The Canadian golf community lost two brothers earlier this month with the passing of former Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA – now operating as Golf Canada) presidents R. Bruce Bailey and Thomas P. Wood. Golf Canada, Alberta Golf and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame are deeply saddened by the loss of these two influential leaders and passionate proponents of the sport.

R. Bruce Bailey, born August 8, 1922, passed away on March 11, 2015. The patriarch of the Bailey family had lived 93 full years as a professional geologist, devoted husband, dedicated family man and spirited golfer.

While Bruce’s education afforded him a career in his chosen path and the means by which to pursue his dreams, it was his dedication to golf that afforded him a lifelong passion – one which would see him become president of the RCGA in 1978.

The long-time member of the Calgary Golf and Country Club is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Shirley (nee Atkinson); their three children Colleen, Robert and Kim; as well as, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Bruce was predeceased by daughter Lyndsay Jean in 1984.

By his family’s request, there will be no funeral service. Cremation has taken place and a gathering in Bruce’s memory is planned for later in the year. Messages of remembrance are welcome and may be left for the family at www.southcalgaryfuneralcentre.ca.

Four days following the passing of Bailey, Canadian golf would lose another cherished member in 1987 president Thomas P. Wood. Born on June 13, 1927, Thomas led a dedicated life of service in sports, government and the private sector. It is perhaps the confluence of these roles that led him to one of his proudest achievements, when he and a group of likeminded individuals conceived of, and successfully lobbied for, the creation of the picturesque Kananaskis Country Golf Course.

The founding member of the Derrick Golf and Winter Club leaves behind wife Verlie and their three children: Lindsay Redpath (Bryan), Meredith Adams (Garry Scheuerman) and Michael Wood, as well as, two step-sons, Bill Piers (Susanne) and Michael Piers (Julie). The beloved family man will be remembered fondly by his six grandchildren.

At Thomas’s request, there will be no service. His ashes will be spread at a later date in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Thomas’s name to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the Children’s Hospital Aid Society. Condolences may be forwarded to the family via www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Thomas Wood, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.

The commitment and service that R. Bruce Bailey and Thomas P. Wood demonstrated to golf in Canada exemplifies the best of what sport is capable of developing in any individual. Leadership. Passion. Dedication. Perseverance. These are the characteristics by which these men led their lives and guided their sport’s national governing body; in their passing, these are the characteristics for which they will be remembered, cherished and honoured.

MURRELLS INLET, SOUTH CAROLINA – It was almost like déjà vu from 2014 as soggy conditions greeted the players at Wachesaw Plantation Club on the final day of the Can-Am Junior Team Matches.  The American team, consisting of juniors from the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, earned 147 of 288 possible points to defeat the Canadian squad, from the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), 225 to 207 to earn the 2015 title of Can-Am Champions.

The competition got underway on March 21 with best-ball team matches. While the event was played in a match-play format, the scoring was slightly different than a traditional match-play. Each match played the full 18-holes and a point was awarded for each hole with tied holes counting for half a point.

After the first day, the American team held a 12-point margin over the Canadian juniors 78 to 66. Ontario’s lone win came from Grace St-Germain and Monet Chun who took their match 11.5-6.5. Brendan Seys and Kelvin Lim managed a 9-9 split in their match, as did the team of Madeline Marck-Sherk and Alyssa Getty.

The young men led off the Can-Am singles matches, during the final round on March 22, with Ontario posting one win, by Jake Bryson, and one halved match by Trevor Ranton. However, the American team captured the other six boys’ singles matches.  After the eight boys matches had concluded, the Americans extended their first day lead by an additional 20 points and were seemingly all but out of reach.

However, the lady Canadians came out firing with Grace St-Germain defeating Savanah Goodman by a 13.5 to 4.5 margin and Alyssa Getty handing a loss to Jodee Tindal 12.5 to 5.5, cutting the two-day lead in half after just two matches. The rest of the afternoon remained tight with Ontario’s girls winning two matches and the South Carolina team earning three.  Chloe Currie was a winner in her match, 10-8 over Victoria Huskey, and Isabella Portokalis defeated Morgan Cox 10.5 to 7.5. In the end, the South Carolina team held on for the 225-207 win.

It was a challenging final day on the course as wet conditions impacted the players and the course.  At the conclusion of play, it was a great weekend of golf for both GAO and South Carolina Junior Golf Association players.  It was also the closest that the Can Am Matches have been since 2010, when the Golf Association of Ontario youngsters last hoisted the Joseph T. Simons Can-Am Trophy.

