Trophy Design Contest Winner Announced For 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship

The Winning Trophy Design For Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Reflects A Strong West Coast Theme - Image Courtesy SportBox PR

VICTORIA, BC (April 18, 2017) - The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship announced today the winner of the Event’s 2017 Trophy Design Contest. Tournament Organizers received many amazing submissions, making it a difficult choice to narrow down the designs to three finalists.

Following the initial finalists selection, the trophy design contest was opened to the public to decide on the winner based on the majority of fan votes. After voting closed on April 12, it was determined that Patrick Belanger of Vancouver Island was the winner.

The Trophy Design Contest was launched with the aim of creating an opportunity for the community to take part in the inspiration behind the Official Trophy; one that represents the nature of golf in Canada, celebrates the winner, PGA TOUR Champions, the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship, and the scenic and natural landscape of the island.

The vision behind Belanger’s trophy design was based on a West Coast theme: carefully chosen natural and handcrafted materials in the fabrication of the trophy are reminiscent of the landscapes offered by Vancouver Island. A modern interpretation of a carved soapstone bear embracing a live edge piece of wood towering above will evoke a sense of belonging to this natural environment, where mountains meet the sea and the tall trees.

The front of the trophy has a blue coloured epoxy, filling the splitting gaps in the wood and mimicking the ocean surrounding the island (the Strait of Georgia and Juan de Fuca), while the top shape of the wood suggests the vistas of the Olympic Mountain Range. Etching of the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship logo in the wood is also visible on the front face. On the back of the trophy, the engraving represents a silhouette of the majestic tall pines and fir trees located in the surroundings of the Bear Mountain golf courses.

A silver metal plate of the PGA TOUR Champions logo is applied to the back, offering a touch of distinction and class to the overall look of the trophy. Use of natural materials in the fabrication screams “West Coast”, while the overall craftsmanship will add a touch of elegance and prestige to the trophy.

To view the winning trophy design, click HERE.

"The Trophy Design Contest was truly a success, with an overwhelming number of submissions as well as participation from the community in the fan voting process,” said Brad Parkins, Tournament Director. "We look forward to seeing the winning design come to life over the next few months, showcasing the landscapes of BC and the spirit of golf."

Paul Rober and Paul Shepherd were the other two trophy design contest finalists. Tournament Organizers would like to acknowledge their efforts and unique designs, making for a very close race in the end.

Belanger’s design will serve as the inspiration behind the 2017 Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Official Trophy, presented to the PGA TOUR Champions winner after the final putt drops on Sunday, September 17. Belanger will also be incorporated into the event’s closing ceremonies and trophy presentation.

Over the coming months, Tournament Organizers will work with local artists and natural resources to bring the 2017 Official Trophy design to life. Updates will be posted on the Event’s website and social channels.

The event will once again be played at The Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort & Spa from Monday, September 11th – Sunday, September 17th, 2017. Tournament week will commence with Official Pro-Am’s on Wednesday and Thursday, where participating teams will play alongside a PGA TOUR Champions professional over 18 holes of premiere golf. Competitive action will follow with 54 holes of championship play from Friday to Sunday, with no cut.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.pacificlinkschampionship.com by clicking on the ‘Buy Tickets’ tab. Fans can choose from the following ticket options:

WEEKLY PASS – WEDNESDAY TO SUNDAY: $99 (INCLUDES FREE PARKING & OFFICIAL PROGRAM)

DAILY PASS – FRIDAY, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY: $40

PRO-AM DAILY PASS – WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY: $25

CHAMPIONS CLUBHOUSE VIP PASS – FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY: $200.00

For information on corporate hospitality, sponsorship opportunities or group packages, please contact McKenzie Clarke at mclarke@sportboxgroup.com or (647) 468-3500.

About Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship

The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship is an official event on PGA TOUR Champions featuring the world's premier golfers aged 50 and older competing for a US$ 2.5 million purse. Tournament play at the Pacific Links Championship will be held on the Jack and Steve Nicklaus Co- Design Mountain Course at Bear Mountain Golf Resort, Victoria, British Columbia, from September 11-17, 2017. All three competitive rounds will be broadcast live by Golf Channel to more than 200 million homes in 84 countries and 11 languages around the world.

Website: PacificLinksChampionship.com
Twitter: @PacificLinksVic
Instagram:@pacificlinksvic
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pacificlinkschampionship/

About Pacific Links International

Pacific Links was founded in 2009 to provide members with a premium golf experience through an innovative international membership structure focused on the Chinese golfer. Pacific Links offers them access to the finest collection of high quality golf clubs in the world. Since 2012, the Pacific Links Network of Affiliated and Reciprocal clubs now stands at over 500 properties located in 20+ countries around the world. With a strong membership base continuing to grow in China, the planned expansion into other parts of Asia and the aggregated population of members from all the participating clubs, Pacific Links is now expanding the brand platform to encompass more than just golf. We are positioning Pacific Links International to be the preeminent Lifestyle portal for China’s HNW customer providing high demand travel itineraries inspired by golf but encompassing concierge services, flights, accommodations, local tourism experience and travel butler assistance. The main feature of a Pacific Links membership is reciprocal access. In the next 10-15 years, PLI will further expand its international affiliate network to over 1,000 clubs in North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and the entire Southeast Asia. www.pacificlinks.com

About Bear Mountain Golf Resort

Located on southern Vancouver Island - a region known for its year round golf climate, stellar fishing opportunities and strong local food movement - Bear Mountain Resort offers two outstanding golf courses that combined represent the only 36-hole Nicklaus Design golf experience in Canada. The Mountain Course, a Jack and Steve Nicklaus Co-Design, features impressive landscape and dramatic terrain that lead to breathtaking 180 degree views of nearby Victoria, the Pacific Ocean and the Olympic Mountains of Washington State. The course, a par 70 playing at 6,900 yards, sets atop a 1,100-foot mountain and has been assigned a slope rating of 142 from the back tees. The 18-hole, par 71 Nicklaus Design Valley Course, a spectacular golf setting that is nestled in a pristine natural 102 acres of mature forests, measures just under 7,000 yards. Surrounded by 3,000 acres of parks and natural setting so close to a capital city. More than a resort and an incredible community, Bear Mountain is also home to Golf Canada's National Development team, the high performance training centre of Canada’s National Mountain Bike team, and the construction of western Canada’s largest indoor/outdoor clay court tennis facility supported by Tennis Canada and Tennis BC is underway. The newly renovated Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa rounds out the amenities offering guests a luxurious getaway with outstanding fine dining options, the award-winning Sante Spa, and the Bear Mountain Golf Academy. www.bearmountain.ca

About PGA TOUR Champions

PGA TOUR Champions is a membership organization of golf’s most recognizable and accomplished players, age 50 and older, including 32 members of the World Golf Hall of Fame. The Tour’s mission is to provide financial opportunities for its players, entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back and generate significant charitable and economic impact in tournament communities. In 2017, the PGA TOUR Champions schedule includes 26 tournaments in 18 states, Japan, Wales and Canada, with purses totaling more than $55 million. The Charles Schwab Cup, which includes the Regular Season and the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, is used to determine the season-long champion. All events are televised in the United States, with most receiving complete coverage on Golf Channel, the exclusive cable-television partner of PGA TOUR Champions. Internationally, telecasts air live, tape-delayed or in a highlights-package format in excess of 190 countries and territories, reaching more than 330 million potential households. The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Follow PGA TOUR Champions at facebook.com/PGATOURChampions, on Twitter @ChampionsTour and on Instagram @pgatourchampions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Brad Parkins
Tournament Director
P: (647) 473-7100
E: bparkins@sportboxgroup.com