Taylor Pendrith took two weeks off after the Presidents Cup and didn’t miss a beat, matching his career-low on the PGA Tour with a 10-under 61 that gave him an early three-shot lead in the Shriners Children’s Open on Thursday.

Pendrith missed only one fairway and one green at the TPC Summerlin, both on the same hole. He pulled his tee shot on the 18th hole — his ninth — had to pitch out sideways, hit wedge to 7 feet and saved his par.

The rest was a steady diet of big drives, a lot of wedges and good putting. His only disappointment was the par-5 ninth, his final hole. He had only 200 yards into the green and knew an eagle would give him a 59.

“Tried to be aggressive and hit a good shot and just didn’t catch all of it, and came up short right in the bunker,” Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., said.

He blasted out to 12 feet and missed the putt, along with a chance to tie the course record at Summerlin last set by Rod Pampling in 2017.

Pendrith also shot a 61 in the Bermuda Championship three years ago.

Fellow Canadian Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., also started strong with an opening round of 7-under 64, joining a group including Bud Cauley and Matti Schmid. 

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., opened at 4-under 67, a stroke ahead of Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., opened at 1-over 72 while Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford had a later tee time. 

Matt McCarty, who won the inaugural Black Desert Championship last week in Utah, played in the afternoon.

Also playing late was Tom Kim, the two-time defending champion. He is trying to become the first player since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic (2009-11) to win the same PGA Tour event three straight times.

Former UNLV player Ryan Moore was among those at 65, while Rickie Fowler posted a 66 — it felt much higher playing alongside Pendrith.

Schmid was coming off a 62 in the final round in Utah to finish fifth, moving him off the bubble at No. 120 to No. 105 in the FedEx Cup Fall. A big part of this stretch of the PGA Tour is for players to finish in the top 125 to secure a full card for 2025.

Pendrith knows that feeling.

He was at No. 123 in the FedEx Cup last year when he came to Las Vegas, and he tied for third to effectively sew up his card for the following season. He went on to win in Dallas at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson for his first PGA Tour title, and he made it to the Tour Championship.

“I know it’s an important time of year for a lot of guys and I’ve been there for sure,” Pendrith said. “It’s stressful. But it’s a different feeling for me, obviously already locked up for next year. It’s a different feeling I guess out there playing. But I really enjoy this place.”

Pendrith also was picked for the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal, posting a 2-3 record and going 2-1 in team play alongside Adam Scott. The plan was to take a short break, but that changed when Hurricane Milton cut across Florida.

“I think I played maybe three times since the Presidents Cup, and then was planning on practising and everything was closed,” Pendrith said. His coach joined him in Las Vegas for some quality work early in the week.

“I feel rested and excited to play,” Pendrith said. “I didn’t really expect a 10 under, I would say. I thought I would be a little bit more rusty than that. Obviously thrilled, just got to keep getting back into the rhythm of things and the next few days.”

Four skilled competitors represented First Tee – Atlantic and Canada at the third annual Ernie Els #GameON Autism® International Golf Tournament.

The global tournament is for individuals with autism to benefit from competition, physical activity, and social connection. Participants as young as five and up to 18 compete alongside their teammates in a six-hole match at their Official Program Provider (OPP) in their respective countries, and scores are submitted.

This year, the Canadian squad was made up of four First Tee – Atlantic participants from Newfoundland.

Joseph Tobin, eight years old, Gabe Spence, nine years old, and Theo Jenkins, nine years old, from Corner Brook, NL and Jackson Pink, 11 years old, of Pasadena, NL faced off against the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, and Ghana.

Pink shot the lowest team score, with a 43, and Tobin was not far behind, with a 49. The team was supported throughout the day by head coach Wayne Allen as well as his two daughters, assistant coaches Rosie and Paige Allen.

The players competed at First Tee – Atlantic program location, Humber Valley Resort, where Coach Wayne ran registered First Tee programming out of this year.

The partnership between First Tee – Atlantic, Els for Autism Foundation and Humber Valley is exemplary of First Tee’s mission to provide more inclusive pathways to golf for children from all backgrounds. By collaborating with the Els Foundation, First Tee – Atlantic provided a life-enhancing opportunity for its participants and helped children with autism feel more included in the culture of sports and recreation.

