PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The field is officially set for The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist, kicking off the seventh event of the inaugural PGA TOUR Americas season. From June 20-23, Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia, will host the first tournament of this 10-event swing, featuring nine events in Canada and one in the United States.
In this season-long race for the Fortinet Cup, the top 10 players will earn membership on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour. This prestigious event brings together players from 21 countries, including 15 Canadians and 18 Latins, showcasing the best talent from Segment II of the Latin America Swing. Fifty-four of the top 60 players are set to compete, including five of this season’s six tournament winners. The final eight spots in the 156-player field will be determined by the open qualifier on June 17 at Highland Pacific Golf Course.
Exempt Players and Rising Stars
New talent is set to make a splash in the second half of the season. Recent graduates Neal Shipley (Ohio State), Thomas Ponder (Alabama), and John Marshall Butler (Auburn) are expected to contend for the Fortinet Cup. Shipley, making his professional debut, comes off an impressive run as the low amateur at both the Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open. Ponder earned his spot by winning medalist honors at the Ocala, Florida Q-School site, while Butler joins the field fresh from an NCAA Championship victory.
Top Contenders and Standings
Leading the charge in the Fortinet Cup race is Canada’s own Matthew Anderson, returning with a victory and two top-10 finishes. Following closely is Harry Hillier, who made history with a sub-60 round at the Inter Rapidísimo Golf Championship. Anderson and Hillier have already secured conditional Korn Ferry Tour status for 2025 by finishing in the top two positions of Segment I.
Other notable players in the top six include:
- No. 3 Jose de Jesus Rodriguez: Winner of the Totalplay Championship at Atlas Country Club
- No. 4 Stuart Macdonald: Champion of the Diners Club Peru Open
- No. 5 Thomas Longbella: Victor at the KIA Open
- No. 6 Clay Feagler: Winner of the Bupa Championship at Tulum
Macdonald will not be participating this week but is set to return at the ATB Classic.
Path to Korn Ferry Tour
At the season’s end, the top 10 players in the Fortinet Cup points list will secure exempt membership for the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season. Additionally, the top three players from the North America Swing will earn conditional status. Players who earn Korn Ferry Tour membership through the PGA TOUR Americas will also have a guaranteed spot in the Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.
Those finishing 11-25 on the points list, along with the top finishers from the Latin America and North America Swings, will gain direct access to the Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School, while all remaining members will be exempt into the First Stage.
Stay Updated
For the latest updates, follow PGA TOUR Americas on X (@PGATOURAmericas, @PGATAmericasESP) and Instagram (@pgatouramericas, @pgatouramericasesp), or visit their website for more information in English or Spanish.
About PGA TOUR Americas
PGA TOUR Americas is an international tour providing competitive opportunities for professional golfers, preparing them for the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR. The 2024 schedule includes 16 events across Latin America and North America, culminating in September with the Fortinet Cup Championship, where the top-10 players will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the following season.
