Canadian PGA Championship Slowly Fading Away

First contested in 1912 at Toronto's Mississauga Golf Club and won by C.R. Murray of Montreal, the Canadian PGA Championship has respectfully been regarded as one of North America's oldest pro tournaments, behind the U.S. Open (1895) and Canadian Open (1904). The Canadian PGA is four years older than the U.S. PGA. and 20 years older than the Masters.

In its storied history only war has interfered with the CPGA championship from teeing off---1915-1918 and 1943---but now a war of a different nature obstructs this national event, the war of the economy. For the fourth consecutive year the absence of a tournament title sponsor prevents the CPGA from putting the Ross Trophy up for competition.

"The decision to cancel . . (this) . . championship for another year was not an easy one, " announced Lindon Garron, President of the Canadian PGA., in an open letter to all Association members.

"Collectively, we believe that the Championship should be held sooner rather than later and that a Champion's name should be inscribed on the historic P.D. Ross trophy once again. However, realistically it must only be resumed with the proper model in place and under the right economic and industry circumstances that will allow it to sustain itself for future generations of Canadian PGA Members and Canadian golf fans."

Golf Hall of Fame members like Stan Leonard, who claimed a record eight titles during a career that saw him go from running a pro shop, giving lessons and fixing clubs to winning championships on the PGA TOUR are interspersed with Canadian touring stars George Knudson (5), Al Balding (4), Moe Norman, Dave Barr, Dan Halldorson and Dick Zokol. Among the international winners were Lanny Wadkins, Lee Trevino (twice), Steve Stricker, Raymond Floyd and the King of golf, Arnold Palmer, whose victory in 1980 was his final world PGA victory.

This was a championship that began as the domain for strickly club professions but over years evolved into the biggest event for Canada's growing colony of your touring players. For decades it was the highlight of a struggling Canadian Tour.

In 2001, then president Earl Francis and the CPGA Board of Directors turned the running of the tournament over the PGA TOUR to become one its stops on a developmental tour. With an increased purse and a flock of Americans in the field, Dick Zokol of White Rick, BC stroked his way to victory.

Soon after, however, even the mighty sales arm of the PGA TOUR had difficulty finding sponsors in the U.S. to support a Canadian event few Americans paid any attention to. In 2005, Oshawa, ON's Jon Mills became the last recipient of the P.D. Ross Trophy.

"We understand that the CPGA Championship has taken on many identities since the inaugural event in 1912 and that it should continue in some form," said Lindon Garron this week.

"The National Board's interest is in reconfiguring and repositioning the Championship within the parameters of prudent financial management, stewardship for all who came before us and in perpetuity for all CPGA members yet to come. It is our belief that these goals will be accomplished"

