Jennifer Chang has moved on to become a second-year member of the University of Southern California’s golf team, but her memories of participating in two World Junior Girls Championships remain fresh in her mind.

“This event is not like any other junior event,” said Chang. “The World Junior Girls is such an amazing event to play in and represent your country. I was lucky enough to compete in this event twice and so to have that opportunity to enjoy this with great teammates along with the captains makes it more special.“

Chang, of Cary, N.C., was named to the All Pac-12 First Team after her freshman year at USC. She was one of approximately 60 golfers who took on The Marshes Golf Club in Kanata (about 15 minutes west of downtown Ottawa) a year ago (finishing tied for 21st), and about 50 golfers who played at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in 2017 (where she finished runner-up).

This year the World Junior Girls Championships remains in Ottawa, and heads to Camelot Golf and Country Club in Cumberland, about 20 minutes east of downtown Ottawa.

There will be 63 golfers competing from 20 countries around the world, and in addition to the 72-hole team and individual golf competitions, there will be a celebration of the sport all week long.

The course is home to Golf Canada National Team member (and past World Junior Girls Championship participant) Grace St. Germain, and hosted the 2012 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, plus the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship and final qualifying for the 2017 CP Women’s Open.

This year’s World Junior Girls Championship runs from Sept. 9-14.

Greg Richardson is the General Manager of the club – established in 1991 – and he said Camelot would be leaning back to the set-up from the Men’s Amateur somewhat this fall.

However, the course underwent some “major” bunker work after that event and said those changes were very successful, which led to the course hosting a handful of other big-time events.

“It’s something different than what they’ve seen in the Ottawa area in the past,” said Richardson of his club. “It’s a bit of a different layout in terms of the front nine, presenting more as links-style… and then you move to the back nine and you get some elevated tees and elevated greens and some interesting layouts. There are different choices and risk/reward holes which will be a challenge for (the golfers) but also enjoyable.”

Richardson said his members have been thrilled at the opportunity to host some of the world’s best amateur golfers in a few weeks time.

About three years ago the members were presented with a strategic plan for the golf course moving forward, and part of that plan was to bring some of the best golfers in the world to experience what Camelot has to offer.

“If we’re going to be a championship golf course, then our definition of championship means we’re going to host championships,” said Richardson. “They’re excited about having them. There is a good volunteer base that is excited to come out and help. They enjoy seeing the course put in high esteem and have some of the country’s best – and in this case, the world’s best players – come to try to take the challenge on.”

Although Chang was a top amateur in the United States over the two years she participated in the World Junior Girls, it was still a unique opportunity for her to indeed test her mettle against some not-so-familiar faces.

“When competing in tournaments across the (U.S.) you run into the same people, but at the World Junior Girls there were so many unfamiliar faces, and to have the chance to meet people from different continents was unreal,” she said. “You get to learn about the different cultures and languages from the girls. I had such a phenomenal time playing in the World Junior Girls definitely wish I could go back.”

Chang said between the camaraderie and the experience overall has been beneficial for her as she moved into her collegiate career and then, hopefully, onwards to the LPGA Tour.

Camelot will be a difficult challenge this September, but Chang said the most important thing for the participants this year is to just enjoy themselves.

“As golfers we always want to perform our best anytime we are playing, but sometimes we forget that you have to have fun,” she said. “That’s what this tournament is all about: having a once in a lifetime experience where not many golfers have the chance to compete, and enjoying the time with your team and other players.”

Click here for more information on the World Junior Girls Championship.

After a relaxing week off, four Canadian golfers enter the pressure cooker on Thursday.

Ben Silverman, Corey Conners, Nick Taylor and David Hearn have one last chance to get inside the top 125 on the FedEx Cup standings at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., the final event of the PGA Tour’s 2017-18 regular season.

Finishing inside the top 125 means a golfer is fully exempt on the PGA Tour for the following season, giving them the opportunity to choose their schedule.

Silverman, of Thornhill, Ont, spent most of PGA Championship week last week with his young family, going to Florida to register a car he won after a closest-to-the-pin contest at the Waste Management Phoenix Open earlier this year. However, his focus changes this week.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on (the standings) throughout the year,” said Silverman. “I probably need a top 10 ? but I’m aiming to win.”

