HAMILTON, Ont.  —  Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., as well as Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., all sit within the top 10 after two-rounds of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Taylor carded a second-round 65 Friday and finds himself tied for third with 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker at 11-under par. His 5-under par performance included three birdies on his final four holes.

“I felt good, to be honest,” said Taylor. “Early on, I was hitting good shots, but putts weren’t dropping. Then I hit four great shots on the last two holes. It was nice to make that putt on the last hole.”

Snedeker matched the lowest single-round score ever at the RBC Canadian Open by carding a 10-under par 60. Carl Pettersson shot 60 in 2010 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club.

“I didn’t really think about it until I got to the 17^th tee,” said Snedeker, whose scor of 60 is also a new Hamilton Golf and Country Club course record. “I was hitting the ball so well off the tee and making so many putts. It was one of those rounds where everything comes together.”

Hadwin holds sole possession of 6^th at 9-under. Hughes and Silverman share 7^th spot at 8-under.

Silverman handed in a scorecard of 9-under-par 61 Friday, which is the lowest round ever recorded by a Canadian at Canada’s National Open Golf Championship.

“It’s great, it’s where I want to be,” added Silverman. “I was hitting fairways and it’s almost impossible to score around here if you’re missing fairways. “

Americans Scott Brown and Matt Kuchar both shot 7-under to finish the day as co-leaders at 12-under.

The shot of the day belonged to Kramer Hickok. The Austin, Tex., native made an albatross on No. 4 – only the fourth albatross in RBC Canadian Open history and the first since Guy Hill in 1996 at Glen Abbey Golf Club. This was the sixth albatross on the PGA TOUR this season.

Toronto’s Richard Jung was tied for 33rd at 4-under and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., was tied for 55th at 2-under.

The third-round of the RBC Canadian Open gets underway at 8:25 am, while the final pairing tees off at 2:10 pm. Tee times for the third round can be found here.

HAMILTON, Ont. – Mackenzie & Ebert Ltd. will lead a significant golf course improvement plan to the historic Harry S. Colt layout at Hamilton Golf & Country Club starting in the fall of 2019.

Noted English Golf Course Architect, Martin Ebert, a partner in the firm, will oversee the re-investment in the course assets to all 27 holes as the club modernizes its bunkers, greens and irrigation system over a two-year period.

“When Harry Colt visited Hamilton G&CC in the spring of 1914 he developed the brilliant layout that you see before you today, but he never returned during construction or to see the finished project,” says Ebert, who was first hired as HGCC’s consulting architect in 2014. “As part of the renewal of the golf course assets, our goal is to strengthen the character and original design philosophy of this wonderful Colt masterpiece for members and all golfers to enjoy.”

The club has an original set of hand sketched Colt drawings that have been used as a guideline for the changes and will draw on Mackenzie & Ebert’s vast knowledge of other Colt courses to fine-tune the holes. The firm currently advise seven of the 10 current Open Championship venues including Royal Portrush, which will host The Open later this summer.

“The improvements that will be implemented acknowledge that the course is a private members’ facility for the vast majority of life and the adjustments are designed to enhance the overall member experience,” says Ebert. “We would also like to create a fitting test for the finest players when they come to compete at the Canadian Open and other championships.”

Important to the membership and the project is the commitment by the club to keep 18 holes open for play at all times through the use of temporary greens. One of the championship nines will close in September, while the other 18 holes will remain open throughout the fall. Construction will progress continuously through the remaining nines and is expected to be completed by the spring of 2021 to allow for grown-in. The RBC Canadian Open is slated to return to HGCC in 2023.

The Golf Course Improvement Plan is the No. 1 priority within the club’s Long-Range Master Plan – Vision 2030 – the document will be finalized and presented to the membership later this year. As part of the Golf Course Improvement Plan, a 30-year-old irrigation system will be replaced with leading edge technology. The Poa Anna turf greens will be converted to Bentgrass and constructed to modern standards with multiple pin placement opportunities. The bunkers will be constructed using the latest techniques and in the spirit of the original Colt design with adjustments for today’s modern era.

