GIBBONS, Alta. – Clear skies and ideal conditions set the stage for the first round of the 2015 CN Future Links Western Championship at Goose Hummock Golf Course in Gibbons, Alta. Andrew Harrison opened at even par to top a crowded leaderboard in the Junior Boys division while Kehler Koss sits two strokes ahead of second place to lead the Junior Girls.

Harrison of Camrose, Alta., is carrying momentum from his recent victory at the 2015 Alberta Junior Championship. The 16-year-old matched three bogeys with a trio of birdies to finish at even-par 71. Several competitors are within striking distance with 10 players shooting 4-over par or better.

One shot back is Ponoka, Alta., product Jared Nicolls who bounced back from a double bogey on hole 15 with a birdie on 16 and two subsequent pars. Also shooting 72 was Calgary native Ryan Rody, whose round was highlighted by a front nine score of 2-under par.

Edmonton’s Jason Martens, who finished runner-up at the Alberta Junior Championship, opened the tournament with a 2-over par 73 and is T4. Sharing fourth is Brendan MacDougall of Calgary who capitalized on an even-par back nine to sit two shots back of the lead.

Three Calgary natives finished the day at the top of the Junior Girls division. Leading the way was Kehler Koss who opened the 54-hole competition with a 6-over par 77 performance. The 16-year-old notched two birdies and holds a two shot advantage heading into the second day of the tournament.

In second with a score of 79 is Kenna Hughes who is looking to improve upon her third-place finish at the 2014 edition of this event held at Birchbank Golf Club in Trail, B.C. Rounding out the top three is Sharmaine Rapisura, who sits five strokes back of the leader after opening with an 82.

The top six finishers in both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls divisions at the CN Future Links Western Championship will receive exemptions into their respective national championships. The 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will take place August 2-6 at Summerlea Golf and Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., while the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be contested at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask., from August 3-7. The CN Future Links Junior Girls Western champion will also receive an exemption into a 2016 Canadian Women’s Tour event of her choice.

The second round will see the junior girls tee off at 7:30 a.m. MDT before the junior boys take to the course at 8:40 a.m.

For complete scoring and additional information from the 2015 CN Future Links Western Championship, click here.

The 13^th edition of the Take a Kid to the Course week is back from July 6-12.

The program, developed by the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada, offers parents an added opportunity to introduce their children to the sport. How better to grow the game than playing alongside the next generation of golfers?

Hundreds of participating courses across the country will offer a free complimentary golf round to a child under the age of 16 when accompanied by a paying adult. Many courses will also provide additional programs such as junior clinics, free range balls, junior club rentals and parent/child tournaments during the week.

Over 300,000 junior golfers have participated over the past 12 years, creating a great platform for promoting the game of golf while providing a healthy and fun activity for parents and children to enjoy together.

For more information and a list of participating courses click here.

CUMBERLAND, Ont. – Team Canada’s Étienne Papineau notched another provincial tournament win on Monday at the Camelot Golf & Country Club, winning Golf Québec’s Alexander of Tunis in a two-hole playoff.

Papineau, a two-time Québec junior champion, posted a cumulative score of 140 (-4) to enter the sudden-death playoff against Pierre-Alexandre Bédard of Chibougamau-Chapis, Qué., and Scott Ray of Ottawa—also the president of host club Camelot.

With the group still all-square on the second playoff hole, 18-year-old Papineau made his mark with an approach shot that landed inches from the hole. From there, the St-Jean-sur-Richelieu native tapped-in for birdie and the win.

“I was so nervous; it felt like I was carrying 200 pounds on my shoulders,” said Papineau. “When I saw the ball sink into that cup, I started breathing easy again.”

The win adds to Papineau’s impressive summer, which includes a T10 finish for Canada at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan last month. He will look to keep up the strong play this weekend at the Duke of Kent tournament—the second of leg of the men’s triple crown of amateur golf in Québec.

