SILVIS, Ill. – Andrew Loupe topped the John Deere Classic leaderboard at 8 under Thursday when first-round play was suspended because of darkness at rain-soaked TPC Deere Run.

The 27-year-old former LSU player was facing a 6-foot par putt on the par-4 15th hole when play was called for the day.

The tournament was delayed for 3 1/2 hours by a storm that dropped just over an inch of rain. The round resumed at 3:08 p.m., with none of the afternoon starters able to finish.

Loupe had five birdies in a seven-hole stretch on the front nine and added birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th.

Zach Johnson, Patrick Rodgers and Ryan Moore were in at 65, and Tom Gillis also was 6 under with two holes left. Johnson won the 2012 tournament. He’s from just up the road in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., shot a complete 2-under 69 first round, while former Team Canada National Team member Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas stayed even through seven holes before play was suspended due to darkness. Abbotsford, B.C., native Adam Hadwin was 1-over through 10 holes, and Mike Weir of Sarnia, Ont., finished the day 5-over with six holes left to play.

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio – Vijay Singh rebounded from a bad shot on the 17th to birdie the final hole Thursday and take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the U.S. Senior Open.

Still playing full-time on the PGA Tour at age 53, the big Fijian shot a 4-under 66 on a hot and humid afternoon at Scioto Country Club, the suburban Columbus course where Jack Nicklaus learned to play.

Singh pushed his tee shot right and bogeyed the par-3 17th. On the par-4 18th, he hit his second shot to 4 feet. The three-time major champion hit 13 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens.

“I’m driving the ball well,” said Singh, coming off a tie for 56th on Sunday in Connecticut in the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship. “I’m hitting my irons good. Playing the regular tour, I’ve been playing pretty decent out there too. I came here (and) obviously expected to play well, and I just played well today.”

Miguel Angel Jimenez, Jeff Gallagher, Michael Allen, Gene Sauers and Glen Day shot 68.

“The weather is good. It’s perfect. It’s hot, humid,” Jimenez said. “This heat is going to drain a lot from you and probably (make things) more difficult, not because the course is more difficult, but the situation for the players that will be there at the end of the weekend.”

Singh is winless in nine career starts on the 50-and-over tour

“Every time I tee it up (in senior events), if I don’t win, I’m really disappointed,” Singh said. “So I put a lot more pressure on myself, and that’s not very good. I force myself to play well over here instead of just playing. So my attitude this week is just go and play and see what happens.”

Singh finished second this year in the PGA Tour’s Quicken Loans National in June, but missed the cut at the British Open and the PGA Championship. He said the dry, hard course at Scioto was a tough test.

“It was really firm,” Singh said. “Couldn’t stop even a sand wedge. Nothing was spinning. If you missed a green, it was very difficult to get up and down.”

The hot, dry conditions aren’t supposed to last, with rain forecast Friday and Saturday.

Defending champion Jeff Maggert had a 70. He won last year at Del Paso in California.

“The course is playing great, very difficult,” Maggert said. “Just every hole is demanding. You got to keep the ball on the fairway and pay attention to what you’re doing around the greens, make sure you’re giving yourself some opportunities to putt for birdies. Missing the greens here can really hurt you pretty bad too. It’s a ball striker’s course, and I’m hitting the ball well. So hopefully, the putter will cooperate over the next three days, and I can finish it off with a good tournament.”

Calgary’s Stephen Ames and John Daly also shot matching 70s.

“I actually hit the ball decent today,” Daly said. “I made a few putts, but nothing special. It was cool to play pretty much 16 holes bogey-free. I made a few 5- and 6-footers for pars as well, which helped. I had not been putting very good.”

Bernhard Langer opened with a 73. Woodbridge, Ont., native Dave Bunker follows one stroke behind, and Rod Spittle of St. Catharines, Ont., completes the Canadian contingent at 77.

