Chiba Prefecture, Japan – Hamilton, Ont. native Mackenzie Hughes shot one under 69 on Saturday while competing in round 3 of the ZOZO Championship.

Hughes would birdie five shots including the 18th hole to move him five spots up the leaderboard to finish the round T9.

When round 4 kicks off on Sunday at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, Hughes will be chasing Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan who holds a one-stroke lead over American Cameron Tringale at minus 10.

Fellow Canadian Roger Sloan moved up 11 spots to finish the round T56.

Click here for the full leaderboard.

Oakville, ONT. – With ongoing developments around COVID-19, Golf Canada along with the Golf Coaches Association of Canada (GCAC) has cancelled the 2021 Canadian University/College Championship. The competition was rescheduled to take place in late October, after being postponed from its original date from May 31 – June 4. 

The decision to cancel was based on logistical consideration surrounding Canadian University and College sport including the differing return-to-sport protocols currently in place in regions across the country. With a number of post-secondary institutions under the advisement to limit overnight stays and travel wherever possible, the most appropriate course of action was to cancel the 2021 championship.

Efforts are underway to finalize details and a location for the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship which is set for May 30 – June 3, 2022. Next year’s competition will mark the 18^th playing of the event which was established by Golf Canada in 2003 to provide Canadian post-secondary student athletes the opportunity to compete for a national championship.  

Powell River, B.C. — The final round of the NextGen Fall Series West Championship wrapped up on Saturday at Myrtle Point Golf Club with Tina Jiang securing a convincing nine-stroke victory in the Girls division and Hyunjun Lee earning the win in the Boys division.

The final round of the tournament was scheduled to conclude on Sunday Sept. 26, but the weather in Powell, B.C. had other ideas. Due to an impending storm in the forecast the final 36 holes were all played on Saturday. 

The early start didn’t phase Tina Jiang, who hails from Richmond, B.C. The 16-year-old cruised to the win on the strength of an opening-round 67 (-5) that set her up for the wire-to-wire win at 10 under par.

Jiang will be joined by second and third place finishers Martina Yu (Coquitlam, B.C) and Yeji Kwon (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) at the 2022 Canadian Girls Championship. Yu and Kwon finished 1 under and 3 over, respectively.

In the Boys division, 15-year-old Hyunjun Lee rallied for the come-from-behind victory with a score of 73—his third straight. The North Vancouver native began the day one stroke back of the lead and found himself trailing by that same margin heading into the final nine holes. 

Lee was clutch after making the turn, carding a birdie on the 12th hole followed by an eagle on the par-5 15th. He finished the tournament with a three-stroke cushion. 

Finishing second was Manpreet Lalh of Nanaimo, B.C., who held the lead for the opening two rounds. He shot a final-round 77 to finish at 6 over par. Sharing third place at 7 over par were four competitors: Shunkichi Yamamoto (Victoria, B.C.), Freddy Sun (Vancouver) Justin Bjornson (Surrey, B.C.) and Matthew Wilson (Nanaimo, B.C.).

The third and final exemption into the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys was decided in a four-man playoff with Bjornson emerging victorious on the second playoff hole.

The tournament marked the second to be played this year in the NextGen series. Golf Canada has eight NextGen tournaments scheduled for 2022 leading with the NextGen Pacific Championship in May.

Click here for scoring and additional information.

LA MALBAIE, QUE. – The 59^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship wrapped up today with Darren Ritchie securing the title to etch his name into the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The St. John, N.B. native from Hampton Golf Club held the lead for the majority of the tournament, finishing 2 over par 72 to become the first Senior Men’s Champion since Gene Elliot captured the title in 2019. It was the first Canadian Men’s Senior title for the 57-year-old Ritchie.

“I took a lot of years off to be with my family and to take care of them,” said Ritchie. “To get back to playing and to come up here and succeed the way that I did, it’s an unbelievable feeling.”

