ALBERTON, Ont. – Justin Shin of Pitt Meadow, B.C., David Mathis of Wakeforest, N.C., Roberto Castro of Alpharetta, Ga., and Josh Teater of Lexington, Ky., have earned their way into the field for this week’s RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Shin led scoring in the Monday Final Qualifier with a 7-under-par round of 64 at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont. After opening with a bogey, Shin would go to record six birdies and an eagle to earn low qualifying honours.

“I was pretty pumped for this week and I’m really excited,” said Shin. “It has been my dream to play in the RBC Canadian Open. I’ve wanted to play it ever since I was a junior. I really enjoyed it out there today with my buddy caddying for me.”

Shin is currently ranked fourth on the PGA TOUR China Order of Merit with a win at the 2015 United Investment Real Estate Wuhan Open. He recently finished T6 in the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada’s The Players Cup in Winnipeg, Man.

Finishing with a share of second were Mathis and Castro with rounds of 6-under 65 while Teater secured the final RBC Canadian Open spot in a playoff after carding a 5-under 66. Teater beat out Eric Hawerchuk of Barrie, Ont. in an extra hole to earn the final Qualifier spot.

With the addition of Justin Shin, a total of 16 Canadians are set to compete in the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

Full results from the 2015 RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier are available here.

The final four players joining the 2015 RBC Canadian Open field will be determined Monday following the conclusion of final qualifying play at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Sixty-three players, many of whom have earned their way via the three regional qualifying events across Canada, will battle over 18 holes of stroke-play in hopes of competing in the 2015 RBC Canadian Open being held July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

A total of 38 Canadians will take to Heron Point on Monday, including Team Canada Young Pro Squad members Albin Choi of Toronto and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. Also looking to join the 14 Canadians already confirmed as part of the RBC Canadian Open field are Team Canada Development Squad member Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., and Danny King of Milton, Ont., who recently captured the PGA of Canada and PGA of Ontario Championships.

Click here for pairings, start times and results for RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifying on Monday, July 20. Live scoring will not be available and results will be available as players complete their rounds.

CN and Golf Canada are pleased to announce the six champions of Saturday’s CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event at the Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., site of next week’s 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

The National Event, running for the seventh consecutive year, crowned female and male champions from three age groups (9-11, 12-14 and 15-18). Among the 22 participants from across the country, the following six individuals emerged as champions:

• Eric Collier, Copper Creek Golf Club, ON (Boys 9-11)
• Emily Zhu, Copper Creek Golf Club, ON (Girls 9-11)
• Nathan Hogan, Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club, NB (Boys 12-14)
• Laura Wong, Seymour Golf & Country Club, BC (Girls 12-14)
• Tyler Leclair, Seymour Golf & Country Club, BC (Boys 15-18)
• Elizabeth Blier, Club de Golf La Vallée du Richelieu, QC (Girls 15-18).

The winners of each age group received a champion’s package from Titleist Footjoy. In addition, Tyler Leclair and Elizabeth Blier – winners of the 15-18 age groups – have earned exemptions into their local 2016 CN Future Links Championship.

“It was really fun playing against all the great competition out here,” said boys 9-11 winner Eric Collier. “I really wasn’t sure if I was going to win but I hit a few great shots in the end and came out on top today, it was so much fun.”

Saturday’s National Event tested juniors in a four-part skills challenge which tested putting, chipping, driving and iron play. The participants, split into three different age groups, were invited based on their scores from individual Skills Challenge events hosted at local clubs throughout the year by CN Future Links instructors.

To celebrate the event being hosted for the first time leading into the RBC Canadian Open, junior participants will also have the opportunity to test the storied Glen Abbey layout in an exciting match play format on Sunday, July 19^th. Following that, junior participants will be provided weekly grounds passes and have an opportunity to be involved in Monday’s Canada Day Pro-Am and secure a spot in Wednesday’s CN Future Links Walk with a Pro event during the Championship Pro-Am.

“The CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event is in place to recognize individuals from across the country in three age groups who have accumulated the highest score in our four key skill areas—chipping, putting, iron play and driving,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “The event’s first time being integrated into the RBC Canadian Open made for a very memorable event and we thank all competitors for their participation.”

Current CN Future Links programming includes the Learn to Play program as well as mobile clinics, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club, Field Trip and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools.

