Canadian Tour Opens its 2002 Season
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:32:00
A total of 80 professionals, including the top 40 available from the 2001 Canadian Tour Order of Merit, will tee it up when opening round action begins Thursday. The Panasonic Panama Open is the first of 18 events in a year that will see the Canadian Tour make stops in Central America, the United States, Mexico and Canada. Since the event is a Tour-sanctioned Invitational Tournament, prize money won this week will not be factored into the 2002 Canadian Tour Order of Merit rankings.
American Steve Runge is the defending champion in Panama, and will be back to defend his title. Runge fired a final-round 5-under 67 a year ago to defeat Jonathan Byrd of South Carolina by one stroke. Byrd had led through the opening three rounds in 2001, and carried a three-shot cushion into the final round. Chad Wright (Ventura, CA) carded a course-record 62 during last year's final round to wind up alone in third.
Canadian Tour members slated to tee it up this week include defending Order of Merit champion Aaron Barber, along with 2001 event winners Eamonn Brady, Jace Bugg, Scott Ford, Steve Scott, Craig Matthew, Mark Slawter, Brian Payne and Jason Bohn.
There will be no cut after 36-holes, with the final of four rounds scheduled for Sunday.
Five players from last year's starting field-Byrd, Kenneth Staton, Stephen Gangluff, Paul Claxton and Tim Petrovic-recently earned playing privileges for the 2002 PGA Tour.
David Morland IV (Aurora, ON), a PGA Tour member last year, gained a spot in the Panasonic starting field when American Steve Woods withdrew.
Following the Panama event, the Canadian Tour returns to action with Winter Q-School February 11-15 in Orlando, FL. The Texas Challenge kicks off the U.S. portion of the schedule March 4-10 in Houston, the first of six events that will be broadcast live on The Golf Channel.
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