Five Mackenzie Tour players earn Web.com Tour cards
LONDON, Ont. – After a year that featured three victories, Tyler McCumber officially locked up Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honours Sunday.
The native of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida finished with $139,300 for the season and topped the money list – leading the five players who earned status on the Web.com Tour for 2019.
McCumber, 27, won the Osprey Valley Open and then won the very next week at the Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON. In the process, he became the only golfer in Mackenzie Tour history to win back-to-back events.
A three-time winner on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, McCumber finished third at the ATB Financial Classic after his two-straight wins, but won The Players Cup the very next week.
McCumber, who was battling a shoulder injury for most of last year, was “totally healthy” as of November. He said he a routine of working out and practicing whenever he wanted, which was beneficial for him going into this season.
“Having full status on this Tour I had a good game plan coming in,” said McCumber. “The formula is really good and what I’m doing is right for me. I’m not surprised I came out with a good year. There’s a lot that goes into being No. 1 – getting momentum, capitalizing on opportunities, and I did a good job of that.”
McCumber had the money title locked up before the final event of the season. After his victory in Edmonton he moved to the top of the Order of Merit, a spot he never relinquished.
George Cunningham, after a tie for second at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship – his sixth top-10 of the year – ended up at No. 2, $37,133 behind McCumber. With $102,167 earned on the year, he became the first golfer in Mackenzie Tour history to earn more than $100,000 and not finish on top of the money list.
“I’ve learned a ton this year,” said Cunningham, who finished in the top 30 at the RBC Canadian Open in his first PGA TOUR start this summer. “I’m such a different player I feel like from when I was in college, and I thought I was playing really well in college. Every single thing I’ve learned this year is off the charts.”
Zach Wright, who finished 39th at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, moved down to third on the Order of Merit after Cunningham jumped him to get to No. 2.
“I did well. I’ve been very consistent. I’ve had a few rounds where my attitude got int the way, but I can always learn from that. Overall I did pretty well,” said Wright, who became the only player in Mackenzie Tour history to open a season with six consecutive top-10 finishes. “At the beginning of the year I moved back home and started working with my old coach, and everything I was feeling good about. It was nice to get off to a good start because it gave me confidence, and I knew I could do it.”
Corey Pereira of Mission Viejo, California, and Michael Gellerman, of Tucson, Arizona, joined Wright, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Cunningham, also of Tucson, Arizona in The Five.
“Getting into The Five does feel far fetched at the beginning of the year,” admitted Pereira. “You know you have to win out here and then you know you need a top-5 or top-3 to secure your status. It’s extremely challenging. To come out and get it done feels awesome and gives me a lot of confidence.”
Gellerman, who, like Wright, never won this year on Tour but still finished in The Five said he made some good progress from 2017, which was his main goal at the start of this year.
“I tried to reach some of my goals mid-year and see where that led me. I played some good golf along the way. Unfortunately Tyler (McCumber) got in the way a few times,” said Gellerman with a laugh, who finished second to McCumber at both the Osprey Valley Open and The Players Cup. “I’m really happy to be here.”
The Five will graduate to the Web.com Tour in 2018 and look to follow in the footsteps of 19 players who have gone on from the Mackenzie Tour to the PGA TOUR during the PGA TOUR-era (2013-present), including PGA TOUR winners Tony Finau, Nick Taylor, and Mackenzie Hughes.
“It’s been a great season on the Mackenzie Tour with so many incredible performances, especially for the players who make up The Five this year,” said Mackenzie Tour President Jeff Monday. “A special congratulations goes to Tyler, who played some truly impressive golf this year. We wish all five players success on their journey to the PGA TOUR.”
PLAYERS 6-10 EARN SPOTS INTO FINAL STAGE
In addition to The Five earning status on the Web.com Tour, players finishing 6-10 on the Order of Merit earned an exemption into Final Stage of Web.com Tour Q-School, led by No. 6 Sam Fidone, of Lufkin, Texas, who earned $66,742.
After his victory Sunday at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, Danny Walker of Bradenton, Florida, moved up 44 spots on the Order of Merit to the No. 7 spot.
Ben Griffin, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Mark Anguiano of Bellflower, California, and Ian Holt of Stow, Ohio – who shot a 6-under-par 64 Sunday at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship to move into a tie for fourth and move five spots up the Order of Merit – round out the rest of the top 10.