“The highlight of the event was the impressive performance by the girls in the singles matches: the dominant wins by St-Germain and Getty along with the solid wins by Currie and Portokalis,” said Mary Ann Hayward, Manager of Sport Performance. “Although Bryson was the only boy to post a win in the boys’ singles matches, many of the boys played extremely well. All of the team members fought hard for every point gained on the last day and we are extremely proud of everyone for their performance in the matches.”

Team Ontario took advantage of the trip to include a training camp leading up to the matches. Thanks to the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, the Ontario team had the opportunity to train and play at three other courses in the area: True Blue Plantation, The Reserve Golf Club and the Debordieu Club.

“The week of the Can-Am Matches are always an important one for the team as we transition from our preparation phase into competition,” added Reggie Millage, Head Provincial Coach. “The team trained hard during the week leading up to the matches and we had some really positive results heading into the event. Overall, the team played well and we had some outstanding performances that got us as close to the trophy as we have been in years. The real benefit of the week though is how it will help our athletes get a jumpstart on our competitive season. If this week is any indication we should see some great results from our Ontario athletes in 2015.”

It should be noted that the matches are less about the competition and more about building relationships and celebrating the growth of junior golf in both Ontario and South Carolina.  The Wachesaw Plantation Club members and staff make this a truly unique event.  The 2015 Can-Am Matches were a success in terms of showcasing the game of golf and the relationships that have been built between the two countries, as well as the membership of Wachesaw Plantation Club. The Canadian team was hosted by the Wachesaw membership in a Member-Am event on March 18 consisting of a shotgun scramble team event followed by a luncheon.

SAN ANTONIO – Jordan Spieth has a couple of home games before the Masters.

“I enjoy being able to drive my own car to these tournaments,” said Spieth, the 21-year Texan who lives in suburban Dallas. “I get to see a lot of friends and family who I don’t get to see a lot of the year. And then, at the same time, get ready for the Masters on a challenging track.”

He will open play Thursday in the Texas Open and also is playing next week in the Houston Open.

“As a native Texan, I always like playing the Texas events,” Spieth said. “This event, in particular, gave me an exemption when I was in college. … So, it’s a tournament that has helped launch my career and one that is close to my heart. I like being back here.”

Spieth is coming off a playoff victory two weeks ago at Innisbrook. He tied for second behind Bubba Watson last year in the Masters and won the Australian Open and Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in consecutive weeks late last year.

At Innisbrook, Spieth beat Patrick Reed and Sean O’Hair with a 30-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole.

“I really felt like it was coming,” said Spieth, a career-best sixth in the world ranking. “Just patient enough to pull it off. Nice to close it out on a made putt.”

Spieth was 10th last year at TPC San Antonio.

“He’s a superstar,” defending champion Steven Bowditch said. “He’s strong in every aspect of his game and will be a force to be reckoned with for the next 20-odd years. You break down his golf swing and you see he’s one best out here with his clubface control.”

Bowditch won his first PGA Tour title last year. The Australian closed with a 4-over 76 in windy conditions for a one-stroke victory.

Phil Mickelson is in the field along with Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, area resident Jimmy Walker and Matt Every.

The Canadian contingent Graham Delaet, David Hearn and Adam Hadwin.

Mickelson is winless since the 2013 British Open.

Johnson is coming off victory March 8 at Doral in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship. He played the course for the first time Wednesday.

“The golf course is great,” Johnson said. “It’s in really good shape. I like the course. I think it’s fairly tough. I think it will be a good week.”

Every successfully defended his Arnold Palmer Invitational title Sunday. He made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Henrik Stenson.

The top 50 in the world ranking after the tournament will earn spots in the Masters.

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Top-ranked Lydia Ko doesn’t want to get too far ahead of herself at the Kia Classic – a week before the first major championship of the LPGA Tour season.

“I’m going to concentrate on this week first,” Ko said.

The ANA Inspiration is next week in Rancho Mirage.

“To play well in a major, you pretty much got to have your `A’ game,” Ko said. “Hopefully, if I have a good week here, I’ll bring a lot of confidence into next week. But two different courses. So you know, it’s hard to compare them course-management wise.”

Ko has two worldwide victories this year, winning the tour’s Women’s Australian Open and the Ladies European Tour’s New Zealand Women’s Open in consecutive weeks. The 17-year-old New Zealander has 10 straight top-10 finishes and has broken par in her last 24 LPGA Tour rounds and 27 worldwide. She has six LPGA Tour victories and 10 worldwide wins in pro events.

