The PGA of America announced recently the formation of an international event, the Women’s PGA Cup – a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world.

The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event.

The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.

The Women’s PGA Cup will be a 54-hole stroke play event with each team’s lowest three scores being counted after each round. The winning country will be the team with the lowest 54-hole aggregate total.

Each national team will be composed of five players and one captain, who also may be a playing or non-playing captain at the option of the respective country.

The Women’s PGA Cup does not include a purse; rather, each team will vie for bragging rights and the honour of winning the Cup, and bask in the pride that comes with representing one’s country in a distinct and unique international competition.

Those eligible to represent their country in the Women’s PGA Cup must be members in good standing with their respective Professional Golfers Association (PGA). They must also be active in the game, be it as a teacher, coach or working as club professional/assistant. Tour professionals who primarily compete for a living are not eligible to participate.

The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the following:

• Performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DATA PGA Women’s Championship

The following countries are tentatively committed to play in the 2019 Women’s PGA Cup: Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, Sweden and the United States.

More information about the Women’s PGA Cup will be made available over the coming months.

BOGOTA, Colombia – Last December, Englishman Ben Taylor found himself in Chandler, Arizona, competing at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament, attempting to better his status on Tour for 2018. Despite three top-25 finishes in 2017, the Tour rookie had finished the Regular Season at No. 80 on the money list, narrowly missing a berth into the Web.com Tour Finals and exempt status for the following year. Now, just two months later, the Louisiana State University alum is a first-time winner after carding a closing-round 3-under-par 68 at the Club Colombia Championship, good for a six-stroke victory – the largest in tournament history – over K.H. Lee, Erik Barnes, Jason Gore and fellow LSU Tiger Sam Burns.

“It’s still quite surreal,” Taylor said about the difference two months makes. “To know that I had to shoot 17-under in December to be here this week is certainly a good feeling now that I’ve become the champion. It just goes to show that the hard work does pay off. I’m certainly very thrilled to come out on top this week. It’s a surreal feeling and a dream come true.”

Taylor entered Sunday at Country Club de Bogota four strokes clear of the field, but a bogey on the opening hole ensured the 25-year-old would have to play aggressively to keep the lead as the leaderboard became more and more bunched behind him at 9-under par. Taylor went on par the next two holes before picking up his first birdie of the day on the par-4 fourth. He carded four more birdies on the round to move to 16-under before dropping a stroke on the par-3 15th.

As Taylor approached the fairway on No. 17, the London native and current Orlando, Florida, resident looked at the leaderboard for the first time, only to see he’d opened up a six-stroke lead on the rest of the field with two left to play.

“I made sure not to look at any leaderboards all day,” Taylor laughed, “But when I was coming down No. 17 and realized I was ahead by six, I realized it was pretty difficult to mess it up. That’s when I realized the job was done. It certainly made the three-shot par-5 finish a lot easier.”

The former NCAA Division I and Division II champion finished the week at 15-under 269 for the tournament, just three strokes shy of the tournament-best 266 carded by Patrick Cantlay in 2013. With his opening-round 4-under 67, Taylor also tied Cantlay for the lowest start by a tournament champion. This week also marked the first time Taylor held a 36- and 54-hole lead.

The maiden victory for Taylor came with a $126,000 paycheck, enough to move him to No. 3 on the money list. For Taylor, who played every event of the Regular Season in 2017, the win reorients his goals for the season from simply retaining his Web.com Tour card to making a chase for a spot in The 25 and his first PGA TOUR card. The win also allowed Taylor to live out a dream almost three years in the making.

“The walk up No. 18 was really special. I remember before I even had my card on this Tour or the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, I watched the highlights of Steve Marino and Patrick Rodgers from this tournament,” said Taylor, who was a Mackenzie Tour member in 2016.

“I saw how big the crowds were and I thought, ‘Man, that’s quite cool. I’d love to be there and do that one day.’ When I walked up and all the crowd were applauding for me; that was pretty cool.”

