Summerland, B.C. – The 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Champion, Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. lead from start to finish, while Matthew Wilson of Nanaimo, B.C. finished strong to win the 2024 NextGen Pacific Championship at Summerland Golf Club in Summerland, B.C.

Park recorded rounds of 74-73-72 to finish the tournament at 3-under and nine shots clear of Elisa Wu of Vancouver and Jenny Guo of West Vancouver in the Junior Girls Division. Park, the Team Canada NextGen member was in control over all three rounds. On Saturday, the leaders began on the back nine and finished on the front nine. During her second nine, Park went birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey to remain one-under for her final round before a bogey on the sixth hole. Park convincingly ended her round with an eagle on the par five ninth hole to win.

“The best part of my game this week was my driver, I hit probably 80% of the fairways. I also tried to focus on my short game because the greens are firm here, which worked pretty well,” said Park.

After missing a short birdie putt on the eighth hole, Park said her goal was to finish with a birdie on the par five, ninth, but was able to do one better, “I hit my driver really well, then hit my 3-wood onto the green as hard as I could and it rolled up there and I had an 18-footer for eagle and I just putted towards the hole and it went in.”

With the win, Park is one of nine players to book her place in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship presented by BDO, July 22-25 at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. What makes this extra special, is Park will be heading to Vancouver as defending champion.

“I think of this tournament as preparation for the Canadian Junior Girls and it will also give me more confidence for bigger tournaments this season,” added Park.

NextGen Pacific Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Girls Championship

*Top 8 plus ties qualify

In the Junior Boys Division, Wilson led after an opening round of 5-under 67 on Thursday. Joshua Ince of Surrey, B.C. found himself atop the leaderboard after Friday, firing a 5-under 67 of his own that moved him to 7-under for the tournament and two shots ahead of Wilson heading into Saturday’s final round. Both players were paired together on Saturday and Wilson started to pull away thanks in large part to recording two eagles on his first nine holes (playing back to front) on 13 and 18, both par five’s. Wilson continued his hot streak with three straight birdies on the front nine before back-to-back double bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes reducing his lead to just one over Ince.

Both players exchanged pars on the seventh and eighth holes and closed with birdies, giving Wilson the championship at 8-under (67-72-69), one shot better than Ince.

“I chipped in twice for eagle, it was a bit of an up-and-down round, a lot of good shots, a lot of bad shots. That eagle on 18 really got me going to make three (birdies) in a row and hit some great shots. The double on five just kind of happened and then another one but I didn’t get mad, it just happens and I just grinded it out. It was definitely nerve wracking the last four holes,” said Wilson.

The win ensures that Wilson has secured his spot along with seven others in the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO taking place August 13-16 at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.

“It means a lot, it’s my last year as a Junior and I’m off to school after Canadian Juniors and it will be my last junior tournament so just being able to play in that and give myself a chance to win a national title,” added Wilson.

NextGen Pacific Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Boys Championship

*Top 8 players qualify

The 54-hole stroke play competition began on Thursday, May 2. After 36 holes, the field was cut to the top 50 Junior Boys and top 20 Junior Girls, including ties. The starting field featured 155 male and female competitors – 111 Junior Boys and 44 Junior Girls – vying for spots into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The next stop on the NextGen Championship is schedule is next week at Fire Rock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. for the NextGen Ontario Championship.

For the final leaderboard from the NextGen Pacific Championship, click here.

About the NextGen Championships
The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

155 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes at hidden gem in the Okanagan Valley with exemptions into the
Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line.

Golf Canada’s 2024 championship season kicks off on Thursday, May 2, at Summerland Golf and Country Club in Summerland, B.C. with the NextGen Pacific Championship.

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Wednesday, May 1, and championship rounds beginning on Thursday, May 2. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 50 Junior Boys and top 20 Junior Girls, including ties, for the final round which wraps up on Saturday, May 4.

The starting field will feature 155 male and female competitors – 111 Junior Boys and 44 Junior Girls – vying for a spot into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer. Among those competing in Summerland include, 2023 Canadian Junior Girls champion, Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and 2023 NextGen Pacific Boys champion, Jerry Li.

The top eight players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, August 13-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, July 22-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver.