GATINEAU, Que. – The 112^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship concluded under beaming sunshine and stifling heat. Hugo Bernard battled through the sweltering conditions to shoot 5-under 65 for a come-from-behind victory at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Bernard – a member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team – began the day knotted in third, three shots behind leader Blair Bursey. Bernard carded a 65 – one short of the tournament’s low round that he posted on the second day – to secure the win.

“I played pretty solid,” said the 21-year-old. “My driver was pretty long and pretty straight, too. I made some great putts out there and it was a very solid round for me.”

He becomes the first Canadian to win the National Men’s Amateur title since Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Mackenzie Hughes won back-to-back championships in 2011-12. He is the first Quebec native to win the competition since Craig Matthew of Montréal accomplished the feat in 1998.

The victory adds to a season in which Bernard claimed medallist honours at the 2016 NCAA Division II Championship before capturing this year’s Alexander of Tunis and playing in the 2016 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

The winner of the prestigious Earl Grey Trophy as Canadian Men’s Amateur champion was happy for the win, but seemed focused on the prized exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open which accompanies it.

“It means a lot,” said Bernard of the title. “I’m so happy to get my spot for the [RBC] Canadian Open next year. I hope I’m going to do better than this year, so I’m pretty excited about it.”

The native of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., tallied six birdies and held off the advances of several players, including Bursey. The product of Gander, N.L., held the lead for three consecutive days in a bid to become his province’s first Canadian Men’s Amateur champion.

“Blair Bursey from Newfoundland played amazing for the week,” said the winner, when asked about his competitors. “He shot 64 the first round; I was 10 shots back after one round, so it was my goal to chase him and I did it, so I’m pretty proud.”

China’s Andy Zhang, who resides in Winter Garden, Fla., shot 1-under on the day to maintain his hold on second. Bernard’s national teammate Stuart Macdonald began the day in sixth, but a 3-under showing vaulted the Vancouver native into third. Bernard reflected positively on his and Macdonald’s season as members of Golf Canada’s national team program.

“It was amazing this year. I learned so much with them. I played good golf since…[for] almost seven months. I learned so many things on the course and outside the course.”

Bursey would finish with a share of 5^th at 6-under alongside Kristoffer Ventura of Norway. Despite the setback in the individual standings, Bursey led Team Newfoundland and Labrador to its first Willingdon Cup in the 89-year history of the team competition played concurrently over this championship’s two opening rounds. The historic win was also the Atlantic province’s first team title at any amateur level on either the men’s or women’s sides.

In addition to claiming an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open to be hosted at Glen Abbey Golf Club from July 24-30, Bernard has earned entry into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

The 2017 edition of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will be hosted at The Toronto Golf Club and Islington Golf Club in Toronto from August 7-10.

Additional information regarding the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship can be found here.

When the opening tee shot at the newly built Olympic Course is struck at 7.30am this Thursday, it will bring to an end a 112 year wait, stretching back to the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, since the last stroke was made in an Olympic Golf event.

Without doubt golf has experienced some big changes during the intervening years, from the general condition of the courses, to the equipment used, to the now global audience, and even to the Rules by which the game is played. However, considering all the ways in which the game has evolved during this time, just how different a game will this summer’s Olympians be playing in Rio compared to those who last teed it up in the Olympics at the Glen Echo Golf Club in 1904?

For the most part, the Rules of play remain very much the same today as they were then. The vast majority of Rules ranging from the way in which a player may strike the ball and take a stance, to dealing with obstructions and receiving advice all remain relatively unchanged, and though there have undoubtedly been some key alterations, one of the most noticeable things at first glance is actually how much of the Rule book remains the same, at least in principle if not wording.

In terms of the course, there are a number of basic differences which would surely raise some eyebrows amongst this year’s Olympic field if playing under the same Rules as their predecessors.

For example, back in 1904, far from being the manicured surfaces they are today, the ‘putting-green’ was simply considered to be “all ground within 20 yards of the hole except hazards”, and it is worth noting that the term ‘hazard’ at that time also carried a slightly more literal meaning than it does today.

