Stacked Field for Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada
For the fourth time in five years, the championship returns to the impressive Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Former winners on the Wanamaker course include Brian Hutton (2010), Ben Boudreau (2009) and Kyle German (2008). Both Hutton and Boudreau are in this year’s field along with fellow former champions, Roger Beale (2011), Eric Landreville (2007), Danny King (2005, 2006), Ian Doig (2004), Brett Burgeson (2003), Graham Gunn (2000) and Dale Pederson (1999).
Beale, the director of golf at Royal Westmoreland in the Bahamas, looks to become the third player in 2012 to defend a PGA national championship—Alena Sharp (PGA Women’s Championship of Canada presented by Nike Golf) and Mike Belbin (PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy.
“Ever since winning last year I’ve been looking forward to coming back to Florida and defending my championship,” Beale says, who will tee it up this week at the LatinoAmerica Tour’s Puerto Rico Classic. “It would mean a great deal for me to win it again and become the third player this year to defend a PGA of Canada national championship.”
Beale’s two shot victory from a year ago over Scott Allred and Gunn came on the PGA Golf Club’s Ryder Course, however, this year’s championship returns to the Tom Fazio designed Wanamaker Course.
At more than 7,100-yards, the Wanamaker Course is a classic Florida layout with strategic bunkering, numerous wetland areas, palm trees and palmettos. Since 2010, the Wanamaker Course has also undergone renovations to each of its greens with new grass.
“The Wanamaker Course is quite different than what players were faced with last year on the Ryder Course,” says the PGA of Canada’s Managing Director of Championships & Events, Adam LeBrun. “The Wanamaker is much tighter, features more bunkers and there are numerous holes where a player is forced to bring his approach shot in high and soft.”
Other notable players in the field include this year’s PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas winner, Eric Laporte, as well as top 100 ranked players Geoff Kehler, Trevor Giggey, Martin Plante, Kevin Black, Jeff Chambers, Rob Anderson, Marc Girouard, Scott Knapp, Dean North, Jamie Kureluk, Dean Brown, Bruce Rogerson, Chris Learmonth, Scott Allred, Chris Barber, John Hastie, Michel Dagenais, Daniel Talbot, Hocan Olsson, Dan Greenwood, Daryl Stubbs and Adam Chamberlain.
“This year’s field is incredibly deep,” says PGA of Canada President, Gregg Schubert. “You’ve got 10 former champions, guys who have won our PGA of Canada national championships and more than 30 players from the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.”
The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), will also be handed out after 36-holes. In 2011, Team Ontario finished atop the Inter-Zone Team Championship at 19-under par, besting the Ottawa Zone by a shot. Team Alberta rounded out the top three after finishing 13 under.
The $85,000 purse Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada takes place Nov. 18-21 at the PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker Course. The 94-player field will be cut to the low 70-players (and ties) after completion of the second round.
For first and second tee times, CLICK HERE.
To follow the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada online throughout tournament week, visit the PGA of Canada’s Twitter feed, YouTube channel, FaceBook page and website.