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.
2019 marks a real celebration for Canadian golf
It’s not accurate to say Corey Conners’ dreams came true in 2019.
“I don’t think my dreams were quite that high,” the Canadian golfer said.
After starting the year without full status on the PGA Tour, Conners played a piecemeal schedule before Monday qualifying for the Valero Texas Open in April. The native of Listowel, Ont., would go on to win that event and earn the final spot in the Masters the next week.
Conners earned more than US$2.9 million this season, one of the highlights of an impressive year in Canadian golf.
Among the top moments for men: Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., winning on the Korn Ferry Tour to earn a PGA Tour card for the first time; Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., winning twice on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada to earn a promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour, Richard Jung of Toronto and Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C. winning on PGA Tour China; and Drew Nesbitt of Toronto winning on PGA Tour Latinoamerica.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., also represented the International team at the Presidents Cup earlier this month in Australia. At 49th in the world, Hadwin ended the year as Canada’s top-ranked male golfer and will earn a spot in the Masters in 2020.
On the amateur circuit, full-time NHL referee Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., won the 117th playing of the Western Amateur, while Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., won a collegiate event and participated in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., had the best season of any Canadian. She notched two wins this year and had 13 top-10 finishes, the most on the LPGA Tour.
Henderson’s second win came in June when she was just 21. It was the ninth of her LPGA Tour career, making her the winningest Canadian of all time on the PGA or LPGA Tour.
“To become the all-time winningest Canadian golfer on both the LPGA and PGA Tour is amazing,” said Henderson. “This was a great year for many Canadian golfers. It’s fun to be part of this trend and I’m excited to see it continue and get better in 2020.”
Laurence Applebaum, the CEO of Golf Canada, declared 2019 as a year of “real celebration.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of 2019 as we look back and say it was a year we were celebrating golf and we were championing some of the best players in the world,” said Applebaum.
Applebaum points to the success of the RBC Canadian Open in Hamilton and CP Women’s Open in Aurora, Ont.
The two national championships had more than 175,000 people in attendance combined, a record for the organization.
Both events were also finalists for ‘Tournament of the Year’ by their respective tours at their year-end award ceremonies.
“We played at two epic tracks in 2019 and had world-class champions,” said Applebaum.
Both the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour’s 2019 players of the year – Rory McIlroy and Jin-Young Ko, respectively – won in Canada.
“In 2020 we’re going from strength to strength in St. George’s (in Toronto for the men) and Shaughnessy (in Vancouver for the women), two of the greatest golf courses and clubs in our country,” Applebaum said.
While the individual successes of Canadians were undeniable in 2019, the pipelines will be a little emptier in 2020.
Henderson and Alena Sharp of Hamilton will be the only full-time Canadians playing on the LPGA Tour next year after the retirement of Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and the long-term injury to Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City. Jaclyn Lee of Calgary will have partial status, playing under a medical exemption due to a severe wrist injury sustained in the summer.
Pendrith, meanwhile, is the only Canadian who earned promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. did not regain PGA Tour status for this season so they will start have to start the season on Korn Ferry Tour. Svensson has a full card, while Silverman has conditional status.
Pendrith and Conners – who live together in Florida – are convinced 2019 will not be a one-off.
A year ago they both were wondering what the next 12 months would look like, without any real answers.
“I was just trying to figure out what mini-tour event I was going to play next,” said Pendrith. “Now, it’s exciting. Every week on whatever tour, there’s going to be a Canadian in the mix.”
Conners is in the upper tier of the PGA Tour after finishing in the top 30 of the FedEx Cup standings in 2019, but he still gets as much joy as anyone in following what his countrymen and women are doing.
“It’s really fun to watch Brooke (Henderson) and be part of the group, but it’s also really motivating to continue to rack up wins,” said Conners. “It’s an exciting future for Canadian golf. There’s going to be more and more memorable moments.”
Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin to play 2020 Masters
Canadian golfer Adam Hadwin clinched a spot at the 2020 Masters without playing any golf on Sunday.
Hadwin, from Abbotsford, B.C., will finish the year in the top 50 of the world golf rankings, guaranteeing him a berth at the prestigious annual tournament.
