MOBILE, Ala. – Leah John is heading to the LPGA Tour, while Maude-Aimee LeBlanc will be returning after finishing inside the top 25 at the LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala. on Tuesday.

John, a Team Canada member from Vancouver, B.C. finished T10 with total score of 8-under. John led following an opening round of 8-under 64 and followed up with rounds of 72-69-73 to earn her card for the 2026 season.

John has competed in two LPGA Tour events in her career including the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. and the 2025 U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills in Hartford, Wis.

This past season on the Epson Tour, John earned her first professional win at the Four Winds Invitational in South Bend, Ind. in August. Jaohn finished 22nd in the Race for the Card points rankings just outside the top 15.

LeBlanc from Sherbrooke, Que. finished T17 at 6-under following rounds of 70-68-72-70 to retain her tour card for 2026.

This past season, LeBlanc competed in 10 events on the LPGA Tour, and her best finish was T20 at the CPKC Women’s Open at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. LeBlanc first joined the LPGA Tour in 2012.

The field of 115 faced delays throughout the final stage of qualifying. Opening round play was delayed and eventually suspended for the day due to unplayable course conditions on Friday. Weather played a factor again on Sunday forcing the third round to resume Monday morning, followed by the start of round four. The tour decided to reduce the LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying to a 72-hole event, finishing on Tuesday afternoon.

For the final standings from the 2025 LPGA Q-Series, final qualifying stage, please click here.

December 4, 2025 – Golf Canada is proud to announce the names of 34 amateur and junior athletes that have been named to the 2026 Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen squads.

Athletes are selected based on results from the previous season (September 2024-August 2025), with the Team Canada – NextGen program also considering performance at Golf Canada’s annual selection camps. Professional players that will be part of the 2026 Team Canada squad will be announced later, upon the completion of Qualifying Tournaments.

2026 Team Canada Rosters:

Team Canada – Women
Professionals to be selected later in the year

Team Canada – Men
Professionals to be selected later in the year.

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys)

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls)

“Golf Canada is proud to announce the amateur and junior athletes selected to the 2026 Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen teams. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and performances competing on golf’s biggest stages,” said Emily Phoenix, Director, High Performance, Golf Canada. “We are also deeply grateful to the generous donors of the Golf Canada Foundation and our corporate partners whose ongoing commitment to player development is vital in helping our athletes train, compete, and pursue their dreams of success on the PGA and LPGA Tours”.

Golf Canada’s National Team program aims to help more Canadian athletes achieve success on the world’s leading professional tours, including the PGA TOUR and the LPGA Tour. The Team Canada program supports a group of experienced amateurs on the pathway to playing professional golf along with a group of young professional golfers building their careers as touring pros. Complementing this, the Team Canada – NextGen squad focuses on developing Canada’s top junior golfers, providing training and competition experiences needed to build a strong foundation for future success at the amateur and professional levels.

Team Canada Coaches…

The coaching staff for the men’s and women’s Team Canada squads will return in full for the 2026 season. Team Canada – Men will be led by head coach Derek Ingram (Winnipeg, Man.) supported by coaches Louis Melanson (Moncton, N.B.) and Benoit Lemieux (Montréal, Que.). Lemieux will assume an expanded role as Lead Coach of Team Canada – Men (Amateur), taking direct responsibility for guiding and supporting the group of seven amateur prospects. Lemieux has been with the Team Canada program since 2021 and is a two-time recipient of the PGA of Quebec Coach of the Year award. In his time at Golf Canada, Lemieux has coached players to the Korn Ferry Tour and supported several top amateurs in their transition from amateur to professional golf. The coaching staff will be supported by mental performance coach, Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood (Winnipeg, Man.) along with strength and conditioning coach Greg Redman (Kelowna, B.C.). Team Canada – Women will be led by Stollery Family Women’s head coach Salimah Mussani (Vancouver, B.C.) along with associate coach Jennifer Greggain (Vancouver, B.C.), strength and conditioning coach Andrea Kosa (Calgary, Alta.) and mental performance coach Judy Goss (Toronto, Ont.).

