ADELAIDE, Australia – Nelly Korda added to her family’s impressive sports pedigree Down Under with a win Sunday in the Women’s Australian Open.

Korda led by three strokes after the third round, increased it to four with a tap-in birdie on the 10th and added a 25-foot birdie on the 11th to make it a lead of five.

She had a third consecutive birdie on the 12th to help claim a two-stroke victory with a 5-under 67 at The Grange Golf Club, finishing with a 17-under total of 271. Defending champion Jin Young Ko was second after a 64.

Canadian Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., finished with a share of sixth at 10 under par. The finish marks the second consecutive strong finish for Sharp, who collected a T17 the week prior.

Fellow countrywoman Jaclyn Lee, a Calgary native, made her first LPGA Tour cut as a professional with a T22 finish.

Korda’s father Petr was an Australian Open men’s tennis champion, winning the tournament in 1998. Her golfing sister Jessica won the Australian Open seven years ago.

And her tennis-playing brother Sebastian won the Australian Open boys’ singles title last year.

“I’m just happy to finally be a part of the club,” said the 20-year-old Korda at the trophy presentations. “There’s maybe something in the air here. We love coming down under and we really enjoy our time here.

“I just got off the phone with my dad and he’s like ‘well, congratulations, you’re part of the Korda Slam now’.”

Petr and mother Regina, also a pro tennis player who represented Czechoslovakia at the 1988 Olympics, watched their daughter’s triumph from their home on the west coast of Florida.

Jessica, currently sidelined from the LPGA Tour because of a wrist injury, watched from Florida’s east coast. And Sebastian tuned in from Turkey moments before he played a Futures Tour match.

“When I was left out (of winning in Australia) they didn’t try to rub it in too much,” Nelly Korda said. “Now that we all have a win down here, it’s going to be really special … obviously there was pressure but I think I finally carved my own way.”

The Women’s Australian Open tweeted before the final round began a photo collage of Petr, Jessica and Sebastian doing what they called the “Korda Kick” – actually a scissor kick – after winning each of their titles, and adding that they hoped they hadn’t jinxed Nelly.

No worries there. Her lead was reduced to two strokes at one stage late on the front nine and again at the end, but Korda held on for the win after receiving help from afar from her sister.

And sure enough, keeping it in the family, Nelly was photographed doing a scissor kick after the trophy presentations.

Jessica Korda tweeted to her 81,500 followers just before Nelly made the turn at The Grange, at about 11:30 p.m on the East Coast of the U.S: “Who else is staying up with me?”

Jessica’s first reply came from someone who said “we might be needing a quadruple Korda-Jump picture.”

Nelly Korda said she spoke to her 25-year-old sister by phone not long after she finished her round.

“I couldn’t really hear what she was saying, she was screaming so much,” Nelly Korda said.

NAPLES, Fla. – Miguel Angel Jimenez won the Chubb Classic on Sunday for his seventh PGA Tour Champions title, beating Bernhard Langer and Olin Browne with a 5-foot par putt on the first hole of a playoff.

Jimenez closed with a 5-under 66 at The Classics at Lely Resort to match Langer and Browne at 13-under 200.

“I’m working hard and I practice and go to the gym, apart from smoking and drinking,” Jimenez said. “This is what I love to do. I love to play golf. To me, competing is my life. I go to any competition, I want to win. I working for that.”

Jimenez has won in each of his six seasons on the 50-and-over tour. The 55-year-old Spaniard won the major Regions Tradition and Senior British Open last season.

“It’s the beginning of the season,” Jimenez said. “We are on the third tournament of the season and all the season in front of us. This is gives you the energy and the confidence coming up.”

Langer shot 68, and Browne had a double bogey on the par-4 18th in regulation for a 66.

“I didn’t hit a very good tee shot in regulation and I had a lot of club in,” Browne said. “I was in between and I thought there was more wind, and frankly I hit a poor shot, but I ended up in a horrible situation.”

The 61-year-old Langer, the Oasis Championship winner last week near his home in Boca Raton, won the event in 2011, 2013 and 2016.

“Played some good golf, hung in there,” Langer said. “It wasn’t meant to be.”

Kevin Sutherland and Woody Austin each shot 69 to finish a shot out of the playoff.