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is exempt next year thanks to his win at the Valspar Championship in 2017, and sits 68th on the FedEx Cup. Hadwin was the only Canadian to play in the PGA Championship, but missed the cut at the final major of the year.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., sits 159th on the Cup list, but is good for next season as well thanks to his win at The RSM Classic in 2016.

But for Silverman (134), Corey Conners (128) of Listowel, Ont., Nick Taylor (129) of Abbotsford and David Hearn (156) of Brantford, Ont., this week should be a stressful one, based on what’s at stake.

Silverman and Conners, both PGA Tour rookies, are trying to look at the bright side.

“(It) should be a fun event. Obviously I’d like to be in a slightly different position ideally, but still have a good chance,” said Conners, who spent last week at home visiting friends and enjoying a rare week off.

“I feel like I don’t have any pressure on me right now,” echoed Silverman.

Conners played in the final group on Sunday in back-to-back events in March before fading in the final round both times.

He said having those results at the beginning of the season helped with his confidence.

Conners feels he has been playing good golf, but just hasn’t been able to score well. He missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open three weeks ago.

“I knew one good week could lock up my card and I haven’t been able to do that. It’s still alright, and I still feel good about things,” said Conners. “Overall, it’s been a successful year and hopefully I have one more good week.”

Both Silverman and Conners said if they finish outside the top 125, they still have a chance to play upwards of 15 events on the PGA Tour next season via a special membership category for golfers who finish 126-150th on the FedEx Cup standings.

Hearn was in that same category this year, and the Wyndham Championship will mark his 21st event of the year.

The rookies said they learned a lot this season.

Silverman had a noticeable improvement in his second year on the Web.com Tour _ including a victory _ and said he expects the same kind of improvement next season on the PGA Tour, although it remains to be seen what his schedule will be.

“Every first year on a tour has been a learning experience for me and I feel like I’ve got a little better with each one,” said Silverman. “I’ve had to learn a lot this year but I feel like I’ve been handling it alright.”

Conners, meanwhile, has another big life event to focus on after next week _ he’s marrying his longtime girlfriend Malory on Oct. 20.

He said he’s hopeful to “follow in the footsteps” of his fellow Canadians.

Hughes got married in October 2016 and won his first PGA Tour event the following month, while Hadwin won his first PGA event just two weeks prior to getting married.

“It’ll be a special end to the year and I’ll have some fresh mojo for the beginning of the next wraparound season,” Conners said.

If Silverman, Conners, Hearn and Taylor don’t get into the top 125 this week, they’ll presumably enter the four-event Web.com Tour finals _ where another 25 PGA Tour cards are up for grabs _ starting next week.

Entering the final week of the Web.com Tour regular season, Adam Svensson has all but locked up his PGA card for next season. The Surrey, B.C., golfer is 12th on the Web.com money list, with the top 25 graduating to the PGA after the regular season.

Ever since he traded in his hockey stick for a set of golf clubs, Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. hasn’t looked back.

With an pending transition to the professional ranks later this autumn, the national team member recently took a moment to reflect on his journey.

“I played hockey for two years but wasn’t really good at it, so I decided to give golf a try,” he recalled with a smile about his humble beginnings.

“My dad introduced me to the sport of golf when I was nine years old.  We played at this small par three course down in my hometown,” noted Bernard, who is the youngest of three kids.

“I just remembered it was a lot of fun; and I basically taught myself from the age of nine to 16.”

The now 23-year-old says he scored breakthrough results at the age of 17 that opened his eyes to his true potential.

“When I was 17, I won the Quebec Junior Boy’s title. Then, after I came fifth at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.  After that, I was invited to join the national development team,” he pointed out.

“So from there, I was thinking if I can continue to improve my game I could be pretty good at it,” added the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champ.

Today, as Canada’s top ranked amateur on the men’s side, Bernard credits his time on the national team program for taking his game to the next level.

“From the coach, Derek (Ingram) to the physio, and the mental coach, the program gives us everything we need to be successful. There’s also a nutritionist and strength and conditioning coach; and so it’s been great to have all these amazing resources and have that support,” pointed out the 23-year-old amateur standout.

“Also, through the program we have the opportunity to travel and compete around the world which has been a great experience and that’s done a lot to help me improve my game.”

National team head coach Derek Ingram is quick to speak about Bernard’s development during his time with the team.

“About three years ago Hugo was ranked in the 2000s and over the last three years he’s moved up into the top 30s; and is today he’s one of the best amateurs in the world,” noted Ingram.

