Canadian Jamie Sadlowski partners with Cleveland Golf
Cleveland Golf is pleased to announce the addition of Canadian Jamie Sadlowski to their professional tour staff. Sadlowski, a two-time World Long Drive Champion, agreed to terms on a multi-year contract to serve as a global brand ambassador for Cleveland Golf.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Cleveland Golf as a global brand ambassador,” Sadlowski said. “As I begin my second year of professional golf around the world, I know the Cleveland Launcher HB Driver, along with the compliment of irons and wedges, will deliver the performance I am looking for.”
Sadlowski, 29, hails from St. Paul, Alta., where he actually started out as a junior hockey player. Sadlowski began his golfing career on the World Long Drive circuit where he won back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009, and never finished lower than fifth in the world while competing. In 2016, Sadlowski made the transition to competitive professional golf where he competed in different events around the world. Last year, Sadlowski made his PGA Tour debut at the Dean & Deluca Invitational at Colonial Country Club and the Safeway Open, while playing in 10 events on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada.
Sadlowski will play the Cleveland Launcher HB Driver, Srixon Z-U65 Utility 2i and 3i, Srixon Z Series irons, Cleveland’s RTX-3 wedges (52°, 56°, 60°), and Srixon’s Z-Star XV golf ball. In addition, Sadlowski will wear a Cleveland Launcher HB hat, Srixon glove, and carry a Cleveland Golf bag.
“As one of the longest tour players on the planet, we know Jamie had many options when selecting his driver,” said Rodney McDonald, Vice President of Tour Operations. “We designed our Launcher HB driver to help all golfers bomb it long and straight – and we’re glad Jamie agrees. I’ve seen many tour players hit drivers, but watching Jamie hit it 370 yards down the fairway in competitive rounds is almost unbelievable. His validation of our technology is really exciting for us.”
With a refined swing geared towards competitive rounds, Sadlowski put together some impressive launch conditions with Cleveland’s Launcher HB Driver in his hands: ball speed of 190.3 mph, launch angle of 9.7°, spin of 2,454 rpm, carry distance of 343 yards and total distance of 372 yards.
“With the Launcher HB driver, I know I will be able to drive the ball longer and straighter which is the key to my game,” Sadlowski said. “I’ve never been more confident in my golf clubs.”
On Jan. 23, 2018, Sadlowski will be giving a demonstration and clinic in the Cleveland Golf area at the 2018 PGA Show Demo Day in Orlando, FL. He will be available to meet with the media during that timeframe. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact Noelle Zavaleta to set up a time to speak with him.
In 2018, Sadlowski will play in events on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour and the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada.
2017 in review: Milestones
The year 2017 is drawing to a close and what a year it was for Canadian golf. Our pros won literally around the world and on just about every tour imaginable. Our amateurs of all ages made Canada proud at home and abroad. And, off the course, there were significant moments that are well worth memorializing as 2018 looms on the horizon.
This is the third of a three-part series remembering most, if not all, of those memorable moments.(If we’ve unintentionally overlooked any—there were so many, after all!—please let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
February:
Roland Deveau of Nova Scotia returns as president of Golf Canada for a second one-year term.
Judy Darling Evans and Bob Vokey elected to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
More on Bob Vokey and Judy Darling Evans, our 2017 inductees into the @CGHF: https://t.co/moub4WZWyb pic.twitter.com/3cTksnSV9B
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) February 28, 2017
Bill Klein of Parkville, B.C., and George McLeod of Brandon, Man., named co-recipients of Golf Canada’s Volunteer of the Year award.
March:
Mike Weir, a five-time competitor in the event, is named assistant captain of the international team at the Presidents Cup.
Scott Simmons resigns as CEO of Golf Canada after 10 years.
May:
Laurence Applebaum succeeds Scott Simmons as Golf Canada’s chief executive officer.
Toronto’s Bruce Mitchell is named the first Canadian to serve as captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
June:
Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada publish the 2017 Golf Facilities in Canada Report.
September:
Golf Fore The Cure presented by Subaru announces it raised more than $300,000 for breast cancer research through more than 160 events from coast to coast in 2017.