Rhod Trainor will retire as the Superintendent at the end of 2019. He will stay on as a consultant as Project Manager throughout 2020 and focus on implementing the Golf Course Improvement Plan immediately after the RBC Canadian Open. Associate Golf Course Superintendent, Jordan Kitchen has been named Interim Superintendent. He will be responsible for day-to-day golf course and turf maintenance through the end of 2020.

“We believe this approach is in the best interest of the club and in the best interest of the project. Team continuity and course knowledge throughout the project is key for its success as well as for member and guest experience over the next 18 months,” says Sean McDonough, Club President.

HAMILTON, Ont. — American Keegan Bradley carded a scorching 63 to grab sole possession of the lead at 7-under par following a sunny and warm opening-round of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

Bradley tallied five consecutive birdies from holes 7 through 10 to catapult up the leaderboard. Additional birdies on holes 13 and 17, to go along with a bogey-free round put him in the lead.

“That was probably my best streak of the year if not maybe ever,” said Bradley, a four-time PGA TOUR winner, including the 2011 PGA Championship. “I felt so comfortable and dialed in. Sometimes you can get a little anxious when you’re playing really well, but I felt very calm the whole day.”

This is Bradley’s fourth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. His best finish came in 2018 where he tied for fourth.

“This is a really great course, I’ve never played it,” said Bradley. “Every time I come to play in Canada, I always love the courses we play. This one is really great. Today, I was in complete control of my ball. And then when you couple that with feeling good on the greens, that’s when a 63 or a good, nice round happens.”

Abbotsford, B.C., native Nick Taylor also got hot during his first round. Four straight birdies on holes No. 1 through 4 (after a 10^th hole start) moved the Canadian into a tie for second at 6-under par 64.

“I really haven’t had a lot of success at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Taylor. “I think I probably put a little too much pressure on myself. This year has been consistent. It’s small things I have been working on. Last week, just a slight bit different routine to line up and be more consistent with my alignment. Obviously, it was great today.”

Taylor, Shane Lowry, Sungjae Im, Erik van Rooyen and Roberto Castro sit one-back of Bradley at 6-under.

Taylor has never finished better than T53 at the RBC Canadian Open, but the 2014 Sanderson Farms champion currently leads the 26 Canadians in the field. He is paired with fellow Canucks David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., for the first two rounds.

“Usually we don’t get those crowds that early,” said Taylor. “The Canadian fans that are here are so great. It’s been fun.”

Adam Hadwin, also of Abbotsford, B.C., finds himself T6 at 5-under. Hadwin’s bogey-free opening round of 66 is the lowest of his career at the RBC Canadian Open.

“It’s a really great start to the week, really solid golf,” said Hadwin. “Only missed a couple of greens. I’m coming away feeling pretty confident that I may have left a couple out there.”

Mackenzie Hughes of nearby Dundas, Ont., is also in the hunt. The hometown favourite was inches from getting an ace on No. 16 and was at 6-under walking up to the 18^th tee box. His tee shot found the bunker and Hughes hit the bunker’s lip trying to reach the green in two. He went on to make a double-bogey six to finish T15 at 4-under.

“It was really fun, but I kind of spoiled it there at the end,” said Hughes. “I was 6-under through 17 and it was pretty stress-free for the most part. All-in-all it’s a great day score-wise, just not the way I wanted to finish. I have to get over it now, there’s three rounds of golf to be played.”

Hughes sits tied with fellow Canadians Hearn and Toronto’s Drew Nesbitt, who also carded 66s.

Second-round tee times begin at 7:00 a.m. Friday.

HAMILTON, Ont.  —  The 110th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship gets underway Thursday with 156 of the world’s best golfers, including 26 Canadians and world No. 1 Brooks Koepka, set to compete for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Trophy and the champion’s share of the $7.6 million (US) purse.

