THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Team Canada’s Maddie Szeryk posted another Top-10 result for Texas A&M on Monday at the Club at Carlton Woods Creekside, closing at 9-under par to grab a share of third at the Jim West Challenge.

Szeryk, a 20-year-old junior, shot a score of 4-under par in her final round of the 54-hole event to finish with a collective score of 207 (69-70-68). With the finish, the Allen, Texas resident collected her 13^th Top-10 result so far for the Aggies. Her performance helped lift Texas A&M to a collective score of 5-under par—good for a 5^th place result.

Florida State’s Matilda Castren took home medalist honours with a score of 13-under for the tournament, helping the Seminoles glide to victory with a seven-stroke advantage over runner-up Kent State.

Szeryk and the Aggies are set to tee-it-up next at the Alamo Invitational from Oct. 9-10 at the Briggs Ranch Golf Course in San Antonio.

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REUNION, Fla. – Team Canada’s Hugo Bernard has added yet another strong collegiate result to his lengthy resume on Tuesday, falling in a three-man playoff to finish T2 at the Division II National Preview.

Bernard, a Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., native, opened the 54-hole tournament—his first collegiate event of the season—with a 74 (+2) at the Watson Course at Reunion. It wasn’t long before the 21-year-old Saint Leo sophomore regained his form, tying a tournament-low score of 65 (-7) in Monday’s second round to climb back into contention. He followed that with an eight birdie effort in Tuesday’s final to jump three more spots into the three-way playoff at 11-under par.

Florida Southern’s John Coultas emerged victorious, while John VanDerLaan shared runner-up honours with Bernard. With the finish, Bernard records his seventh Top-5 finish in just nine events for the Lions.

Collectively, Bernard lifted the Lions to a T5 finish at 861 (-3) for the tournament, 16 strokes back of champion Lynn. The No. 7 ranked Lions will tee-it-up again next week at the Golf Rank Invitational in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., from Oct. 10-11.

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MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The sun beamed through at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club to crown the Philippines as World Junior Girls team champions. Yuka Saso battled through a gusty day to claim individual medallist honours at the third edition of the annual event.

“I feel happy and honoured to win this trophy and this tournament,” said the 15-year-old Saso. “I feel happy [to be the gold medalist] because I was not expecting it, with this being [the Philippines’] first time in this tournament. Winning with this group is special because we have known each other since we were kids, so it makes me really happy.”

The native of Santa Rosa put forth another steady showing with a trio of birdies en route to a 2-under 70 final round. With a four-day total of 2-under 286, she completed the competition as the lone player to finish under-par. Alongside teammates Harmie Nicole Constantino of Taguig and Sofia Angela Legaspi from Quezon City, the trio combined to total 2-over 578 across the championship’s four rounds.

“This is the best feeling,” said Constantino, when asked about the team victory. “It is unexplainable to me, because no one expected it. We played our games and it turned out really well. We never had any doubts, we came here to win and we did.”

The significance of the tournament and the victory was not lost upon the 15-year-old Legaspi.

“It really means a lot to win this big event. It gives us a lot of experience and confidence. It also helps to get us college scholarships, so it is a big deal. The win could also inspire younger golfers in the Philippines to work hard and travel to events like this.”

The contingent representing last year’s winners, Team Korea, finished second – nine-strokes shy of the Philippines. The winners of the inaugural World Junior Girls Championship in 2014, Team USA, claimed third.

Jennifer Chang of Cary, N.C., opened the day with a share of sixth alongside Caterina Don of San Pietro Val Lemina, Italy. A 2-under performance propelled the 17-year-old Chang into the runner-up position, while a 71 moved the 15-year-old Don into third.

Céleste Dao from Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., and Richmond Hill, Ont., native Monet Chun shot identical 75s to finish with shares of 16^th as the top Canadians.

“Despite some difficult weather, we have had an exciting and memorable week,” said Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna. “From our Junior Girls Skills Clinic and Coaching Summit with the PGA of Canada to a fantastic Junior-Amateur event with the Mississauga community and the tournament itself – we have showcased our sport in a positive light. I know all of our players have learned and grown through this competition and have gained some invaluable international experience.”

Additional information on the 2016 World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the tournament’s official website at www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Threatening skies cast over Mississaugua Golf and Country Club during the second day of competition came to pass during the third round. Howling winds and waves of rain wreaked havoc throughout a tough day at the World Junior Girls Championship. Yuka Saso of the Philippines conquered the difficult conditions to retake sole possession of the lead in the individual competition.