The “Tunis” is the most prestigious amateur tournament presented in the Ottawa region. The men’s Triple Crown is composed of the Alexander of Tunis, Duke of Kent, and Men’s Provincial Amateur Championship. The three (3) best players on the Triple Crown’s Order of Merit will form the provincial team representing Golf Québec at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be held at the Weston Golf & Country Club and Lambton Golf & Country Club, in the Toronto area, from August 10 to 13. Practice rounds will be held on August 8 and 9.

Click here for full results.

Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B., will showcase junior golfers from July 13-16 in the final CN Future Links Championship of the 2015 season. The CN Future Links Atlantic Championship will begin with a practice round on July 13 before the 54-holes of stroke play competition commences on July 14.

Along the windy shores of the Bathurst Harbour near the Bay of Chaleur lies Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club. Juniors will appreciate the picturesque water views and the coast’s breezy weather while they are challenged by Gowan Brae’s quick tiered greens.

“The CN Future Links Championships have run with great success this season,” said Dan Hyatt, Tournament Director. “We have seen strong competition and Golf Canada looks forward to closing out the CN Future Links Championship series at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club. With the final six exemptions into both the Canadian Junior Boys and Junior Girls Championships available, the event will prove to be exciting as we prepare to crown the season’s two remaining CN Future Links champions.”

Headlining the field in the Junior Girls division will be Laura Jones, the 2014 runner-up in this event and the 2015 New Brunswick Junior Girls Champion. The Moncton, N.B., product also recently competed in the Kent Ford Motors Bouctouche East Coast Junior Championship where she finished three strokes back of winner Claire Konning, who will also be in the field chasing the Atlantic Championship. The Indian Mountain, N.B., native claimed a third-place finish at the 2014 edition of this competition. Joining the pair will be last year’s fourth place finisher, Bailey Carr of Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Traveling to Bathurst, N.B., from Toronto, will be Tyler Erb who finished tied for second place in 2014 after opening the event with an even-par 72. Blair Bursey of Gander, N.L., will look to add a CN Future Links championship to his resume after having already captured the 2015 Golf Newfoundland and Labrador Amateur Men’s title.

In-season winners joining the hunt for the 2015 CN Future Links Atlantic title will be Kent Ford Motors Bouctouche East Coast Junior Boys Champion Mackenzie Clark of Fredericton, N.B., and Bantam Champion Isaac Darling of Rothesay, N.B. Junior Boys runner-up and 2014 New Brunswick Junior Boys Champion, Calvin Ross from Fredericton N.B., will also vie for the championship title.

Among the 27 athletes competing in their home province, Bathurst, N.B., trio Danek Hadley, Nicholas Cameron and Nathan Hogan will hope to capitalize on their home club advantage at Gowan Brae.

The top six finishers in the Junior Boys division of the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship will receive exemptions into the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, to be contested at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., from August 2-6.

The CN Future Links Atlantic Championship will award its top six Junior Girls with exemptions into the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, from August 3-7, at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask. In addition, the Junior Girls champion will also receive an exemption into a 2016 Canadian Women’s Tour event of their choosing.

The CN Future Links Atlantic Championship is the last in a series of six championships presented by Golf Canada in partnership with CN to support the growth and development of junior golf in Canada.

The 2015 season began with National Team Development Squad members Trevor Ranton (Waterloo, Ont.) and Grace St-Germain (Ottawa, Ont.) being crowned CN Future Links Pacific champions at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum Beach, B.C. The Ontario stop in the championship series saw Jack Simpson (Aurora, Ont.) and Alyssa Getty (Ruthven, Ont.) finish at the top of the leaderboard at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club in Dorchester, Ont. Capturing the Prairie titles at Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert, Sask., were Alexander Smith (Calgary, Alta.) and National Squad member Alisha Lau (Richmond, B.C.). This past weekend at the CN Future Links Quebec Championship Alyssa Getty (Ruthven, Ont.) added a second Junior Girls title to her resume for the season at Golf Château-Bromont, in Bromont, Que., while Jason (Chan Young) Chung captured the Junior Boys title.