Stephen Ames, tied for the second-round lead with Ken Tanigawa and Glen Day, had a 71 to tie for sixth at 11 under with Tom Lehman (65), Sandy Lyle (68), Retief Goosen (69) and Colin Montgomerie (70).

Tanigawa and Day each shot 72 to finish at 10 under. Steve Stricker (70) also was at 10 under.

NAPLES, Fla. – Ken Tanigawa had six back-nine birdies in a 5-under 66 for a share of the Chubb Classic lead Saturday with Glen Day and Stephen Ames.

Tanigawa rebounded from bogeys on Nos. 8 and 9 with birdies on Nos. 10-12, 14, 15 and 17 at The Classics at Lely Resort.

“I never felt all that comfortable early on and it kind of showed,” Tanigawa said. “I kind of hung in there, then I made those two bogeys on 8 and 9, which was easy to do. I made a nice putt on 10 to make a birdie and just tried to stay patient and plug away. I started hitting better shots and making some putts and got some momentum my way.”

He won the PURE Insurance Championship in September at Pebble Beach for his lone PGA Tour Champions title.

Day birdied the final two holes for a 66.

“I made a double on th–e front nine,” Day said. “Other than that, everything was real solid. You’re going to get a lot of birdie opportunities out here, so you’ve got to stay patient.”

Ames, tied for the first-round lead with Sandy Lyle after a then-course record 63, had a 68 to keep a share of the top spot at 11-under 131.

“I’m quite happy to be in the position I’m in,” Ames said. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

Kevin Sutherland broke the day-old course record with a 62, birdieing six of his first eight holes in a round that started on No. 10.

Canadian @StephenAmesPGA is your co-leader heading into Sunday at the @ChubbClassic ?????? pic.twitter.com/gn6Unmdbng

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) February 17, 2019

“I hit it better than I did yesterday and got in a rhythm early and I putted well,” Sutherland said. “I made all the putts I needed to make and made a couple that probably were a gift.”

Sutherland was a stroke back with Bernhard Langer (64), Colin Montgomerie (63), Woody Austin (65), Tom Byrum (65), Dan Olsen (67) and Kent Jones (67).

The 61-year-old Langer, the Oasis Championship winner last week near his home in Boca Raton, won the event in 2011, 2013 and 2016.

Tour newcomer Retief Goosen (65) and Steve Stricker (66) topped the group at 9 under.

“I’ve been giving myself some opportunities around here the first couple of days and just not getting it in there, not knocking ’em in,” Stricker said. “I’ll hit good putts, a lot of misreads. I’ll hit a few bad putts. I’m just struggling on getting it in the hole.”

Lyle followed his opening 63 with a 71 to drop into a tie for 15th at 8 under. Jay Haas also was 8 under, shooting a 70 a day after the 65-year-old player bettered his age with a 64.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Canada’s Mike Weir is tied for eighth after two rounds of the Web.com Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic.

The 48-year-old from Brights Grove, Ont., shot rounds of 66-68 to trail the lead by six.

Weir, who has played just 10 PGA Tour events since 2017 after losing status, is entered in his third straight Web.com event under a unique category.

The top three players on the PGA Tour career money list ages 48 and 49 are eligible for most Web.com events. Weir, the 2003 Masters champion and an eight-time PGA Tour winner, sits 38th on that list, so can get into most Web.com tournaments.

The category is designed to give top 48- and 49-year-olds more competitive playing opportunities before they’re eligible for PGA Tour Champions at age 50.

“I’m excited about my game and I love to compete,” Weir said. “The PGA Tour Champions is less than a year and a half away for me, so I want to be sharp for that. And who knows, if I play well enough out here I could get my PGA Tour card back at 49 years old, which would be pretty fun.”

The top 25 on the Web.com points list at season’s end earn PGA Tour cards for the following season.

Weir tied for 41st last week at the Panama Championship after missing the cut the previous week in Colombia.

Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., who won last week’s event in Panama, is the next Canadian in line at 5 under par to sit T51.

Weir got to know Gligic during a practice round in Colombia.

“He’s a great young man,” Weir said. “I’m really impressed with his game, he’s been at it for a while now and paid his dues, and I’m super happy for him.”

After announcing her retirement from competitive golf in the summer of 2016, Rebecca Lee-Bentham has spent the last two years teaching the game she loves to others.

In doing so, the 26-year-old says she’s developed a greater appreciation for the sport – and it’s a key reason why she’s decided to make a comeback.

