Camilo Aguado pulled out to a one-stroke lead after he shot an even-par 70 during the third round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Toronto Golf Club on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old Colombian carded three straight birdies on holes six, seven and eight to lead by as much as three strokes, but a triple-bogey on No. 16 limited his lead to one heading to the final round of the championship.

“I’m happy, leading by one heading to the last round,” he said, after making par on the 18th hole. “But I made a stupid mistake on 16, I shouldn’t have used my driver. I still feel good because I made three straight birdies on the front nine. I missed a couple chances on the back, but I also made some good saves, so it all worked out.”

Aguado headed to the first tee coming off two bogey-free rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday – the only two of his competitive career – and promptly hooked his opening tee shot left of the fairway, eventually making his first bogey of the tournament.

“I hit a really bad tee shot because I was a little bit nervous,” he said. “Then I hit a bad chip and missed my putt and that’s that. It had to happen at some point but I made a birdie on the next hole so it was alright.”

Bernard, the defending champion and member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, shot a 1-over-par 71 to secure his spot in the final grouping, one-stroke back of Aguado.

Thursday will mark a familiar position for the 22-year-old from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. In 2016, Bernard entered the final day of the same championship three strokes back of Blair Bursey (Gander, N.L.) and ended up shooting a 5-under-par 65 to win the event by two-strokes.

“I like to be the chaser, so I love where I am,” Bernard said. “I just need to play my game – if I can stick to that I know I will have a chance to win tomorrow.”

Despite sitting near the top of the leaderboard, Bernard hasn’t felt like he has been playing his best golf and has been relying heavily on one facet of his game.

“It was a grind just like yesterday – a rough day from every part of my game except from my short game,” he said. “The short game saved me today and I’m happy with the score.”

His wedge work didn’t go unnoticed by his playing partners.

“Hugo really showed how to score well without hitting it well,” said Aguado. “If I shot like that I’d be submitting a 76 or something like that. He was just hitting amazing chips all day long.”

Tied with Bernard at 6 under par are Americans Zach Bauchou and Stratton Nolen.
Bauchou, from Forest, Va., shot the lowest of the top four after he carded a 2-under-par 68 and moved himself to the final grouping. The 21-year-old made the turn at 1 over par but went bogey free down the stretch with three birdies.

Nolen, who was coming off a second-round start that saw him register six birdies in his first six holes, shot a 71 on Wednesday. The Austin, Texas, native opened his round with a birdie but made the turn at 1 over after bogeys on holes seven and eight.

He will tee off the final round with Matt Williams (Calgary, Alta.), and Josh Whalen (Napanee, Ont.) in
the second-last group.

In addition to claiming the title of 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2017 U.S. Amateur at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. The champion will also be exempt from U.S. Open Local Qualifying and, if applicable, eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur.

For full results click here.

