Richmond Hill, Ont. – The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is pleased to announce Michelle Kim as the recipient of the 2015 Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award.

Kim, an 18-year old CJGA member living in Surrey, B.C. is the first British Columbian to earn the honorable distinction for an award that recognizes sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment in the game of golf.

The award is named after Helena Harbridge, an outstanding junior golfer and CJGA alum that passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University.

“I’m extremely proud and honored to be named the recipient of the Helena Harbridge Award this year,” said a thrilled Michelle when notified of the award. “Junior golf has not only taught me goal setting, it has taught me honesty, patience, sportsmanship, and etiquette. It has brought out my inner competitiveness.”

Taking a similar path to that of Helena, Kim is a freshman at the University of Idaho. She is also a member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team, after spending one season on their Development Squad. Looking into the future, Kim sees herself turning professional after graduating university with the goal of playing on the LPGA Tour.

“I’ve always had big goals and dreams for golf. This game requires commitment and dedication, and golf has taught me both of those things.”

Kim has had an exceptional CJGA playing career amassing nine top 5 finishes and six top 10 finishes since 2011. She had a notable win earlier this year at the CJGA Western Canadian Junior Championship.

Winners of the Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award will receive an elegant custom trophy courtesy of Lorry Moffatt and Classic Awards as well as a complimentary life time membership to the CJGA.

2006 – Lauren Bowerman-Ritchie (Ontario)

2007 – Juanita Rico (Alberta)

2008 – Jocelyn Alford (Alberta)

2009 – Thea Hedemann (Saskatchewan)

2010 – Shannon Lee Greenshields (Quebec)

2011 – Marlies Klekner-Alt (Ontario)

2012 – Molly Molyneaux (Prince Edward Island)

2013 – Genevieve Stelmacovich (Ontario)

2014 – Bria Jansen (Alberta)

2015 – Michelle Kim (British Columbia)

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Helena Harbridge Award

The Helena Harbridge Award is an award dedicated to the memory of Helena Harbridge, a CJGA alumna, who passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University.  The award exemplifies the traits that Helena exhibited throughout her career, both on and off the course: sportsmanship, dedication, and contribution to the game of golf. Each year, the Canadian Junior Golf Association selects one female junior member for this award.  The award recipient will be one that holds the same characteristics that Helena exemplified. The recipient of the award will also receive a lifetime membership with the CJGA.

There is no doubt Golf Canada is proud of the many accomplishments by Canadian golfers in 2015.

But the over-arching mandate of the association was succinctly summarized by Scott Simmons in his year-end message to members across the country.

“Golf Canada is committed to investing in the growth and overall health of the game,” said Simmons, the CEO of Golf Canada.

In 2015, perhaps more so than in any other previous year, Golf Canada demonstrated that long-term commitment through an initiative called “One Vision.”

As stated in Golf Canada’s message at its annual general meeting last February, One Vision (you can see the details here) aspires “to ensure golf maintains its status as the most popular sport in Canada.”

“One Vision is easier said than done,” said Simmons, “but it’s not about one organization doing all of this on its own. It’s about all of us aligning to protect the game we all care about. Starting several years ago, Golf Canada saw the necessity of an industry-wide strategic plan, essential not only under its mandate as golf’s designated National Sport Federation, but in its ever-evolving role as a guardian, a champion, of the game.

One Vision contains four pillars:

• Grow Participation: Engage more youth, promote societal benefits and develop a connection with more golfers, increase access for under-represented groups
• Ensure Excellence: Implement programming for high-performance juniors, Team Canada and emerging professionals; develop coaches and certified professionals; host best-in-class national and international championships
• Expand Capacity: Develop sustainable funding and fiscal responsibility; uphold and preserve rules, handicapping, course rating, amateur status, and the history of the game; provide opportunity and training for volunteers and staff
• Foster Interaction: Collaborate with provincial golf associations, facilities, the National Allied Golf Associations, government and international partners; increase capabilities in digital and interactive technology; strengthen communication and brand awareness.

Golf Canada President Paul McLean elaborates.