“Seeing the game from a different perspective has really helped me understand the game better. I’ve learned so much as a coach,” she said. “Reviewing the ups and downs of my previous LPGA experience will definitely help me better prepare myself for this next chapter.”

Lee-Bentham reveals her decision to give competitive golf another try happened during the recent holidays in December.

“It’s funny because I’ve been asked so many times if I’d ever try to go back out on Tour or if I missed Tour life; and my answer has always been ‘no.’ It’s something I honestly thought I was done with – simply because I found happiness being back home,” pointed out the former national team member.

“It was definitely a combination of events that led to my decision to go back,” she continued.

“But as cliché as it may sound, ultimately, I felt a calling to come back; and in the span of about two weeks, I went from saying ‘no’, to wanting it more than ever before.”

Lee-Bentham credits her time as a coach for helping her mature and grow as a person – and as a golfer.

“Ever since I took up the sport at the age of 12, golf has always helped me develop wonderful character traits, such as, being passionate at what you’re doing, working hard, being dedicated, persevering, and striving to be better every single day,” she noted.

“In the past, golf was a love-hate relationship for me as I would sometimes let results get the better of me. But over the past couple of years – as I was teaching the game to others – I’ve grown a lot as a person and in my understanding of how to mentally approach the game. I’ve also learned to plan and practise more efficiently.”

According to Derek Ingram – the former women’s national team head coach, and currently, the men’s national team head coach – it’s easy to understand how teaching the sport to others can reignite Lee-Bentham’s passion and love for the game. Lee-Bentham was a member of Team Canada’s National Team program from 2007-2011 followed by the Young Pro Squad in 2013.

“The last two years will likely give her a much better appreciation for the game and playing professionally,” he noted.

“Being a coach, you start to understand the importance of focusing on one or two key things as opposed to possibly trying to be perfect in too many areas. Being around young people also likely inspired her and motivated her to get back to playing the game she fell in love with,” added Ingram about his former student.

Looking back, winning big tournaments was something young Rebecca was very familiar with.

In 2007, the then 15-year-old won the Ontario Women’s Amateur. In 2010, Lee-Bentham would win the Canadian Junior Girls title.  Then, in the summer of 2011 – after completing her freshman year at the University of Texas – she would capture the Canadian Women’s Amateur title.

Following her victory at the Canadian Women’s Amateur, Lee-Bentham decided to pursue her LPGA Tour card instead of returning to the University of Texas for her sophomore year.  And in December of 2012, she would earn full playing privileges on the LPGA Tour after carding a five-under 67 in the final round of Q-School.

The Longhorn alum had a number of notable highlights in her five year professional career. Lee-Bentham finished in a tie for 18th spot at the 2013 ISPS Handa Women’s Open Australian Open; and later that year, she would record an 11th place finish at the Evian Open.

Also, in 2013, she had the highest earnings of any Canadian woman on the LPGA Tour and was voted by Canadian golf writers as the 2013 Female Professional of the year.

However, nagging injuries and fatigued from the constant grind on Tour would lead to inconsistent results – and eventually, to her decision to retire in 2016.

Ingram says taking time away from competitive golf was the right move for Lee-Bentham.

“It was a good time for Rebecca to recharge and refocus. The grind of playing was getting to her and she was over working – which is not a great combination,” he pointed out.

The Team Canada Olympic coach feels that his former student and amateur standout still has unfinished business as a competitive golfer.

“Rebecca needed to step back and remember why she played the game and what it was all about. I really think with a new perspective and a new vision on why she plays, it will allow her to make much better progress in her game,” said Ingram.

“I personally feel she is a top 60 player in the world or better when she is engaged and practicing the right way,” he added.

After making the decision to return to competitive golf, the Toronto native has already relocated to Irvine, Calif., and has begun her training.

“I will be in California for most of my training. I am aware more than ever of the things I need to work on and am so excited to get back at it. I plan to play in some mini tour events and Monday qualifiers to prepare myself for LPGA Q-School,” she revealed.

“A very good friend owns a golf course here and generously offered a place to play and practice,” Lee-Bentham added. “Also, an amazing family opened up their home to me which is five minutes from the golf course. I have an amazing community here, so it feels like home.”

The former LPGA pro says everyone has been very supportive of her decision.

