PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada Headed to Arizona

The 54-hole national championship takes place Nov. 16-19 at the SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

"We couldn't be more excited to take the Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional

Championship of Canada to the southwest and SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.," PGA of Canada president Gregg Schubert said. "Since 2004 we've played this championship in Florida and it has been a very successful spot, but we feel moving west will attract more of our western PGA of Canada professionals."

The move to Arizona comes after a 10-year run at PGA Golf Club in Port St Lucie, Fla.

At nearly 7,000-yards, SunRidge Canyon is hidden among the ridges and canyons in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains, widely considered one of the most picturesque and dramatic stretches of natural land in the southwest United States. The beauty and challenge of SunRidge Canyon has made it one of the most highly rated clubs in Arizona. The course was selected No. 42 on Golf Magazine's list of 'The Top 100 Courses You Can Play in the United States,' and was the host of the 1997 USGA State Team Championship. 

"SunRidge Canyon was created by wind, water, rock and time, following nature's own course. Like nature, much about SunRidge is straight forward," SunRidge Canyon Golf Club Head Professional Wes Neal said. "The fairway and green-side bunkers are in strategic positions where they force you to consider both the risks and the rewards of executing your next shot. I believe what will make the course special to the players is they will hit most, if not every club, in their bag, therefore testing all aspects of a professional golfer's game."

The final six holes at SunRidge Canyon, known as the 'Wicked 6,' are often considered the toughest homestretch of golf holes in the state of Arizona. Made up of two par 5s, two par 4s and two par 3s, all except the par 3s play uphill, as well as the prevailing breeze tends to blow down the canyon into the golfer's face. Couple all this with the fact the holes would play moderate to long even if they were on level ground, and it's easy to see why the Wicked 6 has earned its distinction.

"Another special aspect to SunRidge Canyon is it's home of the 'Wicked 6,' the finishing sequence that features a half dozen of Arizona's most scenic, memorable and challenging holes, which rewards thoughtful play and provides players with an authentic Arizona desert golf experience," Neal said.

In 2013, Adam Chamberlain of Gowan Brae Golf Club in Bathurst, N.B., captured the Club Professional Championship of Canada. The 31-year-old head professional's three-day total of 9-under-par 207 (69-68-70) was two better than two-time champion and perennial PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada favourite Danny King of The Performance Academy at Magna.

With his win, Chamberlain earned $12,000 and jumped to No. 33 on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.   

In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn much-coveted ranking points with hopes of moving up on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Players who are ranked inside the top 64 following the Titleist & Footjoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada earn invites into the following year's PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf.

The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), is also handed out after 36-holes. Last year, Team Ontario (King, Matt Peavoy, Dan Greenwood and Brian Hutton) captured the Inter-Zone portion of the championship, besting Team Quebec by eight shots.

Former champions of the PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada include Ken Fulton, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.

The 2014 Titleist & FootJoy PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada takes place Nov. 16-19 at the SunRidge Canyon Golf Club in Fountain Hills, Ariz.