Henderson recharged heading into LPGA season opener
Brooke Henderson ended 2019 on a high note with a fifth-place finish at the CME Group Tour Championship and took a much-deserved break in the offseason, enjoying the warm weather at her residence in Florida and visiting her friends and family in her native Canada. It was a perfect time for the 22-year-old to reflect on a triumphant year that included becoming the Canadian with the most professional wins on the LPGA and PGA Tour when she won the Meijer LPGA Classic for her ninth career victory.
“I feel like 2019 was a really successful season for me and my sister (and caddie Brittany Henderson) as well,” said Henderson. “We were really happy with how everything went. I felt like I improved in a lot of places, which was good. I think a key thing for me is scoring average and keeping it below 70, which I did last year.”
Henderson returns to action at the biggest party on Tour at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, alongside a host of Hall of Fame athletes and celebrities. Despite the fun nature of the week, she said it still feels just as competitive on the course as it does at any other event.
“I feel like playing with some of the best athletes in the world here, you’re just always pushing each other to be a little bit better and trying to hit a little bit further and make a few more birdies,” said Henderson, who finished T6 in the inaugural tournament in 2019. “It’s really a unique experience as it’s maybe not as intense right off the get go, as it is on the regular LPGA Tour week, but definitely it has that same intensity once you get going, and it has maybe a little bit of fun added to it.”
With the start of season play just a few days away, Henderson said she is already prepped to execute her 2020 goals, which includes continuing her streak of four straight years with at least two wins.
“I’d love to keep that streak alive. It’s been pretty important to me the last few years, especially with how dense the field is in terms of talent,” said Henderson. “It’s really important to me to keep that going, and I feel like to get another major championship win is hopefully on my radar, and hopefully I can get it done maybe this year and in future years.”
Golf’s World Handicap System raises maximum handicap index to 54
The maximum Handicap Index has changed. Where previously there were different values for men and women, now there is one maximum Handicap Index regardless of gender. The maximum Handicap Index is 54.0.
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Golf Journalists Association of Canada names 2019 Players of the Year
TORONTO – Brooke Henderson’s on-course accomplishments and continual overhaul of Canadian golf’s record books made her the top newsmaker on the course for the second consecutive year in 2019.
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) is proud to announce Henderson, Corey Conners, Garrett Rank and Brigitte Thibault as the 2019 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country. Henderson’s record-setting ninth LPGA victory, which gave her the most professional wins all-time by a Canadian on the LPGA or PGA Tours, was also voted Canadian Golf Story of the Year.
“GJAC is proud to recognize and applaud the top accomplishments by Canadian players every year, and 2019 was full of some incredible performances at every level of the game of golf,” said David McPherson, GJAC President. “Across Canada, these players continue to record performances that make covering their achievements and telling the stories behind them a joy for our members.”
Henderson’s two wins in 2019, which came at the Meijer LPGA Classic and LOTTE Championship, put her into new territory in the Canadian record books with nine LPGA victories, surpassing the old record shared by Sandra Post, George Knudson and Mike Weir.
Corey Conners was named Male Professional of the Year after breaking through for his first PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open, where the second-year PGA Tour member Monday Qualified and went on to win by two. The 28-year old went on to finish 26th in the FedExCup standings and totaled $2,919,864 in on-course earnings for the season.
Rosemére, Quebec’s Brigitte Thibault earned honours as Female Amateur of the Year after a standout season that included wins at the Mountain West Conference Championship and Ontario Amateur Championship, as well as an appearance as Canada’s first entrant into the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and a bronze medal with Team Canada at the Pan American Games.
Finally, Elmira, Ontario’s Garrett Rank repeated as Male Amateur of the Year after winning the prestigious Western Amateur and recording yet another consistent season that included top-10 performances at the Porter Cup, Ontario Men’s Amateur, North and South Amateur and the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur, where he was runner-up.
Playing Conditions Calculation will adjust golf scores to reflect weather and course setup
Under the new World Handicap System, will analyze how players have performed that day compared to their expected performance on that golf course. It will naturally include weather and course setup (reflected in the scores), and if expected results fall outside a tolerance level, an adjustment will apply to all scores played on that course for that day.
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Net Double Bogey is the new maximum hole score
Under the World Handicap System, a limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only). Net Double Bogey will replace the existing Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) procedure for determining the maximum hole score.
Click here to learn more.
How your handicap is calculated under golf’s new World Handicap System
The World Handicap System will ensure handicaps are calculated consistently around the world.
Click here for more information.