Whilst the ‘hazards’ which challenge today’s golfers include any bunkers or water hazards on the course, during golf’s last Olympic appearance, the term ‘hazard’ incorporated quite a bit more.

At that time, “any bunker, water (except casual water), sand, path, road, railway, whin, bush, rushes, rabbit scrape, fence, or ditch” fell under this much broader definition, and although Rio’s Olympian golfers are unlikely to be troubled by whin, roads, or indeed a railway line while competing for the coveted medals, they may appreciate the fact that the current Rules take a more lenient approach to some of the more common conditions which they might encounter.

As the new Olympic course was built, for the most part, on what was an old sand quarry, one such condition might be the already infamous “native areas” which have been designed to gather up any stray balls which miss the fairway. Despite these ‘native’ areas being mostly sand, under the current Rules they are not considered to be hazards, and therefore players may ground their clubs without penalty should they find themselves in trouble.

Hole 3 at Olympic Golf Course (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Despite the fact that, for the most part, the Rules of the game have remained relatively unchanged over the last 112 years, there are some instances where the current crop of Olympian golfers arguably have it somewhat easier.

For example, any player who finds themselves facing a long putt on Rio’s Olympic course, might count themselves lucky that they have the option of having the flag attended, as this option was not available to their Olympic predecessors.

Back in 1904, any player whose ball was on the ‘green’ (ie within 20 yards of the hole), was not entitled to play until the flag had been removed and any player breaching this Rule found themselves on the receiving end of a one stroke penalty – definitely something to bear in mind if you see a player lining up a tricky 60-footer!

“When a competitor’s ball is within twenty yards of the hole, the competitor shall not play until the flag has been removed, under penalty of one stroke.”

Things don’t appear to get any more difficult for the modern player away from the green either. With the design of the new Olympic course having been inspired by the testing Castle Stuart course in Scotland, and having also drawn comparisons with some of Australia’s more challenging Sandbelt courses, it is almost inevitable that players will fall victim to some of the more demanding areas of the courses ‘native vegetation’ and find their ball in an unplayable lie.

When this happens, the players may again be thankful that they are playing under the most recent edition of the Rules as currently, if a player deems his ball to be unplayable, they have three options under which they can proceed to try and find a playable – or at least more favourable – lie (Rule 28). They can go back to the point where they last played their ball, drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay keeping that point directly in line with the hole, or drop a ball within two club lengths of the spot where the ball lay, no nearer to the hole. Crucially, all of these options are available at the cost of one penalty stroke.

The Rules in effect during the 1904 Olympics weren’t quite as charitable in this regard. Not only were the relief options more limited in that they only allowed the player to go back in a line from where it lay, or to the nearest point if that was not possible, but they also came at the expense of two penalty strokes rather than one. One benefit under the old Rules, however, might have been the requirement to ‘tee’ the ball when taking relief – something which would surely have the potential for some interesting recovery shots for some of the more aggressive players in the field.

“A ball may be lifted from any place under penalty of two strokes. A ball so lifted shall be teed if possible behind the place where it lay. If it be impossible to tee the ball behind the place where it lay, it shall be teed as near as possible thereto but not nearer the hole.”

The 2016 Olympians certainly don’t have it all their own way, though, as in other aspects, the Rules used in 1904 are undoubtedly more generous towards the player.

For example, should a player find themselves on the wrong side of the boundary line at the Olympic Course  in the coming fortnight, they will incur a penalty of one stroke and will be required to return and play another ball from where they played the original, thus being penalised both stroke and distance (Rule 27-1b), whereas their predecessors had the rather more lenient penalty of simply losing distance: “if a ball be played out of bounds, a ball shall be dropped at the spot from which the stroke was played, under penalty of loss of the distance”.