“He’s made small refinements in every area of his game over the years that has allowed him to flourish,” he added.

“Hugo’s still got the U.S. Amateur and most likely the World Amateur; and then after that he’s going to turn pro and try to get his Web.com card……I think he’s got a bright future ahead and he’s got a chance to be a very successful PGA TOUR player one day.”

Bernard recently finished T41 at the 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows Golf Course & Pheasant Glen Golf Resort. He’s one of 10 Canadians in the field this week at the U.S. Men’s Amateur at Pebble Beach.

Having recently completed an online degree at the University of Montreal with a major in business, Bernard says he is both inspired and encouraged by the success of recent graduates of the national team program.

“I look up to someone like Mackenize Hughes who went from the development program to the national amateur team program to the young pro program; and now he’s a winner on the PGA TOUR…….It just proves that if you follow the plan then you are going to have success,” said Bernard.

“Mackenzie is a super nice guy and always gives me a lot of good tips when I talk to him.   And as well, I’ve played play golf with Corey Conners down in Florida and he’s a great player and learned so much from him each time we play together.”

Both Conners and Hughes are pleased to know that their success as professionals have inspired the next wave of Canadian amateurs.

“It’s nice to be able to support one another,” Conners noted.

“I personally give a lot of credit to Golf Canada and their development programs and helping us get to this level; and there’s a lot of guys following kind of behind Mackenzie and I who will hopefully add more Canadians to the PGA TOUR in the coming years.”

Hughes echoes his the sentiments of his long-time teammate.

“I was lucky enough – and Corey as as well – to be part of those teams; and to think the resources that we have on those teams are second to none in terms of the quality and what you’re getting out of it,” said Hughes who won the RSM Classic in 2016.

“I don’t think that Corey or I would be here as fast as we got here without their help,” he added.

“So we owe a lot to that for all the Canadians coming through right now and the surge of Canadian talent.”

Besides the tips and encouragement from the recent graduates of the program, Bernard says he’s also received words of wisdom from 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir.

“I’ve talked with Mike Weir also – I mean, he won the masters – so I just pay close attention to what he tells me,” said Bernard.

“Mike went to Q-school eight times before he got his card  – he wasn’t the best junior and he wasn’t the best amateur – but through working hard, he got there and did something no other Canadian has done.  So seeing what he’s accomplished is very inspiring,” said Bernard.

When asked about his own game, the 6 foot 3 left hander believes he’s got the skill set to achieve a smooth transition into the pros.

“I’m a long hitter, I hit it pretty far.  My approach game is solid and my wedge game has been improving a lot since last year.  I can roll my putt pretty good…..So, I like my chances when everything comes together,” he said.

As he looks forward, the former hockey player turned golfer is clear about his future goals.

“In five years, I see myself on the PGA TOUR for sure.  My goal this year is to do Q-school and try to get my Web.com Tour card. Ideally, play one or two years on the Web.com Tour and then get onto the PGA TOUR,” he said.

Having received a lot of sound advice from the likes of Hughes, Conners and Weir, Canada’s top ranked amateur was asked what his advice would be for the young junior golfers aspiring to get to his level.

“Just learn from each experience and have a positive attitude and see where it takes you because that’s basically what I did,” he replied.

“As well, you have to have a plan and put in the work; and if you do that then you are going to have success.”

ST. LOUIS – The roars were unlike anything Brooks Koepka had ever heard, and he knew exactly what they meant.

They got louder for each birdie by Tiger Woods that moved him closer to the lead Sunday in the PGA Championship, and Koepka could hear a ripple effect of noise. First, real time. Seconds later, another burst from patrons watching on TV in chalets. Then, distant cheers from every corner of Bellerive when the score was posted.

“We knew what was going on,” he said. “It’s pretty obvious when Tiger makes a birdie. Everybody on the golf course cheers for him.”

Koepka knew exactly what to do.

Amid relentless pandemonium, Koepka ran off three straight birdies to end the front nine and seize control. When he was tied with Adam Scott through 14 holes, with Woods one shot behind, he delivered back-to-back birdies.

The last one was a laser of a 4-iron from 248 yards that settled 6 feet away, sending him to a dream finish of a year that began with the 28-year-old Floridian wondering if a wrist injury that kept him out four months would ever allow him to compete again.