Koepka, a four-time major champion and winner of the 2019 PGA Championship, is competing at Canada’s National Open Championship for the second consecutive year.

“It’s a good golf course, it’s definitely going to be a good test,” said Koepka. “It’s always a good tournament here. The rough’s up. You’ve got to hit the fairways, and these greens are quite slopey, so you’ve really got to control your spin.”

Rory McIlroy will be teeing off at the RBC Canadian Open for the first time in his career, and says he is excited to compete in Canada.

“I’ve heard a lot of great things about Hamilton,” said McIlroy. “I remember watching a little bit back in 2012, and then I’ve spoken to Brad Faxon a little bit, and he had a chance here back in ‘03, and he really raved about the golf course.”

While Koepka and McIlroy have three RBC Canadian Open appearances between the two of them, Dustin Johnson is no stranger to Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. This year will be the defending champion’s seventh RBC Canadian Open, and he experienced Hamilton Golf & Country Club for the first time during Wednesday’s Pro-Am.

“I like the golf course. You need to hit it in the fairway,” said Johnson. “The rough’s pretty deep, but it’s not overly long. It’s kind of an old school course. But I like it so far, what I’ve seen.”

For information is available at rbccanadianopen.com.

HAMILTON, Ont. – The start times for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Championship Pro-Am at Hamilton Golf & Country Club for Wednesday, June 5 have been released.

The event will see 104 professional golfers take to the renowned Hamilton course to entertain a field of 204 amateurs as part of the PGA TOUR’s ‘Nine and Nine’ Pro-Am format where amateur participants will play nine holes each with a pair of PGA TOUR professionals. Click here for pairings and start times.

As well, the pairings and start times for the opening two rounds of the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7 are now available online here.

By: Rob Gavarkovs

Summer is officially open golf fans!

Although it didn’t feel like summer as the players started to stream into the immaculately groomed grounds of Hamilton Golf and Country Club as a mix of sun and breeze kept the sweaters on, the fans know that summer is here, and the RBC Canadian Open is heating up.

Summer means a lot of things to a lot of people, but for the thousands of fans spread across Hamilton’s acreage, summer means golf. There were veteran police officer volunteers, running security detail on errant balls finding the heavy rough; there were young kids lining up on the range for autographs, proudly telling the players that their Dad let them skip school to come to watch the game they loved; and there was a swarm of media members, the tented structure abuzz with talk of the game’s biggest names, Rory, DJ, Brooks and others in attendance this week.

The best way to spend a Monday of Championship level golf is to get to know the course, and how the players intend on playing it. So at 9 a.m., I picked up the group of Hank Lebioda, and Tyler Duncan, leaving the range on their way to the first tee.

Greeting their crowd of spectators with smiles from both players, we were off, and the fun of watching two of the game’s best up-and-coming was plentiful. It is a Monday after all, and the two players, never having seen the course before, were using all their instrumentation to try and dissect the unique challenge that the beautiful Hamilton Golf & Country Club presents.

Quickly, the two professionals in their craft figured out that the rough is a double-bogey maker. The thick, wet, “healthy” rough as Duncan said, is closer to what you’d expect at the Open that takes place south of our border than its Canadian counterpart. “You guys sure know how to grow grass up here,” Duncan said as he chunk-and-runned one up to par-4 ninth hole to an echo of the crowds’ laughter.

After their nine-hole match completed, I had the chance to step aside with Hank Lebioda of No Laying Up fame. He said, “I mean this course is tough but you can score here, someone could go really low this week if they hit all the fairways.” Live Under Par indeed Hank, and from what I saw on the course, it could be him, why not right? “I absolutely love the course,” continued Lebioda, “It’s such a cool, classic design and the layout is amazing. I wish we played way more courses like this on TOUR.”

Hamilton has already been receiving a ton of praise from the TOURs top players, and it shows in the strength of the field. Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Justin Thomas and more are showing up in Hamilton this week, even Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons are coming to the party, and Canada has come to bear witness.

More news from the ropeline coming soon, stay tuned.

