Stephen Ames settles for runner-up finish at Morocco Champions
MARRAKECH, Morocco – Brett Quigley won the Morocco Champions in his second PGA Tour Champions start, saving par on the final two holes Saturday to hold off Calgary’s Stephen Ames by a stroke.
The 50-year-old Quigley won a PGA Tour-sanctioned event for the first time since taking the 2001 Arkansas Classic for his second victory on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour.
“It’s been so long since I won a tournament,” Quigley said. “Just incredible. It’s weird, I had a peace all week, I was pretty comfortable all week. I wouldn’t say I was nervous until the last hole here on my second putt, but just felt comfortable and just felt comfortable here in Marrakesh.”
Quigley got into the field for the senior tour’s first African event as one of the top 10 available players from the PGA Tour’s career money list. He had five runner-up finishes in 408 starts on the PGA Tour, earning more than $11 million.
Three strokes behind Ames entering the day, Quigley shot his second straight 6-under 66 to finish at 15-under 201 at Samanah Golf Club. Ames, the leader after each of the first two days, had a 70.
Ames birdied the par-5 16th and par-3 17th to pull within one, with Quigley saving par on 17 with a 5-footer. Ames got up-and-down for par from off the right side of the green on the par-4 18th, making a 7-foot putt, and Quigley ran in a 6-footer for the victory.
“I was able to get myself back into the hunt, make it a little bit more exciting coming down at the end there and I think that’s good for me inside,” Ames said. “I didn’t give up, I kept trying, I grinded the round out. I still got 70 out of it even though I had four bogeys today. At the end of the day I didn’t win, but I finished second. It’s a good start to the year for me. I’m very happy.”
Quigley, the nephew of 11-time PGA Tour Champions winner Dana Quigley, tied for 64th in Calgary, Alberta, in September in his first senior tournament. The Rhode Island player made a PGA Tour start last year and played seven Korn Ferry Tour events.
“I think it helped not having been playing too much the last few years,” Quigley said. “I had a lot of years off. I had a leg problem, I had three fractured vertebrae, so I’ve been home for almost seven years raising girls. I think a different perspective.”
Quigley saved par on the par-4 13th with a 20-footer to maintain a one-stroke lead over Ames, then made a 40-footer for birdie from the front of the green on the par-3 14th, with the ball banging into flag stick and falling in. Ames bogeyed the hole to give Quigley a three-stroke lead. Both players bogeyed the par-4 15th.
Quigley played a six-hole stretch on the front nine in 5 under – making an eagle on the par-5 fifth and three birdies – and also birdied the par-4 11th.
“Got off to a good start. Then it’s funny,” Quigley said, “I missed a short one on eight for birdie and then I started thinking about score, thinking about the tournament, just kind of got a little bit in my own way. Somehow hit some good shots coming in and made some big putts.”
Doug Barron (68) and Scott Parel (69) tied for third at 11 under. Bernhard Langer (71), Woody Austin (66) and Jose Maria Olazabal (71) were 10 under.
Canada’s Pendrith takes 36-hole lead at Panamá Championship
PANAMÁ CITY, Panamá — Taylor Pendrith backed up his opening-round 63 at the Panamá Championship with a second-round 2-under 68 to reach 9-under 131 through 36 holes. The Canadian leads Max McGreevy and Greyson Sigg by two heading into Saturday’s third round.
Beginning on the back nine, Pendrith stumbled out of the gate with a bogey at the par-5 12th. He made his first birdie of the day at the par-4 14th and began to settle in. He closed his opening nine with four pars to stay at 7-under for the week.
Pendrith, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, found his rhythm after making the turn. He carded birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 to reach 9-under for the tournament. The 28-year-old played his final six holes at even-par to take a two-stroke lead into Saturday.
“I’m pleased with 2-under. It could’ve been better probably, but it also could’ve been a few shots higher,” Pendrith said. “I think I should be in a good position for the weekend.”
