2008 Players Cup Home

Overview

Previously known as the MTS Classic and the Free Press Manitoba Classic, the Canadian Tour Players Cup is the eleventh year for one of the premier events on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour. Once again the Players Cup will be contested at the Donald Ross designed Pine Ridge Golf Club. The four tournament rounds will be played on July 17 – 20. The Players Cup will feature 156 golfers from around the world competing for the $36,000 first place money out of the $200,000 total purse.

The quality of the field at the Manitoba Classic has always been first class. Over 30 players who have played in Winnipeg over the past ten years have gone on to play on the PGA Tour. Over the past 20 years former Canadian Tour members have gone on to win over $250,000,000 in Tours around the world including 55 PGA Tour victories.

Most of these players know how to play golf but they come to the Canadian Tour to learn how to win.

Tournament History

The Canadian Tour has been coming to Winnipeg since the early 80’s. In the beginning the Canadian Tour was part of the Manitoba Open and was played at Southwood Golf & Country Club, Breezy Bend Country Club, Pine Ridge Golf Club and Elmhurst Golf & Country Club.

In 1998 the Winnipeg Free Press took over the operation and management of the event. MTS became the first sponsor of the event to be known as the MTS Classic. The original purse was $125,000 and was won by Perry Parker at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club. The next year, 1999, saw Neale Smith win again at Elmhurst. In 2000 the event was moved across the street to Pine Ridge Golf Club and it has been there since then with Ben Ferguson taking home the trophy.

In 2001 the purse was increased to the current $150,000 level. The winners since then have been Ken Staton, Alex Quiroz, Jon Mills, Erik Compton, Lee Williamson, Josh Habig and in 2007 Mike Mezei.

Past Champions (Formerly the MTS Classic & Manitoba Classic)