Additional information on the 2015 CN Future Links Atlantic Championship, including a full list of competitors and tee-times are available here.

WestJet today announced a three-year partnership as the official airline of the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open with a new Facebook contest and a golf-themed fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

This year’s RBC Canadian Open is set to take place at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, ON, from July 20-26, 2015, and the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open takes place at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, BC, from August 17–23, 2015.

“As an airline that earned its stripes on the leisure side of the business, and golf being a top Canadian leisure pursuit, sponsoring the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is a natural fit,” said Richard Bartrem, WestJet Vice-President, Communications and Community Relations. “Getting involved with both tournaments offers a great opportunity to celebrate Canadian’s love of the game, especially since many of our guests fly WestJet to popular golf destinations across our network.”

“WestJet has shown a tremendous innovation in how they engage with Canadians and we are honoured to align their respected brand with Canada’s National Men’s and Women’s Open Golf Championships,” said Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer Gavin Roth. “The RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open are pinnacle events in Canadian golf and WestJet’s partnership will further strengthen both championships’ ability to connect with Canadian golf enthusiasts in communities from coast to coast.”

WestJet will also team up with RBC and RMHC, a WestJet Cares for Kids national partner, for a special fundraiser during the RBC Canadian Open.

“We see an opportunity to highlight the tremendous work Ronald McDonald House Children’s Charities does on behalf of families across Canada every day,” continued Richard Bartrem. “Partnering with RBC and RMHC during one of the premier sporting events in Canada will help us raise funds and raise the profile of a valuable organization.”

In order to ensure everyone across the country can share the excitement surrounding the RBC Canadian Open, WestJet wants you to share #YourOpenMoment. Visit the WestJet Facebook page to view a special video celebrating a love of the game. Share the video and one lucky winner will receive round-trip WestJet flights for two from anywhere in Canada, along with accommodation and tickets, to the RBC Canadian Open. WestJet’s Facebook post can be found here.

Rory McIlroy was on crutches Monday with an ankle injury from playing soccer, leaving in doubt the prospects of golf’s No. 1 player defending his British Open title next week at St. Andrews.

Just as excitement was building toward a potential clash at the Old Course between McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, McIlroy posted a jarring photo on Instagram showing him on crutches with a walking boot on this left ankle. The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland said it was a “total rupture” of an ankle ligament and the joint capsule that happened while he was playing soccer with friends.

A photo posted by Rory McIlroy (@rorymcilroy) on Jul 6, 2015 at 2:53am PDT

Sean O’Flaherty, his chief spokesman, said McIlroy has withdrawn from the Scottish Open this week at Gullane. O’Flaherty said they would not know until later in the week the extent of the injury and whether McIlroy would be able to tee it up July 16 at St. Andrews.

Ben Hogan in 1954 was the last British Open champion who did not play the following year.

McIlroy had been the joint favorite along with Spieth. They have won the last four majors – the first time in nearly a century that two players in their 20s have shared four successive majors – and Spieth is headed to St. Andrews as only the fourth player with a chance at the Grand Slam.

Players were shocked to hear the news.

“Unlucky, obviously,” Luke Donald said in a telephone interview. “I would never say, `Don’t play football or don’t do these thing.’ You don’t want to live in a bubble. It’s just unlucky timing, especially this time of the year. Golf is exciting with Rory and Jordan. It’s added a bit of spice to the game. It’s a shame if Rory were to miss the Open, which it looks like he might.”

Sergio Garcia, a runner-up to McIlroy at Royal Liverpool last year, tweeted, “So sad to hear about (at)Rory McIlroy injury on his ankle. We will all miss you (at)TheOpen next week my friend. Fast and healthy recovery.”

McIlroy referred to his ATFL, which is the anterior talofibular ligament and the one most commonly sprained. The left ankle is crucial in a golf swing as weight transfers to that side of the body (for right-handers) in generating power.