After carding nine birdies on Thursday, Pendrith struggled with his ball striking during the second round. The Kent State University product instead relied on his short game Friday to stay atop the leaderboard.
“I played well but didn’t really hit as many greens as I did yesterday,” he said. “My short game definitely saved me. I hit a lot of nice chips shots and bunker shots and made a lot of putts again.”
Players faced complex conditions at the Club de Golf de Panamá on Friday as gusts of wind reached 23 mph. After playing in soft conditions on Thursday, the wind provided players a different challenge during the second round.
“It’s definitely firming up,” Pendrith said of the course. “I hit some drives that went way further than I expected and had to plan where to land the ball on some greens. It was windier today and I found it a lot trickier to try and get the ball close to the hole.”
#TeamCanada’s @TaylorPendrith leads by 2 heading into the weekend on the @KornFerryTour ?? pic.twitter.com/RaOYnAG3k8
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) February 1, 2020
Max McGreevy and Greyson Sigg sit T2 at 7-under 133. After opening with a first-round 70, McGreevy caught fire on Friday posting a bogey-free 7-under 63. The 24-year-old began his second round with birdies on three of his first four holes. He went on to make the turn at 4-under and tallied three more birdies over his final nine holes.
“I just finally got the putter rolling today,” McGreevy said. “I hit it well yesterday but just didn’t really get anything going. I made two 15-footers on the first two holes and just felt pretty confident the rest of the round with the putter.”
In 2019, McGreevy traveled overseas to play on the PGA TOUR Series – China. McGreevy made the cut in all 13 starts in China and added a victory and nine top-10s. His stellar play earned him Player of the Year honors and a return to the Korn Ferry Tour.
“Having such a solid year over there gives me a lot of confidence,” he said. “Every single time I step up to the tee box out here, I have that same mentality that I can hopefully be up at the top of the leaderboard every single week.”
Sigg, who began the day at 6-under, struggled over his first nine holes. Beginning his round on the back nine, the 24-year-old carded two bogeys against one birdie to make the turn at 5-under for the tournament. After beginning his second nine with five pars, he tallied birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 to get back to 7-under for the week.
“I knew I was right there and still playing good,” Sigg said. “I just wanted to give myself four or five looks coming in and I was able to make a couple of them.”
Sigg is making just the third start of his Korn Ferry Tour career. The University of Georgia product earned guaranteed starts for the 2020 season after finishing T7 at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. He is making the first start of his career in Panamá after recording back-to-back top-25s to start the 2020 season.
“I’ve been hitting it really well,” he said. “The last couple of weeks in The Bahamas, I felt like I didn’t really get much out of it. This week, I’m making a couple of putts and hitting it great and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Dan McCarthy, Seth Reeves and Grant Hirschman sit three strokes off the lead at 6-under 134.
Third-round tee times will run from approximately 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. with players teeing off Nos. 1 and 10.
Stephen Ames shoots 69 for 3 shot lead in Morocco Champions
MARRAKECH, Morocco – Calgary’s Stephen Ames shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Morocco Champions.
Ames had a 12-under 132 total at Samanah Golf Club in the senior tour’s first event in Africa.. He matched the course record with a 63 on Thursday for a four-stroke lead.
“Not a bad day. I played nice today,” Ames said. “Wasn’t as much wind as yesterday on the back nine, but I think overall the pins were tucked a little bit more, obviously. But overall I think the golf course played very fair and the setup of the golf course by the officials was nicely done.”
The 55-year-old naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric in 2017 for his lone senior title. He won four times on the PGA Tour.
“Anytime you have a chance to win against the field that we have here this week, yeah, it’s a nice opportunity,” Ames said. “I’m going to take it as it comes, learn from it and hopefully everything comes out the way I expect it to be.”
Three birdies over 4 holes ??@StephenAmesPGA is staying ?? pic.twitter.com/NjFYsdV8HR
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) January 31, 2020
Hall of Famers Bernhard Langer and Jose Maria Olazabal were tied for second with Brett Quigley. Langer and Olazabal each shot 68, with Olazabal making a hole-in-one with a 3-iron on the 208-yard 17th hole.