Canadian golfer Blair Hamilton hopes silent retreat helps mental performance
Never afraid to try something new, Team Canada alumnus Blair Hamilton decided to attend a 10-day silent retreat in Southern Alberta this past off-season to improve his mental game.
The talkative Hamilton found the experience challenging but rewarding. Communication among the 70 students living at the Vipassana centre was forbidden, with long days focused solely on how to clear the mind.
“The first bell goes at 4:30 in the morning, you meditate from 4:30 to 6:30, then you break down for breakfast,” said Hamilton on Tuesday after completing the first round of the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s qualifying tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. “Then you’re meditating in different sessions, but pretty much constantly until lunch, and then you meditate from, I think it’s 2:30 until 9 p.m. and it’s all guided meditation,
“The whole purpose of this is to teach you to observe the things that come into your mind and not react to them and disassociate from your ego. Your ego by definition would be a false sense of self, whether it’s telling you that you’re super good or super bad. You know, that’s just the thing in your mind.”
Attending the silent retreat came at the suggestion of his mentor Kaz Hashimoto, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is the co-founder of Pink Zulu Labs. Hashimoto and Hamilton first connected last season when the 26-year-old golfer reached out to a variety of leading figures in different industries – including Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield – to pick their brains on how they excelled in their field.
Hashimoto and mental performance coach Paul Dewland are helping Hamilton improve his psychology because he believes that’s what separates golf’s very best players from the rest of the pro ranks.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 31: Blair Hamilton of Canada plays his shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on January 31, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“If you were to line up a guy on the Mackenzie Tour, PGA Tour China, PGA Tour Latinoamerica, Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour on the range and you’re watching them hit and you just brought in a random person and said, ‘Tell me who’s on which tour,’ they wouldn’t be able to say,” said Hamilton. “Everyone at the level can hit the golf ball, no problem, but it’s the very little mini things that make all the difference.
“If you can save half a shot a round that’s two shots on the total tournament. I mean, that’s the difference of finishing, you know, seventh or third or third and first.”
Hamilton, from Burlington, Ont., is joined at this week’s PGA Tour Latinoamerica qualifying event by fellow Canadians Zahidali Nathu of Richmond, B.C., Matthew Shubley of Oshawa, Ont., Mathew Iceton of Brooklin, Ont.. and Vancouver’s Trevor Yu.
After hopefully qualifying for the Latinoamerica circuit for the third consecutive year, Hamilton plans to do some mini tour events in Florida and some qualifiers for the Korn Ferry Tour’s events in Colombia, and Panama.
If Hamilton does qualify for the PGA Tour Latinoamerica, then it will be down to South America, playing golf and keeping up with a hectic travel schedule that is akin to crisscrossing Canada on a weekly basis.
“We spend quite a bit of time down in Argentina which, you know, a direct flight from Toronto’s about 11 or 12 hours,” said Hamilton, who is currently based in South Florida. “We’ll be going to Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia all over the continent down there.
“It’s not uncommon to have a five-hour flight between events, which is like flying Toronto to Vancouver.”
One of the highlights of his time playing golf in South America is his unlikely friendship with caddy Leandro Ferreyra.
Hamilton was competing in a tournament in Cordoba, Argentina, and Ferreyra was caddying for one of the other golfers in his group. Afterwards, the pair connected on Instagram and Hamilton asked Ferreyra if he wanted to be his caddy at another event in Argentina.
Since then, they’ve teamed up at five or six events and have become close friends.
“I find that people in Latin America, they’re quite loyal. They’re loyal friends and when they care about you, they truly care about you,” said Hamilton. “His family always sends me messages, just checking in and stuff like that. You build friendships like that.
“Who would have thought that me and Leandro, this guy that’s 40 years old from Cordoba, Argentina, would become close friends? Golf’s kinda funny that way.”
The R&A and European Tour to help drive new LPGA-LET joint venture
The R&A and the men’s European Tour have committed to help the newly formed joint venture between the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the Ladies European Tour (LET) in its efforts to significantly grow playing opportunities, financial incentives and television exposure for women’s professional golf in Europe and around the world.
As well as providing financial support and leveraging other assets they manage, the bodies will each have one seat on the new LPGA-LET Joint Venture Board of Directors.
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “Building a strong and sustainable Ladies European Tour is fully consistent with the aims of The R&A Women in Golf Charter. We support the vision of the LPGA-LET joint venture to create significantly more opportunities for women and girls to pursue their dreams in golf here in Europe and to inspire future generations to take up the sport. We look forward to working with the LPGA-LET team as a board member of this important venture.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said, “The European Tour has already had the opportunity to host events involving LET members and we’ve seen their talent and drive first-hand. Looking ahead to our 2020 schedule, we have added another new and exciting co-sanctioned event with the LET in Sweden and are pursuing similar opportunities in other markets. The women professionals bring a different dynamic and fan base to the game – all of which improves our sport – and we look forward to building a strong women’s professional presence through this new collaborative approach.”
