Merit Golf Vacations PGA of Ontario Pro Am

Posted by:  Jim Kenesky

Recently I had the pleasure to be on site for the Merit Golf Vacations PGA of Ontario Pro Am at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, FLA.   I attended the event as the PGA of Ontario Tournament Captain.

The uniqueness of this event was that the Pro Am just so happen to fall between the weeks of two major televised golf events.  Tiburon Golf Club played host to CME Globe LPGA Tour Championship the week prior to our visit.  The week after our departure would see the Franklin Templeton Shark Shootout come to town.

The weather was great and the course was a true test for the PGA of Ontario professionals and their amateur teams.  In total, there were 21 teams competing and ultimately enjoying the event atmosphere.  With the high profile events being contested at the same facility, we were treated to Grandstands and tents throughout the course.  It was an interesting angle to watch as the workers were getting things ready for the Shark Shootout.  

As a management company that conducts golf tournaments, it was great to see the different way major events are set up.  As a spectator we only see things during an event.  It was a nice experience to watch the operations crew set up the tournament atmosphere ahead of a PGA Tour event.

My main role for the Pro Am scoring.  I was responsible for the set up of online scoring and be on-site to conduct official scoring for the event.  You can view the Official Pro Am site HERE

The event went off with only a couple input errors that were detected early and did not affect any daily outcomes.  We were seamless and quick in our delivery of Round 3 and 4 tee times.  It was a 72 hole event that saw a leaders off last reshuffle of tee times for the last two rounds.  The round results and daily tee times were available five minutes after completion of play.  

The format of the Pro Am was a modified Progressive Better Ball with one net score counting on par 5 holes, two on par 4 holes and 3 scores counting on par 3 holes.  Our scoring system can easily handle this format and allowed for live scoring and results available as scorecards were entered.  The Professionals were playing a modified Stableford competition.  Each tournament was competed over 72 holes.

In the end Team Nick Kenney won the team competition and Ed Maunder took home the Professional title.  Gord Chilton and Greg Colekessian made it close with some fine play over the final 2 rounds.

Enjoy some pictures of the event and we hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season.  

We look forward to connecting in the New Year. ​