Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, is pleased to announce the qualifying format for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for July 18-24 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
A two-stage qualifying procedure for Canada’s National Open Championship will feature three regional qualifying competitions in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, followed by a final qualifying event on Monday, July 18.
The first regional qualifier will take place May 30 at Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C. The second regional qualifying event will be hosted by Club de golf de la Vallée du Richelieu (Rouville Course) in Sainte-Julie, Qué., on June 6. The third regional qualifier will take place June 20 at King’s Forest Golf Club in Hamilton. The final qualifier will take place Monday, July 18 at Heron Point Golf Links in Ancaster, Ont.
Each of the three regional qualifiers will feature 18 holes of stroke play with the low qualifier at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open field (provided the starting field is a minimum of 100 competitors at each site). The top 15 per cent of finishers, beyond the low qualifier, at each regional qualifying competition are eligible to compete at final qualifying.
Participation in final qualifying is limited to those competitors receiving requisite exemptions, or individuals who have advanced through regional qualifying. The event will feature 18 holes of stroke play, with a minimum of four (4) spots available for direct entry into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open field.
New for 2016, Golf Canada has expanded the exemption criteria into final qualifying to include the following:
- Top 10 players on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit (following the Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel)
- Top five players on the PGA of Canada Order of Merit (following the PGA Championship of Canada)
- Top player on the Great Lakes Golf Tour Order of Merit (following the GLT Paris Championship)
The qualifying competition is open to members in good standing of the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers (with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0) who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, and other golf professionals.
In all, a total of 24 exemptions, including the seven (7) awarded through regional and final qualifiers are available for the 2016 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
For more information about complete qualifying criteria and to register, click here.