The UF head men's golf coach JC Deacon will be making his PGA Tour debut at the Canadian Open this week.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida men's golf head coach JC Deacon qualified for the RBC Canadian Open Monday in Alberton, Ontario, earning one of the final four spots of the field in the final qualifying round.
Deacon will be making his PGA Tour debut at the Canadian Open on Thursday at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario. The Toronto native played professionally on the Gateway Tour and Canadian Tour before he began coaching collegiate golf in 2011.
This year's Canadian Open has an impressive field including defending champion Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Bubba Watson, and Sergio Garcia. In total, 156 players will compete for the $7.6 million purse as the Open returns to the storied Hamilton Golf Club for the first time since 2012.
Deacon was a U.S. Amateur semifinalist in 2005 before capturing two Minor League Golf Tour Titles in 2007, taking top honors at the Emerald Hills Classic and the Miami Shores Shootout. He played in 35 events over a three-year span (2008-10) on the Canadian Tour and made 17 cuts. His best finish came at the 2008 Saskatchewan Open, where he shared a spot for fourth place.
Career Snapshot
Coaching Career:
- Head Coach, University of Florida, 2014-present
- Assistant Coach, UNLV, 2011-14
Playing Career:
- Canadian Tour, 2007-10
- Gateway Tour, 2005-06
- UNLV, 2001-05
Playing Honors:
- Tied for fourth at the Saskatchewan Open (2008)
- Won the Emerald Hills Classic (2007)
- Won the Miami Shores Shootout (2007)
- Semifinalist at the U.S. Amateur (2005)
- Two-time participant at the NCAA Championship (2002 & 2003)
- Team Champion at the Mountain West Championship (2002)
- Tied for second at the Mountain West Championship (2002)
- Two-time Ontario Junior Amateur Champion (2000 & 2001)
