Talk about a dream come true.

First-year Team Canada member Austin Connelly was in his hotel room with his teammates in May, the night before the annual media day in Calgary, when he got a life-changing phone call. But he had a feeling it was going to happen.

“I was actually dreaming about it. I was dreaming about getting that call,” Connelly explains.

The call in question? It was from Derek Ingram, Team Canada’s head coach, who said Connelly needed to call Jon Drago (the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament director) right away.

Connelly had been given an exemption into the tournament.

For Connelly, it was as if his life had come full circle. The Byron Nelson was the tournament he had attended his whole life – his mother, Bridget, says Connelly was in diapers when he first went – and now, he was going to make his PGA TOUR debut in his hometown.

Connelly ended up making the Friday cut, but didn’t finish Sunday after missing the third-round cut. It was an experience he says he is going to relish for the rest of his life, even though he barely made it there in the first place.

“I hopped on the first plane home (from Calgary) and the flight was crazy,” he explains. “There were tornadoes on the ground in the area of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex where I live. We were landing and our plane was twisting and dropping. People were screaming. It was the scariest flight I’d ever been on.”

Not only was there that harrowing experience, but Connelly had injured his wrist so badly the week before, he was actually not supposed to play golf.

“I committed immediately, and I would do whatever it took to play,” he recalls.

The drama continued Friday. He rolled his left ankle going down the stairs in his hotel gym and could barely swing, but he still finished his round.

So goes the life of Austin Connelly. A fighter. Standing no more than 5-foot-5 and 125 pounds, he thinks he can, like the little engine that could.

After the Byron Nelson, the 18-year-old also received an exemption into the Nova Scotia Open on the Web.com Tour and the RBC Canadian Open in July. In between those events, he represented Canada at the Pan American Games, and, both the Canadian Amateur and U.S. Amateur championships.

He finished 5th at the Pan Am Games, just four shots back of a medal. Later in the summer, he didn’t make it past the first round of the U.S. Amateur, but decided the time was right, and he was going to turn professional.

Although he had committed to the University of Arkansas for the fall, he admits he had been thinking about turning professional since the Byron Nelson in May.

“It’s been a goal of mine to get to No.1 in the world. I know it will be a long process but I’m ready to put forth all the effort,” Connelly explains. “I felt the time was right to be a full-time golfer.”

When Connelly says he thinks is game is already good enough to compete on the PGA TOUR, he isn’t boasting.

He gained the attention of the nation Friday at the RBC Canadian Open, having shot a 7-under-par 65 to comfortably make the cut. He struggled Saturday and failed to make the secondary cut, but he and fellow Golf Canada teammate Blair Hamilton earned Low Amateur honours.

And he did it all with his back-up putter, after his gamer broke on a plane. “I actually called Bettinardi and I said, ‘hey, I’m playing a couple of PGA TOUR events this year and I can’t play a putter with Matt Kuchar’s signature on it. I can’t do it,’” he explains, laughing. “They sent me a Tour-style one, but that one broke.”

Making the PGA TOUR full-time is something Connelly has been working towards since he could barely walk.

“I used to hit balls around the house one-handed with a plastic club,” he states. “When I was 18 months old I would go out and hit shots with a cut-down set. When I was two, I finally put two hands on the club and, well, here we are.”

Although Connelly says he played other sports growing up, like tennis and basketball, by the time he was 13, he knew what he wanted to do. Inspired by Tiger Woods, Connelly got more serious about golf. Now, he cites players such as Zach Johnson (“he hits it about my distance”) and Jim Furyk as guys he feels he compares well with.

And then there’s that friendship Connelly has with Jordan Spieth.

Connelly and Spieth have the same coach and fitness trainer so the dual-citizen sees Spieth in the gym more than anywhere else. They met when Spieth was finishing at the University of Texas and they chat at the gym multiple times per week and try to squeeze in a round where possible.

“As good as he is, he’s just 21 and there’s so much to learn,” Connelly explains. “But obviously I learn a lot from him. I pick his brain a lot about certain things. He’s just the golden boy for golf, I don’t know how else to put it.”

Being friends with a two-time major champion results in some cool moments, too.

