Easily one of the most frustrating things in the infernal game of golf is to hit the ball well and reach greens in regulation, but not make any putts. Bad reads. Bad strokes. Bad score. The Journal asked some Edmonton Golf Professionals how to sink more putts. Click here to read what they had to say.
Congratulations to Kevin Chow and Jacques Plouffe of Blackhawk GC for winning the 2014 PGA of Alberta Team Match Play sponsored by Adams Golf! The duo battled their way through the tough northern bracket to finally meet head to head against Dan Cameron and Terry Carter of the National Golf Academy. After 18 gruelling holes at Red Deer G&CC today, Chow and Plouffe prevailed to take home a grand total of $5,000, while Cameron and Carter walked away with $2,500. To view the entire match play tournament bracket, please click here.
PGA of Canada News
Blackhawk GC takes Pro-Assistant!
David MacComb and Craig McArthur of the Blackhawk GC take the 2014 Pro-Assistant tournament with a two day total of 23-under 289. Blackhawk captured the title by 9 shots over their nearest competitors Shawn Lavoie and Wayne Fairbairn of the Calgary Elks Lodge & GC. Coming alone in third was the team of Dallas Cantera and Cody Hancock from Cardiff GC with a two day total of 13-under 199. For full event results, please click here.
PGA of Canada News
Carstairs GC Leads Day One at Pro-Assistant
After 27 holes in the heat at the Innisfail GC for the Pro-Assistant, sponsored by Callaway Golf, the Carstairs GC team of Dale Tomlinson & Randy Hunter lead the field after round one at 13-under for a day one total 93. Not far behind at 10-under are the teams from Picture Butte GC of Dean Sklarenko & Jamie Gerlitz and Cardiff GC of Dallas Cantera & Cody Hancock. Players will resume play tomorrow at 10:30am shotgun start. Click here for round one results and round two draw.
PGA of Canada News
Pro-Assistant: Final Tournament of the Year
The draw is now posted for the Pro-Assistant tournament taking place on Monday, September 22nd & Tuesday, September 23rd. This 2-day 54-hole tournament is sponsored by Callaway Golf and being hosted at Innisfail GC. Nine holes each day will be played in a different format: Best Ball, Scotch Ball & Scramble. This years event will comprise forty-seven of Alberta's sharpest Head Pro/Assistant teams that hail from all throughout the province. Last years Pro-Assistant Champions of Greg McGarry & Blair Buttar from Glendale G&CC will look to defend their title against a hungry field. Shotgun start for both days will be at 10:30am. Click here to see the current field and draw.
PGA of Canada News
Going for Gold: Mike Belbin Does it Again
Mike Belbin (Royal Mayfair GC) wins the 2014 Tour Championship with a round two score of 4-under 68. This is Belbin's fourth PGA of Alberta win on the tournament circuit in 2014 and with his efforts today, he takes home $4,250 in winnings. Shot of the day goes to Darryl James (National Golf Academy at Shaganappi), striking a laser on hole #16 to make a Hole in One! James ended up finishing in second place for the Championship, earning himself $2,800 in prize money. The Hamptons GC Head Professional Gord Courage finished alone in third for the event. Click here for full event results.
PGA of Canada News
Kent Fukushima leads Tour Championship After round One
Tough conditions at The Hamptons GC for the Fletcher Tour Championship made life difficult for the 43 professionals involved in today’s tournament. Kent Fukushima said he has played the course a few times but only recently came to truly understand how to play the course. He sits by himself at the top at 1-under 71 to be the lone player under par. Dale Tomlinson (Carstairs GC) sits tied in second with host Head Professional Gord Courage after both players shot even par 72’s. Tee times will begin at 9:40am tomorrow, with the final group teeing off at 11:50am. Click here for full round one results.
