Multi-year gift will provide youth across the prairies and First Tee – Canada network with affordable and inclusive access to the game of golf

Oakville, ON (November 7, 2024) – Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are excited to announce that the Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation Inc. has pledged a major gift of $1M USD over four years to First Tee – Canada that will directly benefit First Tee – Prairies.

The Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation is a private Canadian foundation that was founded in 2005. Since it’s inception the Foundation has made meaningful and lasting contributions to nature conservancy, humanitarian aide (Canadian Red Cross, The Salvation Army, hospitals), youth sports and to other areas in the Saskatoon community.

L. David Dubé is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Concorde Group Corporation and has served on numerous boards across Canada and the United States over the past 30 years. Dubé was appointed to the Order of Canada in December 2020 and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in June 2022.

“On behalf of my wife Heather and I and our Foundation, we are extremely proud to support First Tee – Canada and invest in youth and the positive impact and life-long lessons sports can have on their lives,” said L. David Dubé, president, Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation. “We have been long-time supporters of youth sports and this opportunity with First Tee – Canada was a perfect fit for our Foundation to continue our commitment to sports and youth development. Access to sports can be difficult and we want to ensure whether it’s 1,000 children or just one child that we can help, where help is needed. Golf helps to teach life-long lessons and tests character, and we are happy to invest in meaningful youth development here in the prairies and across our country.”

Heather Ryan added, “Both David and I have led sporting lives. From grade school through Varsity sports, we have both believed in the power of sports to shape the lives of youth and access to sports is essential to delivering those benefits. First Tee – Canada is a perfect fit for us ensure others benefit from sport as we did.”

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation partnered with First Tee in 2020 to launch First Tee – Canada to provide youth with affordable and inclusive access to the game along with life-enhancing experiences through the game. First Tee – Prairies launched in January 2023 and today, six lead chapters are operating First Tee – Canada programming in every province across the country.

First Tee – Canada programming is delivered in three settings, at golf courses, schools and community centres with unique curriculums and training for each location. This year, First Tee – Prairies delivered programming to over 22,400 participants at seven program locations across Saskatchewan and Manitoba with a team of 10 certified First Tee coaches. Close to 40 per cent of participants identified as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour) and 40 per cent identified as female. In addition, 76 per cent of schools and community centre programming serviced low-income and diverse populations in the provinces. Through the generous support of donors, 100 per cent of the programming was provided at no cost to the participants.

“We are very appreciative of the generous gift from the Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation that will directly have a positive impact on youth not only in the prairies but also across all First Tee chapters in Canada,” said First Tee – Canada Executive Director, Adam Hunter. “Financial support from generous donors allows us to expand program locations and provide them with the proper equipment, train and staff coaches and provide more youth with the opportunity to experience affordable golf programming in their communities.”

The Golf Canada Foundation is a critical partner in the continued growth of First Tee – Canada chapters across the country through the generous support of its donors and fundraising and philanthropic efforts.

“We are incredibly grateful that Heather and David have come forward in such an impactful way to support kids in the Prairies through golf,” said Golf Canada Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Martin Barnard. “They understand how sport can change lives and have been leaders in giving back both locally and nationally for many years. Their support will help us grow donations both in the province and across the country for many years to come.”

The Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation Inc. joins a strong network of donors across Canada that have generously impacted First Tee – Canada in a meaningful way since First Tee – Canada’s inception in 2020. To learn how to support First Tee – Canada, please email Executive Director Adam Hunter. To find a chapter near you, visit firstteecanada.ca. To learn more about First Tee – Prairies, please visit firstteeprairies.ca.

Deadline of December 6 for Canadian golf community to submit nominations for Community Leader Award & Future Leader Award to recognize individuals’ impact through golf.

October 24, 2024 – Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2024 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards are now being accepted through to Friday, December 6.

The inaugural Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards were launched in the summer of 2022 and the Canadian golf community is invited to submit nominations for one of two signature recognitions – the Community Leader Award as well as the Future Leader Award.

The Lorie Kane Community Leader Award celebrates individuals over the age of 19 with a demonstrated ability to lead community initiatives; who have contributed a measurable impact through volunteerism or charity; or have showcased excellence in their involvement with, or support of youth programs such as First Tee – Canada or other junior golf activities.

The recipient of the Lorie Kane Community Leader Award will receive a $5,000 donation from the Golf Canada Foundation to advance a golf program or golf-related initiative of their choice.

To recognize youth who are making an impact in their community, the Lorie Kane Future Leader Award will honour an individual 19 years of age or younger who embodies community leadership; has a history of sportsmanship or demonstrated activities to make the game more inclusive; or an individual who has used golf to create a meaningful impact in their community.

The recipient of the Lorie Kane Future Leader Award will be awarded a $5,000 donation towards their post-secondary education.

The Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards were named to honour the Canadian golf icon for a longstanding commitment to advancing the sport, charitable work and giving back to the game that defined her Hall of Fame career. Kane is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Canada Sports Hall of Fame as well as a recipient of the Order of Canada.

“On behalf of Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation, we are pleased to begin accepting nominations from the Canadian golf community for the 2024 Lorie Kane Community Spirt Awards,” said Golf Canada President David McCarthy. “Lorie Kane is a Canadian golf icon who has given back so much to numerous communities across Canada through her charitable work. She is a role model to many and has made significant contributions to the continued growth of our sport. We look forward to recognizing individuals who share a similar commitment with their positive contributions to the game in their communities.”

In 2022, Fareen Samij of Burlington, Ont. and Bob Beauchemin of Brampton, Ont. were named the inaugural co-recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards.

A five-time Canadian Women’s Long Drive champion and former golf touring professional, Samij is a respected entrepreneur, speaker, and author who founded the Smashing the Grass Ceiling golf program to engage women and young girls to connect and be inspired on the golf course.

Beauchemin, a PGA of Canada professional and Head Teaching Professional at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, was nominated for his efforts to advance junior golf including First Tee Canada, as well as his mentorship to countless golf industry professionals through the Humber College Professional Golf Management Program.

In 2023, Simeon Pompey of Montréal, Que. and Rosie Allen of Corner Brook, Nfld. were named the 2023 recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards.

Pompey earned the 2023 Lorie Kane Community Leader Award for his long-time support of First Tee which led him to be at the heart of the program’s success in Montréal since the launch of First Tee – Premier départ Quebec in 2021. He has also played a key role in the launch of golf programming in the Indigenous community of Kahnawake, on the south shore of Montréal.

Allen was the recipient of the 2023 Lorie Kane Future Leader Award. She played an instrumental leadership role in helping to develop the First Tee – Canada program at her home course, Blomidon Golf Club in Corner Brook, Nfld. Allen has devoted her time to First Tee programming as well as helping to plan and run events for her club’s junior girls’ program.

The Canadian golf community is invited to submit individual nominations for the 2024 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards through an online nomination form. The nomination period will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, December 6.

Click here to nominate an individual for the Lorie Kane Community Leader Award.

Click here to nominate an individual for the Lorie Kane Future Leader Award.

At the conclusion of the nomination period, all Lorie Kane Community Spirit Award submissions will be compiled and evaluated by a selection committee that includes representatives from Golf Canada, the Golf Canada Foundation, Honoured Members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, industry representatives and the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is proud to announce the names of 29 amateur athletes named to the 2025 men’s and women’s Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen squads.

Golf Canada’s National Team program supports a group of experienced amateurs on the path towards playing professional golf along with a group of young professional golfers building their careers as touring pros. The program provides individualized training and competition support with a goal to help advance 30 Canadian athletes to the LPGA and PGA TOUR by 2032.

Athletes are selected based on results from the previous season (September 2023-August 2024), with the Team Canada – NextGen program also considering performance at Golf Canada’s annual Selection Camps. Professional players that will be part of the 2025 Team Canada squad will be announced at a later date, upon the completion of Qualifying Tournaments.

“Golf Canada is proud to announce the amateur athletes that will be part of our 2025 Team Canada and Team Canada – NextGen squads and we look forward to supporting their continued development in the journey to competing on the LPGA and PGA TOUR,” said Emily Phoenix, Director, High Performance, Golf Canada. “Our collective heartfelt thanks as well to the generous Golf Canada Foundation donors who continue to support the player development program as well as our corporate partners who play a critical role in allowing Canada’s top golfing athletes to compete at the highest levels of our sport.”

National Team coaches work with Team Canada 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 mental performance, physical conditioning, 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 who are pursuing collegiate golf as a competitive pathway.

The coaching staff for the men’s and women’s Team Canada squads will return in full for the 2025 season. Team Canada – Men will be led by Derek Ingram (Winnipeg, Man.) and Assistant Coaches Louis Melanson (Moncton, N.B.) and Benoit Lemieux (Montréal, Que.). They will be joined by Mental Performance Coach Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood (Winnipeg, Man.) and Strength & 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 & Conditioning Coach Andrea Kosa (Calgary, Alta.) and and a mental performance coach that will be added following an ongoing recruitment process. 

The Team Canada – Women’s and Men’s squads provide support to developing professionals and amateur players who are on track to turn professional in the near future. The Women’s Amateur Team is led by 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. Kim won The Peloton Glencoe Invitational as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series this summer, earning a spot in the field at the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. Katie Cranston and Nicole Gal, both of Oakville, Ont. return for their fifth seasons with the program. Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont. returns for her fourth season while there are three newcomers for 2025. Tillie Claggett (Calgary, Alta.) joins the team and is in her Junior year at Vanderbilt University. Making the jump up from Team Canada – NextGen (Girls) are Vanessa Borovilos (Etobicoke, Ont.) and Vanessa Zhang (Vancouver, B.C.). Both Borovilos and Zhang were part of Team Canada’s historical win at the 2023 World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Borovilos is in her first year at Texas A&M University, while Zhang finished T3 at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship this summer and is currently in her first year at Harvard University.

