MAY 25, 2022
RICHMOND, BC (PGA of British Columbia) -- The PGA of BC Tournament of Champions presented by PING Canada makes a return to the schedule next week with 35 teams competing at the historic Nanaimo Golf Club.
The 18-hole, best-ball competition, which features PGA of BC Club Professionals (Head, Executive or Head Teaching Professional) partnering with a club champion or other designated amateur from their facility, was held at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club in 2021 where Point Grey Golf & Counrty Club Head Professional, Dave Zibrik and amateur, Jeff Dagg claimed victory.
Zibrik and Dagg will be returning this year to attempt to bring the Tournament of Champions trophy back to Point Grey for a second year. Nanaimo Golf Club will be welcoming this championship for the first time while hosting its first Association championship in 25 years, last holding the PGA of BC Championship in 1997. The A.V. Macan-designed course features tall evergreens, majestic willow and maple trees which prove to be a tight test from the tee.
“I have never played Nanaimo Golf Club but from what I hear, it’s a course that if you keep the ball in play and under the hole, you can score. For us, it will be having two looks at birdie as often as possible and seeing how much we can capitalize on those opportunities”, Zibrik explained.
Last year's champions shot an exceptional round of 65 where they made birdie on the par-5 18th to forced a 3-way playoff with the teams from Fairview Mountain and Chilliwack Golf Club, already in the clubhouse at 7-under par. The Point Grey team made par on the first alternate shot-format playoff hole to give them the win.
The team of Zibrik and Dagg are looking to repeat something similar this year.
“Confidence levels are always high when we compete. Jeff and I have games that are quite different, and we seem to mesh well together when we play”, said Zibrik. “Neither one of us has been playing a lot of golf of late but hopefully the feels from last year come back and we can put something together”, he explained.
Brian McDonald, meanwhile, will be returning after last year's runner-up finish, seeking his second Tournament of Champions title and fourth victory in a PGA of BC team event. The Fairview Mountain Golf Club Executive Professional will be teaming with Corey Hilditch this year, a newcomer to the Tournament of Champions.
Ryan Tofani and Mike McGimpsey (Chilliwack Golf Club) are set to return to the field at Nanaimo Golf Club this year, eager to claim the title after a solid performance in 2021.
Host Professional Chris Wilson says the course is in great shape for this years event.
"The Pros and Club Champions will receive a warm welcome from Nanaimo Golf Club Staff and Members..." Wilson stated. "The course is primed and ready for action, as we just hosted the west coast swing of Golf Canada’s NexGen series, with 130 juniors from across Canada competing over three days."
The shotgun start will begin at 8:30 a.m. Please click here to visit our tournament page for full event details. The tournament draw and complete list of participants can be viewed by clicking here.
ABOUT PING CANADA
PING is a family-owned company, founded in 1959 in the garage of the late Karsten Solheim, a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the aerospace and computer industries. Solheim and his company are credited with numerous innovations that became industry standards, including perimeter weighting, custom fitting and the use of investment casting in the manufacturing of golf clubs. As a brand, PING is synonymous with innovation, quality and service in the world of golf and supports over 100 tour players worldwide including Bubba Watson, Lee Westwood, Tyrell Hatton, Tony Finau, Louis Oosthuizen and Canadians Brooke Henderson, Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners. PING Canada is located in Oakville, Ontario and is owned by PING USA in Phoenix, Arizona. PING Canada has operated in Canada since 1996 and is responsible for sales, marketing, distribution and service of all PING equipment in Canada. Visit ca.ping.com to learn more
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For more information or media inquiries, please contact:
Owen Simpson
Communications & Marketing Manager, PGA of BC
(604) 303-6766
owen@pgabc.org