TORONTO – Dunning Golf, which is currently experiencing double-digit growth in the United States, looks
to continue the successful momentum and increase sales across Canadian markets.

“We have spent the last few months communicating with our customer base across Canada and there is tremendous interest in the Dunning Golf Spring 2016 Collection,” says Jonathan Wong, President of Toronto-based JW Apparel Inc.

Wong signed on as the Canadian distributor for Dunning Golf in August and is looking forward to launching the 2016 Spring, Summer and Fall lines in the coming weeks.

“Dunning’s distribution and focus will be exclusively into prestigious green grass accounts for 2016 and with the strong brand awareness that Canadian PGA Tour star David Hearn brings to Dunning Golf, I think we’re in for a fantastic year right across the country. Not only will people see tour players like David Hearn wearing Dunning Golf, but you are going to see a lot more Canadians wearing it,” says Jonathan Wong.

Hearn, who wrapped up his FedEx Cup run at the BMW Championship, has been a Dunning Ambassador since 2014, and continues to move up in the golf rankings.

“I decided to partner with Dunning Golf two years ago because of the quality performance fabrics the brand uses in its line, so that athletes like myself can perform comfortably to our highest ability,” said Hearn. “The classic, clean and sophisticated look fit my personality, so I’m excited to see what the 2016 line will bring, and also to wear it on the course.”

Other members of the Dunning Golf Tour Team include; Brendan Steele, Nicolas Colsaerts, Charles Howell III, Roberto Castro, Jim Furyk, Russell Knox, Sam Saunders, Fred Funk and Kevin Foley.

The classic and understated design of the Spring 2016 collection paired with the impeccable fabric quality will strongly resonate with Canadian consumers.

“Jonathan and his veteran sales team are established and respected premium golf distributors in Canada and we believe they’re the right match for Dunning Golf as we move forward,” says Ralph Dunning. “Working together we will continue to grow Dunning Golf’s presence throughout Canada with the upcoming Summer/Fall 2016 lineup
while providing a high level of service to our sales partners.”

Dunning Golf is available at prestigious green grass pro shops and select specialty stores worldwide and on www.dunninggolf.com.

JACKSON, Miss. – John Daly collapsed near the end of a round of golf Saturday and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The 49-year-old Daly was playing in a small event at Deerfield Golf Club in Jackson’s northern suburbs.

Daly’s friend, Billy Allen, who was with Daly at the hospital, said the two-time major champion’s vital signs were good but doctors were checking on possible injuries to his ribs and fingers.

Deerfield club pro Leigh Brannan, who was at the tournament, said Daly was having trouble with the heat and had some difficulty breathing before being taken to the hospital. Temperatures were near 90 degrees in the Jackson area.

“He was struggling pretty badly right before he collapsed,” Brannan said. “But we’re all hoping it’s nothing serious and that he was just a little dehydrated. He was even telling (Allen) he still wants to play (Sunday).”

Daly’s hard-living ways have been well documented during a colorful career on the PGA Tour. He most recently made headlines after throwing his 6-iron into Lake Michigan during the PGA Championship after hitting three balls into the water.

Coquitlam, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Lydia Ko calmly tapped in a two foot par putt on the first playoff hole at The Vancouver Golf Club to defeat Stacy Lewis and take home her third Canadian Pacific Women’s Open title in the last four years.

“It feels amazing,” Ko said. “It’s great to come back to Vancouver and play well in front of such big crowds. I had an amazing week. I didn’t know that in 2012, I might be coming back here in a couple years, and then win here again. So many great memories here and hopefully we’ll be able to come back here.”

The victory is the eighth of Ko’s young career and the three wins in Canada ties her with Meg Mallon and Pat Bradley for the most in tournament history.

“It would have been great if I was coming down the 18th with like a four-shot lead like I did in 2012,” Ko said with a smile. “But it is what it is. Stacy played amazing today; to shoot 67 under those conditions.”

Lewis forced the playoff with a 5-under final round to tie Ko, who shot an even par 72 on Sunday, and send the duo back to the 18th for extra holes.

On the playoff hole, Lewis found trouble off the tee and with her approach and was forced to scramble for a missed par attempt, while Ko calmly hit the fairway and green and then two-putted for her third victory of 2015.