The 2025 Men’s squad will be composed of a group of professionals to be named later in 2024 and features two amateurs, 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. and Hunter Thomson of Calgary, Alta. This past season, McCulloch won the Johnnie-O at Sea Island as well as finishing as runner-up at the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and third at the inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational. McCulloch, a Senior at Michigan State University, also competed at the 2024 RBC Canadian Open and the 2024 U.S. Open. Thomson won individual honours at the 2024 Canadian Collegiate Invitational earning an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. Thomson also won the Palmas del Mar Collegiate tournament in February and moves up from the NextGen squad to the Men’s Team for 2025.

Team Canada – Women

Professionals to be added following LPGA Q-Series.

Team Canada – Men

 Professionals to be added following PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

The Team Canada – NextGen coaching staff is led by Boys Head Coach Robert Ratcliffe (Qualicum Beach, B.C.) and Assistant Coach Darcy Dhillon (Calgary, Alta.). They will be joined by Mental Performance Coach Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons (King, Ont.) and Strength & Conditioning Coach Dr. Mike Kay (Phoenix, AZ).

Jeff MacDonald (Chester, N.S.) has been promoted to Team Canada – NextGen Girls Head Coach and will be supported by Assistant Coach Jennifer Ha (Calgary, Alta.). Over the past two years, MacDonald has led Team Canada to back-to-back podium finishes at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, winning in 2023 and finishing as runners-up earlier this month. They will be joined by Mental Performance Coach Justin Fredette (Winnipeg, Man.) and Strength and Conditioning Coach Dr. Emily Wiggin (Dartmouth, N.S.). Tristian 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 younger junior golfers (11 – 16 years old) and their existing coaching teams to grow the pool of future Team Canada prospects.

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys) features four returning players including 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship winner, Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., Golf Ontario Men’s Amateur and Golf Ontario Spring Classic winner Matthew Javier of North York, Ont., B.C. Amateur back-to-back winner Cooper Humphreys from Vernon, B.C. and Ethan Wilson of St. Albert, Alta. They will be joined by six newcomers who were all victorious this season including Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. (NextGen Western Championship), Antoine Jasmin of Blainville, Que. (Golf Performance Center Killington Junior Golf Championship), Austin Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C. (Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp, B.C. Indigenous Championship, B.C. Junior Boys Championship), Braxton Kuntz of Winnipeg, Man. (Manitoba Men’s Amateur Championship), Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. (RBC Canadian Open Ontario Regional Qualifier) and Jager Pain from Woodbridge, Ont. (NextGen Ontario Championship).

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls) features five members of Team Canada from the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Shauna Liu from Maple, Ont., captured the title at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO and the Team Canada -NextGen Selection Camp tournament to secure her place on the 2025 NextGen squad. Liu added a third title of the year at the AJGA’s CDW Girls Junior All-Star Championship. Joining Liu are her World Junior Girls Team Canada teammates Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. and Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. Both Lin and Deng have won twice this season on the AJGA. Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. joins the program after winning ten tournaments this season including the inaugural U15 Canadian Championship and three Ontario provincial titles. Park was part of Team Canada 2 at the WJG Golf Championship. Teammate Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. returns for her second year in the program and won the NextGen Pacific Championship and once on the AJGA. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. returns for her second year and won four times in 2024 including the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series, the NextGen Ontario Championship and two AJGA tournaments. Two other players return this year including Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. and Swetha Sathish of Oakville, Ont. Two new additions include two-time AJGA winner, Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C. who won once on the AJGA in 2024, and finished T3 at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO.

Team Canada – NextGen (Boys)

Team Canada – NextGen (Girls)

For full Team Canada athlete and coach bios along with 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.

Soomin Oh shoots four consecutive rounds in the 60’s to win individual competition and an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open

Mississauga, Ont. – The Republic of Korea won the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship for the third time in tournament history, beating Team Canada 1 on a tiebreaker at the Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. on Saturday.

The Republic of Korea (Korea) entered the day two shots back of Team Canada and at one point trailed the defending champions by six shots during the final round. Coming down the stretch Canada had a one-shot lead with three to play. As the final group teed off on no.18 Canada and Korea were tied at 19-under.

Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. hit her second shot just behind the pin leaving a lengthy look at birdie while Soomin Oh from Korea hit her second shot closer than Deng but still faced a difficult putt. Both players went on to record pars keeping the score tied at 19-under. As per tournament tie breaking rules, the decider is the third non-counting score on the day. Sumin Hong’s score of 74 just beat Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. by two.