Players finishing No. 11-25 earned an exemption into Second Stage of Web.com Tour Q-School. The biggest mover of that group Sunday was Jonathan Garrick of Chicago, Illinois, who, after finishing tied for second at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, moved up 20 spots to No. 19.
Danny Walker wins Freedom 55 Financial Championship
LONDON, Ont. — Coming into the day four strokes off the lead, Danny Walker made five birdies on the front nine and picked up his first professional win at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship at Highland Country Club by two strokes.
The win vaults the University of Virginia grad all the way up from No. 51 on the Order of Merit to No. 7, exempting him into the final stage of 2019 Web.com Tour Qualifying School later this Fall.
“It’s a huge relief not to have to worry about the first or second stage of Q-School,” said the 22-year-old, just four months removed from turning professional. “It’s nice to have a little more time to relax, and maybe take a week or two off after this, everything is about moving up the ladder, so it’s pretty exciting.”
Walker only made one bogey during the tournament, on the tough hole No. 16 on Thursday, and carded rounds of 63-68-66-64 to pick up the win.
“I knew I had it in my because I’ve been hitting it well all week,” said Walker. “I just needed to keep hitting them like I had been, and then make some putts, which I did. I made some good putts on the front nine to really get my round going there.”
On the outside looking in, Walker quickly moved his way up the board on Sunday, making five birdies between hole Nos. 3-9 on the front to make the turn in 31. One more birdie on the back allowed Walker the opportunity to casually two-putt for par on No. 18, and, barring a hole-out from the final group, assured him the victory.
“I don’t even know what to think yet,” said the Bradenton, FL native. “I was pretty nervous coming down the stretch, I didn’t know where things stood until I got to 17 green and saw I was leading by one.
“I didn’t think about it too much and just tried to put one more birdie in there to distance myself a little bit, but overall it was a really solid day, I’m happy with how I played under the pressure.”
Meanwhile, with scores of 64-70-64-67, Jared du Toit took home his second Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week award.
Gligic Wins Canadian Player Of The Year Award
Michael Gligic won the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year award and the $25,000 bonus that goes along with it, placing 16th on the Order of Merit in the process.
The final event of the 2018 season also solidifies The Five players who earn Web.com Tour status: Tyler McCumber, George Cunningham, Zach Wright, Corey Pereira and Michael Gellerman.
Hailey McLaughlin and Yuqi Liu crowned champions at Future Links Fall Series
MANSONVILLE, Que. – Hailey McLaughlin emerged as leader in the Girls Division and Yuqi Liu captured the Boys Division at the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series Championship at Owl’s Head Golf Club on Sunday.
McLaughlin, who started the third and final round with a one-stroke lead, carded a 3-over 75 to distance herself from runner-up Lory Paradis en route to grabbing a seven-stroke victory. The Markham, Ont., native made her mark in the second round—which was also her birthday—with a tournament-low 69 (a personal best), helping her confidence in the final round.
“I had to stay focused, play my own game, try to stay in the right head space,” said the Team Ontario member. “The week started out rough…but I knew what I had to work on. I focused on that the last two days and it paid off.”
The 17-year-old’s final round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 12th hole, which helped her secure her first Future Links Championship—she finished T3 at the Ontario event earlier this year.
Second place finisher Paradis of Blainville, Que., struggled with a 9-over-par 81, her worst round of the event. Rounding out the top three were a pair of golfers at 18 over par, Emily Romancew (Pierresfonds, Que.) and Élizabeth Labbé (Lévis, Que.). All earned exemptions into next year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship from July 29 – Aug. 2, at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.
In the Boys Division, Yuqi Liu of Thornhill, Ont., put the pedal down in the final round with a 4-under-par 68 giving him a three-stroke victory over Ashton McCulloch, who he shared second place with to start the day. Liu closed the 54-hole event at 8 under par (68-72-68).
McCulloch, a Kingston, Ont., product, finished three back at 5 under par for the tournament (71-69-71) and earns one of three spots into the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys Championship from Aug. 11-15, at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, N.B. They’ll be joined by Eric Byun of Richmond Hill, Ont., who rounded out the top three with a score of 4 under par (67-72-73).
The second Fall Series event and final Future Links championship of the season will take place at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club in Roberts Creek, B.C., from Sept. 27-30.
Results for previous 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Championships can be found here: Pacific, Ontario, Western, Quebec, Prairie, Atlantic.
Click here for scoring, pairings and additional information.