Summerland Golf and Country Club is considered a hidden gem in the Okanagan Valley. The course is located on Paradise Flats and offers a contrast in layout between the front and back nines. The front nine features a combination of links style as well as tree lined holes on a relatively flat terrain. The back nine features a grove of Ponderosa Pines with rolling fairways, elevation changes and undulating greens with five holes skirting the large Trout Creek Canyon.

“The Summerland Golf & Country Club is excited to host the 2024 NextGen Pacific Championship,” said Jason Sweeney, General Manager, Summerland Golf and Country Club. “Our membership has always promoted junior golf initiatives and have embraced hosting the elite players in the NextGen field. Welcome to the Okanagan and best of luck in the event.”

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Pacific Championship, click here.

About the NextGen Championships

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

All Canadian line-up set for two-night concert series at
Hamilton Golf and Country Club

The festival vibe for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship just got stronger as Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Canadian artists July Talk and Lindsay Ell have been added to the performance line-up of the SiriusXM Concert Series at the RBC Canadian Open.

Juno Award winners, July Talk will be performing on Friday, May 31 along with previously announced Canadian legends, Our Lady Peace.

Award-winning singer, songwriter and philanthropist, Lindsay Ell will join country music rising star Josh Ross on Saturday, June 1 as the headline acts at the SiriusXM Concert Series taking place following play at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club, May 28 to June 2, 2024.

The two-night onsite concert series will be hosted by title sponsor, SiriusXM Canada in partnership with Live Nation Canada and Golf Canada and will shine a spotlight on Canadian talent and emerging musical artists.

July Talk originated in Toronto and features two front people, Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis, surrounded by whiplashing guitarists Ian Docherty and Josh Warburton, and drummer Danny Miles and percussionist Dani Nash. The band has produced four studio albums since its inception in 2012. Three-time Juno award winner, July Talk is highly regarded for its on-stage presence and performances and has toured extensively over the past decade. The band’s most recent album, Remember Never Before, was released last year and is regarded as the most potently yet inventively “July Talk” album yet, the band returns – changed – to where they began.

Lindsay Ell has performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, with three career number ones and more than 401 million streams. Ell has been nominated for numerous awards including: ACM Awards (New Female Vocalist (2019), New Female Vocalist (2020), and Music Event of the Year (2020)); CMT Awards (Social Superstar (2015), Collaborative Video of the Year (2019)), CMA Awards (Musical Event of the Year (2019)); and JUNO Awards (Country Album of the Year (2021)) along with 20 CCMA Awards. In addition, last year Ell earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination (Best Host or Presenter, Factual or Reality/Competition) for her role as Host of Canada’s highest-rated reality TV program, Canada’s Got Talent. Ell will be joining Shania Twain’s Las Vegas residency later this summer as Twain’s lead guitarist and recently shared the stage with OneRepublic.

In addition to world-class golf and the SiriusXM Concert Series at the RBC Canadian Open, spectators will enjoy a week-long festival atmosphere at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, highlighted by, The Rink, located at the 13th Hole along with a variety of food and patio experiences at The Fare Way featuring The Keg.

“The additions of July Talk and Lindsay Ell to previously announced artists Our Lady Peace and Josh Ross promise to make the 2024 Sirius XM Concert Series a memorable experience for golf and music enthusiasts alike. Fans onsite will enjoy world-class golf followed by two incredible nights of live music featuring these amazing Canadian talents,” said Bryan Crawford, tournament director, RBC Canadian Open.

RBC Canadian Open tickets for Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 include full day access to the tournament and the SiriusXM Concert Series. The concert grounds will be located near admissions and The Fareway featuring The Keg at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

To purchase tickets to the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, please visit RBCCanadianOpen.com/tickets/.

2025 marks the first time the historic club will play host to the stars of the LPGA Tour; The 51^st playing of Canada’s National Open Championship returns to the Greater Toronto Area for the third time since 2001.

In hosting the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, Mississaugua Golf and Country Club will become only the eighth club to host Golf Canada’s four premier events: CPKC Women’s Open, RBC Canadian Open, Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, and Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Through CPKC’s community investment program, CPKC Has Heart, the event will once again be making a significant contribution to pediatric cardiac care in the host community.

The stars of the LPGA Tour are headed back to southern Ontario as Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) have announced that the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will be contested at the historic Mississaugua Golf and Country Club from August 18-24, 2025.

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will mark the 21^st time that the province of Ontario has hosted Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship and the first since 2022. The 2025 event will be the 51^st playing of Canada’s National Open Championship and the first time that Mississaugua Golf and Country Club will challenge the stars of the LPGA Tour. 