“That’s a big blow to the Open if he misses it,” former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance said from Wimbledon.

McIlroy won the Open last year at Royal Liverpool by going wire-to-wire and taking a six-shot lead into the final round. He also won the PGA Championship, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Bobby Jones as the only players in the last century with four majors at age 25 or younger.

The injury brought to mind Woods winning the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines with a stress fracture and shredded knee ligaments in his left leg. Woods knew about the injury a month before the U.S. Open and was determined to play, mainly because he was a six-time PGA Tour at Torrey Pines.

No one saw this injury to McIlroy coming, however. Along with potentially missing the British Open, McIlroy faces a busy time of the year as defending champion of the World Golf Championship at Firestone and the PGA Championship, followed by the FedEx Cup in America and the Race to Dubai in Europe.

Shane Lowry of Ireland told the Irish Times that he heard about the injury on Saturday.

“It’s not ideal for him because he’s wearing that boot and he’s going to have everyone in the media on his back now,” Lowry said. “But should he be playing football? I don’t know. He likes playing football, and he likes playing football with his mates. What’s wrong with that? … People think because you’re good at something you should just do that and focus on that, but that’s not what life is about.”

McIlroy has an affinity with the Old Course. It’s where he secured his European Tour card in 2007 as an 18-year-old at the Dunhill Links with a third-place finish. He also tied the major championship record of 63 when the British Open was held at St. Andrews in 2010, though McIlroy followed with an 80 in the wind. He tied for third at St. Andrews five years ago.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Danny Lee was overcome with nerves after qualifying for a four-man playoff at The Greenbrier Classic.

By the time he walked to the first playoff tee, he was ready.

Lee earned his first PGA Tour victory when he parred the second hole of Sunday’s sudden-death playoff, eliminating David Hearn after Kevin Kisner and Robert Streb faltered on the first playoff hole.

“All I can say is wow,” Lee said. “I finally did it.”

Lee, Hearn, Kisner and Streb were tied at 13 under after four rounds on the Old White TPC course. And Lee wasn’t in a good place mentally heading into the playoff.

“I was so nervous,” he said. “My head was blank, and I was just trying to breathe.”

For good measure, Lee said his caddie, Kurt Kowaluk, put the piece of paper indicating his playoff starting position into a mock wishing well on the par-3 18th tee.

“He put it in there so I can win it,” Lee said.

By then, Lee had his focus back.

“I felt ready,” he said. “I felt like I could really win this thing.”

The South Korean-born New Zealander earned $1.2 million and became the ninth first-time winner on the tour this season.

The former U.S. Amateur champion was competing in his 27th event this season, including his eighth in nine weeks. He is trying to qualify for the international team for the Presidents Cup in October in South Korea. He was 47th in the standings heading into The Greenbrier Classic.

“I never get tired of playing golf,” Lee said. “I mean, it’s my job, and I just love doing it, and I’m just happy to be out here every week.”

Kisner shot a 6-under 64 to get to the clubhouse at 13 under.

Hearn (67) and Lee (67) birdied No. 17 to join the playoff. Both missed birdie putts for the lead on the final hole in regulation.

Streb shot a 5-under 65 in the final round by making five birdie putts on the back nine with a 56-degree wedge after breaking his putter on the ninth hole. The putter broke when Streb tossed it at his bag next to the green.

“It hit the bottom of the bag and the (putter) head went flying,” Streb said. “It was not my intent, but that was what happened. And so I said, well, let’s see what we can do with a wedge.”

He three-putted No. 17 for bogey, but got in the playoff with a 6-foot birdie at No. 18.

Streb was allowed a replacement putter for the playoff, but he never got to use it after missing the green.

Lee and Hearn made birdie putts on the first playoff hole, also eliminating Kisner, who lost in a playoff for the third time this season.

