Wednesday, Nov. 8 marked the day where the majority of early national letters of intent are signed to attend collegiate golf programs both in the United States and Canada.

Among those to sign were Team Canada Amateur and Development Squad athletes Grace St-Germain, Peyton Callens, Johnny Travale, Nolan Thoroughgood and Thomas Critch:

Grace St-Germain (Ottawa) ­ – after two years with the Daytona State Falcons, St-Germain will join the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.

Officially signed to join @RazorbackWGolf for Fall 2018. Thank you to my family, friends, coaches, supporters and everyone who helped get me to this point. I would not be who I am without all of you. I am so grateful! pic.twitter.com/WztxJMWtIo

— Grace (@gracestgermain) November 8, 2017

Peyton Callens (Langton, Ont.) – set to join the Texas A&M Aggies alongside senior and Team Canada Women’s Amateur Squad member Maddie Szeryk.

Nolan Thoroughgood (Victoria, B.C.) – will stay on the west coast, set to join the Oregon State Beavers.

Johnny Travale (Stoney Creek, Ont.) – signed with the Kent State Golden Hawks, set to follow in the footsteps of program graduates Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith.

Thomas Critch (Cedar Park, Texas) – signed to join St-Germain and the University of Arkansas Razorbacks.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame revealed the six Athletes, one Team, and two sport “Builders” who will make up the Class of 2017. Induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is considered the country’s highest sporting honour and reinforces the incredibly successful athletic careers of the nominees. This year’s Class has broken down barriers, blazed new trails, and served as proud international ambassadors for Canadian values. Each of the inductees selected to join the Class of 2017 have fostered inspiration both on and off the field of play, using sport as a platform to build a better country for their fellow athletes and all Canadians.

In attendance, on behalf of the Government of Canada, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities, officially welcomed the Class of 2017.

“On behalf of our government, I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all the 2017 inductees to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. What an amazing group of sport leaders. Thank you for the contributions you have made to sport and for helping build strong, inclusive and active communities for all Canadians, especially our young people.”

“We are thrilled to announce the Class of 2017 – a class that features Canada’s greatest Indigenous, National, Olympic and Paralympic sport heroes who will inspire Canadians in sport and life. This group of people is a great reflection of Canada’s rich 150 year sporting history” said Mario Siciliano, President and CEO, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

We are thrilled to officially welcome our latest Inductees, the Class of 2017, into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame! ?? #ClassOf2017 @cindy_klassen @MikeWeir @simonwhitfield @CharlesTator @HuynhCarol pic.twitter.com/WoJTbox92r

— Canada’sSportsHall (@CANsportshall) November 9, 2017

Mike Weir, one of Canada’s best golfers, hailing from Sarnia, Ont., was the first Canadian to ever win the prestigious Masters Tournament. Like many young Canadians, Mike first dreamed of playing professional hockey, but his path changed when he held his first golf club.  Golf intrigued Mike because of how challenging the game was and how much hard work it would take to succeed. His determination became clear as a star on the Brigham Young University golf team. This same determination would also help him achieve success in the early years of his professional career on the Canadian Tour where he won Rookie of the Year Honours in 1993 and led the Order of Merit in 1997, before reaching the PGA Tour in 1998.

Mike won his first PGA TOUR title in 1999, the first Canadian to win on native soil since 1954. Mike would go on to win seven more PGA titles including his 2003 Masters victory. Mike has beaten the odds his entire career, with doubters saying he was too small or not powerful enough. He silenced the critics in 2003 when he walked away with the green jacket and became a Canadian hero in the process.

In 2000, Mike became the first Canadian to play in the President’s Cup where he led the international team with a 3-2-0 record.  He was appointed to the President’s Cup team in 2003, 2005, and 2007 where he won the final match play round on Canadian soil.  Mike made his fifth consecutive President’s Cup appearance in 2009.