“We work collaboratively with our partners at the provincial golf associations as well as PGA of Canada professionals, club managers, superintendents, manufacturers and golf course owners to ensure the heath and sustainability of our sport. It’s important that all golfers from avid to novice can experience the tremendous health, economic, charitable, competitive and social benefits inherent in our sport. Welcoming new golfers, increasing rounds played and delivering quality golf experiences is a goal shared by the entire golf community.”

“We are all golf,” said Simmons. “If we are going to move the game continuously forward, we have to be aligned. When we are aligned on a common vision, we can accomplish great things and achieve maximum potential through synergy.”

That synergy was demonstrated in many ways in 2015, perhaps most obviously by the Long Term Player Development Program (LTPD) 2.0 revealed at February’s annual meeting. Launched in 2006, the latest iteration of LTPD, developed in partnership with the PGA of Canada, has been recognized worldwide for its innovation.

In addition to providing a solid sport development framework, LTPD clearly outlines the roles and responsibilities of every stakeholder including coaches, instructors, golfers, parents of golfers, facility owners and golf administrators. The goal is to create a player development blueprint to success that will serve Canadian golf for years to come.

In his year-end message, Simmons also provided some encouraging news for Golf Canada members on how their dues supported the vitality of the game.

• National Golf in Schools – 2,795 schools across Canada (2,501 elementary, 12 intermediate and 282 high schools)
• CN Future Links – Canada’s national junior golf program: 518 participating clubs in Canada. CN Future Links programming includes Learn to Play, mobile clinics, CN Future Links Championships, the Junior Skills Challenge, Girls Club, CN Future Links School Adoption Program, CN Future Links School Field Trip Program, PGA Junior League and Community Golf Coach.
• Golf Fore the Cure – 145 participating sites in Canada
• International, national, provincial and regional golf competitions
• Course and Slope Rating; Rules and Handicap seminars; coach training and certification
• Canada’s No. 1 website for golf – Golfcanada.ca – had more than 6.7 million views this year
• More than seven million rounds were posted the Golf Canada Score Centre by Golf Canada members

Also in 2015, recognizing the changing landscape of golf club membership, Golf Canada made a fundamental change to its membership model.

After extensive surveys and focus groups with golfers and facilities across Canada, a new structure is being rolled out across Canada. The three-tiered program is so innovative that it is being viewed with great interest by other national golf associations who are considering revamping their own membership methods.

“Seventy or 80 years ago, about 90 per cent of golfers in Canada belonged to a club,” said Karen Hewson, Golf Canada’s Managing Director, Membership and Heritage Services. “In recent years, that has reversed. Now, fewer than 10 per cent are club members.”

One inevitable result of this reversal is that only a small percentage of golfers feel connected to the game in a larger sense. They’re not part of that traditional club-based linkage, a situation that Golf Canada reacted to in a positive way.

“Everyone who loves golf should feel that they are an important part of its traditions and of its future,” said Hewson. “Things like Handicaps and Course Rating and Rules are, and will always be, integral to the game and Golf Canada’s role in it. But we are very aware that a very real priority is to build relationships with, communicating with, and educating everyone who plays the game, regardless of where they choose to play.”

Nowhere was that made more evident than by the launching of a creative, interactive campaign – Golf Canada Golf – which celebrated the game by inviting golfers to share the stories. The campaign was a collaborative effort among provincial and national golf association stakeholders.

“Among golfers, there’s always a story—memorable shots, a round with family, playing your favourite course, a golf trip with friends, witnessing first-hand the incredible skills of PGA TOUR or LPGA Tour players, or using the game to overcome personal adversity,” said Gavin Roth, Golf Canada’s Chief Commercial Officer.  “The campaign web site – GolfCanadaGolf.com – invites Canadians to share their own experiences as well as read or watch other compelling stories to remind us what makes the game great and ultimately encourage enthusiasts to play more golf.”

Innovative. Inclusive. Welcoming.

Not just with words, but with action, Golf Canada obviously is committed to reinforcing to Canadian golfers that we are all part of a community, not just for today, but for the future.