On the second playoff hole, Hearn drove behind a tree on the par-5 17th and made bogey.

“That was probably the only bad tee shot I hit all day,” said Hearn, who is still looking for his first PGA Tour win in 164 events. “I’ve just got to keep giving myself chances like this, and it’s going to happen soon.”

Lee also missed the fairway, but reached the green in three shots and two-putted from across the green for par.

It marked the third playoff in the tournament’s six-year history.

Tiger Woods started the day seven shots behind the leaders, shot a bogey-free 67 and said he made some “nice strides” heading into next week’s British Open.

“Best I’ve hit it in a long, long, long time,” Woods said. “I had full control over all clubs. This could have been one of those special rounds.”

Woods broke a streak of 55 consecutive rounds with at least one bogey. It was his first time under par in a final round since the 2013 Tour Championship.

Lee, Hearn, James Hahn and Greg Owen earned spots at St. Andrews. There also were four spots handed out a week ago at the Travelers Championship and one more is available this week at the John Deere Classic.

Russell Henley shot 63 and finished fifth at 12 under. Seven others were at 11 under, including Chad Collins (69), who was tied for the lead before bogeying the final two holes.

Graham DeLaet had a final round 69 to finish T37.

PARIS – Bernd Wiesberger of Austria came from three shots back to win the French Open on Sunday, making five birdies on the front nine to take command as overnight leader Jaco Van Zyl faltered.

Wiesberger finished with a 6-under 65 to win by three shots ahead of James Morrison of England, who shot a 67. Van Zyl only managed a 73 to finish five shots behind Wiesberger’s total of 13-under 271.

Wiesberger found himself in the lead after four straight birdies from the fourth hole, and picked up another shot on the ninth. After eight straight pars, he finished with another birdie on the 18th.

Martin Kaymer, the 2009 champion, finished fourth after a 70.

It was Wiesberger’s third European Tour title.

It was a hot day in Bromont, Que., for the final round of the CN Future Link Quebec Championship hosted by Golf Château-Bromont. Alyssa Getty and Jason (Chan Young) Chung fired off the day’s low rounds in their respective divisions to capture the 2015 CN Future Links Quebec Championship titles.

Before Alyssa Getty of Ruthven, Ont., teed off this morning, she was tied for fifth place and sat two strokes out of the lead. After nine holes, she found herself three back, but remained focus on the task at hand.

“My game plan was to be more aggressive today than I was the other two days and I definitely got some momentum going,” said Getty of her round today.

She played the back nine at even par, bouncing back with a birdie after a bogey on 14. Her par putt on 18 secured her third CN Future Links Championship victory in two years, including back-to-back wins at this event. Earlier this season, Getty captured the CN Future Links Ontario Championship.

Getty added that there was a little extra pressure coming into this tournament as the defending champion, but she stayed calm with her sights set on the victory. “It’s crazy. I’m so excited, especially since it’s my last year of junior golf and playing well in the CN Future Links Championships has been one of my goals. I’m really happy about having won this week and at CN Future Links Ontario this season.”

Getty’s score of 2-over 74, was the lowest in the Junior Girls division on Sunday. Her 224 total for the competition put her one stroke ahead of runner-up Sarah-Ève Rhéaume. The 36-hole co-leader and Québec City, Que. native made the turn this morning with a 1-over 37, but could not hold on for the win. She concluded the tournament with a 5-over-par round of 77.

Finishing T3 at 228 were Noémie Paré of Victoriaville, Que., and Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., who carded rounds of 78 and 79, respectively.

In the Junior Boys division, Jason (Chan Young) Chung posted the low round for the second consecutive day. The Thornhill, Ont., native’s final round of 6-under 66 earned him the CN Future Links Junior Boys Quebec title with a three-day score of 11-under 205.

“It’s very surreal, I haven’t won in a couple of years,” shared Chung of the win today. “It’s really been a good past few days and I feel I’ve finally broke through with my game. It is a boost of confidence that I can hopefully take into the next couple of tournaments I will be playing. I’d like to think of it as a new chapter because I’ve never gone this low.”

