The 2017 Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Season Kicks Off At Vanvouver's Point Grey Golf & Country Club On May 29th - Image Courtesy Point Grey G&CC

(March 27, 2017) – Oakville, Ont. and Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) – The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada schedule will feature 12 events from May to September in 2017 as players look to make the next step on the path to the PGA TOUR.

The season will once again begin in May with the Freedom 55 Financial Open (May 29-June 4) at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, B.C., with purses of $175,000 (CA$) for the first 11 events and a $200,000 purse for the season-ending Freedom 55 Financial Championship (Sept. 11-17) at Highland Country Club in London, Ont.

Stuart Macdonald Turned It On Late To Secure Himself Status On The Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Circuit At Q-School In California - Image Credit Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Birdie. Birdie. Birdie. That’s how Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald finished his first qualifying school Friday to secure status on this year’s Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit. That would be your textbook definition of clutch.

The 22-year-old member of Point Grey Golf & Country Club, who is a member of Canada’s national amateur team, finished the 72-hole Q school at the Country Club at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto, Calif., tied for ninth place at three-under par. That guarantees him the first four starts of the Mackenzie Tour season and means he won’t be an amateur much longer.

MLA For Vancouver-Fraserview, Suzanne Anton Was On Hand At Point Grey G&CC To Announce A $100,000 Investment By The Province Of B.C - British Columbia Golf Image

For Immediate Release

The Province of British Columbia is investing $100,000 in the BC Golf Swing to help welcome top golfers and fans from around the globe to B.C., announced Suzanne Anton, MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview, on behalf of Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.

The announcement was made today in front of assembled media and golf industry officials at the host club for the Freedom 55 Financial Open, Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver.

Stuart Macdonald Looks To Begin The Transition To His Professional Career With A Good Week At Q-School - Image Credit PNGA

by Brian Decker/PGATOUR.com

Vancouver, B.C.'s Stuart Macdonald is looking to earn Mackenzie Tour status this week a Q-School. The member of Golf Canada's National Amateur Team plays out of Point Grey Golf and Country Club, host of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, and recently finished his collegiate career at Purdue University.

MacDonald plans on competing as an amateur into this summer, but has eyes on his next steps and professional future this week in California.

The Freedom 55 Financial Open will take place at the prestigious Point Grey Golf & Country Club the week of May 29 – June 4, 2017. They are looking for people that are interested in volunteering time to assist in implementing this great event.

This year’s charity recipient is the Canucks for Kids Fund.

St. Patrick's Day Saw These Four Plucky Players Finding Gold At The End Of The Rainbow In Some Rather Wet Conditions At Northview G&CC. (L-R): Bailey Bjornson, Euna Han, Jennifer Gu And Keaton Gudz - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski/ British Columbia Golf

courtesy CJGA

Surrey, BC (March 18, 2017) – Juniors from coast to coast gathered in British Columbia this past spring break for the Humber College PGM Western Junior Championship presented by Tour Performance LAB. The three-day event took place on Northview Golf & Country Club’s Canal Course in Surrey, B.C.

Vancouver, BC's Stuart Macdonald Is Tabbed By Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Experts As One To Watch This Week At Q-School In California - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Courtesy Brian Decker/ Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada

The quest to earn Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada status resumes this week at The Country Club at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto, California, where 120 players will look to earn their cards to compete on the Mackenzie Tour this season.

Below are all the details from this week along with storylines to watch for from California:

Riley Wheeldon (L) And Eugene Wong (R) Are Getting Set For The Second Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Q-School At Crown Isle - Image Courtesy Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Two British Columbians who are past winners on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit will be back at qualifying school later this spring trying to regain their playing privileges.

Riley Wheeldon of Comox and North Vancouver’s Eugene Wong have both entered the tour’s qualifying school at Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay. That 72-hole event, the last of five Mackenzie Tour Q-schools this spring, goes May 2-5.

Team Canada Members Jared du Toit From Kimberley, BC And Victoria, BC's Naomi Ko Model Some Of The New adidas Team Canada Apparel - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Golf Canada and adidas Golf announced an agreement that will see adidas Golf become the official apparel and headwear outfitter for Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

The adidas Golf performance products will be worn by Team Canada athletes, coaches and sport science staff in training as well as during competition at domestic and international golf championships.

by Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

Seven Byron Nelson Award nominees were announced on Tuesday, including Canadians Jared du Toit and Joey Savoie. The award is given to the graduating senior who excels in golf, the classroom, and the community.

Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin Is Now Number 51 In The OWGR After His Victory In The Valspar Championship - Image Credit Kelly Murray/ British Columbia Golf

It was a big week for players from BC in the Canadian Weekly Top-10 rankings and in particular for Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin followin his dramatic first career PGA TOUR victory at the Valspar Championship in Florida. Hadwin's triumph has now only one place back of occupying a top 50 world ranking among male professionals. 