“I got to see the Green Jacket, which was pretty neat,” Connelly says. “I was walking into the gym and (Jordan) is just standing there holding it. Then he put it on. It was pretty cool.”

There’s likely a lot to come before Connelly is competing for a major himself, but it’s another thing he can dream about.

And if there are any precedents set about Connelly and his dreams, well, it will likely come true.

OTTAWA ― NGCOA Canada, in partnership with Integram Marketing Services Inc., is pleased to announce the launch of golfsocial. Many golf course owners struggle to build their own online community. Developing meaningful content that will engage their customers and potential customers is a challenge. Most golf course owners and operators do not have time to develop highly timely, relevant, and entertaining content for their own social media marketing campaigns. golfsocial is designed to enhance a golf course operations social media marketing.

“A strong social media presence can mean creating a bigger online community and a more loyal and engaged customer base. The frequency and quality of these posts is essential for our member facilities to stay connected to their customers when they are away from the course. Executing an effective social media marketing program will help our members grow their business. NGCOA Canada members know that social media is important, but, like many small businesses, do not have the resources to source dynamic content on a daily basis. golfsocial solves the resource problem,” says, Jeff Calderwood, CEO, NGCOA Canada.

The proprietary technology allows NGCOA Canada’s partner, Integram Marketing to aggregate meaningful golf content from a wide range of sources that it is timely, relevant, and highly dynamic, and push that content out through each NGCOA Canada member’s individual Facebook page. Each member’s business Facebook page will become the source for consumers to find dynamic golf content. The result will be greater customer engagement, resulting in greater customer loyalty, and greater passion for our great game.

Golf Canada is pleased to support this exciting new initiative by becoming a content partner for golfsocial. Golf Canada will provide golfsocial with highly relevant and dynamic golf content to assist members of the NGCOA Canada, and Golf Canada partner clubs to build bigger and more loyal online communities for each facility. This initiative is FREE for NGCOA Canada member facilities, and Golf Canada member facilities.

To register your course for golfsocial, contact Integram Marketing Services Inc:

Allison Kelly: 519-221-3635 | Akelly@integram.net

Don Mackay: 705-644-2017 | dmackay@muskokahighlands.com

TRINITY, Tex. – Mexico and the United States separated from the pack for a share of the lead at 25-under par following Tuesday’s second round of four-ball at the Spirit International at Whispering Pines Golf Club.

Both the Mexicans and Americans broke 130 on Tuesday to lead the way and set the tone for Wednesday’s final round. France trails the leaders by four strokes at 21-under par to sit alone in third place.

Collectively, the Canadian foursome of Hugo Bernard (Mont-St-Hilaire, Que.), Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.), Maddie Szeryk (dual-citizen) and Grace St-Germain (Ottawa) continued to struggle on Tuesday, carding a 5-under 139 but falling further behind the pace in the process, trailing the leaders by 17 strokes.

Together, Banks and Bernard posted a 4-under 68 to sit T16 amongst the men. On the women’s side, Szeryk and St-Germain carded a 1-under 70, leaving them in a tie for fifteenth.

The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship is a 54-hole four-ball stroke-play competition with three concurrent competition categories: International Team, Men’s Team and Women’s Team. Unofficial individual competitions are also conducted through a format that only counts birdies and eagles towards final scores. PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR exemptions will be awarded to the men’s and women’s gold medalists. The men will compete for a spot in the Crowne Plaza Invitational, while the women will compete for a spot to play in the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout.

The event features world-class amateurs from over 20 countries across six continents. Conducted at the Whispering Pines Golf Club since its inception in 2001, the Spirit is a biennial event alternating years with the World Amateur Team Championship. The Spirit is hosted by the World Health & Golf Association, a charitable organization dedicated to promoting amateur golf for the benefit of health related reasons.

Click here for live scoring.

With another PGA season in the books, perhaps one of the most intriguing storylines which emerged this year is the breakthrough success of Aussie golfer Jason Day.

During the first half, all the buzz was about American Jordan Spieth; but as the season wrapped up, the golfing world took notice of Day’s brilliance.

After capturing the Farmer’s Insurance Open title in early February, the 27-year-old from Queensland, Australia had his challenges returning to the winner’s circle in the months that followed.