Cam Smith could have knocked Hadwin out of the top 50 with a two-way tie for third or better at the Australian PGA Championship.
Smith tied for 10th at the event on Sunday, keeping Hadwin’s spot at the Masters safe.
Hadwin did not compete in any tournament this week after playing on the International Team at the Presidents Cup.
Joining Hadwin are fellow Canadians Mike Weir (2003 champion) and Corey Conners (qualifier of 2019 TOUR Championship).
Golf Fore the Cure raises $380k for breast cancer research in 2019
Through the efforts of over 10,000 women, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru raised over $380k for breast cancer research in 2019 at 175 events held across the country.
Since the program’s inception in 2003, upwards of 130,000 women have raised over $6.8 million to date with all proceeds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Québec Breast Cancer Foundation.
Over 100 women celebrated this year’s success at the 16th annual Golf Fore the Cure National Event at Credit Valley Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont.
The National Event included 18 holes of golf featuring raffles, prizing, and games, followed by an awards dinner to thank the 13,000 Golf Fore the Cure participants across Canada this year.
“Golf Canada is very proud to celebrate the growth of women’s golf in Canada with over 10,000 women leading the charge from coast-to-coast,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s chief sport officer.
“The remarkable efforts from volunteers, site coordinators, and our partners at Subaru, the Canadian Cancer Society and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation continue to be a driving force behind the achievements of Golf Fore the Cure. We’re excited for the next season and hope we can accomplish raising over $7 million for breast cancer research.”
Top 20 fundraising sites in 2019
| Golf Club | Province | $’s Raised | |
| 1 | Golf New Brunswick Provincial Event | NB | $50,123.32 |
| 2 | Mississauga Golf & CC | ON | $32,704.29 |
| 3 | Elk Ridge Resort | AB | $20,028.97 |
| 4 | Sussex Golf & Curling Club | NB | $19,790.00 |
| 5 | North Bay Golf | ON | $11,856.00 |
| 6 | Club de Golf St Jean Ltee | QC | $10,856.31 |
| 7 | Rosetown Golf & Country Club | SK | $10,258.05 |
| 8 | Blue Heron Golf Club | ON | $9,925.00 |
| 9 | Haunted Lakes Golf Club | AB | $8,473.00 |
| 10 | Marlwood Golf and Country Club | ON | $8,091.34 |
| 11 | Fernie Golf Club | BC | $7,911.80 |
| 12 | Highland Pacific Golf | BC | $7,641.87 |
| 13 | Red Tail Landing Golf Club | AB | $7,575.00 |
| 14 | Candle Lake Golf Resort | SK | $6,993.00 |
| 15 | Creston Golf Club | BC | $6,860.00 |
| 16 | Olympic View Golf Course | BC | $6,606.65 |
| 17 | Grey hawk Golf Club | ON | $6,555.00 |
| 18 | Petawawa Golf Course | ON | $5,812.00 |
| 19 | The Bluffs Golf Club | ON | $5,500.00 |
| 19 | Blue Springs Golf Club | ON | $5,500.00 |
| 20 | Club de Golf Le Maitre | QC | $5,278.00 |
We would also like to thank our Provincial Golf Associations for their continued support in encouraging clubs to participate in Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru. Below is a breakdown of all the funds raised by province:
| Totals Raised Per Province | |
| ON | $129,405.50 |
| BC | $57,095.17 |
| NB | $55,467.47 |
| AB | $49,029.14 |
| QC | $41,406.06 |
| SK | $30,146.94 |
| PEI | $9,315.35 |
| NS | $6,602.00 |
| MB | $2,868.45 |
| NL | $2,658.50 |
| Total | $383,994.58 |
To view photos from this year’s Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru season please click here.
Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru was created in 2003 by Golf Canada to drive women’s participation in the game of golf through the use of fun, non-intimidating activities. Through a unique partnership structure with the Canadian Cancer Society (and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation), the program has women across the country participating in golf activities and raising money and awareness for a cause close to Canadian hearts—the fight against breast cancer.