Other notable names from BC such as Kimberley's Jared du Toit (no. 1 Male Amateur) and Victoria's Naomi Ko (no. 2 Female Amateur) continue to occupy lofty positions in our national rankings.

Help celebrate Canada's150th Birthday

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  at a mini-golf course

they all count.

Click the link below, enter your email, then click on Bronze - Free. Once your registration is complete, select the  '150th Birthday Celebration' from the dropdown menu. 

Already a member of British Columbia Golf/Golf Canada? You are automatically registered, record activities through the Golf Canada Score Centre.

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BC's Jared du Toit Is Showing No Signs Of Slowing Down In His Senior Year At Arizona State University - Image Credit Golf Canada

courtesy Golf Canada

LAS VEGAS – National Amateur Squad member Jared du Toit continued his impressive run last week, finishing in a tie for third at the Southern Highlands Collegiate.

The 21-year-old senior (and captain) at Arizona State closed the event at 5-under par—one stroke off the lead. His final-round scorecard included a hole-in-one on the par-3 2nd hole, lifting him into contention down the stretch.

courtesy Brian Decker/ Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada

The quest to earn Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada status begins this week at Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, California, where 120 players will look to earn their cards to compete on the Mackenzie Tour this season.

Among players to keep an eye on are Mission, BC's Kevin Stinson who has 38 Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada starts to his credit and is looking to regain full status. 

Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ British Columbia Golf

The final 2017 Canada Summer Games Selection Camp will be held March 15-17, 2017 at Northview Golf and Country Club, Surrey, BC and supported by the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA), a sanctioned BC Golf OOMtournament.

British Columbia Golf is the provincial sport organization in BC that oversees the Team BC program for golf at the multi-sport games.

While Son Adam Was Playing His Way To His 1st PGA TOUR Victory, Mom Brenda (Not Shown) Couldn't Watch, But Dad Gerry (Inset) Was Glued To The TV - Image Credit/Kelly Murray/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

His mom couldn’t bear to watch, finally turning on the TV when her son was on the 18th green. His dad didn’t miss a shot.

Both of them could not be more proud of their son, Adam Hadwin, who on Sunday won the Valspar Championship in Florida for his first PGA TOUR win.

Adam Hadwin Holds Valspar Trophy Follwing His First PGA TOUR Victory - Image Credit Kelly Murray

First A PGA TOUR Win And Now A Wedding. And Next Month, The Masters

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin knew March was going to be a special time in his life. Just not this special.

His March 24th wedding in Scottsdale, Ariz., to fiancee Jessica Kippenberger figured to be the highlight of his year -- and still will be -- but Hadwin will also remember March 12, 2017 as another big day in his life.

His wedding will change his life and so will his first PGA TOUR win Sunday at the Valspar Championship on Florida’s west coast.

BC's Adam Hadwn Is One Round Away From His First PGA TOUR Win As He Goes Into The Final Day At Valspar Championship With A 4-Shot Lead - Image Courtesy Golf Channel 

By Kelly Murray

One of Canada's greatest golfers and considered among the best ball-strikers ever, 8-time PGA TOUR winner George Knudson said to me in 1981 that, "Each golf shot is worth one. Your opening tee shot, your fairway shot on 7, bunker shot on 13, your last putt on 18." That's exactly how Knudson related it to me and it's as fresh in my memory as if he had told me just yesterday.

It became the way I thought. It became the way I played.

On Tuesday of this week heading into the Valspar Championship, Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin shared with me, "Your first tee shot, your fairway shot on 5, your last tee shot or last putt are all worth one," and that he is focusing very hard on that mindset, not trying to place too much importance on any one shot in particular, but rather going through the process to hit the best possible shot that he can at every opportunity.

BC's Adam Hadwin Signs An Autograph For A Fan Following His 2nd Round 7-Under 64 That Gave Him The 36-Hole Lead At The Valspar Championship In Florida - Image Credit Kelly Murray/Inside Golf

by Kelly Murray

For the third time this season Adam Hadwin shot 29 for nine holes. His second round back-nine 29 went with a 35 on the outward 9. The 6-under 29 coming home vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard here at the Valspar Championship where he is walking the fairways looking very composed, his rhythm and tempo extraordinary. He's a very relaxed and calm young man.

USGA Chief Executive Officer Mike Davis Delivers Closing Address 'Imagining The Future' At The Conclusion Of The 2017 North American Golf Innovation Symposium In Vancouver - (USGA/Steven Gibbons)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Variable-distance golf balls, courses that are more brown than green, hard and fast fairways, slower greens and balls with chips embedded in them that you will always be able to find.

Those are just some of things Mike Davis, executive director of the United States Golf Association, sees in golf’s future.