“I am very very proud of my girls. We had a tough day yesterday and today, but I told them to hang tight and with four holes left I said we start right now, and they did, and they made it, and I am very proud of them,” said Korea Coach Naon Min.

This marked the second consecutive year that Korea and Canada battled right to the very end, with Canada winning by one last year in Brampton, Ont.

“Two of my girls were here last year and last year was the opposite ending so they had that experience and that gave them a stronger mindset so that helped,” added Min.

Korea was led again by Oh, who shot a 3-under 69 on Saturday and Seojin Park who shot a 1-over 73. Canada’s scores on Saturday came from Deng and Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. who both shot even par rounds of 72.

Oh said that the experience from last year helped their team this year and their mindset for the tournament.

“Our team are all friends, and we cheer for each other and that makes me more comfortable, and the result was good.”

The win gives Korea’s it’s third team title, which is the most in the nine-year history of the world championship.

Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald was proud of how his team competed all week and when one player struggled, they bounced back the next day throughout the week.

“They were amazing all week, they played great today, they battled. Team Korea is a real strong team, and we knew that going in and our girls fought really hard and I’m just so happy for them and so proud for them, tough way to finish at the end but still a huge battle,” said MacDonald.

Team Canada 1 earned a podium finish for the second consecutive year and was a completely new team this year. MacDonald said it’s an exciting time in Canada with a lot of strong talent coming through the program.

“It just goes to show you the depth that we have within the program, two of these girls are 14 and one is 15 years old so I think we got a really bright future ahead. There are lots of girls on our NextGen program that are going to step up and do the same thing,” he said.

The United States shot a combined 2-under on Saturday to improve their total score to 9-under and took bronze medalist honours.

Team Canada 2 finished tied for 12th with Italy at 13-over. Team Canada 2 was represented by 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont., 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont.

The following are the final standings following the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

*Team Champions by way of Tie-Break

Click here for the final team leaderboard following the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Soomin Oh took the lead on Thursday and didn’t look back finishing with four consecutive rounds in the 60’s (69-68-68-69-274) to finish the tournament at -14 under.

“I actually started the tournament bogey, bogey on my first two holes but I hung on tight, and I finished strong, so I am very happy,” said Oh through her coach.

Oh finished eight shots ahead of Aphrodite Deng to earn an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. August 19 – 24, 2025. It will be the second appearance on the LPGA Tour in her young career having played the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship which is co-sanctioned by the LPGA of Korea Tour and the LPGA Tour.

Coach Min was very proud of Oh’s performance throughout the week, “Beautiful play. This year she’s been playing good and ranks number one in Korea. The first time I saw her was a year ago, but she’s been growing up and I’m expecting more for her future now,” said Min.

When asked if Oh could become one of the next great Korean women’s golfers, she did not hesitate.

“Yes, I am 100 per cent sure,” she said.

Deng finished second at 6-under following rounds of 67-75-68-72-282. Arianna Lau of Hong Kong, China finished third at 4-under with rounds of 70-70-72-72-284.

Click here for the final individual leaderboard following the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

This year marked the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 72 athletes comprising 24 teams and representing 23 countries competing for the team and individual titles.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea won both the 2015 team and individual championship at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and has earned several top five finishes on the LPGA Tour.

The 2025 World Junior Girls Golf Championship will be played at St. Catharines Golf and Country Club, in St. Catharines, Ont., September 15 – 20. The 2026 tournament will be held at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que., September 28 – October 3, 2026.

Soomin Oh maintains individual lead following a second consecutive
68 on Friday

Mississauga, Ont. – The defending champions have taken the lead after 54 holes, as Team Canada 1 has pulled ahead of the Republic of Korea at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

Moving day lived up to its name as Team Canada 1 started the day four shots behind the Republic of Korea (Korea), but now leads by two with 18 holes remaining. Canada shot a collective 11-under to move to 19-under overall, with Korea shooting 5-under today to now sit at 17-under.

Canada was led by Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. who fired a 7-under 65 and Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. who shot a 4-under 68 to put Canada ahead by two.

Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald complimented his team’s strong start and just how much all three players have played well together.

“This whole week has been such a team effort, Clairey was so good yesterday to get us in this position today, so it’s great, every day it’s been a different combination of players counting. In an event like this if you can just get all three players going then that’s huge and I know tomorrow I got three players ready to go and they’re going to play great,” said MacDonald.

Liu recorded three birdies and two eagles to sit at 7-under on the day through nine. She said that she was able to hit fairways and greens where she wanted to and made some putts. Liu’s first eagle came on the 6th hole.

“I hit the drive close to the water. I had a little bit shorter than 190 in and had a hybrid in my hand and it’s a club I’m more confident in, so I was able to take a whack at the ball and it ended up pretty ok,” Liu said with a laugh. Pretty ok indeed as she sank an eight-foot putt for eagle. On the ninth hole, Liu drained a 35-footer for her second eagle.