“Golf has a strong base with close to 5.7 million Canadians playing 60 million rounds annually at 2,346 facilities from coast to coast,” said Simmons. “Through our joint membership efforts with the provincial golf associations, we have a relationship with close to 310,000 golfers at 1,400 member clubs, so the opportunity to interact with a greater share of everyone who golfs is huge.

“The health of the game requires taking a customer-centric approach and searching for innovative ways to connect with golfers. Creating that meaningful engagement starts with introducing children through grassroots programming like Golf in Schools and CN Future Links. It continues at the club level through membership programs that welcome avid players and new enthusiasts.

“We also want golfers to feel inspired by the outstanding performances of our Canadian talents competing on the international stage. Golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016 for the first time since Canada won gold in 1904 will give Canadians another powerful reason to celebrate the game.”

2015 in Review – Part I: Canadian golf successes
2015 in Review – Part II: State of the game
2015 in Review – Part III: A focused vision

While it is undeniable that golf in Canada, like any other business in these unpredictable economic times, continues to face challenges, there were encouraging indicators in 2015 for cautious optimism.

In July, the Golf Facilities in Canada 2015 report was published by Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada in cooperation with the U.S. National Golf Foundation. The bottom line was that the game remains popular and accessible, with almost six million people playing at least one round annually. In total, almost 60 million rounds are played in Canada each year.

The report indicated that of the 2,346 golf facilities in Canada, more than 90 per cent are open to the public, putting to rest the misconception that the game is elitist and exclusionary. Those who worry about the length of time it takes to play will be interested to find out that nine-hole layouts account for close to 40 per cent of the country’s courses.

Golf, like any other business and recreational activity, is tied to economic factors and changing consumer behaviours. As such, it cycles periodically and unpredictably. In the past 10 years, 158 facilities across Canada have closed for various reasons. Since 2010, 29 courses have opened in six different provinces and 31 18-hole equivalent facilities are in various stages of development.

When the report was released, it also pointed out some inarguable facts about the vital role golf plays across Canada.

“The golf industry is worth more than $14.3-billion to the Canadian economy and represents more than one per cent of our nation’s total GDP,” the report summary stated. “The $5-billion in direct revenues generated by Canada’s 2,346 facilities are more than the revenues generated by all other participation sports and recreational facilities combined ($4.8-billion). The numbers reinforce the massive financial, charitable, and environmental impact that golf has in communities across Canada including hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions in taxes, and a major tourism driver both domestic and international. Canadian golf facilities are a channel for major charitable giving with close to 37,000 events at Canadian courses raising more than $533-million annually for worthwhile causes.”

And while it remains popular in the headline- and deadline-motivated mainstream media to question the current state of the game, those within the industry have a more comprehensive and long-term perspective.

“The evidence of golf’s popularity in Canada is not surprising to those aware of the sport’s economics, and the good stories don’t stop there,” said Elizabeth Di Chiara, Executive Director Canadian Society of Club Managers and President of the National Allied Golf Associations. “From environmental benefits to the charitable impact and tourism revenues, there are many reasons for the Canadian golf industry to be encouraged.”

In November, the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada released the first-ever Rounds Played and Weather Reporting data, which showed a 9.79-per-cent increase nationally in rounds played over 2014, with an average for 18-hole equivalent facilities of 25,199.

Rounds in Alberta were up 13.28 per cent, followed by Saskatchewan/Manitoba at 8.36, British Columbia at 6.45, Ontario at 5.95 and Quebec at 5.02.  The lone decrease was in Atlantic Canada, where rounds played were down 11.62 per cent.

“We started to track weather this year, rather than relying on anecdotal information,” said Nathalie Lavallee, the NGCOA’s Chief Operating Officer. “On a monthly basis, our members would input not only their rounds played, but they would post their specific ‘weather score’, on a scale from one to 10. We saw a lot of sixes and sevens, with the exception of Atlantic Canada, which suffered from a bad winter and spring from which it was difficult to recover.

“The better weather generally across the country, plus the improving economy, gives our industry increased optimism going into 2016.”

