OVERVIEW
The Ontario Open Qualifying Series (OOQSeries)(#OOQSeries) will consist of six open events across Ontario and will be included on the Great Lakes Tour (GLT) schedule for the current season. The six events will be covering many regions of Ontario in communities or regions such as Aurora/Newmarket, Ancaster/Hamilton, Belleville/Kingston, Niagara Falls, Port Dover/Simcoe and Kitchener/Waterloo.
THE PURPOSE
The purpose of this series is to create an open avenue for all competitive golfers in Ontario, Canada and from all across North America to have the opportunity to play their way into the Ontario Open Golf Championship, a current PGA TOUR Canada event. This series will give added exposure to the historic Ontario Open all season leading up to the Championship in July while providing Canadian competitive professional and amateur golfers more opportunities to develop their careers. Eventually this series will be an important asset in growing our national presence on the major golf tours around the world and adding exposure to one of Canada’s oldest championships.
THE FORMAT
The Ontario Open Qualifying Series will include six multi-day stroke-play tournaments (minimum of 36 holes). Each tournament will award points to each eligible player’s final position in the tournament creating a very dynamic and dramatic point race. The Great Lakes Tour will conduct and provide open access to these events for all eligible professionals and amateurs.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
The Ontario Open Qualifying Series is available to all Full Professional and Amateur Members of the Great Lakes Tour. Ladies, Junior and Senior amateur and golf professionals are eligible with the exception that all events will be contested from the same teeing ground.
THE SIX EVENTS IN 2022
| Date | Event | Facility | Holes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5-6 | GLT Spring Open | Woodington Lake GC (Legacy) | 36 |
| May 19-20 | GLT Ancaster Challenge | Mystic GC | 36 |
| June 7-8 | GLT Waterloo Championship | Grey Silo GC | 36 |
| June 16-17 | GLT Belleville Open | Trillium Wood GC | 36 |
| July 7-8 | GLT Niagara Open | Niagara National G&C | 36 |
| July 14-16 | Southern Ontario Open | Port Dover GC | 54 |
BREAKDOWN OF EXEMPTIONS TO OOQSERIES FINAL STANDINGS
- Exemption – Ontario Open Golf Championship (July 28-31, 2022)
- Exemption – Ontario Open Golf Championship (July 28-31, 2022)
- PAID – Entry Fee to Ontario Open Monday Qualifier (July 25, 2022)
- PAID – Entry Fee to Ontario Open Monday Qualifier (July 25, 2022)
- PAID – Entry Fee to Ontario Open Monday Qualifier (July 25, 2022)
THE ONTARIO OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
The Ontario Open has a storied history dating back to 1923, making this Championship one of the oldest Championships in the world. Past champions of this event can be read like a who’s who of Canadian and International golf, and includes the immortal Sam Snead, Canadian golfing legends George Knudson and Moe Norman, as well as seven-time champion Nick Weslock.
PAST CHAMPIONS OF THE ONTARIO OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP INCLUDE
- Sam Snead
- Moe Norman
- Murray Tucker
- Gary Cowan
- Nick Westlock
- George Knudson
- Jerry Anderson
THE GREAT LAKES TOUR
Since 2001 the Great Lakes Tour (GLT) has been the leading professional developmental tour in Canada. The GLT remains as the longest operating developmental golf tour in the country and is a proud partner of the East Coast Pro Tour (QC) and the Vancouver Golf Tour (BC). The GLT operates with full tournament resources and event staff that are passionate and highly skilled in all tournament operations from course marking/set up, starting, scoring, rules and communications. The GLT has produced more than 65 players that have participated in at least one GLT event and one PGA TOUR event with Michael Gligic, Taylor Pendrith and David Hearn as GLT Alum who have current PGA TOUR status.
CONCLUSION
A working partnership to create the Ontario Open Qualifying Series for primarily Canadian professionals and elite amateurs is very important for the long-term sustainability of growing the sport and producing Champion golfers in Canada. This series will also provide hope and inspiration to many players looking to advance their careers with goal of playing on the PGA TOUR.
A series that allows an individual the opportunity to compete in a professional atmosphere and gain experience over multiple events with the outcome of qualifying for a PGA TOUR Canada event is very important and potentially career changing.
The goal over time is for this series to develop more Canadian professionals on the world stage or at the very least remain competitive in golf representing our country. It will generate valuable exposure to the Ontario Open over the course of an entire season while helping to keep the GLT as an important piece in Golf Canada’s Long-Term Player Development Program.