HAMILTON, Ont. – James Allenby of Langley, B.C., Thomas DeMarco of LaSalle, Ont., Étienne Brault of Mercier, Que and JC Deacon of Toronto have all earned entry into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open through Final Qualifying at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Allenby was the low qualifier by carding a 4 under par 67. Four birdies on the final six holes helped him qualify for his first RBC Canadian Open.

“You just have to keep playing,” said Allenby of his four back nine birdies. “I can’t really tell you what it was. Two 30-footers went in and those are always nice. I’ve been putting well all year, so I’m not surprised, but I’m very happy. My mental game has really taken a step up this year, and that will help me get around [Hamilton Golf & Country Club].”

Allenby earned medallist honours at the B.C. Regional Qualifier in early May. He plays on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada and recently finished T2 at the Canada Life Open in Vancouver.

Amateurs DeMarco and Brault finished T2 with a 1 under par 70 and will be competing in their first RBC Canadian Opens. Their addition to the field brings the number of Canadian amateurs teeing off at Hamilton Golf & Country Club to six – Michael Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. qualified through the Quebec Regional Qualifier, while Team Canada National Amateur Squad members Chris Crisologo (Richmond, B.C.), Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Josh Whalen (Napanee, Ont.) were granted exemptions.

Toronto native JC Deacon earned the final qualifying spot by shooting an even-par 71. At age 37, he will be competing in his first RBC Canadian Open. Deacon is the head coach of the University of Florida men’s golf team.

Click here for full results from the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier.

HAMILTON, Ont. — On Tuesday, June 4 at 11:00 a.m. ET at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan will be on hand to take part in the RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration as part of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

Monahan, who has led the PGA TOUR since January 2017, will join 17 honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at an outdoor public event to officially celebrate the newest inductees—two-time Canadian Amateur champion and PGA Champions Tour winner Rod Spittle and accomplish college golf coach Herb Page as the 82nd and 83rd honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Monahan will participate in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame public induction celebration which will take place at the performance stage in The Hamilton Fare Way at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Immediately following the outdoor celebration, Monahan will be available for media opportunities.

What:
RBC Hall of Fame Day and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Induction Celebration featuring PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. Two-time Canadian Amateur champion and PGA Champions Tour winner Rod Spittle as well as accomplish college golf coach Herb Page to be inducted as the 82nd and 83rd honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

When: 
Tuesday, June 4, 2019
11:00 a.m. ET

Where: 
Hamilton Golf & Country Club
Location – performance stage at The Hamilton Fare Way

Honoured Members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame attending RBC Hall of Fame Day:

• Graham Cooke (2010) – renowned course designer has won seven Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships, four Canadian Men’s Senior titles and four Quebec Amateur Championships.
• Gary Cowan (1972) – former Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, two-time US Amateur champion, 10-time Ontario Amateur champion and eight-time Masters participant was named Canadian Male Amateur of the Century in 2000.
• Judy Darling Evans (2017) – two-time Canadian Women’s Amateur champion and six-time Quebec Amateur champion; has also won a Canadian Junior Girls’ title and three Quebec Junior Championships.
• Wilf Homenuik (2005) – accomplished amateur and professional career includes eight professional tour victories, 12 provincial titles and four PGA of Canada victories.
• Jim Nelford (2013) – two-time Canadian Amateur champion is a past winner of the B.C. Junior, B.C. Amateur and B.C. Open Championships.
• Bob Panasik (2005) – two-time PGA of Canada Championship winner has won numerous provincial events as well as three Canadian PGA Seniors Championships and two Super Senior Championships.
• Sandra Post (1988) – eight-time LPGA Tour winner and current Chair of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee, was the first Canadian to win a Major and the first Canadian to win multiple Tour events in the same season.
• Stephen Ross (2011) – longtime former Executive Director of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) and internationally accomplished Rules Official was a driving force behind the growth of the Canadian Open.
• Doug Roxburgh (1990) – four-time Canadian Amateur champion has won a record 13 B.C. Amateur Championship titles
• Lorne Rubenstein (2007) – renowned golf journalist and celebrated author of 14 books was named the recipient of the 2018 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism.
• Cathy Sherk (1995) – two-time Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion, former US Women’s Amateur champion and three-time winner of the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship
• Marlene Streit (1971) – Canada’s only World Golf Hall of Fame member and 11-time winner of the Canadian Ladies Open Championship is the only golfer to have won the Canadian, United States, British and Australian Amateur Championships.
• Warren Sye (2016) – two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, five-time winner of the Ontario Men’s Amateur member of the Canadian team that won the 1986 World Amateur Team Championship.
• Bob Vokey (2017) – one of the world’s foremost wedge designers and trusted short game advisor to many of the modern game’s greatest golfers.
• Bob Weeks (2016) – accomplished journalist and golf broadcaster was the longtime editor of ScoreGolf magazine and a driving force behind the growth of ScoreGolf’s print, digital and television properties.
• Mike Weir (2009) – eight-time PGA TOUR winner and 2003 Masters champion spent over 110 weeks in the top-10 of the official world golf rankings between 2001 and 2005.
• Dick Zokol (2011) – two-time PGA TOUR champion and former Canadian Men’s Amateur champion has also won on both the Canadian Tour and Nationwide Tour.