2015 in Review – Part I: Canadian golf successes
2015 in Review – Part II: State of the game
2015 in Review – Part III: A focused vision

Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., and dual citizen Maddie Szeryk who hails from London, Ont., as well as Allen, Texas, have been recognized as Canada’s top male and female amateur golfers after finishing atop their respective National Orders of Merit for the 2015 season. Charles-Éric Bélanger and Michelle Kim claimed top honours on their respective CN Future Links Junior Orders of Merit.

“We are excited to celebrate our four winners for their performances over the course of the season which led to their successes on both the National Orders of Merit and CN Future Links Junior Orders of Merit,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “These rankings recognize our athletes’ outstanding accomplishments while providing them with a great measuring tool for their continued development. As the National Sport Federation, they provide us with a strong indicator for tracking up-and-coming players and their achievements.”

Hamilton, who in 2016 will spend a second consecutive season as a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, finished with 3,768.46 points in 12 events – almost 1,000 points clear of second place. At No. 112 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the 22-year-old is one of Canada’s top-ranked talents. The University of Houston Cougar’s 2015 campaign netted him a PING All-America Honourable Mention and selections to the PING All-Central Region Team and the All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) Team. He claimed individual titles at the NCAA’s 2015 Border Olympics and the 2015 NCAA Lubbock Regional before adding Top-20 finishes at the 2015 Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship and the 111^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to his season. Hamilton and fellow 2015 National Amateur Squad member Austin Connelly were co-recipients of the Gary Cowan Award after tying for low amateur honours at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

Kimberley, B.C., native and 2016 National Team member Jared du Toit completed the season in second place on the National Men’s Order of Merit ahead of 2015 Team Canada Development Squad member Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon County, Alta. Fellow Albertan Brett Hogan of Calgary was fourth, while 2016 National Team selection Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver completed the Top-5.

Szeryk – who will return in 2016 as a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad – collected 5,505.42 points over 12 events to top the National Women’s Order of Merit. The 19-year-old is No. 43 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and is No. 1 in Canada. In her first year with the Texas A&M Aggies, she notched seven Top-5 and nine Top-10 finishes in 12 tournaments en route to a First Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection and Conference Freshman of the Year honours. She finished first in the NCAA with five eagles and second in the nation with 127 birdies. Her 7-under 209 showing at the SEC Championship secured her second place and led the Aggies to the conference team title. Szeryk was a quarter-finalist at the 2015 British Ladies Open Amateur and the 2015 Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur champion.

2015 National Team member Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., finished runner-up on the National Women’s Order of Merit, while the 2016 National Amateur Squad’s Josée Doyon from St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., claimed third. Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., joined her 2016 National Squad teammates by finishing in fourth, while Anica Yoo of Port Coquitlam, B.C., was fifth.

Recently-named Team Canada Development Squad member Charles-Éric Bélanger completed the 2015 campaign atop the 18-and-under CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit with 4,855.63 points in 12 events. The 16-year-old from Québec began the season by winning the 2015 Quebec Junior Spring Open before registering a third-place finish at the 2015 CN Future Links Ontario Championship and a runner-up result at the Quebec edition of the championship series for juniors. The highlight of Belanger’s year would come at the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship where he prevailed in a playoff to become the first Quebec native since 1976 to claim the national junior title.

Fellow Quebec native and 2015 Development Squad member Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu was second on the CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit, followed by 2016 members Alexander Smith of Calgary and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. Maxwell Sear of Unionville, Ont., took fifth place.

A banner year propelled Michelle Kim of Surrey, B.C., to the top of the CN Future Links National Junior Girls Order of Merit with a total of 4,685 points accumulated across 10 events. Now in her freshman year at the University of Idaho, she opened last season by claiming the 2015 CJGA Western Canadian Junior Championship. Kim excelled at the provincial level, capturing the B.C. Women’s Amateur and B.C. Junior Girls titles before translating those victories into success on the national stage by winning the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The 2015 Development Squad member’s achievements garnered her a spot on the 2016 National Amateur team.

