LAS VEGAS – Kevin Na finally won a sudden-death playoff on the PGA Tour when he least expected it.

Staked to a three-shot lead to start the back nine at the TPC Summerlin, Na never imagined it would come down to that.

But he made triple bogey without hitting into a hazard on No. 10. He went at the flag and found the water on the par-5 16th for a bogey to lose the lead for the first time all day.

Right when he looked to be out of chances, Na saved himself with a 25-foot par putt on the 17th, a 10-foot birdie to extend the playoff, and he won the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open when Patrick Cantlay made the worst -mistake – the last one.

“Came down way too close,” Na said.

Cantlay, who gave up a one-shot lead by hitting 9-iron into the water on the par-3 17th, three-putted from 45 feet on No. 18 on the second extra hole for bogey. Na rolled in his 4-foot par putt to win in Las Vegas for the second time.

“I’ve been in this situation before where I lost the lead and I failed many times,” said Na, who closed with a 1-under 70. “I’ve lost three playoffs. This is my first playoff win. I kept telling myself, ‘This is the playoff I’m going to win.’ It felt great to win.”

It was a bitter finish for Cantlay, who won his first PGA Tour event in Las Vegas in 2017 in a playoff, but had to settle for a runner-up finish the second straight year.

“It leaves a sour taste in my mouth,” he said. “That’s two years in a row here. I played well. I’ll take that momentum the rest of the year.”

Cantlay took his first lead with a two-putt birdie on the 16th, only for his 9-iron to come up short and just far enough to the left that rolled down into the water. He still looked as though he would head to the final hole until Na made his 25-foot par putt.

“I’m a fighter,” Na said. “The putt on 17, I was doing everything I could to make that putt.”

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., finished in a tie for fourth place. Nick Taylor, also from Abbotsford, tied for 29th.

Na won for the third time in the last 15 months, and third in as many seasons on the PGA Tour. He joined Jim Furyk as the only multiple winners in Las Vegas.

Even after his bogey on the 17th, Cantlay was poised to win in regulation when he hit the longest drive of the final round – 345 yards – and had only 113 yards left. But he could get no closer than 25 feet, and his putt hung on the right edge of the putt.

Cantlay, trying to win for the third time when facing a deficit of at least three shots, closed with a 68.

They finished at 23-under 261.

On the first extra hole, Na hit wedge to just inside 10 feet. Cantlay was just outside 10 feet – on the same line as his 25-foot birdie chance in regulation – and made it. Na poured his in, walking toward the hole before the ball dropped.

Cantlay came up well short on his approach to the 18th on the second playoff hole – his third time playing it in less than an hour – and his birdie putt came up well short.

Na set a record by making 559 feet of putts over four rounds, the most since the PGA Tour developed its ShotLink system of measuring every shot of every player. And he won with a 4-foot par.

Pat Perez closed with a 68 to finish alone in third, his best finish since he won in Malaysia two years ago.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau shot 63 and tied for fourth with Hadwin (63) and Brian Stuard (67).

THE COLONY, Texas – Cheyenne Knight struggled so much her rookie season that she made the cut in only half of her tournaments and figured she was headed back to the LPGA Tour qualifying series. One week changed everything.

In the only LPGA event in her home state of Texas, in what she thought would be her last tournament of the year, Knight played bogey-free Sunday and closed with a 5-under 66 for a two-shot victory in the Volunteers of America Classic.

Her first victory on the LPGA Tour comes with a two-year exemption and makes her eligible for the Asia swing. At No. 49 in the Race to CME Globe standings, she is virtually assured of getting to the Tour Championship next month.

“It’s so incredible. I can’t put it into words,” Knight said.

The 22-year-old was in tears even before players rushed onto the 18th green at Old American Golf Club and sprayed her with champagne and water. Knight had pointed to his tournament, which she played as an amateur, all season. She grew up about an hour away in Aledo. And she never plays without thinking of her brother, Brandon, who died in a car accident when Knight was 12.

She dropped her putter and pointed to the sky when her 2-foot par putt dropped to finish at 18-under 266, two shots ahead of Brittany Altomare (67) and Jaye Marie Green (69), both trying for their first LPGA title.