HAMILTON (Golf Canada) –  The final four spots into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open field will be determined Monday as the Final Qualifier is set to tee off at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

The 63-player field is comprised of touring professionals, top amateurs and regional qualifier participants following the two-stage RBC Canadian Open qualification process.

“We’re are very pleased to conduct the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links,” said Adam Helmer, Golf Canada’s Director, Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. “The golf course is in great shape will present an excellent challenge for this impressive field of golfers looking to secure a spot in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.”

The Monday Final Qualifier features 18 holes of stroke play with the low four competitors receiving an exemption directly into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open field. If necessary, a hole-by-hole playoff will be conducted immediately following the conclusion of play.

Click here  for pairings, start times and results for RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifying on Monday, June 3. Results will be made available as players complete their rounds.

Canada Day Pro-Am in Support of Golf Canada Foundation
Monday at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open kicks off with the Canada Day Pro-Am in support of Golf Canada Foundation. Twenty-five groups of amateurs will be joined by a collection of Canadian golf stars, celebrities and NHL players teeing off at 12:00pm ET at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.  Click here for a list of players and groupings.

World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, World No. 4 Rory McIlroy and World No. 6 Justin Thomas along with past Major champions Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson and Henrik Stenson headline exciting field for Canada’s National Open Championship

Canadian tournament exemptions include 2019 Web.com Tour winner Michael Gligic; European Tour player Austin Connelly; PGA TOUR China winner Richard Jung;  PGA TOUR Latinoamerica winner Drew Nesbitt; and Team Canada members Joey Savoie, Josh Whalen, and Chris Crisologo

Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson, and Mike Weir headline list of 20 Canadians set to compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club from June 3-9.

HAMILTON (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the US$7.6 million purse at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

World no. 2 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will try to defend his title against a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars led by World No. 1 and 2019 PGA Championship winner Brooks Koepka. World No. 4 Rory McIlroy along with World No. 6 Justin Thomas will make their RBC Canadian Open debut and will be joined at Hamilton by former Masters champions Sergio Garcia, Danny Willet and Bubba Watson.

Other notable additions to the field for the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include FedExCup leader Matt Kuchar, Major champions Zach Johnson, Henrik Stenson, Jason Dufner, Padraig Harrington, Keegan Bradley and Jimmy Walker, along with former world No. 1 Luke Donald.

Johnson, a 20-time winner on the PGA TOUR, and Kuchar, a nine-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players at Hamilton Golf and Country. Team RBC has seen unprecedented success in 2019 as Ryan Palmer, Graeme McDowell, Canadian Corey Conners, Johnson, and Kuchar have all won on the PGA TOUR.

