OTTAWA – Alena Sharp knelt down beside her bag and wrote the initials DC-J on each of her golf balls. She tucked the marker back into her bag and grabbed a pair of yellow ribbons with the same three letters monogrammed on them and scanned the crowd to hand them to her mom.

Sharp, who had an identical ribbon pinned to her hat, then lined up her shot from the No. 1 tee to start her first round at the CP Women’s Open on Thursday. She was one of several golfers honouring Canadian golf hall of famer Dawn Coe-Jones at the LPGA Tour event.

Coe-Jones left an indelible mark on women’s golf in Canada, winning three LPGA Tour events and the 1992 Match Play Championship, with 44 top-10 finishes over a 24-year career. She lost her battle with sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, on Nov. 12 at the age of 59.

“It’s just so sad that someone that young and that healthy can have that kind of bad luck,” said Sharp, a native of Hamilton, after completing a 7-over 78 in the first round of the tournament. “She’s not with us anymore, which is so sad.”

Sharp began marking her balls with Coe-Jones’s initials toward the end of last season and resumed the practice this week at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club to tie in with Golf Canada’s ribbon campaign honouring the pioneer of the sport.

“I’m really happy to see everybody wearing the ribbons this week and honouring her,” said Sharp. “It’s a great tribute.”

Coe-Jones competed in the Canadian Women’s Open 24 times and had seven top-10 finishes. She was the low Canadian (or tied) on 13 occasions and her $326,554 in earnings are the most by a Canadian playing in the Women’s Open. She retired from the LPGA at the 2008 national championship.

“It does mean a lot, not only to me, but I know her husband and son, are taking this in this week,” said Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane, who was a close friend of Coe-Jones. “It’s just nice for them to know their mom is loved.”

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., and Augusta James of Bath, Ont., were the low Canadians on Thursday at 2-over 73.

“(Coe-Jones) along with all the others were just really inspirational, especially being from Canada and not having that many people to look up to,” said Marchand, who also had a yellow ribbon affixed to her hat. “The few that have paved the way, it’s pretty awesome. It’s been great to be able to remember her this week and kind of keep her in everyone’s hearts.”

Calgary’s Jennifer Ha and superstar Brooke Henderson of nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., finished their rounds at 3-over par.

Honoring Dawn Coe-Jones this week at the CP Women's Open. Thank you for paving the way for… https://t.co/E1RBTABDe5

— Jennifer Ha (@JenniferHa0201) August 24, 2017

Henderson was followed from hole to hole by droves of fans, but despite the vocal support she struggled with her putting. Henderson went to the practice green after her morning round.

“I think if I can just get a good night’s rest tonight, maybe practice a little bit, tune in things a little bit more, and then go out tomorrow and hopefully just make a few more putts,” said Henderson. “That’s all it is, and hopefully make a few more birdies.”

Amateur Jaclyn Lee of Calgary was 4 over, Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay was 5 over, Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., was 6 over, Hannah Hellyer of Sterling, Ont., was 7 over and amateur Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., was 8 over.

Kane tied with amateur Grace St. Germain of Ottawa at 9 over, while Victoria amateur Naomi Ko finished at 12 over.

OTTAWA – Playing professional golf isn’t that much different from having a standard 9-5 job. There’s a similar litany of problems. In the first round of the CP Women’s Open, it was a traffic jam.

Marina Alex had four birdies on the back nine and finished 5-under 66 to take the clubhouse lead at the Women’s Open on Thursday and held on to a one-stroke lead by the end of the round in part thanks to high winds. Those gusts forced golfers to take more time on their drives and approach shots which slowed down the pace of play at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.

“It was kind of hard to get momentum, I think, for any of us because we would sit on the tee box and wait sometimes three and four minutes,” said Alex, who said the pace of play was slow from her second hole on. “It’s just hard to get a good group, and if you have a good group, it really kind of gets disrupted, so it’s tough.

“You have pretty challenging conditions right now. Every shot was kind of just difficult as we approached it, and it’s hard to get into a flow when you’re stopping and starting and stopping and starting.”