Team Canada coaches work with athletes and their personal support teams to develop annual training plans and identify areas to impact athlete growth in all areas of their game. Athletes are also supported by a comprehensive sport science team that includes physical conditioning along with mental performance and mental health supports. Players are brought together regularly for training camps with national team coaches and sport science staff. The Team Canada – NextGen program also supports juniors and young amateurs across a range of pathways, including those who elect to pursue collegiate golf.

Team Canada Athletes….

The Women’s Amateur Team will have seven returning players, led by Lauren Kim (WAGR No. 19) of Surrey, B.C., who is currently in her junior year at the University of Texas. Kim earned her second collegiate win at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and added a pair of third place finishes as well as a top five. Kim also competed in her second consecutive Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament in April. Kim represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship alongside returning teammate, Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. Also returning in 2026 are: Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont., Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta., Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver, B.C. and Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont. Borovilos (Chevron Collegiate), Claggett (PGA of Canada Women’s Championship), Gal (Women’s Porter Cup) and Zhang (Ivy League Women’s Golf Championship and Quinnipiac Classic) were all victorious in 2025.

The 2026 Men’s squad will feature seven amateurs led by the lowest ranked Canadian male on WAGR (No. 92), Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. McCulloch is a fifth year student-athlete at Michigan State University and recently represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship. This past season McCulloch competed in both the RBC Canadian Open and the Rocket Classic on the PGA TOUR. Collegiate players Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., Ethan Wilson of St. Alberta, Alta., Cooper Humphreys of Vernon, B.C. and Matthew Javier of North York, Ont. are all returning to the program and will move up from the NextGen team for 2026. Eric Zhao of North York, Ont., a freshman at Princeton University will be the lone new addition to the program. Zhao earned two titles this season, winning the 2025 NextGen Ontario Championship and the 2025 Ontario Men’s Amateur.

Team Canada – NextGen Coaches…

Matt Wilson (Toronto, Ont.) has been hired as the head coach for the Team Canada – NextGen Boys team. Wilson re-joins Golf Canada after serving the past five years as the director of instruction at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. Prior to his time at Baltusrol, Wilson was the head coach of Team Canada’s Junior Girls team and director of NextGen performance from 2017 to 2020. Earlier this month, Wilson was named to the latest edition of the Top 100 Teachers in America by GOLF Magazine. Wilson will be joined by mental performance coach Dr. Jonathan Lasnier (Ottawa, Ont.) along with strength and conditioning coaches Andrew Hoermann (Milton, Ont.) and Iordan Krouchev (Montreal, Que.).

Jeff MacDonald (Chester, N.S.) returns as Team Canada – NextGen Girls head coach and will be supported by assistant coach Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alta.). Over the past three years, MacDonald has led Team Canada to a gold and back-to-back silvers at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. They will be joined by mental performance coach Justin Fredette (Winnipeg, Man.) and strength and conditioning coach Dr. Emily Wiggin (Dartmouth, N.S.).

Tristan Mullally of Dundas, Ont. will continue as the head of National Talent Identification, overseeing the national talent identification system that was established in 2022. In this role, Mullally provides support to a promising group of young junior golfers and their existing coaching teams to grow the pool of future Team Canada prospects. In 2026, six players have transitioned from Talent ID to Team Canada – NextGen.

Team Canada – NextGen Athletes…

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys) features two returning players including 2025 Canada Summer Games winner, Austin Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C. Krahn added two additional provincial wins in 2025 winning the B.C. Amateur and B.C. Junior Championship. Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. returns and has committed to the University of Virginia for 2026. They will be joined by eight newcomers led by 2025 Canadian Junior Boys champion, Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont. Lew added four additional individual wins in 2025 and two inter-provincial team titles for Ontario at the Canadian Men’s Amateur and Canadian Junior Boys. Joining Lew are six in-year winners including (wins in brackets): Alexis Rouleau of Montreal, Que. (NextGen Selection Camp, Golf Quebec Junior Provincial Match Play Championship, Marathan Petroleum Preview at Findlay), Spencer Shropshire of Ramara, Ont. (Ontario Junior Boys Championship,), Emile Lebrun of Laval, Que. (Golf Quebec Men’s Amateur Championship), Thomas Grenier of Thetford Mines, Que. (Golf Quebec Boys Junior Championship, NB3 Elite), Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C. (NextGen Pacific Championship), Eddie Gu of Aurora, Ont. (AM Technical Solutions Junior at Southpointe, Florida Junior Tour Labor Day Major). Also joining the team is Chase Jerome of Ottawa, Ont. Jerome earned 10 top 10 finishes across a number of tournaments this season.

