More prize money among changes
Fans of Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada will notice a few changes for the 2015 season.
Though the number of tournaments remain the same — 12 across the country — one significant change is the purse money at each event, climbing to $175,000 from $150,000 with $31,500 going to the winner, up from $27,000.
The tour began this week with the PC Financial Open at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver and heads to Uplands Golf Club in Victoria this coming week (June 4-7).
On the line at the end of the season-long race is the opportunity to earn status on the Web.com Tour. The top finisher on the Order of Merit (money list) will have exempt status on 2016 Web.com Tour, while the next four finishers will achieve conditional status.
By finishing sixth to 10th on the Order of Merit, players receive exemption into the final stage of Web.com Tour Qualifying School, while finishers 11-20 are exempt into the second stage of Q-school.
Last year’s Order of Merit winner, Joel Dahlmen, won the opening PC Financial Open and maintained his lead on the money list, not once surrendering first place. MORE FREEDOM: Another big change on tour in 2015 is the purse in the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship — slated for Sept. 17-20 at Highland Country Club in London, Ont. — will be $200,000.
Freedom 55 restored its commitment to the tour through the 2020 season and also rewards the top Canadian at each event with $2,500, up from $1,000 last season. The top Canadian at year’s end will receive a cheque for $25,000, up from $10,000 in 2014. EXEMPTIONS: At each regular PGA Tour Canada event, two sponsor exemptions are awarded to current or former members of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team. Adam Svensson of Surrey and Listowel, Ont.’s Corey Conners receive those honours at both the PC Financial Open and the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist in Victoria. Conners recently finished as the top amateur at The Masters tournament at Augusta and was a runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Amateur.
Former alumni of the National Amateur team who have played on PGA Tour Canada include Graham DeLaet, Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, all members of the PGA Tour. B.C. BOYS: A total of 14 B.C. products teed it up at the opening PC Fnancial Open event this week including: Brad Clapp (Chilliwack); Adam Cornelson (Langley); Seann Harlingten (West Vancouver); Thomas Hay (Langley); Chris Lee (Coquitlam); Nathan Leonhardt (Richmond); Stuart MacDonald (Vancouver); Greg Machtaler (Summerland); Tony Mak (Vancouver); Bryn Parry (North Vancouver); Cory Renfrew (Victoria); Gordy Scutt (Victoria); Riley Wheeldon (Comox); Ryan Williams (Vancouver).
Williams won the Freedom 55 Financial Championship in 2014. TEE SHOT: The top three players on the Order of Merit through the first six events of the 2015 season will earn exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont. AMATEUR IMPRESSED: Local top amateur Kevin Carrigan, who qualified for the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist with his recent Zone 5 city amateur title, had this to say about the PGA Tour Canada and Ken Mariash of Bayview Place.
“It’s such a well run event. It’s the PGA Tour running it so it’s very close to the real thing. I’m just so excited to be a part of it again.”