Canada holds over 37,000 charity events at golf courses across the country which raise approximately $533 million annually for charity.
Subaru Canada has been a proud partner of Golf Fore the Cure since 2007.
To learn how to get involved with Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, visit golfcanada.ca/golfforethecure
Golf Canada’s 2019 National Orders of Merit winners unveiled
OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is proud to announce the top finishers in the standings for its 2019 National Orders of Merit, a year that saw Québec-based golfers capture top honours in all four awarded categories, male and female in both amateur and junior golf.
On the amateur side, it is Réunion-Island born and Gatineau, Qué. resident Julien Sale, of Rivermead Golf Club, who claims top spot overall for the National Men’s Order of Merit. A senior at Arkansas State, Sale is ranked #160 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). The former Alexandre de Tunis and Québec Men’s Amateur champion built on an impressive 2018 season by qualifying for the 2019 U.S. Men’s Amateur and making it to the round of 32. He also finished T4 at the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
The runner-up for the National Men’s Order of Merit is full-time NHL referee and Team Canada Amateur Squad veteran Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., who is currently the top ranked Canadian golfer on WAGR at #35. Rank had terrific results this season, notably winning the 2019 Western Amateur Championship, placing T5 at the Porter Cup, and finishing 2nd in the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
2019 Team Canada Amateur Squad member Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Québec, was 3rd overall in the final men’s rankings. The Pinegrove Country Club member represented Canada at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where he was part of a Canadian squad that captured the bronze medal in the mixed team event. Savoie also had notable performances in 2019 including a T6 finish at the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship as well as quarterfinal finishes at the 2019 North & South Amateur and the 2019 NSW Amateur. Savoie also competed at the Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR Canada Osprey Valley Open, placing T30.
After four straight years of domination for Ontario’s Maddie Szeryk, there is a new victor in the National Women’s Order of Merit for 2019: Brigitte Thibault. The Rosemère, Québec, native and Team Canada Amateur Squad member is presently a junior at Fresno State and made quite a splash at the NCAA level by notching eight top-15 finishes during her sophomore year. Thibault followed up by winning the 2019 Mountain West Championship. Thibault has also claimed the title of 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur Champion, represented Canada at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur and was a part of the Pan American Games bronze-winning Canadian formation.
Runner-up behind Thibault for the National Women’s Order of Merit is Delta, B.C.’s Mary Parsons. The newly named member of the 2020 Team Canada Amateur Squad – and former Junior Squad member – is a junior at Indiana University who was crowned champion of the 2019 Lady Boilermaker (NCAA). Parsons’ 5th place finish was the highest individual finish for Team Canada at the Pan American Games, where she also claimed bronze as a member of the squad. Other notable results this year include a 4th place at the 2019 Women’s Porter Cup and a T3 result at the 2019 PNGA Women’s Amateur Championship.
Finishing third in the amateur women’s rankings was Madeline Marck-Sherk of Ridgeway, Ont. The Bridgewater Country Club member graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2019. During her final year at FCGU, she notched five top-20 results in her nine starts as a senior. Marck-Sherk also had a T9 finish at the 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship.
Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Order of Merit
On the junior side, the Future Links, driven by Acura National Junior Order Merit winners and top finishers have also been announced.
In the boys’ division, Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Qué. caps a sizzling year with the prestigious rank of #1 junior golfer in the nation. The 2018 and 2019 Team Canada Junior Squad standout has had a tremendous domestic season, claiming the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys title, in addition to a runner-up finish at the 2019 Québec Men’s Amateur Championship and a T3 result at the 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship. A freshman at Kent State this year, Vandette has also had international success in 2019, finishing 3rd at the 2019 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup contested in Japan.
The 2019 runner-up in the Future Links, driven by Acura National Junior Boy’s Order Merit rankings is Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota. A high school student and member at Gorge Vale Golf Club, Sihota had notable finishes, including T3 at the 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship and placing T9 this year at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. He also notably reached the round of 64 of the 2019 U.S. Junior Boys Championship.