In hosting the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, Mississaugua Golf and Country Club will become only the eighth club to host Golf Canada’s four premier events: CPKC Women’s Open, RBC Canadian Open, Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, and Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

“Together, with our partners at CPKC and the LPGA Tour, we are very proud to bring the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open to the world-class city of Mississauga and the prestigious Mississaugua Golf and Country Club,” said CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Mississaugua Golf and Country Club has been an incredible partner to Golf Canada, hosting countless Golf Canada Championships at both the professional and amateur level. We are excited to add our National Women’s Open to this impressive list in 2025.”

Through its CPKC Has Heart campaign, CPKC once again will be making a significant charitable contribution to the host community. Since 2014, the CPKC Women’s Open has helped raise over $19 million in support of children’s heart health in North America.

“CPKC is thrilled to bring the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open to the city of Mississauga and back to the province of Ontario, which is an integral part of our North American network,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact the tournament will have in helping young hearts across Ontario.”

A host community beneficiary of the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will be named by CPKC and Golf Canada at a later date.

Originally founded in 1906, Mississaugua has overlooked the Credit River in Mississauga for more than a century. The Club, which features an 18-hole championship golf course, has a storied history of hosting not only provincial championships but national championships as well, including the RBC Canadian Open, Men’s Canadian Amateur, and Canadian Women’s Amateur along with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Mississaugua is a full-service club offering along with golf: a four clay-court tennis facility, a six-sheet curling rink, state of the art fitness centre, and year-round dining options.

“The Members of Mississaugua are thrilled to welcome the very best LPGA Tour players to the Club for the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open,” said Rodger Leslie, Mississaugua Golf and Country Club President. “Hosting this wonderful tournament at our historic club gives us the opportunity to not only showcase our championship golf course but proudly share Mississaugua with the rest of Canada and the world. We are looking forward to partnering with Golf Canada and the surrounding community of Mississauga as we prepare for this world-class tournament in 2025. A highlight of the event for Mississaugua is the philanthropic dollars that will be generated for local charities through the CPKC Women’s Open, a cause near and dear to the heart our members.”

The Tournament Partners of the LPGA awarded the CPKC Women’s Open with Tournament of the Year honours in the previous two years (2022 and 2023). Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Volunteer Engagement in 2023, Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022, and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in three of the last five full season campaigns.

“Being selected to host the prestigious CPKC Women’s Open in 2025 is a huge honour and allows us another opportunity to highlight the sport of golf in the mix of events we are bringing to our vibrant city,” said Victoria Clarke, CEO of Visit Mississauga. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best female golfers and witnessing their incredible talent here in Mississauga, and to showcase the “cultural canvas” that is our city on the world stage.”

Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has traditionally featured one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour vying for a total purse of $2.6 million USD. The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open – the 50^th playing of the event – is being held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 23-28, 2024.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil to inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers. Brooke Henderson’s historic victory in 2018 was the first time a Canadian had won the National Open since golf legend Jocelyne Bourassa 45 years earlier.

Information about volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club will be available in the coming weeks.

Inaugural BDO National Golf League champions will gain an exemption into The R&A 9 Hole Challenge at Royal Troon

Imagine walking the historic fairways of Royal Troon Golf Club; the same course where legends and global stars of the game have completed in pursuit of glory.

For one lucky Canadian pairing, that dream will become a reality as The R&A 9 Hole Challenge is set to take place on Friday, July 12, just days before the 152nd playing of The Open in Troon, Scotland.

The R&A 9 Hole Challenge is a 9-hole net Stableford scoring competition that features teams that have qualified in their home country and hold a registered handicap index. Players from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand have previously competed. Canada along with Germany have been added for 2024. The full field competing in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge will be finalized in June.

Kevin Barker, Director – Golf Development: GB&I and Africa at The R&A, said, “Every year we are seeing more people compete in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge with its popularity spreading all over the world. We are pleased to welcome golfers from Canada into the Challenge this year for the first time.

“For people looking for an alternative option to 18-hole golf, it showcases that nine-hole golf can be played competitively by people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

“For all golfers taking part, there is the incredible opportunity to compete on golf’s biggest stage ahead of The Open and I would encourage players to enter a qualifying competition at your local club to give you the chance to play at Royal Troon.”