David Hearn during practice for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Photo by Stan Badz/ PGA TOUR/IGF)

Not only was the additional penalty stroke not introduced until 1909 (and even then it was only by Local Rule), any wayward player’s in 1904 mightn’t even have had to endure the disheartening walk back to their original position. This was as, for the first time, the updated Rules in 1902 had seen the introduction of the ‘provisional ball’, even if it was yet to fall under that name – “If it be doubtful whether a ball has been played out of bounds another may be dropped and played, but if it be discovered that the first ball is not out of bounds, it shall continue in play without penalty.”

Another slight variance between the Rules then and now is that if a competitor at the Glen Echo Golf Club in 1904 was to play a wrong ball and discover their error before playing from the next tee, they would be free to return and play their correct ball without penalty. Should a player make a similar mistake during this year’s Olympic competition, they wouldn’t get off so lightly, and would be on the receiving end of a two stroke penalty (Rule 15-3b).

“A competitor shall hole out with his own ball at every hole, under penalty of disqualification. But if it be discovered, before he has struck off from the next teeing-ground or, if the mistake occur at the last hole, before he has handed in his card, that he has not holed out with his own ball, he shall be at liberty to return and hole out with his own ball, without penalty.”

If there are some who after reading might argue that the Rules were more lenient in years gone by, one final difference may be worth bearing in mind.

In Rio, if a player accidentally tees up their ball and plays from outside the teeing ground, they will incur a two stroke penalty and will be required to then correctly play a ball from within the teeing ground (Rule 11-4b). A penalty some might argue is quite punishing for what can simply be a matter of centimetres during a momentary lapse in concentration. However, compared to the Rules in place during Golf’s last Olympic appearance, they would be considered to have gotten off lightly. Back then, any player who played from outside the teeing ground was given an immediate penalty of disqualification whether on the first hole or the last.

“If a competitor plays from outside the limits of the teeing-ground, the penalty shall be disqualification.”

With 60 men and 60 women competing at this year’s two Olympic Golf events, one unchanged Rule from the 1904 edition which will no doubt be on every player’s mind is that; “In stroke competitions, the competitor who holes the stipulated course in fewest strokes shall be the winner.” And with the Olympic Course ready to test golf’s newest Olympians and the referees are all well versed with the 2016 Rules of Golf, we look forward to seeing who will take to the podium when the last putt drops after its 112-year wait.

GATINEAU, Que. – Despite a heatwave blanketing the 112^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, Blair Bursey remained cool and collected, shooting even-par 70 to remain atop the leaderboard. The Gander, N.L., native is now 18 holes away from becoming his home province’s first winner of this competition.

“I got off to a pretty nice and smooth start,” said Bursey. “I really got into the round with some good putts early. I hit a little bit of a shaky patch – one bad decision and a couple of shots that were just a lack of execution. Aside from that, I handled my nerves well. Even though I had those errors, I’m pleased to still be leading the tournament. But the reality is that I have a one-shot lead and that’s not very much at all. I know that it’s going to take a really solid score from me to keep that wire-to-wire [win] going.”

The 19-year-old strung together three consecutive birdies across holes 4 to 6, but a trio of bogeys over a four-hole stretch from Nos. 11 to 14 have him one stroke ahead of China’s Andy Zhang. A resident of Winter Garden, Fla., Zhang collected four birdies on the day and finished with a 1-under 69.

“Credit to Blair, we had a good run going on the front nine,” reflected the University of Florida Gator. “He’s a really good player and it’s not easy to have to chase him. If I play my game and limit some of my mistakes, I think I’ll have a really good chance.”

Bursey was quick to compliment his playing partners – Zhang and Team Canada National Amateur Squad member Hugo Bernard – when asked about the final round.

“Andy is super impressive. The way that he hit it today, I know he’s going to shoot a really low score tomorrow, so I’m going to have to post something good. Hugo is always good – a really good ball-striker and a good putter. He’s an all-around solid guy, so I know that there is going to be a lot required of me tomorrow to keep this championship within my grasp.”

