ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Wei-Ling Hsu holed out a 7-iron for an eagle on the very first hole she played, setting the tone for a terrific start.

At the end of the day, the unheralded golfer from Taiwan was tied atop the leaderboard with one of the LPGA Tour’s most successful players.

Hsu shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday and shared the lead with Stacy Lewis after the first round of the LPGA Volvik Championship. Hsu eagled two of her first five holes and was 6 under after six. She and Lewis finished a stroke ahead of 18-year-old Nelly Korda.

"I have a very tough year last year," Hsu said. "I just want to improve more. This year I’m able to see my shot going to the hole, going to making the green in regulation more."

Hsu has only one top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour, and that came in her rookie year of 2015. She finished tied for 43rd last week in the Kingsmill Championship after missing the cut in the previous four events.

Lewis, meanwhile, is a former world No. 1 with 11 LPGA victories — although she’s winless in 72 events since June 2014. She has 12 second-place finishes since her last win.

Lewis birdied three of her first four holes and reached 15 greens in regulation on the 6,734-yard course at Travis Pointe Country Club. She eagled the par-5 14th and capped her round with a small fist pump after a birdie on 18.

"I looked up at the leaderboard and saw I was tied for the lead, so I kind of just wanted to get out there ahead," Lewis said. "It’s always nice to see yourself atop the leaderboard."

Lewis was a shot ahead of Korda when she finished, but Hsu later caught up at 7 under.

Hsu began her round on No. 10, and she holed out from 155 yards for an eagle on the 394-yard par 4.

"I don’t see very well. I just hear my mom and gallery on the side," she said. "My caddie just tells me, ‘Oh, you got it in. You got eagle."’

Korda, a rookie who has joined sister Jessica on the tour, hit only eight of 14 fairways, but she was able to scramble her way to a 34 on the front nine before birdieing four of the first five holes on the back.

"It was a slow start and I saved a couple of long par putts," she said. "Just getting those, making those two pars and just getting my round rolling really helped."

Korda finished her round with a par on the par-5 18th — after hitting her second shot out of the dirt in a hazard.

"I didn’t even know if I could chip it out, and my caddie was like, ‘Oh, maybe you should drop,"’ she said. "I was like, ‘No, I’m going to hit this.’ So I hit it out and then I had 200 into the green and I hit a 4-rescue. It was a good par."

It rained a good deal Wednesday, and although the weather wasn’t too much of an issue Thursday, the course was still quite wet. Lewis said hitting greens was especially crucial.

"They’re pretty small to begin with, and then with the weather, there’s spots around the greens that were pretty wet, kind of muddy almost," she said. "You had some weird lies. So I think today I hit a ton of greens. I only think I had to chip once or twice."

Brittany Lincicome, Ilhee Lee, Sung Hyun Park, Suzann Pettersen and Sarah Jane Smith all shot 67. Lexi Thompson, coming off her first victory of the season last week, finished at even par. So did Ariya Jutanugarn, the defending champion, and So Yeon Ryu.

Ryu is trying to extend a streak of 11 top-10 finishes in a row.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jon Rahm was at Colonial during tournament week each of the past two years to accept the Ben Hogan Award that goes to the nation’s top college golfer. This time, he’s playing in the PGA Tour event at Hogan’s Alley and among the leaders.

With his 4-under 66 on Thursday, Rahm was a stroke behind first-round leaders Kelly Kraft, Derek Fathauer and PGA Tour rookie J.T. Poston.

That also put Rahm ahead of two-time Colonial champs Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson after both birdied their last three holes for 67s. He also led 2016 winner Jordan Spieth, whose even-par round included six birdies.

"The last two times I was here, all I recorded was super happy and positive memories," Rahm said. "It’s just the vibe that I have around this place is so positive, especially with Sergio (Garcia) winning and with the Ben Hogan history that I’m related to now."

The 22-year-old Rahm, the winner at Torrey Pines in January, had only one bogey while playing with Masters champion Garcia, the fellow Spaniard who won in his first Colonial appearance in 2001.

Kraft and Graeme McDowell, tied with Rahm for fourth, had the only bogey-free rounds. Only 33 of the 121 players finished the first round under par.

Scott Brown had the other 66, and had the outright lead at 6 under before a double bogey at No. 18.

Spieth, coming off missed cuts the past two weeks, was tied for 34th his six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. He was even par after birdies on his last two holes.