Canada’s Roger Sloan, of Merritt, B.C., continued his momentum with a second-straight top-20 finish (after missing the cut in the season’s first two events). The 30-year-old finished the tournament at 6 under par (69-66-71-72) to finish with a share of 16th. On the heels of two strong performances, Sloan finds himself at No. 17 on the money list—in line for one the coveted top-25 spots to earn PGA TOUR cards. As it stands, Sloan is joined by fellow countrymen Adam Svensson (No.2) and Ryan Yip (No. 20).

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Ted Potter Jr. beat three of the biggest names on the PGA Tour at one of the most famous golf courses in America, and then his day got even better.

Walking out to the 18th green for the trophy presentation at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, he stopped to chat with Clint Eastwood.

“It was pretty awesome to meet him out there today,” Potter said. “Big fan of a lot of his movies he’s done, and it was just incredible to meet him, too.”

In some respects, Potter starred in his own show with an ending not many imagined.

He turned pro out of high school and groomed his game on the mini-tours, sometimes earning barely enough money to pay for a week’s worth of food and gas. When he first got onto the Web.com Tour, he missed the cut in all 24 tournaments he played. Two years after he broke through on the PGA Tour by winning the Greenbrier Classic, he broke his right ankle stepping off a curb and sat out for two years.

The injury was so severe he had two surgeries – one to insert two plates and 12 screws, the other to remove all that hardware.

He played in the final group Sunday with Dustin Johnson, coming up on a full year at No. 1 in the world. Potter was No. 246.

Potter overcame a three-putt bogey on the opening hole by not dropping a shot the rest of the way. He closed with a 3-under 69 and left the mistakes to everyone else, a cast of challengers that included Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Jason Day. They all finished second, along with Chez Reavie.

Hollywood stuff, for sure.

“I’m so happy right now to get it done today, especially against the world No. 1, playing with him today,” Potter said. “The win here at Pebble is just unbelievable.”

There is nothing fancy about Potter’s game or how he won for the second time in his career.

He birdied both the par 5s on the front. He chipped in for birdie behind the seventh green, which gave him a two-shot lead. And then he was never out of position the rest of the way, knowing he had the lead and that someone would have to catch him.

Mickelson made a late charge with three birdies in a four-hole stretch through the 17th hole. But trying to make eagle on the 18th for a chance at winning, Lefty came up just right of the green and into a bunker, leading to par and a 67.

It was his best finish since that duel at Royal Troon with Henrik Stenson in the British Open in 2016. Mickelson, who tied for fifth in Phoenix last week, had consecutive top 5s for the first time since the summer of 2013, his last victory.

“I made a few good birdies coming down the stretch there to feel the nerves again,” Mickelson said. “Unfortunately, it’s not enough, but it was a great week, a lot of fun, perfect weather and really had a great time.”

Day also made a late run with two birdies on the 15th and 16th, but then his tee shot on the par-3 17th went to the right and the pin was all the way to the left. He made par, then hit onto the beach with a driver off the deck on the 18th. Day kept it entertaining by playing off the beach, over the sea wall and over the green. He still managed to get up-and-down from a bunker for par and a 70.

Johnson was never really in it after his bogey on No. 8 to fall three shots behind. He kept missing in the wrong spots, and he dropped two more shots when he couldn’t afford to drop any. He closed with a 72.

“A few iron shots cost me a few bogeys,” said Johnson, who played Pebble in 70-72 on the weekend. “Two under in 36 holes is not too good as well as I thought I was playing. I’d like to have put a little more pressure on Ted.”

Potter was the last man standing, remarkable considering it was only two years ago when he couldn’t stand at all.

He slipped off a curb at the Canadian Open in 2014 and broke his ankle. Through the surgeries, he wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to play again, or at least play the way he once did.

“It’s been a struggle,” he said. “You break your ankle and you don’t know what’s going to happen with your swing, with your career. It’s unbelievable right now. … This has been a blast this week.”

