KELOWNA – Kelowna will be playing host to a new golf tournament this year.
The GolfBC Championship is one of 12 stops on the Mackenzie Tour.
The tour is potentially a stepping stone for pros hoping to make it to the PGA Tour.
Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club will host the event June 6-12.
The Mackenzie Tour president says Gallagher’s Canyon was chosen because the course is a great test of golf.
“So if you can provide the players with that test, not only does it help you identify the best player that week, it helps them as they prepare to go the next level,” says Jeff Monday. “Because they’re going to play on such a quality test, it’s comparable to what they would eventually see on the PGA Tour.”
The Kelowna tournament features $175,000 in total prize money.
Greg Machtaler, who won a tour championship in Ottawa in 2014 and recently moved to Kelowna, will play the Okanagan tournament.
“There’s not much difference, if any, between the Mackenzie Tour, the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour. A lot of these guys could be playing on the PGA Tour right now,” says Machtaler. “I can guarantee you’re going to see some amazing golf.”
The net proceeds from the event will be donated to the BC Cancer Foundation.
– with files from Blaine Gaffney
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