First Tee – Atlantic’s Program Manager, Colin Gillis, and dedicated First Tee coach, Wayne Allen, completed additional training through the Els Foundation to provide an ideal learning environment for participants with autism.

The #GameOn Autism Golf Program is infused with evidence-based practices for teaching golf to people with autism. Coaches take a deeper dive into helping participants learn golf skills while practicing specific autism learning concepts, including communication, emotional regulation, motor, and social skills.

First Tee – Atlantic and Coach Wayne have also been working with the Autism Network of Newfoundland since 2023.

“This is what First Tee is all about,” said Gillis. “When locations like Humber Valley Resort open their doors so any child can participate in golf, we break down those barriers of entry to our sport and ensure that all children feel included, welcomed and celebrated. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to play golf and reap the benefits the sport has to offer on and off the course.”

First Tee – Atlantic launched across the Atlantic provinces in 2022 and now offers programming at over 17 locations through partnerships with golf courses, schools, and community organizations.

“We will continue to provide a safe and empowering environment for children with autism at First Tee – Atlantic,” said Gillis. “We look forward to competing again next year at the Ernie Els International tournament and hope to bring home the championship title!”

To learn more about the Els Autism Foundation, click here. To get involved with First Tee – Atlantic, click here.

The 15th edition of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event wrapped up today in Mississauga after 30 of the top Canadian junior golfers showcased their skills in one of Golf Canada’s signature junior events. The event took place at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club which also played host to the World Junior Girls Golf Championship from September 30 – October 5.

The National Event culminates a year-long program consisting of 92 qualifying events across Canada and 1,600 participants who competed at the local level. 

In partnership with Cobra-Puma Golf and the PGA of Canada, participants went head-to-head in a three-part (putting, chipping, and driving) competition:

Driving: each competitor received three drives with points awarded for distance and aim of the drive.  

Chipping: each competitor received three shots for chipping with points awarded on distance of the chip from the target.

Putting: each competitor received one putt from each distance of 5, 10, and 20 feet with points awarded for holing the putt and proximity to the hole.

The winners for each division of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event received a brand-new putter courtesy of Cobra-Puma Golf.

Below are the winners in each of the age groups: 

Girls 7 to 9:

Four participants competed including Myra Raycroft, Sierra Storey, Brooke Sundquist, and Annabel Zhao.

Zhao of Richmond, B.C. captured the title with a final score of 195 (45 points from driving, 80 points from chipping, 70 points from putting), with the top chipping score across all Girls divisions.

Boys 7 to 9:  

Three participants competed including Albert Cui, Gianni D’Ambrosio, and Owen Durkin.

In his second time qualifying for the National Event, Gianni D’Ambrosio was able to capture the title, with a final score of 170 (60 points from driving, 40 points from chipping, and 70 points from putting).

Girls 10 to 11: 

Four participants competed including Keira Chin, Emily Joy, Soleil Lindholm, and Angela Qi.

It was a close competition, but Lindholm of Toronto, Ont. pulled away with a final score of 180 (75 points from driving, 35 points from chipping, and 70 points from putting).

Boys 10 to 11:

Competing in the division included Nicholas Gallo, Lennon Goyette, Noah Olver, and Benjamin Vandolder.

Goyette of Bathurst, N.B. was a stand-out competitor with an impressive final score of 270 (80 points from driving, 80 points from chipping, and 110 points from putting), and tied Kaitlyn Joy (Girls 12 to 13) with the top putting score of the day across all age divisions.

Girls 12 to 13: 

Four participants competed in the division including Kaitlyn Joy, Riviera Lindholm, Kate Yang, and Shannon Zhang.

Joy of Calgary, Alta. led the division with a notable final score of 255 (90 points from driving, 55 points from chipping, and 110 points from putting), and tied Goyette (Boys 10 to 11) for the top putting score of the day across all age divisions.

Boys 12 to 13: 

Competing in the division included Hunter Burke, Spencer Forsyth, William Henry, and Jagger Shi.

Burke of Charlottetown, P.E.I. dominated in his division, earning first place with a final score of 245 (75 points from driving, 80 points from chipping, and 90 points from putting).

