August 16, 2024

RICHMOND, BC (PGA of BC) - Morgan Creek Golf Course is renowned for its meticulously maintained fairways that wind through lush, undulating landscapes. A Thomas McBroom design, Morgan Creek features strategically placed bunkers, serene water features and mature trees that frame every hole, creating a sense of tranquility. The Surrey course will serve as host for next week’s Axis Insurance PGA of BC Championship presented by GOLFTEC, taking place August 19 & 20.

Tom Doull is the Head Professional at Morgan Creek, and anticipates a great tournament with a first-class atmosphere, where professionals can enjoy the pristine conditions, the course amenities and the welcoming atmosphere.

“The course is in amazing shape. After a difficult spring, we’re in the best shape we’ve ever seen. It’s playing firm and fast; the fairways are rolling out really well,” said Doull.

“We’re the past home of the PGA of BC, the office used to be on the 17^th hole. We used to host a lot of events, and it’s been a few years. This is a big event for us, we take pride in showcasing the facility and we’re excited for everyone to see how we’ve grown over the years.”

Morgan Creek will welcome 120 PGA of BC professionals who will compete in hopes of clinching the William Thompson Trophy as PGA of BC Championship victor. At last year’s Championship, held at Revelstoke Golf Club, Zach Olson (Chilliwack Golf Club) earned the title. Olson shot 10-under over two days to outlast runner-up and two-time champion Doug Morgan (Richmond Country Club) for Olson’s first victory in the event.

In 2022, Cordova Bay Golf Course’s Nate Ollis won the Championship held at Pitt Meadows Golf Club. Despite his competitive play not meeting his expectations this season, Ollis is hoping to recapture his 2022 Championship form next week.

“This season’s definitely been a struggle for me on the golf course, I haven’t performed as well as I have in recent seasons. It’s been primarily due to putting, so I’ve been spending a lot of time on that, ironing out the kinks. We’re rounding the corner, but it’s been a lot of time trying to get those pieces back in order,” said Ollis.

“It’s always nice knowing you’ve done it before, that you’ve got it over the line at our biggest event. I can take a lot of confidence away from that. For my mindset, this season’s been a bit of a struggle, but you never know when it’s going to turn around and I feel like I’m trending in the right direction. I’m really excited to tee it up at a great golf course and have another go at it.”

Also competing next week, 2024 Pro-Assistant champion and 2020 PGA of BC Championship winner Keith Martin (Tower Ranch Golf Club) hopes to extend his recent form and contend at Morgan Creek.

“I’ve been hitting the ball really solid all year, it’s going to be a matter of whether or not I can put some good putting days together. I’ve played Morgan Creek a few times. I really like it, another McBroom design like Tower Ranch. I think it will set up pretty well for me,” said Martin.

“My big focus this year has been driving. Last year, I struggled off the tee and that’s been the biggest improvement for me. I’m hitting way more fairways and keeping it in play more often.”

The PGA of BC is excited to introduce a new Regional Team competition for the Championship. Four representatives from each unique region - Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Interior & Kootenays/North - will compose the teams. The top three scores from each group of four will count towards the teams' scores. Regional teams were determined by the corresponding regional tour's 2024 Order of Merit standings as of July 31. Nike Golf is proud to provide uniforms to each regional team. We extend our gratitude to Nike Golf and to Jon Kadin and Mark Lindsay, Sales Representatives for Nike Golf & Mint Green Group, for their great support of our competitors.

The PGA of BC thanks title sponsor Axis Insurance and Commercial Account Executive Lee Fulsher for their consistent dedication to the Association, having served as sponsor of the Championship for a number of years.

We also extend our thanks to presenting sponsor GOLFTEC and GOLFTEC Canada COO & Vice President Dean Larsen. The PGA of BC is thrilled to welcome GOLFTEC as a new sponsor of the tournament, and looks forward to their presence next week.

Finally, we thank Doull, Superintendent Alan Ayres, and the entire Morgan Creek team for their hard work and diligence in advance of the Championship.

To view the Round One Draw, please click here. For more information, please reach out to Membership & Events Manager Doug Titterington at doug@pgabc.org.

Players to Watch

With many elite and accomplished competitors teeing it up at Morgan Creek, the following group has been in form this season and/or has enjoyed previous success at the Championship. These golfers will be among the favourites competing:

Bryn Parry, Seymour Creek Golf Centre

Bryn Parry is a four-time PGA of BC Champion, sharing the record for all-time titles in the event with Scott Minni. He won the 2013 PGA Championship of Canada and has been named the PGA of BC Stan Leonard Player of the Year a record nine times. A veteran who has competed in multiple PGA Tour events and enjoyed several decades at the forefront of Canadian golf, Parry’s most recent victory came at this year’s PGA of BC Seniors’ Championship.

Kevin Stinson, Cheam Mountain Golf Course

Kevin Stinson won the 2018 PGA of BC Championship and is the 2021 and 2023 PGA of BC Stan Leonard Player of the Year. Last year, he emerged victorious in the PGA Championship of Canada in a thrilling playoff. His strong play to top the PGA of Canada Player Rankings earned him a spot in the 2024 Canadian Open, marking his second time competing in the event. Recently, Stinson shot an 11-under 60 to set the course record at Nicklaus North Golf Course, his third G&G Tour victory of the year.  

Steven Lecuyer, Seymour Creek Golf Centre

Steven Lecuyer is the two-time defending champion of the PGA of BC Assistants’ Championship, with wins at Chilliwack Golf Club in 2023 and Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in 2024. He topped the Association’s Kal Tire Order of Merit standings in 2023, recognizing excellence in competition over the course of a full season. Lecuyer is a two-time Vancouver Open champion, joining PGA Tour star and Abbotsford native Adam Hadwin as the only golfers to win multiple titles in the event.

Lionel Taylor, Monte’s Golf Shop

Lionel Taylor has enjoyed a spectacular season in 2024, with several incredible results in tournaments across the province. Taylor earned runner-up honours in the 2024 PGA of BC Assistants’ Championship, where his final round 71 in the howling, swirling wind bested the field average by more than 13 strokes for one of the most dominant performances relative to the field in Association history. Taylor’s recent form has also seen him set two course records this year in tournament victories: a 61 in the Black Mountain Men’s Open and a 62 in the Penticton Men’s Open.

Keith Martin, Tower Ranch Golf Club

Keith Martin won the 2020 PGA of BC Championship at Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community. This season, he and teammate Miles Palahniuk took the Pro-Assistant Championship title at Copper Point Golf Club with a record-setting round in which they shot a 16-under 55 in the two-person scramble. Martin also earned a top ten finish at the 2024 Assistants’ Championship and a runner-up result at the 2021 Assistants’.

Nate Ollis, Cordova Bay Golf Course

Nate Ollis took the title at the 2022 PGA of BC Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club. That victory came a year after Ollis earned runner-up honours in the same event. Ollis’s strong play continued in 2023, taking third place in the Assistants’ Championship. In 2017, Ollis was a member of the national title-winning team at the RBC PGA Scramble at Cabot Links. His form in Association tournaments throughout the 2023 season earned him an eighth-place ranking on the year-end PGA of BC Kal Tire Order of Merit standings.