The TPT, a tour aimed at providing competition for some of the best up-and-coming professional golfers in Ontario, has completed its third season.
“There are a lot of up-and-coming pros in Ontario, and I think we’ve provided a great outlet for them,” says Matt Fenerty, Tournament Manager for the Toronto Players Tour, which is sponsored by Golf Town.
The tour, which is in its third season, ran nine tournaments this season, Fenerty says, with between 30 and 45 aspiring tour professionals playing in each event across Ontario. Participants play for the Golf Town Cup. This year’s champion was 28-year-old Drew Nesbitt who has played on both the PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica.
“Winning the Golf Town Cup was a great accomplishment this summer. I was able to compete and sharpen my game in a competitive environment. The tour helped gain back my confidence that propelled me to the next level in years past. I can’t wait to continue my path to the PGA tour. I’m very thankful to have had the Toronto players tour to help with this journey.” Said Nesbitt
Drew Nesbitt and Sebastian Szirmak, winner of the Golf Town Cup in 2022, both played in the RBC Canadian Open this past summer at Oakdale Golf and Country Club. Matt Fenerty believes that one of the keys to demonstrating the tour’s success is that its best players have played well and have continued to move forward with their careers. Brendan Leonard, winner of the Golf Town Cup in 2021, is playing on PGA Tour Canada this year, and landed a spot in the RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s in 2022.
As competition on tours like PGA Tour Canada has become increasingly dominated by international golfers, the TPT provides a great outlet for golfers who might otherwise struggle to find top competition, says Fenerty.
“The tour really reflects what’s happening in Canadian golf in general,” he says. “There are Canadians playing well all over the world, but you need to find competition to improve your game. I think that’s what we’re providing.”
The tour was created in 2021 as the world was struggling from the Covid-19 pandemic. Founded by Toronto minitour player Russell Budd, the goal was to create playing opportunities for Canadian golfers who would likely have sought opportunities south of the border but were unable to travel. Budd, who now works for PGA Tour Canada, had a diverse background as a playing professional and as a Tournament and Rules Official for Mackenzie Tour PGA Tour Canada. He was able to leverage his industry connections to provide amateur and professional golfers the opportunity to compete in pro events throughout Ontario.