"It’s a great finish. Kept me in the tournament," Spieth said. "If I was a couple over, you know, in the back of my mind I would be wondering about the cut line."

After two bogeys on the first four holes, Spieth made 4-foot birdie putt at the 466-yard No. 5 hole, and made a 10-foot birdie at the 168-yard, par-3 13th.

In between those birdies at two of Colonial’s toughest holes, Spieth made a nearly 40-foot putt to save par after a wayward drive at No. 9. His drive at the 10th went into a concrete culvert for another bogey, and he missed the fairway right again at the 622-yard 11th, only to get back in the fairway and go on to a 2-foot birdie.

"Hit some very solid shots. With gusty winds, it’s not going to end up where you think it’s going to a lot of the time," Spieth said. "I felt like I missed some fairways by 1-5 yards today. That made a complete difference in the way the hole played."

Before his birdie-birdie finish, Spieth had double bogey at the 429-yard 15th, when he blasted from a fairway bunker through the green and into the water, and made bogey at the par-3 16th.

Mickelson, back at Hogan’s Alley for the first time since 2010, made an 8-foot putt at the 435-yard 7th hole, then hit his tee shot inside 2 feet of the cup at the par-3 8th. His 33-footer at No. 9 came after playing partner Matt Kuchar had just missed a slightly longer putt on the same line on their finishing hole.

When changes were made to the course after his 2008 victory, Mickelson missed the cut in 2010 with a chance to become the world’s No. 1 player. He later indicated that Colonial no longer suited his game.

"Nothing real specific," he said, when asked what changed his mind. "It’s been a while and I needed to … I felt it was in my best interest to get in contention and try to play more events and try to get the scores, results out of it."

Rahm was at Arizona State when he became the first two-time winner of the Hogan Award. His first competitive round at Colonial came a day after Arizona State’s women rallied to win their eighth NCAA championship, and first since 2009.

"To see them win in the fashion they did, it was amazing," said Rahm, who practiced with that team while in school. "The coolest thing is that’s the closest I’ll ever be to experiencing something like that and I’m happy for them. … To be honest, that energy and positivity probably helped me today."

Canada’s top student-athlete golfers will descend on Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club in Barrie, Ont., from May 29 – June 1 for the 2017 Canadian University/College Championships.

2017 marks the 15th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best college and university golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.

The Georgian College Grizzlies will host the event this year on the windswept fairways of Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club.

Designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert, the course is known for its combination of classic and links style features in addition to its grassy hollows and signature fescue.

“We are thrilled to welcome the best Canadian student golfers to Tangle Creek. We’re looking forward to a competitive championship, and showcasing our beautiful course,” said host club tournament chair Mackenzie Cuthbert.

Golf Canada prides itself on conducting a top-notch tournament that is the highest level of national competition for college and university golfers in the country.

“The Canadian University/College Championship provides a unique opportunity for the best student-athlete golfers in Canada to compete for a national championship. Golf Canada is proud to conduct this event to showcase the talent from universities and colleges across the country,” added tournament director, Mary Beth McKenna.

In 2016, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds swept the championship, winning all four events. It was the first time in the tournament’s history that a school has won the men’s and women’s team and individual events in the same year.

Calgary’s Scott Secord went wire-to-wire to win the men’s division by four strokes at 11-under par and Kat Kennedy of Okotoks, Alta., claimed victory on the women’s side by four shots at 12-over par.

UBC returns to the tournament having won 11 women’s and five men’s titles—including three of the last four.

Georgian College will look to draw upon the magic of the University of Manitoba Bisons—the last host club to win a team title—when they captured the men’s division championship in 2014 at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg.

The 72-hole stroke play competition will feature 19 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams from across the country vying for the national championship titles.

Following the third round, the field will be reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams, in addition to any individuals within 15 shots of the lead. Additional information regarding the 2017 championship, can be found here.

FAST FACTS

UBC is the defending champion on both the men’s and women’s side.

Scott Secord, of Calgary, Alta., is the defending men’s medallist.

Kat Kennedy of Okotos Alta., is the defending women’s medallist.

UBC has won the most women’s titles with 11 and the most men’s championships with 5.

The individual men’s and women’s champions receive exemptions into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, respectively.

The top three individual men and top three individual women earn the right to represent Canada at the 2017 Summer Universiade Games in Taipei City, Taiwan, from Aug. 19-30.

For pairings and additional information, click here.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club was designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert.