Mike has distinguished himself not only with his success, but with his quiet, focused, and humble approach, whether winning or losing. Mike demonstrates dignity and grace at all times and has become a role model for youth in Canada contributing to the strength of junior golf in Canada.

Mike has used his success as a professional golfer as a platform for helping families in need with the creation of the Mike Weir Foundation in 2004 to support children in physical, emotional, and financial need. Mike launched a national fundraising program, called the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive for Kids, supporting Children’s Miracle Network. On a national level, Mike was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2007 for his contributions to the country through his charitable work.

The distinguished Class of 2017 inductees includes:

Carol Huynh, two-time Olympic medallist, Wrestling

Cindy Klassen, the most decorated Canadian Winter Olympian in history, Speed Skating

Lanny McDonald, Stanley Cup champion, Ice Hockey

Gaylord Powless, one of Canada’s most outstanding Lacrosse players

Mike Weir, the only Canadian to win the Masters, Golf

Simon Whitfield, two-time Olympic medallist, Triathlon

Dr. Robert W. Jackson, founder of the Paralympic movement in Canada, Builder

Dr. Charles Tator, Scientist and Neurosurgeon with profound impact on the world’s understanding of concussions, Builder

The Edmonton Grads Basketball Team, the best basketball team the world has ever seen

The Class of 2017 will be officially inducted during the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame 2017 Induction Celebrations on Nov. 9, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Please visit sportshall.ca for more information.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is a national charitable organization established in 1955. Each year, a class of the country’s most influential and inspiring athletes and sport Builders are inducted. They are true Canadian sports heroes with achievements and life lessons that can inspire all Canadians to be the best they can be in all aspects of life.

HAINAN, China – Sun Young Yoo carded a seven-under 65 Wednesday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Blue Bay LPGA tournament.

Yoo had seven birdies and hit 12 of 14 fairways in a bogey-free round at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Club. Xiang Sui of China had a 66 to hold second spot, one clear of five players at 5 under, including American Lizette Salas.

“Swing-wise, I kept the same thing. I just tried to have fun out there, and actually I had a lot of fun today,” Yoo said.

Sui fell behind by two strokes with a bogey on the 15th hole, but was able to regain a stroke on the leader with birdies on her last two.

No. 1-ranked Sung Hyun Park had 68 and was in a share of ninth at 4 under.

Defending champion Minjee Lee had six birdies, but she struggled to find consistency as she hit five bogeys to finish the round at 71.

Jessica Korda rebounded after a quadruple-bogey on the par-five third hole, hitting six birdies to finish at 1 under.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was tied for 13th after shooting 3-under 69.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – National Amateur Squad member Joey Savoie emerged with the lead in Wednesday’s opening round of the Argentine Amateur at the Argentina Golf Club.

Savoie, a La Prairie, Que., native, notched a 5-under-par 67 to co-lead the event with Brazil’s Machado Herik. The Team Canada rookie carded six birdies against one blemish on the par-5 4th, building a one-stroke advantage over the field.

Savoie is looking to collect his second consecutive win in Argentina, after capturing medallist honours last week at the Tailhade Cup. Teammate and fellow countryman Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont., posted a 1-under 71 effort to hold a share of 5th place.

Both Canadians will look to keep rolling when the second stroke play round gets underway Thursday.

Click here for full scoring.
Click here for tee times.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina’s best amateur golfers will square off against a strong international field including Team Canada’s Joey Savoie and Josh Whalen when the Argentine Amateur gets underway Nov. 8-11 at the Argentina Golf Club.

The Canadian duo is coming off an impressive 16-stroke victory in Argentina at the Tailhade Cup (Canada’s third in the last four years), marking a great start to their rookie campaigns as members of the National Amateur Squad.

Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Whalen (Napanee, Ont.) will compete for the top seed during the tournaments opening stroke play rounds for position in the match play portion of the tournament.

Whalen is set to tee off Wednesday on No. 10 at 8:50 a.m., with Savoie following at 9 a.m.

Click here for tee times.

