The leaderboard was stacked with red numbers and ties after the first round of the 14th annual Four Winds Invitational. The field of 144 athletes took advantage of the cooler temperatures and pure conditions at South Bend Country Club in round one of the final leg in the Northeast Stretch.

Kaitlyn Papp Budde was the first leader in the clubhouse of the day, posting a 5-under 67. Papp Budde started off strong, sinking four birdies on her opening nine. The Texas native settled into her round carding a 1-under 34 on the back nine to tie her low round of the 2025 Epson Tour season.

Monet Chun followed closely behind Papp Budde, tying her 5-under round of 67 to start off the morning wave. Chun made six birdies and was bogey-free until her 16th hole, breaking her record for the lowest round in her professional career. The University of Michigan alumna is finding her spark at no better venue than in rival territory of South Bend, Ind., as she looks forward to continuing a weekend of solid golf in hopes of securing the best finish of her young professional career.

Epson Tour sophomore Leah John had a number to chase by the time she teed off in the afternoon and started off strong with three consecutive birdies on holes one, two, and three. The Canadian continued her string with birdies on holes five, six, seven, and nine to shoot a 7-under 30 on her front nine.

“I had a very unexpected beginning to my round,” said John. “I made a couple of putts in the beginning, and I was like, ‘Hey, this is great.’ And then it just kept happening and sort of felt like it was out of my control a little bit, but it was pretty exciting. The girls I was playing with were super nice, so I could keep myself distracted just chatting, but it was a pretty epic day.”

John rounded the turn, making two pars before sinking a birdie putt on the par-5 12th hole. The 25-year-old settled into her back nine with five pars before hitting the green on the par-5 18 in two to finish off her round with a birdie. The University of Nevada alumna carded a bogey-free round of 63, finding herself at the top of the leaderboard and leaving round one having tied the 18-hole tournament record along with her new career low round.

“I think that’s the coolest part about golf, it’s about playing against yourself and the golf course, so you’re always striving for more,” said John. “It’s just hard. You never really see yourself as good or a record person, so it’ll be just a nice thing to have in my pocket to remember.”

BRIDGEND, Wales — Canadian amateur Anna Huang shot a four-under-par 67 on Monday to top the leaderboard at final qualifying for the 2025 AIG Women’s Open, securing her spot in the championship field at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club.

Huang, 16, was the youngest player in the 107-competitor field at Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club and emerged as the outright leader among 17 qualifiers for the major championship, which begins Thursday in Wales.

“I’m delighted with my score,” said Huang, who will make her second major appearance after competing in this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. “On the front nine, I just stayed really patient. I didn’t miss any fairways and the putts were dropping.”

While the Vancouver-area golfer is relatively new to links golf, she showed no signs of inexperience.

“I don’t play links golf, so it took a couple of practice rounds to get used to it, but I think I handled it pretty well,” she said. “I learned a lot from the U.S. Open earlier this year and bringing more patience into this week was really helpful.”

Huang’s score placed her ahead of Ireland’s Anna Foster and Thailand’s Aripichaya Yubol, who each carded rounds of 68. A group at 69 included Hira Naveed (Australia), Soo Bin Joo (Korea), Morgan Metraux (Switzerland) and Alessandra Fanali (Italy).

Also among the qualifiers were Brianna Do of the United States, who shot 70, and Lydia Hall of Wales, a member at nearby Southerndown Golf Club.

The AIG Women’s Open, conducted by The R&A, is one of five major championships in women’s golf. The 2025 edition will be played July 30–Aug. 3. Future host venues include Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2026.

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Corey Conners delivered a composed, confident performance at the 153rd Open Championship, finishing tied for 10th at Royal Portrush and once again asserting himself as Canada’s most reliable presence in major championship golf.

The 32-year-old from Listowel, Ontario, closed with back-to-back rounds of 66, finishing at 9-under-par (275) — just seven shots off the winning mark set by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.

A Weekend Surge at Royal Portrush

After a steady start with rounds of 71 and 72, Conners vaulted up the leaderboard with a clinical 66 on Saturday — then matched it Sunday with another six-birdie performance, capped by a confident up-and-down on the final hole.

“It feels great to play well on this stage,” said Conners after his round. “Portrush is a tough test. I stuck to my game plan, stayed patient, and made the most of my chances over the weekend.”

Conners’ score tied for the lowest combined weekend total among the top 15 finishers.

Lone Canadian to Make the Cut

Conners was the only Canadian to reach the weekend, as Mackenzie Hughes, Nick Taylor, and Taylor Pendrith missed the cut.