Now he has a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. He gets into the Masters for the second time. He gets into the PGA Championship in August, and he starts next year on Maui for the Sentry Tournament of Champions.

The ultimate underdog? Potter wasn’t sure about that. He had an opportunity and grabbed it.

“It’s golf,” he said. “All you can do is try as hard as you can. Just keeping grinding. I don’t know what to say.”

BOGOTA, Colombia – Former LSU golfer Ben Taylor opened his week at the Web.com Tour’s Club Colombia Championship with a 4-under 67 to sit one shot off the 18-hole lead entering Friday’s second round at host Country Club of Bogota. The 25-year-old, who spent much of the day flirting around the top of the leaderboard, took outright control of the tournament with birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 17 to post 5-under 66 and 9-under 133 through 36 holes, good for a two-shot lead entering weekend play at the ninth annual event.

Taylor, who originally hails from London, England, was one-over par through three holes in his second round, but rallied early with birdies on Nos. 4 and 8 to turn in one-under 34.

A birdie on the par-5 10^th pushed him to two-under for the day, but it was a par save on the narrow par-4 13^th that kept the round going.

“I hit my tee shot left on 13, and I had to hit a good second shot knowing that I couldn’t go long of the green, and I managed to hit a chip-and-run 180 yards to the middle of the green, and from there two putt to keep the momentum going,” he said.

The clutch save on the back nine gave way to a torrid finish for the Orlando resident, as birdies on 15, 16 and 17 moved him from the role of hunter to that of hunted, thanks to a 9-under 133 tally and a two-shot advantage with 36 holes to play.

“I knew I was close, but I’ve been in this situation a couple of times now having played my rookie year last year, so I learned to stick to the game plan and close out a good finish, which we managed to do,” said Taylor when asked if he was looking at leaderboards.

Taylor, in his second full season on the Web.com Tour, entered the week with one top-25 in three starts this year – a T19 at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic.

As a rookie in 2017, he recorded three top-25 finishes in 22 starts, including a career-best T7 at the Knoxville Open in August. One of Taylor’s three top-25s came at the Club Colombia Championship, where a final-round 65 propelled him 24 spots up the Sunday leaderboard and into a tie for 21^st.

“I like that it’s challenging, so if you have a couple of bad holes, you know you’re not going to fall down as far as you would on a golf course where it’s a birdie-fest,” Taylor said of the demanding Country Club of Bogota. “I really like the golf course and I’m very excited for the next couple of days.”

Argentina’s Augusto Nunez, Canada’s Roger Sloan and Conner Godsey of the United States are tied for second, two shots back of Taylor at 7-under 135.

Nunez, who was one of four players to share the opening-round lead, birdied three of his first six holes on his way to a 2-under 69.

Beginning his round on the opening nine, Nunez birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 6 to race out to a three-under-par start, immediately seizing the outright lead at eight-under for the week.

“I felt very good today on the golf course, especially on the front nine,” he said. “When I started the back nine, I saw the crowd and I felt some nerves. That’s normal when you have fans following you.”

Friday’s large crowds, which dotted the fairways and stands of the prestigious club located in the heart of downtown Bogota, triggered a few less-than-stellar holes for Nunez, as bogeys on the par-5 10^th and par-4 14^th dropped him down to 6-under par.

A late birdie on the par-4 17^th righted the ship for the Buenos Aires resident, who finished the day with a 2-under 69.

In 61 career starts on PGA TOUR Latinoamerica between 2012 and 2017, Nunez recorded 15 top-10 finishes, including a victory at the 2016 Flor de Cana Open, where his 25-under-par total set the Tour’s all-time scoring record. The $121,173 he earned that season gave way to a second-place finish on the Order of Merit and a Web.com Tour card for the 2017 season.