“I said, hey, you’ve just got to concentrate on your game, just one shot a time, and that’s what I tried to do,” Ko explained. “I said, I don’t want to get too aggressive to that pin but maybe it was a little bit too safe and maybe wasn’t the best shot going in. I made a really good first putt on my normal 72nd hole, and made a good putt on the first playoff hole. If the put was any longer for my second one, I would have been really nervous.”

“Well, if you would have told me at the beginning of the day, I was going to be in a playoff, I would have been pretty happy,” Lewis admitted. “Just with the way my game has been over the last month or so, I felt I was close to putting together a good round, and that’s what I did today. Still left a few out there. But would have liked a better lie in the rough in the playoff, but other than that, it was pretty good.”

While Ko has taken home the trophy three times, 2015 will mark the first time that Ko is able to take home a winner’s cheque in Canada as her victories in 2012 and 2013 came when she was still an amateur.

“You know, really the cheque is the last thing I’m thinking about,” Ko said. “It’s great to be back in the winner’s circle, and to play good golf in front of great crowds was really one of the highlights of this week. I kind of feel like somewhat Canadian. But the CP Women’s Open is such a great event, with the top players playing here, so, you know, every year, I have fun.“

Brooke Henderson capped a special homecoming at The Vancouver Golf Club with her best round of the week, a 5-under 67 to finish with a tournament-total 4-under and the Sandra Post Low Canadian Medal. The 17-year-old came into Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship fresh off a victory last week at the LPGA Cambia Classic in Portland, a historic accomplishment that put her centre-stage all week long with fan and media expectations.

“I’ve received quite a bit of attention in my amateur days and then earlier this year playing well. But after a win and coming back to Canada, I have received a lot of attention that made my schedule extremely busy,” said Henderson who finished T23 to add $22,816 to her 2015 earnings. “But it’s a great problem to have, as I’ve been saying to a lot of people. I learned a lot about myself and how I can handle it, and I think it will be good for the next time.”

Rounding out the Canadian trio to make the cut was Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. who carded a final-round 75 to finish T47 and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., whose final-round 80 dropped her into a share of 74th position.

COQUITLAM, BC – Lydia Ko beat one of the strongest fields on the LPGA tour this year to win the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open title, but it is British Columbia’s kids that will leave with the biggest prize as CP is donating $1.2 million to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation (BCCHF) in support of pediatric cardiac research.

“We are proud to have brought professional golf to the Lower Mainland and we are even prouder to make one of the largest charitable donations on the LPGA tour to this important cause,” said CP President and Chief Operating Officer Keith Creel. “The leading edge cardiology research being conducted at BC Children’s Hospital has the potential to change and even save the lives of children living in BC, and the newly established CP Healthy Hearts Research Fund will ensure these benefits continue long after the end of our tournament.”

The CP Healthy Hearts Research Fund will expand the abilities of BC Children’s cardiology department, specifically by way of research. PhD trained researchers will be hired to lead new studies related to Heart Rhythm Disorders and Congenital Heart and Vascular Health. A predominant focus of the research will also connect the effects of exercise on those with congenital heart disease.

“Congenital heart disease affects one in every 100 children; it’s among the most common congenital anomalies,” said Dr. Shubhayan Sanatani, head of Cardiology at BC Children’s Hospital. “As the centre for specialized pediatric cardiology care in British Columbia, BC Children’s Hospital treats infants, children and teens with complex heart problems from all over BC, the Yukon and other Western Canadian provinces. This tremendous support from CP will allow us to continue to provide excellent care to this important population. It will also allow us to improve our care by expanding our research efforts to find even better treatments for these children.”

The final donation total was a result of a number of fundraising initiatives leading up to the conclusion of the golf tournament, including BC Children’s Hospital Miracle Weekend, Grind for Kids and online donation matching.

“Through this tournament and its CP Has Heart initiative, Canadian Pacific has engaged the community to support our hospital’s cardiac programs and research,” said Teri Nicholas, President and CEO of BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. “It’s an ideal partnership: CP takes care of the country’s major arteries while our cardiac specialists take care of the smallest. We are extremely grateful to CP, Golf Canada, The Vancouver Golf Club and all who contributed to help BC Children’s achieve its vision to provide the best care possible.”