This marks Conners’ third top-10 at a major and his best finish at The Open. Known for his steady ball-striking and calm under pressure, he continues to lead the charge for Canada in golf’s biggest events.

What’s Next for Conners?

With the FedEx Cup Playoffs fast approaching and an eye toward potential Presidents Cup selection, Conners’ showing at Portrush may prove to be a momentum builder. The performance will also provide a boost in the Official World Golf Ranking, where he remains the top-ranked Canadian on the men’s side.

His summer schedule will continue with PGA TOUR stops at the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship before heading into playoff season.

Canadian Golf on the Rise

While this year’s Open didn’t feature multiple Canadians in contention, Conners’ steady play reaffirmed his place as one of the most dependable performers in Canadian golf — a player whose best may still be ahead.

As the country celebrates recent successes across both the PGA and LPGA Tours, Conners’ latest showing reminds fans that Canada continues to earn its place among the world’s elite golf nations.

As a long-time supporter of professional golf, RBC deepened its commitment to the sport in 2021 with the launch of RBC Community Junior Golf and continues to support this initiative, which provides affordable access to golf for youth across Canada.

In partnership with Golf Canada, RBC supports the national delivery of two junior golf programs, First Tee – Canada and Youth on Course.

First Tee – Canada, launched in 2021 by Golf Canada in partnership with First Tee, is a youth development program that offers life-enhancing experiences through accessible golf programming for young people from low socio-economic communities. Youth on Course is a complimentary program to First Tee – Canada that provides youth aged six to 18 with subsidized rounds of golf for five dollars or less.

Since 2022, RBC Community Junior Golf has engaged over 55,000 youth through providing First Tee – Canada programming at no cost and subsidizing green fees for junior golfers through Youth on Course.

“The growth of our programs and the ability to introduce thousands of young people to golf every year would not be possible without the steadfast support of RBC,” said Adam Hunter, Executive Director, First Tee – Canada. “RBC Community Junior Golf has expanded our reach and has played a pivotal role in providing communities across Canada with inclusive and affordable access to golf.”

All RBC Community Junior Golf sites across Canada, including municipal or publicly accessible golf courses, offer no-cost First Tee – Canada programming to participants with all necessary equipment, and provide participants with a complimentary Youth on Course membership to play affordable rounds of golf at participating golf courses.

At RBC Community Junior golf sites, youth in surrounding low socio-economic communities are prioritized access to the First Tee program.

Private, no cost registration links are shared with select schools and community groups, and RBC covers transportation costs to the golf course, to encourage participation from families who may not have considered golf as a sport for them.

RBC also covers the cost of First Tee coach certification, helping to onboard more dedicated coaches, increase program offerings, and ensure a safe and inclusive environment for participants.

Partnered schools and youth centres are also able to run First Tee programming in-house at no cost, with provided curriculum, training modules and equipment kits.

“We believe young people from all communities deserve the chance to play golf and reap the benefits the sport has to offer,” said RBC’s Chief Brand Officer, Shannon Cole. “Together with Golf Canada, we are breaking down barriers of entry to the game and bringing golf directly to communities in a meaningful and engaging way.”

Last year, in addition to the 36 established RBC Community Junior Golf sites, nearly 165 elementary schools, community centers, and youth organizations across the country partnered with RBC Community Junior Golf to further expand the benefits of First Tee programming. This expansion resulted in nearly 3,500 subsidized Youth on Course rounds being played at RBC Community Junior Golf sites alone.

Looking ahead, RBC Community Junior Golf will continue to grow the game, inspire the next generation of golfers and help make a positive impact in their lives, on and off the course.

For the third year in a row, First Tee – Premier départ Québec has partnered with FitSpirit to introduce more young girls to sport — and to golf, for the first time.

Between May 6 and May 27, First Tee coaches were on site at all five of FitSpirit’s Celebration events, which brought together thousands of girls aged 12 to 17 from secondary schools across Québec. The events — held at community parks in various regions — featured a mix of physical activities, social connection and leadership-building workshops in an inclusive, all-girls setting.

FitSpirit, a Québec-based non-profit, focuses on promoting physical activity and wellness among teenage girls. Its Celebration events aim to help girls build confidence, try new things and experience the joy of movement.

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with First Tee – Premier départ Québec to offer golf discovery at FitSpirit Celebrations,” said Élisabeth Lagacé, program advisor at FitSpirit. “A welcoming, non-judgemental introduction to golf shows teenage girls that they belong in this sport and that trying something new can be exciting, rather than intimidating.”