Girls 14 to 15: 

Tristyn Anderson, Aliyah Hull, Ceilidh Spare, and Addyson Tatlonghari participated in the division.

Hull of Chestermere, Alta. captured the title for the second year in a row, with a score of 200 (30 points from driving, 70 points from chipping, and 100 points from putting).

Boys 14 to 15: 

Three participants competed in the division including Luke Deplaedt, Kai Kriekle, and Tommy Xu.

Kriekle of Regina, Sask. took home the title with a score of 215 (75 points from driving, 50 points from chipping, and 90 points from putting).

On Sunday, October 6, Junior Skills Challenge National Event participants will also play Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, Ont. in an exciting match play format, outfitted by program sponsor COBRA PUMA Golf.

For more information on the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

Mississauga, Ont. – The 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event will take place on Saturday, October 5 at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

A total of 31 golfers from four age groups will compete in the 15^th edition of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, which brings together the top-scoring juniors from coast-to-coast.

The participating junior golfers will compete in a three-part skills challenge (putting, chipping and driving) with one overall winner per age group and gender.

Golf Canada, in partnership with COBRA and PUMA Golf, along with the PGA of Canada will host the 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event. The event is the culmination of more than 1,600 Junior Skills Challenge participants who competed at 92 qualifying events held across Canada. The field is comprised of 31 golfers from across Canada, all selected from the top of the Junior Skills Challenge National Leaderboard. 

Format

Driving: Each competitor receives three drives. Points are awarded and dependent on distance and aim of the drive. The drive must come to rest within the 30-yard width to qualify for points. The number of points is dependent on the distances completed.

Chipping: Each competitor receives three shots. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the chip from the target.

Putting: Each competitor receives one putt each from each distance of 5, 10 and 20 feet. Points are awarded for holing the putt and for proximity to the hole.

The winners of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event will receive prizing courtesy of program partner, COBRA PUMA Golf. On Sunday, October 6, Junior Skills Challenge National Event participants will also have the opportunity to play Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, Ontario in an exciting match play format, outfitted by program sponsor COBRA PUMA Golf.

For more information on the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

Participants

Girls 7 to 9

Girls 10 to 11

Girls 12 to 13

Girls 14 to 15

Boys 7 to 9

Boys 10 to 11

Boys 12 to 13

Boys 14 to 15

Mackenzie Hughes might just be what the International team needs as this year’s Presidents Cup.

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., is one of three Canadians on the squad competing in the match-play event at Royal Montreal Golf Club next week. 

His putting skills, cool demeanour under pressure, pre-existing connections with teammates and clubhouse leadership could help the team — made up of non-American players outside Europe — end a nine-tournament losing skid to the United States at the biennial event.

“I’ve had this one circled on the calendar for a few years now,” said Hughes on joining fellow Canadians Taylor Pendrith and Corey Conners as captain’s picks on the 12-player International team. “I pretty much knew that when it was announced the tournament would be in Canada and that Mike Weir was going to be the captain, you pretty much knew where that was going to go.

“To get that call from (Weir) is really special because he’s the guy that I looked up to, we all looked up to, as Canadian golfers.”

Pendrith and Conners are returning to the team after a disappointing 17 1/2 to 12 1/2 loss to the United States at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. in 2022.

Hughes was ranked 14th on the International team standings in 2022 and could have easily been included on that squad after Australia’s Cameron Smith and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann were ruled ineligible after jumping ship to the rival LIV Golf circuit.

However, captain Trevor Immelman of South Africa instead chose the lower ranked Christiaan Bezuidenhout (16th) of South Africa, Pendrith (18th), South Korea’s Kim Si-woo (20th) and Australia’s Cameron Davis (25th).

“I certainly wanted to be on that team but also I understood the picks,” said Hughes, who lives in Charlotte and plays at Quail Hollow regularly. “I think that like a lot of guys that don’t get picked you more so look back on your own play and I wish I had made that selection easier for them.

“I didn’t do myself any favours in the six weeks leading up to it and that’s a hard pill to swallow.”

It may have been a costly oversight on Immelman’s part, as finishing holes was an issue for the International team in 2022 and Hughes is one of the best putters on the PGA Tour. This season he’s third in shots gained around the green and fifth in shots gained from putting.