After leading for a third consecutive round and guiding Team Newfoundland and Labrador to the province’s first Willingdon Cup victory as team champions, the pressure to succeed has certainly grown. Bursey, a Utah Valley University junior, continues to show a steadfast resolve.

“My whole playing career, I’ve played much better when I play without expectations. It’s not me trying not to have them, it just kind of happens. I just showed up and before I knew it, I was 5- or 6-under par at Eagle Creek.

“I always felt like it [depended on] whether or not I was mentally in the right state of mind. I’ve managed to have a really good demeanor this week. I haven’t really reacted to bad shots. On the greens, I’ve remained pretty calm and I’ve felt pretty good about where my head is at and I think that’s helped me out a lot.”

Bernard, a native of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., carded a 69 and sits T3 alongside Travis Smyth of Shellharbour, Australia and Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C.

In addition to claiming the title of 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the 2017 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.

Admission to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is free during tournament week. Additional details regarding the championship are available here.

GATINEAU, Que. – The trio representing Newfoundland and Labrador made history in capturing the Willingdon Cup at the 112^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que., and Eagle Creek Golf Club in Dunrobin, Ont. Blair Bursey maintained his standing atop the individual leaderboard and led his home province to its first national team title at any level.

“I’m really proud to be from where I’m from and to always represent my province,” said the Gander, N.L., product. “Being a little different and growing up in Newfoundland and trying to play college golf and high-level amateur golf out of Newfoundland has been difficult at times with the weather and the season, but the people back there are so good and so supportive.

“This will be a big deal back there. To win the Willingdon Cup and to do something that hasn’t been done before for Newfoundland is awesome and quite a pleasure for not only myself, but also Chuck, Nathan, our other teammates and everyone who has helped get us here.”

Nathan Peters of St. John’s, N.L., echoed his teammate’s sentiments when reflecting on the victory.

“It’s definitely something really cool. Growing up playing golf in Newfoundland, you only ever really expect to just play in nationals and winning anything is very far-fetched. The golf courses were extremely beautiful and winning the Willingdon Cup is pretty incredible.”

Alongside fellow St. John’s native Chuck Conley – who was forced to withdraw prior to the second round due to injury – the trio finished the competition a combined 3-under 281 to earn the province’s first Willingdon Cup in the team competition’s 89-year history. The victory also gives the Atlantic province its first team title at any amateur level on either the men’s or women’s sides. Bursey was quick to credit his teammates when asked about the historic feat.

“I know Nathan quite well, he’s a super talented kid. I don’t think he knows how talented he is. Chuck is as awesome as ever – a real nice guy and always fun to play with. So they’re really good guys and I’m really happy for them.”

“Hanging out with guys from home is always good,” the Utah Valley University Wolverine added. “I don’t get to be home very often with school and all that kind of stuff, so to be around people that give me that home-sort-of-feeling is always good. I love playing golf with them and it’s always a great time being around them.”

Team Ontario finished two strokes back of the champions, while Teams Alberta and Quebec claimed third at even-par 284.

Bursey continues to lead the individual competition following a 1-under 69 to reach 9-under in the competition. The 19-year-old collected three birdies on the day, including two back-to-back on Nos. 6 and 7. Despite already leading Newfoundland and Labrador to unprecedented success at this championship, he remains confident and focused on the task at hand.

“I’ve been a winner at other levels. Junior golf and college…amateur golf is the next step. I feel like I’m in a good place in my development where my game is starting to be at a place where it’s ready to win some bigger tournaments.

“That’s not to say I’m going to go ahead and win this week, but it’s all a learning experience. I’ve never made the cut at this tournament before, so it’s a new experience at a top-level amateur tournament. I’m not afraid of it at all. That’s why I practice and this is why I play the game. I love the feeling of being near the top and certainly being at the top. I’m definitely looking forward to the next couple of days.”

