New date, larger purse for 2013 Saputo Vancouver Open

May 6, 2013

The 2013 Saputo Vancouver Open, held on the Vancouver Park Board’s three championship golf courses in partnership with Vancouver Golf Tour, is moving to June this year with a $125,000 purse based on a full field of national and international players, and a $16,000 cheque for the winner.

The 7th annual 54-hole Saputo Vancouver Open begins June 13 at 7:00 am. Competitors rotate between McCleery and Langara Golf Courses for the first two rounds. The final round will be played at Fraserview Golf Course June 15 beginning at 7:00 am with the tournament leaders expected to tee off at approximately 1:30 pm.

The Tifosi Eyewear Charity Pro-Am takes place June 11 at Fraserview Golf Course and features four amateurs playing with a premier professional from either the Vancouver Golf Tour or the PGA TOUR Canada. The Pro-Am includes more than $10,000 in amateur prizes plus a chance to shoot out for $1 million, as well as a $5,000 pro purse. The Pro-Am will benefit The First Tee of Greater Vancouver YMCA, which helps children aged seven to 18 learn the fundamentals of golf and the life skills required to play the game.

The Vancouver Open, presented by Johnston Meier Insurance and CNA Canada, is open to all golf professionals and amateurs with an RCGA Handicap Factor of 18 or less, while the Pro-Am allows amateurs with a handicap under 28 to participate. The maximum field will be 156 professionals and 156 amateurs. Spectators are welcome. Tickets are $10 per day or $20 for a full week pass. Tickets and Pro-Am spots can be purchased at the Vancouver Open website.

“The event will showcase our premier golf courses,” says Vancouver Park Board Chair Sarah Blyth. “The professionals will be challenged and the amateurs will have fun, while benefiting a great Park Board partner, The First Tee. We’re excited to have the event back for another year at its new date.”

“Moving the tournament date to June will bring the strongest field the Open has ever seen,” says Vancouver Golf Tour Commissioner Fraser Mulholland. “We have slotted the event on an off week for the PGA TOUR Canada, which will be wrapping up their event in Victoria on June 9. Positioning our event the week of June 11 – 15 will guarantee we get the best professional field in the seven-year history of our event.”

Eugene Wong was last year’s Vancouver Open champion. The 23-year old North Vancouver professional will return this year to defend his title. Another notable player to watch is Victoria’s Cory Renfrew, who finished 2nd at last year’s Times Colonist Island Savings Open, his first-ever PGA TOUR Canada event. Other players include Bryn Parry, a six time PGA of BC Player of the Year and a repeat winner of the Canada Cup, along with top 20 PGA TOUR Canada players Ryan Williams, Nick Taylor and James Allenby, and other Canadian rising stars. Organizers are currently confirming international players such as Chile’s Hugo Leon, Horacio Leon and Martin Ureta – all PGA TOUR Latinoamerica players.

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Daria Wojnarski

Communications Coordinator

(t) 604-257-8440 or (c) 604-561-6925

Fraser Mulholland

Commissioner

604-980-4653