Pos	Player	Today	Thru	Total	R1	R2	R3	R4
1	Camilo Aguado [TO]  Colombia	E	F	-7	66	67	70
T2	Zach Bauchou [TO]  Forest, VA	-2	F	-6	66	70	68
T2	Hugo Bernard [TO]  Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC	+1	F	-6	66	67	71
T2	Stratton Nolen [TO]  Austin, TX	+1	F	-6	69	64	71
T5	Matt Williams [TO]  Calgary, AB	-2	F	-4	69	69	68
T5	Josh Whalen [TO]  Napanee, ON	E	F	-4	67	69	70
T5	C. Tanner Napier [TO]  Paris, TX	+2	F	-4	69	65	72
8	Shintaro Ban [TO]  San Jose, CA	+3	F	-3	67	67	73
T9	Josh Armstrong [TO]  Australia	E	F	-2	69	69	70
T9	Maxwell Sear [TO]  Unionville, ON	E	F	-2	72	66	70
T9	A.J. Ewart [TO]  Coquitlam, BC	+2	F	-2	64	72	72
T12	Emmett Oh [TO]  Calgary, AB	-3	F *	-1	74	68	67
T12	Joey Savoie [TO]  La Prairie, QC	+1	F	-1	66	72	71
T12	Nicholas Ross [TO]  Dundas, ON	+1	F	-1	69	69	71
T15	Lee Detmer [TO]  Washington, DC	-2	F *	E	70	72	68
T15	Chase Johnson [TO]  Barberton, OH	E	F	E	72	68	70
T15	Josiah Dixon [TO]  Bognor, ON	E	F	E	71	69	70
T15	Étienne Papineau [TO]  St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC	E	F	E	68	72	70
T19	Chandler Phillips [TO]  Huntsville, TX	E	F	+1	68	73	70
T19	Jimmy Jones [TO]  Lake Cowichan, BC	-2	F *	+1	68	75	68
T19	Sean Stuart [TO]  Halifax, NS	-3	F *	+1	71	73	67
T19	Timmy Hildebrand [TO]  Carmel, IN	+5	F	+1	66	70	75
T19	Jino Sohn [TO]  Chandler, AZ	+4	F	+1	69	68	74
T19	Sam Meek [TO]  Peterborough, ON	+6	F	+1	70	65	76
T19	Patrick Cover [TO]  Huntersville, NC	+6	F	+1	71	64	76
T26	Ryan Davis [TO]  Berkley Heights, NJ	+1	F	+2	72	69	71
T26	Henry Westmoreland IV [TO]  Wacissa, FL	-1	F *	+2	72	71	69
T26	Peyton Callens [TO]  Langton, ON	+1	F	+2	68	73	71
T26	Garrett Rank [TO]  Elmira, ON	+2	F	+2	68	72	72
T30	Austin James [TO]  Bath, ON	+2	F	+3	68	73	72
T30	Zaahidali Nathu [TO]  Richmond, BC	+2	F	+3	72	69	72
T30	Lin Yuxin [TO]  China	+3	F	+3	66	74	73
T30	Stoney Crouch [TO]  Mount Juliet, TN	+4	F	+3	72	67	74
T34	Jake Koppenberg [TO]  Bellingham, WA	+3	F	+4	70	71	73
T34	Blake Wagoner [TO]  Cornelius, NC	+2	F *	+4	73	69	72
T34	Henry Lee [TO]  Coquitlam, BC	+2	F *	+4	71	71	72
T34	Jake Scarrow [TO]  Dewdney, BC	+1	F *	+4	70	73	71
T34	Eric Flockhart [TO]  Mississauga, ON	+5	F	+4	65	74	75
T34	Lawren Rowe [TO]  Victoria, BC	E	F *	+4	71	73	70
T34	Thomas Critch [TO]  Cedar Park, TX	E	F *	+4	72	72	70
T41	Brendan MacDougall [TO]  Calgary, AB	+4	F	+5	72	69	74
T41	Marc Casullo [TO]  Aurora, ON	+2	F *	+5	71	72	72
T41	Kevin Fawcett [TO]  Toronto, ON	+2	F *	+5	69	74	72
T41	Charles Huntzinger [TO]  Duluth, GA	+2	F *	+5	73	70	72
T41	Blake Windred [TO]  Australia	+2	F *	+5	73	70	72
T41	Charles-Eric Belanger [TO]  Quebec, QC	+2	F *	+5	72	71	72
T41	Josh Gliege [TO]  Eagle, ID	+7	F	+5	67	71	77
T41	Jeevan Sihota [TO]  Victoria, BC	+1	F *	+5	74	70	71
T49	Spencer Soosman [TO]  Westlake Village, CA	+4	F *	+6	69	73	74
T49	Philip Knowles [TO]  Jacksonville, FL	+5	F	+6	69	72	75
T49	Johnny Travale [TO]  Stoney Creek, ON	+3	F *	+6	71	72	73
T49	Daniel Gale [TO]  Australia	+6	F	+6	72	68	76
T49	Max Sekulic [TO]  Rycroft, AB	+2	F *	+6	72	72	72
T49	Bruce Tomie [TO]  Bedford, NS	+2	F *	+6	71	73	72
T55	Marc-Olivier Plasse [TO]  Mercier, QC	+5	F	+7	69	73	75
T55	Myles Creighton [TO]  Digby, NS	+4	F *	+7	70	73	74
T55	Joshua Seiple [TO]  Castle Rock, CO	+7	F	+7	70	70	77
T55	Sameer Kalia [TO]  Campbellville, ON	+3	F *	+7	71	73	73
T59	Graysen Huff [TO]  Eagle, ID	+7	F	+8	68	73	77
T59	Taylor Durham [TO]  Vancouver, BC	+6	F *	+8	70	72	76
T59	Mark Coldham [TO]  Ottawa, ON	+5	F *	+8	72	71	75
T59	Andre Garcia [TO]  Mansfield, TX	+4	F *	+8	69	75	74
63	Spencer Painton [TO]  Aurora, CO	+5	F *	+9	70	74	75
T64	Michael Crisologo [TO]  Richmond, BC	+8	F *	+10	72	70	78
T64	Aidan Gavey [TO]  Caledonia, ON	+6	F *	+10	74	70	76
T64	Chase Komaromi [TO]  London, ON	+6	F *	+10	76	68	76
T64	Bryce Evon [TO]  Windsor, ON	+6	F *	+10	73	71	76
T68	Harris Bundy [TO]  Toronto, ON	+10	F	+11	72	69	80
T68	Thomas Code [TO]  Dorchester, ON	+7	F *	+11	76	68	77
T68	Chad Watts Denyes [TO]  Hamilton, ON	+7	F *	+11	73	71	77
T71	Kaleb Gorbahn [TO]  Smithers, BC	+9	F *	+12	74	69	79
T71	Jack Wood [TO]  Banff, AB	+8	F *	+12	75	69	78
T73	Andrew Chin [TO]  Honolulu, HI	+10	F *	+13	72	71	80
T73	Joshua Montgomery [TO]  Ancaster, ON	+10	F *	+13	69	74	80
T73	Luke Moser [TO]  Waterloo, ON	+9	F *	+13	71	73	79
76	Benjamin Farrington [TO]  Fort McMurray, AB	+15	F	+15	74	66	85