Ko will play alongside defending champion Anna Nordqvist and Lizette Salas in the first two rounds at Aviara Golf Club. Last year, Nordqvist won the second of her two 2014 titles. The Swede closed with her second straight 5-under 67 for a one-stroke victory over Salas.

Nordqvist tied for sixth on Sunday in Phoenix in the Founders Cup, finishing with an 8-under 64.

“I feel like my game’s been pretty solid, haven’t really putted very well,” Nordqvist said. “Sunday a couple of them started to drop and all of a sudden I shot a low score.”

Michelle Wie tied for 64th in Phoenix. She has an endorsement deal with title sponsor Kia.

“Kia has been such a great sponsor to me. They’re kind of like family,” Wie said. “They’ve just been so supportive. It’s great to come to a tournament with my sponsor.

Second-ranked Inbee Park took last week off after winning in Singapore and finishing second behind So Yeon Ryu in a Ladies European Tour event in China.

“I took it easy last week, just practiced a little bit and just relaxed at home,” Park said.

Hyo Joo Kim won in Phoenix for her second LPGA Tour victory in 13 career starts. The 19-year-old South Korean player beat third-ranked Stacy Lewis by three strokes.

Kim, now fourth in the world, was the fifth South Korean winner in the first six events this year – and the other champion, Ko, was born in South Korea.

ANA Inspiration winner Lexi Thompson is coming off a two-week break.

Team Canada is ramping up to send four Development Squad members to Argentina from Mar. 26–29 to compete in the Southern Cross Invitational.

Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.), Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu), Trevor Ranton (Waterloo, Ont.) and A.J. Armstrong (St. Albert, Alta.) will make up the contingent representing Canada at the Nordelta Golf Club in Tigre.

The Canucks will square off against top international squads from Australia, Chile, France, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the host nation in the prestigious 54-hole event. Each country will play four players daily, with the top-three scores from each day being counted towards the team total.

“This will be the first big test for the guys competing as a new team against a strong amateur field,” said Lead Development Squad Coach, Robert Ratcliffe. “The boys have been working hard in the offseason and are excited to put their training to the test.”

Canada’s remaining two Development Squad members remain in action elsewhere around the world this week. Patrick Murphy, a native of Crossfield, Alta., is competing at a Pepsi Tour event this week in Litchfield Park, Ariz. and Tyler Saunders (Sturgeon County, Alta.) just finished wrapping up another collegiate event in his freshman season at Texas State University.

The inaugural Southern Cross began in 1999 between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Since then, the event combined with the Four Nations and Ten Nations Cup to include the larger field it hosts today.

In similar fashion to the men, the Women’s Development Squad competed internationally overseas for the Astor Trophy earlier this year in Australia.

Released ahead of the first Major of the season, the Spring 2015 apparel collection from Nike Golf features a colour palette of neutrals with pops of volt.

The collection is designed to keep athletes cool and comfortable by regulating body temperature, to help eliminate distractions so they can focus on performance.

Engineered Knit, a material found throughout the Spring 2015 line, features a natural-feeling polyester and provides ventilation through intelligent layering. The advanced construction allows for full range of motion to benefit the golf athlete.

Five Nike athletes have qualified for the Masters: Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, Russell Henley and, for the first time in his career, Seung Yul Noh.

McIlroy was quick to praise when asked about the new collection. “Nike has done a great job of eliminating excess fabric. The shirts fit really well. They’re modern, relevant and allow me excellent freedom of movement when I’m playing. Knowing that my clothing looks and feels good means I only have to concentrate on my game when I’m out on the course.”

Here is what the Nike athletes are expected to wear during the Masters:

Tiger Woods

Woods will starts the week in the white Nike TW Vapor Trail Polo with hints of wolf grey and university red, and the TW ’15 golf shoe in the metallic silver colourway. His TW Adaptive Fit Pant features a perforation in the back yoke and behind the knee for breathability. The lightweight TW Ultralight Tour Cap will remain constant through the week. Friday and Sunday, Woods will sport the TW Glow Polo in black and university red, respectively. On Saturday, Woods will wear the TW Bold Stripe Polo constructed in a four-way stretch Dri-FIT fabrication.

Rory McIlroy

Sporting a clean collection of white with volt, the World No. 1 will feature athletic looks throughout the week. He will begin in the Major Moment Polo and will wear that same polo in the reverse colourway on Saturday. Friday, McIlroy will compete in the Major Moment Launch Polo, which pays homage to Nike’s heritage with the Windrunner-inspired 26-degree angle design on the upper chest. On Sunday, he will wear the Nike Afterburner Polo with a volt-to-white gradient topped with the Nike Tour Legacy Mesh Cap in volt. McIlroy will wear the Nike Modern Pant in white for every round, which features a stretch woven for more mobility and breathability in the back below the waistline. Each day McIlroy will rely on the Nike Lunar Control 3 shoe that he helped design.