As part of the BDO National Golf League Championship, the winning team will earn an exemption into The R&A 9 Hole Challenge and with it, become the first pairing from Canada to compete since the Challenge inception in 2016.

Fifty-two teams of two (104 golfers total) are 18-holes away from claiming the inaugural championship and with it a spot in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge. The BDO National Golf League Championship will be taking place on Saturday, May 25, just days before the start of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Last season, over 10,000 participants from 107 leagues from coast-to-cost began their journey of competing for Canada’s first league golf national championship.

“We are excited to have a Canadian team take part in The R&A’s 9 Hole Challenge for the first time and we extend a big thank you to our partners at The R&A for this incredible opportunity,” said Tim McLaughlin, chief marketing officer, Golf Canada. “The inaugural season of the BDO National League has been a success highlighted by the growing numbers of women and men playing, with the goal of competing for not only a national championship but a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that The R&A’s 9 Hole Challenge offers.”

The 146-year-old Royal Troon Golf Club will host its tenth Open Championship from July 14-21, 2024, and its first since 2016. The club also hosted the AIG Women’s Open on one occasion in 2020.

For more information on The R&A 9 Hole Challenge, please visit randa.org/en/nine-hole-challenge.

Want a chance to compete in The R&A 9 Hole Challenge? Registration is now open for the 2024 BDO National Golf League, and to sign-up or get more information, please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

Three women’s pairings among those set to compete for the inaugural
BDO National Golf League Championship as part of the
2024 RBC Canadian Open in Hamilton

The inaugural season of the BDO National Golf League welcomed over 1,500 women competitors in 2023, and three women-only pairings are among the fifty-two teams of two (104 golfers total) who qualified to compete at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club for the chance to be crowned the first ever BDO National Golf League champions.

The BDO National Golf League Championship takes place on Saturday, May 25, just days before the start of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club layout.

Among those set to compete in the national final are Donna Manning and Deborah Delaney from the GlenDenning Golf Club in St. John’s, Nfld. The pair secured their spot after finishing atop the leaderboard in qualifying from their regional playoff at the Twin Rivers Golf Club at Terra Nova in Port Blandford, Nfld.

“We arrived at the regionals with no expectations, both of us were pretty nervous, and then realizing we were playing against mostly men. We ended up playing some of our best golf and as a result, captured that first spot.

“I feel very honoured to be representing GlenDenning Golf Club and Newfoundland. The staff at GlenDenning are very proud and excited for our accomplishment and wish us good luck in Hamilton. I’m beyond excited and I can’t wait for May. This event will be awesome and one of my proudest moments,” said Donna Manning.

Delaney echoed her teammate that a mix of excitement and nerves came about during qualification. Added incentive for Delaney was competing against her brother, who also advanced to the regional playoffs in Port Blandford, Nfld.

“Donna and I didn’t calculate our course handicaps for Terra Nova so we didn’t keep track of the Stableford points. We decided that we would just play our game as best we could and see how it all played out with no pressure. Fortunately, we played well and won the tournament. We are beyond excited to represent Newfoundland in Hamilton this coming May and hopefully play some fantastic golf.”

Across the country, Karen Cairns and Lynne Godfrey are one of three teams from the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, B.C. that qualified in the regional playoff.

“It will be terrific to share the experience and to meet other players from across the country, no matter the outcome,” said Cairns.

“We were stunned. We knew we played good ham and eggs but didn’t think we would tie for first place. We are so excited to attend,” added Godfrey.

La Belle Province will be represented by Martine Dusault and Sylvie Desroches from Le Maître de Mont-Tremblant in Mont-Tremblant, Que. who were among the eight teams to qualify from Quebec.

“Very proud to have qualified for this tournament. We’re the only women in Quebec. We can’t wait to play this magnificent golf course,” said Dusault.

“My teammate and I are very proud of our performance, being the only two women in Quebec to qualify for the final. We didn’t think we’d make it playing the men’s tees, so we played for fun! What a nice surprise! We’re very proud to represent our club, Le Maître de Mont-Tremblant! Thank you NGL!” added Desroches.

In addition to the national finals taking place at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in the leadup to the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, the winning team will receive an expenses-paid trip to represent Canada at The R&A 9 Hole Challenge at Royal Troon in Troon, Scotland, one-week prior to the 152^nd Open Championship. This will mark the first time that Canada will participate in the 9 Hole Challenge. For more information on the R&A 9 Hole Challenge, please visit randa.org/en/nine-hole-challenge.