Putts dropping on day 1 was the key for @Marina_Deee to hold the current lead at the #CPWO! Watch her post-round interview pic.twitter.com/M5vZD3ePWV

— LPGA (@LPGA) August 24, 2017

Weather has played a big role in the Women’s Open. Tuesday’s practice rounds were called off after a rainstorm drenched the course. Winds during the storm blew down some trees in the area and delayed or detoured flights at nearby Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport.

Despite the rain, greens were very fast on Thursday. Alex said that it was easy getting optimal shots in the morning until the wind picked up and started messing with drives.

“I thought that (the greens) were almost just as fast as what we played at the U.S. Open,” said Alex. “They are rolling unbelievably well. Really quick. The nice thing is they’re still a bit soft, so the shots are holding into the greens, so it kind of makes for a good combo.

“You can hit shots in there pretty tight, and then you have really nice pace to hold them.”

Holly Clyburn, who started on the back nine, eagled on her final hole in the afternoon to enter into a tie with In Gee Chun, who fired a bogey-free 4-under 67 to sit second in the morning group.

Clyburn hoped her strong finish on No. 9 would give her momentum into the second round of play.

“I’ve just been waiting for something to drop like that all day, actually. I played solid all day, and that was just a nice present on the last, really,” said Clyburn. “Just missed a few birdie putts out there, and hit a nice 5-wood in there and holed that putt.”

Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., and Augusta James of Bath, Ont., were the low Canadians on Thursday at 2-over 73.

Calgary’s Jennifer Ha and superstar Brooke Henderson of nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., finished their rounds at 3-over par. Henderson had the opposite day of Alex, with her drives on target but her putts failing to drop.

“I hit the ball for the majority extremely well and just the putter kind of let me down at times,” said Henderson, who had a large crowd following her from hole to hole. “But you know, the crowds were amazing. There was a lot of great things happening out there, and like I said, my ball-striking was awesome. It was like right on, and just hopefully tomorrow I can make a couple more of those 10-footers, 15-footers, and then we’ll see what happens.”

She then went to the practice green to “teach (her putter) a lesson.”

Amateur Jaclyn Lee of Calgary was 4 over, Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay was 5 over, Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., was 6 over, Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Hannah Hellyer of Sterling, Ont., tied at 7 over. Amateur Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., was 8 over.

Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane tied with amateur Grace St. Germain of Ottawa at 9 over, while Victoria amateur Naomi Ko finished at 12 over.

Steven Diack continued his stellar play after shooting a 4-under-par 67 during the third round of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at the Wascana Country Club on Thursday.

The Coquitlam, B.C., native bought himself some breathing room on the leaderboard when he drained a 60-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fourth hole, causing the crowd following the final group to erupt into a chorus of cheers. The 25-year-old then carded his second eagle of the day on the par-5 18th hole securing himself a five-stroke lead heading to the final day.

“I’m so happy just to play through today and finish with the score I did,” he said, walking out of the scoring tent. “I’m just going to stick to the game plan I’ve had the last three days and count on my ball striking which has what got me through the last three days.”

Diack has been consistently dominant through three rounds posting scores of 67-66-67, while limiting himself to just five bogeys and racking up a collection of 14 birdies and two eagles.

Todd Fanning, from Winnipeg, Man., stunned the rest of the field after he shot a 6-under-par 65 – matching the tournament low set by Charles Fitzsimmons in round 1 – in gusts of wind reaching upwards of 53 km/h.

The 49-year-old notched only one bogey back on the second hole and carded five birdies heading down the stretch on the back nine.

“I felt the first two rounds like I didn’t putt very well and was leaving a lot out there and today was the opposite,” said Fanning. “Everything I looked at seemed to go in from the fifth hole on. It was just one of those days where the hole looked like a bucket and you have to take advantage when that happens.”

The round moves Fanning into solo possession of second place at 8 under par, and gives him a huge lead in the mid-master division where he is up by 11 strokes. Dwight Reinhart (Renfrew, Ont.), who played in the same group as Fanning on Thursday, is second in the mid-master division and Regina’s Ryan McNall is third at 4 over par.