In 2014, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 455 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge running more than 3,200 juniors through qualifying events. More than 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006, more than 1.2 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field of competitors vying for the US$5.8 million purse at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Defending champion Tim Clark will be challenged by a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars including World No. 3 Bubba Watson, World No. 6 and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion Jim Furyk, World No. 9 Jason Day, World No. 13 J.B. Holmes, World No. 15 Matt Kuchar, World No. 22 Brooks Koepka, World No. 26 and 2013 RBC Canadian Open Champion Brandt Snedeker, World No. 30 Ryan Palmer, World No. 44 Charley Hoffman, World No. 55 Graeme McDowell and World No. 64 Luke Donald, as well as, World Golf Hall of Fame member Ernie Els.

Other notable additions to the field for the 106th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include 34-time PGA TOUR winner Vijay Singh, 20-time winner Davis Love III, 12-time winner Justin Leonard, 12-time winner Steve Stricker, eight-time winner K.J. Choi, seven-time winner Retief Goosen, six-time winner Rory Sabbatini and three-time winner Angel Cabrera.

Clark, who captured the 2014 RBC Canadian Open trophy at The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Que., will be joined by nine other former champions including Team RBC members Brandt Snedeker – who won in 2013 at Glen Abbey Golf Club – and Jim Furyk who claimed back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007. Other confirmed past champions include Scott Piercy (2012), Sean O’Hair (2011), Carl Pettersson (2010), Nathan Green (2009), Chez Reavie (2008), Vijay Singh (2004), and John Rollins (2002).

In total, 156 players will compete for the US$5.8 million purse next week in Oakville when Canada’s National Open Championship returns to Glen Abbey for a record 27th time.

14 CANADIANS CURRENTLY SET TO COMPETE FOR THE NATIONAL TITLE

Leading the Canadian contingent will be World No. 80 Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., who recorded a fourth-place finish last month at the Travelers Championship, as well as, David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., who will look to build on a playoff runner-up finish at The Greenbrier Classic.

PGA TOUR rookies and Abbotsford, B.C., natives Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, along with  Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., will also be in the field alongside Web.com Tour player Brad Fritsch of Manotick, Ont.

Team Canada will be well-represented with Young Pro Squad members Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., as well as, National Amateur Squad members Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas and Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont.

Connelly’s 2015 Pan Am Games Team Canada teammate Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., will be in the field after earning an exemption through his 2014 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur victory.

PGA of Canada professional Billy Walsh of Markham, Ont., earned his way into the 2015 RBC Canadian Open field as the No. 1-ranked player on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.

Former Team Canada member Richard Jung of Toronto earned his exemption into the field by topping the 144-player field at the RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier in Ontario.

The Canadians in the field have their sights set on becoming the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher claimed victory in 1954.

Golf Canada also confirmed today that Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., has withdrawn from the event for personal reasons. Weir was slated to make his 25th appearance at the RBC Canadian Open.

“The field is nearly set and we’re ready to tee-up the 106th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship starting next week at Glen Abbey Golf Club,” said Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “We’ve got a tremendous mix of international stars and Canadian talents ready to compete and a family-friendly festival experience ready to welcome spectators of all ages to the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.”

In addition, the winner of the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Golf Competition will be granted an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open. The competition at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., began on July 16 and will conclude on July 19.

The top three players on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit following this week’s Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel in Thunder Bay, Ont., will also earn exemptions into the field for the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

The final four exemptions into the field for the 2015 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Final Qualifier on July 20 to be played at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Click here for the full list of competitors competing in the 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club from July 20-26.

2015 MEDIA GUIDE AND PLAYER PERFORMANCE BOOK

In advance of next week’s championship, media can also download the 2015 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide for complete stats, records and historical information.  Media can also download the 2015 RBC Canadian Open Player Performance Book which details individual player statistics from 1904-2014.

TELEVISION COVERAGE:

The following are television times for the 2015 RBC Canadian Open:

Thursday July 23 – TSN/ The Golf Channel – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Friday July 24 – TSN/ The Golf Channel – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday July 25 – Global/ CBS – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday July 26 – Global/ CBS – 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.

TICKETS:

Grounds tickets for all days of the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, as well as, a limited number of premium ticket packages are still available. A full list of ticket packages and pricing is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com. Golf Canada and RBC are also pleased to offer free admission to juniors 17 and younger.