“I think I had a second caddie. I know he’s watching in heaven, and he’s so proud of me,” Knight said. “This is for Brandon.”

Altomare, who played in her first Solheim Cup last month, got up-and-down from just short of the 17th green for birdie to briefly tie for the lead. Knight, playing in the group behind, holed a 15-foot birdie putt to regain the lead.

Needing birdie to have any chance, Altomare gunned her putt about 6 feet and missed the next one, taking bogey to clear the way for Knight.

“I keep saying this, but I think the more I put myself in those situations, eventually, statistically, I feel like it has to happen,” Altomare said.

Green began the final round with the lead and still was one shot ahead through 10 holes until she bogeyed the 11th and 12th and never caught up. With a runner-up finish, Green moved to No. 48 in the Race to CME Globe and will be eligible for Asia event, which do not have cuts.

Georgia Hall (66) and Jane Park (68) tied for fourth.

Knight had not finished better than a tie for 29th in the 54-hole event in Arkansas going into the Texas event, the final full field of the year.

“I said when I got my card this was the event I was most looking forward to,” said Knight, who tied for 29th three years ago when she played as an amateur. “Who would have thought this would help me secure my card. I thought I was going back to Q-school. To win this means everything, knowing I can persevere.”

Stephanie Meadow of Northern Ireland, who was No. 112 on the money list, made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to keep her card by moving into the top 100 and avoid returning to the LPGA Q-Series at the end of the year.

Meadow closed with a 67 and tied for sixth with Katherine Perry, who also needed a birdie on the final hole to keep her card. Perry missed from 15 feet and will finish outside the top 100 on the money list.

Alena Sharp (72) of Hamilton was 7 under to finish it a tie for 14th place. Brooke Henderson (69) of Smits Falls, Ont., was 5 under in a tie for 16th.

THE COLONY, Texas – Canada’s Alena Sharp shot a 6-under 65 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead with Brittany Altomare and Cheyenne Knight in the LPGA Tour’s Volunteers of America Classic.

Sharp closed with a bogey on the par-4 18th to drop into the tie for the lead at 9-under 133 at Old American Golf Club. Altomare had a 66, and Knight shot 67. The three leaders are winless on the LPGA Tour.

Knight was a two-time state high school champion at Aledo, just west of Fort Worth.

First-round leader Stephanie Meadow was 8 under, following her opening 63 with a 71.

Jaye Marie Green and Katherine Perry each shot 68 to reach 7 under.

Ariya Jutanugarn was 6 under after her second straight 68. The 10-time tour winner missed the cut last week in Indianapolis, ending her streak of 56 starts on the tour without missing a cut.

Georgia Hall (68) also was 6 under with Caroline Hedwall (67), Jane Park (67) and Wei-Ling Hsu (68).

LAS VEGAS – Canada’s Nick Taylor had to scramble for par on his opening two holes Thursday, and then he couldn’t miss in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., ran off a six-hole stretch at 6-under par, including a drive on the 314-yard 14th hole at the TPC Summerlin that stopped 5 feet away for eagle. He birdied all the par 5s, kept bogeys off his card and opened with an 8-under 63 for a two-shot lead among early starters.

Phil Mickelson, who missed the cut last week at the Safeway Open in his season debut, had a 65 for his lowest round since late February.

Taylor faced ideal conditions and the easier side at Summerlin to start his round, and he found himself having to get up-and-down to save par with 5-foot putts.

“The first two holes, I actually hit pretty good drives. Had a little bit of mud on it, so the ball just kind of took off oddly,” Taylor said. “Was able to make two good par saves, and from there was able to hit a bunch of greens, make some putts.”

The 15th hole was a bonus. On the three par 5s, he was either on in two shots or just off the green.

“That always makes the round pretty easy,” Taylor said.

Mickelson, Brian Day and Sam Ryder were at 65. Adam Scott, who spent a year at UNLV as a teenager, was among those at 66.

Mickelson is playing Las Vegas for the first time since 2005, and he didn’t start his season well when he chopped up the par 5s at Silverado – making a 9 on one of the easier holes – to miss the cut.