Hugo Bernard, Camilo Aguado and Stratton Nolen sit tied at 7 under par after the second round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship taking place at The Toronto Golf Club and Islington Golf Club on Tuesday.

Bernard, the defending champion and member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, shot a 3-under-par 67 one day after carding a 66 to co-lead the championship by one stroke. The 22-year-old recorded four birdies and a single bogey during a round that never felt quite right for the Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., native.

“It was a grind from No. 1 to No. 18,” he said, after his round at The Toronto Golf Club. “It wasn’t my best ball-striking, but my short game was there and my putting was there too which helped put together a good round.”

Through two rounds, Aguado has matched Bernard’s opening round scores. On Monday, the 23-year-old from Colombia, shot his first bogey-free round in competitive play and then followed it up with another bogey-free round on Tuesday.

“I made some changes with my coach over the last two weeks,” he said, at the 18th green of Islington Golf Club. “My swing has since felt easier and my misses more predictable. There’s just something that I like about these two Toronto courses.”

Vaulting up the leaderboard was Austin, Texas native Nolen. The 22-year-old carded a 6-under-par 64 to tie the competitive course record at Islington Golf Course – the second to do so in as many days alongside 18-hole leader A.J. Ewart.

Nolen got off to as hot a start as you can get after he carded a birdie on each of his first six holes.

“Well, I blacked out and I woke up on seven, and I guess I was six under,” he joked. “No, but really. I was just feeling good going in – I’ve been swinging good all year – and the putts were really going in early. That’s key out here. I had six one putts in the first six holes, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Eventually, as he expected, his hot streak stopped rather abruptly.

“I knew it was going to end when I hit the tree on seven.”

Nolen carded the only bogey of his round on No. 7 and made one more birdie to end his round tied at the top of the leaderboard.

Team Quebec captured the Willingdon Cup after they won the inter-provincial competition by 11 strokes. The team consisting of Bernard, Marc-Olivier Plasse (Mercier, Que.) and Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.) shot a combined 7 under par to capture their first team championship in 20 years (1997) and seventh victory all-time

Bravo à l’Équipe du Québec qui a gagné la Coupe Willingdon!! pic.twitter.com/zD5wSoF05d

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) August 8, 2017

Team Manitoba finished in second at 4 over par and Team Ontario stayed even par on Tuesday to slide into third place at 7 over par.

A total of 76 players who finished 4 over par or better have advanced to the final two rounds of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be contested at The Toronto Golf Club.

In addition to claiming the title of 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2017 U.S. Amateur at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

For full results click here.

Quebec golfers are leading the way at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg after round one of the Canada Summer Games. Christopher Vandette from Beaconsfield, Que., fired an opening round 5-under-par 67 to lead the boys’ division and Quebec City’s Sarah-Eve Rheame carded a 4-under-par 68 to sit atop the girls’ division.

Vandette – the third-place finisher at last week’s Canadian Junior Boys Championship – had a clean card in round one recording five birdies and no bogeys to sit two shots ahead of Winnipeg’s Ryan McMillan who posted an opening-round, 3-under-par 69.