In the girl’s rankings, the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Order of Merit winner for 2019 is Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Qué. The Georgia freshman, who was a member of the Team Canada Junior Girls Squad in 2018 and 2019, is claiming the honours for the third consecutive year. Dao qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open for the second year in a row this spring by clinching a local qualifier. She also registered significant results in a host of top competitions, finishing runner-up in the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, as well as 6th place finish at the 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship and placing T12 at the AJGA Annika Invitational.
Claiming runner-up position in the junior girls’ division is 2020 returning Team Canada Junior Squad member Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont. Zhu is the reigning Canadian Junior Girls Championship title holder, as well as the sitting AJGA Natural Resource Bluegrass Junior Champion. In addition to representing Canada this year on the Astor Trophy and the World Junior Girls Championship squads, this National Pines Golf Club member claimed a runner-up finish at the 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and took third place at the 2019 PGA of Canada Women’s Championship.
The 2020 National Order of Merit schedule and updated standings will be released in January 2020.
Golf Canada’s National Orders of Merit are used to identify and give recognition to top-performing amateur golfers from across Canada. They also provide an objective national ranking system, enabling Canada’s top players to compare themselves to counterparts across Canada.
Golf Canada also uses the National Order of Merit to assist with the Team Canada player selection and International event player selection process. For full Order of Merit standings and a points breakdown, please visit www.golfcanada.ca/nationalordersofmerit/.
Tiger Woods caps comeback year by leading emotional team win
MELBOURNE, Australia – The emotions poured out of Tiger Woods, just like they did at Augusta National in the spring, except this felt different.
The Masters was for him.
This was for 11 players – at times his teammates, always under his captaincy – who delivered another American victory in the Presidents Cup and a moment that nearly brought Woods to tears. And when the decisive point was on the board Sunday at Royal Melbourne, Woods celebrated with everyone he could find by hugging them hard enough to take the breath out of them.
“Any time you have moments where you’re able to do something that is bigger than us as an individual, it’s so much more meaningful and so much more special,” he said.
The Americans felt the same way.
Trailing for the first time in 16 years, they followed his lead. Woods, the first playing captain in 25 years, went out in the first of 12 singles matches and outlasted Abraham Ancer to set the Presidents Cup record by winning his 27th match.
It also set the tone for his team.
Patrick Reed, winless in three matches and heckled so badly for his rules violation last week in the Bahamas that his caddie shoved a spectator and was kept from working the final day, was 6 up through seven holes. Dustin Johnson, playing for the first time since the Tour Championship because of knee surgery, was 4 up through seven holes.
Perhaps most inspiring was Tony Finau in the second match. He was 4 down to Hideki Matsuyama through 10 holes when Finau won the next four and earned a half-point that put even more pressure on the International team.
Matt Kuchar delivered the winning point without even winning his match. His 5-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole assured the Americans the half-point they needed to win for the eighth straight time.
The last two matches ended in halves for a 16-14 score. The Americans tied a Presidents Cup record with an 8-4 margin in singles, the largest since the first event in 1994.
“It was really cool being part of this team and having Tiger as captain,” Kuchar said. “We had a roomful of some of the greatest golfers in the world, and when he speaks, we listen. I think all of us will look back and have these pictures hanging on our walls and say, `We played for and alongside Tiger Woods, the greatest player ever.’ It was awesome.”
It was crushing for the Internationals, hoping to end two decades without a victory.
Ernie Els, who has finished second to Woods more times than anyone in golf, assembled the youngest International team ever and inspired them with equal doses of purpose and analytics. It had the lead going into Sunday for the first time since 2003, the tie in South Africa.
It just didn’t have enough to cross the line.
“I followed a plan, and it didn’t quite work out, but we came damn close,” Els said. “If you compare our team on paper with other teams in other sport, you would have laughed us out of the building. But we gave it a hell of a go and we came mightily close to winning and upsetting one of the greatest golf teams of all time.”
That team included the greatest player of his generation. Woods was appointed captain in March 2018 and suggested he might be a playing captain, which he later said was a joke.
And then he won the Masters, his 15th major and first in 11 years, to cap off a comeback from injury made even more meaningful by the hugs he shared with family and those who never left his side.
