Charlie Reiter (PGA Tour Canada photo)
Want to try and qualify for the PGA Tour Canada? You better be serious -- the entry fee is $2250, or $2650 if you don't register by mid-January.
No worries for Charlie Reiter and Devon Bling, two Californians (and AmateurGolf.com members) who just advanced easily to gain full status for the 2023 season at Soboba Springs. They both plan on making a good return on their investment.
Reiter, a long-hitting University of San Diego standout from Palm Desert, has been on the radar of golf writer Larry Bohannan of the Desert Sun for a long time. In an article he published April 17, which was also picked up by partner publication Golfweek, Bohannan brought out some now historic predictions from 2023 Masters champ Jon Rahm:
"He hits it far and when I mean far, I mean really far, like he can easily get it past me,” said Rahm, then the third-ranked player in the world, who was a member with Reiter at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California. “He reminds me of Brandon Hagy (a Cal product and another TrackMan marvel); they’re both similar build, not the biggest guys, but they’re just fit and have a lot of power.”
During the second round of the 2018 CareerBuilder Challenge, (now the American Express) Reiter averaged 348.5 yards off the tee in the second round on PGA West’s Nicklaus Tournament Course, where he pounded two of the three longest drives recorded during the event’s first 54 holes. In the third round, he averaged 332.5 yards on a windy day around PGA West’s Stadium Course.
With his medalist finish at Soboba Springs, Reiter gains full status on PGA Tour Canada, letting another player take his place in California history at the 2023 California Amateur, where Reiter would have been defending.
“Now I have a full schedule over the summer,” Reiter said after gaining full status for the Canada circuit. “I know what the summer will be.”
Reiter overcame a 4-shot deficit to run past fellow Coachella Valley resident Kyle Karazissis (La Quinta) -- a mini-tour player.
Devon Bling 2018 U.S. Amateur runner-up Devon Bling posted 13-under to finish third, overcoming a first-round 73 with three-straight rounds in the 60s. While Bling and the rest of the top-10 are exempt for the first half of the season, the medalist at each qualifying site (and this was the 5th and final U.S. qualifier) is fully exempt for the entire season and exempt from the reshuffle. We're not to worried about Mr. Bling though.
About Charlie Reiter view full profile >>
University of San Diego standout who won the 2022 California State Amateur -- two year member of AmateurGolf.com. Also advanced through local and final qualifying to play in the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club, where he missed the cut but gained valuable experience. Reiter's other career highlights include winning the 2022 Southern California Golf Association Amateur, the 2021Hoakalei Country Club Invitational, and being a All-WCC First Team selection in 2021.
About Devon Bling view full profile >>
Bling burst onto the national scene by advancing to the final match of the 2018 U.S. Amateur, where he was defeated by Viktor Hovland. The two have a bond forever. With that finish, Bling earned his way into the 2019 Masters, where he was one of four ams to make the cut, finishing at 3-over 291. He also made an ace at the Masters Par-3 Contest. He returned to his U.S. Amateur near-miss site to play the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he missed the cut. Later that summer, Bling won the California State Fair Amateur for the second year in a row at 14-under, coming back from three shots back to win in a playoff. The UCLA standout has the major tournament experience needed to compete and win on the Canadian Tour, and we expect big things from one of our "AG Alums" this summer.
View news and results from
all 2023 PGA Tour Canada qualifying locations.
ABOUT THE PGA TOUR CANADA QUALIFYING
Earning Membership (each of the six sites)
* Medalist - exempt for the 2023 season and not subject to reshuffle.
* 2nd - 10th (no ties) - exempt up until the midway reshuffle
* 11th - 30th (and ties) - conditional membership
2023 PGA TOUR CANADA BENEFITS (note changes)
* Fortinet Cup Champion - Fully exempt on 2024 Korn Ferry Tour
* 1st – 5th on Fortinet Cup Points List – Exempt to final stage of 2023 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament
* 6th – 25th on Fortinet Cup Point List – Exempt to 2nd stage of 2023 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament