It has been quite a year for Jim Rutledge, and now 2023 could prove even better for the longtime Victoria pro.
First, it was induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, and now Rutledge headlines the field at this week’s PGA Seniors Championship of sa国际传媒 being played at Ledgview Golf Club in Abottsford. Not only because the 63-year-old Uplands Golf Club member is the defending champion, but because if Rutledge wins this week he’ll tie the mark of eight PGA Seniors Championship of sa国际传媒 titles which is held by legendary golfer Moe Norman.
Rutledge, who won the event last year in Medicine Hat, also was victorious in 2019, 2017, 2015. 2013 and 2012.
Rutledge told the PGA of sa国际传媒 that it’s been a while since he played Ledgview, the course where current PGA Tour players Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin grew up playing on.
“A long, long time ago so 30 or 40 years later the trees are a little higher then they were back then,” Rutledge said.
“But you just have to keep the ball in play. Distance is not a priority. It’s just fairways and greens and some of those greens are challenges as I remember.”
Also in the field this week is Alan McLean, who is coming off a 42nd-place finish in the recent U.S. Senior Open at SentryWorld Golf Course in Wisconsin.
The three-round PGA Seniors Championship of sa国际传媒 begins today and wraps up Friday. The champion takes home a cheque for $7,000.