BC Children’s Hospital serves close to one million children living in BC and the Yukon, with the Heart Centre seeing thousands of patients a year. Patients like 17-year-old Samantha Armstrong, the CP Has Heart ambassador for the 2015 CP Women’s Open. On the day she was born, Armstrong was diagnosed with a rare congenital heart defect. At age nine she had open-heart surgery at BC Children’s Hospital.

“When I was born I had a congenital heart defect called Ebstein’s Anomaly and I’ve been in treatment with BC Children’s Hospital my whole life. The doctors have counselled me to be stronger and work on my cardio, and this has allowed me to live my life as a normal kid, and not have my heart condition hold me back from anything,” said Armstrong. “CP Has Heart is a really great cause that means so much to me, my family and my friends with heart defects. BC Children’s means our lives, to us.”

CP has extended its commitment as the title sponsor of Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship through 2018 and will continue to give back to host communities throughout the lifetime of the sponsorship. The 2016 CP Women’s Open, to be held in Calgary at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, will benefit Alberta Children’s Hospital’s pediatric cardiac care and research.

“People continue to rally around the CP Has Heart cause and we are delighted with all the fundraising success CP had through this event,” said Scott Simmons, CEO of Golf Canada. “We look forward to working with CP over the next few years as they continue to leave legacies in the host cities of this world-class event.”

BROMONT, Qué. – Team Canada Development Squad members Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué., and Grace St-Germain of Ottawa each took home titles on Sunday at the Graham Cooke Junior Invitational hosted at Golf Château-Bromont.

Papineau, 18, notched his third victory in his home province this season after shooting 9-under par (68-67) for the one-stroke win over Félix Normand of Mont-St-Hilaire, Qué. in the boys division.

With the win, the West Virginia University commit marked the end of his junior career in great fashion—adding to an impressive season highlighted by wins at the Québec Amateur Championship and the Alexander of Tunis. The two-time provincial junior champion finished in a tie for third in last year’s Graham Cooke Invitational.

In the girls division, 17-year-old Grace St-Germain repeated as champion for the second consecutive year to win the title for a third time. St-Germain posted an even-par score (70-74) for the tournament, fending off a charge from Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame Ile Perrot, Qué., to defend her title with a one-stroke victory.

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Coquitlam, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Lydia Ko and Candie Kung share the 54-hole lead heading into the final round of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

“Overall I played really solid today, so I’m happy with the way I’m hitting it and the way I’m putting it,” Ko said. “I think every round, unless I shoot 18-under par, I’m probably going to say, hey, I knew it could have been better. But no, I’m playing solid, and that’s the mind-set I’ve got to have and just have fun out there tomorrow.”

Ko recorded four birdies against a lone bogey on 18 to shoot a 69. Kung’s play was more up-and-down with four birdies and three bogeys.

“Feeling pretty good today,” Kung said. “I hit the ball good and it was actually one of the best ball-striking days I had all week. Just missed a couple putts here and there. Those were all wrong reads. But I’m hitting it good, putting it good.”

Ko will be looking to become just the third golfer to win three Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship titles, joining Meg Mallon and Pat Bradley.

Kung, a four-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is coming off of her best finish of the year with a tie for second at the Cambia Portland Classic last week and will be looking for her first victory since the 2008 Hana Bank-KOLON Championship.

“I’m actually very relaxed,” Kung admitted. “After what I went through last week, I’m actually feeling quite comfortable where I’m at right now.”

Chasing Ko and Kung in the penultimate group will be Alison Lee, who shot a third-round 65 to sit two shots back and Karine Icher who is three back at 9-under.

Alena Sharp remains the top Canadian after a 1-under 71 has her tied for 28^th at 2-under for the championship. The Hamilton native will look to go even lower Sunday.

“I want to go out and have a good Sunday here,” Sharp said. “I didn’t look at the scoreboard out there, but a 67 or 68 tomorrow would be nice.”

Brooke Henderson recovered from a rough start to shoot an even-par round of 72. The 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., missed a short birdie putt on her opening-hole, had a bogey on the second hole, and then hit the water on No. 3 for a double-bogey.

Henderson, who had sister Brittany as her caddie Saturday, settled down with birdies on No. 6 and No. 7. and then put together a string of pars before ending the day with a birdie to get her round back to even-par.