Past Champions, Canadian PGA Championship

2006 - 2009 No Championship
2005 Jon Mills Oshawa, ON 269 Whistle Bear Golf Club Cambridge, Ontario
2004 Charles Warren Columbia, SC 269 Whistle Bear Golf Club Cambridge, Ontario
2003 Tom Carter Abington, Pa 275 DiamondBack Golf Club Richmond Hill, Ontario
2002 Arron Oberholser San Mateo, CA 268 DiamondBack Golf Club Richmond Hill, Ontario
2001 Richard Zokol Richmond, BC 271 DiamondBack Golf Club Richmond Hill, Ontario
2000 Chad Wright Ventura, CA 268 King's Riding Golf Club King City, Ontario
1999 Scott Petersen Englewood, CO 203 DiamondBack Golf Club Richmond Hill, Ontario
1998 Tim Clark South Africa 272 Forest City National Golf Club London, Ontario
1997 Guy Hill Lakeland, FL 276 The Mandarin Golf & CC Markham, Ontario
1996 Ashley Chinner Scarborough, ON 205 The Mandarin Golf & CC Markham, Ontario
1995 Trevor Dodds St. Louis, MO 276 Rideau Valley Golf & CC Manotick, Ontario
1994 Stuart Hendley Edmonton, AB 275 Le Royal Bromont Bromont, Quebec
1993 Steve Stricker Cherokee, IL 274 Credit Valley Golf & CC Mississauga, Ontario
1992 Kip Byrne Wekiva, FL 266 Wascana Country Club Regina, Saskatchewan
1991 Tom Harding Gull Lake, MI 273 Club de Golf Sorel-Tracy Tracy, Quebec
1990 Rick Gibson Whistler, BC 272 Quilchena Golf & CC Richmond, B.C.
1989 Jean-Louis Lamarre St. Zotique, PQ 275 Glencoe Golf & CC Calgary, Alberta
1988 Brent Franklin Vancouver, BC 283 Emerald Hills Golf & CC Stoufville, Ontario
1987 Jerry Anderson Scarborough, ON 271 Scarboro Golf Club Scarborough, Ontario
1986 Dan Halldorson Brandon, MB 277 Brantford Golf & CC Brantford, Ontario
1985 Dave Barr Richmond, BC 282 Brampton Golf Club Brampton, Ontario
1984 Jim Rutledge Victoria, BC 272 Spring Lakes Golf Club Stouffville, Ontario
1983 Lee Trevino Dallas, TX 271 Royal Quebec Golf Club Boischatel, Quebec
1982 Jim Thorpe Buffao, NY 283 Cherry Hill Golf Club Ridgeway, Ontario
1981 Ray Floyd Miami, FL 277 Westmount Golf & CC Kitchener, Ontario
1980 Arnold Palmer Youngstown, PA 275 Mayfair Golf & CC Edmonton, Alberta
1979 Lee Trevino St. Teresa, NM 285 The National Golf Club Woodbridge, Ontario
1978 Lanny Wadkins Advance, NC 270 Shaughnessy Golf & CC Vancouver, B.C.
1977 George Knudson Toronto, ON 276 Hylands Golf Club Ottawa, Ontario
1976 George Knudson Toronto, ON 275 St. Charles Country Club Winnipeg, Manitoba
1975 Bill Tape Woodbridge, ON 275 Bayview Golf Club Thornhill, Ontario
1974 Moe Norman Gilford, ON 271 Willow Park Golf & CC Calgary, Alberta
1973 Bob Panasik Windsor, ON 272 Burlington Golf & CC Burlington, Ontario
1972 Bob Panasik Windsor, ON 279 Rivermead Golf Club Aylmer, Quebec
1971 Wilf Homenuik Winnipeg, MB 273 Saskatoon Golf & CC Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
1970 Al Balding Toronto, ON 282 Brantford Golf & CC Brantford, Ontario
1969 Bob Cox Richmond, BC 280 Point Grey Golf & CC Vancouver, B.C.
1968 George Knudson Toronto, ON 268 Royal Quebec Golf Club Boischatel, Quebec
1967 George Knudson Toronto, ON 134 St. Catharines Golf & CC St. Catharines, Ontario
1966 Moe Norman Gilford, ON 204 Willow Park Golf & CC Calgary, Alberta
1965 Wilf Homenuik Winnipeg, MB 215 Royal Montreal Golf Club Ile Bizard, Quebec
1964 George Knudson Toronto, ON 199 Ashburn Golf Club Halifax, Nova Scotia
1963 Al Balding Toronto, ON 202 Mayfair Golf Club Edmonton, Alberta
1962 Alvie Thompson Downsview, ON 272 Mississaugua Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1961 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 203 Royal Quebec Golf Club Boischatel, Quebec
1960 Bill Kerr Beaconsfield, PQ 206 Niakwa Country Club Winnipeg, Manitoba
1959 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 203 Rivermead Golf Club Aylmer, Quebec
1958 Henry Martell Edmonton, AB 209 Calgary Country Club Calgary, Alberta
1957 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 210 Kawartha Golf Club Peterborough, Ontario
1956 Al Balding Erindale, ON 136 Downsview Golf & CC Toronto, Ontario
1955 Al Balding Erindale, ON 204 Hamilton Golf Club Hamilton, Ontario
1954 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 205 Mayfair Golf Club Edmonton, Alberta
1953 Henry Martell Edmonton, AB 211 Royal Quebec Golf Club Boischatel, Quebec
1952 Pat Fletcher Saskatoon, SK 210 Niakwa Country Club Winnipeg, Manitoba
1951 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 206 Hamilton Golf Club Hamilton, Ontario
1950 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 212 Summerlea Golf Club Montreal, Quebec
1949 Dick Borthwick Ancaster, ON 286 Seigniory Club Montebello, Quebec
1948 Gordon Brydson Mississauga, ON 292 Point Grey Golf Club Vancouver, B.C.
1947 Rodolphe Huot Quebec City, PQ 291 Riverside Saint John, New Brunswick
1946 Jules Huot Montreal, PQ 295 Niakwa Golf Club Winnipeg, Manitoba
1945 Bill Kerr Toronto, ON 280 Laval-Sur-Le-Lac GC Montreal, Quebec
1944 Gordon Brydson Mississauga, ON 143 Seigniory Club Montebello, Quebec
1943 No Championship
1942 Bob Burns Weston, ON 142 Chaudiere Golf Club Ottawa, Ontario
1941 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 291 Islemere Golf Club Montreal, Quebec
1940 Stan Leonard Vancouver, BC 280 Cedar Brae Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1939 Jules Huot Montreal, PQ 279 Kent Golf Club Quebec City, PQ
1938 Stanley Horne Ottawa, ON 284 Cataraqui Golf Club Kingston, Ontario
1937 Stanley Horne Ottawa, ON 288 Ottawa Hunt Golf Club Ottawa, Ontario
1936 Stanley Horne Ottawa, ON 294 Cataraqui Golf Club Kingston, Ontario
1935 Willie Lamb Toronto, ON 288 Elm RidgeGolf Club Montreal, Quebec
1934 Jules Huot Montreal, PQ 279 Country Club of Montreal Montreal, Quebec
1933 Willie Lamb Toronto, ON 146 Toronto Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1932 Lex Robson Toronto, ON 144 Rivermead Golf Club Aylmer, Quebec
1931 Andy Kay Toronto, ON 138 Rosedale Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1930 Willie Lamb Toronto, ON 141 Burlington Golf Club Burlington, Ontario
1929 Willie Lamb Toronto, ON 142 Laval-Sur-Le-Lac GC Montreal, Quebec
1928 Willie Lamb Toronto, ON 146 Rosedale Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1927 James Johnstone Toronto, ON 146 Lambton Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1926 James Johnstone Toronto, ON 139 Summerlea Golf Club Montreal, Quebec
1925 Percy Barrett Toronto, ON 146 Toronto Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1924 A.H. Murray Montreal, PQ 144 Beaconsfield Golf Club Montreal, Quebec
1923 Percy Barrett Toronto, ON 151 Summit Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1922 Nicol Thompson Hamilton, ON 145 Country Club of Montreal Montreal, Quebec
1921 David Black Ottawa, ON 148 Lambton Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1920 David Black Ottawa, ON 135 Royal Ottawa Golf Club Aylmer, Quebec
1919 David Black Ottawa, ON 148 Scarboro Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1915-1918 No Championship
1914 George Cumming Toronto, ON -na- Lakeview Golf Club Toronto, Ontario
1913 David Black Ottawa, ON 145 Beaconsfield Golf Club Montreal, Quebec
1912 C.R. Murray Montreal, PQ 156 Mississaugua Golf Club Toronto, Ontario