Oshawa, ON. – Daniel Kim of Toronto, Ont. shot a 5-under 66 Monday at the first Ontario Regional Qualifier hosted at Oshawa Golf and Curling Club in Oshawa, ON to earn a direct exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-11 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
Kim got off to a flying start with a birdie on the opening hole and an eagle on the fourth hole to sit at 3-under through four. Kim finished the day with six birdies and an eagle to earn medalist honours and finish two shots clear of amateur Luc Warnock of McGregor, Ont. (-3) and Charles Huntzinger of Greensboro, Georgia (-3).
Kim, 32, came out on top from a field of 136 professional and amateur golfers at Oshawa Golf and Curling Club to earn his spot in Canada’s National Open Championship. It’s quite the turnaround for Kim after he decided to quit playing golf professionally last year due to injury and personal reasons.
“If you were to ask me six months ago, would I be playing the Canadian Open, I would have said you’re crazy. I’ve been working full time and I keep telling people it’s a hobby now, it’s not my job, it’s a hobby now and its pretty crazy how things come around, said Kim. “This was the last little competitive thing I was actually going to do, before digging in and start working. So, this is a blessing in disguise, and I feel so thankful and grateful.”
Oshawa Golf and Curling Club, played to Par 71 at 6,596 yards and provided a strong test for the field with only 12 players shooting under par. Along with Kim’s exemption, an additional 24 golfers (remaining top 15% of the field) from Oshawa have advanced to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier scheduled for Sunday, June 4 at Coppinwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont.
RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier Results:
| Pos. | Player | Residence | To Par | Total |
| 1 | Daniel Kim | Toronto, ON | -5 | 66 |
| T2 | Luc Warnock (a) | McGregor, ON | -3 | 68 |
| T2 | Charles Huntzinger | Greensboro, GA | -3 | 68 |
| T4 | Tyler Hull | Toronto, ON | -2 | 69 |
| T4 | Marshall Bath (a) | Courtice, ON | -2 | 69 |
| T4 | Drew Nesbitt | Coldwater, ON | -2 | 69 |
| T4 | Mark Hoffman | Toronto, ON | -2 | 69 |
| T4 | Matthew Hill | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | -2 | 69 |
| T9 | Cam Kellett (a) | London, ON | -1 | 70 |
| T9 | Kevin Blue (a) | Mississauga, ON | -1 | 70 |
| T9 | Ben Thompson (a) | Toronto, ON | -1 | 70 |
| T9 | Zac Viminitz | Brooklin, ON | -1 | 70 |
| T9 | Daniel Abraha (a) | Kingston, ON | -1 | 70 |
| T14 | Jay Finley (a) | Port Perry, ON | E | 71 |
| T14 | Kevin Gordon | Whitby, ON | E | 71 |
| T14 | Gordon Gibson (a) | Toronto, ON | E | 71 |
| T14 | Christian Chapman | West Palm Beach, FL | E | 71 |
| T14 | Jake Scott | Strongsville, OH | E | 71 |
| T14 | Peter Hong | West Chester, OH | E | 71 |
| T20 | Nathanial Coombes | Port Perry, ON | +1 | 72 |
| T20 | Matthew Whitehead (a) | Cambridge, ON | +1 | 72 |
| T20 | Jack Kent | Uxbridge, ON | +1 | 72 |
| T20 | Kyle Gordon (a) | Whitby, ON | +1 | 72 |
| T20 | Jonathan Cramton (a) | Toronto, ON | +1 | 72 |
| T20 | William Robbins | Brooksville, FL | +1 | 72 |
There are three RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers remaining on the schedule. The next qualifier is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. Additional qualifiers will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at Golf Château Bromont in Bromont, Que. and on Monday, May 29 at Pinebrook Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Alb.
For the full leaderboard click here.
Results from the B.C. Regional Qualifier can be found here.