6,307 yards, CR/Slope: 69.7/131.

Course record of 64 was set in 2011 by Keir Smith.

In 2016, Tangle Creek hosted Golf Ontario’s Junior Boys Match-Play and the PGA of Canada’s Seniors Championship.

In 2003 Golf Digest named Tangle Creek the Best New Golf Course in Canada.

MEN’S TEAMS
Brock University Badgers
Concordia University Stingers
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Les Patriotes de l’UQTR
Queen’s University Gaels
Universitie du Montreal Carabins
Universitie Laval Rouge et Or
University of Alberta Golden Bears
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Guelph Gryphons
Universit of Manitoba Bisons
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs
University of Windsor Lancers
Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks

WOMEN’S TEAMS
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Queen’s University Gaels
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Universitié du Montreal Carabins
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs

To view the full list of teams and other information, click here.

Team Canada National Squad member, Jared du Toit calls the feeling bittersweet. He is excited about what lies ahead, but also a bit sad about what he is leaving behind.

Du Toit, Canada’s top-ranked amateur golfer, is playing his final collegiate event for his Arizona State University Sun Devils this weekend and acknowledged in a telephone interview that he has been doing a lot of thinking in recent days.

The Kimberley, B.C., native finds himself reflecting on all the good times he has had at Arizona State and before that, the University of Idaho, where his collegiate golf journey began four years ago. But he is also feeling excited about the future and beginning the professional golf career he has long dreamed of.

“It is definitely pretty bittersweet,” du Toit said from suburban Chicago, where he and his Sun Devil teammates will tee it up in Friday’s first round of the NCAA Championships. “It’s kind of crazy. I’ve just been sitting here in my hotel room kind of thinking about things. I’ve been joking with the guys, saying ‘boys this is the last time I’m taking a plane with you to an event,’ just having some laughs. Right now it seems pretty bitter, but I am moving on to bigger and better things down the road and that will be pretty cool as well.

“It has been an awesome experience. I’ve met so many great people and I’ve been thinking about all the places we got to visit — from Hawaii, to Florida, New York, northern California. I have been very fortunate and have met some awesome people along the way.”

Du Toit, currently ranked 15th in the world amateur golf rankings, hopes he and his teammates can end the year on a high note with a big finish at the NCAA tourney. They qualified for the championships by finishing fifth at their regional tourney earlier this month in Austin, Tex. “We’re pretty excited about this week,” he said. “We’ve been playing well and are looking forward to going out on a high note.”

Du Toit, who won the 2015 B.C. Amateur Championship at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, finished tied for 10th spot at his regional tourney and feels his game is coming around. Earlier this spring he won a tournament at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., and lost in a playoff in another.

“I have had some ups and downs this season,” he said. “I kind of got hot there early in the spring and then didn’t play well the last couple of events. I kept it together at regionals and for the past three events things have felt better and better, so I’m really excited about where things are now and how they’re looking heading into the summer as well.”

The NCAA Championships feature 72 holes of stroke play, with the 30-team field being cut to 15 teams for Monday’s final round of stroke play. The top eight teams then advance to match play, which concludes with the championship final on Wednesday (May 31). The goal for the Sun Devils is to get to the match play round.

“That has been the goal the entire year for the team,” du Toit said. “We had a team meeting at the start of the year and coach (Matt Thurmond) laid out some of the goals he expected and the ones we should expect and getting to match play is the goal for every team. We have a good chance. We have shown some good stuff this year, maybe haven’t been as consistent as we would have liked, but we definitely have the potential to have a good run this week and get into the match play.”

As pumped as he is to play in the NCAA Championships, du Toit can’t help but think of what comes next. He confirmed he will turn pro almost immediately after the NCAAs and hopes to play the Victoria and Kelowna stops next month on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit.

“I am very optimistic about Victoria and Kelowna,” he said. “Nothing is finalized yet, but I am hoping to play those.”

To view the leaderboard for the NCAA Division I Championships, click here.

This Sunday, May 28, is Get Out and Golf Day in Canada, in support of the ParticipACTION 150 Playlist, where Canadians are being asked to participate in 150 activities through the year to celebrate our country’s 150^th birthday. There will be a number of fun golf activities taking place at facilities across the country. (A list can be found here)

But even if there isn’t an organized event in your area, get out and show support for the game—and the nation!—we love.

As if you need more justification for playing golf, or maybe to persuade some non-golfing friends to join you, here are some reasons to celebrate Get Out and Golf Day this Sunday.

