Local golfer Justin Matthews set for third straight RBC Canadian Open appearance

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard

One of the area’s brightest golfing talents will once again tee it up on one of the biggest stages in Canadian golf.

Little Britain native, Justin Matthews has earned an exemption into the 2026 RBC Canadian Open, taking place June 10th to 14th, at TPC Toronto, on Osprey Valley’s North Course in Caledon.

Golf Canada and RBC recently announced the 13 players receiving exemptions into Canada’s national men’s championship, where Matthews earned his place as the top-ranked Canadian amateur on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) list. Justin Matthews, a senior, at University of North Carolina at Charlotte  currently sits 138th in the world rankings and will be making his third consecutive appearance in the prestigious PGA Tour event.

“We are pleased to announce these additional exemptions, led by a group of Canadians who will be competing for our National Men’s Open Championship, at TPC Toronto, at Osprey Valley,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul.

Mr. Matthews arrives at the Canadian Open following another impressive collegiate season with the Charlotte 49ers. During his senior campaign, he recorded two top-five finishes and another top-10 result, highlighted by a tie for fifth at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Corvallis Regional and a tie for third at the American Conference Men’s Golf Championship. He also finished tied for sixth at the Linger Longer Invitational.

His recent success has earned national recognition. On May 30th, Mr. Matthews was named to the Division I PING East All-Region Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America, placing him among 150 golfers from 81 schools honoured across six regions.

The RBC Canadian Open appearance is the latest accomplishment in a career which has steadily progressed since his days at Port Perry High School.

A graduate of the school’s Class of 2022, Matthews was named the Rebels’ Male Athlete of the Year and excelled in high school golf competition, winning the Lake Ontario Secondary School Athletics (LOSSA) Match Play Championship, while posting multiple top-five finishes at both the league and Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association (OFSAA) levels. He was also a four-time honour roll student.

Sue Hoard, the longtime golf coach, at Port Perry High School, said Mr. Matthews’ latest achievement comes as no surprise to those who watched his development firsthand. “Myself and all of Port Perry High are extremely proud of Justin, to once again qualify to play in this year’s RBC Canadian Open,” said Ms. Hoard. “Justin’s hard work, dedication and passion for the game, over the years, have led him to one of the biggest stages in Canadian golf.”

Ms. Hoard coached Mr. Matthews throughout his four years at the school, and said, his impact extended beyond tournament results.

“I had the privilege of working with Justin as a student athlete, for four years, and witnessing firsthand his commitment, determination and wonderful sportsmanship, which truly makes him an inspiration for many current student golfers,” she said. “Justin is without a doubt a source of admiration for our entire school community.”

She added, with a smile, her familiar pre-match message remains unchanged. “My famous last words before each match: ‘You got this, kiddo.’”

Mr. Matthews has built an impressive amateur résumé, over the past several seasons. In 2024, he captured the Golf Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship and earned medalist honours at an RBC Canadian Open regional qualifier. He also finished runner-up at the Golf Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship. In 2025, he recorded runner-up finishes at the Gators Invitational and a third-place finish at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate.

Now, the Little Britain golfer will have another opportunity to test his game, against some of the world’s top professionals, when the RBC Canadian Open gets underway this week, in Caledon.

For local golf fans, Matthews’ return to the national championship is another reminder, one of the region’s own continues to make his mark on the Canadian and international golf scene.