ABOUT THE 2015 RBC CANADIAN OPEN

Part of the FedExCup, stars of the PGA TOUR will compete for $5.8 million (US) at the RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26, 2015 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. Conducted by Golf Canada for more than a century, the RBC Canadian Open provides an opportunity for Canada’s top talents to compete against the world’s best golfers while also leaving a significant impact in the event’s host community. The RBC Canadian Open is proud to support Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada as the event’s official charity partner. Established in 1904, Canada’s national open golf championship is the third-oldest national open golf championship worldwide next to the British Open and the U.S. Open. The RBC Canadian Open is proudly sponsored by RBC, Shaw Direct, BMW Group Canada, Molson Canadian 67, WestJet, TaylorMade adidas Golf, Boston Pizza, PepsiCo Canada, Ballantine’s, Santa Carolina Wines, Metrolinx and The Globe and Mail. For tickets or tournament information, please visit www.rbccanadianopen.com or call 1-800-571-6736.

RBC GOLF

RBC proudly supports golf around the world through high profile relationships with the PGA TOUR and Golf Canada. RBC is the Official Banking and Financial Services partner of touring professionals Jason Day, Graham DeLaet, Luke Donald, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Brooke Henderson, Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Ryan Palmer, Morgan Pressel, Nick Taylor, Brandt Snedeker and Mike Weir. As the title sponsor of both the RBC Heritage and the RBC Canadian Open, RBC also supports emerging Canadian golfers through Golf Canada’s grassroots developmental programming, their Canadian Amateur Golf Championships and high performance national team. RBC is one of North America’s leading diversified financial services companies and among the largest banks in the world, as measured by market capitalization. For more information, visit www.rbc.com/golf.

GOLF CANADA – LOVE THE GAME. GROW THE GAME.

Golf Canada is the National Sports Organization and governing body for golf in Canada representing close to 310,000 golfers at more than 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to grow participation, excellence and passion in the sport while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our goal is to be relevant to and respected by all Canadian golf enthusiasts from coast to coast. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

For more information:

Dan Pino

Director, Corporate Communications

Golf Canada

(c) 416-434-5525

(e) dpino@golfcanada.ca

Terry Lenyk

Manager, Corporate Communications and Social Media

Golf Canada

(c) 416-407-3893

(e) tlenyk@golfcanada.ca

The RBC Canadian Open won’t be the only national golf competition taking place this coming week at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

CN, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada will play host to twenty-two competitors from across Canada at Glen Abbey on Saturday, July 18 for the seventh annual CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event.

The event will be delivered in the same format as the qualifying events. As determined by their standing on the National Leaderboard, the competitors will compete in a four-part skills challenge (putting, chipping, driving and iron play) with one overall winner per age-group (9-11; 12-14; and 15-18) and gender.

A total of 22 competitors who achieved the highest skills challenge scores from events across Canada during the 2015 golf season will travel to Glen Abbey with the hope of becoming a CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge national champion.

The day will begin with a practice and warm-up session from 10 to 11:45 a.m. before the competition’s opening address. The competitors will take centre stage for the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event from noon until 2 p.m. before the afternoon concludes with a complimentary BBQ and an awards presentation. The champions in the boys and girls 15-18 age groups will receive an exemption into their local CN Future Links Championship in 2016. All other attending participants of the CN Future Links Junior Skills National Event will receive prizing courtesy of Titleist Footjoy.

The competition format:

• Driving: Each competitor receives three drives. Points are awarded and dependent on distance and aim of the drive. The drive must land within the 30-yard width to qualify for points. The number of points is dependent on the distances completed.
• Chipping: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the chip shot from the target.
• Putting: Each competitor receives two putts each from each distance of 3, 5 and 8 feet. Points are awarded for holing the putt.
• Iron Play: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the iron shot from the target.

In celebration of the event being hosted for the first time in the lead-up to the RBC Canadian Open, junior participants will also have the opportunity to test the storied Glen Abbey layout in an exciting match play format on Sunday, July 19 prior to tournament week. Junior participants will be provided weekly grounds passes, as well as, opportunities to be involved in Monday’s Pro-Am and Wednesday’s CN Future Links Walk with a Pro event during the Wednesday Pro-Am.

The Canada Day Pro-Am is set for Monday July 20 to kick off the tournament week of the 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The Canada Day Pro-Am will tee off in a 12:30 p.m. shotgun featuring Toronto Maple Leaf Alumni and Canadian PGA TOUR stars along with up and coming Canadian talents in a charity Pro-Am to support the Golf Canada Foundation.