“The breeze was hurting a little bit, so I decided to hit a 3-iron with a little fade,” Olazabal said. “When I struck it, it looked good. When the ball bounced on the green the first time, it was pretty much online with the flag. I kept on looking at the ball and the ball looked like it was rolling straight towards the hole. At one time the ball disappeared and that was it.”
Quigley, making his second Champions start, had a 66.
Defending Charles Schwab Cup champion Scott McCarron shot 65 to get to 8 under. He birdied three of his last five holes.
“I putted probably the worst I’ve putted in about a year yesterday and figured it out a little bit last night on the putting green,” McCarron said. “I putted nicely today, kept the ball in play, and 7 under’s a pretty good score.”
Colin Mongomerie, Rod Pampling and Scott Parel also were 8 under. Montgomerie had a 69, and Pampling and Parel shot 68.
BC Children’s Hospital Foundation named official charity partner for 2020 CP Women’s Open
Vancouver, January 31, 2020 – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Golf Canada announced today that BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has been chosen as the primary charity partner for the 2020 CP Women’s Open. Fundraising initiatives will occur leading up to the tournament and a month-long public match campaign starts February 1st, in recognition of Congenital Heart Defects Awareness Month.
“The CP Women’s Open is an amazing opportunity to draw attention to the important work being done by doctors to mend the hearts of the future,” said Keith Creel, President and CEO of CP. “Partnering with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation again is a natural fit and progression from our first partnership in 2015. I look forward to seeing the lasting legacy this brings to the hospital, children and families who need it.”
Funds raised through the CP Women’s Open partnership will support the Children’s Heart Centre at BC Children’s Hospital. Funds will be used to purchase a new fleet of the latest generation cardiac ultrasound machines, advance the cardiac research program and help to train the next generation of medical superstars.
“We are delighted to be chosen as the charity partner for the 2020 CP Women’s Open and are honoured to be the first charity to partner with CP for a second time,” said Teri Nicholas, President and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Funds raised through this partnership will continue to take children’s health care in our province to the next level, giving new hope to kids and families when they need it most.”
“CP’s generosity will not only support the daily work of the clinical care team, it will enable us to substantially expand our research capacity,” said Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani, head, division of cardiology at BC Children’s Hospital. “This infusion of high-quality personnel into our scientific programs will create additional opportunities to pursue new solutions for children’s heart health. We are very grateful to have a partner like CP by our side as we work to solve tomorrow’s problems today.”
The month-long public match campaign beginning February 1 until the end of February will match online donations to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. In addition to matching all one-time donations, CP will also match the total of the first year of contributions for all new monthly donations. With the match in place, the Foundation is hoping to acquire 100 new monthly donors by the end of the month. Visit bcchf.ca/heart for more information.
CP is proud to also announce the CP Women’s Open community charity partner is Royal Inland Hospital Foundation in Kamloops, an important terminal in the CP network and home to nearly 200 employees. CP will contribute $250,000 to fundraising efforts in support of cardiac care at Royal Inland Hospital.
“We are so proud to witness first-hand the incredible work CP does through CP Has Heart and the meaningful impact made in the lives of countless Canadians,” said Lawrence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “Excitement for the CP Women’s Open continues to grow in the Vancouver area and I’m very much looking forward to a tournament week highlighted by world-class golf and charitable giving in support of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.”
The 2020 CP Women’s Open will feature the stars of the LPGA Tour at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club from August 31 – September 6.
9 golf things we’re still thinking about from the 2020 PGA Show ⛳️?
The PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando is one of the most vibrant opportunities for golf industry members to connect in the New Year.
This year’s edition was no different.
Thousands of attendees packed the floor of the Orange County Convention Center – they say there are 10 miles worth of walkable area on the convention floor – and pushed through a windy and cold (by Orlando standards) demo day at Orange County National Golf Center’s 400-yard-in-diameter driving range.