In fact, you can argue that the game reflects many of the values that are distinctly Canadian.

Golf is inclusive. The game does not discriminate by race, colour, religion, gender, age, physical size or ability. Heck, even golf balls are all different colours.

Golf is democratic. We take pride in our democratic model of government. Golf is the most democratic of sports, thanks to the handicap system. In no other sport can players of differing skill levels compete on an equal basis.

Golf is honest. It’s been said that golf doesn’t build character, it reveals it. In most cases, there are no referees or officials present when you play. You break a rule, you call the penalty on yourself. That takes courage and integrity, more Canadian traits.

Golf has rules. In daily life, the rule of law is important to Canadians. Order is something we respect. Similarly, the rules of golf impress upon players the importance of equity, fairness, etiquette, safety, consideration of others and more.

Golf is tough. Canadians aren’t afraid of work. Unless you win the lottery, nothing good happens without effort. It’s the same for golf. If you want to improve, you have to put the time in.

Golf is fun. If you don’t believe me, look at the facts. Our country has the highest per-capita participation rate in golf worldwide. We’re not a nation of masochists, so the only explanation for this phenomenon is that the game must be fun.

Golf is solitary. Whether you’re playing alone or with others, golf offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Canadian nature as well as to get away from the pressures we all experience in our daily lives. The benefits of this “mindfulness” have been compared to a form of meditation.

Golf is social. Canadians like to party. From Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, golf clubhouses may reflect regional cuisines, music and other attributes, but they all share one thing—Canadian camaraderie and good humour.

Golf is family. The fabric of family is vital to Canadians and golf strengthens that fabric. It’s not unusual to see three and, sometimes, four generations playing together. It’s called “the game for a lifetime” for a reason.

Just a few off the top of my head. I’ll be playing on Get Out and Golf Day this Sunday. Will you?

Editor’s Note: Get Out and Golf Day is in support of the ParticipACTION 150 Playlist, where Canadians are being asked to participate in 150 activities throughout 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Visit participaction.com/150 for more details about the ParticipACTION 150 Play List. Get Out and Golf Day is proudly supported by golf industry partners including the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada (NGCOA), PGA of Canada, Canadian Society of Club Managers, Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and Golf Canada in addition to Canada’s 10 provincial golf associations.

Golf Canada’s second junior golf championship of 2017 is set to take place from May 26-28 as the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship gets underway at Brockville Country Club in Brockville, Ont.

With support from Golf Ontario, the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship is the second of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on May 25 before the tournament gets underway with round one on May 26.

Founded in 1914, Brockville Country Club will be hosting its first ever Future Links Championship. Just three years removed from celebrating its 100th year, the course features various elevation changes and tricky greens located at the end of tree-lined fairways.

“Golf Canada is very pleased to present the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura championship in Brockville,” said Akash Patel, the Tournament Director. “The six regional Championships are fantastic events for Canada’s premier junior golfers to showcase their skills. We look forward for this strong field of juniors attempting to navigate the tricky course at Brockville Country Club.”

The field will consist of 87 junior golfers in the Junior Boys Division with the top six earning exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in Kingston, Ont. A tie for the sixth position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.

The Junior Girls Division will consist of 33 golfers with the top six (including ties) earning an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.

Prior to the championship on Thursday, May 25, Golf Canada and Special Olympics Canada will hold the second of two regional competitions in support of Special Olympics golf. The first event was held at Chilliwack Golf Club before the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship. A field of 18 local athletes will compete over nine holes. Following the event, PGA of Canada professionals will conduct a clinic for Special Olympics coaches and athletes with a focus on improving skills and leadership within the sport.

Four additional Future Links, driven by Acura Championships will span the country this summer.

June 1-4 – Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec – Sherbrooke, Que. – Club de golf Milby.

July 3-6 – Future Links, driven by Acura Prairie – Estevan, Sask. – TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club.

July 10-13 – Future Links, driven by Acura Western – Fernie, B.C. – Fernie Golf & Country Club.

July 17-20 – Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic – Church Point, N.S. – Clare Golf & County Club.

The 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship took place on May 12-14. Full results can be found here.

Additional information regarding the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship, including participants, start times and up-to-date results can be found here.

NOTABLES

Isabella Portokalis of London, Ont.
The 15-year-old comes in as the event’s defending champion. She would go on to place T11 at the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. Through eight events in 2016, she was ranked No. 8 in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit.