Chung noted that his game plan coming into the final round was to focus on hitting fairways and greens to set him up for as many birdie chances as possible. He was able to follow though, notching eight birdies on the day. He credited his work around the greens for the victory. “I made most, if not all, of my putts from inside eight feet, so I think that’s what made the difference today.”

Finishing two strokes back in second place was Charles-Éric Bélanger with a final round 67. The Québec City, Que., product made a determined attempt to catch the leader, notching four birdies on the front nine for a 3-under 33 before adding three consecutive birdies on holes 13, 14 and 15. Third-place finisher Maxime Laoun matched Bélanger’s front nine score of 33 and went on to sign for a final round 4-under 68. The Montréal, Que., native finished the competition at 209.

Jason (Chan Young) Chung will return to the province of Quebec from August 3-6 to compete in the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion. Also receiving exemptions into the field were the five runners-up from this competition determined in a playoff.

Similarly, Alyssa Getty and the five finishers and ties in the Junior Girls division of the CN Future Links Quebec Championship were awarded direct entry into the field at the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship to be contested from August 4-7 at Deer Park Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask. Alyssa Getty has also earned entry into a 2016 Canadian Women’s Tour event.

The CN Future Links Championships are a series of six tournaments presented by Golf Canada in partnership with CN in support of the development of junior golf. The 2015 series’ first winners were Team Canada Development Squad members Trevor Ranton (Waterloo, Ont.) and Grace St-Germain (Ottawa, Ont.) who found the podium at the championship’s Pacific edition at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum Beach, B.C. Ontarians Jack Simpson (Aurora, Ont.) and Alyssa Getty (Ruthven, Ont.) captured the Ontario titles in their home province at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club in Dorchester, Ont. At Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert, Sask., Alexander Smith (Calgary, Alta.) and Development Squad member Alisha Lau (Richmond, B.C.) joined the winners circle at the Prairie Championship.

For full results from the 2015 CN Future Links Quebec Championship, please visit the tournament website here.

HALIFAX, N.S. – Abraham Ancer won the Nova Scotia Open on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title, beating Bronson Burgoon with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff.

The 24-year-old Ancer became the tour’s fifth Mexican winner, following Keoke Cotner, Esteban Toledo, Alex Aragon and Carlos Ortiz. Ancer was born in Texas and has dual citizenship.

“It was a pretty straight putt. It was right-edge and I smoked it dead center,” Ancer said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a while. To win out here is tough. I don’t think it’s going to sink in for a while.”

Part of a tour-record six-way tie for the third-round lead, Ancer and Burgoon each birdied the par-4 18th in the final pairing in regulation. Ancer made a 30-footer, and Burgoon countered with a 10-footer.

“I was just trying to cozy mine in there because they can get away from you quickly,” Ancer said. “I knew it was for a potential win, but I was thinking Bronson was going to make his. It’s not the kind of putt you want to be aggressive with.”

They finished at 13-under 271 on Ashburn’s New Course.

Ancer earned $117,000 to jump from 39th to fourth on the money list with $192,945. The former University of Oklahoma player tied for second in the Brazil Champions in March.

Burgoon is winless on the tour. The 28-year-old former Texas A&M player made $$70,200 to go from 43rd to 17th with $142,575.

Jason Allred, Travis Bertoni and D.H. Lee tied for third at 12 under. Allred shot a 64, Bertoni had a 68, and Lee a 69.

Stuart Appleby closed with a 68 to tie for 36th at 6 under in his first start since surgery to repair a herniated disk. The nine-time PGA Tour winner made his first appearance on the second-tier tour since 1995.

Top Canadian in the field was Ryan Yip with a final round 71 to finish T16. Team Canada Young Pro Adam Svensson also finished with a score of 71 to finish T25. Eugene Wong had a 3-under 68 today.