The PGA of Canada put on a spectacular evening, as it does every year, to honour many deserving award winners from the year-that-was in Canadian golf, including a special award in 2020 to the president of Golf Canada, Charlie Beaulieu.
That wasn’t the only Canadian connection at this year’s show, as you’ll see when you read on.
The PGA Show is a unique event, and Golf Canada wants to give you an inside look at the goings on from Florida.
Here are the nine things we’re still thinking about from the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show.
1. CELEBRATING CANADA
The PGA Show draws attendees and exhibitors from all around the world, but it was great to see some strong Canadian connections in 2020.
Dormie Workshop – founded by some brothers in Nova Scotia – has quickly become the authoritative name in leather goods. Dormie’s headcovers are world class (you can buy yours from Golf Canada’s website) and this year brothers Jeff and Todd Bishop announced they would be expanding Dormie’s line to include golf bags, luggage, glove covers and more. Dormie has also entered into a partnership called “The Collective” with two other hip golf companies, Foray (clothing) and Asher (gloves).
While Dormie is expanding its assets line, 2UNDR remains committed to supporting the assets of the male golfers out there.
The British Columbia-based underwear company has continued its relationship with star Rickie Fowler and its line of performance undergarments have continued to be well received by many on the PGA TOUR as well as on the course and off.
2. LEGENDS LAUNCH NEW GEAR
Once you’ve reached legend status in golf you just need one name. Tiger, Jack, Arnie, Rory, Annika… you know exactly who they are.
The same goes for Scotty (Cameron) and (Bob) Vokey.
Vokey, a Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, was on-hand this year to launch the new Vokey SM8 wedges, while Cameron happily showed off his new line called Special Select.
The Special Select line blends timeless design with modern craftsmanship, while the SM8’s have seen innovation in three key areas – distance & trajectory control, spin, and grinds.
Both the SM8 line of wedges and the Special Select putters are Tour-proven, look amazing, and are perfect for your bags in 2020.
3. OUTFITTING OUR STARS
Canadian golf had a banner year in 2019 and as we look ahead to 2020, our stars will not only be playing well, but looking good too.
During the PGA Show Levelwear announced it had re-signed some of Canada’s biggest stars in golf including Corey Conners, Michael Gligic, and Taylor Pendrith. The company, based just north of Toronto, had re-signed Adam Hadwin – Canada’s top-ranked male golfer – last year, and its new gear for men and women was on display in Orlando.
It’s likely that Conners and Hadwin will be representing Canada at the Olympics later this summer, and adidas had in its booth the uniforms that Team USA and Team Canada would be wearing on the golf course in Tokyo – with some solid red-and-white accents (of course).
4. GOLF GETS… GREENER
While 2020 will mark the third year Canada has legalized cannabis, it’s not nationally legal across the United States. However, 2020 was a big year at the PGA Show for vendors who produce a variety of CBD products aimed at calming the mind and body of golfers, as many states are starting to legalize it.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a product derived from cannabis but doesn’t cause a ‘high’ like another cannabinoid, THC. Instead, CBD oil – when mixed in chewing gum or edibles has the potential to relax its chewer. When combined with other oils or muscle creams, it provides a new kind of soothing feeling.
While not for everybody, the lines at each of the CBD booths showed that people were at least interested in trying something different.
And, since both CBD and THC are fully legal across Canada, it won’t be the only time interest in the products will be sparked.
5. ON-COURSE FUN
You’re supposed to have fun playing golf. While there were plenty of products at the PGA Show that promoted this, there were two that really stood out.
The first were pushcarts from Walker Trolleys. Brad Payne, who used to work as a designer for Apple, designed the cart. It made its debut at the PGA Show, and it’s a combination of sleek and practical, with whitewall tires, a polished aluminum frame, and a leather handle – plus a customizable canvas storage system. Look for them at some premium golf facilities across North America this summer.