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls) features eight returning members led by Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. In July, Deng won the 76th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship becoming the first Canadian to win the title in tournament history. One month later, Deng followed up her historic performance with a T20 finish at the CPKC Women’s Open, earning the Marlene Stewart Streit Award, given to the low amateur. Deng also won twice on the AJGA taking the Junior Invitational and Mizuho Americas Open and was recently named junior player of the year by the AJGA. Deng is currently the lowest ranked Canadian amateur player part of the national team program, currently No. 14 on WAGR. The 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship winner Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. also headlines as a returnee. Liu added four additional wins in 2025, including the Peloton Glencoe Invitational and was part of Team Canada 1 that earned silver medal honours at the 2025 World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. returns after winning the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO in July. Xing was also part of Team Canada 1’s silver medal team and represented Canada with Borovilos and Kim at the World Amateur Team Championship. Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. won two AJGA events and added two runner-up finishes. Lin finished solo third at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship and at the World Junior Girls and was the third member of the silver medal side. Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C., Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C. all represented Team Canada 2 at the World Junior Girls Championship, leading the team to a sixth-place finish. In addition, Ding won the Women’s Orlando International Amateur Championship and the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open to earn an exemption into the CPKC Women’s Open. Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. returns after earning five wins this season on the provincial and AJGA circuits. Park has won 15 events over the past two seasons. Joining the returning members are new members Ann-Sophie Bourgault of Gatineau, Que. and Jodie Han of Vancouver, B.C. Bourgault earned three runner-up finishes as well as a third-place finish and two top 10’s on the AJGA this season. She added one win at the 54 Hole Fort Myers Junior Open. Han finished as runner-up at the Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp tournament in September and won the adidas Junior All-Star and added two runner-up finishes and a top five finish on AJGA this year.

For full Team Canada athlete and coach bios along with tournament results and additional information, please click here. Team Canada is proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Hilton, Puma, Foresight, Golf Canada Foundation and Sport Canada.

National Sport Organization welcomes former USC Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director to advance Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence.

(December 3, 2025) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Paul Perrier has joined the National Sport Federation as its new Chief Sport Officer (CSO).

Born in Sherbrooke, Que. and raised in Aurora, Ont., Perrier is an accomplished and dynamic sports administration executive who brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in NCAA Division I athletics, most recently serving as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Southern California (USC).

As Chief Sport Officer, Perrier will oversee Golf Canada’s sport portfolio, including Team Canada high-performance and athlete development, National Amateur Championships, grassroots participation programs such as First Tee – Canada and She Plays Golf, and Safe Sport compliance. Reporting to CEO Laurence Applebaum as a member of Golf Canada’s Executive Team, Perrier will play a pivotal role in advancing Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence for the National Sport Organization.

“Paul is a dynamic sport executive and former high-level athlete with extensive leadership experience across sport including golf, coach development, compliance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and fundraising within both elite and public NCAA Division I athletic departments,” said Applebaum. “His experience managing complex sport organizations and building high-performance programs will help to further advance the sport and elevate Canadian golf on the global stage.”

During his tenure at USC (2019–2025), Perrier was a member of the Executive Leadership Team, with oversight and support for 23 varsity programs and 600 athletes. He led strategic planning, resource allocation, and performance initiatives and fostered inclusive, collaborative cultures that drove innovation and excellence. Perrier also managed the men’s and women’s golf programs, guiding them to multiple NCAA championship appearances and supporting elite athletes who advanced to the LPGA and PGA Tours.

Perrier, who will work collaboratively with the Golf Canada Foundation, also brings experience in fundraising and donor relations, having helped drive capital campaigns at USC and Rutgers. He also oversaw a $750,000 renovation of USC’s golf training facility and served as Tournament Director for the Trojan Golf Classic. His ability to build trust-based relationships with donors, alumni, and corporate partners has been a hallmark of his leadership.