Jeevan Sihota of Victoria, B.C.
The 13-year-old is coming off a victory at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship, where he was the youngest golfer in the field. His victory placed him seventh in the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura junior boys Order of Merit. He finished in T8 at his only other counting event this year: the CJGA Humber College PGM Western Championship.

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont.
Team Canada Development Squad member who is ranked No. 1 in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit. In the Pacific Championship earlier in May, Chun finished T7, one shot back of qualifying for the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The 16-year-old won both the 2016 Golf Quebec Junior Spring Open and the 2016 Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec Championship. She is coming off a win at the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, in Stouffville on May 20-22.

Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont.
The Team Canada Development Squad member finished 11th at this event last year, but had already qualified for the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship (solo second) after she finished second at the 2016 Pacific Championship. She currently sits in 10th in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit.

Tyler Nagano of Toronto, Ont.
At the same event in 2016, the 18-year-old finished two strokes back of the leader and placed in solo-second, his best finish of the year.

Sarah Cushing of Brockville, Ont.
The 17-year-old will be playing on her home course at Brockville Country Club. Her highest finish in 2016 was a solo third at the CJGA Golfweek Canadian Jr Invitational.

Remi Chartier of Beaconsfield, Que.
The 16-year-old finished third, one stroke back of Nagano, at the same event last season, to qualify for the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which he finished T30. In May, he finished in solo-second at the CJGA Quebec Junior Open.

Kelvin Lim of Thornhill, Ont.
The 15-year-old finished in seventh in the 2016 Future Links, driven by Acura junior boys Order of Merit. He is coming off a win at the Investors Group Junior Boys’ Spring Classic at Wooden Sticks Golf Club on May 20-22 and a T7 finish at the AJGA Rome Junior Classic on April 23.

FAST FACTS

In 2017, Golf Canada is conducting its six regional Future Links, driven by Acura championships in conjunction with the Provincial Associations.

Top six finishers in the Boys Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Top six finishers (including ties) in the Girls Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Defending champion Isabella Portokalis started her final 2016 round three shots back before rallying to earn her victory.

Brandon Lacasse won the junior boys tournament in 2016, his final year of eligibility into the event.

Friday’s pairings.

More information on the event can be found here.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Established in 1914.

The clubhouse was destroyed by a fire in 1937 and rebuilt the following year.

Canada is a golfing country.

That may not seem true when hockey is our national sport and forever what this nation will be best known. But golf is our pastime. It’s our ParticipACTION activity. Only a couple of countries worldwide have higher golfer rates per capita than this one.

We remain north of 5.7 million players; have more than 2,300 public and private course options, and we play nearly 60 million rounds in a shortened season. That’s passion. That’s love for the game.

I was thinking about that the other day perusing Canada 150.

Dedicated to the country’s 150th birthday, the government-administered website features an ultimate play list, 150 activities Canadians can do in 2017 to celebrate who we are, where we come from and what we stand for.

Golf is there, as it should be. Canadians already immersed in golf hardly need encouragement to “get out there”, as the website suggests, but here’s hoping the Canada 150 messaging fosters two things: convinces non-golfers to give the sport a try and persuades established golfers to introduce non-golfers to what the late Arnold Palmer called, “the greatest game mankind has ever invented.”

Let the record show too that over a century and a half, we’re not only a nation of golfers but we’ve become pretty good at it.

Canada is home to three major champions in Sandra Post, Mike Weir and Brooke Henderson; one World Golf Hall of Fame member in Marlene Streit; several winners of U.S. Amateurs, an array of team titles like the Dunhill Cup and World Cup and until Englishman Justin Rose unseated him in Rio last summer Canada’s George S. Lyon had been golf’s defending Olympic gold medalist for 112 years.

Our national open championships, the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open, have storied histories. Royal Montreal Golf Club, the oldest golf club in North America, even hosted the 2007 Presidents Cup. Legendary ball-striker Moe Norman was proudly Canadian. Same with Stanley Thompson, one of the game’s most gifted course designers.

Perhaps as part of your own Canada 150 schedule should be that trip to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame & Museum at Glen Abbey you’ve been meaning to make. Bring the family. We’re only scratching golf’s historical surface here.

As Canada embarks on the next 150 years what should we expect from the game? More good things. Despite current challenges, golf remains on a solid foundation coast to coast.