Lefty wasn’t worried. Take out his play on the par 5s, and he felt his game was fine. He showed that Thursday, and finished his round with a 60-foot eagle attempt that had a chance to go in before leaving a short putt for his final birdie.

The 65 was his best score since a second-round 65 in the Mexico Championship.
With the fairways running tight and fast, Mickelson said he relied on a low cut to keep it in play and give himself chances.

“They’re not going very far, but they’re in play,” he said. “My iron play right now is really good, so I just want to give myself chances with my irons.”

He said he needed only a “subtle fix” from how he played the par 5s at the Safeway Open and it was easy.
Brooks Koepka, who had stem cell treatment on his left knee on Aug. 25 after the FedEx Cup ended, began his season by needing two birdies over the last four holes just to break par. He opened with a 70.

Tony Finau was at 68 after spending the last two weeks on the European Tour and flying eight time zones away to Las Vegas.

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay, who won the previous year, were among those playing the afternoon. Both are among the top 10 in the world ranking, giving Las Vegas its strongest field in more than 15 years.

Koepka is the first No. 1 player in Las Vegas since Greg Norman in 1988.

Canadian Graham DeLaet made his first PGA appearance in nearly two years because of a back injury.

The 37-year-old native of Weyburn, Sask., shot a 4-over 75. DeLaet had a triple bogey on No. 3 and was 7 over though 11 before rallying with three consecutive birdies from Nos. 13-15.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., carded a one-under 70.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., had afternoon tee times.

TORONTO – It turns out Friday the 13^th isn’t an unlucky date for American Gene Elliott. The West Des Moines, IA, native, carded a 3-over par 74 today to capture the 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title at Cedar Brae Golf Club.

At No. 294, Elliott is the top ranked senior aged golfer (55+ years) on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. He finished the event 6-under (278) for a comfortable 5-stroke victory.

“I’m relieved more than anything,” said Elliott. “Even with a six-shot lead coming into today, it’s still hard to win. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Elliott wasn’t just battling the field, as winds were gusting up to 35 km/h Friday at Cedar Brae.

“You’ll find fourth-round scores are much higher than the rest of the week. It played very tough today, which is another reason I’m relieved,” added Elliott. “Because on a cold and windy day a guy can go out and shoot 80. I’m glad that it didn’t happen. I’m very excited.”

This is the second Canadian Men’s senior title for Elliott. The 57-year-old previously had his name etched on the John Rankin Memorial Trophy when he won the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 2017. He also finished third in 2018.

Gene Elliott following his #CDNSenior win today @CedarBraeGolf. pic.twitter.com/MYXPE45yz1

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) September 13, 2019

“I’ve always liked Canada, since I was a small boy. My parents and I used to go fishing in Lake of the Woods, Ontario,” added Elliott. “I’m thrilled to be able to compete up here. I’ve just always been a big, big fan of Canada.”

With the win, Elliott receives an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at The Country Club of Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

There will be little time for Elliott to catch his breath, as he’s leaving Toronto this evening in order to make his 1 p.m. tee-time tomorrow at the U.S. Mid-Amateur, which is taking place in Colorado.

Ashley Chinner of Brooklin, Ont., finished runner up at 1-under (283), while Lars Melander of Oakville, Ont., finished third at even-par (284).

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship ran concurrently throughout the championship. Melander’s final round 1-under par 70 helped him win the title and hoist the Governor’s Cup.

“This is something I’ve worked towards for 13 years,” stated Melander. “Last year I finished third and this year I got it done. It was exhilarating to finally win another Canadian championship. The last one I won was the PGA of Canada’s Assistant’s Championship in Vancouver in 1974.”

Finishing runner-up in the Senior Division was Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. Simson won the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 2010 and the Super Senior title in 2017. He finished the event 3-over (287), 3-shots back of Melander.

Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta., finished third at +8 (292).

The 2020 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will be held September 8-11 at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum Beach, B.C.