A BIG thank you to all #GolfForetheCure participants for helping us reach $6M raised for breast cancer research??
? https://t.co/Ea7KnwH3jd pic.twitter.com/FK4L30HGn0
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) September 28, 2017
Following Adopt a School Week, Golf Canada announces an additional 240 school adoptions, representing an additional 28,800 elementary, intermediate and high-school students being introduced to the sport through the Future Links driven by Acura program.
#GolfinSchools totals 240 adoptions to date in 2017 thanks to collective efforts during Adopt a School Week ????
? https://t.co/inaE5cF4ln pic.twitter.com/fAHZ10hpre
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) September 27, 2017
The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association appoints Jeff Calderwood as its executive director, a post he will hold concurrently with his position as CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada.
October:
Golf Canada announces that in 2018, for the first time, the National Development Squad program will feature a centralized component which will be based out of Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C.
Kevin Thistle is named CEO of the PGA of Canada to replace the retiring Gary Bernard.
New PGA of Canada CEO Named to Lead Association to a New Era of Success https://t.co/N7lQrg3GYd
— PGA of Canada (@pgaofcanada) October 10, 2017
November:
The 2017 CP Women’s Open, held in Ottawa, wins the Best Charity/Community Engagement award from the LPGA Tournament Owners Association.
A crowd-funding initiative by the Canadian Golf Museum and Hall of Fame raises thousands to digitize and preserve irreplaceable volumes of Canadian Golfer magazine.
Craig Loughry, Golf Canada’s director of handicap and course rating and Golf Ontario’s director of golf services, is named president of the International Association of Golf Administrators.
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir is inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
December:
Calgary’s Shaw Charity Classic wins the PGA TOUR Champions President’s Award for the third time in its five-year history.
Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada announce a partnership committed to the principles of the Responsible Coaching Movement, endorsed by the Coaching Association of Canada and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.
Canadian Press names Brooke Henderson female athlete of the year
TORONTO – Canadian golfer Brooke Henderson is barely out of her teens and her list of accomplishments on the LPGA Tour is already a long one.
She won her first LPGA Tour event in 2015, added her first major championship last year and picked up two more tournament titles in 2017. Henderson capped her latest impressive season Wednesday by winning the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award as Canada’s female athlete of the year.
“I’ve always kind of felt like I belonged out there, which I think is a big part of why I’ve had so much success so early,” said Henderson, who turned 20 in September.
Henderson picked up 35 of 63 votes (56 per cent) in a poll of broadcasters and sports editors from across the country.
“Not only is the young golfer an international champion, but she’s also playing a monumental role in helping young children get into the game,” said Mitch Bach of CHAT TV news in Medicine Hat, Alta.
Swimmer Kylie Masse was a distant second with seven votes. Gymnast Ellie Black and soccer player Christine Sinclair were tied for third with four votes apiece.
Henderson, who also won the Rosenfeld award in 2015, is the first golfer to win the award on two occasions since Lorie Kane (1997, 2000). Swimmer Penny Oleksiak took the honour last year.
“(Henderson) captured the attention of Canadian golf fans in a way not seen since the adoration given previously to Mike Weir,” said Winnipeg Free Press sports editor Steve Lyons.
Henderson had a slow start to the season with just two top-10 finishes in her first 10 events. She found her form in June by winning the Meijer LPGA Classic and just missed out on a playoff at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship later that month.
Her second title came in September at the New Zealand Women’s Open.
“Patience I think is a key word that basically describes my whole season,” she said.
Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., finished sixth on the money list at just over US$1.5 million and was 13th in the world rankings. She did it by relying on her impressive long game and consistent accuracy from the fairways.
She finished 20th on Tour in driving distance this season (263.58 yards) and was 10th in greens in regulation (75.10 per cent). That helped her average just under 70 strokes a round (10th at 69.88).
Another big moment for Henderson came in August at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Ottawa. She nearly missed the cut before giving her army of fans something to cheer about on the weekend.
Henderson surged up the leaderboard before finishing in a tie for 12th place.