THE STARS:

• Wendel Clark – Played 13 NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs; captained the team from 1991-1994.
• Rick Vaive – Former Toronto Maple Leafs captain who played eight seasons with the team; first Leaf in franchise history to score 50 goals in one season.
• Peter Ing – Former NHL goaltender played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers and Detroit Red Wings.
• Bill Derlago – Selected 4th overall in the 1978 NHL Draft; played for five NHL teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Mark Osborne – Former Maple Leaf played 900 NHL games with four different clubs.
• Mike Pelyk – Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman.
• Pat Boutette – Former Toronto Maple Leaf centre.
• Greg Hotham – Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman selected in 1976 NHL draft; played a total of 230 games with Toronto and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Lou Franceschetti – Former NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals and Buffalo Sabres.
• Kevin Maguire – Former NHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia and former NHL Referee.
• Jim McKenny – Retired NHL player and sports broadcaster; scored the 5th most points in Maple Leafs history among defencemen.
• Ric Nattress – Former NHL player with five teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.
• Dave McLlwain – Former NHL player with six teams including the Toronto Maple from 1991-93.
• Pat Hickey – Played 10 seasons in the NHL with five teams including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
• Mark Laforest – Goaltender with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1989-90 season; played for four NHL teams in his career.
• Bob Nevin – Former NHL winger played over 1,100 NHL games; member of two Stanley Cup teams with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1962 & 1963.
• Jim Morrison – Former NHL defenceman played seven seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs; also played for the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
• Mike Palmateer – Former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender; played six of his eight NHL seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs including the 1978 team that reached the Stanley Cup semifinals.
• Ron Ellis – Won the Stanley Cup with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1967; played 16 seasons in the NHL, all for the Leafs, reaching the 20-goal mark in 10 consecutive seasons.
• Dave Hutchison – Former NHL defenceman who played 10 seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and New Jersey Devils.
• Dave Reid – Played three seasons for the Toronto Maple Leafs; also played for the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in the 1998-99 season.
• Peter Holland – Current NHL player with Toronto Maple Leafs; drafted 15th overall by the Anaheim Ducks and traded to the Leafs in the 2013-14 season.

THE PROS:

• Graham DeLaet – Currently the top-ranked Canadian on the World Golf Rankings (No. 80). Competing in his 7th RBC Canadian Open.
• David Hearn – Currently ranked No. 128 in the world and No. 60 in the FedEx Cup standings; competing in his 13th RBC Canadian Open.
• Adam Hadwin – PGA TOUR Rookie topped the 2013-14 Web.com money list; competing in his 6th RBC Canadian Open (finished T4 in 2011).
• Nick Taylor – PGA TOUR Rookie won the 2014 Sanderson Farms Championship (first Canadian-born player to win on PGA TOUR in six years). Former World No. 1 Amateur is competing in his 6th RBC Canadian Open.
• Mike Weir – Eight-time PGA TOUR winner and 2003 Masters champion; inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2009; competing in his 25th RBC Canadian Open.
• Roger Sloan – PGA TOUR Rookie won the 2014 Web.com Tour Nova Scotia Open; competing in his 3rd RBC Canadian Open.
• Brad Fritsch – Currently ranked No. 81 on the 2015 Web.com money list; competing in his 8th RBC Canadian Open.
• Corey Conners – Member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad; runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Amateur to earn an exemption into the 2015 Masters; competing in his 3rd RBC Canadian Open.
• Taylor Pendrith – Member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad; low amateur at 2014 RBC Canadian Open; competing in his 2nd RBC Canadian Open.
• Adam Svensson – Member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad; two-time runner-up on the Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada; competing in his 3rd RBC Canadian Open.
• Austin Connelly – Member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team is currently ranked No. 13 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; will represent Team Canada at the 2015 Pan-Am Games golf competition; competing in his 1st RBC Canadian Open.
• Blair Hamilton – Member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team is currently ranked No. 104 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking; competing in his 1st RBC Canadian Open.
• Garrett Rank – Current NHL Referee and Former Team Canada National Team member won the 2014 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship; 2015 Ontario Mid-Amateur champion; will represent Team Canada at the 2015 Pan-Am Games golf competition; competing in his 1st RBC Canadian Open.
• Billy Walsh – Currently ranked No. 1 on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC; competing in his 2nd RBC Canadian Open.
• Richard Jung – Winner of the 2015 RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier; competing in his 1st RBC Canadian Open.

*Additional participants TBD

For information and to purchase tickets please click here.

To print your FREE Junior Pass (17 years old & under) click here.