Orleans, Ont., native Grace St-Germain – who is returning in 2016 for a second stint with Team Canada’s Development Squad – was second on the 2015 CN Future Links National Junior Girls Order of Merit. Naomi Ko, a product of Victoria, B.C., finished third before graduating alongside Kim to the 2016 National Team. Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., and Monet Chun from Richmond Hill, Ont., completed the Top-5.

The National Men’s and Women’s Orders of Merit recognize and celebrate the season-long achievements of Canada’s amateur golfing talents. The CN Future Links Junior Boys and Junior Girls Orders of Merit were established to acknowledge and identify Canada’s top junior golfers.

2015 National Men’s Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Blair Hamilton – Burlington, Ont. – 3,768.46
2. Jared du Toit – Kimberley, B.C. – 2,857.83
3. Tyler Saunders – Sturgeon County, Alta. – 2,581.69
4. Brett Hogan – Calgary, Alta. – 2,194.15
5. Stuart Macdonald – Vancouver, B.C. – 1,917.70
6. Josh Whalen – Napanee, Ont. – 1,903.29
7. Eric Banks – Truro, N.S. – 1,820.45
8. Hugo Bernard – Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. – 1,802.50
9. Garrett Rank – Elmira, Ont. – 1,740.00
10. Austin James – Bath, Ont. – 1,519.87

Full final standings are available here.

2015 National Women’s Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Maddie Szeryk – London, Ont./Allen, Texas – 5,505.42
2. Elizabeth Tong – Thornhill, Ont. – 4,111.00
3. Josée Doyon – St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que. – 3.612.62
4. Naomi Ko – Victoria, B.C. – 2,545.50
5. Anica Yoo – Port Coquitlam, B.C. – 2,085.23
6. Taylor Kim – Surrey B.C. – 1,807.48
7. Michelle Kim – Surrey, B.C. – 1,776.25
8. Sabrine Garrison – Calgary, Alta. – 1,534.86
9. Jaclyn Lee – Calgary, Alta. – 1,303.64
10. Grace St-Germain – Orleans, Ont. – 1,276.13

Full final standings are available here.

2015 CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Charles-Éric Bélanger – Québec, Que. – 4,855.63
2. Étienne Papineau – St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. – 3,809.50
3. Alexander Smith – Calgary, Alta. – 3,399.29
4. J. Ewart – Coquitlam, B.C. – 3,077.50
5. Maxwell Sear – Unionville, Ont. – 2,987.50
6. Tony Gil – Vaughan, Ont. – 2,902.33
7. Trevor Ranton – Waterloo, Ont. – 2,745.00
8. Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson – Aurora, Ont. – 2,705.00
9. Khan Lee – Surrey, B.C. – 2,623.33
10. Jaewook Lee – Langley, B.C. – 2,512.50

Full final standings are available here.

2015 CN Future Links National Junior Girls Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Michelle Kim – Surrey, B.C. – 4,685.00
2. Grace St-Germain – Orleans, Ont. – 4,272.50
3. Naomi Ko – Victoria, B.C. – 4,202.50
4. Céleste Dao – Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que. – 3,950.00
5. Monet Chun – Richmond Hill, Ont. – 3,618.66
6. Sarah-Eve Rheaume – Québec, Que. – 3,585.00
7. Hannah Lee – Surrey, B.C. – 3,463.00
8. Chloë Currie – Mississauga, Ont. – 3,325.83
9. Alyssa Getty – Ruthven, Ont. – 3,291.66
10. Alexandra Naumovski – Hornby Ont. – 2,837.50

Full final standings are available here.

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. – Canadian Adam Svensson started the second round of the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament with four consecutive birdies on the par-72 Fazio Course at PGA National Resort & Spa en route to a 7-under-par 65. The 21-year-old from Surrey, Vancouver, British Columbia’s 14-under 129 total is good for a commanding five-stroke lead over former No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking Ollie Schniederjans (68).

In a tie for third, six back, are PGA TOUR Latinoamérica alum Justin Hueber (69) and Australian Alistair Presnell (68).

Another six players are knotted at 7-under 136 and tied for fifth.