From Nova Scotia’s Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs to British Columbia’s Victoria Golf Club, the country’s inventory of inspirational, fun course experiences will bring a smile to the face of even the most seasoned global golf traveller.

Our crop of top-level touring professionals led by Henderson, Alena Sharp, Maude-Aimée LeBlanc, Jennifer Ha, Augusta James, Nick Taylor, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, and veterans David Hearn, Graham DeLaet and Brad Fritsch is talented enough to win any given week. More young talent is waiting in the wings.

Golf Canada’s national player development programming, through grassroots initiatives like Future Links driven by Acura and Golf in Schools, is at an elite, world-class level. That’s evident by The R&A now supporting Future Links.

What really has me bullish on the future is after years of personal agendas, golf’s key stakeholders in Canada are all on the same page. They’re aligned with a common purpose, with a mission to better the sport now and for the future. That’s progress.

Canada has plenty to celebrate as its 150th birthday of Confederation approaches. Find your way to include golf.

This article was originally published in the April 2017 edition of Golf Canada Magazine. Click here to view the full magazine.

Browse through the names of those honoured in the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and you’ll find 17 esteemed members who had careers in golf. They are all people with whom Canadian golf fans should be familiar, greats such as Marlene Streit, George Knudson, Sandra Post and Albert and Charles Murray.

But only two of those 17 were inducted as Builders instead of Athletes — Stanley Thompson, who was literally a builder of golf courses, and Jocelyne Bourassa, who was a heck of an athlete herself but has undeniably furthered women’s golf in this country as much as anyone.

Canadian golf has certainly benefitted from far more than just two “builders” over the years though. That was the inspiration behind the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, to recognize great players but also all the contributors whose achievements didn’t include titles and trophies.

“When we look at golfers today, we forget the amateurs,” says Meggan Gardner, curator of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum (CGHF). “We remember the big names — Tiger Woods, Mike Weir, Sandra Post — and the professionals are always recognized. But the amateurs who were too involved in having families to turn professional, or the underappreciated people within the golf industry, which includes golf course architects and writers, they don’t have a hall of fame so we need to recognize those individuals that helped make golf in Canada the great sport that it is.”

In 1966, the RCGA (now Golf Canada) took the first step towards fixing that, establishing a committee to report to the board of directors whether a hall of fame was a worthwhile endeavour. Unsurprisingly, it deemed it was, and three years later the board agreed to set up a 13-person HOF committee. They combined to draw up a constitution and began making recommendations for worthy candidates.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame announced its inaugural class in 1971, which included George Cumming, George S. Lyon, Ada Mackenzie, Charles Murray, Sandy Somerville and Marlene Streit. Those were the first six members of a collection that now totals 79, counting this year’s induction of Bob Vokey and Judy Darling Evans.

The Museum portion of the CGHF is a decade or two older than the Hall itself. The RCGA had always been collecting material so, in essence, had already been informally archiving its tournaments and minute books. A reference to a “Museum” being established, basically a private room at RCGA headquarters that housed important artifacts and documents, appears in notes from 1956.

The Museum’s collection has grown to be incredibly vast but it continues to evolve as well. A new website will launch this spring in order to make more items and documents available to inquiring minds. Digitization, an ongoing process, will help make resources accessible to researchers, students, the general public, or anybody who has an interest in golf history and our pioneers.

“Sport history in general is not a form of history that the academic community acknowledges,” adds Gardner. “It’s typically not taught in schools. Even though everyone in our Hall of Fame had great achievements and furthered the game, they were influential people in sports, period.”

For clarity, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is funded by Golf Canada but not operated or influenced by Golf Canada.

Follow @cghf

This article was originally published in the April 2017 edition of Golf Canada Magazine. Click here to view the full magazine.

Billy Horschel’s emotions from winning the AT&T Byron Nelson went far beyond ending more than two years without a victory.

One day after Horschel was vague about issues off the course, his wife took to Twitter to reveal she is battling alcoholism. Brittany Horschel said last weekend marked the one-year anniversary of her sobriety.

“I write this nervously, skeptically, but also proudly because I have embraced the woman I have become over the past year,” she wrote in a poignant post . “One year ago, I began a journey to a healthy me, mentally and physically. I will keep his simple, ‘I am an alcoholic.’ I say that now without shame.”

i would like to share why yesterday's win had some extra emotions for my hubby, @BillyHo_Golf xo pic.twitter.com/2yDyhm8kRR

— brittany horschel (@britt_horschel) May 22, 2017

Horschel and his wife met at Florida, where she played on the golf team.