“I can’t even really put into words what it meant to me to see all that support and those people cheering me on,” Henderson said from Naples, Fla. “To get that 63 course record on Saturday in front of all those people in my hometown was truly amazing and one of the highlights of my year for sure.”
Henderson’s five career LPGA Tour victories leaves her only three behind Sandra Post for most wins by a Canadian.
“She knows how to score and she’s not afraid to go low,” Post said. “Some people, they get to 5 under, and they quit. She keeps going.”
Henderson, who had eight top-10 finishes, plans to focus on improving her short game as she prepares for the season opener next month at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Her putting average of 29.77 per round was 58th overall and she sat 100th in sand saves at 42.67 per cent.
“I have big goals and hopefully in 2018 I’ll have my best year yet,” Henderson said. “But to have a year like 2017 to back up what I did in 2016 – which was really a miracle season for me, everything went perfect – so to grind it out in 2017 and to have the finishes that I did, I’m really proud of that.”
Tennis player Denis Shapovalov won the Lionel Conacher Award as Canada’s male athlete of the year on Tuesday. The CP team of the year will be announced Thursday.
Bobbie Rosenfeld, an Olympic medallist in track and field and a multi-sport athlete, was named Canada’s best female athlete of the half-century in 1950.
The first winner of the Rosenfeld award was golfer Ada Mackenzie in 1933. Marlene Stewart Streit leads all golfers by taking the honour on five occasions (1952, ’53, ’56, ’57, ’63).
“I’m extremely proud to be named Canada’s female athlete of the year,” Henderson said. “I was just looking at some of the names … Marlene Streit, Lorie Kane, Sandra Post, all golfers that have won this award. Even the last few years, I just saw Christine Sinclair, Hayley Wickenheiser, Eugenie Bouchard.
“Those names are huge names in all of sport and all of Canada. So to be amongst them is a great honour for me.”
2017 in review: Amateur golf
The year 2017 is drawing to a close and what a year it was for Canadian golf. Our pros won literally around the world and on just about every tour imaginable. Our amateurs of all ages made Canada proud at home and abroad. And, off the course, there were significant moments that are well worth memorializing as 2018 looms on the horizon. This is the second of a three-part series remembering most, if not all, of those memorable moments.(If we’ve unintentionally overlooked any—there were so many, after all!—please let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
January:
Grace St-Germain and Maddie Szeryk, members of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad, win the team title at the Mexican Amateur.
ICYMI – Canada’s @gracestgermain & @mszeryk combined scores to win team event at last week’s Mexican Amateur.
? | https://t.co/L7DwcwwfwK pic.twitter.com/2Wjz1g9qbe
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) January 14, 2017
February:
Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., wins a U.S. collegiate tournament, The Prestige at PGA West, in California.
Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., a sophomore at North Carolina State, wins a playoff to claim her first NCAA title, the Lady Puerto Rico Classic.
A BIG congratulations to #TeamCanada‘s @naomiko_golf, who captured her first #NCAA win today at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic ?? pic.twitter.com/siqUgMslbI
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) February 14, 2017
March:
Maddie Szeryk, a third-year member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad and a junior at Texas A&M, wins the NCAA’s Dr. Donnis Invitational in Hawaii.
April:
Emily Leung and Chris Crisologo, both B.C. natives and students at Simon Fraser University, win their respective NCAA Division II individual titles at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship in Idaho.
British Columbians Stuart Macdonald, the event’s medallist, and Lawren Rowe team up to win the Peruvian International Amateur Championship.
Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., wins her division at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National, home of The Masters in Augusta, Ga.
How about a BIG round of ? for Canada’s Savannah Grewal, winner of Girls 14-15 division @DriveChipPutt – congrats!! ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/LLustCgOUe
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) April 2, 2017
June:
Team Canada Amateur Squad member Maddie Szeryk, a junior at Texas A&M, wins the Western Women’s Golf Association Amateur Championship in Illinois.
The University of British Columbia Thunderbirds women, led by Kat Kennedy, claim their second consecutive Canadian University/College Championship at Tangle Creek GC in Barrie, Ont. Universite Laval wins the men’s title.
July:
Colorado’s Jennifer Kupcho wins the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.