The BDO National Golf League was launched by Golf Canada ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women, and junior golfers. Scoring follows a 9-hole net stableford format that takes place during a six-week period of a club’s league season. Within those six weeks, the best four scores are used to determine the individuals that would advance to the next stage of the competition – the provincial championships. The BDO National Golf League points system is designed to level the playing field for players of all skill levels. The competition is about making golf fun as the first priority.

Registration is now open for the 2024 BDO National Golf League, to sign-up or for more information, please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

50^th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship returns to Calgary

Golf Canada, in partnership with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) is pleased to release the full selection of ticket options for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open taking place July 23-28 at the historic Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary.

Thirteen-time LPGA Tour winner and CPKC Ambassador Brooke Henderson along with defending champion Megan Khang are among early headliners set to compete with the top players in the Race to CME Globe standings for the first time at Earl Grey. The 2024 event will mark the fourth time that the City of Calgary will play host and seventh time for the province of Alberta.

CLICK HERE TO SECURE YOUR TICKETS BEFORE THEY SELL OUT!

“The early response from the local community has been outstanding and we are looking forward to returning to the City of Calgary in July for the first time since 2016 for the 50th playing of our National Women’s Open Championship,” said CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Earl Grey is a beautiful golf course and will provide a great test for the world’s most talented players. Golf fans will be in for a memorable week in Calgary. The CPKC Women’s Open is one of the top three women’s sporting events in Canada, don’t miss out on your chance to see these amazing athletes live.”

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open returns to Calgary riding momentum from being named the LPGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023. The 2023 tournament also won additional awards for Best Sponsorship Activation and Best Volunteer Appreciation at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.

Fans of all ages will once again be able to experience the week-long celebration of golf highlighted by The Rink on the 17th hole at Earl Grey, and a variety of food and patio experiences at The Fare Way featuring the Keg.

CPKC will once again leave a meaningful legacy in the host community through its CPKC Has Heart Campaign. The official charitable partner of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open is Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Last year, CPKC raised nearly $3.5 million for children’s heart health with donations of $2.9 million to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and $580,000 to the Royal Inland Hospital (PIH) Foundation.

 As part of the championship’s commitment to junior golf, admission all week is free for youth aged 12-and-under. General admission tickets provide access to the golf course and enjoy fan activations throughout the property and experience the thrill of major professional golf.

Upgraded ticket experiences including corporate hospitality packages and premium guest hosting are also available.

Click here to sign up for the CPKC Women’s Open newsletter and be among the first notified for future announcements and updates.

Make sure you are part of the action in Calgary!

Visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com/tickets/ to secure your tickets before they sell out!

Three-time Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will be the 86^th inductee into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame

Meldrum to receive the highest honour in Canadian golf as part of RBC Hall of Fame Day in May during the 2024 RBC Canadian Open

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame announced today that accomplished amateur and professional player and current PGA of Canada member Lisa Meldrum has been selected for 2024 induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Meldrum, 41, from Montréal, Que. will be inducted into the player category, and becomes the 86^th honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

“Lisa Meldrum’s competitive playing record dating back to junior, amateur golf, and then into professional ranks was outstanding,” said Ted Fletcher, Chair of the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee. “Winning the 2000 Canadian Junior then three consecutive Women’s Amateur titles from 2001 to 2003 – a feat not accomplished since the legendary Marlene Streit in 1956 – brought Lisa early renown as one of Canada’s top female amateur golfers and that success continued as a young professional. The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee unanimously endorsed Lisa’s nomination for induction into The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame!”

Meldrum, a Class A member of the PGA of Canada, got her start in golf as a 10-year-old at The Royal Montreal Golf Club where she now works as its Head Teaching Professional.

“I am extremely honoured to be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and join the esteemed legends of golf in this country,” said Meldrum. “In the pursuit of excellence in the game of golf, to have my achievements recognized, is truly a humbling experience. I am so grateful for the unwavering support of my family, friends, and supporters. The future of golf in this country is bright and I look forward to continuing to contribute to the sport through player development and high-performance coaching.”

Meldrum will officially join the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony taking place on Tuesday, May 28 during the RBC Hall of Fame Day as part of the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club. To purchase tickets to the event, please click here.