Perrier joins Golf Canada at a time where the organization is experiencing strong momentum with a rise in participation and rounds played, Canadian continued success on the global stage and increased investment in the game from donors and corporate partners.

The opportunity to return to Canada to champion further growth is an opportunity for Perrier to apply his executive leadership experiences across a sport that has been a longtime passion.

“Joining Golf Canada is an incredible honour, and I’m inspired to help accelerate the sport’s growth and impact across the country,” said Perrier. “Together with our athletes, coaches, donors, and partners, we will continue to build pathways that drive participation and elevate Canada’s success on the world stage.”

Previously, Perrier served as Senior Associate Athletic Director at Rutgers University (2015–2019), where he helped develop a five-year strategic plan, oversaw sport programs, and led compliance and governance during a critical transition to the Big Ten Conference.  Prior to joining Rutgers, Perrier held several progressive leadership roles with USC including Associate Vice President for Athletic Compliance.

Perrier also co-founded the NACDA Sport Administrator Leadership Institute, served on the Big Ten Olympic Sports Oversight Committee, and was selected for the NCAA Pathway Program, a national initiative preparing senior administrators for CEO roles.

He holds a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Oswego State, where he was also a student-athlete (hockey) and co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A proud Canadian who is married with two sons, Perrier has started in the CSO role and will be relocating back to Canada in the coming months.

‘Team Golfplay’ from Kitchener and Waterloo square off with ‘Tee Times’ from Detroit
in Los Angeles this weekend

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Team Golfplay from Kitchener and Waterloo will be playing for the GOLFZON Tour Championship and a $300,000 USD prize purse on Saturday, November 22 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Team Golfplay is represented by Victor Ciesielski, David French, Natalie Gleadall and Luke Moser and they will be competing with Tee Times, a team from Detroit, Mich. in Saturday’s GOLFZON Tour Championship Match. The finals will be aired on GOLFZON’s YouTube channel, beginning at 6 p.m., EDT, click here to watch.

Ciesielski from Cambridge, Ont. currently works as a director of instruction at Deer Ridge Golf Club in Kitchener, Ont. The PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional has won over 40 professional tournaments and was a two-time PGA of Ontario, Player of the Year. Ciesielski competed in three RBC Canadian Opens in 2006, 2007 and a T72 finish in 2012. He was also part of Team Canada’s Men’s National Amateur Team in 2007.

French from Kitchener is a PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional and is the lead teaching professional at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont. French is a former member of the University of Waterloo Men’s Golf team.

Gleadall from Stratford, Ont. is also a PGA of Canada Class “A” Professional and teaches at three different facilities in Waterloo, Ont. Gleadall played collegiately at the University of Mississippi and competed for three years on the Epson Tour. She also made three consecutive appearances at the CPKC Women’s Open from 2012-14. In addition to her teaching, Gleadall served as coordinator of Golf Fore Life, a dementia-friendly program piloted by the City of Kitchener.

Moser from Cambridge, Ont. currently works as a club fitting technician and assistant golf professional at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge. Moser played collegiately at Troy University and competed in the 2016 U.S. Amateur. Since turning professional in 2018, Moser has competed on the Mackenzie Tour, East Coast Tour, Great Lakes Tour and the Toronto Players Tour.

“We’re absolutely thrilled that Golfplay will be representing Canada in the finals of the GOLFZON Tour. The success of this Tour highlights the incredible accuracy and playability of the GOLFZON simulators,” said Steve Harris, CEO, Golfplay. “It’s exciting to see competitive indoor golf emerge as a true professional sport, and I’m extremely proud of how our team of local pros has performed. We can’t wait to cheer them on in the final match!”

The second season of the GOLFZON Tour began with round robin play following individual and team qualifying. In round robin play, Team Golfplay finished with a record of three wins, one tie and one loss for seven points, putting them second in the North Division.

In the quarterfinals, they won their match in 20 holes over Jackson’s Golf (Webster, N.Y.) and followed that up with a 6&5 win over Mulligan’s Monterrey (Monterrey, Mexico) in the semifinals on November 8.

Team Golfplay and Tee Times met previously during the second week of round robin play, with the team from Detroit emerging victorious, 6&4, eventually finishing atop the North Division standings.