Ritchie is no stranger to excellence with Canadian Amateur Champion, World Amateur Team Member, New Brunswick Player of the Year, and New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame Member listed among other accolades in his resume. When asked about his recent success in the tournament, Ritchie pointed to experience and a great starting lead.

“It goes back to the start of the week. I hit the driver so good that I could stand there and just know that it’s going up the middle of the fairway. Whenever I had to make a 3-footer for par, I was fortunate. I made a lot of them this week and a lot of the other guys struggled with it. My golf game is good right now and I just can’t wait to play again.”

With the win, Ritchie receives an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at the Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass.

Joe Miszk of Niagara Falls, Ont., and Luc Guilbault of Drummondville, Que. tied for runner up, each finishing with a score of 7 over.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship ran concurrently throughout the championship with Michel Roy securing the Governor’s Cup with a score of 13 over. The runner up was Mark Bennett from Toronto, Ont. who finished the tournament with a score of +17.

The 2022 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will be held September 6-9 in Red Deer, Alta.

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

TORONTO – Kurtis Barkley and Natasha Stasiuk both completed wire-to-wire victories on Friday to capture their respective stroke play divisions in the inaugural All Abilities Championship at Humber Valley Golf Course.

Williamsburg, Ont., product Kurtis Barkley jumped to the early lead with an opening-round 69 and followed that up on Friday with a 3-under 67—the lowest score of the tournament.

“I usually set little goals and I try to minimize my mistakes—I try to play one hole at a time,” said Barkley, who is ranked No. 12 in the World Gross Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD).

The win extends a recent stretch of great play from Barkley, who also won his third consecutive title at the Ontario Disability Championship a week prior.

The 33-year-old finished with a 16-stroke cushion over silver medallist Craig Dowling of Vancouver. Rounding out the top three was Bob MacDermott of Sherwood Park, Alta., who closed with a score of 14 over par.

In the women’s stroke play event, Stasiuk carded rounds of 85-90 to finish at 35 over par. The Oakville, Ont., native finished 16 strokes ahead of silver medallist Tess Trojan of St. Catherines, Ont.

“Even though I know I didn’t have the best scores I never give up,” said Stasiuk, who also collected her third consecutive title at the Ontario Disability Championship last week. “I’ve played with Tess (Trojan) twice in a row now and it’s great. She’s always there for me and I’m always there for her.”

The 36-hole event also featured a net stableford division.

Tess Trojan emerged as champion in the women’s side, recording a total of 48 points while Stasiuk finished with 32.

On the men’s side, Glenn Babcock of Thornhill, Ont., captured the victory with a total of 72 points. Trailing him were Neil Washer (Trenton, Ont.) with 68 points and Barkley with 67 points. 

A total of 31 players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments teed it up this week at Humber Valley—a municipal golf facility located on the west bank of the Humber River. The club invested a significant amount of capital in recent years to improve accessibility and course conditions to appeal to golfers of all ability and skill levels.

As a legacy of the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Golf Championship, Golf Canada was proud to donate a SoloRider (Para Golfer adaptive golf equipment) to the City of Toronto to support golfers with disability. 

Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes. The inaugural championship is proudly supported by Golf Canada national partners CP, Levelwear, Titleist & Footjoy, and Sport Canada as well as championship partners including Turf Care, the R&A and Dol Turf. 

A venue for the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship will be announced at later date.

Click here for full results.

Powell River, BC. — The second installment of Golf Canada’s NextGen series, the Fall Series West Championship, is set to commence on Friday, Sept. 24 at Myrtle Point Golf Club.

With support from British Columbia Golf, 70 golfers aged 12 to 18 will be competing in the 54 hole stroke play tournament following a practice round on Sept. 23. The event marks the second to be played in the series after a 2020 re-brand due to COVID cancellations.

Nestled in the foothills of the Coastal Mountains, Myrtle Point Golf Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Les Furber and features tree-lined fairways, lakes, ponds, streams, and strategically placed bunkers.

“The staff at Myrtle Point Golf Club and the support from the city of Powell River are driving forces in the success of the Fall Series West Championship,” said tournament director Akash Patel. “We look forward to what is sure to be an exciting competition between Canada’s top junior golf talent.”