While the LPGA might have been the first organization to reach out to the LET in an effort to create an even stronger entity, LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan always knew he could count on the support of others. “It’s exciting to see so many stakeholders in the game give their attention and their support to rebuilding a stronger women’s professional tour in Europe,” said Whan. “This significant commitment by The R&A and the European Tour is an immediate, important endorsement of the vision for the new LPGA-LET partnership.”
“Great businesses typically start with great leadership teams,” said LET Board Chair Marta Figueras-Dotti. “Adding leadership from the LPGA, The R&A and the European Tour to our newly formed board is a recipe for success. I can’t wait to get started!”
The commitment and engagement of The R&A and the European Tour provides more velocity, energy and expertise to help the newly formed LPGA-LET partnership. It’s an exciting time for golf – when top organizations not only look out for their own interests but are also compassionate enough to help support others that are trying to achieve similar results for the women’s game.
Corey Conners’ favourite Avenger ??♂️
Looking back at a remarkable 2019 in Canadian golf
As the decade drew to a close, 2019 marked yet another significant year for Canadian golf milestones on and off the course and around the world. These are just some of the headlines. Details on these stories and many others are available under News on the Golf Canada website.
January
A sweeping revision and updating of the Rules of Golf comes into effect as of Jan. 1.
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada names Brooke Henderson, Adam Hadwin, Garrett Rank and Jaclyn Lee as their picks for 2018 players of the year.
Golf Canada names the 2019 Team Canada Young Pro Squad: Brittany Marchand, Anne-Catherine Tanguay, Maddie Szeryk, Augusta James, Jennifer Ha, Jaclyn Lee, Jared du Toit, Hugo Bernard, Taylor Pendrith and Stuart Macdonald.
Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., successfully defends his South American Amateur title in Chile.
Rod Spittle, an outstanding amateur and pro golfer, and celebrated U.S. collegiate coach Herb Page are named as the 2019 honourees to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
February
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., wins the Korn Ferry Tour’s Panama Championship.
March
Youth on Course, the non-profit organization providing young people with subsidized golf, college scholarships, caddie programs and paid internships in partnership with Golf Canada and Alberta Golf, announces a pilot project in the province of Alberta.
Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum kicks off the organization’s annual meeting with a presentation on Golf Canada’s new Strategic Plan 2019-2022, focused on advancing the sport and driving Golf Canada’s vision to be a world leader in golf. The AGM concluded with Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que., being elected as president, succeeding Leslie Dunning. Three gentlemen received Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award: Raymond Gaudet, Jean-Claude Gagne and Daniel Caza.
April
Brooke Henderson ties the all-time Canadian record for pro victories (eight) with her win at the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship.
Golf Canada and the RBC Canadian Open announce a five-year Youth Initiative to make the RBC Canadian Open more junior-accessible than ever before.
Team Canada’s Brigitte Thibault goes wire-to-wire to win the NCAA’s Mountain West Conference at Mission Hills in California.
Brigitte Thibault represents Canada in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., wins the girls’ 14-15 age division at the Drive, Chip and Putt championship at Augusta National.
Golf Canada celebrates 70 adoptions of Golf in Schools sites during its annual Adopt a School Week.
The RBC Canadian Open and Tourism Hamilton partner to launch the Hamilton Fare Way, bringing several of the city’s pre-eminent restaurants to deliver a unique culinary experience to fans.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., claims his first PGA TOUR title at the Valero Texas Open after qualifying for the event on the Monday of tournament week.
May
The University of British Columbia wins both the men’s and women’s team titles at the Canadian University/College Championship at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont.
Canadians from coast-to-coast celebrate National Golf Day on May 1. The day brought further attention to the game of golf and its significant community impact within not only Canada, but across North America.
Golf Canada and Audi Canada announce a multi-year integrated partnership that will see the luxury automotive brand become the exclusive Premier Automotive Partner for Canada’s national Open championships as well as the Official Automotive Partner of Golf Canada’s National Team Program.
Golf Canada names St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont., as host club of the 2020 and 2024 RBC Canadian Open alongside co-host Islington Golf Club.
Drew Nesbitt of Barrie, Ont., wins the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s Abierto Mexicano de Golf tournament.