Charl Schwartzel

The 2011 Masters champion will wear a white Major Moment Polo on Thursday and the Nike Tech Vent Stripe Polo on Friday. He will open the weekend with the white Nike Tech Tipped Polo before wearing the black Major Moment Ace Polo on Sunday. Additionally, he will wear a grey or black Nike Dri-FIT Wool Tech Sweater each day. The South African native will pair the sweater and polos with the Nike Modern Pant, Nike Tour Legacy Mesh Cap and Nike Lunar Control 3 shoe.

Russell Henley

Henley will suit up in the Nike Plaid Pant on Friday and Saturday, while bookending the tournament in the Nike Flat Front Pant on Thursday and Sunday. His Sunday look will feature the volt Nike Engineered Polo, made of a poly-wool. He will wear the Nike Tour Tall Visor, Nike Dri-FIT 1/2-Zip Top and Nike Lunar Control 3 shoes throughout the week.

Seung Yul Noh

Noh will compete in various spring colours of the Nike Tour Legacy Mesh Cap, Nike Dri-FIT 1/2-Zip Top, Nike Modern Pant and Nike Lunar Control 3. He will be clad in black from head to toe on Friday with the Nike Engineered Polo while wearing a volt Major Moment Mach Polo Saturday. The native of South Korea will begin the week with the Nike Tech Ultra Stripe Polo before ending it with the Major Moment Commander Polo.

The majority of the looks for the Masters are now available on nike.com. Please note that some styles are not available in Canada.

Antiques Roadshow. Auction Hunters. Storage Wars. If these shows have taught us anything, it’s that value can be found almost anywhere and in almost anything. While you consider that dusty hand-me-down of a family heirloom to be priceless…it almost certainly is not and half the fun lies in finally knowing.

While owning that buried treasure is one thing; going out and discovering that hidden gem is a completely different matter. Whether you’re a treasure hunter, hoarder or hawker, the Golf Historical Society of Canada’s (GHSC) annual Trade Show and Auction will offer something for everyone. And whether they’re your great uncle’s clubs or a small town trophy from another era, the GHSC wants to see it. Hosted at the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum on April 19, appraisers and collectors will be on-hand to separate the studs from the duds.

With a keen eye for a diamond in the rough, the GHSC’s members and historians will take the time to evaluate and identify your golf collectibles. From clubs to tees; balls to trophies; books to photographs – show off your valuables and we’ll show you what they’re worth.

New to the collectibles game? Starting your search for the perfect Father’s Day gift? Vendors will showcase their stashes to help you round out any collection with the rarest of relics.

Shop. Share. Bid. Banter. Come enjoy an afternoon of golf history and discovery. This event is open to the public. Admission and parking are free.

Doors open at 10 a.m. and the auction takes centre stage at 2 p.m. All are welcome to participate.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is located on the grounds of Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

1333 Dorval Dr.
Oakville, Ont.
L6M 4X7

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 1-800-263-0009 ext. 411 or via email at mgardner@golfcanada.ca.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Rory McIlroy’s road to the Masters was memorable for reasons not many would have imagined.

He missed the cut at the Honda Classic. He was missing a club at the Cadillac Championship when he flung his 3-iron into a lake. And his highlight at the Arnold Palmer Invitational was eating a banana split after dinner with the King.

“He went into it like it was the last supper,” Palmer said.

It wasn’t pretty, but there was no reason for McIlroy to panic.

He finished off the Florida swing with two birdies on the last three holes for a 2-under 70, eight shots behind Matt Every at Bay Hill. He tied for ninth at Doral, though he was still eight shots behind Dustin Johnson and never really featured on the weekend.

In 10 rounds over three tournaments, he broke 70 only once.

Before heading home to South Florida for two weeks of work before the Masters, he was asked if he should be the favorite at Augusta National.

“Given how I’ve been playing, I guess if you go on form, then probably no,” McIlroy said. “But it depends how far you take that for back, and you’ve got to look at previous results there and all sorts of stuff.”

There was no right way to answer the question, so he made an artful escape by adding, “I’m not a bookie.”

But he is the favorite.

And there will be loads of pressure on McIlroy. The opportunity is too great.

Not since Lee Trevino in 1991 has a player gone to the Masters with a chance to complete the Grand Slam. Trevino never cared for Augusta National, never seriously contended there and besides, he was 51. McIlroy had a four-shot lead going into the final round in 2011 and shot 80.

