PGA of BC PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
AXIS INSURANCE GROUP
Axis
The Axis Insurance Group was formed in 2017 through a brand amalgamation of several BC-based insurance brokerages with roots tracing to 1928. The experience of its combined 150 team members is uniquely positioned to serve Canada with risk-management and insurance services.

Whether it's mitigating liability risk, protecting your commercial property, insuring a tournament's hole-in-one contest or anything else in between, contact Axis to find out what coverage options are available to be customized for your facility. By partnering with the largest insurance companies in Canada, Axis Insurance Group has access to the best coverage solutions on the market. Consider them for your personal needs as well, including for auto, travel, homeowner or tenant insurance and more.

Axis Insurance Group is a Gold-level Preferred Partner of the Association and the presenting sponsor of the PGA of BC Championship, which will take place Aug. 23-24 at Rivershore Golf Links. Click below to access Axis Insurance Group's website.
POINT GREY G&CC'S ZIBRIK & DAGG WIN TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
Point Grey Golf & Country Club Head Professional Dave Zibrik and amateur partner Jeff Dagg captured the PGA of BC Tournament of Champions presented by Tee-on Golf Systems Inc. & PING Canada in a playoff on Monday at Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club.

The Point Grey duo outlasted teams from Fairview Mountain Golf Club (Brian McDonald & Thierry Martine) and Chilliwack Golf Club (Ryan Tofani & Mike McGimpsey) with a par on the first hole of the alternate-shot playoff after all three teams carded 6-under-par rounds of 65 on the Richmond course. Zibrik collected the top prize of $1,000 from the Professional purse while Dagg took home a set of PING i210 irons as the first-place amateur prize.

The host team of Mayfair Lakes Head Professional Brian Coe and amateur Kelin Ainsworth finished fourth out of the 32 competing teams at 5-under, while three teams tied for fifth place at 4-under -- Northview Golf & Country Club (Greg Pool & Coco Pei), Pitt Meadows Golf Club (Wes Doka & Ryan Lloyd) and Kamloops Golf & Country Club (Alec Hubert & Shawn Vanderwal).

Click below to read our complete Tournament of Champions recap, including a link to final scoring and a video interview with the winners.

In addition to contending for the title Monday, Mayfair Lakes Golf & Country Club was a fantastic first-time host of the Tournament of Champions. The PGA of BC thanks Coe, Executive Professional Mike Smedstad, superintendent Greg Bond and the entire team at Mayfair Lakes for their tremendous hospitality in welcoming our Professional and amateur competitors.

The PGA of BC also thanks Tee-On Golf Systems Inc. for its ongoing support of the Tournament of Champions, as well as first-year sponsor PING Canada for its patronage and on-site presence at the event Monday.
STINSON RUNNER-UP AT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP OF CANADA
Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course) put in a tremendous performance to take runner-up honours at last week's BetRegal PGA Championship of Canada presented by TaylorMade Golf & adidas Golf.

Stinson made just a single bogey over 72 holes at Golf Club du Vieux Village in Bromont, Que. and shot all four rounds in the 60s to finish at 22-under for the event. He was the 54-hole co-leader with PGA of Alberta Professional Riley Fleming, who ultimately took the title with a final-round 66. Stinson, who was a top-10 finisher at the most recent PGA Championship of Canada in 2019, earned $6,650 for second place.

Zach Olson (Chilliwack Golf Club) was the next-best PGA of BC member in the field, finishing T13 at 14-under to collect more than $1,700. John Shin (Northview Golf & Country Club) shot four under-par rounds to earn a T32 result at 8-under and pocket $385, while Ethan Danish (Gallagher's Canyon Golf Club) and Sergej Dronov (Pacific Golf Academy) were among the players tied for 39th at 6-under to take home $310 apiece. Finlay Young (GolfTEC Kelowna) also made the 54-hole cut, shooting four consecutive 72s for a T54 result and $202 payday.

The PGA of BC was also well represented in the 54-hole PGA Seniors' Championship of Canada. Cory Draper (Capilano Golf & Country Club) was the top finisher in 24th place at 6-over, earning $195, while Paul Dashkewytch (The Springs at Radium) was one shot back in 25th to make a $185 cheque. Jeff Buder's (University Golf Club) T30 result at 9-over was worth $152; Dean Kuntz (The Vancouver Golf Club) placed 47th. The event was won by PGA of Canada Tournament Professional Dennis Hendershott.

Click below to view the final leaderboard; revert results to Round 3 to view Seniors' Championship scoring.
NOMINATION PERIOD FOR PGA of BC AWARDS ENDS FRIDAY
Please be reminded that there are just a couple of days left to submit nominations toward the 2021 PGA of BC Awards Program.

Dozens of nominations have so far been submitted to recognize excellence within our Association, but the administration team welcomes further candidates to be put forward before the Friday, Aug. 13 deadline. The nomination form will be closed as of 4 p.m. PT on Friday.