The final-round gets underway Sunday at 8:40 am PT with the final pairing teeing-off at 2:50pm PT. Tickets are still available at the gate and kids 17 and under are free.

COQUITLAM, B.C. – Just when it looked like her game was going off the rails, Brooke Henderson recovered to shoot an even par round of 72 Saturday at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

The 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., who became the centre of attention after her LPGA Tour win last weekend, remains at 1 over heading into Sunday’s final day of the US$2.25-million tournament.

Henderson had a bogey on the second hole, then hit the water on No. 3 for a double-bogey. She settled down with birdies on No. 6 and No. 7. Despite some putting problems. she put together a sting of pars before ending the day with a birdie.

“It was a really rough start,” Henderson sighed after the round. “I am happy to finish with the birdie on 18.

“You feel good about the round even though maybe I shouldn’t be.”

After shooting a respectable 2 under on Thursday’s opening day, Henderson ballooned to a 3-over-75 Friday on the 6,681-yard, par-72 Vancouver Golf Club course. That left her at 1 over and just on the line that made the cut.

Having her older sister Brittany caddie Saturday helped iron out some of the wrinkles in her round.

“She knows me probably better than I know myself sometimes,” said Henderson. “Someone that tells me what to do when I’m not playing well, and tells me what to do when I am keeping it on a roll, that’s really important.”

Henderson and her playing partner Sadena Parks, of Raleigh, N.C., were the first pair to tee off at 8:30 a.m. They still attracted a large gallery, most hoping to see the young, rising star in Canadian golf.

“It was a very early tee time, much earlier than I would have liked,” joked Henderson. “They (the crowd) were there pretty much from the get go, an amazing crowd.

“It makes it exciting being able to play in front of your home crowd. Even though you are not playing your best, you still have the whole country behind you.”

Henderson has been in the spotlight all week. She was granted her Tour card on Tuesday after becoming the youngest Canadian to win an LPGA or PGA event with her victory last weekend at the Cambia Portland Classic.

That produced extra attention from the media and more focus from fans. She attracted large crowds while playing and swarms of autograph seekers when stepping off the course.

The win in Portland moved Henderson to No. 17 in the world rankings and boosted her earnings over US$660,000.

Despite struggling at times Henderson said the week has been a learning experience and she’s looking forward to Sunday’s final round.

“There has been a lot of positives this week, which is always good,” she said. “I know I can take a lot from it and learn from it.

“I will just go out there and shoot a decent number and hopefully climb up the leaderboard a bit.”

Coquitlam, B.C. (Golf Canada) – Candie Kung shot a bogey-free 64 to jump into the 36-hole lead at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

“I’ve been working pretty hard lately,” Kung admitted. “I guess it was a slump that I had back in 2010, 2011, I just got caught up in life a little bit. Now I feel like I can get back into it again, play some golf, have some fun.”

Kung started her day in style with birdies on Nos. 10 and 11, her first two holes of the day, and then added a tap-in eagle at the par-5 13th to take her score to 7-under for the tournament. Eight pars followed before Kung closed strong with birdies on four of her last six holes to post the low round of the tournament which also tied the course record.

“I just went out there, played one shot at a time, and I knew that I was putting pretty good,” Kung said. “I missed a few out there from about 10 feet. I was hitting them pretty close all day and then made some key putts coming in.”

The four-time LPGA Tour winner is coming off of her best finish of the year with a tie for second at the Cambia Portland Classic last week.

“I’ve been playing well,” Kung said of her recent strong play. “Just the putter has to go and so far, it’s been going pretty good the last six tournament days.”

Chasing Kung will be first round leader Karine Icher and 2012 and 2013 champion Lydia Ko, who each sit two shots back at 9-under par.

“I really don’t care who is behind me,” Kung said confidently. “I’m just going to go out there, play my one shot at a time. I’m hitting it good, I’m putting it good, and let’s see what happens.”

Seventy-six players made the cut at 1-over par 145. Notables to miss the cut included – Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie and Karrie Webb.

Alena Sharp heads into weekend action as the low Canadian after shooting even-par 72 to grab a share of 32^nd. Sharp came to The Vancouver Club riding momentum from a top-10 finish last week in Portland. The Hamilton native, who made her first cut at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship since 2009, fed off support from the Canadian crowd and looks forward to making a charge on the weekend.