“That will probably go down as probably one of the best shots I’ve ever hit under pressure,” he said.

He closed with a 4-under 66 for a two-shot victory over Woods and took his place among the elite in golf. Koepka became the fifth player to win the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same year, joining Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen.

It will be impossible to overlook him now, not with the Wanamaker Trophy to go with his back-to-back U.S. Open titles. Koepka won two of the three majors he played this year, and three of his last six. Not since Woods won four in a row through the 2001 Masters has anyone won majors at such an alarming rate.

And yet it still felt _ and certainly sounded _ as though he played second billing to Woods.

The crowd was enormous, louder than anything in golf this side of Augusta National or a Ryder Cup, and Woods looked closer than ever to capping his comeback from four back surgeries with another major.

Even with two bogeys, Woods shot 64 for his lowest final round in a major. He finished at 266, beating by three shots his best 72-hole score in a major.

At this major, it wasn’t enough.

“I played hard,” Woods said. “I made a bit of a run. It looks like I’m going to come up a little short.”

Koepka was responsible for that.

After wasting one chance to put it away by missing consecutive birdie chances from 7 feet, Koepka kept attacking flags and ran in birdie putts of 10 feet on No. 15 and 7 feet on No. 16 to end the drama. He tapped in for par on the final hole to set the PGA Championship scoring record at 264. It also tied the major championship record that Henrik Stenson set at Royal Troon two years ago in the British Open.

He also joined Jordan Spieth, Woods, Nicklaus and Tom Watson as the only players with three majors before turning 30 since World War II.

“Three majors at 28 _ it’s a cool feeling,” said Koepka, who five years ago was toiling in Europe’s minor leagues.

Scott hung around by making big putts, just like he hoped, and was tied for the lead until Koepka’s birdies. Scott missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th that would have pulled him to within one shot _ right after Koepka missed from the same range _ and then made bogey on the 18th for a 67 to finish alone in third.

The only knock on Koepka is that he doesn’t win enough elsewhere _ the Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour, the Turkish Airlines Open on the European Tour, and two victories at the Dunlop Phoenix on the JapanGolf Tour.

“He’s won three majors now, so he’s definitely winning the right ones,” Scott said. “If I was him, I wouldn’t change much at the moment. I’d just keep doing what he’s doing because he’s showing up at the right moments in the biggest events. There’s something inside his brain that makes him believe that that’s what he’s destined to do.”

The St. Louis fans waited 17 years to see Woods _ he last was at Bellerive when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks cancelled a World Golf Championship _ and he delivered a performance that took golf back in time.

Thomas Bjorn might have seen it coming. Earlier in the week, as he was cleaning out his locker after withdrawing with an injury, he thought back to Woods getting into contention at Carnoustie last month at the British Open. “He recognized who that guy was that day,” Bjorn said.

Woods was relentless, pumping fists, raising the putter in his left hand, making birdies and charging toward a finish that caused pure pandemonium among one of the largest and noisiest crowds at a major.

Without hitting a fairway on the front nine, Woods cut the four-shot deficit to two.

Dialed in on the back nine, he dropped an approach into 4 feet on No. 12, got within one shot with a 10-foot birdie on the par-3 13th and, after a bad drive led to bogey, he answered with another approach that hit a foot from the hole.

That was as good as it got.

Facing the most important drive of the day on the par-5 17th, Woods sent it sailing to the right and it embedded in a hazard along the banks of a creek. He did well to advance it, but had to save par from a bunker. Behind him, Koepka holed his two birdie putts.

Woods and Koepka played nine holes of a practice round Wednesday, and the 14-time major champion knew what he was up against.

“It’s tough to beat when the guy hits it 340 down the middle,” Woods said. “What he did at Shinnecock, just bombing it, and then he’s doing the same thing here. … And when a guy’s doing that and hitting it straight, and as good a putter as he is, it’s tough to beat.”

Koepka never imagined a year like this. He missed four months at the start of the year when a partially torn tendon in his left wrist, causing him to sit out the Masters. He outlasted good friend Dustin Johnson at Shinnecock Hills to become the first back-to-back U.S. Open champion in 29 years.

And now this.

The only downer is having to wait eight months for the Masters.

Calgary, Alta, Canada— Canadian Jared du Toit, who held a brief lead as he made the turn to the back nine, is in good position on the leaderboard after a second-round 65 at the ATB Financial Classic. Spending much of the last seven years of his life in Calgary, the hometown player is in good position to bring home the Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week award.

