Golf Tourney

CAPTION: Dallas Desjardins makes a putt on the 18-hole at Summerside Golf Course Monday morning where he is the general manager. Desjardins will be taking part in the Atlantic Professional Golf Association’s Tour Championship hosted at the course Sept. 7-8.

Summerside to host Atlantic Professional Golf Association’s tour championship.

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

SUMMERSIDE- The Summerside Golf Course will be this year’s host of the Atlantic Professional Golf Association’s Tour Championship Sept. 7 and 8.

The tournament will see about 45 professional golfers from Atlantic Canada, including Kevin Dugas and Canadian Professional Golf Associations alumni Craig Taylor and Gordie Smith, competing for a purse of $15,000 over the two day stroke play event. Summerside will be represented in the tournament by Summerside Golf Course’s general manager Dallas Desjardins and its head professional Paul Bonefant.

Summerside was chosen to host the event after the original city couldn’t get settled in time. Desjardins who is tour captain volunteered Summerside for the event and received a warm reception to the idea.

“I announced it at our last three day event and everybody seemed really excited to be coming to Summerside.”

The APGA holds two major events each year including the tour championship and the Atlantic Zone challenge, held this year at Kingswood Golf Course in Fredricton, N.B.

Atlantic Region businesses will have a chance to play in the Pro-Am event on Sept. 6, which will see three amateurs paired with one professional.

Desjardins said he was excited to be able to host the tournament in Summerside.

“This is a great feather in our cap. You know, we get to show off how far this course has come in recent years, because in my opinion it is one of the better venues with positioning, playability and challenge,” he said. “People don’t realize how much of a challenge this golf course can be.”

Desjardins said he believes the tournament will be great for the city.

“Hopefully our course and the city can see a little influx of tourists coming in after (the tournament) might not be this year but hopefully next year once they realize this is one of the better places to play on the Island.”
He said though he doesn’t think the home field advantage will be working for him, it will for Bonefant.

“He’s been playing pretty well this year and having home field advantage might get him to put up some great numbers for the other guys to challenge.”

Desjardins said the amount of pros attending the event has been consistent every year.

“We only have 176 golf professionals in Atlantic Canada, so it is usual about 45.”

He said he isn’t too sure what to expect crowd wise, especially being the first week of school for most homes in Summerside.

“If there is people interested in wanting to come out and watch some great golf being played, we will have a big scoreboard up and will have signs following groups to show how well they’re doing.”