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.

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:

...Sometimes life just needs to get in they way. Like when Henrik Stenson's young daughter ran out to give her Dad a hug during the Valspar Championship. Perfect.

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. 

Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin Holds The Valspar Championship Trophy Following His First PGA TOUR Win At Innisbrook In Florida - Image Credit Kelly Murray

By Kelly Murray

The road just got a little bit busier for the latest winner on the PGA TOUR. There's a special fraternity of three Canadians that will be playing at the Masters this year.

The latest addition to that fraternity grew up about 1 hour east of Vancouver in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

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.

Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin Was In Prominent Position Through Round One Of The Valspar Championship In Florida - Image Credit Kelly Murray/Inside Golf

by Kelly Murray

Round one is in the books for the Canadians at the PGA TOUR's Florida stop here in Palm Harbor, Northwest suburb of Tampa Bay for the Valspar Championship the second leg of a 3 leg pre-Masters Florida swing.

Half of the Canadians are in the top eleven - Adam Hadwin and David Hearn, who both played in the morning at 7:05 a.m. and were delayed 1 hour because of fog. The other half, Graham DeLaet at even-par and Nick Taylor at one over par 72, played in the afternoon round.  

The greens were a little crusty for both during the second half draw, however DeLaet and Taylor will have fresh greens as they play the morning half of the draw with fog again expected in the morning of round two.

VICTORIA, BC (February 21, 2017) – Pacific Links International and PGA TOUR Champions announced today that the 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship is now accepting volunteer submissions. The event will once again be hosted at Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria, British Columbia from September 11-17th, showcasing a field of 78 international players, and a US $2.5 million purse.

Clockwise From Top Left: Devin Carrey, David Rose, Patrick Williams, Matt Hill, Russell Budd & Ally Tidcombe Have All Earned Status On The PGA TOUR Lationamérica Circuit For 2017

courtesy Golf Canada

The remaining two of four PGA Tour Latinoamérica Qualifying Tournaments came to a close on Friday in Argentina and Colombia, with three more Canadians earning status in 2017.

In total, six Canadians have earned status on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica by way of Q-school. The Canucks were led by Nova Scotia’s Ally Tidcombe, who finished solo fourth at the Argentina event for the strongest finish by a Canadian. With the result, Tidcombe is exempt through the first half of the season (subject to reshuffle for second half).

A sport environment in which participants - athletes, coaches, volunteers, and officials - are exposed to negative experiences such as bullying can be harmful and cause individuals to quit.

55% of BC sports organizations surveyed know of athletes who have dropped out of #sport because of bullying. 

That’s why viaSport and the Government of B.C. have launched a new #ERASEbullying initiative for every provincial and local sport organization, and all B.C. citizens.

Click HERE or on the image above to take the online Erase Bullying in Sport pledge. 

On February 22, 2017, provincial sport organizations will celebrate the Province’s first Declaration of Commitment to erase bullying in sport across B.C.

Learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved as an organization or individual at www.viaSport.ca./erasebullying

Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin Followed His Record-Setting 59 In The 3rd Round To Stand-Alone 2nd Place Finish At The PGA TOUR's CareerBuilder Challenge In La Quinta

Golf Canada / PGA Tour Communications

LA QUINTA, Calif. – Hudson Swafford won the fittingly named CareerBuilder Challenge on Sunday for his first PGA TOUR title, following three straight birdies with a closing par for a one-stroke victory.

Swafford shot a 5-under 67 on the Stadium Course at PGA West to finish the three-course, pro-am event at 20-under 268. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C.,came back with a 70 after his third-round 59 to finish second.

The 2017 Qualifying Tournament will take place at five sites in 2017 Including Crown Isle On Vancouver Island - Image Credit (Chuck Russell/PGA TOUR)

How and when to sign up for this year's Q-Schools

The application for the 2017 Mackenzie Tour Qualifying Tournament will be open to the public on January 19th at 12 p.m. ET.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE APPLICATION

You may access more information about the format, entry fees, field size, eligiblity and more at the above link prior to 12 p.m. ET on January 19th.

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS:

• The application will be available online only
• Payment can be made by VISA or MasterCard only
• The application will go live at 12 p.m. ET

NOTE: Applicant may only play one site. Once applicant is assigned a site, it may not be changed. Sites will be assigned in the order the applications are received.

Should an applicant withdraw within one week of their assigned competition, a processing fee of $1000 will be assessed. Should they withdraw prior to one week of their assigned competition, a processing fee of $250 will be assessed.

No refunds will be issued to contestants after they have started play in the Qualifying Tournament. Contestants who withdraw during the round may be subject to disciplinary action.

Full refunds will be offered to those who withdraw while on the alternate list.

Abbotsford Pro Adam Hadwin Is Set To Return To PGA TOUR After Fruitful Fall Season 

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Personally and professionally, Adam Hadwin figures 2017 is going to be a great year. The former seems a given, as Hadwin will marry his fiancee, Jessica Dawn, in a late March ceremony in the Arizona desert. But Hadwin is also expecting 2017 to be a significant year on the golf course.

Now in his third year as a PGA TOUR regular, the 29-year-old Abbotsford pro is adamant that he is ready to win on golf’s biggest stage.

Chilliwack's Brad Clapp (L) With Some Of His 'Cow-orkers' - Image Courtesy Brad Clapp & Betsy (R)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

You’ve probably heard all about the glamorous life of a professional golfer, right? The big pay-cheques, the courtesy cars, the five-star hotels.

Well, Brad Clapp would like to welcome you to his world.

Clapp, a regular and past winner on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit, is spending the winter working on a dairy farm. And man, will he have some stories to tell on the driving range when the Mackenzie Tour tees off its 2017 season this spring.

Canada's Corey Conners Recorded A T5 In His First Start On The Web.com Tour - Image Credit Golf Canada (Chuck Russell)

PGA Tour media with files from Golf Canada

GREAT EXUMA, Bahamas – Kyle Thompson took home his fifth career Web.com Tour title in paradise Wednesday at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay with his third consecutive round of 2-under 70.

The 37-year-old finished as the runner-up at the Web.com Tour season opener a year ago in Panama, but edged out Andrew Yun and Nicholas Thompson by two shots this year with a 2-under 286 in the Tour’s first ever Sunday – Wednesday tournament format.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Ward Stouffer, who spent more than 20 years as head professional and director of golf at Fairwinds Golf Club in Nanoose Bay, passed away Thursday, January 5th. He was 56.

Friends and playing competitors remember Stouffer, who stood about 6-feet, 8 inches, as a gentle giant with a heart of gold who hit the ball a mile.

Image Credit Enrique Berardi/PGA TOUR -  Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brian Decker/ Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada

A late rally by the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada fell short on Saturday at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf, giving PGA TOUR Latinoamérica victory in the first-ever Aruba Cup.

Though the Mackenzie Tour put together a valiant charge, winning five of the first seven singles matches of the day, it wasn’t enough to overcome a daunting 8.5-1.5 deficit, with Latinoamérica prevailing by a 13-7 final score over the three-day match play competition between the two Tours.