After Fanning tapped in his final birdie on 18, Reinhart dropped to his knees to salute the round that he had just witnessed.

“That’s probably the best round of golf I’ve ever seen,” said Reinhart. “He played his shots so precisely through the wind, the veteran in him just took over. Anytime he needed to make a putt it went in, it was unbelievable. It got to the point where I was just watching him and forgetting about what I was doing.”

Rounding out the final group is Garrett Rank, the three-time defending champion from Elmira, Ont., who shot the only other round under par on Thursday. Rank birdied the final hole to move him to 1 under on the day and 5 under for the tournament.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2017 champion will receive an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

For full results click here.

Australian Sue Wooster won the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in a playoff over Mary Ann Hayward from St. Thomas, Ont., after carding a 1-over-par 73 in the final round at Humber Valley Resort.

“It’s very exciting and I’m very proud,” said a smiling Wooster. “It’s an honour to come to another country and win a major event like this one.”

Wooster, 55, started her day with a birdie on the par-5 first hole and was a model of consistency the rest of the round hitting 17 greens in regulation – finishing at 12 over par for the championship.

Nothing changed in the playoff. Wooster stuck a hybrid to 15 feet on No. 10, the first playoff hole, and two-putted for par to capture the Ada Mackenzie Trophy.

“I’d actually been struggling with my ball striking recently,” added Wooster. “But today I put it all together. Golf’s a funny game like that, but I’m really happy with how I played today and thrilled with the result.”

With her win, Wooster becomes the first international player to win the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship since American Ginny Burkey in 2006.

She also earns an exemption into the 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Oreg., from Sept. 9-14, and the inaugural 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship.

“It would be great to take some momentum from here and play well at the U.S. Senior in a few weeks,” said Wooster. “But there’s a lot of good players there so we’ll see what happens.”

Hayward – a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame – started strong with a birdie on No. 1 and led until the back nine where she bogeyed No. 10 and 11. A double-bogey on No. 13 put her in a hole she couldn’t climb out of.

“If I could have one shot back it would be my drive on No. 13. I put it in the hazard and it just wasn’t a good swing,” said Hayward. “If we were allowed mulligans in tournament golf that’s where I’d have taken mine.”

Jackie Little (Procter, B.C.) and Terrill Samuel (Etobicoke, Ont.) tied for third in the Senior division at 13 over par.

Wooster also won the 40-and-over Mid-Master competition by one stroke over Samuel.

Ashburn, Va., native Lauren Greenlief fired a tournament low 4-under-par 68 in the final round to finish a convincing wire-to-wire win in the Mid-Amateur competition, winning by 19 strokes over Wooster.

“It’s a great feeling. I had my mom here all week and it was a great week of golf at a beautiful course,” said Greenlief. “I love coming up to Canada and I definitely plan on coming back.”

On Wednesday, Team Ontario captured their fourth consecutive inter-provincial team championship with a score of 18 over par. First-round leader Quebec fell into a tie for second with British Columbia at 22 over par.

Gatineau, Que., native Diane Dolan won the 60-and-over Super Senior competition with a two-day score of 156 (+12).

The 2018 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship will be played in Ontario at a yet to be determined location.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Click here to download champion photos from the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship. (Credit: Roxanne Ryland/Golf Canada)

Click here for full scoring.

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – SENIOR DIVISION – COMPLETE

1. Sue Wooster, Australia, *79-76-73-228 +12
2. Mary Ann Hayward, St. Thomas, ON, *77-74-77-228 +12
3. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, *75-81-73-229 +13
3. Jackie Little, Procter, BC, *75-75-79-229 +13
5. Judith Kyrinis, Thornhill, ON, *81-74-77-232 +16
6. Marie-Thérèse Torti, Candiac, QC, *73-80-83-236 +20
7. Lynn Kuehn, Lacombe, AB, *79-83-76-238 +22
7. Diane Dolan, Gatineau, QC, *77-79-82-238 +22
9. Kim Carrington, Calgary, AB, *78-82-79-239 +23
10. Holly Horwood, Vancouver, BC, *80-80-80-240 +24
10. Leanne Richardson, Indian Mountain, NB, *80-76-84-240 +24