“My mom literally shed some tears of joy when I first told her about my decision. My family, friends and all of my students showed so much support, which has further motivated me,” she pointed out.

Lee-Bentham also understands the importance of having financial support in terms of making her comeback a truly successful one.

“So far, I’ve been fortunate to have people offer assistance without really having to reach out. Of course, having sponsorship is a huge bonus but it’s something I don’t want to stress about,” she said.

“Acushnet Canada has been wonderful in giving me some of their great products and I’m so thankful for their belief in me.”

At 26, the former LPGA pro feels she’s much wiser. And this time around, she plans to focus on what she can control – and let the rest take care of itself.

“I’m the type of person who goes all in once I’ve committed to something and I’m willing to put in the work,” she said.

“My objective will be to earn my LPGA Tour card again and play for Canada in the Tokyo Olympics. But, just as important, my goal is to give it my best – and to love and enjoy each moment.”

The R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the sport has been reflected in early success for the new Women in Golf Charter.

Launched last May in London, the Charter set out to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf globally. It is designed to encourage actions that enable more women and girls to flourish and maximise their potential within the golf industry at all levels.

To date, 107 organisations have given their commitment to the Charter, pledging to build on current initiatives and develop new projects to increase the number of women, girls and families playing golf and becoming members of clubs, as well as giving women wider opportunities to enjoy careers and volunteering in the sport.

These include national federations such as Golf Canada – which held its inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit last year linked to the staging of the CP Women’s Open and enters its sixth year of hosting the World Junior Girls Championship, which welcomes athletes from 19 countries around the world.

Other organisations who have adopted the Charter include the PGA TOUR; the European Tour; the Ladies’ European Tour; the Professional Golfers’ Association; the Golf Foundation; the PGAs of Europe; the European Disabled Golf Association; the ANNIKA Foundation; IMG; VisitScotland and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Mastercard, the official card of The Open, is also the first R&A Patron to sign up. Various other organisations offering their support include the Association of Golf Writers and GOLFNOW.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are encouraged by the number of organisations who have recognised the importance of the Charter for the sport and pledged their support.

“It is a positive start but we need an industry-wide commitment to the Charter and support for measures that will foster a more inclusive culture within the sport and enable women and girls to reach their full potential.”

While achieving the commitment of national federations and organisations was one of the first aims of the Charter, the process for clubs and regional bodies to sign up is also now gathering pace.

Conwy, which will stage the 2020 Curtis Cup in Wales, is the first golf club to sign up to the Charter.

Boldon, based in Tyne & Wear, is the first English club to sign, followed by commitments from Open venues Royal Portrush, St Andrews Links Trust and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Fulford, venue for the Girls Under 16 Amateur Championship, has also committed, along with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Blairgowrie, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch.

“Gaining the support of national associations and organisations was the first phase of our plan,” added Slumbers. “We have also worked closely with them to collectively agree a process to support individual clubs in adopting the Charter and gain real momentum.

“The national body is the point of contact and will directly liaise with clubs in determining commitments to the Charter should a club wish to become a signatory.

“We would like national associations, with the involvement of clubs, to set targets for participation and membership as we look to increase the number of women, girls and families playing the sport.”

2018 World Junior Girls Championship (Camelot Golf and Country Club, Cumberland ON)

When Michael Gligic was 13, his mom took him to Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., and told instructor Sean Foley her son wanted to take the sport more seriously.

More than 15 years later, Foley got great joy out of seeing a fellow Burlington, Ont., native record the greatest triumph of his roller-coaster golf career – making a spot on the PGA Tour next season a very strong possibility.

Gligic, 29, captured the Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship by one shot after shooting a 5-under 65 in the final round on Sunday.

“I’ve been a part of so many wins with players – wins of the U.S. Open or the FedEx Cup and they’re building their legacy – but that win (Sunday) … it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a win that literally could change the trajectory of someone’s life,” said Foley, a former instructor to Tiger Woods who now counts world No. 1 Justin Rose as one of his clients.

“If he has one more top 10, he’s on the PGA TOUR and he has 22 tournaments to get to that number. Mike’s always been focused on making it, and when you’re focused on making it, maybe you just make it. Whereas now the focus should be on what he could do to finish No. 1 on the money list.

“If I said that to him six weeks ago, he might have thought in his heart of hearts (he’d) really not believe he could be, but now he’s just learned something you can’t teach people. When push comes to shove, you can do it.”