Nunez made 7 of 20 cuts on the 2017 Web.com Tour, recording a career-best runner-up at the Corales Puntacana Resort & Club Championship. Nunez missed the cut in Bogota with rounds of 72-82—154, a full 19 shots higher than his 2018 tally at the event’s halfway point.

“I started pretty well this season, but I need to continue working on my game. Like I said yesterday, my goal is get one of the PGA TOUR cards through this Tour,” he said. “Now, in 2018, I have more experience and I already know the courses, so that is so helpful.”

Sloan, who finished solo-fourth at last week’s Panama Championship, was even par through four holes today before playing his final 14 in 5-under par to move into a tie for second.

The former University of Texas-El Paso golfer is making his 94th career Web.com Tour start this week and looking for his first victory since the 2014 Nova Scotia Open.

Of the three players tied for second, Godsey is perhaps the biggest surprise, as the week marks just his sixth career start on the Web.com Tour. The 25-year-old finished T16 at Q-School in December to earn status for the 2018 season and entered the week with made cuts at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic and the Panama Championship.

He is currently No. 81 on the money list with $3,534 in earnings.

#ShotOfTheDay

Canadian @RogerSloan87's monster birdie putt from 50+ feet away at the #ClubColombiaChampionship! pic.twitter.com/47rwOsb1vc

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) February 10, 2018

Graham DeLaet, a Canadian Olympian, was one of seven athletes named to Boise State’s first Hall of Fame class in more than a decade.

Prior to climbing into the top 40 of the Official World Golf Rankings, competing in the Olympics and playing on the Presidents Cup and World Cup Teams, Graham DeLaet was setting records at Boise State. He graduated with the top two single-season scoring averages (71.48 in 2003-04 and 71.54 in 2005-06), the three-highest win totals in a single season (four in 2003-04 and three each in 2002-03 and 2005-06), the career records for both top-10 finishes (26) and top-25 finishes (37) and the single-season records for both top-10 finishes (nine) and top-25 finishes (11). The WAC Player of the Year in 2006, he still holds the Broncos’ career wins record (10), and is the only three-time NCAA Regional Championships participant in school history (2003, 2004 and 2006).

The Weyburn, Sask., product will be joined by Abigail Ferguson (women’s track & field), Eleni Kafourou (women’s track & field), Kellen Moore (football), Nate Potter (football), Paul J Schneider (radio play-by-play) and Gabe Wallin (men’s track & field).

The 2018 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on campus April 13 (Friday), with doors opening at 5 p.m., and the induction ceremony scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Bios on each of the members of the Class of 2018 can be found here.

Jeff Calderwood, CEO, and Mark Seabrook, founding President, presented with Paul Porter Award

Two of NGCOA Canada’s leaders were recognized at the NGCOA U.S. annual Golf Business Conference Celebration & Awards Dinner in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday. Jeff Calderwood, CEO, and Mark Seabrook, founding President and owner of the Canadian Golf & Country Club, were presented with the Paul Porter Award. This award recognizes a NGCOA member who left an enduring mark on a national or international affiliate through the highest level of commitment, service and leadership.

“It’s an honour to be receiving such high recognition from the NGCOA U.S. for our NGCOA Canada success over all those years,” says Jeff Calderwood, CEO, NGCOA Canada. “From that modest beginning 25 years ago to our leadership position today representing the majority of golf course operators and the business side of Canadian golf, it has been a very rewarding experience. Everyone involved, from all our board members, staff, golf course owners, suppliers, allied associations and related stakeholders deserve so much credit for us fulfilling that original NGCOA Canada vision. Mark and I will proudly accept this Paul Porter Award on their behalf and look forward to many more years of serving the Canadian golf business.”

“Associations are indeed about the programs and services provided to a membership, but it all happens because of people with a heart and head for the mission,” says Jay Karen, Chief Executive Officer of NGCOA. “No duo in golf have been more important and impressive than Mark and Jeff, as evidenced by the success of NGCOA Canada. What they built has served as inspiration for all of us in the North American and European NGCOA family for many years.”