PGA of Canada News
EXCITING FINALE ANTICIPATED FOR TEAM MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
After a season-long string of matches, the PGA of Alberta Team Match Play Championship sponsored by Adams Golf has its finalists. Kevin Chow and Jacques Plouffe of Blackhawk GC will take on Dan Cameron and Terry Carter of The National Golf Academy in what is sure to be a dramatic finish to the Championship. The two teams square off at Red Deer G&CC on September 25th at 10:32am to determine who will take home the 2014 crown and the $5,000 first place prize. To see how each team made it to the final, click here.
PGA of Canada News
Tour Championship Draw Now Posted
The Hamptons GC will play host to the 2014 Fletcher Tour Championship next week on Wednesday Sept. 17 & Thursday Sept. 18. The top 10 money leaders from this years’ Players’ Tour events, the top 10 money leaders from this years’ Professional Series events, and the top 30 overall money leaders were all invited to play in this two day 36 hole competition. Last years’ Champion Tyler LeBouthillier (Silver Springs G&CC) won by an impressive seven strokes in 2013 and will lead a field of 43 of Alberta’s best professionals. Tee times begin at 9:00am on Wednesday, Sept. 17 and at 9:40am on Thursday, Sept. 18. Please click here to see the current field and draw.
PGA of Canada News
Golf Tip: How to turn a five-foot putt into a shorter one
Click here to watch Matt Gawley, Executive Professional & General Manger of the Edmonton Garrison Memorial GC, explain how to hit 5-foot putts.
The toughest shot in golf is probably the 30 to 40 yard bunker shot. But the Royal Mayfair’s Jeff Daniels makes it look easy. Click here to read the full tip, with video.
Final Golf Supply House Professional Series of the Year
The draw is now posted for the final Golf Supply House Professional Series of 2014. Carstairs GC will play host to 46 Alberta golf professionals on Monday, September 8th, hoping to win the closing Professional Series event of the year. Crossover start begins at 10:00am. Click here to see the draw and current field.
PGA of Canada News
HOGAN TAKES THE PGA OF ALBERTA SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN
Michael Hogan (Glencoe G&CC Teaching Centre) wins the 2014 PGA of Alberta Senior Championship with round one and two scores of 73-66, for a two-day total 139. Hogan shot a spectacular 5-under today to come from behind to take the title. Dan Cameron (National Golf Academy Dome) finished alone in second with a two day total of 141. Not far behind Hogan and Cameron was Gary Ward (PGA of Alberta Member) and Gord Courage (The Hamptons GC) who finished in third and fourth respectively. For full event results, click here.
Tournament News
WARD EVEN ON DAY ONE
Gary Ward captured day 1 lead at the 2014 PGA of Alberta Senior Championship, sponsored by Golf Vacations Ireland. Ward continues his hot play this season by shooting an even par 71 to take the lead at Willow Park G&CC. He is being pressured by 3 players at one over par - 72, Kevin Day (Billy D’s Golf Centre), Dan Cameron (National Golf Academy Dome), Brian Miller (Pine Hills GC). Click here for day 1 results, day 2 tee-times.
PGA of Canada News
Calgarian relishes every Classic moment
His place on the leaderboard didn’t matter. Darryl James walked off the course at the Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club beaming. After firing a 1-under 69 on Sunday to complete the Champions Tour Shaw Charity Classic, the other competitor from Calgary had every right to relish the moment. Click here to read the full article BY RANDY SPORTAK, CALGARY SUN.
As Calgary’s Darryl James (National Golf Academy at Shaganappi) awaited confirmation last Tuesday that he’d qualified for the Champions Tour’s Shaw Charity Classic, Scott Allred (Elbow Springs) joked “that will just make it that much sweeter when I beat you next week.” Allred is the defending champion of the PGA of Alberta Senior Championship and has won the title twice in the past three years, but James might be considered the favourite for the two-day showdown at Willow Park after getting the opportunity to tee it up in Calgary’s Champions Tour stop. “It’s always a battle between Scott and I,” said James, the PGA of Alberta’s senior champ in 2012 and the runner-up to Allred last summer. Click here to read the full article by Wes Gilbertson, Calgary Sun.