Svensson opened with a 64 on the tougher Champions Course on Thursday and successfully carried that momentum into Friday. After three consecutive birdies to the start the second round, the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada alum blocked his tee shot right on the par-5, 4^th hole behind a group of trees. After a successful layup, Svensson flushed his third, a 9-iron from 142 yards, to 15 feet behind the hole and drained the tricky downhill putt for birdie.

“I was hitting it pretty well,” said Svensson, who found every green in regulation on the front nine. “Every shot was close to the pin and I just kept it going.”

This past season, Svensson had an opportunity to earn a PGA TOUR card through the Web.com Tour with a victory at the Regular Season finale. This past fall at the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented Kraft Heinz the former two-time All-American at Barry University had a one-shot lead over Dicky Pride heading into the weekend and carded 74-71 to fall back into a tie for 13^th place.

The tournament did not end the way Svensson had hoped but he was able to take away some positives from the experience.

“I think the Oregon event helped me out a lot,” said Svensson. “I learned a lot from it and I think it was a good thing what happened to me there.”

With two rounds left before a champion is crowned, Svensson knows he must finish strong the final two days to accomplish his goal for the week.

“It’s huge to have full status and get into every event,” said Svensson, who made seven starts on Tour this past season. “It’s good to pick your own schedule, but I’m having fun and looking forward to the weekend.”

One key to Svensson’s success this week has been his play from off the tee. Through two rounds, he is T1 in Driving Accuracy (25 of 28).

Svensson’s 36-hole total of 129 (-14) is the lowest of his professional career. His previous low 36-hole total of 130 (-14) came at the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft Heinz on the Web.com Tour.

The last time Svensson competed at PGA National Resort & Spa, he was a member of the Barry University golf team and led the Buccaneers to a 19-stroke win in the three-day event. Svensson used a second-round 64 to win the individual title by three strokes.

Players will be repaired for the third and final rounds according to scores. The leaders will play the Fazio Course in the third round and the Champion Course in the final round.

Canada’s flagship junior program, CN Future Links, is set to enter its twentieth year of golf on the heels of a season which saw Learn to Play numbers climb to reach record highs.

With the wind at its back, CN Future Links marched forward to hit 7,130 participants in the summer of 2015—up from 2,860 since 2010. Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, Jeff Thompson, credits the national success of the program to strengthened collaboration with program partners.

“The measured success we have achieved with CN Future Links would be not be attainable without the continued support of our partners,” said Thompson. “Together, we have continued to push the needle in terms of evolving the program and growing participation at the grassroots level.”

Nationally, CN Future Links is powered by a team of dedicated supporters, led by title sponsor CN railway. Since 2006, CN has been at the forefront of junior golf in Canada, extending the values of the sport while promoting health and safety to youth to communities across Canada.

Learn to Play, the feature program of CN Future Links, has continued to evolve over its 12 years of existence, most recently with a free mobile app for instructors and a new progress reward from apparel sponsor, Cobra PUMA Golf. Upon completing one of the four stages, participants receive a highly popular Puma hat branded with the CN Future Links stage colour completed (at no cost to the instructor).

The diagram below outlines how each reward aligns with golf’s Long-Term Player Development Model and PGA of Canada’s coaching stream context.

Looking to get a jump on next year’s programming? Learn more about CN Future Links here.

CHONBURI, Thailand – Jamie Donaldson of Wales enjoyed a sizzling opening round of 9-under-par 63 to take a three-stroke lead over three players including 2013 winner Sergio Garcia in the Thailand Championship on Thursday.

Donaldson, who hasn’t won in 16 months, birdied his first four holes and the last two at Amata Spring Country Club, and said, “I couldn’t really do things wrong.

“I never really missed any fairways. The good par save on nine was the key to keep the momentum going after pushing the tee shot a little bit. I got up and down there from about 20 feet.”

Garcia, who lifted his 23rd career title in Vietnam last weekend, and locals Chinnarat Phadungsilp and Chanat Sakulpolphaisan were at 6 under.

Garcia was on par after his second bogey on the 10th hole, then reeled off six birdies over the last eight holes.