Tristan Renaud of Sudbury, Ont., and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Ontario Championship at Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club in Thornton.
Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., shares low-amateur honours with American Sally Krueger at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., and Michael Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Pacific Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in B.C.
Richard Jung of Toronto, a former Team Canada member, wins the PGA TOUR Series-China Beijing Championship.
June
Alberta’s Dustin Risdon wins the PGA Championship of Canada at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont.
Brooke Henderson wins the CVS Health Charity Classic in Rhode Island with teammates Keegan Bradley and Billy Andrade.
Brooke Henderson collects her ninth LPGA Tour title at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan. With the win, the 21-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., broke a tie with Sandra Post for the Canadian record for wins on the LPGA Tour and moved ahead of George Knudson and Mike Weir on the PGA TOUR.
Josh Nagy and Hyeji Yang win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Prairie Championship at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask.
Eric (Joohyung) Byun of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont., win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Quebec Championship at Club de golf Les Boises de Joly.
Rory McIlroy wins the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club with a record-setting 22-under 258 total for four rounds, aided by a final-round 61.
Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons headline new RBCxMusic Concert Series at the RBC Canadian Open, helping draw record crowds.
The RBC Canadian Open featured one of its strongest fields, including World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, World No. 4 Rory McIlroy and World No. 6 Justin Thomas. Twenty Canadians teed it up at Hamilton.
Rod Spittle and Herb Page join the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony at RBC Hall of Fame Day during the RBC Canadian Open.
The RBC Canadian Open was added to the British Open Qualifying Series— Canadian Adam Hadwin and RBC Ambassador Graeme McDowell earned exemptions in 2019.
Calgarians Annabelle Ackroyd and Tommy McKenzie win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Western Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, Alta.
July
Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., shot 4 under 68, overcoming a four-stroke deficit to capture the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club on Friday.
After almost 43 years of commitment and dedication to Golf Canada, Bill Paul steps down from his role as Chief Championship Officer.
Isabellla Ferguson of Ottawa and Malik Dao of Notre-Dame-de-I’lle-Perrot, Que., win their respective divisions in the Future Links driven by Acura Atlantic Championship at Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club in New Brunswick.
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., locks up his PGA TOUR card for the 2019-2020 season, the first of his career, by finishing in the top 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Margaret (Sutcliffe) Todd, a pioneer of Canadian women’s golf and a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, passes away at the age of 101.
Brooke Henderson wins the ESPY Award for the best female golfer of 2019, having won her ninth LPGA Tour title this year, making her the winningest Canadian pro golfer of all time.
August
Jin Young Ko sets a tournament record en route to winning the CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. Brooke Henderson tied for third as the top Canadian.
Title sponsor Canadian Pacific announces a record $2.5 million raised for the SickKids Foundation as a result of several fundraising efforts under the CP Has Heart program.
Canadian Michelle Liu, 12, earns berth into 2019 CP Women’s Open through the Canadian Women’s Amateur.
The second annual CP Women’s Leadership Summit took place the Tuesday of CP Women’s Open tournament week and featured keynote speaker Roberta Bowman (Chief Brand and Communications Officer for LPGA) as well as a new athlete panel.
Golf Canada announces Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club as host of the 2020 CP Women’s Open.
Canada took home the bronze medal in mixed team event at Pan Am Games—the first ever for Canada. The team was made up of Mary Parsons (Delta, B.C.), Brigitte Thibault (Rosemère, Que.), Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Austin Connelly (Lake Doucette, N.S.).
Joseph Deraney of Belden, Miss., successfully defends his Canadian Mid-Amateur title at Summit Golf Club in Richmond Hill, Ont.
Golf Canada and Levelwear announce an extension of their official apparel partnership through 2022.
Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., wins the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship at Osoyoos Golf Club in B.C.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., finishes T7 at the BMW Championship to earn full PGA TOUR playing privileges for 2019-2020, including a spot in all four majors and the World Golf Championships.
Golf Canada names the winners of the Future Links driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event: Liam McLaren, Ari Tur, Noah Turner, Claira Frizzell, Gabe Bugden, Alissa Xu, Emile Journault and Keighan Decoff.
Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., wins the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club in New Brunswick. Luke DelGobbo of Fonthill, Ont., won the Juvenile title.
Jim Rutledge of Victoria wins his sixth PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada title.
William Buhl of Fairhope, Ala., wins the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Glen Arbour Golf Course in Nova Scotia.
Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., a full-time NHL referee and Team Canada alumnus, wins the Western Amateur in Michigan, the first mid-amateur to do so since 1997.
Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., wins the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Lethbridge Country Club in Alberta. She also won the Juvenile title for the second straight year.