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – MID-AMATEUR DIVISION – COMPLETE

1. Lauren Greenlief, Ashburn, VA, *68-73-68-209 -7
2. Sue Wooster, Australia, *79-76-73-228 +12
3. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, *75-81-73-229 +13
4. Bri-Ann Tokariwski, Winnipeg, MB, *77-75-87-239 +23
5. Leanne Richardson, Indian Mountain, NB, *80-76-84-240 +24

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – MID-MASTER DIVISION – COMPLETE

1. Sue Wooster, Australia, *79-76-73-228 +12
2. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, *75-81-73-229 +13
3. Leanne Richardson, Indian Mountain, NB, *80-76-84-240 +24
4. Barbara Flaman, Sherwood Park, AB, *84-81-77-242 +26
5. Judy Dotten, New Liskeard, ON, *88-78-80-246 +30

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – SUPER SENIOR – COMPLETE

1. Diane Dolan, Gatineau, QC, *77-79-156 +12
2. Holly Horwood, Vancouver, BC, *80-80-160 +16
3. Joey Bush, St. Thomas, ON, *82-80-162 +18
4. Ivy Steinberg, Stouffville, ON, *87-78-165 +21
5. Karen Pultz, Surrey, BC, *86-80-166 +22

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – INTER-PROVINCIAL TEAM COMPETITION

1. ON – Judith Kyrinis, Mary Ann Hayward, Marion Reid, *158-148-306 +18
2. BC – Karen Pultz, Holly Horwood, Jackie Little, *155-155-310 +22
2. QUE – Marie-Thérèse Torti, Hélène Chartrand, Marlène Desbiens, *149-161-310 +22
4. AB – Kim Carrington, Lynn Kuehn, Joan Wilson, *157-163-320 +32
5. NB – Leanne Richardson, Kathy Grebenc, Paula Napke-Flanagan, *166-159-325 +37
6. MB – Rhonda Orr, Matty Leung, Kimberly Ross, *163-175-338 +50
7. SK – Jo-Anne Schiller, Tammy Bezaire , Sue Skinner, *176-165-341 +53
8. NS – Debbie Arsenault, Susan Tumblin, Joanie McCarville, *177-165-342 +54
9. PEI – Sherry White, Susan Allen, Brenda Ann McIlwaine, *180-165-345 +57
10. NL – Judy Gillam, Janet Mills, Gale Roberts, *192-168-360 +72

REGINA, Sask. – Steven Diack shot a 5-under-par 66 to take the lead at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wascana Country Club on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., improved on his opening-round 67 and carded seven birdies and two bogeys and moved to 9 under par for the tournament.

“My whole game was pretty good today,” he said. “My driver is by far the best point in my game. The putter was a little cold early but then I started to make some putts coming in, but I think I hit 17 greens yesterday and 17 greens today, so overall ball striking has been pretty solid.”

Diack, who is playing in his last amateur event before turning professional, has only registered three
bogeys through two rounds.

Daniel Brown from Grand Folks, B.C., registered five birdies and two bogeys en route to a 3-under-par 68 and 8 under par total score. The 2009 B.C. Men’s Amateur champion has landed himself in second place, one stroke back of the leader.

The 18-hole leader Charles Fitzsimmons carded a 70 to finish 1 under par on the day and move to 7 under on the tournament. The London, Ont., product made five birdies and four bogeys one day after shooting a bogey-free 65 and sits in third place, two strokes back of Diack.

“I made a couple of putts yesterday that I missed today,” Fitzsimmons said. “That was the main difference. I got a couple of bad bounces where I was put in an unfortunate situation, but that’s golf. For the most part it was just a couple of bad swings that yesterday I would have got away with.”

The three-time defending champion Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) posted a one-under par 70 to move him into a tie for fourth with two-time champion Kevin Carrigan (Victoria, B.C.) who shot an even-par 71. The pair are 4 under on the tournament.