“I’ve been hitting it well the past month and been waiting for the putter to go and it never came, so after the missed cut in Edmonton I put some really hard work in putting and I think it’s starting to pay off. I made a few today and yesterday, and that really started to get things going,”said du Toit.

The Country Hills Golf Club course record belongs to Lee Hodges, who made nine birdies, including three consecutive to close out his day, to card a 62 and holds a share of the lead with Chris Killmer after the second round.

After a lackluster performance last week in Edmonton at the Oil Country Championship, where he missed the first cut of his Mackenzie Tour career, Hodges’ 62 gives him the best scoring average on the Mackenzie Tour at 67.7.

“It was a good round. I was in control of my game the whole time and struck it really nicely,” said Hodges. “I hit every green and wasn’t often outside 15 feet, so it was a good ball striking day, and then I made some good putts on the last three, so overall, it was a good day.”

Hodges spread his birdies sporadically on the front nine, carding circles on hole Nos. 2, 5, 8 and 9. Turning to the back, The Huntsville, AL native made birdie on Nos. 10 and 13 before closing with three in a row for his second 62 of the season.

“It was really yesterday that this started, I played the same way, but just didn’t make as many putts,” said Hodges, who opened with a 66 on day one. “These greens are tricky to read sometimes, but today I was just underneath the hole all day and had straight putts, which was nice.”

This isn’t the first time Hodges has been in a position like this on the Mackenzie Tour. At the Osprey Valley Open, the 23-year-old held an 18-hole lead after, déjà vu, a course-record 62.

Following back-to-back 69s in rounds two and three, Hodges closed with a disappointing 77 to finish T28. However, the recent Alabama Tar Heel grad chalks it up as a necessary learning experience.

“I’m glad I had that experience at Osprey (Valley) because I didn’t handle it very well,” said Hodges. “I was like, ‘where do I go from here’, but now I know to keep my foot on the gas pedal, keep making putts and good shots and good things will happen.”

Trailing the leaders by one is first round leader Tyler McCumber, who made two eagles on the day to fire a second-round 66. In his last 11 rounds on the Mackenzie Tour, McCumber has a scoring average of 65.36.

DUNCAN, B.C. – American Zach Bauchou held on in Thursday’s final round of the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows to become the 13th back-to-back champion in history.

Bauchou, a Forest, Va., native, fired a 5-under 66 in the final round to finish with a three-stroke victory at 18 under par—tying the tournament record set in 1970 by Allen Miller.

“It’s truly an honour to be a back-to-back champion at the Canadian Men’s Amateur—words can’t really express how much it means to me to come up here and defend and play as well as I did,” said the 22-year-old. “I’m truly honoured to win this tournament again.”

In 2017, Bauchou became the 22nd American to hoist the Earl Grey Cup, and now becomes the fourth American to win back-to-back championships (Han Lee, Frank Stranahan, Albert Campbell).

Zach Bauchou repeats to win the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows #CDNAm ????

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Aug 9, 2018 at 1:59pm PDT

For the first time since Monday, Bauchou relinquished the lead to momentarily sit tied at 14 under par with fellow American Philip Knowles, who surged up the leaderboard early with birdies on three of his first four holes.

Bauchou pulled away on the back nine, with a momentum swing on the 15th hole where he sunk a winding birdie putt, while Knowles slipped with a three-putt from inside 10 feet.

“He [Philip] played really well, especially on the front nine, he really putted good,” said Bauchou. “My putt was right in the middle which was really nice – sometimes you need those putts to go in in order to win.”

Words from your 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion #CDNAm pic.twitter.com/trlR1VmS8a

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) August 9, 2018

With the victory, Bauchou receives an exemption into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., from June 3-9. Having already received an exemption into the U.S. Amateur via World Amateur Ranking (No. 21), Bauchou had his mind set this year on defending.

“I think the feelings are a lot different for me this year,” said Bauchou. “Today I was playing to defend, and you have a little difference in responses and I was a lot less nervous today than I was last year, which was the different this year.”

Knowles closed in solo second at 15 under par. The Jacksonville, Fla., native also shot a 64 in Wednesday’s third round to set the course record.