This award comes on the heels of the Association’s 25th Anniversary celebrations where both Jeff and Mark were awarded with NGCOA Canada Lifetime Achievement Awards for their dedication and leadership in growing the Association.

UXBRIDGE, Ont. — Golf Ontario is pleased to announce this year’s Class of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Terrill Samuel, Dave Bunker and Warren Crosbie, will become the newest members of the Hall at the official induction ceremony on May 2, 2018 at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge. In addition, Wayne Redshaw will be receiving the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award, presented annually to accredited members of the Ontario media for “major contributions to golf.” In addition there will be a first for the Hall of Fame this year, a group of individuals will be recognized representing the early history of golf in Ontario.

Terrill Samuel

Toronto resident Terrill Samuel, 57, enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Amateur Golfer category. Samuel has captured many titles both provincially and nationally throughout her career. Provincially she has won the Ontario Women’s Amateur twice, Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur three times and the Ontario Senior Women’s. In addition, she has claimed the Ontario Women’s Match Play and Mixed 4-ball championships. On the national level, she has won the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, the Canadian Women’s Mid Master, and the Canadian Women’s Senior twice. She also finished second in the 2004 C.P.G.A. Ladies Open.

Samuel also represented Canada on the international stage multiple times. Highlights include winning the Mellsop Stroke Play at the 1990 New Zealand Ladies Golf Championship and defeating Annika Sorenstam in a match play event in the 1992 Ladies British Open Amateur Championship.

Samuel has been a member of Weston Golf and Country Club since 1983.

Dave Bunker

Entering the Hall in the Amateur Golfer category is Woodbridge’s Dave Bunker. Bunker, 53, has amassed an almost immeasurable amount of championships and accolades. Just some highlights of his career include capturing 15 provincial titles including three Ontario Mid-Master titles, countless course Championships and 8 Canadian titles including The Canadian Mid-Master and Mid-Amateur for three straight seasons.

Bunker has also achieved international success playing in the U.S. Senior Open twice, the Canadian Open twice and has been a part of Team Ontario playing international events around the world.

In 2010, Bunker was named Fairways Magazine’s Amateur Player of the Year and 2010 GJAC Canadian Male Amateur Player of the Year.

He has also topped the Ontario Mid-Amateur ranking an incredible eight times. Bunker also holds the club record at six different courses. He is a member of Brampton Golf Club and is a middle school teacher.

Warren Crosbie

Niagara-on-the-Lake resident Warren Crosbie is well known as one of Canada’s most respected golf developers and maintains significant involvement in the associations guiding his profession. He enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Builder category.

Crosbie has been a Golf Professional for 44 years including 32 years at Bayview Golf and Country Club. One of the remarkable aspects of Warren’s career is the number of golf professionals who he’s trained and mentored. Further Warren supports the junior program at Bayview and continues to teach young aspiring golf professionals.

His credentials include PGA of Canada President present 2006-08, Member of Professional Golfers’ Association since 1976 including honorary status in 2008, Honorary Director of PGA of America 2006-08, and board member of Golf Management Institute of Canada 2010-present (current chair). Crosbie is also currently the chair for the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame.

Wayne Redshaw – Lorne Rubenstein Media Award

Wayne Redshaw is a veteran sports writer and sports editor whose career began as a sports beat writer in 1962. His history in sports writing includes an extensive background including covering the Buffalo Sabres. Redshaw has covered the team since its inception in 1970, on many game nights doing triple duty by filing separate stories to the Canadian Press and the Associated Press.

Besides covering 30 Canadian Opens on the golf scene, he also covered the World Series in 1968 and again in 1992-93, when the Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back titles, as well as Grey Cup games played in Hamilton and Toronto.

