The Canadian Tour is proud to announce its list of award winners for the 2008 season

Submitted by CanTour Communications John Berkovich OAKVILLE, Ont.

ROLEX Player of the Year – John Ellis

John Ellis won the Stockton Sports Commission Classic in a playoff over Tommy Barber for his first Canadian Tour title. He followed it up with a win the next week at the Mexican PGA Championship where his five stroke lead after the first round set a Tour record.

In July, Ellis won the TELUS Edmonton Open and finished second at the Players Cup the next week in Winnipeg.

Overall, Ellis made 11 of 12 cuts in his 2008 season, won the Order of Merit with $113, 315 and finished outside the top ten just once. He also qualified for both the U.S. Open and the RBC Canadian Open.

International Rookie of the Year – Daniel Im

Daniel Im made an immediate impact on the 2008 Canadian Tour. The Irvine, Calif., resident earned his card at the Florida Q-School and won the Riviera Maya Classic in his first Canadian Tour start. After a T-13 at La Loma, Im took the Times Colonist Open in a playoff over James Lepp.

Im also finished 2nd at the Seaforth Country Classic and lost a playoff to Graham DeLaet at the Desjardins Montreal Open. He finished third on the Order of Merit with $82, 954 and qualified for the RBC Canadian Open.

ECCO Canadian Rookie of the Year – Kent Eger

Eger, who joined the Tour at the California Q-School, had just one top-ten coming into the Seaforth Country Classic and had missed three of his last four cuts. However, everything fell into place at Seaforth. Rounds of 65-64-65-64 gave him not only a Tour record for lowest cumulative score but also his first Canadian Tour title and a two year exemption.

Most Improved Canadian – Andrew Parr and Dale Vallely (tie)

Andrew Parr (pictured) joined the Canadian Tour at the Spring 2007 Q-School but finished 121st on the Order of Merit, necessitating a trip to the Fall School. Having regained his card, Parr finished second at both Modesto and Edmonton and picked up additional top tens in Montreal and Seaforth. He also earned a berth in the RBC Canadian Open and Monday Qualified for the Houston Open and finished ninth on the Order of Merit.

Fighting injuries in 2007, Dale Vallely slid to 150th on the money list but returned with a vengeance in 2008. Starting the year on a partial medical exemption, Vallely finished 4th at the Saskatchewan Open where he opened with a 62 and he also earned a T-6 at the Tour Championship. His consistent play saw him jump 129 spots on the Order of Merit to 21st.