Liu complemented her teammates for their togetherness over the first three days.

“I think we’re doing really well. We’re all working really well together. For example, on the first day, I didn’t play well but my teammates did, and they had my back, yesterday Aphrodite didn’t but we had her back and today Clairey didn’t but we had her back, so I feel that we’re working really well as a team and helping each other,” said Liu.

MacDonald added, “We start at zero tomorrow the most important part of this event is the team event and even if you have a tough day, you regroup and rebound and contribute tomorrow and any one of them can do it so they’re feeding off each other, they’re supporting each other and that’s the beauty of the event really.”

Another team that charged up the leaderboard on Friday was the United States who shot a collective 10-under to sit at 7-under for the tournament and moved up into third. Scarlett Schremmer from Birmingham, Ala. shot a 6-under 66 and Nikki Oh of Torrance, Calif. added a 4-under 68 to help the Americans gain ground on moving day. Coach Chris Zambri was happy his team was able to grab birdies on some non-par 5’s on the front.

“It was also good that we got through the first three or four holes without any bogeys from them because those are also tough holes to start with, so it was a great start to the round. They both played well on the back, Nikki ran into some trouble on 16 and 17 but both birded 18 which was awesome, so it was a good day and nice to feel like we’re in the mix a little bit,” he said.

Mexico sits alone in fourth at even par with Hong Kong, China in fifth at 1-over.

Team Canada 2 is currently tied for 13th with Belgium at 8-over. Team Canada 2 is represented by 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. (1-over 73) and 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (4-over 76) and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (6-over 78).

The following are the standings following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

Click here for the team leaderboard following the third round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Soomin Oh of Korea maintains her lead following a second consecutive round of 4-under 68 to move to 11-under for the tournament and holds a five-shot lead over Aphrodite Deng. Oh recorded four birdies in a bogey free round on Friday.

Five are tied for third with Alexis Lamadrid of Mexico, Arianna Lau of Hong Kong, China, Shauna Liu, Seojin Park of Korea and Scarlett Schremmer all at 4-under.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga from August 19 – 24, 2025.

Players, coaches and staff wore black ribbons on Friday in honour of the President of the Italian Golf Federation, Franco Chimenti who passed away on Thursday at the age of 85. Chimenti led the Italian Golf Federation for 22 years.

Teams Canada 1, Korea and the United States will play together during the final round. For final round tee times and groupings, please click here.

Click here for the individual leaderboard following the third round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

Soomin Oh takes individual lead by two after shooting 68 on Thursday

Mississauga, Ont. – The Republic of Korea maintains the team lead following two rounds at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

The Republic of Korea (Korea) were led by Soomin Oh who shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to move to 7-under following 36 holes and now leads the individual championship. Seojin Park shot a 2-under 70 to have her score count toward the team total. Park carded four birdies on her first nine, then ran into some trouble with four consecutive bogeys on her second nine before finishing with a birdie and an eagle on her last two holes. Teammate Sumin Hong shot a 1-over 73 on Thursday. The two lowest scores count towards the team’s combined score for the day. Korea combined to shoot 6-under to move to 12-under for the tournament and take a four-shot lead over Team Canada 1 heading into Friday’s third round.

“They played well but the only thing I didn’t like was in the middle of the round the wind picked up and they struggled but still they finished strong, and I tried to encourage them today,” said Korea Coach Naon Min. “Two more days, this is not the end. I will tell them to keep their focus individually and then the results will come.”

Defending champions, Team Canada 1 hold their place alone in second at 8-under. Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. fired a 3-under 69 to help lead her team on Thursday. Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. finished with an even par 72 to give Canada a 3-under combined round on the day. Teammate Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. shot a 3-over 75.

“They battled really hard, Clairey played really well, got off to a really good start and that was promising, the first six or seven holes there wasn’t much wind, so it was kind of gettable, but the Korean team was making a lot of birdies, so I knew we had to keep pace,” said Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald.

MacDonald added that moving from the valley to head back up top meant the players faced a tough test with swirling winds on the top five holes, as Canada 1 began their round on the back nine.

“It’s a good start, we’re in a good position, Korea finished strong to get four ahead, but anything can happen, it can switch so quickly. I remember last year going back and forth so just reminding them of that and just keep battling the whole time,” said MacDonald.

Hong Kong, China has moved into third at 4-under, Sweden sits in fourth at 3-under with Mexico and Italy tied for fifth at even par.

Team Canada 2 is currently tied for 10th with Chinese Taipei and the United States at 3-over. Team Canada 2 was led by 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. on Thursday (1-under 71) 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (2-over 74) and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (11-over 83).