The GOLFZON Tour is an inclusive platform that welcomes golfers 18 years and older, of all skill levels, starting with open qualifiers before moving into team play, where golfers represent their local GOLFZON facility.

The Tour originated following the long-time success of the GTOUR in South Korea which is operated by GOLFZON. The North American and European Tour is currently in its second season. Individual Qualifiers took place in June and July and Team Qualifying followed in August.

24 teams later competed in round robin play over September and into October. Teams competed in a three-on-three aggregate strokes, hole-by-hole team match play format against opposing teams in their division. Each division played five matches to determine seeding with the top two teams from each division advancing into the playoffs. Two points were awarded for a win and one point for a tie.

The top eight teams began playoffs in late October, with the semifinals taking place on November 8, ahead of the final match this weekend.

In total, 72 facilities across five countries (Canada, United States, Mexico, England, Sweden) hosted qualifying matches. Nine facilities in Canada hosted qualifying including, Ace Golfzone (Winnipeg, Man.), Albatross Indoor Golf Centre (Ancaster, Ont.), Gimme Virtual Golf (Edmonton, Alta.), Golfplay (Kitchener and Waterloo, Ont.), Invictus Golf (Winnipeg, Man.), Mulligans Indoor Golf (Whitby, Ont.), Muni Golf Club (Montreal, Que.) and Shanks Driving Range and Grill (Cornwallis, Man.).

For more information on the GOLFZON Tour, click here. For more information on Golfplay and it’s two locations, click here.

Golf Canada and it’s Provincial Associations celebrate and support all forms of golf. Off-course experiences like simulators, driving ranges and indoor golf create fun, accessible opportunities to engage with the sport throughout the year.

For more information on Golf Canada’s off-course golf strategy and to find a member facility in your area, click here.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Visit Mississauga will be providing support to the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO through an extended partnership, further deepening its commitment to women’s golf in Canada.

“On behalf of Golf Canada, we are very appreciative of the support from our partners at Visit Mississauga and their continued commitment to women’s golf in Canada. Over the past two years, Visit Mississauga has been instrumental in ensuring the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and the CPKC Women’s Open were successful events in the City of Mississauga,” said Garrett Ball, Chief Operating Officer, Golf Canada. “Next year, The Toronto Golf Club will host the 112th playing of our Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship as the historic course celebrates its 150th anniversary. We have no doubt the players competing and staying in Mississauga will be treated to a memorable week both on and off the course thanks to the support from everyone at The Toronto Golf Club and Visit Mississauga.”

The 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO will be the third of three championships to benefit from the long-standing partnership with Visit Mississauga. The 112th playing of the national championship will be contested, July 21-25 at The Toronto Golf Club. It will mark the return of amateur championship golf to the historic club for the first time since hosting the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2017. Notably, it will also be the first time since 1947 that the course will host the nation’s Women’s Amateur Championship – formerly the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association Championship and the eighth in its illustrious history. The Toronto Golf Club has also hosted 11 Canadian Women’s Senior Golf Association Championships, two Canadian Professional Golfers’ Association Championships and five RBC Canadian Open’s between 1905 and 1927.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Golf Canada and to help bring another prestigious women’s golf championship to our city,” said Victoria Clarke, CEO, Visit Mississauga. “From the CPKC Women’s Open and World Junior Girls Golf Championship to the upcoming Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the Provincial and National Volleyball Championships, Mississauga has become a destination of choice for major women’s sporting events. These events not only inspire the next generation of athletes but also drive meaningful economic impact and visibility for our city. Hosting the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship is another opportunity to showcase our community’s world-class facilities and our ongoing commitment to advancing women’s sport in Canada.”

The previous two tournaments that were supported by Visit Mississauga were the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open and the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In August, Canadian golf fans were treated to an unforgettable week in Mississauga as Brooke Henderson earned her 14th career win on the LPGA and second CPKC Women’s Open title. Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. beat Australia’s Minjee Lee by one-shot at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club.

Last October, the Republic of Korea narrowly edged Team Canada 1 to win the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club.

Visit Mississauga serves as the official destination marketing organization for the City of Mississauga. As an industry-led entity, it takes charge of crafting the city’s tourism strategy, spearheading marketing initiatives and fostering tourism development. Aligned with the goals outlined in the City of Mississauga’s Tourism Master Plan, Visit Mississauga is dedicated to amplifying local businesses, promoting tourism and drawing in corporate and sporting events to the city.