Nominations are accepted for awards in the following categories:
  • Dick Munn Golf Professional of the Year
  • Fred Wood Class "A" Professional of the Year
  • Jock McKinnon Apprentice Professional of the Year
  • Cec Ferguson Executive Professional of the Year
  • Golf Facility of the Year
  • Alvie Thompson Teacher of the Year
  • Ben Colk Golf Shop of the Year
  • Jack McLaughlin Junior Golf Leader of the Year
  • Herb Paterson Sales Representative of the Year
  • Jack Westover Coach of the Year
  • Davie Black Professional Development Award
  • Dunc Sutherland Distinguished Service Award

Click below to access the nomination form, or click here to visit the Awards Program page for more information on each of the Association's annual honours. We look forward to announcing Regional Recipients for each award in September and naming Provincial Recipients during the PGA of BC Awards Celebration on Oct. 13.
PGA of CANADA DUES NOTICES NOW AVAILABLE, PAYMENT PLANS OFFERED
PGA of BC Professionals will see no change in their membership dues for next year, as the PGA of Canada announced Wednesday that there will be no increase to national membership dues in 2022, and that flexible payment plans will once again be offered to all Professionals.

Several options exist for payment plans, ranging from three to eight monthly instalments that may begin as late as October of this year. Payment plans must be established by Oct. 24, or full payment of dues must be completed by Nov. 1, otherwise late-fee penalties will apply.

Members completing the three-month payment plan option or those paying dues in full before the deadline will be eligible to win one of three PGA of Canada gift cards, with one valued at $1,000 and two worth $750. These can be used toward any PGA of Canada or zone service, such as registration fees for professional-development events, championships or even future membership dues.

Please direct any dues-related inquiries to PGA of Canada Managing Director of Membership & Support Services Darcy Kral at [email protected].
STINSON LEADS PGA of BC ORDER OF MERIT IN FIRST LOOK AT 2021 STANDINGS
Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course, pictured) occupies top spot on the PGA of BC Order of Merit in the first update to the standings this season.

Calculations include all eligible regional-tour events held to date, as well as last month's PGA of BC Assistants' & Seniors' Championships.

With three regional-tour wins and a top-10 Assistants' Championship finish, Stinson has amassed 42.33 points on the year.

Seniors' Champion Rob Anderson (Kelowna Golf & Country Club, 38.00 points) and Assistants' Champion Conner Kozak (The Okanagan Golf Club, 35.00 points) hold down second and third place, respectively. Keith Martin (Tower Ranch Golf Club, 31.50 points) and Jake Scarrow (Chilliwack Golf Club, 27.00 points) round out the top five.

The Order of Merit, which was not tabulated in 2020, is one key factor in determining the recipient of the Stan Leonard Player of the Year Award at season's end. Performance in PGA of Canada championship events may also be considered in identifying the Player of the Year. Click below to access the up-to-date standings.
MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
Justin Fram has left Royal Colwood Golf Club

Brian O'Keefe has left Shuswap Lake Golf Course

Gagan Deep Ghotra has transferred to the Alberta Zone 
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
No new opportunities
PGA of BC PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT -- LINDSAY BERNAKEVITCH
Head Professional, Victoria Golf Club

PGA of Canada member since: 2006

At which golf facility did you first begin working within the industry, and who was the PGA Professional? 
Emerald Park G&CC in White City, Sask. The PGA Professional was Todd Zado, who's now the Head Professional at the Wascana G&CC

What is your most cherished golf memory? 
Qualifying for and playing in the 2003 Canadian Open. For me, teeing off the first tee, hearing the announcer say my name and where I was from, then hearing the crowd cheering on a fellow Canadian.... still gives me goosebumps!

Which significant accomplishments are you most proud of? 
Seven provincial championships (4x Saskatchewan Amateur Champion, 2x PGA of BC Club Professional Champion, 1x PGA of BC Champion), and being a four-year member of the Canadian Men's Amateur Team, representing Canada in nine different international events.

What is the most rewarding part about being a member of the PGA of BC? 
Being a part of a group of people that care so much about our sport and want to see it thrive. Passion is contagious!
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FACT OF THE WEEK
Since the PGA of BC Championship changed to a 36-hole format in 2013, the title has been decided in a playoff three times.

The most recent Championship to require extra holes came in 2017 at Capilano Golf & Country Club, when John Shin (Northview Golf & Country Club, pictured) defeated Brady Stead (Ledgeview Golf Club) with a birdie on the second playoff hole.

See more tournament facts in next week's preview of the TaylorMade Golf & adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship presented by Axis Insurance Group, which runs Aug. 23-24 at Rivershore Golf Links, or click below to visit the PGA of BC Championship history page.
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