Each participant was given a card to collect hole punches by completing different activities. The First Tee stations — each led by one of four female coaches — offered a welcoming space where girls could learn golf fundamentals and develop life skills through sport. Activities included a chipping target practice and a distance control putting challenge, all rooted in First Tee’s emphasis on confidence, respect and perseverance.

The Celebration events were held at Parc Maisonneuve (Montréal), Parc de la Pointe-aux- Lièvres (Québec City), Parc de la Terre-des-Loisirs (Trois-Rivières), Parc Beauséjour (Rimouski), and Centre de plein air Hélène-Larochelle (Gatineau).

Across the five events, nearly 3,350 girls participated — many experiencing golf for the first time.

“Over 95 per cent of FitSpirit participants were discovering golf for the first time,” said Marie-Michèle Richer, program manager for First Tee – Premier départ Québec. “It was incredible to see them focus on their tee shots and celebrate hitting the target. The more they played, the more they connected — with the game and with each other. We’re grateful to FitSpirit for welcoming us and making it possible to share golf with so many girls.”

At the conclusion of this year’s FitSpirit Celebrations, participation at the First Tee – Premier départ Québec stations rose by 55 per cent compared to 2024.

First Tee – Premier départ Québec aims to continue working with FitSpirit each season, using golf to empower more girls across the province to be active, confident and brave with anything that comes their way.

Learn more at firstteequebec.ca/en/register or fitspirit.ca.

New features include group score posting, smartwatch support, GPS upgrades, referrals and achievements. 

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is enhancing how Canadians experience the game with new features now live in its free mobile app. 

The latest update to the Golf Canada app — the No. 1 golf app in the country — has launched with version 7.3.0, bringing a range of tools designed to make it easier for golfers to track scores, connect with playing partners and get more out of every round. 

Among the key upgrades is a feature that allows users to post scores for their playing partners, simplifying scorekeeping during group rounds. 

Android users can now access the app from select smartwatches, including Fossil, TicWatch, Skagen, Tag Heuer Connected, Montblanc Summit, Samsung Galaxy Watch (Watch 4 and newer), and Google Pixel Watch. The integration enables on-wrist GPS yardages and digital scoring, allowing players to stay focused on the game. 

To encourage community growth, a referral feature has been added. Members can share a unique referral code and earn entries into a season-long prize draw when new users sign up. 

An achievements system lets golfers unlock digital milestones based on rounds played, courses visited, hole-by-hole entries, provinces played and more. Friends’ achievements are also visible, adding a social layer to performance tracking. 

Also new is advanced GPS yardage functionality. The app now provides front, middle and back green distances to support more accurate club selection and course strategy. 

Privacy controls have also been improved. Users can now choose whether their scores appear in their friends’ feeds, giving them more control over how their information is shared. 

The Golf Canada app is available as a free download from the App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android. Golfers can log in with an existing Golf Canada account or create one in-app to begin tracking their game. 

For a full list of Golf Canada app features, visit golfcanada.ca/app. 

Ottawa, Ont. – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) has announced that longtime CEO Jeff Calderwood will retire on December 31, 2025, after a remarkable 34-year career helping to shape the Canadian golf industry.

Calderwood’s leadership helped grow NGCOA Canada from the ground up into a national network of nearly 1,500 golf courses and 170 industry partners. He introduced a wide range of impactful programs, including the Golfmax Purchasing Program, Take A Kid To The Course, and the Golf Business Canada Conference & Trade Show, while expanding the Association’s advocacy, research, and sustainability efforts.

Beyond NGCOA Canada, Calderwood has played a key national role in advancing golf through policy wins, economic impact studies, and industry collaborations. He also served multiple terms as Chair of the National Allied Golf Associations.

Though retiring from his CEO role, Calderwood will remain involved in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition and ongoing industry support.

“Jeff’s vision and commitment have left a lasting legacy,” said NGCOA Canada Board President Richard Edmonds. “We thank him for everything he’s done for our association and for golf in Canada.”

Jeeno Thitikul, Minjee Lee, Lilia Vu, Rose Zhang and defending champion Lauren Coughlin join Henderson, Korda and Ko in the field for the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open

CPKC Has Heart campaign to benefit official charity partner MacKids along with community charity beneficiary Trillium Health Partners

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Golf Canada and the LPGA Tour today announced the early commitments scheduled to compete in the 51st playing of the CPKC Women’s Open, August 20-24 at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

The list of early commitments features six of the current top 10 and 15 of the top 25 in the Rolex World Golf Rankings. The field also includes six of the top 10, 15 of the top 25 and 66 of the top 100 players on the 2025 Race to the CME Globe Standings. The final field will be announced on Friday, August 15.