“Just like that you go from walking up the green, thinking you might get back to all-square to being three down with three to play,” said Knowles, who is entering his senior year at the University of North Florida. “I shot 15 under. You can’t shake your head at that, there’s a lot of circles on the scorecard.”

Elmira, Ont., native Garrett Rank finished in third place at 13 under par, also taking home low Canadian honours in the process. The 30-year-old will return to B.C. from Aug. 21-24 to compete in the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur at Victoria Golf Club, where he’ll look to collect his fourth title in five years.

“You’d like to add this one to the resume for sure,” said Rank. “Without sounding arrogant I have won a lot of Golf Canada championships so it would be nice at one point to get one of these.”

Earlier in the week, Team Quebec captured the inter-provincial title to win their second consecutive Willingdon Cup. Julien Sale (Gatineau, Que.) and Team Canada members Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.) helped Quebec to a 10-under-par score and a seven-stroke win—their eighth victory all-time.

Duncan Meadows Golf Course played host to the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship alongside Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, who co-hosted the 246-player field during the first 36 holes.

Click here for full scores.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif.  – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 118th U.S. Amateur Championship, Monday (Aug. 13) and Tuesday (Aug. 14), at 7,075-yard, par-71 Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and at 6,995-yard, par-72 Spyglass Hill Golf Course, in Pebble Beach, Calif.

The U.S. Amateur consists of 36 holes of stroke play on Aug. 13 and 14, after which the 312-player field will be reduced to the low 64 scorers. There will be six rounds of match play, starting Aug. 15. The quarterfinals and semifinals are slated for Friday, Aug. 17 and Saturday, Aug. 18, respectively. The championship is scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Sunday, Aug. 19, starting at 7:30 a.m. PDT.

All Times PDT

Monday (Aug. 13), PB, Hole #1 / Tuesday (Aug. 14), SH, Hole #10

8:12 a.m. / 1:27 p.m. – Hugo Bernard, Canada; John Augenstein, Owensboro, Ky.; Eric Ansett, Spokane, Wash

8:43 a.m. / 1:58 p.m. – Gray Barnes, Stormville, N.Y.; Josh Whalen, Canada; Varun Chopra, Champaign, Ill.

Monday (Aug. 13), PB, hole #10 / Tuesday (Aug. 14), SH, hole #1

9:15 a.m. / 2:30 p.m. – Sy Lovan, Canada; Andy Ogletree, Little Rock, Miss.; Drew Kittleson, Scottsdale, Ariz.

9:36 a.m. / 2:51 p.m. – Cameron Meeks, Las Vegas, Nev.; Colby Dean, Eagle, Idaho; Chris Crisologo, Canada

Monday (Aug. 13), PB, hole #1 / Tuesday (Aug. 14), SH, hole #10

2:51 p.m. / 9:36 a.m. – Patrick Murphy, Canada; Tyler Vincent, Lisle, Ill.; Nate Thomson, Greendale, Wis.

Monday (Aug. 13), PB, hole #10 / Tuesday (Aug. 14), SH, hole #1

1:58 p.m. / 8:43 a.m. – Etienne Brault, Canada; Matthew Wetherill, Cincinnati, Ohio; Joe Highsmith, Lakewood, Wash.

2:19 p.m. / 9:04 a.m. – Jacob Bergeron, Slidell, La.; Garrett Rank, Canada; Timothy Wiseman, Corydon, Ind.

Monday (Aug. 13), SH, hole #10 / Tuesday (Aug. 14), PB, hole #1

8:12 a.m. / 1:27 p.m. – Stephen Behr, Florence, S.C.; Cougar Collins, Canada; Jacob Solomon, Auburn, Ala.

Monday (Aug. 13), SH, hole #1 / Tuesday (Aug. 14), PB, hole #10

1:16 p.m. / 8:01 a.m. – Alexander Yang, Carlsbad, Calif.; Joey Savoie, Canada; Jack Rhea, Jonesborough, Tenn.

1:58 p.m. / 8:43 a.m. – Matthew Cocorikis, Monroe Township, N.J.; Maxwell Sear, Canada; Brett Robinson, Tustin, Calif.

DUNCAN, B.C. – American Zach Bauchou fought the heat with a 4-under-par 67 in Wednesday’s third round of the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to hold a two-stroke lead at Duncan Meadows.

The 22-year-old Forest, Va., product sits at 13 under par for the tournament and has held the lead through the first three rounds. Bauchou, a junior at Oklahoma State, felt he left a lot of strokes on the course today.

