Stellar Field set to Compete at the 2007 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistants' Championship

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Stellar Field set to Compete at the 2007 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistant’s Championship presented by Simmlands Insurance

ACTON, ON (September 17, 2007) – One of the strongest fields in recent history is set to compete for a National Title next week at the 2007 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistants' Championship presented by Simmlands Insurance at Val des Lacs Club de Golf in Ste. Sophie, Quebec.

2006 Champion Phil Jonas of Vancouver, BC is returning this year to defend his title and to compete for another National victory amongst the other countless strong players in the field this year. Last year, Jonas held off a furious charge from a handful of players and clinched the win with a 40-foot downhill slider for eagle on the 17th hole at Predator Ridge in BC.

“This tournament always has the toughest field for Assistant Club Professionals in Canada, so I have always been extremely proud and honoured to win this event. For me, this is the most important tournament of the year,” stated Jonas, a Teaching Professional at McLeery Golf Academy and Hazelmere Golf Course in Surrey, BC. “I look forward to seeing some of the people I see only at this event every year, and also look forward to competing in Quebec again since winning the 2000 QuebecTel Open, and having my best Canadian Open performance there in 1997.”

Mike Belbin is another player to watch at Val des Lacs Golf Club after finishing T-3rd in 2006 and T-2nd in 2005 in this event. Belbin, who works at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton AB, is enjoying another great year in the Alberta Zone of the Canadian PGA and currently leads the Alberta Zone Assistant’s Order of Merit after notching two victories this summer.

“I'm really looking forward to this event, I haven’t played Val des Lacs before, but I have heard great things,” stated Belbin. “To me, this National Championship is the biggest tournament of the year and I look forward to playing in the event every season to compete against the best Assistants in Canada.”

Former Canadian Tour star Rob McMillan, now a Canadian PGA Teaching Professional at Golftown in Winnipeg, makes his debut this year in the Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistant’s Championship. McMillan, a three time winner on the Canadian Tour, has been on fire in the Manitoba Zone this year, winning five events and locking up the 2007 Manitoba PGA Player of the Year standings.

“I have had so much fun this past season. It has been a long time since I have been home for a full summer,” stated McMillan, the 1996 Canadian Amateur Champion. “I was fortunate to win our Manitoba Assistants and Manitoba PGA events and I am looking forward to the Canadian Assistants,” stated McMillan. “I believe Manitoba has a strong team and we look forward to the InterZone event as well as the individual competition. The field for this year’s Championship speaks for itself, I believe the level of play will be very high.” said McMillan.

Five past champions contribute to the quality of the field at Val des Lacs. Joining Jonas (’06 & ’04 Champion) is Edd Boudreau of Victoria, BC (’03), Gregg Foley of Ottawa, ON (’01), Remi Bouchard of St. Lambert, PQ (’88) and Serge Thivierge of Longueuil, PQ (’77, ’79, ’80).

Thivierge finished in 4th place earlier this summer at the BreconRidge Canadian PGA Senior’s Championship and is still going strong looking for his 5th Canadian PGA National title after winning the Canadian PGA Assistants Championship three times as well as his 1991 victory at the Canadian PGA Club Professional Championship.

One player the field does not have to worry about this year is Bryn Parry of North Vancouver, BC. Parry, a two time champion of this event, enjoyed a fabulous year in the BC Zone of the Canadian PGA last year winning an outstanding 16 times. He took the confidence he gained in 2006 down to PGA Tour Qualifying School and came within one shot of getting his PGA Tour Card. Parry is currently enjoying his first year on the Nationwide Tour and writes a weekly blog about his journey on the CPGA website.

Championship activities will begin Sunday, September 23rd with registration and practice rounds. On Monday, September 24th the three day 54-hole stroke play championship will begin with the field cut to 70 plus ties after the first 36 holes.

There will be 36-hole InterZone competition compiled of four players on each team representing the nine Canadian PGA zones. The team score will be calculated from the best three out of four scores accumulated over the first two rounds. The purse for the InterZone competition is $5000.

The total purse for the Championship is $45,000 and the champion will receive exemption into the 2007 PGA Assistant Professional Championship in Port St. Lucie, Fla along with the $6,500 first place cheque.

To view the 2007 Titleist & FootJoy Canadian PGA Assistant’s Championship draw click here

For more information contact:

Erica Bury
Communications Coordinator
Canadian PGA
erica@cpga.com
800.782.5764

Brad Moyer
Manager of Events and Employment
Canadian PGA
brad@cpga.com
800.782.5764 (x227)

About the CPGA:

Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit www.cpga.com