In 2026, Visit Mississauga will also host Sport Tourism Canada’s Sport Event Congress 2026 (SEC2026) – SEC2026 will offer fresh perspectives, innovative programming, and exceptional networking opportunities for over 350 delegates from across Canada’s sport tourism ecosystem, including sponsorship and guest speakers from Golf Canada and Visit Mississauga.

TACOMA, Wash. – Team Canada members Lauren Kim, Clara Ding and Austin Krahn have been named 2025 Players of the Year by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Kim of Surrey, B.C. was named Women’s Player of the Year, earning the honour for a third consecutive year. Kim is currently ranked No. 20 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and enjoyed a strong 2025 season, highlighted by competing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur for a second straight year as well as the CPKC Women’s Open. Kim, a junior at the University of Texas, earned her second collegiate win at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and added a pair of third place finishes as well as a top five. Kim also represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship in Singapore in October.

Ding of White Rock, B.C. was named Junior Girls’ Player of the Year. Ding won twice in 2025, taking the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open and the Women’s Orlando International Championship. Her win in B.C. came as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series, earning her an exemption into her first appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open. In her debut at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, Ding helped lead Team Canada 2 to its best result in tournament history, finishing sixth place and was runner-up in the individual competition by one stroke.

Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C. was named Junior Boys’ Player of the Year. Krahn followed up a strong 2024 season, with five titles in 2025 including the British Columbia Junior Championship and the British Columbia Amateur title. In addition, Krahn led his province to its second straight gold medal at the 2025 Canada Summer Games and also won individual gold in Newfoundland and Labrador. Krahn earned two additional wins this year including the MJT Odlum Brown Classic and the MJT National Championship.

Along with the Team Canada athletes a familiar name in Canadian women’s golf was awarded the Senior Women’s Player of the Year. Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. has now earned the honour three of the past four years. In August, Stouffer won her third Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and added wins at the PNGA Senior Women’s Amateur, Irish Senior Women’s Amateur and BC Senior Women’s Amateur. She was also a semi-finalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open and U.S. Women’s Amateur.

For all the award recipients or to learn more about PNGA, please click here.

TORRRENT (Spain) — Aaron Cockerill finished tied for second in the final stage of the DP World Tour’s Q-School on Tuesday at Infinitum Golf in Tarragona, Spain and with it, regained his card for the 2026 season. 

Cockerill of Teulon, Man. finished 24-under through six rounds to secure his status for next season, which will be his seventh full season on the DP World Tour. Those finishing inside the top 20 at Q-School regained or earned their cards for 2026.  

Cockerill made his DP World Tour debut in 2019 but only played in three events. Since then, he has competed in 147 tournaments and made 90 cuts with two runner-up finishes in his career to date. 

Cockerill’s first runner-up finish came at the 2022 Magical Kenya Open and the second, a year later at the ISPS Handa Championship in Omitama, Japan, where he lost in a playoff. Cockerill also earned a third-place finish in 2022 and eight additional top 10 finishes over the course of six seasons. In 2024, Cockerill earned his best ranking on the DP World Tour, finishing 49th. 

Since turning pro in 2015, Cockerill has competed in nine events on the PGA TOUR, including the RBC Canadian Open on three occasions. His best finish at Canada’s National Open Championship came in 2022 where he finished T48 at St. Georges Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont. 

The 2026 DP World Tour season will open later this month with the BMW Australian PGA Championship at the Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane, Australia, taking place November 27-30. 

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada and Golf La Tempête are proud to announce a multi-year partnership that will see the Quebec City and Lévis area club host three national amateur championships over the next eight years. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing amateur golf in Canada.

As part of the agreement, Golf La Tempête will host the 2026 Canadian University/College Championship, 2031 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and the 2033 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, all presented by BDO.

“We are proud and excited to announce this partnership with Golf La Tempête,” said Adam Daifallah, President, Golf Canada. “Golf La Tempête provides a world-class facility, and we look forward to bringing three of our prestigious national championships to a dynamic and supportive partner and to a region that has long been home to passionate supporters of golf. We know our staff and the players competing at Golf La Tempête will be treated to a memorable experience.”