Angela Stanford wins at Evian for 1st career major title; Henderson T10
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France – Angela Stanford ended her long wait for a first major title when her 3-under 68 was enough to win the Evian Championship by one shot Sunday after long-time leader Amy Olson made double-bogey on the 18th.
At age 40, and 15 years after she was runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open, Stanford’s wild final few holes gave her a 12-under total of 272.
Olson missed a six-foot putt for bogey on the 18th to force a playoff, while Stanford waited near the green signing autographs for dozens of young spectators.
Stanford, who got the last of her five LPGA Tour titles in 2012, put her hands to her mouth on hearing she had won, and was in tears during television interviews.
Stanford earned a $577,500 check for making her 14th career top-10 finish in majors a winning one.
Olson carded a 74 to fall into a four-way tie for second place with fellow Americans Austin Ernst (68) and Mo Martin (70), and Sei Young Kim (72). Martin barely missed with a birdie chance on the 18th to face Stanford in a playoff.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson finished in a tie for 10th at 8 under. The 21-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., shot a 3-under 68 to rebound from a 1 over on Saturday. Alena Sharp of Hamilton closed with an even-par 71 and tied for 37th, while Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., tied for 49th at 3 over.
Round of ?? for @BrookeHenderson, who finished tied for 10th at the @EvianChamp to collect another top 10 major finish! ?? pic.twitter.com/A5g1l3VMOp
— CP Women's Open (@cpwomensopen) September 16, 2018
After Olson was outright or joint leader all day – briefly with Stanford at 13 under with four holes to play – she three-putted to end her championship with a career-best result.
“It’s disappointing to finish like that,” said the 26-year-old Olson, whose previous best finish in an LPGA event was tied for seventh in 2014.
Playing in the second-last group, Stanford went eagle-double bogey-birdie from the 15th, then saw her birdie chance brush the hole on No. 18.
She crouched with her hands on her head, tapped in for par, then went to sign autographs out of sight of the playing area.
Seeking a first LPGA title, Olson teed off two shots ahead of Kim and then gave one back at the par-3 2nd hole.
The leaderboard changed little on the front nine until Olson made bogey at the par-3 8th. She stayed as joint leader with Kim on 13 under – three shots clear – only when Kim’s putt from off the same green hit the pin and stayed out.
Olson’s two-shot lead was soon restored after Kim’s double bogey 6 at the 10th. She padded her lead to three with a tap-in for birdie at the par-5 13th.
Two more Americans, Stanford and Ernst, joined Kim three behind Olson, who let a good chance slip at the par-5 15th after her short approach chip to the green was weak.
In a wild ride for Stanford, she joined Olson on 13-under after making eagle at the 15th, then gave back both shots at the par-3 16th. Soon, Stanford punched the air with her right fist when sinking a 25-footer for birdie on 17th.
Olson went to the 17th tee with a one-shot lead on 13 under as Ernst set a clubhouse target of 11 under. Her bogey-free 68 saw several putts lip out.
Refusing to check the leaderboard all day, Olson said she only knew on the 18th tee where she stood. A par 4 would win, but she hooked her tee shot into the rough, and her third-shot approach was well below the pin. A par putt for victory raced past.
Canadians Gligic, du Toit inside top 5 at Freedom 55 Financial Championship
LONDON, Ont. — With 19 birdies through three days of competition, Jonathan Garrick managed to pull ahead of second-round co-leader Corey Pereira during the third round of the Freedom 55 Financial Championship, firing a 63 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round.
Through the front nine, Garrick and Pereira engaged in a back-and-fourth battle of epic proportions, exchanging 10 birdies between the two of them.
It wasn’t until a two-stroke swing on the long par-4 14th hole, where Pereira made bogey, that Garrick took a stranglehold of the lead.
“It was fun. I don’t want to say I was rooting for or against him, but it was fun to see him make birdies because I knew the more he made, the more I wasn’t going to let up either,” said Garrick. “He (Pereira) made a few long putts there and we kept going back and fourth.”
Hole Nos. 14-16 have played the toughest at Highland Country Club this week, ranking first, third and second hardest respectively. Despite the challenge, Garrick played the toughest stretch on the course 2-under par on Saturday.
“I wasn’t even trying to really birdie them,” said the 24-year-old. “I made a long putt on 14, hit a good iron shot on 15 and made about a 15 or 20-foot putt on 16, and it was one of the easiest putts you can get on that green, so I did a good job to get it there.”