Many golfers – while they’re walking or riding – like to listen to music on the course these days. But Bushnell has invented a new product for 2020 that combines the world of tunes with the world of tight approaches. The Bushnell Wingman is a Bluetooth speaker that doubles as a GPS yardage device. So while you’re rocking out to Rush or The Tragically Hip this summer, you’ll only be interrupted by a voice telling you how far it is to the front, middle, or back of the green you’re staring down.
6. DOING OUR PART FOR THE PLANET
A big trend not just in golf but also in the worlds of retail, technology, and more, is encouraging companies and the general public to be more environmentally friendly.
At the PGA Show this year, for the first time, there were shirts and shoes made out of recycled plastic water bottles. That’s just one example of clothing companies making a concerted effort to try to be more environmentally conscious.
Canadian shaft maker ACCRA also announced at the PGA Show it would be launching a new shaft called the Eco-Satin (a version of its i-Series shaft). Eco-Satin uses fewer chemicals on the finish and nearly 40 litres less water than normal.
7. GOLF GOES DIGITAL
One of the largest – and most impressive – booths on the PGA Show floor in 2020 was that of Foresight. Foresight has made golf launch monitors and HD simulators for nearly a decade. The San Diego-based company now has more than 10,000 of their products in retailers, courses, homes, and driving ranges across North America.
In 2020 it was focused on launching the GCHawk, which is actually an overhead-mounted launch monitor (versus setting the machine on the ground). The GCHawk captures data from every club in the bag, and no matter if you’re a lefty or righty, you don’t need to set yourself up any differently.
It’s hard to beat the Foresight digital experience, and seeing it in action at the PGA Show was truly impressive.
8. SHOES FROM THE SHOW
There is only one part of a golfer’s gear that is used on every single shot plus every single step during a round – his or her shoes.
This year at the PGA Show we saw copious kicks, from modern to classic. If they were tech-first or comfort-first, all the shoes we saw were designed for golfers in mind and to make every swing and every step even more comfortable.
A couple of shoes that really stood out were from FootJoy. The company literally has ‘foot’ in the name – so you know every year you’ll see some solid options. New for 2020 is the Tour X, a shoe inspired by FJ’s vast network of Tour players. You’ll also see an expansion of its FJ Flex line (including another custom design coming for the RBC Canadian Open…) including the Coastal and LE1 – perfect for on-course or off.
Also jumping out at us for 2020 given their fresh design concepts were the Ignite PWRADAPT CAGED shoe from Puma – with a focus on locked-in stability and comfort – and adidas’ new CODECHAOS line, which features several spikeless models with style inspired by running shoes.
9. IT’S A GLOBAL GAME
One thing for certain whenever thousands of golfers and golf industry professionals get together – it’s clear the game has gone global.
Many of the companies above have headquarters in the U.S., with key offices across Canada, Europe, and into Asia. You could sit at a table with people from five different countries, and three or four different languages could be spoken. The PGA of America put on plenty of informative discussions during the show that tapped into global knowledge, while representatives from the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, European Tour, Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada, and the USGA – amongst many others – were all mixing it up during the week.
The USGA, in particular, had a special new announcement for 2020. Just weeks prior to the show it, along with the R&A and Golf Canada, brought forth the World Handicap System (WHS), and it was a hot topic at the PGA Show. Industry professionals learned more about how they can best work with their members and public players this year and moving forward. The WHS provides all golfers a consistent measure of playing ability (more here).
Just like many new and innovated pieces of technology at the PGA Show, the World Handicap System is built to make golf more fun.
Canadian Taylor Pendrith takes first-round lead at Panamá Championship
PANAMÁ CITY, Panamá — Taylor Pendrith carded a 7-under 63 to take the first-round lead at the Panamá Championship. Greyson Sigg sits alone in second after posting a 6-under 64 at the Club de Golf de Panamá. Grant Hirschman and Ryan Ruffels are two strokes off the lead after posting matching 65s on Thursday.