Golf La Tempête opened in 2005 and is known for the exceptional quality of its golf courses and facilities, premium services and innovative character. The club previously hosted two international events, the 2009 Telus World Skins Game and the 2014 Quebec Championship an official PGA Tour Champions event. With the opening of its brand-new South Course (Parcours Sud), Golf La Tempête has recently completed a major expansion, elevating the club to a 36-hole championship facility.

“At Golf La Tempête we are proud to actively contribute to the development of elite amateur golf in Canada,” said André Raymond, General Manager and Co-Founder, Golf La Tempête. “This partnership with Golf Canada aligns with our commitment to supporting excellence in the sport and building lasting relationships with key stakeholders in the national golf community. We are also particularly delighted with the strong female contingent competing in the 2026 and 2033 events – a growing segment that is truly close to our hearts at Golf La Tempête.”

This multi-year partnership underscores a long-term vision shared by both organizations to elevate the amateur game while celebrating Canada’s most promising amateur golf talent and to position Golf La Tempête as a cornerstone in the country’s competitive golf landscape.

The 2026 Canadian University/College Championship will be the 22nd playing of the national championship bringing together Canada’s best student-athlete golfers as they compete for team and individual championships. The individual winners will earn exemptions into the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships.

The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is the third oldest amateur championship in the world, having debuted at the Ottawa Golf Club – modernly known as The Royal Ottawa Golf Club – in 1895. Initially contested as a match play competition, Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George S. Lyon won the Amateur eight times between 1898 and 1914 while fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandy Somerville captured six championships between 1924 and 1938.

The 1969 championship marked the event’s initial shift to stroke play and was held under that format until 1994 when it reverted to match play in honour of the Royal Canadian Golf Association and the championship’s centennial in 1995. In 2010, the tournament adopted to a double-field format to account for larger field sizes and held its last match play competition in 2007, where five-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. claimed the title at Riverside Country Club in Saskatoon, Sask. Other Canadians currently playing on the PGA TOUR have secured victories at the prestigious championship as well, including Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ont. winning back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012. Declan O’Donovan of Sydney, Australia claimed the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in July, becoming the first Australian to accomplish the feat in 32 years.

The Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship debuted in 1901 at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que., the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship stands as one of the oldest amateur golf events in the world. Current LPGA Tour stars Ariya Jutanugarn (2012), Brooke Henderson (2013), Hye-Jin Choi (2016), Jennifer Kupcho (2017) and Yealimi Noh (2018) have all lifted the Dutchess of Connaught Gold Cup – though none have matched Marlene Stewart Streit’s record of 11 victories that helped her become the first-ever Canadian inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Team Canada – NextGen member, Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. added her name to the prestigious list of champions this July at The Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, N.B.

The full 2026 championship schedule will be announced in the new year.

 There is no such thing as an off-season in golf. Discover golf: anytime, anywhere. 

OAKVILLE, Ont. – As temperatures drop and the outdoor golf season in most parts of the country draws to a close, Golf Canada is proud to announce the launch of a new comprehensive off-course golf strategy supported by the Just Swing campaign, which highlights the benefits and different forms of off-course golf. 

Golf Canada endorses and supports all forms of golf and is encouraging Canadians to experience the game year-round through off-course golf experiences. 

These experiences include golf simulators, driving ranges, short game areas, mini golf, virtual reality golf and golf-themed video games that all provide opportunities to engage with the sport year-round. Complementing traditional green grass golf, off-course golf provides a continuity of golf experiences that can welcome new individuals into the sport in ways that best fit their lifestyle. 

For Golf Canada’s Chief Marketing Officer Tim McLaughlin, the campaign is about having a presence wherever and however golf is being enjoyed. 

“There has been an explosion in off-course golf options in our country, most notably golf simulators, and Golf Canada is excited to officially launch our off-course strategy. This initiative is reflective of the reality that an increasing number of Canadians are now participating in golf activity year-round in non-traditional venues like simulator facilities. Off-course golf has the potential to be transformational for our sport, combining fun and realistic golf experiences with affordable options that are accessible 12 months a year,” said McLaughlin. “This strategy acknowledges the way that Canadians are engaging with the game is evolving, and our intention is to create a greater connection between these new off-course formats and the broader golf landscape.” 