The “Future Links, driven by Acura, Junior Skills Challenge” national event commences at Glen Abbey GC in Oakville, Ont. For the ninth consecutive year, the event crowns female and male champions from three age groups. The 2017 champions are Andre Zhu, Kelly Zhao, Felix Bouchard, Emily Zhu, Nathan Hogan and Mackenzie Morrison.
August:
Winnipeg’s Todd Fanning wins the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wascana CC in Regina.
Congratulations to Todd Fanning, who won the 2017 Canadian Men’s Mid-Am in a playoff over Rank & Diack at @The_Wascana ! ????? #CDNMidAm pic.twitter.com/riAVIeC16W
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) August 25, 2017
Australian Sue Wooster wins the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in a playoff over Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont., at Humber Valley Resort in Newfoundland and Labrador. Lauren Greenlief of Australia claims the Mid-Amateur title.
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Ann Hayward defeats reigning champion and fellow Canadian Judith Kyrinis in a playoff to win the Women’s North and South Senior Championship in Pinehurst, N.C.
Quebec wins all four medals at the Canadian Summer Games at Southwood G&CC in Winnipeg.
Zach Bauchou of Virginia wins the 113th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Toronto GC.
Susan Xiao of Surrey, B.C., wins the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Ottawa’s Camelot G&CC.
Calvin Ross wins the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Cataraqui G&CC in Kingston, Ont., becoming the first New Brunswick native to claim that title.
September:
Team Spain wins the World Junior Girls Golf Championship in Ottawa in a playoff over Korea.
Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., defeats fellow Canadian Terrill Samuel to win the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. Of the nine Canadians in the field, four advanced to the quarter-finals.
Team Canada wins a total of five medals in the inaugural adaptive golf competition of the Invictus Games in Toronto.
Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee, a junior at Ohio State, wins her first NCAA collegiate tournament, the East & West Challenge in Wisconsin.
Gene Elliott of Iowa wins the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Kanawaki GC in Quebec.
October:
University of the Fraser Valley wins both the men’s and women’s titles at the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association national championships in Oshawa, Ont.
November:
Team Canada—Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., and Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont.—win the Tailhade Cup in Argentina.
December:
Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont., and Maddie Szeryk, a dual citizen of London, Ont., and Allen, Texas, recognized as Canada’s top male and female amateur golfers for 2017 by Golf Canada.
Hats off to @JWhalen8 and @mszeryk, Golf Canada’s amateur players of the year for 2017 ????
? https://t.co/AKnPwTRzI1 pic.twitter.com/ZcX4hQ9TtV
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) December 12, 2017
2017 in review: Professional golf
The year 2017 is drawing to a close and what a year it was for Canadian golf. Our pros won literally around the world and on just about every tour imaginable. Our amateurs of all ages made Canada proud at home and abroad. And, off the course, there were significant moments that are well worth memorializing as 2018 looms on the horizon. This is the first of a three-part series remembering most, if not all, of those memorable moments.
(If we’ve unintentionally overlooked any—there were so many, after all!—please let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
March:
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C, had a year to remember. In March, he wins his first PGA TOUR title at the Valspar Championship in Florida. In January, he shoots a 13-under-par 59 in the third round of the CareerBuilder Challenge in California. His outstanding season-long performance earns him a spot in the Presidents Cup in late September.
Lock it in! @ahadwingolf collects his first #PGATOUR victory with a 1-stroke win @ValsparChamp
RT to send a BIG ?? congratulations! pic.twitter.com/J5bjNazUdn
— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) March 12, 2017
April:
Calgary’s Stephen Ames wins his first PGA TOUR Champions title, holding off Bernhard Langer at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in Georgia.
June:
Nineteen-year-old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., wins the Meijer LPGA Classic, her fourth LPGA Tour title.
Jean-Philip Cornellier of Club de golf Knowlton in Quebec wins the PGA Championship of Canada at Deer Ridge GC in Kitchener, Ont.
Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand wins the Manulife LPGA Classic at Whistle Bear GC in Waterloo, Ont.