Check out all the shots from the first two rounds of the #CDNMidAm at the @The_Wascana

📷https://t.co/SsQMlYDMFc pic.twitter.com/ioqSS198gE

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) August 24, 2017

Team Ontario defended their inter-provincial title after they defeated the home-town favourite Team Saskatchewan in a playoff that secured the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy for the third straight year.

Fitzsimmons forced the playoff after he landed his second shot on the par-5 18th in the greenside bunker. After his sand shot landed within three feet of the hole, Fitzsimmons converted the birdie and the two teams met on the first tee to determine a winner.

Saskatchewan jumped out to the early lead in the playoff as the first group consisting of Jim Born (Lloydminster, Alta.), Tyler Wright (Regina, Sask.) and Dave Bunker (Brampton, Ont.) shot par, bogey, bogey, respectively, leaving the door open for Brad Phelps (Saskatoon, Sask.) to secure the win.

In the second and final group, Phelps’ and David Lang’s (Toronto, Ont.) drives found the middle of the fairway while Fitzsimmons pushed his tee shot into the water on the right of the fairway. Fitzsimmons ended the playoff with a bogey while both Phelps and Lang were on the green lining up their birdie putts.

Phelps put his putt five feet past the hole while Lang nailed a clutch 20-foot putt and posted the only birdie of the playoff. Phelps missed his opportunity to force a second playoff hole after he pushed his putt right, securing the victory for Team Ontario.

In the Mid-Master division, Todd Fanning from Winnipeg, Man., jumped to the top of the leaderboard after he carded a 2-under-par 70 for the second consecutive day. Dwight Reinhart (Renfrew, Ont.) and Ryan McNall (Regina, Sask.) sit one stroke back in T2 at 1 under par.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2017 champion will receive an exemption into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

For full results click here.

OTTAWA – Ariya Jutanugarn has won the last two times she’s stepped onto Canadian soil. This week, she’s hoping to make it three-for-three at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club.

Last year, Jutanugarn capped her five-win season with a four-stroke win at the 2016 CP Women’s Open at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary. And in June 2017, she won the Manulife LPGA Classic in Kitchener, draining a 25-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat In Gee Chun and Lexi Thompson.

“I love everything here,” said Jutanugarn, who also had success here as an amateur, winning the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. “All the spectators, they’re so nice. They come support us and not only the tournament days. Even practice rounds they come out and give us full support. I feel like (it’s) my second home.”

Since the Thailand native’s victory in June, a nagging shoulder injury dating back to 2013 has been bothering the young player. She was forced to withdraw from one event and missed the cut at three of her last five starts. However, Jutanugarn comes into Ottawa off two weeks of rest and rehab and is ready to defend her title.

Jutanugarn will tee off on No. 10 on Thursday at 1:42 p.m. with Angel Yin, who sank the clinching putt for the USA at last week’s Solheim Cup, and 2017 U.S. Women’s Open champion Sung Hyun Park.

Lydia Ko already has her name on the CP Women’s Open trophy three times, twice as an amateur in 2012 and 2013 and then as a professional in 2015. This week in Ottawa, she would love nothing more than to add a fourth title and second as a professional to that tally.

“I’ve been working hard with my team to be a bit more consistent,” said Ko, who is looking for her first title of 2017. “I think consistency is so important on Tour because you’re playing week in and week out, and to have that consistency is going to help to, I guess, build confidence too. I love playing in Canada, so hopefully I’ll be able to have a good result this week.”

Ko actually almost became a Canadian rather than a New Zealander as a young child. Ko was born in the Republic of

Korea, and her parents contemplated both countries before ultimately deciding to become Kiwis.

“I feel like there are a lot of similarities between New Zealand and Canada,” said Ko. “The people are great, super nice.

The towns and the cities remind me a lot of New Zealand. So, I know I’m going to a different country, but it feels like home almost. The Canadians have really taken me in as one of their own.”

Ko will tee off on No. 1 on Thursday at 8:27 a.m. with 2010 CPWO champion Michelle Wie and 2017 LPGA rookie Nelly Korda.