“It doesn’t mean that just because I was there it would have turned the tide, but I’d like to think maybe I could have helped,” said Hughes. “That’s why you play the matches. You have to get out there and do it.”

This year Hughes made it easier for Weir, the Canadian golf legend from Brights Grove, Ont., to choose him. Hughes is 51st in the FedEx Cup Fall standings and has made the cut seven tournaments in a row, including a tie for fourth at last week’s Procore Championship.

“Mac played very solidly all year. Really like his short game, an all-around short game,” said Weir on Sept. 3 after announcing his captain’s picks. “He’s one of the elite and best short game guys on the PGA Tour 

“I also love Mac’s grit. So that was the reason I picked him.”

Hughes’s intangible qualities go beyond grit. 

He, Pendrith and Conners will arrive at Royal Montreal as a unit within the International squad, having become close friends while playing on Kent State University’s men’s golf team before turning pro. They’re also part of a group of Canadians, including Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., that regularly practice together before PGA Tour events.

“To have those guys with me is really icing on the cake, it’s very special,” said Hughes. “Opportunities like this don’t come around very often: to play this kind of team competition, which is already hard to do, but to play with some of your best friends, it almost seems scripted.”

An 11-year professional, Hughes has also been a member of the PGA Tour’s player advisory council the past two years and has been an outspoken advocate for making professional golf more accessible to fans.

Although Weir relied heavily on analytics to make his captain’s selections, Hughes’s character came up again and again when asked why he was named to the team.

“I just have a gut feeling with Mac that he has what it takes in these big moments,” said Weir. “They’re big pressure moments, and I have a feeling he’s going to do great in those moments.”

DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., continues his chase for a spot in the Europe-based DP World Tour’s playoffs. The top 50 players on the Race to Dubai standings make the DP World Tour Championship and Cockerill moved eight spots up to 39th in the rankings after tying for ninth at last week’s Irish Open. He’ll be back at it on Thursday at the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club in Surrey, England.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is ranked 38th on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour’s points list. He leads the Canadian contingent into this week’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship. He’ll be joined at Ohio State University Golf Club — Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio by Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (53rd), Etienne Papineau (65th) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., and Sudarshan Yellamaraju (99th) of Mississauga, Ont.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames is the lone Canadian at this week’s Pure Insurance Championship. He’s No. 2 on the senior circuit’s points list. The event will start Friday and be played at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course in Monterey, Calif.

LPGA TOUR — There are four Canadians in this week’s Kroger City Championship. Savannah Grewal (97th in the Race to CME Globe Rankings) of Mississauga, Ont., Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (115th), and Maude-Aimee Leblanc (142nd) of Sherbrooke, Que., will all tee it up at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio.

EPSON TOUR — Vancouver’s Leah John is the low Canadian heading into the Murphy USA El Dorado Shootout. She’s 54th in the second-tier tour’s points list. She’ll be joined by Maddie Szeryk (118th) of London, Ont., and Brigitte Thibault (119th) of Rosemere, Que., at Mystic Creek Golf Club in El Dorado, Ark.

The chase for the remaining PGA Tour cards for the 2025 season begins Thursday at the Procore Championship.

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., is one of the players hunting to stay on the tour in the FedEx Cup Fall mini-season, and he’s using every tool at his disposal to secure one of the 55 remaining full cards or 25 spots with conditional status for next year. That includes relying on analytics to help him better strategize on the course.

“My focus is doing what I can possibly do, controlling what I can do to be the best golfer that I can be,” said Sloan. “I’m looking forward to this fall schedule, some good tournaments.

“There’s a lot of travel involved in the fall schedule, but it’s an exciting time for us. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The FedExCup Fall circuit is eight PGA Tour events that lets players lock up or improve their positions in priority ranking and secure additional playing opportunities for the next year, which begins at The Sentry on Jan. 2.

Only players ranked 51st or higher in the FedEx Cup standings through the playoffs can earn points in the fall months, meaning Taylor Pendrith (14th) of Richmond Hill, Ont., Corey Conners (39th) of Listowel, Ont., and Adam Hadwin (47th) of Abbotsford, B.C., have no need to play. Golfers ranked Nos. 51-70 in the FedEx Cup regular standings also already have their cards for next season, but can earn spots in the first two signature events after The Sentry.