July:
Team Canada graduate and Nova Scotia product Austin Connelly had a 2017 season to remember on the European Tour that included three top-10 results. The 21-year-old added a T14 finish at The British Open Championship en route to earning full status status on the European Tour for the 2018 campaign.
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas defends his RBC Canadian Open title at Glen Abbey GC in Oakville, Ont., winning a one-hole playoff over Charley Hoffman.
This edition of our national men’s Open garners even more attention than usual, due to innovations such as “The Rink,” which transforms the par-3 seventh hole into a hockey-themed fan experience complete with hockey boards, a Zamboni, bleachers, and volunteers in black-and-white referee jerseys. Even course designer Jack Nicklaus relishes the experience, taking what he says was his first shot with a hockey stick.
August:
Sung Hyun Park wins the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club but, to Canadian fans, Brooke Henderson of nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., is the real star. Finishing T12 at her home course, she shows incredible talent and determination, firing a course-record 63 in the third round after almost missing the 36-hole cut on Friday. Tournament sponsor CP makes a $2-million donation to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., wins the DATA PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at Scarboro G&CC in Toronto.
Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., wins the Web.com Tour’s Price Cutter Charity Championship in Missouri.
Jim Rutledge of Victoria, B.C., wins his fifth PGA Seniors Championship of Canada at the Burlington (Ont.) G&CC.
Brittany Marchand wins the Symetra Tour’s PHC Classic in Wisconsin.
September:
Richard T. Lee of Toronto wins the Asian Tour’s Shinahan Donghae Open.
Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City wins the Symetra Tour’s Garden City Charity Classic in Kansas.
October:
Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City finishes eighth on the Symetra Tour money list to earn a spot on the 2018 LPGA Tour.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., earns his PGA TOUR status by finishing in the top 25 on the Web.com Tour finals money list. He joins Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., who qualified for the PGA TOUR by virtue of his 10th-place finish during the Web.com Tour’s regular season.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., wins the New Zealand Women’s Open for her second LPGA Tour victory of the season and fifth overall.
Congrats to @CanadianPacific ambassador @BrookeHenderson on winning the @NZWomensOpen, finishing with a 3-under 69 for a five-stroke victory pic.twitter.com/JfQO3YHivL
— CP Women’s Open (@cpwomensopen) October 2, 2017
December:
Ryan Yip of Calgary, Albin Choi of Toronto, and Stuart Macdonald and Seann Harlingten of Vancouver finish inside the top 45 in the final stage of the Web.com Tour qualifying school to earn guaranteed starts in 2018.
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., earn conditional status on the 2018 LPGA Tour at the final stage of qualifying school.
Brooke Henderson was named Female Athlete of the Year by both Canadian Press and Postmedia.
Top 10 stories of 2017 on golfcanada.ca
Below are the top 10 most viewed web articles on golfcanada.ca for the 2017 calendar year:
No. 10 – Canada’s 150 oldest clubs
As Canada comes together to celebrate 150 years since the birth of our nation, it is a time of reflection on all the things that have made our country what it is today—including the golf landscape, which holds the second-largest amount of courses per capita in the world.
No. 9 – Get out and Golf Day teed up for May 28
With Canada 150 celebrations happening in communities from coast-to-coast all year long, the Canadian golf industry has partnered with ParticipACTION in designating Sunday, May 28 as Get Out and Golf Day.
No. 8 – Calvin Ross becomes first New Brunswick golfer to win Canadian Junior Boys Championship
Calvin Ross shot a 1-over-par 71 to claim the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys title at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club on Thursday becoming the first New Brunswick native to capture the event.
No. 7 – Golf Canada appoints Laurence Applebaum as new CEO
Following a comprehensive search, Golf Canada has announced the appointment of Laurence Applebaum as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
No. 6 – Golf Canada announces 2017 schedule
A total of 25 professional and amateur championships, as well as qualifying events into Canada’s two National Open Championships—the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open—will be conducted in 2017.
No. 5 – 9 tips for your first time golfing
Here’s the best piece of advice ever: Don’t be intimidated. The object of the game is to have fun. Golf isn’t nearly as complicated as, say, quidditch, and just a little harder than dodge ball.