Pendrith began his round with a fast start carding birdies on three of his first four holes. The 28-year-old added three more birdies against one bogey to post a front nine 30. Despite making his second bogey of the day on No. 11, he rallied with birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 to get back to 6-under. Pendrith stuck his approach on the last and holed his short birdie putt to finish the round at 7-under.
“It was pretty smooth honestly,” Pendrith said of his round. “It’s nice to get off to a good start. I hit a lot of really good wedge shots inside 10-feet and my putter was on. I made a really good bogey on No. 11. I birdied the next hole and had a lot of good looks coming in.”
Pendrith spent last season refining his game on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. In 12 starts, the Kent State University product recorded two wins, six top-10s and eight top-25s. He went on to finish second on the Order of Merit. Last December, Pendrith finished T30 at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament earning him guaranteed starts for the 2020 season.
“To get two wins was a breakthrough year,” he said. “I’ve been close in the past up there losing in a bunch of playoffs. It gives me a lot of momentum and confidence coming up here knowing that I know how to win on the Mackenzie Tour. Hopefully I can chase a win down out here.”
Pendrith grew up in Ontario, Canada and remains close with PGA TOUR player Michael Gligic. Last season, Gligic earned his first Korn Ferry Tour title at the Panamá Championship and went on to secure his PGA TOUR card.
“Me and him (Gligic) are good buddies,” Pendrith said. “Obviously, he’s the champion here from last year. We have some good Canadian vibes here. I play golf with Gligic all the time and it’d be cool to go back-to-back Canadian wins here.”
.@TaylorPendrith on the prowl ??♂️
The #TeamCanada Young Pro Squad member shot a 7-under 63 to take the early @KornFerryTour lead ?
Read ➡️ https://t.co/FYmhx2Fltp pic.twitter.com/nByViil9X4
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) January 31, 2020
Greyson Sigg sits alone in second after carding a 6-under 64 on Thursday. Beginning the day on the front nine, Sigg recorded pars on each of his first three holes. He erupted with an eagle on the par-5 fourth and added birdies on Nos. 6 and 9. Despite a bogey on No. 10, Sigg rebounded with birdies on Nos. 12, 14 and 15. The 24-year-old played his remaining three holes at even-par to post 6-under for the round.
“I got off to a pretty good start,” Sigg said. “I shot 4-under on the front nine and bogeyed No. 10 but kind of brought it back with a couple birdies there. All in all, it was a pretty solid day.”
The University of Georgia product is making his first start at the Panamá Championship. The Club de Golf de Panamá typically ranks as one of the hardest courses on the Korn Ferry Tour and was the most difficult last season. However, the par-70 layout played significantly softer on Thursday providing players with ideal scoring conditions.
“I played with a couple guys in the practice rounds and they were saying how different it is,” he said. “It’s almost a good thing I haven’t seen the golf course and how different it’s playing.”
Grant Hirschman tallied seven birdies against two bogeys during Thursday’s opening round to post 5-under 65. The 24-year-old credited a hot putter as the key to his successful debut at the Club de Golf de Panamá.
Hirschman made 13 cuts in 18 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour last season. During the final stretch of the 2019 Regular Season, the University of Oklahoma product recorded four top-20s in his final five starts to finish 67th on the points list and retain status for 2020.
“I like to think I’m carrying momentum from last year into this season,” he said. “I ended on quite a string of top-25s and a couple top-10s and had a top-10 last week. I’m kind of trying to keep it rolling.”
Ryan Ruffels, making the third start of his Korn Ferry Tour career, carded a bogey-free 5-under 65 on Thursday. The 21-year-old tallied birdies on Nos. 6, 7 and 8 en route to a front nine 32. He added birdies on Nos. 12 and 17 to earn a share of third.
Ruffels is no stranger to golf in Latin America having made 43 starts on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica. The Australian earned guaranteed starts for the 2020 season after finishing T21 at the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament last December.
