Rocco Mediate looking for Canadian sweep at Montreal Championship

SAINTE-JULIE, Quebec – Rocco Mediate is trying to complete a Canadian sweep. 

Coming off a blowout victory Sunday in Calgary, Alberta, the 50-year-old Mediate is set to open play Friday in the Montreal Championship on La Vallee du Richelieu's revamped Rouville Course. 

"Last week was kooky," said Mediate, who shot 63-64-64 for a seven-stroke victory in Calgary. "It was one of those weeks you want to have. I've never had a week like that as far as having that big of a lead or going into Sunday wanting to make a big lead so it would be, I wouldn't say easy, but easy coming into the last few holes. It was really fun. It was the first time I ever won twice in a year, so that was cool, too." 

Mediate also won the Allianz Championship in February in his first Champions Tour start. 

Mediate talked about the challenges presented by the Rouville Course. 

"There is no messing around here," Mediate said Thursday. You have to have your game or this place will tear you up, which I love courses like that." 

Mark Calcavecchia won last year on the adjacent Vercheres layout. He is returning to play after missing the two events because of back problems. 

"I put in a couple of days light practice and played nine holes on Friday and Sunday and really felt pretty good, so I decided for sure on Sunday that I was coming," Calcavecchia said. 

Calcavecchia got his first look at the Rouville Course on Thursday during in the pro-am. 

"The course is longer, to begin with, especially the par 3s" Calcavecchia said. "Three of the par 3s are really long. Those holes are hard. If you can play the par 3s even par this week you are going to pick up a lot of strokes on the field." 

Bernhard Langer also is the field. He has two victories this season. 

"The course is very good, very interesting, good shape and tree-lined golf course, small greens," Langer said. "Narrow fairways, quite a bit of rough, so it's going to be a good test of golf."