No. 4 – Topgolf and Cineplex announce partnership to bring sports venues to Canada
Global sports entertainment leader Topgolf® and Cineplex (TSX: CGX), a leading entertainment and media company, today announced an exclusive partnership that will bring Topgolf’s sports entertainment experience to Canada. The joint venture will see the opening of multiple Topgolf venues in markets across the country during the next several years.
No. 3 – Golf Canada announces 2018 Team Canada
Golf Canada is pleased to announce the 18 athletes who have been chosen to represent Team Canada as part of the 2018 National Amateur Squad and Development Squad.
No. 2 – Golf’s governing bodies announce proposed changes to modernize the Rules of Golf
As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), has unveiled a preview of the proposed new Rules of Golf. This joint initiative was designed to modernize the Rules and make them easier to understand and apply.
No. 1 – Final field set for 2017 RBC Canadian Open
Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field of competitors vying for the US$6.0 million purse at the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, July 24-30 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
RBC PGA Scramble returns to Cabot Links in 2018
The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company returns to the magnificent Cabot Links in 2018.
After a successful campaign in 2017, the scramble’s national final will once again grace the town of Inverness, N.S. from Oct. 11-13, 2018.
“The 2017 RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Final at Cabot Links was a huge success with participants from all over Canada enjoying a golf trip-of-a-lifetime,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “In 2018 we look forward to more golfers from across the country sharing the world-class experience of Cabot Links.”
Taking place Oct. 11-13 at the world-famous Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Inverness, N.S., the national final will feature 20 teams—comprised of four amateurs and one PGA of Canada professional—playing in a 54-hole Ambrose-style format.
“We’re thrilled to return to Cabot Links and experience the best of Cape Breton golf for the 2018 RBC PGA Scramble National Final,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “Together with the PGA of Canada, we’re providing even more unique and memorable opportunities that support the game of golf and its continued growth in Canada.”
Located in Inverness, N.S., Cabot Links is Canada’s first and only authentic links golf resort. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque town of Inverness, the Cabot Links course represents a dramatic departure from the typical golf excursion.
With six holes playing directly alongside the water and every hole offers an ocean view, Cabot Links is where traditional links-land golf comes to life against the spectacular Nova Scotia landscape.
The Cabot Cliffs course, designed by the decorated team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is the newest addition to Cabot. Exquisitely carved out of the breathtaking Cape Breton landscape, with postcard-worthy panoramas vying for your attention and every hole calling out to the sea, it is links-land golf at its best.
Cabot Cliffs ranked No. 1, while Cabot Links ranked No. 4 on SCOREGolf’s 2016 Best Golf Courses in Canada list. Cabot Cliffs also debuted 19th on the World’s Top 100 Courses list by Golf Digest.
“We are thrilled to be able to host the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company again in 2018 here at Cabot,” said Andrew Alkenbrack, General Manager of Cabot Links. “Our team thoroughly enjoyed the week and the fact that the sponsors and competitors liked it enough to make a return visit is the highest compliment. We are greatly looking forward to welcoming the winning teams from across the country again next year.”
The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Final, however, is as much about the off-course activities as the on course. In addition to the three rounds of golf, participants will be treated to a number of special events, prizes, meals, activations and much more.
As if it were scripted, the 2017 RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Final came down to a nerve-inducing putt.
Needing to make a four-foot par putt for the win on the final hole at Cabot Links, team Cordova Bay amateur player Rodney Webber stepped up and made the biggest putt of his life.
“I’m no professional golfer, but standing over that putt I definitely felt like one,” Webber said. “That was definitely the most pressure-packed putt I’ve ever had in my life.”
Webber, along with his Cordova Bay teammates—Phil Kondrak, Eric Smith, Eric Watson and PGA of Canada professional Nate Ollis—finished the three-day national championship at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs at 46-under-par, mere 0.8 better than the squad from The Landings.
“Honestly, we couldn’t have asked for a better week,” Cordova Bay said. “We can’t thank RBC and The Lincoln Motor Company enough for supporting this amazing event,” they said, adding, “the experience from the very beginning has been world class—from the golf courses to the meals and the lodging—everything has been the best.”