This week marks Katherine Kirk’s first visit to the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club since 2008, when she won the CP Women’s Open for her first LPGA victory. You might think that all the excitement would make this a can’t-forget moment. But with a sheepish grin, Kirk admits that it’s all a blur.

“I remember a little bit of Thursday’s round and a little of Sunday’s round, but Friday, Saturday, not so much,” said Kirk, who trailed Yani Tseng by six strokes going into Sunday’s final round. “If you asked me what I shot, I don’t think I could tell you. Actually, I’d have to look it up.”

For the record, Kirk shot a final-round 69 to win by one stroke over Se Ri Pak and two strokes over Tseng. Of course, many people here at Ottawa Hunt still remember the Australian for her 2008 success.

“I’ve had a few volunteers come up to me and say, hey, we met you at the volunteer tent back in ‘08 and you signed a hat for us,” said Kirk, who captured the third win of her LPGA career at July’s Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic. “Or people would come up to me, hey, hopefully you can repeat from ‘08. So obviously there are a lot of folks that have come back or either volunteered or they’re going to come out and watch the tournament this week.”

Kirk will tee off on No. 10 on Thursday at 1:20 p.m. with Paula Creamer and Inbee Park.

In windy conditions during the second round of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship at Humber Valley Resort, in Little Rapids, N.L., Jackie Little of Procter, B.C., posted a 3-over-par 75 for the second consecutive day to lead the Senior division by one stroke.

Little, 59, got off to a rocky start and was 3 over par after four holes. She had prepared for the forecasted rain by wearing contacts but after taking them off on No. 5 she promptly turned her day around with birdies on No. 6 and 7. A double-bogey on 16 was her only blemish the rest of the round.

“I was starting to think oh boy this isn’t going well,” said a smiling Little. “But I took my contacts out because they were bugging me and figured if it rains too bad. Then I made two birdies right away so I guess I did the right thing.”

Little is no stranger to being in contention at this championship. She won the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009. Her game plan isn’t going change as she tries to capture a third title tomorrow.

“Tomorrow I’m going to try and stay steady,” added Little. “I’ll see what weather and wind we have tomorrow and just play it hole-by-hole.”

After starting the day in a tie for fifth, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Ann Hayward matched the lowest score of the day in the Senior division with a 2-over-par 74 to take sole possession of second after 36 holes.

“I had lots of looks, I just didn’t make many putts,” said Hayward. “I’ve been playing well for the last couple weeks. You just need to be patient. Tomorrow I’ll just be plugging along hoping some putts will drop.”

Tomorrow, the 57-year-old will look to add a fourth Canadian Women’s Senior Championship to her trophy case to match her four Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship victories.

First-round leader Marie-Thérèse Torti (Candiac, Que.) is in third place at 9 over par.

2016 Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Judith Kyrinis (Thornhill, Ont.) matched Hayward’s 2-over-par 74, moving into a tie for fourth with Australia’s Sue Wooster. Wooster is leading the 40-and-over Mid-Master competition by one stroke.

On the strength of Kyrinis and Hayward’s matching rounds of 74, Ontario won their fourth consecutive inter-provincial team championship at 18 over par. First round leader Quebec fell into a tie for second with British Columbia at 22 over par.

Diane Dolan from Gatineau, Que. – the 18-hole leader in the 60-and-over Super Senior division – held on to win the 36-hole competition by carding a 7-over-par 79 in round two. Dolan won the division by four strokes over defending Super Senior champion Holly Horwood of Vancouver, B.C.

“I’m thrilled to win,” said Dolan. “I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to come to this event because of the season I’ve been having so it’s great to have some success here.”

Lauren Greenlief of Ashburn, Va., continues to lead in the Mid-Amateur competition at 3-under-par after carding a 1-over-par 73 in round two. The University of Virginia graduate has an eleven-shot lead over Winnipeg’s Bri-Ann Tokariwski who posted a 3-over-par 75 in round two.

“Any time you get to play in a national championship of course you take it,” said Greenlief. “Tomorrow I’m going to stick to my game plan I have for every hole and just be patient.”