Before the week, Garrick, who is playing his third-consecutive year on the Mackenzie Tour, had yet to head into the final round of an event with the lead, but says he is confident that he will be prepared for tomorrow.
“I’ve never done it before, but I felt comfortable today,” said the UCLA alum. “I was just playing golf, I wasn’t too nervous, I was just calm and able to keep making birdies which was good. Tomorrow is the same thing.”
Trailing Garrick by two is Carter Jenkins, who has a lot to play for, currently projected to move into the top-25 on the money list with the second spot on the leaderboard. Meanwhile, with a win, Garrick would move into the top-10 on the Order of Merit, a spot that would send him to the final round of Web.com Tour Q-School.
On the Canadian side of things, for the second time this tournament, Michael Gligic managed to avoid bogeys on his card, making six birdies to sign for a 64, matching his score from day one.
““I’ve been hitting it good for a while and the putter has been good for the second half of the season, so I’ve got one more day in me and we’ll see what happens,” said Gligic.
The round puts him one-stroke ahead of Jared du Toit, and, already leading the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year Race, puts him in prime position to earn his third consecutive Canadian Player of the Week award, and fourth of the season.
“I’m really excited for tomorrow. I should be last two, three or four groups so right in the mix tomorrow,” said du Toit. “I have a lot to play for this year still, so really looking forward to it.”
Michael Gligic top Canadian mid-way through Freedom 55 Financial Championship
London, ON, Canada — For the third time in four events, Corey Pereira has a hold of the lead on the Mackenzie Tour, this time drawing even with Jonathan Garrick after his second 65 in as many days at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship.
“It wasn’t really anything special until the last few holes,” said the University of Washington alum. “I felt like I left a few out there and made some mistakes, but that’s just how golf is sometimes, you make some mistakes, but stay in it, and I made birdie on the last two and turned a solid round into a really good round.”
Coming into the event, the season could be defined and split into two halves, each involving one of the top-2 players on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit. The first half was owned by Zach Wright, who became the first ever Mackenzie Tour player to open the season with six consecutive top-10 finishes.
The second half of the season seemed defined by Tyler McCumber, who became the only player in Mackenzie Tour history to win back-to-back events, quickly following up his victory at the Osprey Valley Open with a win at the Syncrude Oil Country Championship on Petroleum Golf Club, a course his father Mark designed. Adding the Players Cup a few weeks later to all but lock up Player of the Year honours, it appeared 2018’s storylines were set.
Not so fast. With a win at the ATB Financial Classic followed by a playoff loss at last week’s Mackenzie Investments Open, Corey Pereira has quickly become a name to recognize among professional golf circles.
With a win this week, Pereira would leapfrog George Cunningham and aforementioned Wright to finish the season at No. 2 on the year-end Order of Merit.
While the start of the season for Pereira allowed him to keep pace in the race for The Five, none of his finishes jumped off the page, but, beginning at the Syncrude Oil Country Championship, he has played his past 18 rounds on the Mackenzie Tour under par, earning $62,020 in that stretch.
“I can’t pinpoint anything special, I just stuck to the process and the pieces have come together, that’s just what golf is,” said Pereira. “Sometimes you’ll have a bad few months, but if you keep doing the right things I believe you can turn it around, I wasn’t far off at the start of the season, but I’ve put the pieces together.”
Pereira’s 65s at Highland Country Club have come in different ways, with the first a clean-carded five-birdie round. The second, an up-and-down day with seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
“I’m handling everything well so far,” said the second-year pro. “The weekend will be a test for sure, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Joining Pereira at the top of the leaderboard is first-round co-leader Jonathan Garrick, who closed his second round with three birdies in his final four holes to sign for a 67.
The race for both Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week and Canadian Player of the Year are led by Michael Gligic, who “grinded” his way to a second-round 69 to put himself one-stroke ahead of Taylor Pendrith.
Italy hangs on in extra holes to win over USA at World Junior Girls Championship
OTTAWA, Ont. — It was a hotly contested finale at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Ottawa on Friday but when all was said and done, after a sudden death playoff on the 18th hole, it was Italy who prevailed over the USA to capture gold at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship.
The Italian team, who led by as much as 10 strokes earlier in the week, needed to find an extra gear after regulation play concluded with both countries tied at 22 under. It found it in the form of team stalwart Alessia Nobilio, who sank a final birdie in the last playoff group to capture Italy’s first medal at the World Junior Girls Championship. Nobilio’s teammates Caterina Don and Emilie Paltrinieri, who were waiting anxiously greenside locking arms with coach Enrico Trentin, rushed the green to congratulate the young Italian golfer who led her team all week with her splendid play.