The field will consist of 48 golfers in the Junior Boys Division, with the top three earning exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship from Aug. 7 -11 at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, British Columbia. 

The Junior Girls Division is made up of 22 golfers, also with the top three (including ties) earning exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship from July 25-29.

Additional information about the 2021 NextGen Fall Series West Championship can be found here.

Results from the East Series Championship which concluded Sept. 19 can be found here.

Together with Alberta Golf and the Canadian golf community, Golf Canada is saddened by the passing of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member Robert L. Wylie, who passed away on Sunday, Sept. 19 at the age of 91.

Born on Sept. 29, 1929 in Calgary, Alta. Wylie was a longtime member of the Calgary Golf and Country Club.

As a young up-and-coming player, he tested his mettle on the PGA TOUR in 1957 before returning to the amateur ranks where some of his greatest accomplishments were still ahead of him. After being reinstated as an amateur in 1960, Wylie won the first of his five Alberta Amateur Championships and his second Alberta Open. The affable Calgarian had attacked senior golf with the same intensity he showed throughout his career, winning four consecutive Senior Golf Championships of Canada from 1985 to 1988.

Wylie represented Canada well internationally, participating in four World Amateur Team Championships (1960, 1962, 1968, 1984) and winning the Mexican Amateur in 1960.

He was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.

During an interview in 2018, Wylie spoke to his ball-striking and golf swing as the most renowned golf attributes he would be remembered for.

“I’ve never really thought too much about it to be honest. Sure, I had a lot of success as an amateur, but I think I am most proud of the golf swing I developed through a lot of hard work. I don’t think anyone worked at it more than I did. Over the years, I had a lot of nice things said about my ball striking by other golfers and that means a lot. Not to sound immodest, but in my prime, I don’t think I ever played with anyone that hit it better than I did, especially the irons. I never felt like I was awed by any other player. Even as a senior, I could do anything I wanted with a 2-iron, which is a bit of a lost art.”

Memorial details will be available in the coming days.

Golf Canada is committed to providing the highest level of competition for amateur golfers of all abilities and is proud to announce the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship will be conducted Sept. 22-24 at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto.

The national golf championship will be contested as a 36-hole competition and will feature players from across Canada with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. 

Originally scheduled to launch in 2020, but delayed due to restrictions from the pandemic, the Canadian All Abilities Championship supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

“We are extremely proud to officially announce the formation of the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “We are happy to contest another national golf championship for a new group of talented and committed competitors. We also want to thank our friends at the City of Toronto for sharing in this inclusive journey and inviting the athletes to compete for a national title at Humber Valley.”

With international competitors not permitted for this year’s championship, a total of 30 players from regions across Canada will compete at Humber Valley include 15 who recently took part in the Ontario Disability Championship, September 14-16 at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham, Ont. A full list of championship competitors is available here.

Humber Valley Golf Course is a municipal golf facility located on the west bank of the Humber River. The club has invested a significant amount of capital in recent years to improve accessibility and course conditions to appeal to golfers of all ability and skill levels.

“Humber Valley Golf Course is celebrating 100 years of operation this year”, said Toronto Mayor, John Tory. “City staff have worked hard to update course conditions over recent years to improve accessibility and allow golfers of all abilities and skill levels to play. I’m delighted that Humber Valley Golf Course is able to host athletes to compete for a national title at the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship.”

A number of significant enhancements have been made to Humber Valley’s facilities including widened doorways and an elevator installed in the clubhouse. The City of Toronto has also invested in a number of course modifications including making tee decks and bunkers more accessible by flattening out areas of entry point. 

All players with a European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) Player Pass have been approved to compete for points on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GD). Players are eligible for an EDGA Player Pass if they classify in one of the following disability categories: Amputation; Intellectual; Visual Impairment; Neurological; Other (short stature, orthopedic, etc.). 

There are four different divisions in the Canadian All Abilities Championship that players will compete in, regardless of disability classification: Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford. 

