It appeared here first, but Lorne Rubenstein at the Globe adds details to the talk of a Champions Tour event in Montreal. He says the event will go forward at Le Fountainbleau, a ClubLink course.
Here’s Rubenstein’s take:
Well, the rounders will return to Canada July 2-4 in a new Champions Tour event at Club de Golf Fontainebleau in Blainville, Que.
The older fellows havent played a Champions Tour event in Canada since 2002, which marked the end of the AT&T Canada Senior Open. That tournament had started in 1998, and marked the third incarnation of a Champions Tour event in Canada. The Peter Jackson Champions was held from 1981-1983 and the du Maurier Champions from 1984-1997.
The Globe and Mail has learned that the official announcement of the new tournament will be made during a media conference on Thursday Feb. 4 at a downtown Montreal hotel. ClubLink Corporation, based in King City, Ont., owns Fontainebleau. ClubLink will own the food and beverage revenue for the clubhouse and also the sponsor hospitality areas.
Synchro Sports, a Montreal-based sports management company, will conduct the tournament. The company runs the Canadian Tours Desjardins Montreal Open. Stephane Quintal, who played 16 seasons in the NHL for six teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, is the companys vice-president.
What’s more, Rubenstein gives it a chance of succeeding:
Will the tournament succeed? Given the name recognition for players on the Champions Tour versus PGA Tour players, its reasonable to believe the round bellies should be an attraction this summer.
The Montreal Gazette also weighs in.
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In an unrelated note, we’ve been having problems with our server over the past couple of days — but we’re sorting it out.
My impression is that the Senior Tour is a closed old boys club. Are they going to hand out some token sponsor exemptions to the likes of Dave Barr, Ray Stewart, and Jim Nelford just to sell some tickets?
Fountainbleau…… indirectly you heard it here first.
Last I heard the Tour stop was to be at Laval -Sur- Le-Lac, when did this venue change?
What if the event was hosted on multiple courses?
I think qualifying may be at Laval.