September
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand successfully defends her World Junior Girls Championship title at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.
Rory McIlroy, champion of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, was named PGA TOUR Player of the Year.
Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C., and Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., win their divisions at the BC Future Links driven by Acura Fall Series at Crown Isle Golf Resort.
Erin Kim of Toronto and Jean-Philippe Parr of Saint-Celestin, Que., claim their respective titles at the Quebec Future Links driven by Acura Fall Series at Lachute Golf Club.
Wes Heffernan of Calgary wins the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.
Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., wins the Canada Life Canadian Player of the Year title on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada for the second time in four years.
New Zealand captures the Astor Trophy, hosted at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C. The women’s event is a five-country competition played every four years since 1959.
Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ind., wins the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Cedar Brae Golf Club in Toronto. Alberta—Ken Griffith, Brian Laubman and Frank Dornick—wins the provincial team title.
Gord Nixon is named the inaugural recipient of the Legacy Award for exceptional contribution to the sport of golf in Canada by the Golf Canada Foundation in partnership with Golf Canada.
The Canadian golf industry mourns the passing of longtime golf industry stalwart Ian Webb after a brave battle with cancer.
David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., performs well at the Korn Ferry Tour’s season-ending championship, earning him status for the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR season.
Wes Short Jr. of Austin, Texas, wins the PGA TOUR Champions Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary.
October
Brooke Henderson wins the inaugural People’s Choice Award from Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., retires from professional golf at the age of 30.
James Beebe of Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Alberta is named the superintendent of the year by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and Bayer Environmental Science.
The Golf Management Institute of Canada celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The team from The Carman Golf and Curling Club in Manitoba wins the RBC PGA Scramble National Final at Cabot Links in Nova Scotia.
Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., wins his second career PGA TOUR Series-China title.
Graham DeLaet attempts his return to the PGA TOUR at the Houston Open after more than two years off due to injury.
November
Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., finishes seventh at the European Tour qualifying school, earning him a partial exemption into nest season’s Euro Tour events.
Her fellow LPGA players vote to award Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., the Tour’s Founders Award given to the player “whose behaviour and deeds best exemplify the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA.”
Hilton announces a new multi-year integrated partnership with Golf Canada as the official hotel partner for the organization and its members.
Alena Sharp of Brantford, Ont., is named to the LPGA’s Board as a Player Director.
Golf Canada names the 18 athletes who will represent Team Canada on the 2020 National Amateur and Junior Squads. Men’s Amateur: Étienne Papineau, Cougar Collins, Sam Meek, Brendan MacDougall, Noah Steele. Women’s Amateur: Brigitte Thibault, Mary Parsons, Sarah-Eve Rhéaume, Noemie Paré. Junior Boys: Laurent Desmarchais, Jace Minni, JP Parr, Bennett Ruby, Malik Dao. Junior Girls: Emily Zhu, Angela Arora, Angel (Mu Chen) Lin, Monet Chun.
Jin Young Ko, champion of the 2019 CP Women’s Open, was named the LPGA Rolex Player of the Year.
Golf Canada sells Golf Canada Calgary Golf Centre to Golfuture YYC.
December
Golf Canada announces the winners of its 2019 National Orders of Merit. On the amateur side, Julien Sale of Gatineau, Que., was the top male followed by Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., earned top spot in the women’s Order of Merit with Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C., finishing second. Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., was the top-ranked junior boy in Canada, followed by Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota. Celeste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-I’lle-Perrot, Que., led the junior girls’ ranking. Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., was second.
Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru announces it raised more than $380,000 for breast cancer research in 2019 at 175 events across Canada.
The Shaw Charity Classic announces donations by Canadians during the PGA TOUR Champions event in Calgary raised a record $14,071,188 for 200 youth-based charities across Alberta.
The LPGA presents the CP Women’s Open, held at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., with two Gold Driver Awards for delivering best-in-class elements—Best Community and Charity Engagement and Best Sponsor Activation—among all LPGA Tour events.
The RBC Canadian Open, held at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., was named a finalist for Tournament of the Year—among all PGA TOUR events.
Adam Hadwin represents Canada at the Presidents Cup, finishing 1-1-1.
Canadian Kurtis Barkley finishes runner-up at the All Abilities Championship held in conjunction with the Australian Open.
Jim Fraser passes away on Dec. 9, shortly after the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Seniors Golf Association unveiled a golf scholarship named in honour of the long-time golf supporter who, among other honours, was a member of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Mr. Fraser was a highly respected volunteer and then employee with Golf Canada over a career of more than 40 years.