2019 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL SCORES

1. Gene Elliott, West Des Moines, IA, *71-66-67-74-278 -6
   2. Ashley Chinner, Brooklin, ON, *75-67-72-69-283 -1
   3. Lars Melander, Oakville, ON, *74-67-73-70-284 E
   4. Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, *76-71-72-68-287 +3
   4. Sandy Harper, Nanaimo, BC, *72-69-69-77-287 +3

2019 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION FINAL SCORES

1. Lars Melander, Oakville, ON, *74-67-73-70-284 E
   2. Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, *76-71-72-68-287 +3
   3. Frank Van Dornick, Camrose, AB, *75-69-74-74-292 +8
   4. Doug Roxburgh, Vancouver, BC, *74-75-77-73-299 +15
   5. John Gallacher, Burnaby, BC, *78-77-73-73-301 +17

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

TORONTO – American Gene Elliott edged closer to winning his second Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title on Thursday. The West Des Moines, IA, native fired a 4-under par 67 to sit 9-under (204) at Cedar Brae Golf Club and take a commanding 6-shot lead into tomorrow’s final round.

Elliott, who plays out of Glen Oaks Country Club, has enjoyed great success north of the border. The 57-year old won the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship in 2017 and finished third in 2018.

“Well, there’s still a lot of golf left – 18 holes – and no lead is big enough as far as I’m concerned,” said Elliott following his round. “Cedar Brae is a tough golf course; you’ve got to stay below the hole. If you can putt well, you can do well.”

Elliott is playing better than “well”. He’s one of just two players to sit under par after three rounds. Sandy Harper of Nanaimo, B.C., shot 69 Thursday and sits second at -3 (210).

?? Gene Elliott holds a 6-shot lead heading into the final round of the #CDNSenior.

Full scores: https://t.co/i9xB3XQWoT pic.twitter.com/41fb3MmrnM

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) September 12, 2019

Tom Cameron of Oromocto, N.B.; Ashley Chinner of Brooklin, Ont.; Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA,; and Lars Melander of Oakville all have a share of 3^rd at 1-over par.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship is running concurrently throughout the championship. After 54 holes of play, Melander leads the pack at +1 (214).

“I’ve kept my head down this week and just tried to play as good as I can. Not get too excited or too down,” stated Melander. “That’s why I am where I am. Overall, I’m pretty pleased.”

Melander holds a 4-shot lead over Frank Van Dornick ofCamrose, Alta., who is 5-over (218). Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. is third at 6-over (219).

The final round will begin Friday at 8:30 a.m. EDT.

The individual champion receives an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at The Country Club of Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

2019 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 3 LEADERS

1. Gene Elliott, West Des Moines, IA, *71-66-67-204 -9
   2. Sandy Harper, Nanaimo, BC, *72-69-69-210 -3
   3. Tom Cameron, Oromocto, NB, *70-73-71-214 +1
   3. Ashley Chinner, Brooklin, ON, *75-67-72-214 +1
   3. Doug Hanzel, Savannah, GA, *74-70-70-214 +1
   3. Lars Melander, Oakville, ON, *74-67-73-214 +1

2019 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION ROUND 3 LEADERS

1. Lars Melander, Oakville, ON, *74-67-73-214 +1
   2. Frank Van Dornick, Camrose, AB, *75-69-74-218 +5
   3. Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, *76-71-72-219 +6
   4. Doug Roxburgh, Vancouver, BC, *74-75-77-226 +13
   4. Alan Stewart, Grande Praire, AB, *78-74-74-226 +13

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

TORONTO – Tom Cameron of Oromocto, N.B., carded a 1-under 70 that included five birdies to take sole possession of the lead following the opening-round of the 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Cedar Brae Golf Club.

There was no doubting Cedar Brae proved itself a solid test as Cameron was the lone competitor in the stellar 156-player field to sit under par. The average score on the day was 8-over 79.

Four players share second including three Canadians and an American. Garth Collings of Matlock, Man., Toronto’s Robert Gibson, Ken Griffith of Red Deer, Alta. and Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, IA all carded even par 71s to sit a single shot off the lead.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship is running concurrently throughout the championship, crowning a champion after 72 holes of play. After 18 holes of play, Ken Warwick of Winnipeg led the field after a 1-over par 72.

Warwick, a member of Niakwa Country Club who is President-elect of Golf Manitoba, holds a 2-shot lead over Vancouver’s Doug Roxburgh and Oakville, Ont.’s Lars Melander. Roxburgh – a Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and the reigning Canadian Super Senior Champion – and Melander shot matching 74s Tuesday.
An inter-provincial team competition is also being contested over the tournament’s first two rounds.