The following are the standings following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

Click here for the team leaderboard following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Oh recorded two eagles and four birdies on her way to a 4-under 68 on Thursday. Oh is now at 7-under for the tournament and leads Ebba Lundqvist of Sweden by two. Lundqvist shot a 3-under 69 to move into second.

“Today I managed the par fives very well and hit tee shots very well and hit the greens with good positioning today,” said Oh through her coach.

Alexis Lamadrid of Mexico and Arianna Lau of Hong Kong, China are tied for third at 4-under. Clairey Lin and Seojin Park are tied for fifth at 3-under.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga from August 19 – 24, 2025.

Click here for the individual leaderboard following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 72 athletes comprising 24 teams and representing 23 countries competing for the team and individual titles.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea won both the 2015 team and individual championship at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and has earned several top five finishes on the LPGA Tour.

Teams Korea, Canada 1 and Hong Kong, China will play together during Friday’s third round. For round tee times and groupings, please click here.

Canadian Aphrodite Deng holds individual lead following a 5-under 67
on Wednesday

Mississauga, Ont. – The Republic of Korea sits atop the team leaderboard by one-shot over Team Canada 1 following the opening round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

Sumin Hong and Soomin Oh both shot rounds of 3-under 69 to help lead the Republic of Korea (Korea) on Wednesday. Hong recorded four birdies before bogeying the 18th. Oh began her round with back-to-back bogeys but went on to record five birdies to help contribute to the team lead. Teammate Seojin Park shot a 1-under 71. The top two individual scores count towards the combined team score each day.

“They played well today but the start of the round wasn’t as good but they finished strong so that was a good part of today,” said Republic of Korea Coach Naon Min.

“I told them not to think about the team but just think about their individual play and it will finish well for everybody,” said Min following the first round.

Defending champions, Team Canada 1 are one shot back of Korea. Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. shot a 5-under 67 to help lead her team and the individual standings. Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. shot an even par 72 and Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. shot a 3-over 75 on Wednesday.

“They got off to a really good start today, we were cruising early which was nice to see, lots of putts going in and it was awesome because they were sticking to the game plan just hitting to the right spot,” said Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald.

“It’s always nice in these events when all three players are playing well so it gives you more chances or opportunities and they did that today and it was fun to watch,” added MacDonald.

Belgium sits in third at 3-under with a trio of teams including Sweden, Colombia and Hong Kong, China tied for fourth at even par. Iceland and Italy are tied for seventh at 1-over with seven teams tied for ninth at 2-over, including Team Canada 2.

Team Canada 2 is comprised of 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. (Even par 72), 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (2-over 74) and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (4-over 76).

The following are the opening round standings at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

Click here for the team leaderboard following the opening round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Deng of Team Canada 1 leads by one shot over Sixtine De Cordes of Belgium. Deng’s 5-under 67 on Wednesday was highlighted by seven birdies in her round, including five on the front nine.

“I was just trying to play it safe and miss in the right spots,” said Deng. “I was able to hit my shots really close and make the putts today.”

De Cordes is alone in second at 4-under with Oh and Hong of Korea tied for third at 3-under. Arianna Lau (Hong Kong, China), Paris Appendino (Italy), Ebba Lundqvist (Sweden), Lu Valero (Colombia) and Alexis Lamadrid (Mexico) all tied for fifth at 2-under.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga from August 19 – 24, 2025.

Click here for the individual leaderboard following the opening round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 72 athletes comprising 24 teams and representing 23 countries competing for the team and individual titles.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea won both the 2015 team and individual championship at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and has earned several top five finishes on the LPGA Tour.

For second round tee times, please click here.

Seattle, Wash. – Shelly Stouffer finished as the runner-up after falling in the final 3 and 2 to Nadene Gole at the 2024 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, Wash. on Thursday.

Stouffer, of Nanoose Bay, B.C. finished atop the leaderboard in a field of 132 players at 4-over following rounds of 71 and 73 to grab the top seed heading into the knockout round and earned stroke-play medalist honours.

Stouffer defeated Shelly Haywood of Laguna Woods, Calif. 6 and 5 in the Round of 64. On Tuesday, Stouffer won both rounds, defeating Corey Weworski of Carlsbad, Calif. 5 and 4 in the Round of 32 and then Stephanie Kiefer of Germany, 3 and 2 in the Round of 16.

On Wednesday, Stouffer continued her run defeating Kathy Hartwiger of Pinehurst, N.C. 4 and 3 in the quarterfinals and Ellen Port of St. Louis, Mo. 2 and 1 in the semifinals.

In the final, third ranked Gole of Australia took the lead following the second hole. Stouffer squared the match with a par on the very next hole, before Gole regained her lead on no. 4. She went on to increase the lead to two following a par on no. 7. Stouffer battled back to tie the match through 10 holes after back-to-back birdies on nos. 9 and 10. Gole regained the lead with a birdie on no. 12 and increased it with a par on no. 14 and birdie on no. 15 to go three up. Both Stouffer and Gole recorded par on no. 16, ending the match in favour of Gole.