LISA MELDRUM
Lisa Meldrum enjoyed an accomplished junior and amateur career, having won 12 championships between 1997 and 2003.

Her successful competitive run was highlighted by winning the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship three consecutive years in a row from 2001 to 2003. During that time SCOREGolf recognized her as the Best Female Amateur Golfer in Canada all three years. Prior to the Canadian Women’s Amateur three-peat, Meldrum won the 1998 Canadian Juvenile Girls Championship and the 2000 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, later earning SCOREGolf’s Best Female Junior Golfer recognition in 2000.

Provincially, the Montréal native enjoyed great success winning eight provincial championships including the Quebec Junior Girls Championship, three consecutive years from 1997 to 1999, the Quebec Women’s Amateur Championship in 2000 and 2002, as well as three Quebec Match Play Championships (Junior 2000, Amateur 1998 & 2001). She also won honours as ladies club champion (The Royal Montreal Golf Club), Montréal Region Champion and was a member of both the Quebec Junior Team and the Quebec Elite Team.

Meldrum attended the University of Oklahoma where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in business. A member of the women’s golf team from 2000-2004, Meldrum was named Big 12 Freshman Golfer of the Year for 2000-2001, won three collegiate tournaments, earned All-American honours and 25 top-ten finishes in four seasons with the Sooners.

She turned professional in 2004 and won the 2006 Canadian Tour Championship and was named the Canadian Tour Player of the Year. She competed on the Duramed Futures Tour (now Epson Tour) between 2006 and 2009, went on to compete on the LPGA Tour for two seasons (2010-2011) and later the Symetra Tour (now Epson Tour) from 2012-2015. She has competed in the AIG Women’s Open, LPGA Championship, as well as multiple CPKC Women’s Open’s.

Meldrum works as the Head Teaching Professional at Lisa Meldrum Golf Performance and The Royal Montreal Golf Club. She plays an instrumental role in the club’s adult and junior development programs for golfers of all skill levels and teaches year-round in Montréal. She is a “Class A” member of the PGA of Canada and specializes in teaching and coaching, which she has done since 2016. In addition, Meldrum is TPI certified and a Level 2 ELDOA practitioner.

During her career, Meldrum also represented Canada at the 2002 World Amateur Team Championship and was victorious at the 2003 Copas de las Americas Championship. Meldrum has also received awards from the Canadian Tour Order of Merit (2006), Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year (2009) and was inducted into the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame in the player category in 2023.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN GOLF HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame celebrates the outstanding individuals of Canadian golf from players, both amateur and professional, to the builders, architects and others who have been fundamental to the evolution of the game in this country. Operated by Golf Canada, the Hall of Fame, museum, and library are open to visitors to discover more about the game and the inductees. For more information, please visit heritage.golfcanada.ca/hall-of-fame-members/.

CANADIAN GOLF HALL OF FAME NOMINATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Honoured Members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame have been inducted since its inception in 1971. Honoured Members and representatives from the media, the PGA of Canada, as well as the golf industry comprise the ten-member Selection Committee.

The committee is responsible for reviewing all nominations and selecting inductees. To be considered for election to the Hall of Fame, a nominee must have made an extraordinary national or international contribution to the game of golf in Canada. These achievements may include, but are not limited to, golfing accomplishments, illustrious golf-related careers, or other exceptional contributions to the sport. Individuals may not nominate themselves and every nomination submitted to the Selection Committee must be seconded. Inductees to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame must receive a minimum of eight of 10 votes. Individuals who receive a minimum of three votes will be carried forward; ones who fail to do so will be removed from the nomination process. Additional information regarding the nomination and election process is available here. Nominations must be received no later than July 31 to be eligible for selection the following year.

Pompey wins Community Leader Award; Allen wins Future Leader Award following submission of nominations from the Canadian golf community

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are pleased to announce that Simeon Pompey of Montréal, Que. and Rosie Allen of Corner Brook, Nfld. have been named the 2023 recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards.

Following a national call for nominations to the Canadian golf community, Pompey and Allen were identified by the selection committee as recipients of the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards. The recognition celebrates a pair of individuals who demonstrated excellence in using golf as a platform to positively impact their communities.