Team Alberta combined for a team score of 144 (+2) to share the lead with Team Ontario.

Team Alberta is comprised of Red Deer’s Ken Griffith, Edmonton’s Brian Laubman and Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, while Team Ontario consists of David Greenaway from Barrie, Robert Gibson of Toronto and Ashley Chinner of Brooklin.

The team title will come down to the wire Wednesday afternoon as Team British Columbia and Team Quebec are just two-shots back of the leaders at 146 (+4).

Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties.

The individual champion receives an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at The Country Club of Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

2019 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 LEADERS

1. Tom Cameron, Oromocto, NB, *37-33-70 -1
   2. Garth Collings, Matlock, MB, *35-36-71 E
   2. Gene Elliott, West Des Moines, IA, *35-36-71 E
   2. Robert Gibson, Toronto, ON, *35-36-71 E
   2. Ken Griffith, Red Deer, AB, *35-36-71 E

2019 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION ROUND 1 LEADERS

1. Ken Warwick, Winnipeg, MB, *36-36-72 +1
   2. Lars Melander, Oakville, ON, *35-39-74 +3
   2. Doug Roxburgh, Vancouver, BC, *36-38-74 +3
   4. Frank Van Dornick, Camrose, AB, *35-40-75 +4
   5. Lance Lundy, Pemberton, BC, *40-36-76 +5
   5. Bruce McEwen, Scarborough, ON, *37-39-76 +5
   5. Michel Roy, Québec, QC, *37-39-76 +5
   5. Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, *35-41-76 +5

INTER-PROVINCIAL FIRST ROUND LEADERS

1. Team Alberta – Ken Griffith (Red Deer), Brian Laubman (Edmonton), Frank Van Dornick (Camrose) * 70-74-144 +2
   1. Team Ontario – David Greenaway (Barrie), Robert Gibson (Toronto), Ashley Chinner (Brooklin) * 71-73-144 +2
   3. Team British Columbia – Doug Roxburgh (Vancouver), Jim Shaw (Sooke), Sandy Harper (Nanaimo) *71-75-146 +4
   3. Team Quebec – Jean-Guy Garnier (Lévis), Peter Harrison (Ottawa), Serge Amyot (St. Constant) *73-73-146 +4
   5. Team Manitoba – Mike Walker (Winnipeg), Bruce North (Carman), Garth Collings (Matlock) *73-76-149 +7

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

– Winner receives exemption into USGA’s 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship –

– Eight past champions and three Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Honoured Members in the field –

TORONTO – The 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, conducted by Golf Canada, will be contested at Cedar Brae Golf Club from September 10-13, marking the 58^th playing of the national championship.

A full field of 156 competitors aged 55-and-over will take to Cedar Brae in hopes of joining the championship’s stellar list of notable winners. Returning to defend his Canadian Men’s Senior title is Brady Exber of Las Vegas, who cruised to a 7-stroke victory in 2018 with a score of 10-under par (278).

Also looking to hoist the John Rankin Memorial Trophy at Cedar Brae are seven additional past champions, including Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured members Gary Cowan of Kitchener, Ont., Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que. and Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver. Other past champions in the field include Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C.; David Schultz of Calgary; Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga; Michael Mercier of Juno Beach, Fla.; and Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ill.

“We have exceptionally talented and accomplished golfers who are ready to take on a stellar golf course in Cedar Brae,” said Tournament Director Akash Patel. “Our hosts at Cedar Brae Golf Club have pulled together a great team of volunteers and the course is sure to provide North America’s best senior golfers with a solid test of their skills. The 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will undoubtedly be an exciting competition.”

Practice rounds take place Monday, September 9. Championship play will be conducted Tuesday, September 10 through Friday, September 13, with 18 holes of stroke play each day. Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties. The champion receives an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur championship to be contested at The Country Club of Detroit, in Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship will run concurrently throughout the championship, crowning a champion after 72 holes of play. In 2018, Doug Roxburgh claimed a two-shot victory in the division over Quebec City’s Michel Roy.