While Day was experiencing a dry spell, Spieth claimed the Valspar Championship in mid-March, the Masters Championship in April, the U.S. Open in June, and the John Deere Classic in early July.

Despite his best efforts to join the former University of Texas Longhorn in the winner’s circle, Day came up empty – until a trip to Oakville for the RBC Canadian Open.

Entering the final round at Glen Abbey, Day found himself in a tie with two-time Masters champion, Bubba Watson, for second place – both stood two shots behind home grown hero, David Hearn, of Brantford, Ontario.

By the time he reached the 18th hole, Day had worked his way into a three-way tie with Hearn and Watson. And it was on the 18th that the Aussie completed his comeback by draining a tough birdie putt to put himself one shot up, which would hold as the margin of victory.

The 6-foot, 195 pound golfer said afterwards that the victory was even sweeter given his close call at St. Andrews – site of the British Open – in which he narrowly missed out on being part of a four-way playoff for the championship.

“For it to be the third oldest tournament, and to come off what happened last week and be able to get the putt to the hole this time and come out as a winner, it just feels fantastic,” he said. “That’s what we try to play so hard for. I’m really glad to be the Canadian Open champion.”

Day also pointed out that being able to pull through in the clutch had huge significance for the mental side of his game.

“Confidence-wise, my confidence is over the moon right now,” he added after his big victory on Canadian soil.

Judging by Day’s results for the remainder of the season, his win at the RBC Canadian Open was the spark that he needed to break open the flood gates to success.

Following his triumph, Day would go on to capture the PGA Championship, the Barclays title, and the BMW Championship.  As a result of his victory at the BMW Championship on September 20th, the 27-year-old fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming the world No. 1.

For Day, who was introduced to the game during his early childhood by his father, the road to the top has been anything but easy. After the death of his dad at the age of 12, Day struggled to cope with the loss.

“That’s when I started getting into trouble; started drinking a little bit; started getting into fights,” Day revealed in a recent RBC mini-documentary about his journey.

His mother, Dening Day, refused to see her son waste his talents; and decided to take out a second mortgage on the family house so that he could attend the prestigious Kooralbyn International School to hone his skills on the golf course.

It was at Kooralbyn where Day met golfing coach Colin Swatton, who would take over as the father figure in his life and steer him back on the right path.

“He’s a life changer…..The reason why I’m here is because of that guy,” Day said about Swatton, who was the best man at his wedding and today acts as the 27-year-old golfer’s caddie and coach.

Despite the many impressive accomplishments this season, perhaps the most notable victory for Day and Swatton came at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. It was at the PGA’s final major of the season where the talented young golfer would display his mental toughness to win his first career major.

While there were many – including his rivals – who expected or hoped Day would underperform or fold given the pressure, the Aussie proved otherwise.

“Typically in a major you’re looking for somebody in Jason’s position to miss a couple of shots and just feel the nerves of his own. And he went about it like a seasoned veteran; it was almost like it was his fifth or sixth major. I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I was amazed that he kept pulling driver and kept hitting it in the tight zones,” said Spieth in his press conference after his final round at Whistling Straits.

Day finished at 20 under par, three shots clear of Spieth, to claim the PGA Championship; and proved to the entire golfing world that he had the maturity, poise and mental toughness to win the big one.

While Day experienced a slight let down at the year-end TOUR Championship, and in the process relinquished his hold on the world No. 1 ranking back to Spieth, his brilliance over the second half of the season has many excited about a budding rivalry.

With five tournament victories this season to his credit, Day, who finished in a tie for 10th at the year-end event, says he’s happy with his results – but far from content.

The talent Aussie golfer, who grew up idolizing Tiger Woods during the time when the 14-time major champion dominated the PGA TOUR, is very much eager to achieve his own version of greatness.

In fact, Day’s commitment to excellence dates back to his days at Kooralbyn, when he would wake up every morning before the other students in order to get in extra practice on his golf swing.

But perhaps, the 27-year-old, who is now in his prime, described his ambitions for greatness best after his victory at Glen Abbey in July.

“I just want to be the best I can be while I’m on this Earth and while I have the opportunity to play golf,” Day said simply about his dedication to reach his full potential.