Notable WR4GD Canadians in the field include Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. (No. 5 World Gross Ranking) as well as Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg, Ont. (No. 12 World Gross Ranking); Vic McClelland of High River, Alta. (No. 53 World Gross Ranking & No. 4 World Net Ranking); and Rod Reimer of Thorndale, Ont. (No. 111 World Gross Ranking & No. 2 World Net Ranking).  

As a legacy of the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Golf Championship, Golf Canada will be donating a SoloRider (Para Golfer adaptive golf equipment) to the City of Toronto to support golfers with disability. 

Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes. The inaugural championship is proudly supported by Golf Canada national partners CP, Levelwear, Titleist & Footjoy, and Sport Canada as well as championship partners including Turf Care, the R&A and Dol Turf. 

Golf Canada acknowledges and respects the Indigenous Peoples of Canada that for hundreds of generations have been the keepers of the territories where we all live and work. We also acknowledge, along with our partners at the City of Toronto, that Humber Valley Golf Course is located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

A complete list of Golf Canada’s competitions is available here.  

The 17th annual Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event concluded the fundraising season with close to 100 women taking to Islington Golf Club in Etobicoke, Ont. The group event included 18 holes of golf, raffles, prizing and games to celebrate the efforts of thousands of participants from coast-to-coast.  

Established in 2003, the program has since raised over $7.2 million in fundraising with 100 percent of the proceeds going towards the Canadian Cancer Society and the Québec Breast Cancer Foundation. 

“The remarkable efforts from volunteers, site coordinators, and our partners at Subaru, the Canadian Cancer Society and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation continue to be a driving force behind the achievements of Golf Fore the Cure,” said Kara Anthony, Golf Canada’s female participation coordinator. “We’re excited for next season and the continued growth of women’s golf in Canada.”

Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru was created to drive women’s participation in golf through the use of fun, non-intimidating activities. Through a unique partnership structure with the Canadian Cancer Society and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation, the program has women across the country participating in golf activities and raising money and awareness for a cause close to Canadian hearts—the fight against breast cancer.

The top three fundraising teams

The Canadian golf industry generates $330M in philanthropic dollars generated at more than 51,000 tournaments and charitable golf events.

Subaru Canada has been a proud partner of Golf Fore the Cure since 2007.

To learn how to get involved with Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, visit golfcanada.ca/golfforethecure

LA MALBAIE, Que. – The 2021 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, conducted by Golf Canada, will be contested at Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu from Sept. 21-24, marking the 59th playing of the national championship.

A full field of 156 participants aged 55-and-over will compete in the 72-hole stroke play tournament in hopes of becoming the first Canadian Men’s Senior Champion since Gene Elliot captured the title in 2019. The tournament was not played in 2020 due to COVID cancellations.

“We have every expectation that Canada’s top senior golfers will provide for an exciting competition set against the backdrop of the St-Lawrence River and stunning Charlevoix region,” said tournament director Dan Hyatt. “The panoramic views coupled with significant course upgrades make Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu worthy of the associated accolades and will challenge the skills of our competitors.”

Practice rounds take place Monday, Sept. 20. Championship play will be conducted Tuesday, Sept. 21-24 with 18 holes of stroke play each day. Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. The champion receives an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at Saucon Valley Country Club, in Bethlehem, Pa.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship will run simultaneously throughout the championship, with a winner being crowned after 72 holes of play. In 2019, Lars Melander of Oakville, Ont., claimed victory after a final round of 1-under-par 70 helped him to secure the title and hoist the Governor’s Cup.

Interprovincial team competitions that are usually played concurrently with national championships will not be contested in 2021 due to the increased complexity involving group travel.

Club de Golf Le Manoir Richelieu was inaugurated by U.S President William Taft in 1925 and is known for having won numerous awards. Originally designed by English golf architect Herbert Strong, the course has since been significantly upgraded under renowned architect Darrell Huxham. The addition of a new nine brings the total to 27 world class holes of golf.

Additional information, including a full list of competitors, can be found here.