A crucial component of generating power in the swing is ankle mobility. More specifically, dorsiflexion mobility, which is the bend in the ankle where your foot flexes towards your head. From the top of your downswing the ankle progressively flexes more and more until maximum ankle dorsiflexion occurs just before impact. The greater dorsiflexion you have the more you can impart muscle force into the ground and thereby create a reaction force from the ground. The reaction force is what enables you to generate maximum power from the glute muscles and the rest of the leg. It is what produces club speed and, therefore, distance.

Our demands on the ankle don’t end there though. In addition, we require the ankle to be dynamically stable and not collapse in the downswing into what’s commonly known as pronation. A muscle called the tibialis posterior (A) is your chief stabilizer here. So it’s very important that this muscle is strong but flexible.

The other variable to consider is that a lack of mobility in the ankles — or asymmetry in ankle mobility — leads to swing problems, such as coming out of one’s posture early in the downswing. This often leads to nasty habits, like topping the ball or big sweeping slices.

However, spend three weeks performing these two exercises and watch your ankle compression improve and your golf ball soar.

Calf Massage
Very straightforward: use the shaft of an iron to work out and massage the calves at the back of your leg. Do this for three minutes on each leg before hitting the first tee box.

Ankle Strength

Wrap a rubber band around the ball of your foot while holding the opposite end of the band with your hand. On the count of two seconds, push your ankle down and in towards the other foot. Hold for another second before returning to the start position for three seconds. Repeat until fatigue.

This article was originally published in the Fall Issue of Golf Canada Magazine. Click here to view the full magazine.

LAS VEGAS – Patrick Cantlay won the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Sunday in a playoff for the first victory in a PGA Tour career mostly derailed by a severe back injury.

The 25-year-old former UCLA star hit from behind a tree and got up-and-down for par from off the back of the 18th green to beat Alex Cejka and Whee Kim on the second extra hole.

“I knew that I’d be able to get to where I wanted to be if I felt healthy,” Cantlay said. “If I felt like I didn’t have pain and I could practice and prepare for tournaments. I know how to practice and prepare for tournaments, so I can do what I want. I feel like I can play well and compete with anybody.”

Cantlay bogeyed the final two holes of regulation for a 5-under 67 to get in at 9-under 275 at windy TPC Summerlin. Cejka shot a 63 more than two hours before Cantlay and Kim – playing together in the third-to-last group – finished the round.

The three played the 456-yard, par-4 18th twice in the playoff, matching bogeys the first time. On the second extra hole, Cantlay escaped the trees in the right rough, hitting a 4-iron from 185 yards.

“I felt like as long as I kept it below the tree branch that was in front of me and cut it enough, I felt like it would go in a pretty decent spot,” Cantlay said. “I maybe didn’t cut it as much as I wanted to. I think the rough stopped it from being able to spin and get any cut on it, but it ended up in a good spot. It was a good shot.”

Kim bogeyed 18 in regulation for a 66, then went bogey-double bogey on the hole in the playoff.

“It was brutally tough,” Kim said. “The wind is blowing, and it’s really tough.”

Cejka birdied the final four holes in regulation for a back-nine 30.

“It was looking very slim, and then the wind picked up,” Cejka said about the getting in the playoff. “Luckily, the guys were dropping shots and I had the chance. But, you know, it’s a tough hole here. You’ve got to win with a par. I made two bogeys in the playoff, so that’s a little bit disappointing.”

The 46-year-old Czech-born German lives in Las Vegas.

“It’s tough to play at home,” Cejka said. “There is a lot of pressure, and people expect good things from you.”

Cantlay broke through to win after a remarkable return last season from the back problems. Out of golf since 2013, he didn’t miss a cut and made it to the Tour Championship while playing only 12 events. Part of that was due to an ankle injury that slowed him for two months.