Redshaw left the newspaper world in 1995 but not the industry. FORE! Golfers Only was launched a year later and for the next eight years he wrote stories that his late wife Dianne proof read, compiled columns of stats and sold ads for what at the time was Canada’s only weekly golf publication. As boss of DWR Sports Publications Redshaw would deliver as many as 20,000 magazines to golf courses and Avondale stores across the Niagara peninsula.

Redshaw is also a member of the Sabres Hall of Fame and life member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

BOGOTA, Colombia – West Virginia native Christian Brand began the 2017 Web.com Tour Season with conditional status, trying to make the most of each sponsor exemption he received. Brand was able to record four top-25 finishes but the performance wasn’t enough to earn him a spot in the Web.com Tour Finals. Come December, the 29-year-old found himself back at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament. This time, however, Brand’s play was enough to earn him a T23 finish and guarantee him starts at the beginning of the 2018 season.

The job security that came with his December finish is allowing Brand to play more stress-free golf, and it’s showing, as the Marshall University alum opened play at the Club Colombia Championship with a 5-under 66 to take a share of the lead alongside international players Rhein Gibson, Augusto Nunez and Albin Choi.

Brand, who began play on the back nine at Country Club de Bogota, opened with four-straight pars before carding a birdie on the par-4 14th. He went on to pick up five more birdies and a lone bogey during his opening round. As for what was clicking Thursday, Brand gives all the credit to his short game.

“The putter [was key],” Brand commented. “I putted well today. I kept it in play, which you have to do around here. We just kind of hit our numbers. With the greens being so firm, you have to land it on specific numbers and get the correct bounces, and we did that today, so that was good.”

Tied with Brand atop the leaderboard is Australian Rhein Gibson, who is looking to pick up his fourth-consecutive top-25 finish. The 32-year-old hit 17 of 18 greens during the opening round, allowing him to pick up seven birdies along the way. Gibson opened 2018 with a T3 finish at The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay and went on to pick up a solo-third place the following week at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club and a T17 finish at last week’s Panama Championship. The start of the season is a relief for the Oklahoma Christian University alum, who currently sits at No. 5 on the money list.

“It has taken a lot of pressure off,” Gibson said of the start. “Last year was a bit of a struggle as I only just kept my Tour card, but to know I’ve pretty much solidified my spot in the Web.com Tour Finals this year – it just means I can make a good run at the top 25 (on the Regular Season money list).”

Argentinian Augusto Nunez joins the group atop the leaderboard as the highest-ranked Latin American player entering Friday. Nunez, who picked up his first professional win two years ago at the Flor de Cana Open presented by The Mortgage Store, currently holds the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica 72-hole record, earning his inaugural win after shooting a 25-under 259 for the week. Nunez made 20 starts on the Web.com Tour in 2017, picking up two top-10 finishes and ending the Regular Season at No. 39 on the money list.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Albin Choi rounds out the top of the leaderboard, claiming a piece of the first-round lead for the first time in his Tour career. The 25-year-old carded a bogey-free back nine to finish the day with a 5-under 66. Like the other tournament leaders, Choi knew coming into the week that the tight fairways and firm greens would prove to be a challenge for the field.

“The course really firmed up,” Choi remarked, “So I really took some conservative clubs off of the tee and it really paid off. Just being in the fairways and trying to hit as many greens as possible. You can really get in some trouble out here when you start missing greens, so I just stuck to the game plan and it worked out great.”

ETOBICOKE, Ont. – The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and The Toro Company are pleased to announce Mr. T-Jay Creamer from the Victoria Golf Course in Victoria, British Columbia, as the first CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year Award winner for 2017.

The new CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year award recognizes the specific achievements of a golf course assistant superintendent whose performance and contributions to the success of the facility go beyond those that would normally be expected. The award is to be presented to an individual who has contributed to his or her golf facility in a significant way and who has demonstrated professionalism, leadership, innovation and a team approach in their work.