Sloan enters play on Thursday at Silverado Resort’s North Course in Napa, Calif., 173rd in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. The top 125 players at the end of the RSM Classic on Nov. 24 will have full membership next season with Nos. 126-150 retaining conditional status.

“Got some good progress in last year, got it back out here on the PGA Tour,” said Sloan, who played on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour in 2023. “I think I’m more dialled into making strategy changes, how I play a golf course. 

“Basically using a lot of ShotLink data and using the statistics to improve the strategy. I’ve started to see in the last several months, that some of the numbers underneath the surface are rapidly improving so I’m really encouraged to see that.”

The ShotLink System is a data platform for collecting and disseminating scoring and statistical data on every shot by every PGA Tour player in real-time. In practical terms, it allows golfers like Sloan to better understand the odds of making certain shots in recurring situations.

“It’s not like we’re trying to find, you know, a better swing path or better release or anything mechanical,” said Sloan, who has a member of his team who is “good with numbers” sift through all the data for him. “This is literally just the decision-making of each and every shot from certain points on the golf course. 

“It’s pretty neat to be able to make those adjustments, the improvements in certain statistical categories, without really ever touching the putting stroke or the full swing, or any of the mechanics.”

For Sloan, it’s meant changing his strategy in two areas. 

“One is par-3 strategy and then the second is my strategy into the green beyond 150 yards from the rough,” he said. “Those are two categories that I’ve given a lot of strokes back to the field, and just adjusting those strategies, I’ve seen an incredible improvement in my par-3 scoring average and my strokes gained to the green has improved dramatically. And again, we haven’t touched the golf swing. 

“What it boils down to, for me personally in those two areas, was I’m ultra-aggressive. I’m way too aggressive in those areas where I just need to back off a little bit.”

Conners will be in the field at the Procore Championship, as will Presidents Cup International teammate Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., who is 52nd in the FedEx entering play on Thursday.

Nick Taylor (58th) of Abbotsford, Adam Svensson (75th) of Surrey, B.C., Ben Silverman (107th) of Thornhill, Ont., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., will also tee it up.

DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is the lone Canadian in the field at the Amgen Irish Open. He’s 47th in the Race to Dubai Rankings, the points list of the European-based circuit and 279th in the official world golf rankings. He’s still within the provisional cutoff of the tour’s championship Nov. 14-17. This week’s field is tougher than usual, however, as world No. 3 Rory McIlroy and No. 32 Shane Lowry are also playing in their national open at Royal County Down Golf Club in Newcastle, Northern Ireland.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., leads the Canadian contingent into the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation. He’s 38th on the second-tier tour’s points list. He’ll be joined by Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (48th), Etienne Papineau (63rd) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., and Sudarshan Yellamaraju (96th) of Mississauga, Ont., at Vanderbilt Legends Club North Course in Franklin, Tenn.

EPSON TOUR — Vancouver’s Leah John rocketed 66 spots up the Race for the Card points list thanks to her third-place finish at last week’s Guardian Championship. That puts her at 54th in the points list heading into the Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic. Maddie Szeryk (117th) of London, Ont., and Brigitte Thibault (118th) of Rosemere, Que., will also play on Friday at Ol’ Colony Golf Course in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Former Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club Partnership Executive to lead
Golf Canada’s integrated Commercial Business

(September 10, 2024) – Golf Canada announced today that sports business leader Mark Palmer has joined the organization as its new Chief Commercial Officer, beginning September 23, 2024. 

Palmer joins Golf Canada from the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club where he spent more than 20 years helping to drive the team’s commercial growth, most recently as Director, Partnership Development.