“It was a wonderful back nine,” he said.

Chinnarat spoiled his round with a double bogey on the 15th hole, while Chanat bogeyed the 16th.

Martin Kaymer, who lost to Lee Westwood by one shot 12 months ago, shot a bogey-free 68 to lie five behind Donaldson, while Westwood began with a 1-under 71, as did Bubba Waston, who won the World Challenge in the Bahamas last weekend.

Nathan Holman, who won his home Australian PGA title last week, carded a par 72.

Richard T Lee of Toronto opened at even-par to hold a share of 46th place. B.C.-raised Lindsay Renolds, a former Team Canada National Squad member, is one-stroke back of his fellow Canadian.

Golf Canada, the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, the PGA of Canada and CCMC Sports — whose golf media and marketing portfolio includes SCOREGolf Magazine, SCOREGolf.com and SCOREGolf TV on TSN — are pleased to announce a new marketing and sales alliance that will see Canadian golf’s major powerbrokers come together to offer corporate Canada unprecedented opportunity to engage in a sport that sees more participation by Canadians than any other.

As part of the agreement, CCMC Sports will support corporate hospitality and sponsorship sales efforts for Golf Canada’s RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, as well as Golf Canada’s grassroots development programs and advertising across Golf Canada media properties, including golfcanada.ca. CCMC Sports also assumes publishing rights to Golf Canada Magazine, the association’s bilingual membership publication, beginning January 1, 2016.

“We’re excited to partner with CCMC Sports. This agreement opens up new avenues for Golf Canada to grow our corporate hospitality, sponsorship and media revenue,” said Gavin Roth, Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer. “Working with CCMC and their collection of leading golf properties also allows for a holistic, one-stop approach to taking hospitality, sponsorship and media assets to corporate Canada.”

The newly formed consortium makes for a powerful golf sales force that will utilize its many collective assets. Representing multiple-level professional and amateur golf tournaments, grassroots initiatives, developmental programs, nearly 3,700 PGA professionals at more than 1,500 Canadian golf facilities, and multiple media arms, the alliance will be able to meet a company’s every need when it comes to investing in and supporting Canadian golf.

“The PGA of Canada is excited about the collaborative efforts of all the industry leaders involved and believe the deliberate and organized approach will resonate with and engage corporate Canada,” said Gary Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Canada.

“We’re thrilled to be in a partnership with CCMC — a proven leader in Canadian golf business— that brings together the key organizations in Canadian golf to enable the corporate community to create comprehensive marketing programs that will help to grow the game and their business,” added Jeff Monday, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada President.

CCMC Sports has also renewed its deal with PGATOUR.COM, which sees it represent golf’s most widely visited website in the Canadian marketplace.

“We are happy to continue our longstanding partnership with CCMC Sports for digital ad representation in the Canadian market. SCOREGolf is a natural fit for PGA TOUR Digital and we have great trust in their expertise in the Canadian golf industry,” said Luis Goicouria, Senior Vice-President of Digital Platforms and Media Strategy for the PGA TOUR.

CCMC Sports — with its 30-plus years of experience in sales, brand marketing, sponsorship, publishing and supporting clients through an integrated sports model that utilizes traditional, social and interactive media — assumes the responsibility of representing the alliance in the marketplace. The Toronto-based company, with offices in Vancouver and Montreal, has recently augmented its media division with an exclusive sales and content deal with Send To News, which delivers sports highlights, including golf, to the websites of nearly 200 newspapers across Canada, making it the biggest provider of sports video in the country.

“We at CCMC Sports are privileged to have been named the exclusive sales and marketing agent on behalf of the four most prestigious and powerful brands the game of golf in this country has to offer,” said Kim Locke, CCMC Sports President. “Canadians are addicted to the game of golf, and we believe that this co-operative consortium of brands — Golf Canada, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, PGA of Canada, PGATOUR.COM and SCOREGolf — will provide us with the tools to excite corporations across the country to become true partners of the game for years to come.”