With Day eager to regain the distinction as world No. 1 and Spieth eager to continue his winning ways, it appears that the battle lines have been drawn between the PGA’s top two golfers.

Factor in a healthy Rory McIlroy, and a highly motivated Bubba Watson, and the 2016 PGA story line promises to be one of the most exciting in all of sports.

If there’s any knock against golf resorts, it’s that they often have middling courses. Good enough and well-conditioned, certainly, but not great. This is understandable – the courses must appeal to a wide range of skills and the emphasis is on fun rather than challenge. People are on vacation, after all. Who wants to get beaten up?

That said, Canada is blessed with plenty of exceptions to the rule. From Humber Valley and Highlands Links in the East to Banff Springs, Jasper Park and Whistler in the West, Canada has resorts that combine top-notch accommodations with truly great golf. While the latter examples are well-known and well-documented, here are another five in Canada that are either emerging or perhaps a little less known.

1. CABOT LINKS, INVERNESS, N.S.

STAY: The contemporary design of the resort’s 60-room lodge stands out in this former coal-mining village in Cape Breton, but the building’s low-slung profile and low-key luxe feel right for a beachy setting. The most outstanding feature might be the views: cleverly, every room looks onto Cabot Links and the ocean. Another 16 rooms are available in villas.

PLAY: Cabot Links, regarded as Canada’s only true links, has captured the attention of golf aficionados, and for good reason. Rod Whitman designed an epic playground of wonderful holes in a stunning seaside setting. When the wind blows, it’s even more fun.

LET’S PLAY TWO: Any of The Lakes, Le Portage or Bell Bay nearby would do, but let’s be honest: Cabot Cliffs, a sister course to Cabot Links that’s perched on a cliff, as its name suggests, is the world’s new bucket list course so it’s the one to insist upon. It opened this past Canada Day.

BEYOND GOLF: The Cabot Trail along Cape Breton’s coast is one of Canada’s most scenic drives. Lots to do along the way, from kayaking and hiking to whale watching and local dining.

2. COBBLE BEACH, KEMPLE, ONT.

STAY: The Nantucket-style clubhouse has more than just the typical golf amenities, such as a pro shop and 19th hole. The upper floor is an upscale inn with 10 rooms, all with different layouts and capacities. How cool is it to sleep right in the clubhouse?

PLAY: Architect Doug Carrick has courses that are more highly regarded, but Cobble Beach is surely his most fun. The hummocky fairways ensure a lively ground game, the wide fairways on the front nine give way to tighter passageways on the back, and his ingenious use of the sloping property provides a view of Georgian Bay from every hole. Yes, every hole.

LET’S PLAY TWO: The Golf Club at Lora Bay isn’t exactly next door – it’s nearly an hour away – but the Thomas McBroom design is worth the drive. It’s scenic, features lots of elevation changes (the first tee shot is dazzling) and has a pleasant detour through a former orchard on the back nine. Play well and you’ll score well.

BEYOND GOLF: The Tom Thomson Art Gallery in nearby Owen Sound is the rare small-town museum with big-city cred — a terrific showcase for one of the Sound’s most famous sons.

3. ROCKY CREST, MACTIER, ONT.

STAY: Suites, villas, cottages and cabins are nestled in the trees beside Lake Joseph at this authentic Muskoka resort. It’s family oriented (pools, water activities) but it’s also great for buddy trips, given some of the suites can comfortably hold four or more.

PLAY: Rocky Crest doesn’t pack as big a wow factor as some Muskoka courses, and is perhaps better for it. Rock outcroppings are integrated but not overused or intrusive, fairways are framed by forest and wetlands but playable. Setting it apart from many resort courses, it’s walkable.

LET’S PLAY TWO: Rocky Crest is owned by ClubLink, which has two other courses in the region (Lake Joseph and the Mark O’Meara Course at Grandview). They’re just fine, but Ridge at Manitou, 45 minutes north, deserves more love than it gets, if for nothing else because of its gorgeous 18th hole and its intimate clubhouse.