“I hit it off the tee really well and hit a lot of greens, I was putting it close,” said Vandette. “Inside 10 feet I made a lot of putts.”

The 16-year-old’s only mistake was hitting it in the water on the par-5 13th hole.

“It was a reachable par-5, so I was able to recover and make par,” added Vandette. “Other than that, all day long I played well and kept it in the fairway.”

McMillan, who lives just 20 minutes away from Southwood and has played the course a dozen times, used that to his advantage when preparing for the Games.

“Normally when we’re out here playing it’s just hit it find it,” said McMillan. “But, the last couple times I was really thinking about what clubs I should be hitting off the tee and where I should be missing.”

The 2017 Manitoba Junior Boys Champion took advantage of his local knowledge pouring in four birdies in his opening round with the only blemish on his card coming with a bogey on the first hole.

Taylor Beckstead (Alliston, Ont.) is tied for third with Keaton Gudz (Victoria, B.C.) at 2 under par.

Vandette’s first round 67 has Quebec leading the team competition by three strokes.

On the girls’ side, Rheaume has a four-shot lead after her opening-round 68. She made only two bogeys in round one and her strong start to the Games was powered by three straight birdies on holes 13-15.

“I was hitting good iron and approach shots into the green all day,” said Rheaume. “I hit it close to the pin on 13, made a 15-foot putt on 14 and had a tap-in on 15.”

She’s playing Southwood for the first time this week and enjoyed her first competitive round at the Thomas McBroom track.

“It’s pretty flat around here, not much elevation,” said Rheaume. “It’s fun to play I liked it. I just need to keep hitting fairways and greens and making putts.”

B.C. teammates Alisha Lau from Richmond and Hannah Lee from Surrey are tied for second at even par along with Céleste Dao (Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que.) and Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont).

On the strength of Dao and Rheaume’s strong starts, Quebec is leading the girls’ team competition with a 4-under-par 140 in round one, putting them four shots ahead of British Columbia who is even par (144). Ontario is in the bronze medal position at 146 (+2).

“It’s nice to help the girls for this first round,” added Rheaume. “Hopefully it goes well for us the rest of the week.”

Led by Vandette’s low round of the day Quebec also leads in the boy division at 6-under-par (138), three shots ahead of British Columbia who posted a 3-under par 141 in round one.

Manitoba is in third at 1 under par.

British Columbia is the two-time defending champion in the male and female individual and team events – the only province or territory to win a gold medal at the Canada Summer Games since golf became part of the Games in 2009.

Click here to view the full leaderboard.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – In a joint announcement, the PGA of America and the PGA TOUR today announced that beginning in 2019, the PGA Championship will be played in the month of May – while THE PLAYERS Championship will be contested in March at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

“In weighing the complex evolution of the golf calendar, the PGA of America’s key objectives were to promote the best interests of our signature spectator Championship, do what is best for the game and its great players, and find the most advantageous platform to fulfill our mission of serving our nearly 29,000 PGA Professionals and growing the game,” said PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua. “Our analysis began in 2013 and included an extensive list of factors, including having to shift the date every four years to accommodate the Olympic Games. In the end, we determined that playing the PGA Championship the week prior to Memorial Day in May, making it the second major championship of the golf calendar, will achieve those three objectives.

“The golf calendar is dramatically different, especially in the latter portions of the schedule, than it was in the 1970s when our PGA Championship took up residence in August. We are excited about this move to May. It provides our PGA Championship a strong landing spot on the calendar and a consistent major-championship rhythm that golf fans can embrace. For nearly 85 percent of our Membership, May is also on the front-end of the golf season. This date change will allow them to engage new players and introduce various Growth of the Game initiatives entering the heart of the golf season across much of the country.”

“We are thrilled to announce these two significant changes, which will greatly enhance the professional golf calendar starting in 2019,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Our thanks to the PGA of America for its partnership in what will allow both organizations to meet our short- and long-term objectives, while delivering incredibly compelling golf to our fans around the world.

“The calendar for the PGA TOUR season is among the most important and challenging aspects of our business, and the changes we’re unveiling today give significant flexibility to create a schedule including the FedExCup Playoffs that is in the best interests of players, fans, tournaments, communities and our partners, from start to finish.

