Jim Nelford Joins the Competitive Field at the 2007 BreconRidge Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship
Jim Nelford Joins the Competitive Field at the 2007 BreconRidge Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship
ACTON (JUNE 26, 2007) – BreconRidge and the Canadian PGA are pleased to announce that Jim Nelford will be in Ottawa to compete for the $55,000 purse at the 2007 BreconRidge Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship, July 19-22 at The Marshes Golf Club at Brookstreet Resort.
Nelford grew up in Vancouver, BC, and dominated the local circuits in the province, winning Canadian Amateur events, including the 1975 and 1976 Championships, and the 1977 Western Amateur. He then went on to play at Bringham Young, but his main focus was making it to PGA Tour. Nelford played on the PGA Tour from 1978 to 1988, where his best year was 1983 when he made 26 of 31 cuts and finished second in at Hilton Head’s Sea Pines Heritage Classic. Nelford’s career and life almost came to an end in September of 1985, when he suffered multiple, life-threatening injuries after being struck by the propeller of a boat while water skiing on Saguaro Lake near Phoenix. Nelford's right arm was broken in nine places and his nerves were shredded. He had numerous surgeries and skin grafts, and was in the hospital for four weeks. The doctors thought he would never play again.
Since the accident, Nelford turned to the broadcast world, where he was an analyst at Canadian Opens, Skins games, and PGA Tour events in the United States. The television world was kind to Nelford, but his passion for playing the game became overbearing. Nearing 50, Nelford decided that he wanted to get back into playing competitively, and joined the 2007 Champions Tour with a non-exempt status. It would be the first time since 1998 that he would play in a competitive tournament. With a non-exempt status, Nelford decided that in order to stay competitive he had to be mobile in order to be able to fight for one of seven spots in Monday qualifiers across the country for the Tour. He chose to leave his apartment behind and purchase an RV that he drives from tournament to tournament.
“We are very excited to have such a competitive field at this year's tournament, and now with the addition of Jim to the group, this may be one of the strongest fields we have ever had.” said Warren Crosbie, President of the Canadian PGA, “it is truly fitting that such a celebrated environment like The Marshes in Ottawa is going to host some of the most legendary Canadian Senior golfers."
Nelford is joining a very impressive cast of players this year at the BreconRidge Canadian PGA Seniors’ championship. Dave Barr, Jerry Anderson, Bob Panasik, Serge Thiverge, Hocan Olsson, Adam Brown, Dave Bell, John Irwin and defending champion Graham Gunn are among a few of the top players competing.
The tournament entry deadline for players to confirm their intention to compete at the BreconRidge Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship is July 10, 2007.
The $55,000 BreconRidge Canadian PGA Seniors’ Championship will take place from July 19- July 22, 2007 and is a three-day, 54-hole individual stroke-play competition open to Canadian PGA Professionals 50 and older. The Super Senior (60 and older) and Diamond (70 and older) division will be contested over two days of 36 holes.
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For more information contact:
Erica Bury
Communications Coordinator
Canadian PGA
erica@cpga.com
800.782.5764
Brad Moyer
Manager of Events and Employment
Canadian PGA
brad@cpga.com
800.782.5764 (x227)
Tournament History:
The BreconRidge Canadian PGA Seniors Championship was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the Seniors’ Championship became an independent event and has stayed that way ever since. Among the Canadian golf legends to win this championship are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman, Bob Panasik and Al Balding. Norman won this championship a record seven straight years from 1979 to 1985 while Balding stunned the golf world by winning the championship at age 76 in 2000.
About BreconRidge:
Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, BreconRidge is one of the world’s top 50 electronic manufacturing services (“EMS”) companies with facilities located in Canada, the United States and China. Employing state-of-the-art technology and world-class talent, BreconRidge provides customers with a full service operations model. Servicing the needs of both emerging and established original equipment manufacturers in the communications, industrial, military, aerospace and consumer market sectors, BreconRidge delivers: design, process and test engineering services, component sourcing, global procurement, supply chain management, manufacturing, order fulfillment, and distribution services, along with after sales support, including product repair, refurbishment, warranty tracking and complete logistics services. Products manufactured by BreconRidge can be found all over the world. Find us on the web at www.breconridge.com.
About the CPGA:
Established in 1911, the Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association is a non-profit association comprised of approximately 3,500 golf professionals across the country with a mandate to promote and advance the game of golf, serving the needs of both its membership and the golf public through professional and junior golf development programs and high-calibre competitive events. The National Office is located in Acton, Ontario with nine Zone Offices across the country. For more information, visit www.cpga.com