T-Jay has been a CGSA member since 2016 and has been with the Victoria Golf Club (VGC) for over 12 seasons, the last 6 years as the Assistant Superintendent of Links. Paul Robertson nominated T-Jay for this inaugural award and said, “T-Jay has become our greatest asset embodying all the characteristics of a great assistant and ultimately the ideal superintendent. He has the depth, diversity, dedication and the dynamic management skills necessary to be a star in our industry. The ultimate goal of an assistant is to become a golf course superintendent. When I think of the perfect golf course superintendent, I think of T-Jay Creamer”.

“I first had the pleasure of getting to know T-Jay Creamer when he was a member of the 2017 CGSA Conference Planning Committee which helped organize the first ever ‘Assistants Night’ during the 2017 conference in Victoria that was a huge success. So, it gave me great pleasure to be the one who called him to inform him that he is the first winner of this prestigious award!”

– Jim Flett, AGS, CGSA President

As the CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year winner, T-Jay will receive an “All-Access” registration to THE CANADIAN 2018 Golf Course Management Conference in Quebec City, Quebec from February 26 – March 1, 2018, 4 nights’ accommodation and transportation costs. Toro will provide a $500 CAD VISA gift card for meals and incidental expenses during the conference. T-Jay is also invited to attend the Toro Experience for Assistant Superintendents, an exclusive event hosted at The Toro Company Headquarters in Bloomington MN in August of each year, including round-trip airfare and accommodations during the event.

“Toro is proud to honour outstanding Assistant Superintendents, like T-Jay, who represent the next generation of industry leaders. As part of our cultural legacy of giving back, we strive to provide opportunities for personal growth and career development for the people who have chosen a career in the golf industry. T-Jay will benefit from the experience and education while at The Canadian, and also join 30 Assistant Superintendent peers for networking and education during the upcoming Toro Experience for Assistant Superintendents.”

– Tony Ferguson, Sr. Golf Marketing and Business Development Manager, The Toro Company

T-Jay will be presented with the CGSA/Toro Assistant Superintendent of the Year award during the CGSA Awards Ceremony in Quebec on Wednesday, February 28, 2018.

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 CJGA National Order of Merit, presented by TaylorMade. The CJGA National Order of Merit, presented by TaylorMade is a ranking system that awards points based on a player’s position at each CJGA event. Events are tiered based on the size and strength of the field.

Additionally, the CJGA would like to congratulate Sarah Gallagher of Burlington, Ontario this year’s recipient of the Helena Harbridge Award.The award is named after Helena Harbridge, an outstanding junior golfer and CJGA alum that passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University.

“I am honored to have been named this year’s recipient of the Helena Harbridge Award. This past year I have worked very hard on my game with my coach Bradlee Ryall” said Gallagher. “I was very pleased with my seasons results and enjoyed playing in many CJGA events. One of the highlights of my season was being chosen to play for Team East in the DeLaet Cup held in Saskatoon” Gallagher added. “Helena was an amazing young golfer, an exceptional student, and a role model for all junior golfers. It is great that the CJGA helps her legacy continue through this award. I would like to thank my parents, grandparents, and coach for all their help and support.”

Winners of the Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award receive a gorgeous custom trophy courtesy of Lorry Moffatt at Classic Awards as well as a complimentary life time membership to the CJGA.

2006 – Lauren Bowerman-Ritchie (Ontario)
2007 – Juanita Rico (Alberta)
2008 – Jocelyn Alford (Alberta)
2009 – Thea Hedemann (Saskatchewan)
2010 – Shannon Lee Greenshields (Quebec)
2011 – Marlies Klekner-Alt (Ontario)
2012 – Molly Molyneaux (Prince Edward Island)
2013 – Genevieve Stelmacovich (Ontario)
2014 – Bria Jansen (Alberta)
2015 – Michelle Kim (British Columbia)
2016 – Emily Romancew (Quebec)
2017 – Sarah Gallagher (Ontario)

“We are excited to announce the 2017 award winners and recognize them for their achievement” said Reegan Price, CJGA Director of Tour Operations. “Our Helena Harbridge Award embodies the characteristics of Helena in sportsmanship, dedication, and contribution to the game. The CJGA National Order of Merit adds depth to our competitions and allows juniors to challenge their abilities and strive for success.”