“THE PLAYERS Championship has grown in stature since we moved to May in 2007 and, regardless of the date, is clearly one of the premier events in all of golf – the best players in the world, a premier venue in THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, an unmatched fan experience and a significant charitable component that benefits the Jacksonville-area community. THE PLAYERS moving to March in 2019 will enhance an already strong Florida portion of our calendar and play a significant role in an overall improved schedule.”

From May 16-19, 2019, Bethpage Black in Farmington, New York, will host the 101st PGA Championship, which will be the first conducted in May since Sam Snead’s triumph in 1949.

A total of four PGA Championships have been held in May. Ben Hogan claimed the second of his two PGA Championship victories in May of ‘48. Denny Shute also hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy in May 1937, as did Snead for the first time in May ’42.

Since its inception in 1916, the PGA Championship has been played in nine different months. It has been the final major championship of the year from 1959-70, and from 1972 through 2017.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Lucas Glover walked off the 18th fairway at Quail Hollow still feeling slightly underdressed.

He wasn’t alone.

“I don’t recognize some of these guys out here, and I’m sure they probably don’t recognize me either,” Glover said.

For the first time in its 99-year history, the PGA Championship allowed players to wear shorts during practice rounds this week , in part to combat the August heat in North Carolina. But on a rain-soaked Tuesday, only about half of the players took advantage of the change, with many like Rory McIlroy choosing to stick with long pants.

But like Glover, Scotland’s Martin Laird couldn’t resist.

“This feels great,” Laird said following his practice round. “It gets a little hot out here during the summer.”

Still, it was different, if not odd, watching Jim Furyk practicing bunker shots wearing shorts and seeing Dustin Johnson chilling in the interview room with bare legs.

The running joke leading up the PGA Championship was that no other major championship course had so many white stakes – except they weren’t boundary markers. They were legs.

“Everybody is razzing each other a little bit,” defending champion Jimmy Walker said. “Some guys look good in shorts and some guys don’t. It’s pretty funny. There are a lot of untanned legs out there. You can tell those Florida boys, they have been soaking the sun up. I’ve been up in Utah and overseas for a few weeks so my legs are kind of untanned.”

Johnson, the world’s No. 1-ranked player, wore long pants on Monday out of habit, later saying he completely forgot about the rule. But he wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice, throwing on shorts for Tuesday’s practice round.

“Hopefully we can do this a little more,” Johnson said.

Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler wore shorts as well on Tuesday.

Never one to miss a fashion statement, John Daly broke out some red, white and blue shorts with stars. And Pat Perez donned bright cherry red shorts that matched his high-top Jordan golf cleats.

Even Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson, who are gearing up for their 100th majors this week, opted for shorts on the practice tee.

“I love that they took a risk and did something with the players in mind and I think it’s turned out well,” Mickelson said. “I hope that their example gets followed by the tour. I think it would be a great thing.”

McIlroy, the odds-on favourite to win the tournament, said he opted for long blue pants when he looked outside in the morning and saw dark skies.

“Hey, if it was sunny it would be great,” McIlroy said with a laugh. “Obviously it’s raining out. So I don’t get why people are wearing shorts.”

Still, McIlroy is one of many golfers who likes that the rules have been relaxed.

While the look Tuesday was in stark contrast to a century ago when golfers wore coats and ties on the course, McIlroy said the game needs to adapt because tournaments are being held in warmer climates during summer months.

“I know walking 18 holes around there, if it was hot and humid and in the 90s, as it is here sometimes this year, shorts are very much appreciated,” McIlroy said.

Some traditionalists have criticized the move, saying it’s inappropriate and lacks class. Others point to the LPGA Tour, where women have worn shorts and skirts for years.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with professional golfers showing the lower half of their leg,” McIlroy cracked.

PGA of America president Paul Levy announced in February that players would be allowed to wear shorts during practice rounds of its championships. The European Tour approved a similar rule last year, allowing players to wear shorts during practice rounds and pro-ams.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari called the change “a step in the right direction” for golf.

He’s among many professional golfers who’d like to see the PGA Championship allow players to wear shorts during competition, not just practice rounds.

“Hopefully one day we will get there,” Molinari said.

Team Canada’s Naomi Ko posted a 1-under-par 71 in round one of U.S. Women’s Amateur to sit T10 after 18 holes at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif.

The Victoria, B.C., native recorded three birdies and two bogeys in round one of stroke play. She was 2 under par for the day before a bogey on No. 15 and  then closed with three straight pars. She is four shots back of leader Haley Moore (Escondido, Calif.)