Thirteen-time LPGA Tour winner and the winningest golfer in Canadian history, Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., will lead a field of 156 golfers that includes current world no. 1 Nelly Korda, three-time CPKC Women’s Open champion and 2024 Olympic Gold medalist Lydia Ko (world no. 3), and current leader in the Race to the CME Globe, Jeeno Thitikul (world no. 2). Other notables include Ruoning Yin (world no. 4), Haeran Ryu (world no. 5) and Hannah Green (world no. 8), along with rising stars Lilia Vu (world no. 11) and Rose Zhang (world no. 44). Minjee Lee (world no. 24) has also committed to compete in Mississauga. Lee recently won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, earning her 11th career win and third major championship.

The CPKC Women’s Open through CPKC Has Heart will once again leave a meaningful impact in the host community of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. For 2025, CPKC has selected MacKids, the arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to fundraising for MacMaster Children’s Hospital, as the primary charity partner with a goal to raise more than $2.8 million in support of pediatric cardiac care initiatives from newborn to adolescent. In addition, Trillium Health Partners will be the community charity partner with CPKC generously matching donations up to $250,000 in support of Trillium Health Partners cardiac program equipment needs, with up to $500,000 expected to be raised.

“The growth and impact of this incredible event, which continues to attract the world’s top golfers, is undeniable,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President & Chief Executive Officer. “Our ultimate goal with the CPKC Women’s Open has been, and always will be, to help the youngest hearts across Canada. We are excited for the community to come together to raise millions of dollars for MacKids.”

Last year, CPKC helped raise $4.3 million for heart health with donations of $3.8 million to the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and $507,000 to the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation. Since 2014, this tournament, which is the marquee event of the CPKC Has Heart community investment program, has helped raise over $23 million in support of children’s heart health in North America.

Defending champion Lauren Coughlin is among six past CPKC Women’s Open champions competing for Canada’s Women’s National Open Championship including Megan Khang (2023), Jin Young Ko (2019), Brooke Henderson (2018), Brittany Lincicome (2011) and Lydia Ko (2015, 2013, 2012) who will be chasing a record fourth CPKC Women’s Open title.

Mississaugua Golf and Country Club will welcome eight LPGA Tour in-year winners, including Yealimi Noh (Founders Cup), Lydia Ko (HSBC Women’s World Championship), Madelene Sagstrom (T-Mobile Match Play), Haeran Ryu (Black Desert Championship), Jeeno Thitikul (Mizuho Americas Open), Jennifer Kupcho (ShopRite LPGA Classic), Carlota Ciganda (Meijer LPGA Classic) and Minjee Lee (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship).

Henderson, a CPKC Ambassador, made history at the Wascana Country Club in Regina in 2018 becoming the first Canadian since the late Jocelyne Bourassa won Canada’s National Women’s Open 45 years earlier. Henderson will be joined by fellow Canadians with LPGA Tour status, Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que.

In addition, an important pathway to the CPKC Women’s Open is through the She Plays Golf Championship Series, a three-stop circuit that offers competitive opportunities for elite Canadian players with exemptions into the tournament available. Two Team Canada athletes have claimed the first two exemptions as 14-year-old Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. won the Golf BC Group BC Women’s Open and 16-year-old Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., won The Peloton Glencoe Invitational. Both Ding and Liu will be making their first starts in an LPGA tour event. The final stop in the series will take place at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at Burlington Golf and Country Club, July 7-10. One additional exemption will be awarded to the player ranked highest on the order of merit for the series, if not already qualified. For more information, click here.

“We are excited to announce the early commitments led by Brooke Henderson, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko for the 51st playing of our National Women’s Open Championship. The CPKC Women’s Open draws one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour and we look forward to watching these incredible athletes compete in Mississauga,” said Claire Welsh, Tournament Director, CPKC Women’s Open. “We have welcomed nearly 1,000 volunteer registrations, highlighting the excitement to be part of this special tournament. The CPKC Women’s Open is one of the top yearly women’s sporting events in Canada and fans are in store for a very memorable week this August.”

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will take place on the Treaty 22 territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), on lands that were once home to the Credit River Mission Village. During tournament week, MCFN will share their culture, history, and enduring connection to the land through ceremony, storytelling, and educational elements on-site. This engagement is part of a broader effort to ensure the tournament honours the history of the territory and creates space for learning, reflection, and meaningful community connection.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the CPKC Women’s Open is riding continued momentum from being named as the Gold Driver Award recipient for Best Volunteer Appreciation at the LPGA 2024 Gold Driver Awards. In addition, the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open was named Sport Tourism Canada’s International Sport Event of the Year at the 2025 Sport Tourism Canada PRESTIGE Awards.