BEYOND GOLF: Muskoka is dotted with villages and towns that make for a pleasant shopping or lunch excursion, say Port Carling or Bracebridge. Algonquin Provincial Park to the north is Canadian nature at its best. You might even see a moose.

4. WOLF CREEK, PONOKA, ALTA.

STAY: A two-bedroom cabin sits just off the ninth hole on the resort’s Links course. A large, full-serviced campground can accommodate plenty more visitors. So bring your RV or even your tent.

PLAY: The Old Course at Wolf Creek is the original and tighter of the resort’s two layouts. It is strong early work from designer Rod Whitman, who has gone on to create other masterpieces, including Cabot Links in Nova Scotia and Sagebrush in British Columbia.

LET’S PLAY TWO: The resort’s second 18, the Links, is also a Whitman creation but has a more expansive feel. The back nine, added in 2010 to an existing front nine from 1996, is especially good.

BEYOND GOLF: What’s a trip to Alberta without a little cowboy culture? The Ponoka Stampede, held the last week of June each year, is a smaller version of its Calgary cousin and features six days of rodeo and chuckwagon racing.

5. PREDATOR RIDGE, VERNON, B.C.

STAY: The main lodge has panoramic views of the Monashee Mountains and parts of the resort’s two courses. More intimate retreats are available at the cottages and villas built along the 17th and 18th holes on the Ridge course.

PLAY: The Ridge is fun, very playable, winds through mountainous terrain, and features extraordinary elevation changes and provides some of the most jaw-dropping views in Canadian golf. Your best shots of the day might be with your camera.

LET’S PLAY TWO: With its views of Lake Okanagan, the Golf Club at the Rise also delivers lots of eye candy. Anyone with a big game – and time to travel – might also head to Kamloops 90 minutes away to play Tobiano, a course that’s demanding but spectacularly unique (and vaguely lunar) in its appearance.

BEYOND GOLF: It might seem odd for guests of one outstanding resort to spend time at another resort nearby, but Sparkling Hill in Vernon is worth a look, if only to see the 3.5 million pieces of Swarovski crystal incorporated into its design. Otherwise, the Okanagan Valley is wine country – take a guided or self-guided tour of the many vineyards.

Bill Penny of the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings has been named the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Golf Coach of the Year.

Penny received the award this evening at the 2015 PING CCAA Golf National Championship banquet in Abbotsford, BC.

Penny led the Vikings men’s golf team to gold at the ACAC Championships in only their third year of existence.

“As a coach, he has taken the program at University of Alberta – Augustana from start up to conference championship in three short years,” said CCAA Golf Convenor Albert Roche. “This result is a testament to his coaching ability and his commitment to achieving long term goals.”

Braxton Fox and Michael Harrison of the Vikings won individual gold and silver, respectively, at this year’s Conference Championships.

In the program’s first season, two players went to the ACAC Championships. In Year 2, five made it to provincials and this season, all nine players qualified for the Conference Championships.

Through his continuing education, Penny earned the status of Master Professional in 2003, an accomplishment very few in the CPGA have achieved. Basing his Thesis on his experiences throughout a great career, “Building and Managing a World Class Golf Facility” is truly an interesting read for many aspiring professionals and everyday golfers alike.

Penny has positioned himself as a true leader in the industry, well versed and knowledgeable in all aspects of the game and business of golf.

“Bill has devoted a career towards the development of golf in Canada and beyond,” said Roche.

Other nominees:

Gert Van Niekerk – Douglas Royals

• Van Niekerk guided an inexperienced Douglas Royals men’s team to a fourth place finish in the PACWEST. Despite having a roster featuring four first-year golfers, the Royals competed extremely well against strong opposition on the West Coast. As the founder of the Sport Science Faculty and Athletics at Douglas College, Van Niekerk has fostered life-long relationships with thousands of student-athletes over the last 45 years.

Kevin Corriveau – St. Clair Saints

• Corriveau led the St. Clair Saints women’s team to a third-place finish at the OCAA Championships and a berth to Nationals. Under his guidance, the women’s team has won team medals the last four consecutive years. Corriveau, a PGA of Canada Class A Member, has coached at St. Clair for 14 years. The Saints men’s team placed fourth at the Niagara Invitational.