 As part of this strategy, Golf Canada, in partnership with the Provincial Golf Associations, is proud to launch a new facility membership offering, specifically designed for off-course operators. Through this program off-course facilities will now be able to become official members of Golf Canada and have the ability to promote their operations to Canada’s largest and most engaged golf audience. 

It will also be easier for Canadians to find places to play off course. A comprehensive digital program promoting off-course golf will connect Canadians to Official Member Facilities of Golf Canada. Golfers will soon be able to log and track their off-course activity at simulators in the 

Golf Canada app beginning in early December. For more information or to download Canada’s number one golf app, click here. 

“It’s not just having a presence where golf is being played in the winter, it’s about building meaningful relationships with the off-course facilities and owners who are invested in this growth sector of the sport. These facilities are providing a fun and social environment for golf enthusiasts and newcomers looking to experience golf, and we feel we can deliver year-round value and benefit to their operations.” 

Interest in off-course golf has grown substantially in Canada over the past four years. In 2021, 19 per cent of Canadians were using golf simulators; that number rose to 43 per cent in 2024, an increase of 24 per cent over four years. In addition to the countless green grass facilities that transform their operations to accommodate indoor golf each winter. 

The Just Swing campaign will support Golf Canada’s complete off-course strategy to have a presence wherever golf is being played. The campaign encourages Canadians to discover golf, anywhere, anytime and Just Swing, highlighting the many benefits the game can provide. This campaign is designed to re-frame perceptions of the sport by driving understanding that whether you pick up a club on a golf course or a simulator its all golf. The hope is to position the sport in a new way, particularly for new audiences who aren’t currently active golfers. 

For more information on the Just Swing campaign, the benefits of off-course golf or to find a location near you, please visit golfcanada.ca/justswing. 

For facilities interested in learning more about the benefits of becoming a Golf Canada Facility Member, click here. 

Men’s and Women’s Canadian Amateur Championships to benefit from partnership

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Tourism Calgary, that will provide support for two prestigious amateur championships over the next two years in the Calgary area.

“On behalf of Golf Canada, we are very appreciative of the support from Tourism Calgary that will help boost two of our most prestigious amateur championships over the next two years,” said Garrett Ball, Chief Operating Officer, Golf Canada. “We look forward to continuing working with the team at Tourism Calgary to develop impactful and meaningful legacy initiatives with the local community that connect our championships to the residents of the area. With the success of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open and Calgary being a great host city, we are excited to bring our men’s and women’s amateur championships to the Blue Sky City.”

The first tournament that will benefit as part of the strategic partnership is the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. The 121st playing of the tournament will be co-hosted by Mickelson National Golf Club and Heritage Pointe Golf Club in Calgary, Alta., July 27-30, 2026. As previously announced, the third oldest amateur championship in the world returns to Alberta for the first time since 2008 when it was held at Paradise Canyon Golf and Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta. This past July, Australia’s Declan O’Donovan claimed the Earl Grey Cup over Team Canada – NextGen member, Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. in a playoff to become the first Australian winner since Gary Simpson in 1993.

The second tournament that will benefit from the partnership will be the 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. The 113th playing of the championship will take place at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, in Calgary, July 27-30, 2027. Priddis Greens is a three-time host of the CPKC Women’s Open. Australia’s Karrie Webb won in 1999, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen won the 2009 tournament and Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand won the most recent championship held at the course in 2016. The province of Alberta last hosted the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in 2021 at the Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club in Edmonton.

“Tourism Calgary is proud to work with and support Golf Canada in hosting two prestigious amateur championships in 2026 and 2027. We are excited to host these tournaments that will not only showcase elite golf talent but also reinforce Calgary’s strong reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events in Canada,” said Carson Ackroyd, Senior Vice President, Tourism Calgary. “Calgary is a strong supporter of golf in Canada as evident from high participation numbers and fan support of championships in our city. Most recently the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club set a new attendance record for the tournament, and we are incredibly proud of that accomplishment. We look forward to welcoming elite playing fields and their families along with tournament officials to our city and hope they enjoy everything Calgary has to offer.”

The full 2026 championship schedule will be announced in the new year.