She gave birth to their first child, a daughter, right as Horschel was winning the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship at the end of 2014 to capture the $10 million FedEx Cup. They had their second child in April.

Horschel declined to get into specifics on the extra layer of emotions after his playoff victory over Jason Day.

“Just life gets in the way sometimes and, you know, it’s truly special to be winning on something on a day like this that’s I honestly … I’m not able to talk about it right now,” he said. “But it’s just lot of stuff happens in the last year and this is just … this is nice.”

Brittany Horschel said in her post that her husband respectfully left her to answer it however she wanted, if at all.

“However, to not answer would not only be unfair to him, but to my own integrity,” she said.

thank you so much for everyone's kind words, love and show of support. i am so happily overwhelmed!! ❤️❤️ #strengthinnumbers

— brittany horschel (@britt_horschel) May 23, 2017

She said she spent the end of last May through July in a treatment center in South Florida. She said her husband took full responsibility taking care of their first child, moving into a new home, competing on the PGA Tour and “God only knows what else and what all went through that man’s head during that time.”

“He silently battled through, with support from family and close friends, a very sad, scary and trying time,” she wrote.

Monet Chun, a member of the Team Canada Development Squad won the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic, at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, in Stouffville, Ont., from May 20-22. While Kelvin Lim, took home the Boys’ championship at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ont.

On Monday, the 16-year-old Chun, from Summit Golf & Country Club capped off an impressive week with an 11-stroke win. The former Team Ontario member finished the final round two-over par (74).

After an even par front nine, Chun bogeyed 10 and 17, but still won comfortably. She finished the tournament at four-over par (71-75-74-220).

After the win, Chun spoke about what helped her capture the title.

“It was a tough week here at Sleepy Hollow. I struggled with my putting, but my shots helped to keep me in good shape.”

“Coming into the round I tried to focus on staying even and remain consistent throughout the day. I have been playing in the Spring Classic for about five or six years and think it is a great tournament to win considering all of the top players who have played in it before,” added Chun.

Picking up the silver was Maple’s Alyssa DiMarcantonio. DiMarcantonio, from Station Creek Golf Club, began the day in second but was unable to catch Chun.

The 14-year-old began the day at two-under par, but would finish five-over par (77). She ended the tournament at 15-over par (75-79-77-231).

Rounding out the top three was Richmond Hill’s Emily Zhu. Zhu, 13, started the round in a four-way tie for third but separated herself from the pack. Zhu followed up an even front nine by going four-over on the back. That brought her tournament total to 16-over (75-81-76-232)

More information, including the final leaderboard can be found here.

On the boys side, Lim got out to a consistent start with pars on his first four holes. A pair of bogeys would drop the Station Creek Golf Club member back to three-over par as he made the turn.

Lim birdied the par-five 14th before finishing his round with a bogey on 18. Still, even with a two-over par (74), he was able to claim the title at three-over (75-70-74-219). Lim also won the Juvenile Championship.

For Lim, his success during the three days was all about sticking to his routine.

“Yesterday the weather was pretty bad but I just stayed focused,” said Lim. “I just thought about my routine, my swing and grinded through the round. As for today, I was hitting the ball really well, despite not being able to make anything. I focused on myself and not my opponents, I had a score in my mind and tried to achieve that. This win definitely makes me feel more confident heading into the rest of the season.”

Finishing in a tie for second place were Mississauga’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Cobourg’s Nicholas Oosterhof. Yellamaraju, 15, from Blue Springs Golf Club, began the day in second, one-back of Lim.

He got out to a rough start and was five-over as he got to the ninth tee. He would birdie the ninth as well as the 18th to help him finish three-over par (75). That brought him to five-over par (72-74-75-221) for the tournament.

As for Oosterhof, from Dalewood Golf Club, he began the day six-over par but had one of the low rounds at one-under par (71).

Oosterhof, 18-years-old, was even after the front nine but made birdies on 14 and 16, after a bogey on 12, to finish one-under par for the day. He finished the tournament five-over (75-75-71-221).

For more information on the boys championship, click here.

Golf Ontario would like to thank both Wooden Sticks Golf Club and Sleepy Hollow Country Club, along with their staffs, for hosting the events.  Thanks also to Investors Group and the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued support of golf in the province.