A veteran of Team Canada, Ko is coming off a strong finish at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.

She climbed into tie for a third with a 3-under-par 67 in the final round, the only under par score of the day.

Earlier this summer Ko finished third at the Porter Cup and reached the round-of-16 at the Women’s Western Golf Association Amateur Championship before losing to her Team Canada teammate and eventual winner Maddie Szeryk.

Ko has seen success at USGA events before. She qualified for the U.S Women’s Open in 2016 and reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in 2015.

.@naomiko_golf shoots a 1 under round in her first of stroke play at @USGA Women's Am she is T-10 and 4 shots back #USWomensAm

— TSN Golf (@TSNGolf) August 8, 2017

Amateur Squad’s Grace St-Germain, carded an opening round 80 (+8). The Ottawa native is T128.

Development Squad rookie Mary Parsons from Delta, B.C., posted a 9-over-par 81 in round one to sit T133.

After two rounds of stroke play the field will be reduced to 64 golfers and match-play will begin.

Click here to view the full leaderboard

Team Canada’s A.J. Ewart shot a 6-under-par 64 to lead after the first round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship taking place at The Toronto Golf Club and Islington Golf Club on Monday.

The 18-year-old member of Team Canada’s Development Squad went bogey free during the opening round to tie the course record at Islington Golf Club. The Coquitlam, B.C., product was propelled to the top of the leaderboard after making six birdies, including three straight on holes 12-14.

“It was just one of those days when everything fell into place,” he said, after walking up from the 18th green. “After the front nine I was just 2 under, then I made the turn and something just clicked and I started making putts. It turned out to be a really good day.”

“I had a lot of confidence going into this week and I expected a good round today.”

Eric Flockhart, from Mississauga, Ont., sits one stroke back in second after he shot 5-under-par 65, tying a competitive course record of his own at The Toronto Golf Club – where he worked in the backshop for the last three years. Flockhart made the turn at 1 under par and immediately dropped a stroke on the par-4 10th hole. The 22-year-old responded immediately with four straight birdies before finishing on 18 with a long birdie putt.

“All year I’ve been playing 18 and I can’t buy a putt on it – so it was nice to see that one go,” said Flockhart, greenside following a 30-foot birdie putt. “It’s a tough one to read – especially when you get to the back of the green… the putts are so hard to make.”

There is a seven-way tie for third place at 4 under par made up of: Eric Johnson (Winnipeg, Man.), defending champion Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.), Zach Bauchou (Forest, Va.), Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.), Camilo Aguado (Colombia), Timmy Hildebrand (Carmel, Ind.) and Lin Yuxin (China) who all shot 66.

Team Quebec leads the inter-provincial competition battling for the Willingdon Cup after the team consisting of Bernard, Marc-Olivier Plasse (Mercier, Que.) and Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.) shot a combined 6 under par.

Team Manitoba sits three strokes back in second while Nova Scotia shot 3 over par to round out the top three.

In addition to claiming the title of 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2017 U.S. Amateur at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

For full results click here.

Sixty-four junior golfers from across Canada will compete for gold starting tomorrow when the 2017 Canada Summer Games golf tournament takes place from Aug. 8-11 at Southwood Golf and Country Club, in Winnipeg, Man.

A Thomas McBroom design – Southwood Golf and Country Club is known for its undulation and scenic views. With water, sand or both in play on nearly every hole, the course will provide a stiff test as golfers from ten provinces and one territory. compete for four gold medals.

“Southwood Golf and Country Club is an amazing course and it’s in stellar condition,” said Tournament Director Akash Patel. “We’re very excited to be involved with the Canada Summer Games and the celebration of sport in the beautiful city of Winnipeg.”

British Columbia comes to Winnipeg as the two-time defending champion in the male and female individual and team events – the only province or territory to win a gold medal at the Canada Summer Games since golf became part of the Games in 2009.

Team B.C. is sending a strong contingent again in the boys’ competition. The team is led by 16-year-old Victoria native Nolan Thoroughgood. Thoroughgood became the youngest champion in the history of the B.C. Men’s Amateur (age) when he won by two strokes in 2016.

He’s joined by Keaton Gudz (Victoria) and Tristan Mandur (Mill Bay). All three are ranked inside the top-45 of the Future Links driven by Acura National Order of Merit.