“There’s not a lot of give up in me,” Cantlay said. “I never really thought about giving it up. I thought maybe there was a chance my back would never feel good enough to play again. But, fortunately, I feel great. I have a good program. I figured out a way to feel good all the time. It’s all good. I’m happy to be playing.”

Cantlay didn’t decide to enter Las Vegas a week ago Friday when he was at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He earned $1,224,000, a two-year exemption and moved into the top 50 in world.

“Goals for the rest of the season, definitely majors,” Cantlay said. “It will be nice to be into all of those, and making it all the way to the FedEx final and playing well in those events, those are big. First time playing last year, and really realized the gravity of them, and would like to do well and compete there, too.”

Cantlay birdied Nos. 11-14 before the sloppy finish in the difficult conditions.

“The last four, with the wind kicking up, that wind in and off the left on 18 makes that hole particularly difficult, and I was just trying to hit quality shots all the way to the end,” Cantlay said. “The finish did not happen how I thought it would, but it was just enough.”

Patton Kizzire (64), J.T. Poston (66) and Chesson Hadley (68) finished a stroke out of the playoff. Hadley bogeyed the 18th in the second-to-last group.

Nick Taylor (68) of Abbotsford, B.C., was the low Canadian at 2 under and tied for 32nd. Ben Silverman (66) of Thornhill, Ont., finished the event even and Corey Conners (74) of Listowel, Ont., was 5 over.

Beau Hossler, tied for the third-round lead with J.J. Spaun, had a 73 to drop into a tie for seventh at 7 under with Bryson DeChambeau (67) and Tom Hoge (69).

Spaun played the final four holes in 5 over for a 74. He bogeyed the 15th and closed with two double bogeys to drop into a tie for 10th at 6 under.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – National Amateur Squad duo of Joey Savoie and Josh Whalen marched to an emphatic 16-stroke victory on Sunday to win the Tailhade Cup at the Los Lagartos Country Club.

The Canadians were led by Savoie of La Prairie, Que., who fired his lowest round of the tournament with a 5-under 66 en route to capturing medallist honours. The 23-year-old finished at 8 under par (69-73-68-66), two strokes ahead of runner-up Machado Herik of Brazil.

“This victory was because Josh and I complimented ourselves in a great way together,” said Savoie. “We want to thank the families that have hosted us here in Argentina — they treated us very well and made for a memorable week.”

Whalen of Napanee, Ont., also saved his best for the final round, carding a 3-under-par 68 to climb into a share of fourth individually. The Kent State alumnus closed the event at 4 under (73-69-70-68), one stroke shy of third place.

“It feels great to have put in the work and win the cup for our country,” said Whalen. “We played very calm all week — we came with a lot of confidence and everything came together for us when we needed it to.”

Collectively, the Canadian duo totalled a 5-under 134 in Sunday’s finale, extending their 54-hole advantage from two strokes to a convincing 16. The win marks the third victory for Canada in four years, which is an accomplishment not lost on Team Canada men’s head coach, Derek Ingram.

“I’m very happy for Joey and Josh — this is a really great start to their first year as members of the national team,” said Ingram. “It’s great for these two to follow in the footsteps of professionals Corey Conners (PGA TOUR) and Austin Connelly (European Tour), who were in the very same spot — a great learning experience all around.”

Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.) and Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.) captured the event in 2015 while Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.) and dual citizen Austin Connelly (Irving, Texas) took home the title in 2014.

Camilo Aguado, the Colombian 54-hole leader at the 2017 Canadian Amateur, finished in seventh place at 2 under par.

Click here for full scoring.

IBARAKI, Japan – Defending champion Shanshan Feng of China fired a 4-under 68 on Sunday to win the LPGA Tour’s Japan Classic by two strokes.

Feng recovered from two bogeys on the first three holes with six birdies to finish at 19-under 197, two shots ahead of Japan’s Ai Suzuki, who also shot a 68.

Feng became the first golfer on the LPGA Tour to defend a title in 2017 and claimed her second victory of the year, having captured the LPGA Volvik Championship in May.