The 2018 edition of RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company will see thousands of golfers from across the country participate in the series of local and regional events next summer.
For more information about the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company, click here.
Mackenzie Tour holds on to win Aruba Cup
With T.J. Vogel providing the exclamation point for the third straight day, Team Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR prevailed in a thrilling finish to win the second annual Aruba Cup on Saturday at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf in Aruba.
Vogel’s half point in the final match to finish gave his team a 10.5 to 9.5 tally over Team PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, allowing the Mackenzie Tour team to survive a furious charge by their opponents and giving the Canadian side their first win in the two-year history of the annual team competition.
“It feels amazing,” said Mackenzie Tour Team Captain Ben Silverman, who saw his team begin the day with a 6.5 to 3.5 lead but quickly found his side trying to hold off a late rally. “The Latinoamérica Team really pushed hard at the end, and you’ve got to give them a lot of credit for the way they fought back today.”
Needing just four points to secure the cup, Team Mackenzie Tour secured an early point as Kramer Hickok defeated José de Jesús Rodríguez 3 and 1 in a battle of each Tour’s Player of the Year. Max Rottluff and Robby Shelton also notched decisive victories, winning their matches 6 and 4 and 6 and 5, respectively, putting the Mackenzie Tour just one point from victory.
???
Let the #ArubaCup celebration party begin! pic.twitter.com/fQEWAhRnDn
— Mackenzie Tour (@PGATOURCanada) December 16, 2017
Every time it seemed victory was at hand, however, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica clawed closer to a remarkable comeback. Oscar Fraustro drained a 30-foot birdie putt at 18 to halve his match with Johnny Ruiz and keep hope alive, while Jared Wolfe turned a 1 down deficit into a 1 up win over Lee McCoy, putting the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Vogel.
After securing points thanks to clutch closing birdies in both Four-Ball and Foursomes play on Thursday and Friday, Vogel was once again put in position to decide the outcome, and he delivered yet again, making birdie at the 17th to square his match before halving the 18th to set off a celebration for the Mackenzie Tour squad.
“I’m just so happy for the team. It was a lot closer than we anticipated, but a win’s a win and I’m just happy for the guys,” said Vogel, who added that his experience early in the week helped him come through in the clutch again. “I think the first match really helped, coming down the stretch and winning the last two holes with Rico (Hoey). That really helped. I felt like as long as I was within reach, I was going to be able to close strong.”
The win caps a thrilling week and a memorable season for all 10 players on the team, especially those who earned promotions to the Web.com Tour.
“It was a great way to celebrate our success throughout the year,” said Hickok. “The year is such a grind, and the Aruba Cup a great way to reward the players who played well. It was great to get to know these guys better and spend a week with them, and I’m glad it ended the way it did.”
Mackenzie Tour extends lead on day two at Aruba Cup
NOORD, Aruba – With three victories in the final four matches, Team Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada extended their lead over Team PGA TOUR Latinoamérica at the Aruba Cup on Friday, leading the matches 6.5-3.5 after Foursomes play at Tierra del Sol Resort and Golf in Aruba.
One day after their thrilling win anchor match win in Thursday Four-Ball, T.J. Vogel and Rico Hoey once again provided the exclamation point on the day, closing out their match 3&1 against José Toledo and Jared Wolfe to give the Mackenzie Tour a 3-2 edge in Foursomes play.
“I think it’s great for overall team morale just to win both days. Even though today was just 3-2, it’s a big victory,” said Mackenzie Tour Captain Ben Silverman. “The fact that we were able to pull out a couple of matches at the end, it’s huge.
“We just have a head start, but we still have to go out and win at least four points tomorrow.”
With the Mackenzie Tour holding a 3.5-1.5 lead to start the day, it quickly appeared as though PGA TOUR Latinoamérica would turn things around in a big way on Friday, earning leads on the front nine of the day’s first four matches. The first two points of the day went their way, as Hank Lebioda and Brian Richey defeated Patrick Newcomb and Johnny Ruiz 6&4 while Oscar Fraustro and Nelson Ledesma took down Max Rottluff and Kramer Hickok on the day’s first match 2&1.