Benoit Lemieux – Boomerang d’AL

• Lemieux guided Cégep André-Laurendeau, a team with four rookies, to the overall RSEQ Championship. First-year player Brendan Smith finished second in the Order of Merit. Former student-athletes Hugo Bernard (St-Leo University) and Etienne Brault (Chattanooga Tennessee University) have recently graduated from the program.

Daniel Cudmore – Holland Hurricanes

• Cudmore led the Holland Hurricanes to ACAA Championships in men’s and women’s golf. He has rebuilt Holland’s men’s team, which lost three members from last year’s CCAA National Champion squad. Cudmore has also been successful in getting a women’s team back into competition.

Victoria native Cory Renfrew posted a 7-under 65 to earn medalist honours at the Monday Qualifier for the Frys.com Open – the season-opening event on the PGA Tour.

The 29-year-old collected eight birdies en route to a four-stroke victory over runners-up Ben Geyer, Eric Hallberg and David Bradshaw. The quartet completed the full field of 144 hoping to notch a win at Silverado Country Club in Napa, Calif.

Renfrew spent this past season honing his game on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit, finishing 40^th on the money list.

This will be the UBC graduate’s third foray on the PGA Tour. He Monday qualified into the 2015 Waste Management Open and finished T59 and played in the 2012 RBC Canadian Open.

Renfrew will join fellow British Columbians Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin, as well as, David Hearn (Brantford, Ont.) and Graham DeLaet (Weyburn, Sask.) to complete the Canadian contingent vying to begin the 2015-16 campaign with a victory.

Weyburn, SK. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Canadian PGA TOUR star Graham DeLaet has adopted 37 Saskatchewan schools into the Golf in Schools program through funds raised by the 2013 Graham DeLaet Charity Golf Classic in support of junior golf—an event conducted in conjunction with Golf Saskatchewan.

“My wife Ruby and I created our Foundation with the goal of supporting golf at the junior grassroots level and giving back to the community from which I came. So we are very proud to help grow the game in my home province by bringing it to so many students,” said DeLaet, a graduate of Team Canada’s National Squad. “We are excited to help teach the values of golf to youth in Saskatchewan and look forward to seeing some future stars born through the program.”

DeLaet became an ambassador of the Golf in Schools program earlier this year in June. The funds raised from the 2013 event have gone toward covering the cost of 20 secondary, two intermediate and 15 elementary schools, including four in DeLaet’s hometown of Weyburn, SK.

“Growing our junior golf programs and providing more opportunities for youth to get involved with the sport is a major priority,” said Brian Lee, Executive Director of Golf Saskatchewan. “As an association we have been proactive in adopting and developing new junior programs for schools and golf clubs to endorse throughout the province and we are grateful for Graham and Ruby’s continued support.”

With the additional adoptions from the support of the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation, the Golf in Schools program is now in over 70% of schools in Saskatchewan, which Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson recognizes as significant growth for junior golf and the future of the sport.

“Along with our national and provincial partners, we are very pleased to see the continued growth of junior golf through the Golf in Schools program across Canada,” said Thompson. “We also recognize that there are still a number of schools without the program, which we intend to reach through the help of our great supporters, including Graham and Ruby.”

Currently offered in more than 2,400 elementary and close to 300 high schools across Canada, Golf in Schools provides children with a basic introduction to golf through the Canadian school physical education curriculum. The program features three curriculum levels: grades 1– 5 and high school level along with the newly launched intermediate level for students in grades 6–8.

Launched in 2009, the Golf in Schools program—which is endorsed by Physical Health and Education Canada (PHE Canada)—is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations. The Golf in Schools program consists of safety-approved golf equipment, along with a relevant teaching resource for teachers to deliver lesson plans to students.

New in 2015, Golf Canada partnered with the University of Ottawa to include a Life Skills component throughout all three levels of the program. The Life Skills element incorporates fundamental skills and values such as respect, perseverance, and honesty—all of which are fully integrated into the teacher-friendly learning resources.

The DeLaet’s support of the Golf in Schools program dates to back to September 2014, when along with his wife Ruby, donated $1 per twitter follower (@Fore_Kids) to Golf in Schools upon launching the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation.

The Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation is focused on improving the health and wellness of children and supporting the development of junior golfers at all stages. More information on Graham and the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation is available at www.grahamdelaet.com

More information about the Golf in Schools program including the school adoption program is available at www.golfinschools.ca

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association is proud to announce the 2015 CCAA Golf All-Canadians.

The student-athletes, who are selected by their conference based on performance and contribution to the sport and their team, were honoured at a banquet during the 2015 PING CCAA Golf National Championships in Abbotsford, BC.

PACWEST

Brady Stead – Camosun Chargers

• Stead captured the PACWEST gold medal for Individual Cumulative Scoring and was named the PACWEST Player of the Year. A fifth-year player, Stead also led the Chargers to the Conference League Championship. He has a never-ending work ethic and has developed into a leader at Camosun.

Connor O’Dell – UFV Cascades

• The veteran finished second in the PACWEST overall standings and was victorious at the UFV Invitational by three strokes. O’Dell was the Cascades top performer as they won the PACWEST team silver medal. In his third year of eligibility, O’Dell was UFV’s highest-ranked golfer and a terrific leader.

Hannah Dirksen – UFV Cascades

• Dirksen captured the PACWEST individual title by four strokes and also had wins at the KPU and UFV Invitationals. She led the Cascades to a silver-medal performance at the Conference Championship. Dirkson has stepped into the No. 1 role with the Cascades and has become the leader of the squad.

Carolyn Lee – UBC Okanagan Heat

• Lee won two PACWEST tournaments and also led the Heat to a gold medal in team play. She defines student-athlete having been named a recipient of both the CCAA National Scholar and CCAA Academic All-Canadian awards. Her work habits in the classroom translate directly to her efforts on the course, where she has also excelled as a team leader at UBC-O.

ACAC

Braxton Fox – Augustana Vikings

• Fox fired a final-round 74 to capture the gold medal in individual play at the ACAC Championship. He also led the Vikings to a first-place finish in the team event. The Bachelor of Science in Physical Education student hopes to one day become an NHL referee.

Michael Harrison – Augustana Vikings

• Harrison led the Augustana Vikings men’s team to a Conference Championship in Alberta. The rookie finished second individually at the ACAC Championship, only two shots out of the gold-medal position. Harrison is a Physical Education and Kinesiology student at Augustana.

Kate Griffiths – Red Deer Queens

• Griffiths earned a silver medal at the ACAC Championship. She was victorious at the ACAC North Regional Qualifier. Griffiths is extremely dedicated and driven to excel. She leads by example and pushes her peers and teammates to excel through her dedication and hard work.

Elizabeth Stewart – MacEwan Griffins

• The ACAC Player of the Year and Order of Merit winner led the Griffins to a third ACAC Championship in as many seasons. She also finished in the silver medal positions at both the North and South Regionals. Stewart has been recognized as a favourite in the ACAC to play with because of her attitude and smile. She was awarded the 2014 CCAA Fair Play Award as voted on by fellow competitors and coaches.

OCAA

Evan Littlefield – Niagara Knights

• Littlefield led Niagara to the OCAA Championship. The Knights were also victorious at the Fanshawe Invitational and Niagara Classic. He fired a final round 69 to capture the individual title at the Conference Championship. Littlefield is a consummate team player and a grinder on the course.

Scott Benzoni – Humber Hawks

• Benzoni captured a pair of silver medals at the OCAA Championships. He placed second individually and led the Hawks to a second-place finish in the team event, only two strokes away from gold. Benzoni became Humber’s go-to player this season and he is one of the finest competitors and gentlemen in collegiate golf.

Lorelle Weavers – Niagara Knights

• Weavers fired consistent rounds of 75-76-75 to capture gold at the OCAA Championships. She was also victorious at the Fanshawe and Georgian Invitationals. The defending CCAA National Champion is a model student-athlete, having also been named an Academic All-Canadian. Weavers’ friendly demeanor with her competitors hides the fierce competitive fire she has.

Emilie Tyndall – Georgian Grizzlies

• Tyndall led Georgian to gold in team play at the OCAA Championship and finished second overall individually. She and the Grizzlies were victorious at the Niagara Invitational. Tyndall’s upbeat personality and focus was contagious this season as she clearly established herself as a leader at Georgian.n tremendous leadership.