Click here for more information on the Canadian Women’s Mid-Am and Senior Championship including tomorrow’s tee times and pairings.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Click here to download photos from round two of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship. (Credit: Golf Canada)

Click here for full scoring.

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – SENIOR DIVISION

1. Jackie Little, Procter, BC, *75-75-150 +6
2. Mary Ann Hayward, St. Thomas, ON, *77-74-151 +7
3. Marie-Thérèse Torti, Candiac, QC, *73-80-153 +9
4. Judith Kyrinis, Thornhill, ON, *81-74-155 +11
4. Sue Wooster, Australia, *79-76-155 +11
6. Leanne Richardson, Indian Mountain, NB, *80-76-156 +12
6. Lin Culver, Palm Coast, FL, *78-78-156 +12
6. Diane Dolan, Gatineau, QC, *77-79-156 +12
6. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, *75-81-156 +12
10. Marlène Desbiens, Clermont, QC, *76-82-158 +14

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – MID-AMATEUR DIVISION

1. Lauren Greenlief, Ashburn, VA, *68-73-141 -3
2. Bri-Ann Tokariwski, Winnipeg, MB, *77-75-152 +8
3. Sue Wooster, Australia, *79-76-155 +11
4. Leanne Richardson, Indian Mountain, NB, *80-76-156 +12
4. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, *75-81-156 +12

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – MID-MASTER DIVISION

1. Sue Wooster, Australia, *79-76-155 +11
2. Leanne Richardson, Indian Mountain, NB, *80-76-156 +12
2. Terrill Samuel, Etobicoke, ON, *75-81-156 +12
4. Barbara Flaman, Sherwood Park, AB, *84-81-165 +21
5. Judy Dotten, New Liskeard, ON, *88-78-166 +22

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – SUPER SENIOR – COMPLETE

1. Diane Dolan, Gatineau, QC, *77-79-156 +12
2. Holly Horwood, Vancouver, BC, *80-80-160 +16
3. Joey Bush, St. Thomas, ON, *82-80-162 +18
4. Ivy Steinberg, Stouffville, ON, *87-78-165 +21
5. Karen Pultz, Surrey, BC, *86-80-166 +22

CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – INTER-PROVINCIAL TEAM COMPETITION – COMPLETE

1. ON – Judith Kyrinis, Mary Ann Hayward, Marion Reid, *158-148-306 +18
2. BC – Karen Pultz, Holly Horwood, Jackie Little, *155-155-310 +22
2. QUE – Marie-Thérèse Torti, Hélène Chartrand, Marlène Desbiens, *149-161-310 +22
4. AB – Kim Carrington, Lynn Kuehn, Joan Wilson, *157-163-320 +32
5. NB – Leanne Richardson, Kathy Grebenc, Paula Napke-Flanagan, *166-159-325 +37
6. MB – Rhonda Orr, Matty Leung, Kimberly Ross, *163-175-338 +50
7. SK – Jo-Anne Schiller, Tammy Bezaire , Sue Skinner, *176-165-341 +53
8. NS – Debbie Arsenault, Susan Tumblin, Joanie McCarville, *177-165-342 +54
9. PEI – Sherry White, Susan Allen, Brenda Ann McIlwaine, *180-165-345 +57
10. NL – Judy Gillam, Janet Mills, Gale Roberts, *192-168-360 +72

Ten Canadians will be among the record 362 participants vying for their LPGA Tour card when the first stage of LPGA Tour Qualifying School takes place at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., from Aug. 24-27.

The format is 72-holes of stroke play with a cut after 54 holes. The Top-90 and ties from the week will advancing to the second stage of LPGA Qualifying at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Fla., from Oct. 16-22.

Canadians in the field

• Caroline Ciot, Brossard, Que.
• Selena Costabile, Thornhill, Ont.
• Josee Doyon, St-Georges, Que.
• Krista Fenniak, Fort McMurray, Alta.
• Karyn Lee Ping (a), Brampton, Ont.
• Muriel Mcintyre, Penticton, B.C.
• Jamie Oleksiew, Surrey, B.C.
• Sabrina Sapone, Montreal, Que.
• Vivian Tsui, Markham, Ont.
• Anna Young, Saskatoon, Sask.

The Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying School is Nov. 27 – Dec. 3 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla. The top 20 finishers at Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying School earn LPGA Tour membership.

Click here to view the full field.

Golf Canada and Golf Town have announced the partnership in which Golf Town will become the official Golf Retailer of Future Links – Canada’s national junior golf program as well as the 2017 Professional Championships; The RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open.

Future Links, driven by Acura, is a joint grassroots initiative of Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations which offers a full suite of junior golf programs for boys and girls ages 6 to 18 – from beginnings to those with more experience or greater playing ability. The program is structured to focus on three core areas– facility programming, community outreach, and in-school programming.

In 2017, Golf Canada has also integrated the popular Golf in Schools program under the Future Links suite of junior golf activities. With more than 400,000 children currently learning golf at nearly 3,400 schools (elementary, intermediate, and high schools) as part of the Canadian Physical Education curriculum, Future Links, driven by Acura is supporting quality junior golf experience from in-schools to on-course at clubs across Canada.

As the official golf retailer of Canada’s national junior golf program, Golf Town has implemented a fundraising initiative at Golf Town locations across the country in support of Golf in Schools adoptions. This initiative will allow consumers at Golf Town retail locations to donate towards the adoption of a school in their local area. This adoption will equip a local school with a Golf in Schools kit, that can be incorporated into the Physical Education curriculum to introduce elementary, intermediate or high school students to the game of golf.

“Golf Town has been a tremendous partner since aligning their respected brand with Canada’s national junior golf program as well as our 2017 Professional Championships. We are thrilled with their deepened commitment to the growth of the game as a whole,” said Chief Sport Officer, Jeff Thompson. We are proud that Golf Town will continue to drive the Golf in Schools program forward and introduce hundreds of children to the game.”

“Growing the game, contributing to the community, and encouraging our associates to get behind an initiative we strongly believe in is what inspires us, so when the opportunity to partner with Golf Canada on an in-store fundraising campaign for Golf in Schools came up, we were more than excited to get on board,” said Chad McKinnon, President at Golf Town. “We’re grateful to have wonderful customers believe in growing the game in their communities just as much as we do, and their generosity shows. We look forward to continuing our support and growing the game with Future Links as a proud partner.”

In addition, Golf Town will be introducing their Brooke Brigade Viewing Zones at the CP Women’s Open August 21 – 27 at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club. These exclusive areas throughout the championship grounds will allow Golf Town juniors, known as “Brooke’s Brigade,” to watch their hometown hero, Brooke Henderson, compete in Canada’s National Women’s Open. Juniors will be outfitted in Golf Town Brooke Brigade t-shirts and will even enjoy some surprise and delights in The Golf Town Brooke Brigade Viewing Zones.

“We are extremely excited to have Golf Town as the official golf retailer of our Professional Championships,” said Bill Paul, Chief Championship Officer.  “Golf Town’s investment in the Professional Championships further enhances its commitment within the golf marketplace in Canada.”

“We are very excited to be a part of the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open as the official retailer of both championships. Through our commitment to Future Links, we hope we can inspire young Canadians to pick up a club and get out on the course to have some fun with their friends and family. Who knows, maybe someday we may see the same junior golfers competing in one of these premium events and inspiring the next generation of golf to do the same,” said Chad McKinnon.

For more information, please visit www.golftown.com

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Billy Payne is retiring as chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters after 11 years of substantial change that included the club inviting female members and supporting the game’s growth with two international amateur tournaments.

Payne officially retires Oct. 16 when the club opens for a new season.

He will be succeeded by Fred Ridley, a former USGA president and U.S. Amateur champion who heads the Masters competition committee. Ridley will be the first chairman who played in the Masters.

Payne was invited to join Augusta National in 1997, one year after he concluded his long-shot bid to bring the Olympics to Atlanta. He was appointed chairman nine years later, and he worked to move the club into modern times without losing sight of its traditions.