15-year-old Kelvin Lim will lead the Team Ontario boys’ team as Ontario attempts to take down the B.C. powerhouse. Lim, from Thornhill, won the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Junior Boys’ Spring Classic and is ranked third on the Future Links driven by Acura National Order of Merit.

Sudbury’s Tristan Renaud – the 2017 Ontario Junior Boys Champion – and Alliston native Taylor Beckstead will join Lim in Winnipeg.

43 days to go & 4 more athletes named to #TeamBC! Congrats @bc_golfer men’s team! #JCG2017 #CGGolf #WEareBC https://t.co/0L5MbpyCZg pic.twitter.com/SRbq2xdBSb

— Team BC (@GoTeamBC) June 15, 2017

On the girls’ side, Team Canada’s Hannah Lee of Surrey will lead Team B.C. in their title defense. Lee is in her second year on the Team Canada Development Squad and is coming off a third place finish at the B.C. Junior Girls Championship. Lee is joined by Richmond’s Alisha Lau the 2017 B.C. Junior Girls Champion Tiffany Kong (Vancouver).

Led by Team Canada Development Squad’s Monet Chun, the Ontario team will look to bring gold to Canada’s largest province for the first time.

Chun, from Richmond Hill, won the 2017 Ontario Future Links Driven by Acura Championship and the 2017 Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic.

London, Ont., native Ellie Szeryk, the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ champion will join Chun along with Toronto’s Sarah Beqaj who is a member of Golf Ontario’s Team Ontario program.

Szeryk captures Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship: https://t.co/DWZ6oLJMkc #Golf #GolfOntario #JuniorGirlsChamp pic.twitter.com/6aFRSdKShf

— Golf Ontario (@TheGolfOntario) July 7, 2017

Both the team and individual competitions take place over the course of four rounds with no cut and all 60 golfers playing 72 holes.

Each day the two best scores of the three team members count towards the team score. The team medallists are determined by the aggregate sum of the four daily team scores.

For more information on the Canada Summer Games golf tournament click here.

Click here to view the rosters of each team.

CHAMPIONSHIP FAST FACTS

B.C. has won all eight gold medals since golf became part of the Canada Summer Games in 2009 and has the most medals overall with 10 (eight gold, one silver, one bronze).

In 2013, British Columbia dominated the team competitions in Sherbrooke, Que., winning the girls’ event by 17 strokes and the boys by 12.

Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Kevin Kwon won the 2013 men’s individual event finishing 13 strokes clear of silver medallist Etienne Papineau (Bromont, Que.) en route to establishing a new Canada Games record with a four-round score of 279 (-13). Calgary’s Matt Williams won bronze.

Surrey, B.C., native Taylor Kim finished five shots ahead of Valerie Tanguay from Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. in the women’s 2013 event. Calgary’s Sabrine Garrison won bronze.

Only four provinces have medalled in golf at the Canada Summer Game: British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario.

The lowest single day team score is 141 for male and female with B.C. setting both records at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.

COURSE FACTS

Southwood Golf and Country Club was established in 1894, but moved to its current location in 2011.

Architect: Thomas McBroom

Southwood Golf and Country Club hosted the 2014 Canadian University/College Championship and the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The ruins of a monastery were left in place during construction of the course creating a landscape with natural beauty and man-made structures.

Murray, Kentucky’s Patrick Newcomb endured a marathon day of 38 holes at Windermere Golf and Country Club on Sunday, shooting a final round 4-under 66 then defeating Germany’s Max Rottluff in a playoff to win the Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON for his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada win.

The 27-year old sank a curling 18-foot birdie putt on the fourth extra hole to become the first player to win on both the Mackenzie Tour and PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, where he captured the Honduras Open presented by Indura Beach and Golf Resort earlier this year.

“I came up here to win. A win really solidifies you and puts you in a good spot, and after three tough years, this has been the year for me to get to the Web.com Tour,” said Newcomb, who now ranks fifth on the Mackenzie Tour Order of Merit and eighth on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica.

Starting the day one shot back of Tacoma, Washington’s Derek Barron, Newcomb had 16 holes left to finish Round Three, in which he carded a 2-under 68 to remain one behind Barron. It was Rottluff, however, who quickly emerged as the man to beat, playing well ahead of the leaders and carding six birdies in his first 13 holes to jump out to the lead at 16-under, where he would go on to post the clubhouse lead.

“I felt I played pretty good. Starting the day out, I don’t know how many shots back I was, so it was a long day for sure and I played well,” said Rottluff, a winner already this year at the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open presented by Times Colonist, as well as last year at the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open.