Gligic is the fourth Canadian in the last four years to win on the Web.com Tour – the feeder circuit to the PGA TOUR – following Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton (2016), Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. (2017), and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (2018). The top 25 at season’s end earn tickets to the PGA Tour, and Gligic – currently second – simply needs to stay consistent to finish in that group.

Hughes, Silverman, and Svensson are now playing on the PGA Tour.

It’s dusty in here ⛳️❤️ pic.twitter.com/fXnE7QMffv

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) February 11, 2019

But Gligic’s road to the top tour hasn’t been as smooth as some of his fellow Canadians.

He turned professional at 18, forgoing a post-secondary education to chase his golf dreams. He earned his Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada card on his 19th birthday and won his first event four years later.

The win came the year before the Mackenzie Tour was brought under the PGA Tour umbrella, so he spent the next five seasons in Canada with only brief appearances on the Web.com Tour.

A breakthrough came at the end of last year’s Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season – he was named the Canadian player of the year – and earned a spot in the first eight Web.com Tour events through his position at the final stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school.

Now, all signs point towards Gligic joining the Canadian contingent on the PGA Tour.

“I’ve always known I’ve had it, but there are so many good players in golf,” Gligic said by phone from Panama before flying to Florida for this week’s Web.com Tour event.

“The one thing I get asked a lot is ‘What’s the difference between you and them ? the guys on the PGA Tour?’ My answer has always been the same. You can put the top 50 in the world on their own level, but then you put No. 51 in the world on the driving range with a Mackenzie Tour player, and you can’t tell who is No. 51 or who is on the Mackenzie Tour. I think that’s what has kept me going.”

Gligic grew up playing both hockey and baseball and was a goalie for 12 years. He wanted to be a pro hockey player, but after realizing he wasn’t going to make it (he had dropped baseball at that point), Gligic told his parents he wanted to practise golf indoors instead.

Gligic played only recreationally to that point, but then hooked up with Foley – the former instructor to Tiger Woods who now counts No. 1 Justin Rose as one of his clients.

He went to Florida with Foley, who was just starting his own career, and participated in an elite junior program before turning professional.

Gligic admits he wasn’t a standout junior golfer like Hughes, who is now a winner on the PGA Tour, but worked as hard as he could. He said it was “pretty cool” to have Foley text him Sunday night. Gligic was one of his first notable pupils.

“At the end of the day if you just keep working hard ? I believed it would all work out,” said Gligic.

 

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Lock in the W @mgligicgolf! ?? Another strong week in Canadian #golf this week – swipe for results! ??➡️ – – – #golfstagram #golfcanada #golflife #webtour #golfer

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Feb 11, 2019 at 9:13am PST

Although Gligic said he’s had “negative thoughts more than anyone” about not playing golf, he has never given up.

He said he has considered getting a job outside of golf, and has seen friends both move on to the PGA Tour and leave professional golf entirely.

“I’ve always felt like I’ve had the game, but sometimes it doesn’t fall in place and sometimes it does,” he said. “It was one of those things where I forced myself to just keep grinding.”

Foley is excited about Gligic’s future.

“Here’s a (29) year old who is just getting into the prime of his career, and Mike has probably shot 63 or 64 on the Mackenzie Tour more than anyone in the last decade, so I’ve always known his game was there. It was just the opportunity needed to be on the right tour,” Foley said.

“If he didn’t make it to the PGA Tour, I probably would have been disappointed because he’s just that good, really.”

Taylor Pendrith has come to accept that his path to the PGA Tour is going to be longer and have a few more twists and turns than some of his peers.

After two injury-plagued seasons, Pendrith just missed out on earning a card on this season’s Web.com Tour after a disappointing round in the second stage of qualifying school on Nov. 9. He’s vowed to learn from that event and is determined to make the Web.com Tour by the end of 2019, and wants to have a strong showing on Canada’s Mackenzie Tour in the meantime.

“I was trying too hard to make birdies instead of just letting them come naturally,” said Pendrith about the fateful round. “I learned that patience is key. Whether you’re having a good round or a bad round you’re going to get good breaks and you’re going to get bad breaks, that’s just the way golf goes.

“You can’t control it, you can’t control the outcome of anything. It sounds cliche, but you just have to take it one shot at a time.”

