(LONDON, Ont.) – Golf Canada in partnership with title sponsor Freedom 55 Financial and PGA TOUR Canada announced today that the Golf in Schools program will serve as the official charity of the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial which will run September 8-14, 2014 at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ont.
In establishing a community legacy for the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial, Golf Canada will invite area golf clubs throughout London and Southwestern Ontario in a campaign to adopt schools to be a part of the Golf in Schools program.
Golf in Schools – which is currently offered in more than 2,225 elementary and close to 230 high schools across Canada – provides children with a basic introduction to golf through the Canadian school physical education curriculum. The program, which is endorsed by Physical Health and Education Canada (PHE Canada), is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations. More information about the Golf in Schools program including the school adoption program is available by clicking here.
“We’re excited to promote Golf in Schools,” said Mike Cunneen, Senior Vice President, Freedom 55 Financial/Wealth & Estate Planning Group. “We got involved in the program because it introduces golf and promotes healthy lifestyle – and hopefully gets more young people involved in the game.”
An elite field will compete at the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial with the top 60 players on the Order of Merit through the season’s penultimate tournament gaining entry into the season-ending event.
Max Gilbert of Quebec City, Que. won the inaugural TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial and will return to Sunningdale Golf and Country Club to defend his title.
The 12th and final event on the PGA TOUR Canada schedule will see the culmination of the race for Web.com Tour status at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club with the event once again operated by Golf Canada. Only the top 60 players on the Order of Merit will be eligible, setting up an exciting race to the season’s final event.
The top five players on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit earn Web.com Tour status for the following season, with players finishing in spots sixth through 10th earning an exemption into the final stage and players finishing 11th through 20th into the second stage of Web.com Tour Qualifying School.
In addition to serving as title sponsor of the TOUR Championship of Canada, Freedom 55 Financial also sponsors the Freedom 55 Canadian Player of the Week award presented at each PGA TOUR Canada event as well as the season ending Freedom 55 Player of the Year Award.