Palmer will join Golf Canada’s Executive Team as a key contributor in leading and managing all areas of revenue generation for the organization including oversight of partnerships, sponsorship, and all revenue-related functions of the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open as well Amateur Championships, BDO National Golf League, She Plays Golf, and First Tee – Canada. He will also support the development of innovative business opportunities and additional revenue streams including new events and facilities for Golf Canada’s new headquarters at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

“Mark is an accomplished and dynamic revenue driver with a proven track record of transforming corporate partnerships into substantial top-line growth and we are exceptionally pleased to welcome him to Golf Canada to help drive the organization to an elevated level of commercial success,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “Mark is an innovative leader who brings a depth of related industry experience, a network of deep-rooted relationships and a proven track record of sustained top-line revenue growth to help drive the momentum of our talented commercial team.”

Palmer has led initiatives that helped catapult the Blue Jays sponsorship revenue, pushing the team to top five in Major League Baseball’s rankings. He supported the team in monetizing a comprehensive stadium renovation during the previous two years and successfully negotiated numerous sponsorship deals with premium Canadian and international brands. Prior to partnership development, Palmer was successful in driving substantial premium hospitality and group sales ticket revenue, leading a team that rose as high as third in group ticket sales across all MLB teams at the time.

“I am honoured to join Golf Canada as Chief Commercial Officer, working with a talented team passionate about growing the game in Canada,” said Palmer. “Together, we will drive new commercial opportunities, partnerships, and innovations to elevate the sport, while building on Golf Canada’s legacy and ensuring golf continues to thrive in Canada.”

Palmer honed his executive commercial expertise across several team roles during his tenure including Corporate Partnerships, Ticket Sales and Premium Hospitality. Adept at leveraging analytics, market research and creative thinking to exceed business objectives, Palmer also brings expertise in strategic negotiation, innovative program development, and maximizing sponsorship value.

Adding a depth of professional association and volunteer experience, Palmer sits on the Board of Directors for the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada (SMCC), Variety – The Children’s Charity of Ontario, and is a current member and former Chair of the Canadian Marketing Association’s (CMA) Sponsorship Council.

Palmer graduated from the University of Windsor with a BA in Communication Studies, before earning a Post-Graduate Diploma in Sports and Event Marketing from George Brown College. He also holds certification in Negotiation, Business Strategy, and DNA of Top Performers through the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. In 2022 Palmer was granted Charter Marketer Designation by the CMA

An avid and enthusiastic golfer, Palmer resides in Toronto with his partner, Kathryn and their five children.

MONTREAL, Québec, Canada – The Presidents Cup and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) announced today the final teams for the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup, with the event’s fourth edition set to tee off on Sept. 22 at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac – Blue Course in Montreal, four days before the 2024 Presidents Cup begins play at nearby The Royal Montreal Golf Club. The 12^th and final Junior Presidents Cup players for the U.S. Team and International Team were finalized as of Sept. 5, with Michael Riebe of Encinitas, California, and China’s Hanjie Yu earning the final spots on the U.S. and International teams, respectively.

The Junior Presidents Cup is a two-day, team match-play competition featuring the top 24 junior boys, 19 years old and younger. The juniors are split into teams of 12, half from the United States and the other half from around the world, excluding Europe. Taking place just days before the start of the biennial Presidents Cup, the Junior Presidents Cup was developed to give the world’s best non-European juniors a unique playing opportunity to compete in an international team match-play competition and showcase the global reach of junior golf.

Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac was founded in 1917 and is considered to be one of the most prestigious clubs in the country, ranking among the Top 100 golf courses in Canada. The Junior Presidents Cup will be played on the Blue Course, which was redesigned in 2013 by 2024 International Presidents Cup Captain Mike Weir and Ian Andrew, who had also worked as the restoration architect of the Green course at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac for some time prior.

Hanjie Yu is the third player from China to join the 2024 International Team. He is No. 229 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) and has two wins in international competition this year. He gained entry to the team as the highest-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) who was not otherwise qualified as of Sept. 5.

Eight countries are represented on the International Team, with China fielding three players and Vietnam and Thailand each with two representatives. Indonesia, New Zealand, India, Canada and Colombia are also represented. The International Team is led by 2013 Presidents Cup alumni Graham DeLaet as they seek their first victory in the Junior Presidents Cup.

For the United States team, Riebe, a Vanderbilt University verbal commit, has three top-10 AJGA Invitational finishes this season, including a fourth-place finish at the Rolex Tournament of Champions. He also had top-five finishes at the Boy’s Junior PGA Championship and the Western Junior Championship on a national junior golf stage. Riebe makes his first appearance on the United States team as the highest-ranked player on the Rolex AJGA Rankings who was not otherwise qualified as of Sept. 5.