As a finalist, Stouffer has earned exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur, August 4-10, at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes) in Bandon, Ore., the 2025 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, August 21-24, at San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif., and the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at September 13-18, at Troon Country Club and Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Stouffer has enjoyed a successful season, winning the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Inter-Provincial Team titles in July at Crowne Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay, B.C. She also won the B.C. Women’s Mid-Master Championship and the B.C. Women’s Senior Championship and added a bronze medal from the 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. Stouffer won the 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

Fellow Canadians Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. and 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Champion, Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont. finished the stroke-play portion of the tournament inside the top 10, with Kyrinis finishing T4 at 7-over and Samuel in 6th at 8-over. Samuel was eliminated by Dawn Woodward of Greenville, S.C. 3 and 2 in the Round of 16. Kyrinis was eliminated by Ellen Port by one stroke in the Round of 32.

Team Canada 1 set to defend the title against the largest field in tournament history featuring 23 countries and 72 competitors

Mississauga, Ont. – Canada will once again play host to the world’s best junior golfers at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship. The annual global showcase will be contested September 30 – October 5 at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

The ninth edition of the world championship will feature the largest field in tournament history, with 23 countries and 72 competitors in Mississauga. In total, 24 teams will compete for the championship while also competing for individual honours. The individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont., August 18-24, 2025.

“We are very excited to get the ninth playing of this prestigious championship underway next week at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club as we welcome the world’s best junior golfers to Canada,” said Adam Cinel, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “This championship has grown each year and has become a showcase event on our schedule, featuring talented young athletes competing for team and individual glory. We want to thank the staff and membership of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club and the City of Mississauga for being incredible partners and welcoming hosts.”

Team Canada 1 will be defending the championship after a thrilling final round in 2023 that saw them push ahead of the Republic of Korea to win the title for the first time in tournament history. Canada will be represented with two teams again this year.

Team Canada 1 is represented by 15-year-old Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., 14-year-old Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. and 14-year-old Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. Liu, a Team Canada NextGen member secured her spot on the team after winning the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship in July at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C. Liu also won the Team Canada NextGen Selection Camp tournament last month at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. to secure her place on the 2025 Team Canada NextGen squad. She added her third title of the year after winning the CDW Girls Junior All-Star Championship in Riverwoods, Ill. last month as part of the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). Lin earned her spot through the Team Canada NextGen Selection Camp qualifying tournament and has won twice on the AJGA, including The AJGA Panama Junior, presented by St. Georges Bank in March and The Spin Junior Championship in August. Lin was also runner-up at the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. Deng qualified as the low eligible Canadian on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) as of August 7. Deng was ranked no. 175 and has since improved to no. 160 and is Canada’s lowest ranked player. She has won twice as part of the AJGA this season including The Nelly Invitational in Bradenton, Fla. in May and the New Jersey Junior Girls Championship in West Windsor Township, N.J. in June.

Team Canada 2 is represented by 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta., 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath and 14-year-old Nobelle Park, both of Oakville, Ont. The trio all earned their places through qualification at the Team Canada NextGen Selection Camp. McGrath finished second followed by Nobelle Park and Eileen Park. McGrath has been part of the Team Canada NextGen squad for two seasons and won the Visit Goldsboro NC Junior Championship in Goldsboro, N.C. in April as part of the AJGA. Nobelle Park won the inaugural Canadian U15 Championship last month at Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont. along with three Ontario Provincial Championships this season. Eileen Park is the lone returning player for Canada this year’s tournament, having played for Team Canada 2 last year in Brampton, Ont. This season, she won the NextGen Pacific Championship at the Summerland Golf and Country Club in Summerland, B.C. in May and the AJGA Junior All-Star at College Station in College Station, Texas in March.

Jeff MacDonald returns as the coach of Team Canada 1. MacDonald of Chester, N.S. coached Team Canada 1 to the championship last season and is currently coaching the Team Canada NextGen program. MacDonald has over 20 years of coaching experience, is a three-time PGA of Atlantic Canada Coach of the Year recipient and a past provincial coach of the Nova Scotia Golf Association.

Jennifer Ha of Calgary, Alta. will be the coach of Team Canada 2. Ha returns after coaching Team Canada at the 2022 World Junior Girls Championship. She spent eight years as part of Golf Canada’s National Team Program as a player and earned five NCAA wins as a member of the Kent State Golden Flashes. Ha played four years professionally including one year on the LPGA Tour. She is currently the assistant coach of the Team Canada – NextGen girls’ program.  

Joining Canada are past champions, Italy (2018), Republic of Korea (2015, 2019), Spain (2017, 2022) and the United States (2014). In the eight-year history of the tournament, aside from the host nation, six other countries have participated in every tournament including: Denmark, England, Italy, Mexico, Spain and Sweden.

