OTTAWA — One Ottawa Senator is going from the rink to the links.
Shane Pinto has accepted a sponsor exemption into the Commissionaires Ottawa Open presented by Lepine Apartments on PGA Tour Americas, taking place July 16-19 at The Marshes Golf Club. The course is about 10 minutes from the Canadian Tire Centre.
“I think it’s going to be fun. Going to have to work on my game a lot leading up to it,” Pinto told Sportsnet.ca. “I don’t think I’ll finish anywhere near half of the top but hopefully I get a somewhat of a good showing.”
Claude Giroux also played the event on a sponsor invite in 2024, shooting 81-78 to miss the cut. Pinto said Giroux told him about the event and thought it would be something cool for the 25-year-old to try.
Pinto, who signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the Senators in November, said he’s only ever played golf in front of his friends, but added that the unique experience will be exciting.
Shane Pinto takes a drive off a tee at Bethpage Black in New York. (Ben Coles/Ottawa Senators)
“I’m sure I’m going to snap hook one somewhere,” he said with a smile. “I’ll start with a double bogey and go from there.”
American Brett White won the Ottawa Open in 2025 in a playoff after an incredible final-round 59. He was seven shots back of the lead to begin the day, but his 8-under 28 on the back nine was capped by an epic 63-foot eagle putt on the 72nd hole to give him the clubhouse lead.
White’s comeback was the largest in PGA Tour Americas history.
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The Senators are in Utah to face the Mammoth Wednesday night in the first of a back-to-back before heading to Colorado to face the league-best Avalanche on Thursday.
Pinto has 12 goals and nine assists this season. He suffered an upper-body injury on Dec. 4 and returned Dec. 29.