A steady 1-over 73 showing with a pair of birdies has Saso at even-par 216. The 15-year-old holds a three-stroke advantage over teammate Harmie Nicole Constantino of Taguig, Du Mohan of Fujian, China and Hee-Jung Lim of Paju, Korea.

“I am happy and honoured to have the lead,” said Saso, a native of Santa Rosa. “I wasn’t expecting it though.”

For a third consecutive day, Saso, Constantino and teammate Sofia Angela Legaspi of Quezon City, hold the lead in the team competition at a combined 1-over 433.

“It wasn’t anybody’s expectation for us to be on top at the moment,” said Constantino, mirroring her teammate’s sentiments. “It was a challenge being an underdog coming into the tournament, [and proving] that you are more than that.”

While team competitions can offer a different dynamic in golf tournaments, Constantino appreciates the opportunity to not only play with teammates, but also familiar friends.

“It feels good,” said the 15-year-old. “I have known Yuka since I was eight and we have been together since, so it feels good to be with her now.”

The trio representing Korea – the defending team champions – holds second at 9-over, while 2014 winners Team USA sit third at a combined 13-over.

Jennifer Chang of Cary, N.C., reiterated the importance of past experience when looking ahead to the final round.

“They have played this event before, so I definitely want to get some tips and learn from them and see what I can do to make the team better,” explained the 17-year-old, in reference to her teammates – 2014 individual champion Mika Liu of Beverly Hills, Calif., and Elizabeth Wang of San Marino, Calif., who played in 2015. “[A podium finish] is very important to us. To come out and represent the United States is big, so we want to make our country proud.”

Leading the Canadians in the field with shares of 15^th at 11-over are Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Céleste Dao from Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que.

The final round of tournament play will see players tee off at 8 a.m. Additional information from the competition is available here.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Cloud cover and blustery winds set the backdrop for the second round of the World Junior Girls Championship at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club. China’s Du Mohan carded a 2-under 70 to climb into a share of the lead alongside first-round leader Yuka Saso of the Philippines.

Du from Fujian, China, collected five birdies on the day, including a back-to-back pair on Nos. 15 and 16, to move to 1-under in the competition. Saso of Santa Rosa, Philippines, opened the day at 6-under, but the 15-year-old relinquished her lone hold of the lead following a 5-over showing.

“I putted very well today,” said the 14-year-old Du. “I had a lot of long downhill putts, but my distance control was very good. I was able to get the feeling [of the greens] very well and got five birdies.”

“I am very proud to be representing China,” she added. “I hope I can do my best and finish the week under-par.”

A second consecutive even-par round has San Pietro Val Lemina, Italy, native Caterina Don tied with Hee-Jung-Lim (Paju, Korea) and Harmie Nicole Constantino (Taguig, Philippines) in third.

The trio representing the Philippines – Saso, Constantino and Sofia Angela Legaspi of Quezon City – maintained its lead in the team competition at 3-under 285. Teams USA, Korea, Sweden and China are tied for second at 4-over 292.

The unique opportunity to play for her homeland is not lost upon Constantino.

“I’m really proud to play here and represent my country,” said the 15-year-old. “Of course, not all kids can play in this tournament, so being a part of it is really good for me.

“We are one of the [smaller] countries, we don’t have many players, so I’m really proud to say that I’m from the Philippines. We didn’t have much confidence coming here because there were bigger countries, so it’s really nice to be here and play this [well].”

Matching 73s from Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., and Surrey, B.C., native Hannah Lee have given the pair of Canada Two members a share of 18^th to lead the Canadian contingent.

The third round of tournament play will begin at 8 a.m. Additional information from the competition can be found here.

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – A steady wind blew through Mississaugua Golf and Country Club as the 2016 World Junior Girls Championship got underway. Despite the gusty conditions, the trio representing the Philippines built a distinct early advantage to top the team competition by 11 strokes.

Leading the way was Yuka Saso of Santa Rosa, Philippines, who posted seven birdies on the day en route to a 6-under 66 with her lone blemish coming by way of a bogey on No. 3.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all, I was trying to just enjoy the course and the moment today,” said Saso. “I was hitting well, especially my second shots and my putting. I was able to get the speeds of the greens, which was good because they were fast.”

The 15-year-old felt comfortable with the wind, having taken it into account in her game plan coming into the round.

