Posted On: Friday, June 16, 2017
National Pines Golf Club near Barrie will be in the spotlight this September as it plays host to the Ontario Championship of the PGA Tour Canada’s Mackenzie Tour.
The 144-player event will take place Sept. 4-10, leading into the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship. The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) will serve as the event’s host organization, with Brad Parkins as Tournament Director.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to announce the Ontario Championship hosted by National Pines Golf Club as the newest event on the Mackenzie Tour. Thanks to the support of our partners, ClubLink and the CJGA, we’re confident this will be an tremendous week of golf at an outstanding venue this summer,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday.
National Pines, a 7,013-yard Tom McBroom design located 45 minutes north of Toronto, was opened in 1992 and held the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship in 2007 and 2008.
“We are extremely pleased the Mackenzie Tour has selected National Pines to host the Ontario Championship in 2017,” said Brent Miller, Vice President of Corporate Operations and Member Services for ClubLink.
“It’s wonderful to have this thoroughbred layout challenge the future stars of the PGA TOUR again. So many of our ClubLink Members already know that an extra 10 minutes in the car up HWY 400 provides them a day of golf that is quite simply, complete. We look forward to showcasing National Pines again and reminding Southern Ontario golfers about this great 18 hole facility Tom McBroom built for us 25 years ago.”
Among the players who competed at National Pines in 2007 and 2008 is current PGA TOUR player and Olympian Graham DeLaet, who said he fondly remembers his experience competing at the course.
“I have great memories of competing at National Pines in 2008, and I know it will be an awesome host for a tournament like this,” DeLaet states in a story posted on the Mackenzie Tour website.
“The guys that will be playing there are trying to make their way to the PGA TOUR, and this is going to be a great venue for those players to compete for a chance to make the next step in that direction,” said DeLaet.
Some of the players currently on the tour are Jared du Toit, who tied for 9th at last year's Canadian Open, former NCAA #1 player Matt Hill and former World Long Drive champ Jamie Sadlowski.
Following the event, the top 60 players on the Order of Merit will earn a spot in the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship at Highland Country Club in London, Ont., along with securing exempt status for the 2018 Mackenzie Tour season.
For more on the Mackenzie Tour Click Here.