Two of North America’s most successful women amateur golfers have become Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Canadian Marlene Stewart Streit, the only player to win the British, Canadian, U.S. and Australian women’s amateur titles, and America’s Judy Bell, a former Curtis Cup captain and player and United States Golf Association president, accepted invitations to become Honorary Members.

They follow Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Dame Laura Davies, Renée Powell, Belle Robertson MBE, Lally Segard, Annika Sorenstam and Louise Suggs, who sadly passed away in August, in becoming Honorary Members. A further eight women have also become Members of the Club.

Stewart Streit said, “I am absolutely delighted to be invited to join such a historic and prestigious institution in golf. I would never have dreamt of this all those years ago when I started out playing golf but I have enjoyed every moment of it. I am extremely proud and grateful to receive this honour and it means a great deal not just to me but to Canadian golf as a whole.”

Bell said, “I’m honoured to follow in the footsteps of so many great players and people who have been so influential in the game. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club enjoys such a special place at the heart of golf and I am thrilled to be part of it. Golf has been very good to me over the years and this is a wonderful distinction to receive. ”

Gavin Caldwell, Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said, “It is a privilege to welcome two women who have enjoyed such long and distinguished careers in golf to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club. Both Marlene and Judy have made substantial contributions to golf through their outstanding achievements as players and their tireless work in supporting the development of the sport. They are both wonderful examples to follow and tremendous ambassadors for golf.”

Stewart Streit’s remarkable career saw her win 11 Canadian Ladies Open Amateurs, nine Canadian Ladies Close Amateurs, four Canadian Ladies’ Seniors and three U.S. Senior Women’s Championships. After winning the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl in 1953, she went on to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1956 and the Australian Women’s Amateur in 1963.

In 1951 and 1956, Stewart Streit, who was born in Cereal, Alberta, was named Canada’s top athlete of the year. She went on to establish the Marlene Streit Awards Fund to support promising young golfers. In 2004, she became Canada’s first member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and is also a Member of the Order of Canada, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Bell, who was born in Wichita, Kansas, took up golf at the age of ten and in 1952 reached the semi-final of the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship in California where she was defeated by Mickey Wright. Bell went on to play in two American Curtis Cup teams in 1960 and 1962 and captained the team in 1986 and 1988. She set the then lowest score, a 67, in the U.S. Women’s Open in 1964, and, in a successful amateur career, won the Broadmoor Invitational title three times, the Florida East Coast Championships three times, the Palm Beach Invitational, the 1958 South Atlantic Championship, and the 1963 Trans-Mississippi title.

In 1996, Bell became the first woman to be named president of the USGA. She joined the USGA’s junior championship committee in 1961 and went on to act as a Rules official at the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open. Bell served on the USGA’s women’s committee for 16 years and became the first female member of the USGA executive committee. She was nominated to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.

Dear Friend in Golf,

As we close the book on the 2015 golf season, I would like to thank you for your support of golf in Canada as a member of Golf Canada and Golf Association of Ontario.

Your dues support programs like the following:

• National Golf in Schools – 2,795 schools across Canada (2,501 elementary, 12 intermediate and 282 high schools)
• CN Future Links – Canada’s national junior golf program: 518 participating clubs in Canada
• Golf Fore the Cure – 145 participating sites in Canada
• National, Provincial and Regional golf competitions
• Course and Slope Rating; Rules and Handicap seminars; coach training and certification

In an effort to keep you up to date on the many programs and services provided to both clubs and members, I am pleased to share the following statistics that that reflect the engagement of member golfers:

• Canada’s #1 website for golf – Golfcanada.ca – had over 6.7 million views this year
• Over 7 million rounds were posted the Golf Canada Score Centre by Golf Canada members

Golf Canada is committed to investing in the growth and overall health of the game. As always, it has been a pleasure to work with our Provincial Golf Associations to deliver the grassroots programs that have filled the pipeline with elite athletes and recreational golfers all across Canada.

We are confident that your support through membership dues are helping to create a new generation of golfers that will contribute to the vitality of the game.

I would like to wish you a safe and healthy winter season and look forward to celebrating our great game together in 2016.

Sincerely,

Scott Simmons
Executive Director/CEO
Golf Canada