Two weeks before he filled out his team with four captain’s picks, Woods won in Japan for his 82nd career victory, leaving him no choice but to be the first captain to pick himself.
He was the only player to go undefeated at Royal Melbourne, winning twice with Justin Thomas and on his own ball against Ancer, one of seven rookies for the Internationals.
“We were very inspired to play for Tiger – with Tiger – and it’s so satisfying to win this cup because of that,” Finau said.
Emotions were raw on the golf course as the Americans celebrated their first comeback since the four-point deficit at Brookline in the 1999 Ryder Cup.
In his TV interview, Woods was fighting back tears, yet another indication to his players how much it meant.
“I love seeing other people cry, especially Tiger Woods,” said Steve Stricker, one of three vice captains who allowed Woods to hold dual roles at Royal Melbourne. And then Stricker had to hold back tears of his own.
The International team at least kept it close, unlike two years ago at Liberty National when it was one putt away from being eliminated on Saturday.
Even with so much American red on the scoreboards, the Internationals still had a chance in the final hour. Matsuyama lost a 1-up lead with a three-putt from 25 feet that led to the halve with Finau. Adam Hadwin had a 15-foot birdie putt to beat Bryson DeChambeau on the 18th hole, but had to settle for a halve when he missed on the high side.
Louis Oosthuizen lost a 3-up lead at the turn against Kuchar, who caught up on the 15th hole and set off the celebration two holes later. Their matched ended in a halve.
At the closing ceremony, the Internationals stood with their arms crossed. The frustration was evident, even among the seven rookies.
The Americans now lead the series 11-1-1, the only International victory coming at Royal Melbourne in 1998.
“I’m disappointed. That’s all I can say,” said Adam Scott, who has played nine straight Presidents Cups without winning. “But I like what’s happening in the future. I can’t wait for another crack at it.”
The Internationals likely will want Els to return as captain. As for Woods?
“We are going to have those conversations in the future, but not right now,” Woods said. “We are going to enjoy this one.”
Internationals lose Presidents Cup after American comeback
MELBOURNE, Australia – The end for the Internationals came about halfway through a mostly cloudy Sunday afternoon at Royal Melbourne. They kept it close, but ultimately the result was the same: another loss for the International side against the United States at the Presidents Cup – the eighth in a row and 11th in 13 tries at the biennial exhibition.
“We were right there at the end. I thought we could do it again, just a couple of matches didn’t work our way,” International team captain Ernie Els said after the Americans completed a 16-14 win.
The Internationals led 10-8 going into Sunday’s 12 singles matches, and now have the distinction of being the only team to lead going into the final day and lose. Matt Kuchar’s 5-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole guaranteed at least a half-point with Louis Oosthuizen and gave the U.S. the required 15 1/2 points to clinch the trophy it first won in 1994.
The only time the Internationals have won was at Royal Melbourne in 1998, although the teams tied in South Africa in 2003 and shared the trophy.
There were only two International victories on Sunday – 21-year-old Sungjae Im’s 4-and-3 win over Gary Woodland and Cameron Smith’s 2-and-1 victory over Justin Thomas.
Their other two points came from halves: Hideki Matsuyama against Tony Finau, with Finau coming back from 4 down after 10 holes; Adam Hadwin against Bryson Dechambeau; Marc Leishman’s tie with Rickie Fowler; and Oosthuizen’s all-square with Kuchar.
The Internationals hadn’t lost a singles session since 2009, but were defeated 8-4 on Sunday.
Hadwin missed a 15-foot putt for birdie on the 18th at a pivotal time. He was the fifth group off and after the Americans led many of their matches early, including during captain Tiger Woods’ eventual 3-and-2 win over Abraham Ancer, the first match of the day.
Hadwin had never led in the match, and his miss was deflating for both him and the team.
“It’s a little disappointing,” the Canadian said. “That’s kind of what you work for, right, to have a putt on 18, to do that.”
Els said some late victories by the Americans in the second session on Friday made the difference. The Internationals still won the fourballs that day, 2 1/2 to 1 1/2, but for a while it seemed possible the Internationals would sweep the session and take a 9-1 lead after two days. Instead, the score after was 6 1/2 to 3 1/2.