Other Team RBC players competing including world no. 19 Webb Simpson, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion, including at Hamilton in 2006; along with fellow Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Ben Silverman, and Roger Sloan round out the contingent.

“The field is shaping up to be one of the best in recent memory and we’re ready to welcome the best players in the world teeing it up at the 110th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship,” said Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “This year’s championship features a great mix of stars from all around the world, more than 30 combined Major titles and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to challenge for our National Men’s Open title. Along with great golf, we’ll be offering fans so many great on-site experiences from our key partners, a new food initiative to try some of Hamilton’s best restaurants, and thanks to the RBCxMusic Concert series, fans can take in music from Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons on Friday and Saturday.”

In total, 156 players will compete for the US$7.6 million purse next week in Hamilton when the RBC Canadian Open returns to the storied club for the first time since 2012 and sixth time ever.

Click here for a full field list for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open

PGA TOUR Season Winners…
A total of 11 in-year PGA TOUR winners (accounting for 13 PGA TOUR titles in 2018-19) will compete at Hamilton Golf and Country Club led by two-time winners Brooks Koepka (THE CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES, PGA Championship) and Matt Kuchar (Mayakoba Golf Classic and Sony Open). Other 2018-19 season winners include Kevin Tway (Safeway Open), Adam Long (Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open), Dustin Johnson (WGC-Mexico Championship), Rory McIlroy (THE PLAYERS Championship), Graeme McDowell (Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship), Corey Conners (Valero Texas Open), Ryan Palmer (partnered with Jon Rahm at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans), and Sung Kang (AT&T Byron Nelson).

Past Champions…
Two past winners at Hamilton Golf and Country Club will be returning to familiar territory this year as 2006 winner Jim Furyk and 2012 winner Scott Piercy are in the field this year. Furyk also won the 2007 Canadian Open. Two other past RBC Canadian Open winners in the field at Hamilton are Brandt Snedeker (2013) and Dustin Johnson (2018).

The 2003 RBC Canadian Open was contested at Hamilton and won by Bob Tway. His son, Kevin Tway, will be in the field.

Twenty Canadians to compete for the National Men’s Open Title…
Leading the Canadian contingent at Hamilton will be Abbotsford, B.C. native and world No. 77 Adam Hadwin, who will return to Hamilton to play in his 10th RBC Canadian Open. Other confirmed Canadians include past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes of nearby Dundas, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. round out Canada’s PGA TOUR contingent along with Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir, making his 28^th start at the Canadian Open.

Canadians receiving exemptions into this year’s RBC Canadian Open include Ryan Yip of Calgary along with Toronto natives Richard Jung and Drew Nesbitt.

Three members of Canada’s National Men’s Team—Joey Savoie of LaPrairie, Que., Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. and Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont.—have also received exemptions.

Dual-citizen and European Tour player Austin Connelly of Claire, N.S., who was recently announced as one of Canada’s representative for the upcoming Pan-Am Games in Lima, Peru, will play his third RBC Canadian Open.

Burlington’s Michael Gligic, a winner on the Web.com Tour in 2019, has earned a spot in the field as the highest-ranked golfer on the Web.com Tour’s season-long points list who played on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada in 2018.

Marc-Etienne Bussieres of Quebec earned a place in this year’s RBC Canadian Open after finishing No. 1 on the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit in 2018.

Local resident Michael Blair of Ancaster, Ont. won the Ontario Regional Qualifier to earn his spot in the field and amateur Matt Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. earned his spot by winning the Quebec Regional Qualifier.

Each of the 21 Canadian players in the field will look to become the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat in 1954.

Two-time reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur Zach Bauchou of Forest, Virginia along with 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Joseph Deraney of Lexington, Kentucky will also compete at Hamilton.

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
Following the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, the winner will earn an exemption to play in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

The final four exemptions into the field for the 2019 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Qualifier on June 3, to be played at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.

Tickets for available rounds of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open can be purchased at www.rbccanadianopen.com.