RSEQ

Étienne Papineau – St. Lawrence Lions

• Papineau captured the RSEQ individual gold medal, winning two events, including the Conference Championship. He finished the season third in the Quebec Order of Merit standings. Papineau, who finished tenth at the Junior World Championship, is a member of Golf Canada’s development team.

Brendan Smith – Boomerang d’André-Laurendeau

• Smith fired his best round of the season, a one-under par 71, at Continental to lead the André-Laurendeau Boomerang to the RSEQ Championship. Smith is a great teammate with a strong commitment to his game.

Annie Lacombe – Vanier Cheetahs

• Lacombe fired two consistent rounds of 78 at Continental to earn a second-place finish at the RSEQ Championship.

Noémie Ouellette – St. Lawrence Lions

• Ouellette earned the RSEQ individual gold medal, with victories at every conference tournament. Back-to-back 74’s gave her an eight-shot win at the Conference Championship. Ouellette finished the season fourth in the Quebec Junior Girls Order of Merit standings. The Lions captain has also shown tremendous leadership.

ACAA

Josh Landine – UNB Varsity Reds

• In Landine’s first year of varsity golf, he captured the individual gold medal at the ACAA Championships. He finished in the Top 3 in all four events, including two victories. Landine has an extremely strong work ethic. He is a quiet leader and a true role model for other student-athletes.

Nick Earle – UNB Varsity Reds

• Earle led the Varsity Reds to a second-place finish in the ACAA Championships in their first season of play. The rookie also placed second individually at the Conference Championships. The UNB men’s team was victorious in two of four ACAA events this season.

Jaylene Holmes-Tang – Holland Hurricanes

• Holmes-Tang finished second individually at the ACAA Championships and led the Hurricanes to gold in the team event. She was victorious at the UNB Invitational. Holmes-Tang, a 2014 National Scholar award recipient, is a dual athlete who has also participated at the CCAA Curling National Championships.

Karleigh McEwen – Holland Hurricanes

• In her first season at Holland, McEwen earned victories at two tournaments as well as the ACAA Championship. She also led the Hurricanes to the ACAA team title. McEwen had the lowest scoring average in the conference and improved her play with every round.

TRINITY, Tex. – Four Canadians combined to tally a 3-under 141 in Monday’s opening round of four-ball at the Spirit International at the Whispering Pines Golf Club.

Collectively, the Canadian squad sits in a tie for seventeenth, 11 strokes back of the leading Norwegians who carded a 14-under 130.

Representing Canada on the women’s side are dual-citizen Maddie Szeryk and Ottawa native Grace St-Germain. Together, the duo posted a 2-under 70 led by three birdies on the back nine from Szeryk.

On the men’s side, former Team Canada members Hugo Bernard of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., and Eric Banks of Truro, N.S., combined for a 1-under par 71.

Accompanying the Canucks in Texas as team captain is Robert Ratcliffe, Team Canada’s Lead Development Squad Coach. Ratcliffe, a class “A” professional with the PGA of Canada, looks forward to the next two rounds and hopes to build on Monday’s performance.

“Not exactly the performance we were hoping for today but we’re remaining optimistic heading into the next couple rounds,” said Ratcliffe, a Comox, B.C., native. “There are a couple adjustments we’ll make heading into tomorrow and we are feeling confident that we can build on today and post some lower scores in the coming rounds.”

The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship is a 54-hole four-ball stroke-play competition with three concurrent competition categories: International Team, Men’s Team and Women’s Team. Unofficial individual competitions are also conducted—with PGA TOUR and LPGA TOUR exemptions awarded to the gold medalists. The men will compete for a spot in the Crowne Plaza Invitational, while the women will compete for a spot to play in the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout.

The event features world-class amateurs from over 20 countries across six continents. Conducted at the Whispering Pines Golf Club since its inception in 2001, the Spirit is a biennial event alternating years with the World Amateur Team Championship. The Spirit is hosted by the World Health & Golf Association, a charitable organization dedicated to promoting amateur golf for the benefit of health related reasons.

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