Heading to the back nine four shots behind, Newcomb needed a spark and found it thanks to some inspiration from his caddie, Windermere member Dave Kakoschke.

“Dave kept me in it on the back nine. I was walking down 10 and I hit it right and I was in a bad spot, and he goes, ‘let’s be scrappy and get around here, make a couple birdies and see where we’re at.’ That shoved me back in it, and we were just rolling from there,” said Newcomb, who reeled off three straight birdies to get within one.

With one shot to make up down the stretch, Newcomb continued to play aggressively, eventually making a 15-footer for birdie at 17 to match Rottluff with one hole to go.

“I knew if I didn’t play well down the stretch and folded, that’s just part of it,” said Newcomb, adding that the adrenaline from being in the hunt kept him going on a marathon day. “Once you have a chance to win, everything livens up a bit.”

The Murray State graduate had a chance to win outright on 18, but left his putt for the title just short to fall into a playoff. The first three extra holes settled nothing, with Rottluff missing two long but makeable putts for the win and Newcomb lipping out on one.

Finally, after finding the 18^th green for the fifth time on Sunday, Newcomb finally got his birdie putt to drop for the first time all day, securing the win and leading to an exuberant fist pump to accentuate the win.

“I thought I missed high, that was the funny part,” admitted Newcomb about his winning putt. “I just gave it a little more, and five feet away I was like, ‘I cannot believe this is not gonna go in.’ It just curled in the top edge, and it felt amazing.”

With a total score of 11-under par in a tie for ninth, Kimberley, British Columbia’s Jared du Toit finished as the top Canadian on the leaderboard, earning Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Week honours and a $2,500 prize.

The top Canadian on the leaderboard each week takes home the award, with the top Canadian on the Order of Merit at season’s end earning the Dan Halldorson Trophy, Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours and a $25,000 prize.

Click here to view the full leaderboard.

Chris Stroud ended more than a decade of futility on the PGA Tour with two of the most important shots of his career.

One was a 5-wood to 5 feet on the final hole of the Barracuda Championship that got him into a playoff. The other was a 5-iron to 12 feet on the par-5 18th hole that made him a PGA Tour winner for the first time in 11 years and 289 tournaments.

“Eleven years I’ve waited for that,” Stroud said when he was introduced as a tour winner. “So it’s a dream come true.”

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., had a hole in one and tied for 34th at -10. Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch was tied for 65th at -1.

Not even in the picture for so much of the final round, Stroud rallied over the final six holes at Montreaux Golf and Country Club with three birdies and an eagle to get into a three-man playoff. He won with a two-putt birdie on the second extra hole.

The victory sends Stroud to the PGA Championship next week, the first of many perks. He also gets a two-year exemption, almost as important as playing a major for a 35-year-old who only had conditional status this year.

He also gets into the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, the start of the new year reserved only for PGA Tour winners.

It required a frenetic finish, especially with the modified Stableford format that awards five points for an eagle, two points for a birdie and take away one point for a bogey and three points for a double bogey or worse.

Stroud picked up 20 points in the final round – 11 of them on that final stretch – and got into the playoff with 45-year-old Greg Owen (making his 264th start on the PGA Tour without a victory) and PGA Tour rookie Richy Werenski.

Owen drove into the water on the 17th hole and made bogey, only to bounce back with a 7-foot birdie putt on the 18th to join the playoff. Werenski also was clutch, making an 8-foot birdie putt on the last hole.

Owen caught a bad lie in the bunker on the 18th hole in the playoff, bladed it out to 45 feet and missed his birdie putt. He was eliminated when Stroud two-putted from 25 feet for birdie, and Werenski calmly rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt.

“Disappointed,” Owen said. “This time of my career, you don’t get many more chances.”

Returning to the 18th hole, Stroud hit 5-iron to 12 feet. Werenski went long, chipped to 25 feet and missed the birdie putt.

Stroud was inspired by Sergio Garcia, who finally won a major this year at the Masters after 70 tries in the majors as a pro. He ran into the Masters champion at the AT&T Byron Nelson this year.

“I gave him a hug and said congratulations and he said, ‘Just take it easy. It will come to you.’ And I don’t think he even realized how important that was for me,” Stroud said. “I took a back seat. I didn’t push so much to try to win a golf tournament. I just did the best I could to prepare and to show up every week ready to play. And it just came to me.”

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