“If you look around, there’s so many people here. The crowds are amazing and it’s always like that at the Canadian Open and everybody is always cheering for you. It’s that little extra pressure you put in your mind because you want to play well for the hometown crowd,” said Sharp. “I feel great. I haven’t made the cut at the Canadian Open I think since 2009, so it’s been a long time. I played well the last two days. Left some shots out there, but I have lots to look forward to on the weekend.”

Teenage sensation Brooke Henderson began the day with a share of 13th position at 2-under but stumbled Friday to a 3-over 75 to make the cut at plus-1 on the number. The Smith Falls, Ont., native acknowledged the extra expectation to perform in front of the home crowd and the need to channel that energy.

“It’s pretty cool that so many people are watching and wanting me to do so well. And I think it is a much different atmosphere than if I was playing across the border. Same conditions just different crowd,” said Henderson. “You know, it’s fun, though, and I have to really learn to enjoy it and just build off their energy, because it is pretty cool that they are cheering for me.”

Rounding out the Canadian contingent advancing to weekend play was Maude-Aimee LeBlanc. The Sherbrooke, Que., native shot a 1-under 71 Friday and sits tied with Henderson at 1-over for the championship.

Third-round action gets underway Saturday at 8:30 am PT with the final pairing teeing-off at 2:40pm PT. Tickets are still available at the gate and kids 17 and under are free.

COQUITLAM, B.C. – Brooke Henderson struggled with her putting and shot 3-over 75 during Friday’s second round at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

The score left the 17-year-old at 1 over, hovering around the projected cut on the 6,681-yard, par-72 Vancouver Golf Club course.

“It wasn’t a great day out there but I ground it out pretty well,” said the Smiths Falls, Ont., native.

“I just missed some shots. Other than that it could have been good. I hung in there and really played well on the back nine.”

Henderson, who began the day on the 10th tee, had five bogeys, including back-to-back ones on No. 18 and No. 1. After finishing the No. 1 hole she walked off the green before the other two players in her group had finished.

Henderson battled back with a pair of birdies on the front nine. On the last hole of the day she had to chip onto the green, then sink a four-foot putt for par.

“It was a tricky up-and-down,” she said. “I played really smart with that chip and was happy to make that putt.”

It’s been a busy week for the teenager, who was granted her Tour card on Tuesday after becoming the youngest Canadian to win an LPGA or PGA Tour event with her victory last weekend at the Cambia Portland Classic.

Henderson has been dealing with extra media attention, playing before large galleries. When not facing a television camera she’s been surrounded by autograph seekers of all ages.

“It’s been busy,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of attention and a lot of things that I’ve had to do over the last couple of days.

“That is not an excuse for how I played today. Hopefully I will get used to all that attention because hopefully I will be winning more often.”

Henderson fed off the energy of a Canadian crowd that cheered her every shot.

“It’s pretty cool that so many people are watching and wanting me to do so well,” she said. “I think it is a much different atmosphere than if I was playing across the border. It’s the same conditions, just a different crowd.

“It’s fun. I have to really learn to enjoy it and just build off their energy. It is pretty cool that they are cheering for me.”

The win in Portland moved Henderson to No. 17 in the world rankings and boosted her earnings over US$660,000.

The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open has a purse of US$2.25-million, with the winner taking home US$337,500.

The tournament ends Sunday.

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – Canada’s Austin James came up just short on Friday in his bid to reach the semi-finals of the U.S. Amateur at the Olympia Fields Country Club.

The Charleston Southern junior held a 2-up lead at the turn, but could not hang on to the lead after bogeying three holes on the back nine to lose by 2 against No. 22 seed Sean Crocker of Westlake Village, Calif.

James, a Bath, Ont., native, was vying to become the second consecutive Canadian to reach the finals of the U.S. Amateur—Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., achieved that feat in 2014.

The championship semi-final will run on Saturday, followed by a 36-hole final on Sunday.

Olympia Fields Country Club, a two-time U.S. Open venue, will host its first U.S. Amateur with stroke-play being conducted on the 7,037-yard South Course and match-play on the 7,234-yard North Course.

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