It was a bittersweet defeat for the USA, who managed to close a nine-stroke gap yesterday, only to come up short in the end. But for the Italian team, the relief was palpable.
“We had a one-shot lead going into the last round and, you know, in a team event, anything can happen, one shot lead is really nothing,” said Paltrinieri, who was accompanied by her teammates and served as a de facto spokesperson for the team, post-victory. “When we came up to 18, we were quite close, we were actually behind, but Alessia made that great birdie on the finishing hole to force overtime,” added the young golfer from Parigi, Italy.
It is obvious that there is real chemistry between the three Italian girls, who recently competed as a unit at the World Amateur Team Championship in Ireland, placing 6th. That chemistry and mutual friendship serves them well. “When we came here, we celebrated Alessia’s birthday together, being friends is the key for our team, we support each other, when one of us shoots 6 under, we want the other one to shoot 7 under or 8 under,” chimed in Don.
The team spirit was key in acquiring the crown of World Junior Girls Champions for Italy. Joining them on the podium was USA with silver and Thailand with bronze. The Thai team were powered by the fantastic individual display put on by 15 year-old gold medalist Atthaya Thitikul, who shot the lights out at Camelot this week, setting the course record with a fantastic score of 60 (-12) on Friday. The round also contributed to a World Junior Girls Championship 72-hole tournament record of 20 under par. Nobilio took home silver, while American Zoe Campos captures the bronze medal. Brooke Seay of the USA finished fourth at 8 under for the week, while Canada’s Céleste Dao put up a solid score of 70 (-2) on Friday to finish in fifth place.
Team Canada One, comprised of Céleste Dao (Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Qué.), Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.) and Tiffany Kong (Vancouver, B.C.) finished fourth in the team competition with a score of 10 under. Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Sarah Beqaj (Toronto, Ont.) and Lauren Kim (Surrey, B.C.) who make up Canada Two, completed the week in 18th place.
The World Junior Girls Championship was conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with Golf Ontario and supported by the R&A and the International Golf Federation. Recognized as an ‘A’ ranked event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the World Junior Girls Championship was in its fifth edition. Canada will host again next year.
Full results and tournament information can be consulted here.
Additional information regarding the fifth annual World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.
Brooke Henderson 2 back at mid-way point of Evian
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France _ Canada’s Brooke Henderson is two strokes back at the halfway mark of the Evian Championship, the final major of the LPGA Tour season.
The 21-year-old native of Smiths Falls, Ont., is tied for sixth at 6 under after a 2-under 69 on Friday. She’s two strokes behind Maria Torres of Puerto Rico, Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea and Americans Mo Martin and Amy Olson.
After two birdies in a row on Nos. 4 and 5, Henderson had a bogey at No. 6 and a double bogey at No. 7. But she bounced back on the back nine with four birdies and one bogey.
“I feel like my game is in a really good spot,” said Henderson. “To be able to rebound like that mentally I think is really key. On this golf course you got to stay patient, and I feel like we were able to do that even though it’s very difficult at times.
“I’m really excited for the next few days, so we’ll just see what happens.”
Tour rookie Torres, the first Puerto Rican to earn an LPGA card, shot a 2-under 69 before Olson (65), Martin (66) and Lee (66) matched her 8-under 134 total.
“It’s something new and it’s exciting (to lead),” said the 23-year-old Torres, who is ranked No. 184. She missed the cut at 10 over in her only previous major, the Women’s PGA Championship won in July by the South Korean world No. 1 Sung Hyun Park, who won’t play this weekend.
Park (71) started and finished play Friday at 6 over at the sun-soaked Evian Resort Golf Club and missed the cut by three shots.
Olson had seven birdies and secured a share of the lead with an 18-foot par-saving putt on the 18th.
“That was huge,” said the 26-year-old North Dakota native, whose career-best finish in a major is tied for ninth at the ANA Inspiration this season. “Seeing it drop, that’s a lot of confidence going into tomorrow.”
Olson’s working week in France meant she needed a replacement to bake cookies for the Indiana State linebackers coached by her husband, Grant. The Sycamores play Saturday at Eastern Illinois.
“The head coach’s wife made them for the linebackers this week,” Olson said. “She got me covered.”