“We were pleased to receive so many worthy nominations from across the country recognizing the contributions of individuals who use the game of golf in a way to inspire and contribute to their community,” said Golf Canada President, David McCarthy. “Golf Canada and the Foundation are incredibly proud to celebrate Simeon Pompey and Rosie Allen as our 2023 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Award recipients and I am pleased to congratulate both on this much deserved honour and thank them for their continued contributions to our sport in their communities.”

Pompey earned the 2023 Lorie Kane Community Leader Award for his continuous devotion to helping others in his community through the sport of golf. Pompey has been a long-time supporter 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. Pompey has been leading life-skills focused golf classes for over 15 years for children and families coming from underrepresented communities and low-income neighbourhoods in Montréal. Pompey also teaches in the Community, Recreation and Leadership Training at Dawson College, where he serves as a mentor to many of his students.

“I am still shocked to have been selected as the winner of the Lorie Kane Community Leader Award for 2023. Now that it has sunken in a bit, I want to thank you all wholeheartedly for this prestigious recognition. I humbly accept the award on behalf of all the children and their families who have benefitted from the values learned through the great game of golf especially First Tee. Thanks to Golf Canada and First Tee, I have been able to introduce the game of golf to mostly inner-city children whose path in life would not have included the great game of golf and the many life-skills that it teaches,” said Simeon Pompey. “I thank Golf Canada, Golf Quebec and First Tee – Canada for this incredible honour as it validates my life’s mission of helping young people reach their true potential. Thanks to First Tee, the trajectory of a child can be changed positively in a profound way.”

Allen has been named the recipient of the 2023 Lorie Kane Future Leader Award. The 15-year-old has 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. She has also been a key influence working with the Autism Society in Corner Brook on both developing and running a program for junior golfers between the ages of 5-9 with various forms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Allen is an accomplished player having been a member of the provincial development team for four years and winning events in her home province. She has future goals of playing in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, and competing in the 2025 Canada Games.

“It is amazing to win this award and I’m very grateful to win something named in Lorie Kane’s honour. I was lucky enough to meet Lorie at the CPKC Women’s Open in 2019 when I was just 11 years old, and she was so nice. I hope I can inspire children in the game of golf the way she inspired me,” said Allen. “I love teaching kids and really enjoy seeing their development through the different programs that we offer. My favorite group of children are those with ASD. They are amazing kids, and it is so rewarding to watch them enjoy the game of golf and the different games we design for them. To know that I can be a part of their development is an honour.”

Pompey will receive a $5,000 donation from the Golf Canada Foundation to advance a golf program or golf-related initiative of his choice. Allen will receive a $5,000 donation towards her post-secondary education.

Submissions for the Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards were 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.  

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 Lorie Kane Future Leader Award honours 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 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.

A call for nominations for the 2024 Lorie Kane Community Spirit Awards will go out later this year.

Championship schedule to include 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship in addition to Canada’s National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open

Golf Canada will also conduct qualifiers for several USGA Championships including Local and Final Qualifying for the U.S. Open as well as the U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Men’s and Women’s Amateurs and U.S. Junior Girls and Boys Championships

She Plays Golf Championship Series with stops in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce its full 2024 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2024 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s two signature National Open Championships — the RBC Canadian Open, returning to the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. May 28 – June 2, and the 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open to be held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, July 23-28.

Golf Canada’s 2024 competition calendar also includes 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Three new previously announced championships for the 2024 season include the BDO National Golf League Finals, the Canadian U15 Championship, and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational.

As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.

“We are pleased to announce the full championship schedule for 2024 and the addition of three new tournaments this year. We look forward to welcoming talented amateur athletes from across Canada and around the globe to compete for our national championships,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada Director, Amateur Championships and Rules. “I want to thank our corporate partners, our generous host clubs across the country, and all the volunteers that are vital to making these championships possible. We are looking forward to another great season of championship golf.”

Each of Golf Canada’s championships are set to be contested at Canada’s top clubs including the 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur, hosted by Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, both in Saskatoon, Sask., while the 110th Canadian Women’s Amateur will be played at the Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C.

The Canadian Junior Financial Assistance Program supported by Gary Cowan Heritage Fund and the Canadian Senior Golf Association will once again be available for Juniors competing in the NextGen Championships and all National Junior Championships (Juniors and U15) who meet eligibility requirements which can be found here.

Golf Canada will also conduct several professional and amateur championship qualifiers including five regional qualifiers into the RBC Canadian Open as well as final qualifiers for both the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open.