“The course was hard today and the wind made it even tougher. I made sure to add five to 10 yards on each shot and I think I did well to manage the affects of the wind. Heading into tomorrow, I want to work on my driving and just remain focused. I’ll hit the putting green and then the range this afternoon.”

Holding second is Saso’s teammate Harmie Nicole Constantino from Taguig. The 15-year-old carded five birdies to reach 3-under. The pair and Sofia Angela Legaspi of Quezon City lead the team competition at a combined 9-under. Varel, Germany, native Esther Henseleit holds third and was the only other player to finish below-par with a 1-under showing.

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., leads the six Canadians in the field. The 15-year-old holds a share of fourth at even-par alongside Italian Caterina Don of San Pietro Val Lemina.

“[The team element is] new and a lot of fun because we are staying as a team,” said Chun, a member of Canada One. “I have received a lot of support from the coaches and the other team members, so it has been great.”

With a total of 2-over 146, Canada One comprised of Chun, Mary Parsons (Delta, B.C.) and Chloe Currie (Mississauga, Ont.) are knotted in second with Team China and Team USA.

The second round of tournament play will begin at 8 a.m. Additional information from the competition can be found here.

With Golf Canada’s fiscal year coming to a close at the end of the October, Golf in Schools has tallied 230 adoptions to Elementary, Intermediate, and Secondary schools across Canada. That figure translates to an additional 27,600 students being introduced to the sport on an annual basis.

The upward trend in adoptions comes following the inaugural Adopt a School Week—a nation-wide initiative launched to celebrate the collective efforts of all adoptions that take place across the country. With support from industry partners—the Provincial Associations, PGA of Canada and the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA)—Golf in Schools was donated to 58 schools during Adopt a School Week.

The campaign received significant support from the Canadian Seniors Golf Association (CSGA), who backed the initiative with a matching program to essentially double the impact of those taking the initiative to adopt in their communities.

Since the program’s inception in 2009, adoptions have accounted for close to 50% of over 3,000 registered schools delivering the curriculum. For Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, that number presents a great opportunity to build community relationships.

“With Golf in Schools adoptions, we hope to help establish the relationship between facilities and schools in communities across Canada,” said Thompson. “Establishing that link can enhance the school’s delivery of the program, while also contributing towards future membership numbers at the corresponding facility.”

Click here to learn how you can help grow that trend.

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Developed by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada and Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada, Golf in Schools is an educational curriculum delivered at the Elementary, Intermediate and High School level. Established in 2009, Golf in Schools has grown to be in over 3,000 schools across Canada, equipped with age-appropriate equipment and a teacher-friendly learning resource. As of 2015, Golf in Schools revised its lesson plans to include a Life Skills framework, integrating both interpersonal and intrapersonal skills into everyday life lessons throughout the program.
www.golfcanada.ca/golfinschools

Fonthill, Ont. – Golfers from across the country descend on Niagara Falls this week for the inaugural Hyundai PGA Scramble of Canada National Final.

Taking place Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the famed Lookout Point Country Club in Fonthill, Ont., the national final features 25 teams—comprised of four amateurs and a PGA of Canada Professional—playing in a 36-hole Ambrose Scramble format.

“It’s great that such a historic and wonderful golf course like Lookout Point is hosting the very first Hyundai PGA Scramble of Canada National Final,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “Teams from all across Canada will undoubtedly enjoy the one-of-a-kind golf at Lookout, but they’re also going to be treated to the off-course experiences they won’t soon forget.”

In addition to Hyundai; TaylorMade-adidas, BioSteel and Triple Bogey Beer and will all be on-site at Lookout Point for participants to enjoy experiential brand activations.

“We’re excited for everyone playing in the Hyundai PGA Scramble National Final to interact with our great partners this week,” said the PGA of Canada’s Chief Business Officer Jeff Dykeman. “This really is a once in a lifetime event and for those coming to be able to say they played in the first one is pretty special.”

Situated on the highest point in the Niagara region overlooking Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, the Niagara River and the city of Niagara Falls, Lookout Point Country Club is an impressive venue unto itself.

The 1922 Walter Travis designed gem is home to World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Streit; two-time PGA Women’s Championship of Canada winner, Cathy Sherk; five-time PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada winner Bill Kozak; and PGA TOUR Champions winner Rod Spittle.