An inter-provincial team competition for the Phil Farley Memorial Trophy will also be contested over the tournament’s first two rounds. In 2018, Team British Columbia captured the inter-provincial team championship with a score of 9 over par. Team Alberta and Team Quebec finished a single shot back to tie for second.

Originally opened in 1922, Cedar Brae has proven itself a revered destination for golfers seeking one of the best golf course experiences in Toronto. The club has evolved from its early beginnings, moving locations and changing its name before spreading its roots at its current location. The course was designed by Mr. C.E. (Robbie) Robinson.

Visiting golfers regularly praise Cedar Brae’s layout, course conditioning and large fast greens that require a deft putting touch.

“Cedar Brae is proud and excited to host the 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior Golf Championship,” said Cedar Brae’s General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Martin Piché. “Our staff and member-based volunteer team have been working hard to prepare for the event. We know the players will enjoy the amenities and pure golf experience Cedar Brae has to offer.”

Additional information, including a full list of competitors, can be found here.

NOTABLE COMPETITORS

Gary Cowan of Kitchener, Ont.
Cowan, 80, was named the Canadian Male Golfer of the 20th Century in 2000 by Golf Canada – then known as the Royal Canadian Golf Association. A former Canadian Junior Boy’s (1956) and Canadian Amateur (1961) Champion, Cowan went on to win the United States Amateur Championship on two occasions (1966 and 1971). He turned professional at age 52 and played on the PGA TOUR Champions where he earned three top-10 finishes. Cowan’s amateur status was reinstated in October, 2018.

Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ill.
The 57-year-old won five titles in 2018. In addition, he finished 3^rd at last year’s Canadian Men’s Senior.

Brady Exber of Las Vegas, Nev.
The 63-year-old is back north of the border to defend his Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title. Exber, a member of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, was a quarterfinalist at the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur.

Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que.
The 72-year-old is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and has won the event four times (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009). Cooke holds the record number of wins at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship with seven.

Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga.
The 62-year-old won the event in 2015 and finished 4^th last year. In 2018, he won both the National Senior Amateur Hall of Fame and the Georgia Senior Match Play Championships.

Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver B.C.
The 2014 winner of the event is a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and was the Super Senior Champion in last year’s tournament. The 67-year-old won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship four times (1972, 1974, 1982 and 1988). He also has the record for most wins at the B.C. Men’s Amateur Championship with 13.

FAST FACTS
Conducted since 1962.

Golfers must be 55 and over to be eligible.

In 1995, the 70 and over Canadian Super Senior division was added and is contested through the first two rounds.

The 2018 playing marked the first time this competition was contested over 72 holes.

The inter-provincial competition, which began in 1977, occurs concurrently over the first two rounds.

The champion is awarded the John Rankin Memorial Trophy.

The winner of the Super Senior division is awarded the Governor’s Cup.

Calgary’s Bob Wylie has won the event seven times since 1985.

Nick Weslock won the event six times between 1973 and 1983.

Paul Simson became the first person to win the British, U.S. and Canadian senior titles in the same year in 2010.

The winner receives an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship.

ABOUT THE COURSE
Located in the scenic Rouge Valley in the north east part of Toronto, Cedar Brae boasts a challenging and award winning 18-hole course designed by renowned golf course architect and Stanley Thompson disciple, CE (Robbie) Robinson.

Cedar Brae’s layout boasts mature trees and natural tranquility bordered to the east by Rouge National Urban Park – Canada’s only Urban National Park.

The club hosted the 1976 CP Women’s Open, then known as the Peter Jackson Classic, as well as other provincial championships and qualifiers.

Cedar Brae, par 71, will be set up to play 6,463 yards. Par 3s will average 192 yards, par 4s will average 380 yards and the par 5s will average 520 yards.

AURORA, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Defending champion Brooke Henderson shot a 3-under-par 69 Friday and heads into the weekend tied for third at the CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club.

Henderson, who is looking for her third LPGA Tour win of 2019, trails Nicole Broch Larsen by just three shots, who leads at 12-under through two rounds.

Larsen has a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Jin Young Ko. Ko already has three victories this season and has a sizable lead in the Rolex Player of the Year race.