“That was my goal, before I started the week, to defend my title,” said Feng. “My caddie told me: ‘This week, you’re going to be first. Two weeks ago, you finished third. Last week, you finished second, so you know what comes after that. first.’ I was like, OK, let’s go for it.”

Suzuki had a chance to overtake Feng through the back nine, but any time Suzuki made a birdie, it seemed as though Feng would answer with one of her own. She couldn’t capitalize on opportunities late in the round, and a final-hole bogey sealed the win for Feng.

“Her ball striking is so good. She left herself so many birdie chances and I was freaked out,” Feng said of Suzuki. “Before I started the round, I told myself to not look at the other scores and just go to 21-under par. I played very well.”

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist had a hole-in-one on the par-3 third hole and added five birdies against a lone bogey for a 66 to finish in third place at 15-under 201.

Brooke Henderson, the lone Canadian in the field, shot a 2 under 70 and finished the tournament 6 under.

Lizette Salas was fourth after finishing with a 68.

Former World No. 1 Lydia Ko was among a group of seven golfers tied for fifth place after firing a 68 that included five birdies and a bogey on the final hole.

World No. 1 So Yeon Ryu had a 73 in the final round and said she would be taking next week off in order to rehab her still-injured shoulder as she makes a push for Player of the Year honours.

LAS VEGAS – Beau Hossler and J.J. Spaun shared the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open lead Saturday after another breezy day at TPC Summerlin.

The 22-year-old Hossler birdied the par-4 15th and 18th holes for a bogey-free 5-under 66 – the best round of the day in the difficult conditions.

“It was one of those days you couldn’t get ahead of yourself at all,” Hossler said. “As soon as you do that, you get yourself in trouble. I just tried to keep the ball on the fairway and keep it below the hole as much as possible and manage my game. To get out of there bogey-free is kind of a miracle, to be honest.”

The 27-year-old Spaun, the leader after the completion of the second round in the morning, bogeyed the par-3 17th and saved par with a 10-footer on the 18th for a 73.

“I just was trying to get comfortable out there,” Spaun said. “I was really uncomfortable considering the conditions and the position I was in. But, yeah, I kind of kept things together. Those last five holes were pretty brutal. So, to not really give too many shots back on those holes, it’s not so bad as it looks.”

Hossler and Spaun, both winless on the PGA Tour, were at 9-under 204 – the highest leading third-round total by six strokes since the tournament went to one course in 2008.

Tony Finau was three strokes back after a 69. Tom Hoge (67), Gary Woodland (68), Chesson Hadley (69) and Patrick Cantlay (70) were 5 under.

“It was tough, but you’ve got to control your ball flight,” Finau said. “The balls are flying all over the place, but mentally you’ve just got to try to stay in it and take one shot at a time.”

Hossler got used to playing in the wind at the University of Texas.

“That was part of the reason why I went to Texas,” Hossler said. “Coming from Southern California you’re kind of in a bubble with perfect weather and no wind. So I was really struggling with that. When I go to school, playing in this kind of wind fairly regularly, not all the time. Certainly there were some windy days in Texas. So that experience has really helped me. I feel like I can control my ball in the wind a little bit better. Also, underrated. It’s sneaky hard to putt when it’s windy.”

Hossler tied for 10th last week in Mississippi for his first top-10 in 14 starts.

Spaun bogeyed three of the first five holes and had his lone birdies on Nos. 10 and 13.

“That’s all I could ever want is to have a chance on Sunday,” Spaun said. “I’m looking forward to it. I know it’s not going to be easy. But whatever happens, happens. It’s definitely a learning experience. Hopefully, I get it done.”

Spaun is making his 35th career PGA Tour start. He finished 97th last season as a rookie in the FedExCup.

Nick Taylor (74) of Abbotsford, B.C., is the low Canadian at 1 over. Corey Conners (74) of Listowel, Ont., is 2 over and Ben Silverman (76) of Thornhill, Ont., is 5 over.