The CPKC Women’s Open also earned the LPGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year award in back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023. The 2023 tournament also won additional awards for Best Sponsorship Activation and Best Volunteer Appreciation at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022 and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT RETURNS

Golf Canada and CPKC will host the eighth annual CPKC Women’s Leadership summit on Tuesday, August 19 as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open. The summit will be held at the Boulevard Club in Toronto, Ont., and be hosted by TSN’s Lindsay Hamilton. The day will bring together like-minded business leaders from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment and philanthropy. For more information, click here.

HALL OF FAME DAY SET FOR TUESDAY OF TOURNAMENT WEEK
Golf Canada will host Hall of Fame Day on Tuesday, August 19. Accomplished amateur golfer, Richard Scott, former professional golfer Jerry Anderson (posthumous) and renowned course architect Charles Blair Macdonald (posthumous) will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame. For more information on the honoured members, click here. In addition, Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. will be inducted into Golf Ontario’s Hall of Fame during the ceremony after previously being announced in March.

“THE RINK” HOLE AND THE FARE WAY FEATURING THE KEG FAN EXPERIENCE RETURNS

Fans of all ages will once again be able to experience the week-long celebration of golf highlighted by The Rink on the 10th hole at Mississaugua, and a variety of food and patio experiences in The Fare Way featuring the Keg.

KIDS 12-AND-UNDER GET IN FREE

As part of the championship’s commitment to junior golf, admission all week is free for youth aged 12-and-under. General admission tickets provide access to the golf course and enjoy fan activations throughout the property and experience the thrill of major professional golf.

MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE

Experience the CPKC Women’s Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news, and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.

OAKMONT, Pa. – Canadian golfer Corey Conners has withdrawn from the final round of the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club due to a right wrist injury.

The 33-year-old from Listowel, Ont., sustained the injury during the first round on Thursday when his club struck a television cable while playing from a bunker. Despite the setback, Conners completed rounds of 72, 74 and 72, positioning himself within the top 15 heading into Sunday’s final round. 

On Saturday, the injury worsened, prompting Conners to seek medical treatment and undergo imaging. He attempted to warm up on Sunday morning but was unable to continue, leading to his withdrawal just hours before his scheduled tee time alongside Ryan Fox, who recently won the RBC Canadian Open.

Conners has had a consistent season on the PGA TOUR, making 14 cuts in 15 events and securing five top-10 finishes. He was ranked ninth in the FedEx Cup standings entering the U.S. Open. His best major result this year was a tie for eighth at the Masters. 

The extent of Conners’ injury and its impact on his participation in upcoming tournaments, including the $20 million Travelers Championship, remains uncertain. 

Canadian golf legend Mike Weir has been officially inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame, joining an esteemed group of national icons recognized for their exceptional contributions to Canadian culture and achievement. The induction ceremony took place on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Weir, born in Sarnia and raised in Brights Grove, Ontario, is celebrated for his historic victory at the 2003 Masters Tournament, where he became the first Canadian and the first left-handed golfer to win the prestigious event. Over his professional career, Weir has secured eight PGA Tour victories and has been a prominent figure in international golf competitions, including multiple appearances in the Presidents Cup as a player, assistant captain, and most recently as the captain of the International Team in 2024.

Beyond his achievements on the course, Weir has been a dedicated advocate for youth mental health. Through the Mike Weir Foundation, he played a pivotal role in establishing a youth wellness hub in downtown Sarnia, contributing approximately $1 million towards the $3 million project, which opened its doors in 2023.

Weir’s induction into Canada’s Walk of Fame places him among a distinguished group of 2025 honourees, including rock band Our Lady Peace, actress Tonya Williams, classical guitarist Liona Boyd, cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Tirone David, humanitarian Dr. Samantha Nutt, filmmaker Shawn Levy, hotelier Isadore Sharp, and the Toronto International Film Festival.

The ceremony celebrated the diverse accomplishments of these Canadians, with Walk of Fame CEO Jeffrey Latimer highlighting the unique voices and contributions of each inductee. A televised version of the induction ceremony is scheduled to air on July 1 at 7 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem.

Weir’s induction is a testament to his enduring impact on Canadian sports and his commitment to community service, solidifying his legacy as one of Canada’s most influential athletes.