Golf Club), Daniel Kim of Toronto, Ont. (Ontario Regional Qualifying #1 at Oshawa Golf & Curling Club), and Sebastian Szirmak of Toronto, Ont. (Ontario Regional Qualifying #2 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley).

A 19-player Canadian contingent will challenge for the national championship led by PGA TOUR winners Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 29), Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (world no. 61), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. (world no. 66), Nick Taylor of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 69), and Adam Hadwin of Abbottsford, B.C. (world no. 74) as well as fellow PGA TOUR members Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont.

“We are pleased to extend these additional tournament exemptions and welcome our roster of 19 deserving Canadians competing in the 112th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “The passion and commitment that these talented athletes have shown in representing Canada on the global golf stage is an inspiration to golf fans across the country and we are proud to welcome them to the field for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.”

Four additional exemptions will be available during the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 4 at Coppinwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont.

In addition to world class golf, fans at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open will be treated to the two-night RBCxMusic Concert Series onsite at Oakdale Golf and Country with Grammy Award-winning group, the Black Eyed Peas performing on Friday, June 9 and Canadian Grammy Award-winning icon Alanis Morissette performing on Saturday, June 10.

Tickets for the 2023 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.