Riebe also competed in the Wyndham Cup in July for the West Team. He will look to bring that match play experience into the Junior Presidents Cup. The U.S. Team is represented by eight different states, including two players from Florida, Texas, North Carolina and California. Additionally, eight players are Rolex Junior All-Americans (Miles Russell, Tyler Watts, Blades Brown, Will Hartman, Ronin Banerjee, Tyler Mawhinney, Jackson Byrd, Michael Riebe).

2017 Presidents Cup participant Charley Hoffman will captain the U.S. Team as they look for their fourth-consecutive victory in the competition after lifting the cup at Plainfield Country Club (2017), The Royal Melbourne Golf Club (2019) and Myers Park Country Club (2022).

The 12-player teams for the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup are listed below:

International Team – Captain Graham DeLaet

United States Team – Captain Charley Hoffman

*Captain’s Pick

Click here for complete Junior Presidents Cup Team Standings.

The 2024 Presidents Cup will be held at The Royal Montreal Golf Club, Sept. 24-29. For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com. For 2024 Junior Presidents Cup information, visit AJGA.org.

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About the Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup is a biennial global team competition between the United States and an International team that represents the rest of the world excluding Europe. The competition, which is contested by the PGA TOUR, alternates between venues in the U.S. and overseas. The Presidents Cup will return to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Québec, Canada, September 24-29, 2024. Since the event’s inception in 1994, more than $56 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup. 1Password, Cognizant and Rolex are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit PresidentsCup.com for more information.

Golf Canada is deeply saddened by the loss of Past President (1997) and Honorary Life Governor Frederick Alvin (Al) Macatavish, who passed away peacefully on August 29, 2024, at the Selkirk District Health Centre in Selkirk, Man., at the age of 84.

Macatavish had a long history of dedicated service to golf, both in Manitoba and on the national and international stages.

He had been a member of Elmhurst Golf and Country Club since 1964 and served on the club’s Board of Directors from 1967 to 1979, including a term as President from 1976 to 1977.

Provincially, he was Elmhurst’s representative to Golf Manitoba from 1978 to 1979 and served on the Board of Directors from 1980 to 1988, including a term as President in 1985 and Past President from 1986 to 1988. He was the non-playing captain for Manitoba’s 1983 junior men’s team and the 1985 Willingdon Cup team.

Al was a past member of Golf Canada’s Board of Directors  serving the association for many years in various capacities, including the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee and a term as President in 1997. He was appointed an Honorary Life Governor in 2000.

He served as Canada’s delegate to the World Golf Council from 1997 to 2000 and was a rules official at international events on four continents, as well as at numerous events across Canada and in Manitoba.

He was inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum on September 25, 2006.

Al will be missed by many, as both he and his wife Cathy made significant contributions to Golf Canada, the former Canadian Ladies Golf Association, Golf Manitoba, Elmhurst Golf and Country Club, and the golfing community at large. Both Al and Cathy were also very supportive of the Golf Canada Foundation and its growth for many years.

Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held at a later date.

The Ottawa Senators have reached a multi-year partnership with Canadian LPGA star Brooke Henderson, the NHL team announced Wednesday.

As part of the agreement, Henderson’s water bottles and golf towels will feature the Ottawa Senators logo.  

The 26-year-old Henderson is the most decorated Canadian golfer in major professional tour history. 

The Smiths Falls, Ont., native has 13 LPGA tour wins, including major titles at the 2016 Women’s PGA Championship and the 2022 Evian Championship.

“We are so happy to collaborate with Brooke on this partnership,” said Ottawa Senators owner Michael Andlauer. “Brooke’s spirit, values and determination embody what our Ottawa-Gatineau community is all about.”

“I’m super excited to team up and partner with the Senators. It’s such a cool opportunity,” Henderson said. “Growing up, I played hockey, I watched hockey and I always cheered for the Sens, so it feels like a perfect fit. 

“I’m very proud to do it and show everybody who I’m cheering for and where my love is.”