Lee made an eagle at her final hole, the par-5 ninth, to be the highest ranked co-leader, at No. 59. The South Korean’s two career LPGA wins are more than the other three combined, though Martin won the 2014 Women’s British Open.
One shot back, Carlota Ciganda of Spain carded 70 to follow a 65 that only Torres equaled Thursday.
A seven-woman group on 6 under included Georgia Hall (68), last month’s Women’s British Open champion, plus former major winners Henderson (69) and So Yeon Ryu (69).
Austin Ernst (70) is also two shots back, completing her round minutes before Hurricane Florence made landfall close to her home state South Carolina.
“I’ve checked the weather app every day and talked to my family back home,” said the Seneca native. “It’s more flooding (risk) where I am. Let’s see what happens.”
American amateur Rachel Heck, who is only 16 years old, safely made the cut at her second major. A 73 got her to 1 over.
The top-ranked American, world No. 5 Lexi Thompson, was in tears on the 18th green and missed the cut by one stroke. She swiped her club in frustration after a scuffed chip that led to a bogey-5 and a round of 75. The 2014 ANA Inspiration winner had also dropped a shot at the 17th.
Owl’s Head Golf Club set for Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series
MANSONVILLE, Que. – Golf Canada’s seventh regional junior golf championship of 2018 is set to take begin on Friday as the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series gets underway at Owl’s Head Golf Club.
The tournament marks the beginning of the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series — a two-championship extension taking place for the first time in the fall of 2018. With the addition, the Future Links championship series now features eight tournaments through the course of the season, each hosted in conjunction with the respective provincial association.
The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on Sept. 13 before the tournament gets underway with round one on Sept. 14.
Designed by renowned architect Graham Cooke, Owl’s Head Golf Club will challenge the field through its strategically placed white silica bunkers and water hazards on six of its fairways.
“Golf Quebec is pleased to host the inaugural Fall Series event with Golf Canada at one of our province’s many remarkable facilities,” said Éric Couture, tournament director with Golf Quebec. “Hosting another Future Links regional championship provides additional opportunity for Canada’s premier junior golfers to showcase their skills and continue their development. We look forward to hosting this strong field of juniors attempting to navigate the challenging course at Owl’s Head.”
The field will consist of 81 junior golfers with the top six earning exemptions into their respective Canadian Junior National Championship.
Sixty-one boys will vie for one of three spots into the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys Championship from Aug. 11-15, at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, N.B.,
The Junior Girls Division will see 20 girls battle to earn an exemption into the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship from July 29 – Aug. 2, at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.
A tie for the third position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.
The second Fall Series event and final Future Links championship of the season will take place at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club in Roberts Creek, B.C., from Sept. 28-30.
Results for previous 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Championship can be found here: Pacific, Ontario, Western, Quebec, Prairie, Atlantic.
Click here for scoring, pairings and additional information.
Jared du Toit tied for 3rd at Freedom 55 Financial Championship
LONDON, Ont. — There’s just something about Thursdays at Highland Country Club that gets Jonathan Garrick going. In both 2016 and 2017, the American managed 6-under 64s, and this year he improved his stellar resume, throwing a co-leading 63 on the board at the Freedom 55 Financial Championship.
“I was hitting my irons well and gave myself a lot of chances,” said Garrick, who finished in a tie for 41st in 2017 and a tie for 28th in 2016. “I just have to keep it going for three more days.”
Garrick comes into the event playing his best golf of the season, a huge bounce back after missing four cuts in the year’s opening seven events.
“I had a good first round in Calgary and since then I’ve played pretty solid,” said the 24-year-old. “I’ve been near the top of the leaderboard at some point during every event and I’m gaining more confidence. I’ve really just stopped overthinking what I’ve been doing.”
Garrick’s first round in Calgary, a 9-under 63, set the UCLA alum up for his best finish of the season, a T5 that put him well inside the top-60 and all but secured his spot at the year’s final event for the third consecutive year.
Next to Garrick on the leaderboard is 22-year-old Danny Walker. The recent University of Virginia grad made five birdies as well as the only eagle of the day on No. 3 to sign for his lowest score since a 62 at the Lethbridge Paradise Canyon Open helped him to a T9 finish, his best as a professional.
Last season, Jared du Toit claimed Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours after finishing T17 at the event, highlighted by a first-round 61. This time around, Du Toit sits just one off the lead after a first-round 64 matches him with fellow Canadian Michael Gligic in a tie for third.