“I played in Latin America the last two years so I’m comfortable down here,” Ruffels said. “I’ve played a lot of golf down in South America. Q-School was about as much pressure as you could get. I was able to get through all of those challenges pretty well.”
Stephen Ames takes PGA Tour Champions lead in Morocco
MARRAKECH, Morocco – Stephen Ames shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday to take a four-stroke lead over a Hall of Fame quartet in the Morocco Champions, the first PGA Tour Champions event in Africa.
Making his season debut, Ames matched the Samanah Golf Club record set by Daniel Brooks in the 2009 Samanah Masters. The 55-year-old naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad played the four par-5 holes in 5 under, making an eagle on No. 5 and birdies on Nos. 9, 12 and 18.
“Today was a great day,” Ames said. “I hit the ball very nicely and capitalized with my putting. … The main thing I worked on all week was putting and I putted extremely well today.”
Canada’s @StephenAmesPGA is FEELING it! ?
He shot 9 under today to lead by 4 ?? pic.twitter.com/zV2xWNXYQR
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) January 30, 2020
Ames has one senior victory after winning four times on the PGA Tour.
Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Jose Maria Olazabal and Retief Goosen shot 67 in sunny conditions with an afternoon high of 77 degrees.
Kevin Sutherland was at 68 with Tom Pernice Jr., Ken Tanigawa, Scott Parel and Rod Pampling.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, coming off a playoff victory two weeks ago in the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric in Hawaii, shot 70.
Canada’s Taylor Pendrith battles through fever to start Korn Ferry Tour season
Taylor Pendrith‘s return to the Korn Ferry Tour hasn’t exactly gone to plan so far.
After earning an exemption on the second-tier circuit thanks to two victories on the Mackenzie Tour last year, the Richmond Hill, Ont., native was rearing to go. But at the season-opening Great Exuma Classic, the Team Canada Young Pro Squad member came down with the flu – having to play in the Bahamian heat with a fever. That became bronchitis as he played in the Great Abaco Classic last week, with caddy Mitch Theoret also sick.
“It was definitely not enjoyable,” said Pendrith on Wednesday. “Played nine holes in the first three days of the practice rounds and basically laid in bed, had the chills. It was bad. But I wanted to play and my game was good coming into the first round, just sort of an unlucky thing to happen.”
It wasn’t just Pendrith’s health that was at issue, with high winds at Sandals Emerald Bay and Baha Mar wrecking havoc on scores for the entire field. He tied for 58th at the Great Exuma Classic and then tied for 66th at the Great Abaco Classic. This week’s Panama Championship at the Club de Golf de Panama – which Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., won last year – is better suited to Pendrith’s big driving style.
“I remember in previous years here having to hit 2 irons off the tee to try and keep it short of the run up but I practised yesterday and hit a lot of drivers,” said Pendrith. “It definitely sets up well for me. The ball kind of just lands on the fairway and doesn’t roll very far so I can hit a lot of drivers and use my shorter clubs to get on to the greens. I’m looking forward to it.”
This is not Pendrith’s first go-round on the Korn Ferry Tour. He also played on it in 2016 when it was called the Web.com Tour but ongoing wrist issues, a partially torn tendon in his arm, and a torn muscle in his palm, disrupted that and the 2017 seasons.
Now that he’s back, Pendrith feels he’s better prepared to play his brand of golf.
“I feel like when I was out here in 2016 I was searching for the right thing to do and following people, being on the range for three, four hours. That didn’t work for me,” said Pendrith. “I’m just doing my own thing. On a Monday maybe I’ll just go to the putting green for an hour and leave. Or maybe just play nine holes on Monday instead of 18 and two hours on the range.
“It’s all about managing that and having fun again, which is great. I’ve got a really good mindset.”
Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., are the other Canadians in the field in Panama City this week.
Henderson finishes T15; Sagstrom collects first career LPGA title
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Madelene Sagstrom won the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title, birdieing the par-3 17th to tie for the lead and winning with a par when Nasa Hataoka missed a 3-footer on the last.
