Look Who’s Back

A familiar face leads the Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf.

Three-time past champion Jim Rutledge posted a first round 7-under-par 64 Wednesday at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont., and leads by four shots over Phil Jonas of Hazelmere Country Club.

“I wanted to get off to a good start but probably pushed a little too hard early and was a shaky even par thru five holes,” Rutledge admitted after his round. “But I finally got fired up on the back nine and had a really strong finish to my round.”

The Victoria native’s final nine holes featured four birdies and an eagle en route to a remarkable backside 30.

With just one top-25 finish this year on the Champions Tour, Rutledge fully acknowledges it hasn’t been a good year. However, he’s made a change this week with hopes of turning around his game.

“It hasn’t been a good year at all, period,” Rutledge said. “I’ve been putting not so good, so I changed putters this week and all of a sudden I’m making some putts again.”

Rutledge’s three previous PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada wins came in 2010, 2012 and 2013. PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Moe Norman is an eight-time champion, while Bill Kozak hoisted the championship trophy five times.

Jonas, a two-time PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner, sits alone in second place after a first round 3-under-par 68. A fan of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, he said it’s the type of golf course that rewards good players.

“It’s a really good golf course and it’s one of those places that if you play well you’re going to be rewarded with a good score,” he said.

Ranked No. 77 on SCOREGolf’s Top 100 Courses in Canada for 2014, Credit Valley celebrates its 85th anniversary this year. Originally the hunting and fishing grounds of the Ojibway people, Credit Valley traces its golfing beginning back to 1930. Ontario's then Lieutenant Governor, W.D. Ross, commissioned that six holes be built on the original property which was located where the driving range and parking lot now stand.

Twelve-time PGA Tour winner Steve Stricker won the PGA Championship of Canada when Credit Valley hosted in 1993, while Hannah Jun captured the 2008 PGA Women’s Championship at the Mississauga venue.

Ian Doig, past PGA Club Professional Championship of Canada winner, sits alone in third at 2 under, while Champions Tour Rod Spittle is 1 under and fourth. Grant Holcomb; Keir Smith, who aced No. 11 Wednesday; three-time PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Serge Thivierge; Kevin Dugas; Dan Talbot; past PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada winner Ken Tarling; Dave Wettlaufer; and Gary Jeffrey round out the top at even par.

For the full leaderboard, CLICK HERE. Second round tee times can be found HERE

Talbot leads the Super Senior Division by a pair of shots over Dan Clark, John Rushnell and last year’s winner Gar Hamilton.

The three-day, 54-hole championship will be played Aug. 12-14 at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club. Admittance to the Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.

The PGA Seniors' Championship of Canada was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the championship became an independent event and has stayed that way since.

Among the Canadian golf legends to win the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman—who won a record seven straight years from 1979-1985—Bob Panasik, Al Balding—who wowed the golf world by winning at age 76 in 2000—and Jim Rutledge.

For complete coverage of this year's Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf, visit pgaofcanada.com, twitter.com/pgaofcanada, vimeo.com/pgaofcanada and facebook.com/pgaofcanada