Spittle, who was named Hyundai PGA Scramble of Canada ambassador earlier this year, will be on hand at Lookout Point throughout the national final. The Champions Tour winner will also be participating in a Q&A during Thursday evening’s opening reception dinner.

“I was thrilled to be asked to be involved with the Hyundai PGA Scramble of Canada and to have the final at Lookout Point Country Club near my hometown of Niagara Falls, Ont., makes it that much more special for me,” Spittle said. “I think the concept Hyundai Canada and the PGA of Canada have come up with is a fantastic way for the every-day golfer to play some amazing golf courses in a format that’s both fun and competitive for everyone.”

The Hyundai PGA Scramble of Canada saw thousands of golfers from across the country participate in the series of events this summer. The 25 teams participating at Lookout Point made it through local and regional qualifying events and will tee it up next week with a PGA of Canada professional playing on their team with the hopes of becoming the first ever-national champion.

Former PGA Tour winner and Sportsnet golf Analyst Ian Leggat will emcee the opening ceremonies, while SCOREGolf’s Rick Young will handle closing ceremonies emcee duties.

TSN 1150 Hamilton radio is set to conduct a live-to-air broadcast from 12-3 p.m. during Thursday’s practice round. Listeners can expect to hear interviews with Spittle, Bernard, national final participants and more.

Those not playing in the Hyundai PGA Scramble of Canada National Final can still take part in all the action throughout the week at Lookout Point through social media. Watch on Facebook Live with multiple live streams—which include player interviews, behind-the-scene looks, drone flyovers, opening and closing ceremonies, and more. Follow the #hyundiapgascramble hashtag on Twitter and Instagram as well for great content.

For more information about the Hyundai PGA Scramble of Canada, visit the website by CLICKING HERE.

NORMAN, Okla. – Amateur Squad member Maddie Szeryk carded a school record 63 (-8) at the Belmar Golf Club on Sunday to climb 13 spots into a tie for third at the Schooner Fall Classic.

The 20-year-old Allen, Tex., product reeled off five straight birdies en route to a bogey-free round to break the school record of 7-under par—one in which she had previously tied in 2014. Szeryk also became the first Texas A&M athlete to record a 63 in a round.

On the strength of Szeryk’s final round charge, the Aggies climbed up the leaderboard to finish tied for sixth at 19-over par. Florida State won the tournament at 829 (-23), with the Seminoles’ Morgane Metraux taking home medalist honours at 12-under par.

Szeryk and the Aggies will return to action from Oct. 9-10 at the Jim West Challenge in The Woodlands, Tex.

RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico – On the strength of Garrett Rank’s 69 (-2), the Canadian contingent climbed inside the Top-10 for the first time in Saturday’s final round of the 30^th World Amateur Team Championship to close the tournament in a tie for ninth at 12-under par.

Playing on the Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club, Rank, 29, led the Canadian trio to a team score of 2-under par on the day, coupled with Jared du Toit’s even-par 71. Collectively, Rank was the leading Canadian at the event. The Elmira, Ont., product finished at 1-under par (74-72-70-69) to hold an individual share of 35^th.

Kimberley, B.C., native Jared du Toit finished two strokes behind Rank at 1-over par (71-70-75-71). The 21-year-old Arizona State senior closed at T44. Teammate Hugo Bernard of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., was disqualified because of a scoring error in his final round.

“Our guys gave it their best this week and I’m proud of the fight they put up to get inside the Top-10,” said Ingram of the Canadian squad, who stood tied for 27^th following Wednesday’s opening round. “An unfortunate mistake with Hugo’s scoring, but we’ll look at it as a learning experience for everyone.”

Australia extended their commanding lead, closing with a final-round team score of 6-under to win the tournament at a record score of 38-under par, 19 strokes ahead of runner-up England. The victory marks the fourth time Australia has come out on top at the World Amateur.

Austria and Ireland rounded out the top-3, sharing third place honours at 18-under par.

Australia’s Cameron Davis was the lone player to tally four rounds in the 60s, earning him medalist honours at 17-under par, with teammate Curtis Luck finishing second at 15-under.

A biennial competition, the World Amateur Team Championship has been played since 1958, with the winner taking home the Eisenhower Trophy. The United States won the 2014 title in Karuizawa, Japan, by two strokes over the Canadian contingent of Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.).

In 28 appearances at the World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has captured the Eisenhower Trophy on one occasion (1986) and earned runner-up honours five times.

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