The native of Richmond Hill, Ont., is spending his winter in Florida, participating in Monday qualifiers for Web.com Tour events before he begins the Mackenzie Tour season at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf and Country Club on May 23-26. Nearly making the Web.com Tour in November taught him that he can compete in the higher levels of the professional ranks.

“Stuff happens, it’s all good,” said Pendrith. “I’ve learned that I belong out there. I want to play out there and can compete and win on the Web.com, it just might take a little longer. Some people’s paths are longer, some people’s are right to the Web, to the PGA Tour, and some guys take three, four, or five years.

“It’s all good, I’ve embraced it and I’m just looking forward to it. I have a place to play this year in Canada and I’m excited to get it going and have a really good 2019.”

Pendrith has a clean bill of health after struggling with ongoing wrist issues, a partially torn tendon in his arm and a torn muscle in his palm, that disrupted his 2016 and 2017 seasons. Those injuries were especially hard on Pendrith, who is renowned for his power game.

Pendrith has the full support of Golf Canada, getting named to the 2019 Team Canada Young Pro Squad on Jan. 19. National men’s head coach Derek Ingram feels the sky’s the limit for Pendrith’s potential.

“Taylor’s one of the best prospects to come out of Canada in the last 50 years, quite frankly,” said Ingram. “He’s a unique player in the sense that he hits it so far and he’s quite straight. He’s just a tremendous player.

“If he didn’t get derailed by injuries the past two-plus years I personally think he’d be on the PGA Tour already. It takes time but he’s a tremendous talent and a guy with really good habits.”

As Pendrith waits for the Web.com Tour’s events in the southern United States to begin – the first event is the LECOM Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., on Feb. 14 – he’s working on finding consistency on the green.

“I’m going to play in probably six Monday qualifiers basically until the Canadian Tour (Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada) season starts,” said Pendrith. “It would be great to play my way into a tournament and try to have a good finish there. Worst case scenario, Plan B, is to come back and prepare for a great season in Canada.

“My goal this year is to win a tournament, whether it be on the Canadian Tour (Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada) or the Web.com Tour. It would just help me get that winning mindset back.”

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced local qualifying sites for the 119th U.S. Open Championship. The U.S. Open will be contested at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links for the sixth time from June 13-16, 2019. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 110 sites in 43 states and Canada, will take place between April 29-May 13.

“We are grateful for the extensive support of Allied Golf Associations and Golf Canada, in collaboration with the USGA’s five regional offices, during this two-tiered U.S. Open qualifying process,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of Championships. “Thousands of professional and amateur golfers from around the world will pursue an opportunity to compete in our national championship at scenic Pebble Beach Golf Links, which has produced some of the most memorable moments in American golf.”

Local Qualifying will take place in Canada on May 13 at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.

Those players who advance out of local qualifying will join a group of exempt players in sectional qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes at 12 sites, nine of them in the U.S., one in England, one in Canada and one in Japan. Eight U.S. sites and the Canada and England sites will host sectionals on Monday, June 3. The U.S. qualifier in Texas will be played on May 20, while Japan will host its qualifier on May 27. It will mark the 15th consecutive year that England and Japan have hosted international sectional qualifying.

Canada will host a sectional qualifier for the first time, taking place at RattleSnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ont., on June 3 leading into the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.

In 2018, the USGA accepted 9,049 entries for the championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y. The record of 10,127 was established for the 2014 championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Fifty-five courses return as U.S. Open local qualifying sites from last year and several have a significant history as hosts. Illini Country Club, in Springfield, Ill., will conduct a U.S. Open qualifier for the 41st consecutive year. Maketewah Country Club, in Cincinnati, Ohio, will be a local site for the 43rd time in the last 44 years. Chris Naegel, who tied for 56th in last year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, and amateur Will Grimmer, who finished 66th, advanced through local qualifying at Illini C.C. and Maketewah C.C., respectively.

Additionally, Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club has hosted local qualifying since 1998, while Collindale Golf Course, in Fort Collins, Colo., has been a host site since 2003. Ironwood Country Club, in Palm Desert, Calif., will hold a local qualifier for the 21st time in the last 22 years.

Five clubs will host U.S. Open local qualifying for the 11th consecutive year. They are: The Club at Admirals Cove (North/West Courses), in Jupiter, Fla.; The Club at Ruby Hill, in Pleasanton, Calif.; Holston Hills Country Club, in Knoxville, Tenn.; La Purisima Golf Course, in Lompoc, Calif.; and Pinewild Country Club (Magnolia Course), in Pinehurst, N.C.