“I didn’t really feel like I played that great today. I just didn’t hit it close to the hole so I didn’t have many great birdie looks,” said Bauchou, who was on his way to the practice range. “I was fortunate to only make one bogey which minimizes the damage a lot—I just need to play better tomorrow.”

American Zach Baochou finishes his third round with a 4-under 67 to maintain his lead at the #CDNAm

Scores ➡️ https://t.co/A1XR0wKkKT pic.twitter.com/dTiplhJLWq

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) August 8, 2018

Bauchou’s motivation comes from many sources, one of which included Oklahoma State teammate Sam Stevens, who now sits in a tie for third at 8 under. The pair shared a short exchange at the 17th tee to compare scores.

“I was asking Sam what he was at and he was 6 under,” smiled Bauchou. “So I was really gearing up to birdie the last two holes but I didn’t do that so that was disappointing. You know, I think I’m in a really good frame of mind to have a good day tomorrow.”

Trailing Bauchou is fellow American Philip Knowles, who shot a 64 to tie the course record (set this week by Australian Justin Warren). The Jacksonville, Fla., native sits at 11 under in solo second, narrowing Bauchou’s 36-hole lead by one stroke.

A trio of golfers sit tied for third place at 8 under par: Canadian Kaleb Gorbahn (Smithers, B.C.), Sam Stevens (Wichita, Kans.) and Cameron Young (Scarborough, N.Y.).

In 2017, Bauchou rallied from behind in the final round to win the title. On Thursday, he looks to close it out playing with lead. He tees off at 9:31 a.m. PT alongside Knowles and Gorbahn, the current low Canadian.

Team Canada graduate and NHL referee Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., sits in 6th place at 7 under for the tournament.

In addition to claiming the title of 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif., and the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. from June 3-9.

The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

Click here for full scores.

QUALICUM BEACH, B.C. – Defending champion Zach Bauchou battled the extreme heat in Tuesday’s second round with a 3-under 68 to extend his lead to three strokes at the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Bauchou, a Forest, Va., native, posted six birdies against three bogeys at co-host Pheasant Glen Golf Resort heading into the final two rounds back at Duncan Meadows.

“With all the par-3s you’re going to have to hit a lot of mid-irons—I was able to hit some really good shots and I putted really well too,” said the 22-year-old, greenside at No. 18. “I had some nice looks that I capitalized on today.”

The Oklahoma State junior grew his lead by one stroke on Tuesday and looks to stay aggressive in Wednesday’s third round.

“The goal is just to play as good as I can and make as many birdies as I can,” said Bauchou. “I’ve had some short game errors where I didn’t get up-and-down, so I’ll be looking to sharpen up my short game over the next two days and keep playing aggressively—pedal to the medal.”

Alone in second place is Gatineau, Que., resident Julien Sale, who shot a 2-under-par 69 at Pheasant Glen to move to 6 under for the tournament, three back of Bauchou.

“I’m just trying to put the ball in play and then go for the green and get the putter working well,” said Sale, who grew up in France. “For tomorrow, I’ll see if I need to be a bit more aggressive depending on how the other guys do.”

Sale’s efforts played a large part in helping Team Quebec capture the inter-provincial title to win their second straight Willingdon Cup. Alongside Sale were Team Canada members Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.), who helped Quebec to a 10-under-par score and a seven-stroke win—their eighth victory all-time.

Congrats to Team Quebec, who captured the #CDNAm inter-provincial competition by 7 strokes to capture the second straight Willingdon Cup ????

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Team Alberta was the only other team to finish under par, closing with a score of 3 under to finish alone in second place.

Also making significant moves on Tuesday were Garrett Rank and Justin Warren. Rank, an Elmira, Ont., native and Team Canada graduate, shot a 65 to tie the course record at Pheasant Glen. The 30-year-old climbed into a five-way tie for sixth place at 3 under for the tournament.

At Duncan Meadows, Australian Justin Warren carded a scorching 64 to set the new course record (Bauchou tied the old record of 65 on Monday). Warren, a senior at Little Rock, sits tied for 24th at even par.

A total of 71 players who finished 3 over par or better have advanced to the final two rounds of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be contested at Duncan Meadows.

In addition to claiming the title of 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif., and the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. from June 3-9.

The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

For full results click here.