Sagstrom finished with a 2-under 70 for a 17-under 271 total at rain-softened Boca Rio Golf Club.
“I put something on the Instagram in the beginning of the week, saying I’m determined that 2020 is going to be the best season yet. I didn’t know it was going to be this good right away,” Sagstrom said. “But no, I have worked really hard over many years now, and I think that the biggest change or the biggest journey I have had is within myself and my mental game.”
Hataoka shot 69. The Japanese player birdied Nos. 15 and 16 to take the lead, then fell into a tie when Sagstrom birdied the 17th and lost with the bogey on the par-4 18th.
“It kind of helps me out with the beginning two tournaments, being there at the top, gives me a little strength to keep on going for the following many tournaments coming ahead,” Hataoka said. “Missing the win gives me more motivation to keep on going for the next many tournaments coming.”
She also finished second last week in the season-opening Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, losing to Gaby Lopez on the seventh extra hole in a Monday finish.
Sagstrom bogeyed two of the first five holes, then rebounded with birdies on Nos. 8, 10 and 11 – chipping in on 10.
“It doesn’t matter how you start,” Sagstrom said. “If you just continue fighting, things can go your way. And I just told myself, `Keep fighting, keep fighting.”’
Sagstrom made a 4-footer for birdie on 17, then saved par from 5 feet on 18,
The 27-year-old Swede and former LSU star opened with a 72, shot a career-best 62 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead and doubled her advantage Saturday with a 67.
“I have never been in a situation like this before, so obviously it was all new to me,” Sagstrom said about taking the lead into the final round. “I didn’t know how I was going to handle it or if it was going to go my way or not, so my whole goal today was just go out and stay patient and do what I have done the other days.”
Sagstrom won in her 69th career LPGA Tour start. She’s the 12th Swede to win on the tour, and the first since Pernilla Lindberg in the 2018 ANA Inspiration. Sagstrom won three times on the Symetra Tour in 2016 and led the money list to graduate to the big tour.
Brooke Henderson was the top Canadian. The Smiths Falls, Ont., native finished in a tie for 15th place at 7 under after shooting 73 in the final round.
Danielle Kang was third at 15 under after a 69. She parred the final eight holes.
“I kept hitting it to 30, 35 feet,” Kang said. “And they’re not easy to make. So, it’s hard to two-putt, to be honest.”
Celine Boutier shot 70 to finish fourth at 13 under. Sei Young Kim was 11 under after a 73,
The tournament was the first official event in Boca Raton since the 1989 Oldsmobile LPGA Classic.
Team Canada’s Brigitte Thibault returns to Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is headed back to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The 21-year-old National Team member was the only Canadian in the field at the inaugural event last year and was officially invited back on Saturday. Participating in the first-even women’s event at the prestigious course was the start of a career season for Thibault. She went on to win the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and the NCAA’s Mountain West Conference Championship.
“I didn’t want to set expectations because I didn’t know if they were keeping the same procedures, I didn’t know how they would select the people this year,” said Thibault. “So I didn’t want to set expectations, but I knew I had a great year. I did a lot of things right.”
Thibault, who is a member of Golf Canada’s national amateur squad, is entering her third season on Fresno State University’s golf team.
She was also part of Canada’s bronze-medal team at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, with Mary Parsons, Austin Connelly and Joey Savoie. After her productive 2019 Thibault was named the female amateur of the year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.
Although Thibault missed the cut at last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur she thinks the experience will set her up for greater success.
“There were things I did right, things I did wrong,” said Thibault. “Last year there was so much excitement and we didn’t really know what to expect. None of the players had an advantage. None of them had played there before.
Back to back ? #blessed pic.twitter.com/B4FT25dF5L
— brigitte thibault (@bri_thib) January 25, 2020
“So to know what we’re expecting to play, what shot you’re supposed to hit, and all these things are definitely good to have learned.”