“I think it was two, 2 1/2 points that didn’t go our way in that second session, and that was the difference,” Els said.
Asked what captaining the Internationals, who had seven rookies on the team, meant to him, Els replied: “You’re going to make me cry now.”
“We have spent the whole year together,” Els said. “It was a just a collective effort of these great people. We had a lot of young players in the team, a lot of first-timers, nine regions around the world represented. It’s our diversity that got us together, and I’m really proud of them.”
The South African wouldn’t rule out returning as International captain for the 2021 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“We’ll have to discuss this. … I love these guys,” Els said. “We’ll see, we’ll talk about it.”
In 2015, the Internationals lost 15 1/2 to 14 1/2 in South Korea, but the Americans dominated at Liberty National in New Jersey in 2017, winning 19-11 despite losing the singles to the Internationals 7 1/2 to 4 1/2.
“We feel we came a long way this week,” Els said. “We’ve never done well in the team events, and we got 10 points from them. We’re not quite there, but we’re getting there. Nobody died out there, and it was a sport, and we gave it our all. So, so be it.”
Reed’s caddie out of Presidents Cup after conflict with fan
MELBOURNE, Australia – The caddie for Patrick Reed will not be on the bag for the final session of the Presidents Cup after shoving a spectator who he felt was encroaching too close to Reed while cursing him.
The tour announced the decision after Saturday’s dual session, which ended with the International team holding a 10-8 lead. Reed said in a statement he respected the decision and that everyone was focused on winning.
Kessler Karain, the brother-in-law of Reed, says he heard heckling for three days at Royal Melbourne, some had taken it too far and he’d had enough.
Reed was a singular target of the American team this year because of a rules violation last week in the Bahamas. He twice removed a clump of sand from behind his ball in a waste area at the Hero World Challenge. When he was shown the incident on video, Reed accepted the two-shot penalty.
Reed failed to make a birdie in fourballs Saturday morning as he and Webb Simpson lost for the third straight time.
“Riding on the cart, guy was about 3 feet from Patrick and said, `You (expletive) suck.’ I got off the cart and shoved him, said a couple things, probably a few expletives,” Karrain said in a statement to “Fore Play,” a podcast operated by Barstool Sports.
Karrain said security arrived and he left in the cart.
“I don’t think there’s one caddie I know that could blame me,” Karrain said. “Unless his bones break like Mr. Glass, the most harm done was a little spilled beer, which I’m more than happy to reimburse him for.”
Among the possibilities to replace him as Reed’s caddie is Kevin Kirk, his swing coach.
U.S. captain Tiger Woods said the situation involving Reed, one of his four picks, was not a distraction.
“We came here as a team. We rallied around our teammate and we’re excited about tomorrow,” Woods said.
He placed Reed in the No. 3 spot in the lineup, after Els had gone first and put C.T. Pan in that spot. That avoided the chance of Reed facing one of the three Australians on the team.
Fans this week have called the former Masters champion such things as “Patrick Cheat” and poked fun at him, with one fan introducing him as “The Excavator” when he teed off for a practice round Tuesday.
Reed didn’t help his cause Friday when he made a birdie putt, cupped his ear and then pretended to use his putter as a shovel. He enjoys mixing it up with the gallery in these team competitions, but the rules violation in the Bahamas was blatant on the video and sensitive to players who hold the rules in high regard. Reed claimed his club was some 8 inches behind the ball. Video did not indicate that.
Els said he felt bad for the caddie and the fan, and he made a point of saying the gallery was not nearly as bad as what the International team faced two years ago in New Jersey.
“The caddie must have been very hot, obviously fed up with what he heard, probably,” Els said. “I feel for the fan. He came to watch golf, and that’s probably the last thing he thought was going to happen. So I feel for both of them.”
Reed created the wrong kind of memories at the Ryder Cup last year when he did an interview with The New York Times right after the U.S. loss, criticizing Jim Furyk for sitting him out two matches and Jordan Spieth ending their partnership.