China’s Andy Zhang, a resident of Winter Garden, Fla., shot 2-under and trails the leader by two strokes. Team Canada National Amateur Squad member Hugo Bernard from Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., collected seven birdies, including four across a bogey-free back nine, en route to the day’s low round – a 6-under 64 showing. Bernard, who finished tied for runner-up honours in the 2015 edition of this championship, moved into a share of third at 5-under alongside Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C.

Three players sit T5 fifth at 3-under – National Team member Stuart MacDonald of Vancouver, Travis Smyth of Shellharbour, Australia, who is No. 62 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Elmira, Ont., native Garrett Rank who claimed a share of second last year.

A total of 77 players who finished 5-over 147-or-better have advanced to the final two rounds of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be contested at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

In addition to claiming the title of 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the 2017 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.

Admission to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is free during tournament week. Additional details regarding the championship are available here.

Naomi Ko captured the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls title by a four-stroke margin at the Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S. The 18-year-old Victoria, B.C. native shares the equipment she used to best the field in the “what’s in the bag” segment below:

GATINEAU, Que. – Blair Bursey conquered hot and windy conditions to claim the early lead in the 112^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The Gander, N.L., native managed the feat at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Dunrobin, Ont., and holds a three-stroke advantage heading into his second round to be played at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que.

“It was a good round, but I started off a little shaky,” reflected Bursey. “Once I felt my way into it, things just came fairly easily. Not often does a round like that come around, so it was pretty special. To finish with an eagle was a great way to go out. I hit two of my best shots of the day on that last hole. It was a good way to start the tournament, but that’s all it is right now: a solid start. With three more days to go, hopefully there’s more solid golf coming up.”

The 19-year-old notched a pair of birdies for a 2-under front nine performance. He went on to tally four more birdies on the day before adding an eagle on the par-5 No. 18 for a bogey-free, 8-under 64 showing.

Bursey now heads to The Royal Ottawa Golf Club for his second round – a course which boasts two of the biggest moments in Canadian golf in its storied legacy. The roots of Golf Canada – the sport’s national governing body – were firmly planted at this historic venue in 1895 before it played host to the inaugural Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship later that year.

“I had one practice round there and I absolutely loved the golf course,” said the Utah Valley University junior when asked about the shift to the second co-host. “It’s traditional and I just love it. It’s an honour to be here. I think Golf Canada having the Men’s Amateur here is such a pleasure for all the players. I’m definitely excited to head over there tomorrow.”

Of the 16 players currently within the Top-10, 15 played their opening rounds at Eagle Creek alongside Bursey. Despite the challenge ahead, he remains confident and focused.

“I was just trying to hit good quality golf shots. I wasn’t expecting to shoot a low-60s round, I wasn’t setting a number. I was just going about my business and it just happened to fall in today. I don’t expect it to be like that every day, but if I can put the ball in the right position, keep a good outlook and continue to execute, good things will come my way. My best stuff today showed through, if I can just continue to do the best I can, that’ll be good enough by the end of the week.”

Holding shares of second are Winnipeg’s Marco Trstenjak, Napanee, Ont., native Josh Whalen and Andy Zhang from China, who resides in Winter Garden, Fla. The trio sit three strokes off the lead and will join Bursey at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

Team Newfoundland and Labrador finished with a team total of 4-under 140 to open the two-day inter-provincial team competition for the prestigious Willingdon Cup. The team of Bursey and St. John’s, N.L. natives Chuck Conley and Nathan Peters will look to dethrone Team British Columbia to secure its first team title. Teams Alberta and Ontario trail the Maritime province by two strokes.

Competitors will complete their second rounds having played both host clubs. The field will be reduced to the low-70 and ties for the two final rounds to be contested at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.

In addition to capturing the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the 2017 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.

Admission to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is free during tournament week. Additional details regarding the championship are available here.

GATINEAU, Que. – Joshua Goheen battled windy conditions to card a 1-over 71 at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club to claim medallist honours at the qualifying event for the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. A total of seven players, including six Canadians, finished 3-over or better to earn their places at next week’s national championship to be contested at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que., and Eagle Creek Golf Club in Dunrobin, Ont., from August 8-11.