Other notable qualifiers being conducted for USGA Championships on the 2024 schedule include a U.S. Open Local and Final Qualifier, a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier in addition to qualifiers for the U.S. Junior Amateur and Girls’ Junior Championships, the U.S. Women’s Amateur, and local qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Championship.  

New to the schedule in 2024 is the She Plays Golf Championship Series, a three-event circuit in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto that marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada. She Plays Golf is a citywide celebration of women’s golf anchored in each host market by a $60,000 CAD professional golf championship contested over 54-holes for a field of 60 professionals and elite amateurs. The enhanced championships comprising the She Plays Golf Championships Series include the Peloton Glencoe Invitational (June 13-15 at the Forest Course at Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary), the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open (June 19-22 at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.), and the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada (July 2-5 at a venue to be announced in the Greater Toronto Area). For 2024, the top two finishers in each event from the She Plays Golf Championship Series will qualify for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary. In addition, the overall points leader at the conclusion of the She Plays Golf Championship Series will earn a spot in the CPKC Women’s Open, if not already qualified.

Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off April 15 with a U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier at The Vancouver Golf Club and concludes with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from September 30 – October 5, where Team Canada will look to defend its championship.

To view Golf Canada’s 2024 Championship Schedule, including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities visit, golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.

2024 Amateur Championship Season at a Glance…

The inaugural BDO National Golf League Finals will be held at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. on May 25 ahead of tournament week of the RBC Canadian Open. Fifty-two two-player teams will compete over 18-holes in a four-ball net stableford format to crown the first ever BDO National Golf League Champions.

The Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO, will be held June 2-6 at Idylwylde Golf and Country Club in Sudbury, Ont. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent. The winning men’s team will qualify for the 2024 Canadian Collegiate Invitational.

The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held July 10-13 at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay, B.C. The 2023 event marked the first-time the tournament was held as a standalone event for female amateurs aged 25-and-over.

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested July 21-25 at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver where the winner will earn an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2025 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.

The 110th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, takes place July 29 – August 2 at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C. with the champion earning an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, as well as an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

The 119th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested in Saskatoon, Sask., August 3-8 and hosted by the Riverside Country Club and Saskatoon Golf and Country Club. A maximum field of 264 players will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 36 holes, with the final two rounds contested at Riverside Country Club. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, will be contested August 12-16 at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will be held August 19-23 at Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Manotick, Ont.

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will take place August 26-29 at The Club at North Halton in Georgetown, Ont. The Senior Champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Senior Championship and 2025 U.S. Women’s Senior Open.

The newest national championship addition to the schedule, the Canadian U15 Championship  will be played at Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont. from August 27-30. The boys and girls individual champions will earn exemptions into their respective 2024 Team Canada NextGen Selection Camp as well as their 2025 Canadian Junior Championship, presented by BDO. The top five finishers in each division will earn spots into two 2025 NextGen Championships.

The Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, a national championship for players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments, will be held September 9-12 at Timber Ridge Golf Course in Brighton, Ont. The championship will expand to 54-holes in 2024 with previous tournaments being contested over 36-holes.

The Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, will be hosted by Saugeen Golf Club in Port Elgin, Ont. from September 11-15, with the champion earning an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

The Canadian Collegiate Invitational will debut at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. from September 15-17. The tournament was announced last November and will be co-hosted by Kent State University and Penn State University. The intercollegiate tournament will feature nine NCAA Division I men’s teams along with the winning men’s team from the 2024 Canadian University/College Championship. The champion receives an exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

The 2024 NextGen Championship host clubs include: Summerland Golf and Country Club (Summerland, B.C.), FireRock Golf Club (Komoka, Ont.), Leduc Golf Club (Leduc, Alta.), Whitewater Golf Club (Thunder Bay, Ont.), Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly (Joly, Que.) and The Wilds Resort (Holyrood, Nfld.).

The 2024 championship season concludes with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, taking place at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from September 30 to October 5. Team Canada looks to defend the team championship amongst a field of the world’s best junior golfers. Teams compete as 3-member squads while also contesting for an individual title.

Registration for Golf Canada’s competitions will open on the following dates:

• NextGen Championships: Wednesday, February 21 at 12:00pm EST
• RBC Canadian Open Qualifying: Wednesday, February 28 at 12:00pm EST
• National Amateur Championships: Wednesday, March 6 at 12:00pm EST