ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan men’s golf team will be part of history in its third event of the fall season — the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational. Co-hosted by Golf Canada, Kent State and Penn State, the event marks the first time that an NCAA Division I men’s golf tournament will be played in Canada. Playing in MacTier, Ontario, on Monday and Tuesday (Sept. 16-17), the Wolverines will be part of a 10-team field playing a two-day, 54-hole event at the famed the Oviinbyrd Golf Club.
Notes
• The Canadian Collegiate Invitational will be made up of 10 teams, including: Kent State (co-host), Miami (Ohio), Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Penn State (co-host), Rutgers, University of British Columbia and Washington State.
• U-M will travel six for the Canadian Collegiate Invitational. The Wolverines will use its practice round to determine the starting five and assigned individual. Heading to Oviinbyrd Golf Club will be senior Hunter Thomson, fifth-year seniors Ben Hoagland and Jack O’Donnell, sophomore Caden Pinckes and freshmen RJ Arone and Dean Muratore.
• The Canadian Collegiate Invitational will be led by Golf Canada and co-hosts Penn State and Kent State, both of which are led by Canadian head coaches in Penn State’s Mark Leon and Kent State’s Jon Mills. The tournament features Division I golf programs with prominent Canadian ties along with the team champions of the 2024 Canadian University/College Championship — University of British Columbia.
• Michigan has always had ties to Canada including Thomson, who hails from Calgary, Alberta. Other former Wolverines from Canada: Kevin Dore (2004-07) from Dundas, Ontario; Bryce Evon (2014-17) from Windsor, Ontario; James Hill (2023) from Lakeshore, Ontario; Ian Kim (2017-18) from Surrey, B.C.; Brett McIntosh (2013-16) from London, Ontario and Kevin Walchuck (1976-77) from Riverview, New Brunswick. The U-M women’s golf team is coached by Jan Dowling, who is from Bradford, Ontario.
• The medalist of the Canadian Collegiate Invitational will receive an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open (June 3-5, 2025) at the TPCC Toronto while the top-five will earn exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship (July 28-31, 2025) at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club.
• The Oviinbyrd Golf Club is one of Canada’s premier golf courses, designed by Thomas McBroom and opened in 2004. The 7,118-yard layout is set among the forests and exposed granite of the Canadian shield in Ontario’s famous cottage country and will create a challenging and memorable experience for the players. Oviinbyrd’s recently renovated practice facility features world class training conditions and state-of-the-art technology and will benefit players participating in both the NCAA event and the Team Canada – NextGen selection camp.