CJGA JUNIOR TOUR

Bantam Boys U15
The winner of the Bantam Boys (U15) division Peter Blazevic from Mississauga, ON played a full season with the CJGA with wins at the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA, the Larry Ungerman Cup, the DeLaet Cup Team East Qualifier and CJGA Junior at Heron Point.

Bantam Girls U15
Sarah Gallagher from Burlington, ON finished the season on top of the Order of Merit with wins at the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA, the Larry Ungerman Cup & the CJGA Mizuno National Junior Golf Championship.

Junior Boys U19
Romi Dilawri from Ottawa, ON worked his way up on the Order of Merit with a pair of runner up finishes at the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA and the Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy Series. Romi also won one of the David Hearn Junior Series, presented by KIA events.

Junior Girls U19
Tiana Cruz from Richmond Hill, ON finished atop the Junior Girls Order of Merit with wins at the Golfweek Canadian Junior Invitational, the Larry Ungerman Cup, the David Hearn Junior Championship, presented by KIA and the CJGA Mizuno National Junior Golf Championship.

CJGA LINKSTER TOUR

Novice Boys U9
Eddie Gu from Aurora, ON claims the Novice Boys Order of Merit title with first place finishes at the following events CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Rattlesnake, CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Wyndance & the CJGA Linkster Mid-Season Championship.

Novice Girls U9
Tierra Elchuk from Kelowna, BC has won the Novice Girls Order of Merit with wins at the CJGA BC Linkster Fall Series at Pitt Meadows, IMG Academy Junior World Championships Qualifier & CJGA BC Linkster Series at Greenacres.

Atom Boys U11
Jager Pain from Toronto, ON closes out the 2017 season on top of the Atom Boys Order of Merit. Jager had first place finishes at the US Kids Golf World Golf Championship Qualifier, the CJGA Linkster Mid-Season Championship & the CJGA Linkster Tour National Championship.

Atom Girls U11
Alexa Oullet from Toronto, ON finished in 1st place in the following events to move her to the top of the Aton Girls Order of Merit. CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Turnberry, CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Rattlesnake, CJGA Ontario Linkster Fall Series at Rolling Hills, US Kids Golf World Championship Qualifier & the CJGA Linkster Tour National Championship.

Peewee Boys U13
Jordan Hwang from Richmond Hill, ON wins the Peewee Boys Order of Merit with wins at the FCG Callaway World Championship Qualifier & CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Rolling Hills.

Peewee Girls U13
Mia Wong has won the Peewee Girls Order of Merit, winning the CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Conestoga, CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Bathurst Glen & CJGA Ontario Linkster Fall Series at Rolling Hills.

Bantam Boys U15
Ryan Nelson from Pickering, ON has won the Linksters Bantam Boys Order of Merit after first place finishes at the CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Winchester & CJGA Ontario Linkster Series at Rolling Hills.

Bantam Girls U15
Roycee Southerland from Unionville, ON finishes atop the Linkster Bantam Girls Order after finishing atop the field at the following events: The US Kids Golf World Golf Championship Qualifier, CJGA Ontario Linksters at Maples of Ballantree & CJGA ClubLink Linkster Series at Country Club.

Helena Harbridge Award
The Helena Harbridge Award is an award dedicated to the memory of Helena Harbridge, a CJGA alumna, who passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University. The award exemplifies the traits that Helena exhibited throughout her career, both on and off the course: sportsmanship, dedication, and contribution to the game of golf. Each year, the Canadian Junior Golf Association selects one female junior member for this award. The award recipient will be one that holds the same characteristics that Helena exemplified. The recipient of the award will also receive a lifetime membership with the CJGA.