The Republic of Korea (Korea) are the most successful team in tournament history. In addition to two championships, the team has also finished in second on three occasions (2016, 2017, 2023).

Sweden have finished on the podium on four occasions including two runner-up finishes (2014, 2022) and two third place finishes (2015, 2017). The United States have also earned a second-place finish (2018) and third-place finish (2016) along with being the inaugural champions. In addition to tournament wins, Team Canada 1 and Italy have also earned a third-place finish in 2014 and 2019 respectively.

This year’s tournament will mark the debut of Hong Kong, China and Morocco who will both be competing for the first time. Last year’s tournament saw the first appearances from Iceland, Peru and Poland. All three countries are returning this year.

This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Golf Championship features nine players in the top 200 of the WAGR. Soomin Oh from the Korea is the lowest ranked player in the field currently at no. 14. Oh, was part of Korea’s runner-up finish last year in Brampton, Ont. and finished third in the individual competition. Teammate Seojin Park also returns this year and is currently ranked no. 80. The United States feature two players inside the top 200 including Nikki Oh (no. 112) and Scarlett Schremmer (no. 184). France and Hong Kong, China both feature two players inside the top 200. France will be represented by Sara Brentcheneff (no. 97) and Alice Kong (no. 128). Arianna Lau (no. 67) and Sophie Han (no. 98) will represent Hong Kong, China.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia as well as Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea won both the 2015 team and individual championship at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and has earned several top five finishes on the LPGA Tour.

Credit Valley Golf and Country Club will play host for the world championship and boasts a challenging 18-hole Robbie Robinson designed parkland course. Nestled alongside the winding Credit River and the natural setting of the valley, it offers members a hidden golf and country club oasis within the bustling cityscape of Mississauga.

The following is a list of competing countries in the ninth annual World Junior Girls Championship:

Belgium

Canada (Team Canada 1 and Team Canada 2)

Chinese Taipei

Colombia

Czechia

Denmark

England

Finland

France

Germany

Hong Kong, China

Iceland

Ireland

Italy

Mexico

Morocco

Peru

Poland

Republic of Korea

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

United States of America

Practice rounds for the 72-hole competition will take place September 30 and October 1 with the first round of play set for Wednesday, October 2. The tournament’s closing ceremony will immediately follow the conclusion of play on Saturday, October 5.

Admission to 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship is free for all spectators. For more information on the championship, please click here.

Golf Canada is now accepting nominations for its 2024 National Facility Awards for Junior Golf, presented by HUMI. 

This award program was created with the intention of celebrating and recognizing facilities across Canada who are making outstanding contributions to junior golf in their communities. Our hope is that these awards will shine a spotlight on the extraordinary support of junior golf by these facilities and set a positive example for others to follow. 

Please consider nominating your facility based on the six categories below: 

Junior Golf Opportunity Award 

Awarded to a facility that provides exceptional access and membership opportunities for junior golfers. Special consideration is given to facilities with strong non-family sponsored junior programs and facilities with fundraising programs to help athletes compete at provincial, national, and international competitions. 

2023 Winner: Sawmill Golf Club (Fenwick, Ontario) 

Competitive Junior Program of the Year 

Awarded to a facility or academy program with many junior athletes competing in provincial and national championships and earning strong results in those championships. 
 
2023 Winner: Royal Ottawa Golf Club (Gatineau, Quebec) 

Grassroots Junior Program of the Year 

Awarded to a facility or academy program that is excelling at creating new junior golfers through local programming. 
 
2023 Winner: Deep River Golf Club (Deep River, Ontario) 

Tournament Host of the Year 

Awarded to a facility that gives back to junior golf by embracing the opportunity to host junior competitions. The facility creates an excellent tournament experience for players and involves the local community through volunteers and fundraising support. 
 
2023 Winner: South Muskoka Curling & Golf Club (Bracebridge, Ontario) 

First Tee – Canada Program Location of the Year 

Awarded to a First Tee – Canada Program Location that demonstrates excellent enrolment in First Tee – Canada programming and makes a significant impact on growing participation among new juniors within its community. 
 
2023 Winner: Fraserview Golf Course (Vancouver, British Columbia) 

Youth on Course  Program Location of the Year 

Awarded to the facility that provides the largest number of Youth on Course green fee subsidies to junior golfers in the calendar year.  
 
2023 Winner: Shaganappi Point Golf Course (Calgary, Alberta) 

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Click the button below to nominate a facility for an award for 2024.

National Facility Awards for Junior Golf 

Nominations are set to close Friday, November 15, 2024  and we will announce the 2024 Awards Winners at the Golf Canada Annual General Meeting in early 2025. 

If you have any questions regarding the awards or nomination process, please feel free to email NFAJG@golfcanada.ca.