Goheen led the field with a 3-birdie performance. The Campbell University Camel feels ready for the challenge of competing against a strong field.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” said the Greely, Ont., native. “The last week or so, I haven’t played too much, but I’m pretty confident that I’ll be able to do pretty well this week.”

The 21-year-old will be playing in his second Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in as many years, but is especially looking forward to the 2016 edition of the world’s third oldest amateur championship.

“I’m excited and honoured. I’ve also got a couple of teammates coming up to play this week, so I’m happy to be in the field with them. I’m excited to play in front of a home crowd, too.”

Martin Carré of Gatineau, Que., finished runner-up in the competition with a 72 which included a trio of birdies on the back nine. James Colin Davis of Montréal, Ontarians Robert Ellis of St. Catharines and Evan Littlefield from Thunder Bay, as well as Sam Stilwell of Sterling, Va., finished with shares of third at 3-over to earn their places in the championship. Additional information from the qualifying competition can be found here.

Two days of practice rounds are slated for August 6 and 7 before competitors take to both courses on August 8 and 9 for the tournament’s opening 36 holes. The field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the two final rounds to be contested at The Royal Ottawa.

An inter-provincial team championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition with three-member teams vying for the prized Willingdon Cup.

In addition to claiming the title of 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and the 2017 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.

Admission to the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is free during tournament week. Additional details regarding the championship are available here.

SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – Gusting winds tempered blistering heat at the Links at Penn Hills as Victoria native Naomi Ko shot a final-round 72 to capture the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship title.

The 18-year-old entered the final round of play in a tie for first at 5-under with Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C. – only one stroke ahead of Mississauga, Ont., native Chloe Currie. Back-to-back birdies on holes 2 and 3 followed by a third on No.5 pushed the Team Canada National Squad member into an early 8-under lead.

“I got off to a really good start on the front nine,” said Ko. “The wind wasn’t really in effect but as I got to the back nine it really started picking up. I really had to adjust and learn from yesterday’s mistakes. I was striking the ball well and I think that was one of the key things today. Putting on the back nine not so good but it got the job done.”

The North Carolina State University sophomore collected three bogeys through the final stretch en route to a 5-under 283 tournament total. Ko has come close to taking the national title in previous years, but fell short in 2014 with a fourth-place finish at Thornhill Golf & Country Club in Thornhill, Ont. She was awarded second-runner-up honours in 2015 when the event was hosted by Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask. This victory comes as a relief to Ko who was competing in her last Junior event before she becomes ineligible on the 18-and-under junior circuit.

“Knowing that it was my last Canadian junior I really wanted to win it. I tried to keep myself grounded and play it one shot at a time. I was walking up the last couple of holes and I kind of felt sick. I felt a little bit nauseous and took a deep breath and took advantage on the 18th. I had a good approach shot and knew I just had to get it in or two put, so it was a little less pressure.”

In addition to her 2016 Canadian Junior Girls title, Ko has received an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship hosted at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., from July 25 to 28.

An impressive 73-71-68 week helped Currie slide into second place ahead of Parsons following a final round 75. The 16-year-old Development Squad member fell into a 5-over hole after carding three bogeys and double bogey through Nos. 5 to 12. Back-to-back birdies on holes 15 and 16 kept Currie in line for runner-up honours. Her 1-under 287 performance also solidified her victory in the 16-and-under Juvenile division.

Alisha Lau of Richmond, B.C., stayed even through the day to earn her place in second on the Juvenile leaderboard with a 2-over 290 final showing.

Parsons recorded six bogeys through her final round to capture third in the overall Junior standings at even-par.

The 17-year-old found victory earlier in the week after capturing the inter-provincial team competition title for British Columbia alongside Development Squad members Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Hannah Lee (Surrey). The trio finished the 36-hole competition with a 2-over 290 showing.

Additional information regarding the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship can be found here.