From there on out, however, the Mackenzie Tour took over, with Lee McCoy and Chase Wright providing the spark.
Nursing a 1 up lead against Tee-k Kelly and José de Jesús Rodríguez, McCoy emphatically closed the door at the 18th hole by stuffing a 6-iron from 152 yards into a stiff wind to within five feet of the flag, with the birdie eventually being conceded for a 2 up win.
“I think finishing so poorly yesterday, I had a lot of motivation to make up for that half point that I let slip away and was fortunate to come out on the other side of that today,” said McCoy, who bogeyed the 18th hole yesterday to half his Four-Ball match and added that it was important to build on Thursday’s strong start for the Mackenzie Tour team.
“You don’t want to give them too much wiggle room going into singles because that’s where the majority of the points are up for grabs. 10 points are there for the taking to make it interesting, and I’m sure it’s going to be,” said McCoy.
Shelton and Niebrugge closed out their match 5&4 with a flurry of birdies, leaving Vogel and Hoey, who won Thursday’s anchor match in dramatic fashion, in position to turn the momentum fully towards the Mackenzie Tour if they could earn another point.
“I told them they were the swing match, and Rico was like, ‘Aye aye, Captain!’ They were just loose and they pulled it through,” said Silverman.
A pair of solid pars at 15 and 16 earned the Mackenzie Tour tandem a 2 up lead with two to play, and after Toledo’s drive found a fairway bunker and the Latinoamérica squad took five strokes to get on the green, the hole and match were conceded.
The Aruba Cup will resume Saturday morning with singles matches beginning at 8 a.m.
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Golf Coaches Association of Canada releases University/College mid-season rankings
The Golf Coaches Association of Canada, in partnership with Golf Canada, have announced the mid-season poll rankings for both the men’s and women’s University/College golf teams.
WOMEN
The defending Canadian University/College champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds and RSEQ’s Laval Rouge et Or women’s golf teams (57 points) were chosen as the No. 1 University/College golf teams in Canada at the mid-season point of the 2017-18 golf season.
The T-Birds and Rouge et Or both earned three of six 1st place votes based on results from various conference championships and fall team scoring averages. The OUA Champion Toronto Varsity Blues (48 points) came in third, followed by the UFV Cascades Thunderbirds (40 points) who slot in 4th place. The Victoria Vikes (35 points) round out the top 5.
| Rank | School | Points |
| 1 | Laval Rouge et Or | 57 |
| 1 | British Columbia Thunderbirds | 57 |
| 3 | Toronto Varsity Blues | 48 |
| 4 | Fraser Valley Cascades | 40 |
| 5 | Victoria Vikes | 35 |
| 6 | Humber Hawks | 33 |
| 7 | Montreal Carabins | 22 |
| 8 | Queens Gaels | 18 |
| 9 | Waterloo Warriors | 12 |
| 10 | Manitoba Bisons | 4 |
| 10 | Windsor Lancers | 4 |
MEN
The Canada West Golf Champion University Victoria Vikes Golf Team (59 points) were chosen as the top University/College golf team in Canada at the mid-season point of the 2017-18 golf season. The Vikes earned five of six 1st place votes based on results from various conference championships and fall team scoring averages.
The RSEQ Champion and reigning Canadian University/College champions Laval Rouge et Or (54 points) came in second, followed by the UBC Thunderbirds (45 points). The UFV Cascasdes (42 points), and Western Mustangs (37) round out the top 5.
The Golf Canada University/College Golf Championship will run May 28 – June 1, in Chilliwack, B.C. at the Chilliwack Golf Club.
| Rank | School | Points |
| 1 | Victoria Vikes | 59 |
| 2 | Laval Rouge et Or | 54 |
| 3 | British Columbia Thunderbirds | 45 |
| 4 | Fraser Valley Cascades | 42 |
| 5 | Western Mustangs | 37 |
| 6 | Manitoba Bisons | 28 |
| 7 | British Columbia Okanagan Heat | 22 |
| 8 | Montreal Carabins | 22 |
| 9 | Ottawa Gee Gees | 10 |
| 10 | Concordia Stingers | 8 |