Last year, 21 players advanced through local and sectional qualifying to the 156-player U.S. Open Championship field at Shinnecock Hills. Of those 21, seven players made the 36-hole cut, including co-low amateur Luis Gagne, who started his journey at Orange Tree Golf Club, in Orlando, Fla., which will host a local qualifier for the eighth consecutive year. Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and sectional play.

Several U.S. Open champions have advanced to the championship through both local and sectional qualifying at some point in their careers, including Lucas Glover, David Graham, Lou Graham, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin, Lee Janzen, Tom Kite, Johnny Miller, Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, Lee Trevino and Fuzzy Zoeller.

To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.

There are 14 local qualifying sites in both California and Florida, the most of any state. Texas will host seven local qualifiers, while New York and Pennsylvania each have five.

PANAMA CITY – Canadian Michael Gligic shot a 5-under 65 on Sunday to win the Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship by one stroke.

It was the 29-year-old’s first victory on the Web.com Tour— his first career start at the Panamá Championship. The journeyman has spent years between tours before earning Web.com Tour starts with a T13 finish at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament last December. Once the results were confirmed, Gligic was overcome with emotion, realizing he had officially won.

“I still can’t really believe it, to be honest. You come to every golf tournament to win and to actually do it is a whole different ball game, and it’s really overwhelming,” Gligic said. “I knew I was right there, and every shot really counted. I gave it my all and fortunately I was good by one shot.”

Gligic, a Burlington, Ont., native who resides in Kitchener, Ont., finished at 8-under 272 at the Panama Golf Club, one shot better than Xinjun Zhang of China.

 

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CHAMP! Congrats on the @WebDotComTour WIN, @MGligicGolf ???? – What a ride ⛳️?? – – – ? @webdotcomtour

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on Feb 10, 2019 at 2:10pm PST

Zhang capped his tournament with a 66.

Gligic had six birdies in Sunday’s final round – including three straight on the ninth, 10th and 11th holes. His only blemish was a bogey on the Par-4 15th.

“I would say the turning point was when I made that really good par putt on seven, which was over a cup outside,” Gligic said. “I’d say that putt kept me going and birdieing 10 and 11 was where it was game on from there.”

After a third-round 67, Gligic was T7 as he began his final round. He sensed that he was near the top of the leaderboard but didn’t know for sure until the round was over.

“Down the stretch I didn’t really know where I stood,” said Gligic. “I’ve been trying not to look at leaderboards or anything. I knew I was close because the cameras were out and people were following.”

Gligic has spent most of his career on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada with this week being his 15^th-career start on the Web.com Tour. He referenced the constant support from his fellow Canadians and Mackenzie Tour counterparts.

“It’s great; it’s always been like that. We’re a pretty tight-knit group and regardless of whether we’re playing the Mackenzie Tour, Web.com Tour or PGA TOUR, everyone’s cheering for each other,” said Gligic. “Everyone wants to see that Canadian flag at the top of the leaderboard and fortunately it was my week this week. Hopefully those boys get it done in the next few weeks here. I think Canada is moving in the right direction and we’re seeing a lot of Canadian flags on all the tours.”

Words from the newly ? champ @MGligicGolf pic.twitter.com/DOugG0Zoiz

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) February 11, 2019

Carl Yuan (69) of China finished third at 6 under while Britain’s Ben Taylor, who opened the day atop the leaderboard, had two bogeys in his 1-over final round to fall to fourth place at 5 under.

Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (67) finished in a tie for 19th, Albin Choi (70) of Surrey, B.C., tied for 36th and Mike Weir (70) of Brights Grove, Ont., took a share of 41st place.

Gligic rose six positions in the standings on the final day of the tournament. He took home US$112,500 for winning and earned 500 points in the new Web.com Tour Points system.

He shot a pair of 70’s to open the event on Thursday and Friday but bettered his score with a third-round 67 to climb within striking distance of the lead heading into the final.

“Down the stretch I didn’t really know where I stood,” said Gligic. “I’ve been trying not to look at leaderboards or anything. I knew I was close because the cameras were out and people were following.”

Gligic’s previous best result this season was a tie for 20th at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.