Matt HopleyÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s first start in a pro tournament will be in familiar surroundings.
The GallagherÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Canyon junior golfer has earned an exemption into this weekÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Mackenzie Tour event in Kelowna.
The 2017 GolfBC Championship tees off Thursday morning at the GallagherÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Canyon Golf and Country.
Along with Hopley, fellow junior golfer Wyatt Brook from Rivershore in Kamloops, has also earned an exemption into the tournament.
The GolfBC Championship will feature 156 players, with a prize package of $175,000. Many of the gameÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s up-and-coming players will pursue the winnerÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s share of $31,500.
The PGA Tour Canada Mackenzie Tour is a stepping stone to the Web.com and PGA Tours.
The opening ceremonies are set for Wednesday at 3 p.m. at GallagherÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s, with a Long Drive Challenge to follow, featuring World Long Drive champion Jamie Sadlowski. Fans are invited to watch the competition from the number one tee box.
Sadlowski, along with former top-ranked Canadian amateur, Jared du Toit, have both been granted exemptions into the four-day tourney.
Ten players joined the field on Monday after a qualifying tournament at the Okanagan Golf Club, including two Canadians, TorontoÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Andrew Ledger and EdmontonÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s Andrew Funk.
The GolfBC Championship is the third of 12 events on the Mackenzie Tour this season, following previous tournament stops in Victoria and Vancouver.
A four-day pass for this weekÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s tournament is $25 until Thursday and $35 after that. Single day passes are $15 at the gate.
For more information on the weekÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s events, tickets and parking, visit
For more information on the Mackenzie Tour, go to
Tournament supports flood reliefÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥¦
The GolfBC Championship announced last week that a significant portion of the proceeds from the tournament will go to Red Cross Kelowna flood relief after heavy rains fell in the Okanagan Valley leading up to the event.
Last year, the event raised $150,000 and will continue to raise money for the B.C. Cancer Foundation.