Henderson made two birdies on her first nine holes Friday and added another on the back-nine. She didn’t have as clean a day off the tee as Thursday when she shot a 6-under 66 – hitting only eight of 14 fairways.

Winds at Magna Golf Club picked up Friday, but Henderson escaped unscathed with a bogey-free second-round.

“No bogeys is always great, so that’s a good feeling,” said Henderson. “I feel like I played pretty solid. Unfortunately, I didn’t get some of those closer looks for birdie. But, I still feel like I hit a lot of greens and my putting was good enough.”

At 9-under through two rounds, Henderson is tied with China’s Yu Liu and Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn.

On Red & White Day at the CP Women’s Open Henderson – clad in both colours, of course – had a throng of loyal Canadian followers hanging on to her every move at Magna Golf Club. She said the crowd support has been ‘amazing’ so far.

“So many people (here) early in the morning and late at night,” Henderson added. “It’s been awesome. It’s pretty special to have all these people out there following you around and cheering you on. Sometimes you just see a little kid smiling at you and wanting a high-five, and it takes you on out of the moment for a second. I feel like that’s good. Kind of brings you back to real life I guess you could say. They just have so much belief in you and I think that kind of inspires me a little bit.”

Henderson was one of two Canadians to make the cut, as AC Tanguay finished at 4-under and is T-25 heading into the weekend. After a tough stretch to open her round Friday – she went bogey-double-double on holes 4 thru 6 – Tanguay managed to right the ship.

“I didn’t feel like I did anything wrong. It just went wrong. It went south real quick,” she admitted. “But I knew I was hitting it well and really in a good place. I built so much momentum on the back nine and felt so much better over the ball today than yesterday, so I think I’m going to build on that for the weekend.”

Broch Larsen, meanwhile, said she played similarly to Thursday – where she shot another 66.

“I’m not flushing it, but I’m just playing kind of steady and getting away with my bad shots,” she said. “Today I made a couple good putts out there, which helps.”

Broch Larsen, of Denmark, was the 2015 Ladies European Tour Player of the Year. She hasn’t yet won on the LPGA Tour, but did win the 2016 Symetra Tour Championship to earn her LPGA Tour card for 2017.

The last time Larsen held the lead on the LPGA Tour was two years ago at the CP Women’s Open in Ottawa. She said she learned a lot from being in that position then.

“I feel like I’m more confident in this position now than I was two years ago even though I haven’t been here for a while,” she explained. “I’m just trying to play as free as possible.”

Broch Larsen admitted she had a “terrible” warm-up on the driving range Friday, overthinking everything. She said was having trouble finding the right swing, but she wanted to go out and commit to her shots and see where it took her.

Where it took her, through two rounds at the CP Women’s Open, was the top of the leaderboard.

The cut fell at 1-under with 71 players finding the weekend.

12-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE LIU WRAPS UP CP WOMEN’S OPEN DEBUT

Although it wasn’t the LPGA Tour debut Michelle Liu would have wanted score-wise, the experience for the 12-year-old couldn’t have been better.

Liu (81-82) said she had ‘a lot of fun’ being able to tee it up alongside the best in the world. She was grouped with 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner Jennifer Kupcho, a tournament Liu said she’d like to try to win one day.

“I think it’s great that I get to play with such great players,” said Liu. “Hopefully, I learn something from them.”

No amateurs, including Liu, made the cut at the CP Women’s Open. American Brianna Navarrosa – the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion – had the best finish out of the  six amateurs in the field at 3-over par in her first-ever LPGA Tour event.

Liu said the highlight of the week was her walk up the 18th fairway to a chorus of cheers from the legion of fans she made at Magna Golf Club. The biggest challenge, she said, was with her mental game.

“I’m really glad that I’m able to like experience this challenge as an amateur and at such a young age,” Liu said. “I think being able to get this over with and make it an experience – it’ll really help me moving forward and in other tournaments, because now I it’s going to be pretty hard to play in a tournament larger than this one.”

The 2020 CP Women’s Open will be played at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club, Liu’s home course in Vancouver. She said she’s already got that event circled on her calendar.

But first Liu, who goes into grade eight this September, will be playing a few local tournaments and then she’ll be off on a camping trip before school starts.  And what a good campfire story this week will make.