Barry Caland’s decision to step away from golf lasted all of two majors.
The 13-time local major winner, who announced he was giving up the game after winning last year’s Canadian Tire District Amateur, is in the field for this year’s event, slated to start Saturday at the Thunder Bay Country Club.
Caland is a four-time winner of the event, one short of the five titles captured by E.C. Whalen in the 1930s and 1940s.
Leading the way in first flight is Strathcona Invitational champion Jordan Gehl, paired with Robbie Untinen and Trevor Desmoulin.
Other past champions in the field include Ed Atwill (2011) and two-time winner Robert Cumming (2006, 2009).
Round 2 is slated for Sunday at Strathcona Golf Course with Round 3 going Monday at Whitewater Golf Course.