He knows he can play there. He’s only 25. And he’s No. 1 in the world.

Beyond the Grand Slam, he can join Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan as the only players with three straight majors since the Masters began in 1934. Those opportunities don’t come along very often, which is why Woods points to the 2000 PGA Championship (his third straight major) as his most clutch putting performance.

The good news for McIlroy is the buildup to the Masters is over – at least for now.

The first three months of the year were all about Augusta National, and the hype wasn’t quite as strong as it could have been. He was asked about it a fair amount, though not enough to consume him. Either way, he was prepared for it.

“I was expecting to get a lot of questions,” he said. “It’s a big deal what I’m trying to achieve over there.”

It’s difficult to measure progress over five tournaments spread across two months, though his win in Dubai and runner-up finish in Abu Dhabi should not be overlooked.

McIlroy said the best golf he was playing going into the Masters was in 2011. He didn’t win in five events leading to the Augusta, with a runner-up in Abu Dhabi and a tie for 10th in Dubai and Doral. By that measure, this year has been slightly better.

There was a glimpse of impatience early in the Florida swing, particularly at Doral when he had trouble trusting the difficult shots, such as the pull with a 3-iron into the lake, and the club that soon followed the ball into the water. McIlroy managed to turn that into a light-hearted moment. Donald Trump managed to turn that into a three-day news event. And then it was time to move on.

The real culprit has been his wedges and irons. He’s simply not hitting it very close for a reasonable chance at making birdie putts. In a tiny sample size, but McIlroy’s average proximity from 125 yards to 150 yards was 30 feet in the Florida swing, or about 10 feet farther away than his 2014 average on the PGA Tour.

The good news for McIlroy is no one is talking about a slump. And there’s something to be said about not peaking too early.

Woods was going for an unprecedented sweep of the majors in 2001 and there were suggestions of a slump. He went six tournaments without winning (though he was never worse than a tie for 13th). The Masters was approaching. The pressure was building.

And then Woods won Bay Hill, The Players Championship and the Masters. It’s all about peaking at the right time.

The Masters starts in 17 days.

Each year, thousands of Canadian and international competitors participate in Golf Canada’s championship schedule, which includes CN Future Links events; national amateur championships; Canadian Women’s Tour; World Junior Girls Championship; TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial and Canada’s National Open Championships – the RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

As we strive to conduct best-in-class tournaments, our staff and volunteer committees are continually identifying areas where we can improve our championships and provide opportunities to our players to enhance their tournament experience.  The championship schedule for 2015 will present some new initiatives to our women’s championships and exciting changes to our other competitions.

National Women’s Championships

One of the most notable changes that our staff and the Amateur Competitions Committee are excited to announce is a change to our women’s championships.  Traditionally conducted at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions will now be held in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship at Sawmill Creek Golf & Country Club in Camlachie, Ont. from August 25-28.  While we still encourage Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master competitors to participate in the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, we feel this will hopefully encourage more participation within this demographic of players.  For more information on the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Women’s Senior Championship, please view the entry form here.

World Junior Girls Championship

With the growth of female golf around the world, Golf Canada was fortunate to have been able to host the inaugural World Junior Girls Championship last September.  The 2015 edition will be held September 20–25 in the nation’s capital at The Marshes Golf Club.  It is an excellent course with first class facilities and accommodations nearby that will provide an atmosphere deserving of a World Championship.  Details of the World Junior Girls Championship tournament can be found here.

Canadian Women’s Tour

The Canadian Women’s Tour is back for its fourteenth season.  This Tour provides a competitive platform for Canadian and international professionals and elite amateurs to hone their skills, while also offering exemptions into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.  The first stop on the tour will be held at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club (Meadows Course) in Calgary from May 25–27. The second leg of the tour will make its way to the Ottawa area in early July.  The Tour will conclude at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada from July20–22 at the Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont.  Interested professional and amateur competitors can register for the Canadian Women’s Tour on our championship schedule.

TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial

Golf Canada and PGA TOUR Canada have partnered for the past three years to conduct the final stop on the schedule.  This year, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial – PGA TOUR Canada’s flagship event – will be played at Highland Country Club in London, Ont.  A classic 6,600-yard, par-70 Stanley Thompson design located in the heart of London, Highland Country Club has been one of the city’s finest member-owned private clubs since 1922. Conducted by Golf Canada, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial will once again see the culmination of the race to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour. For more information on the TOUR Championship presented by Freedom 55 Financial, please visit here.

Registration is open for all tournaments and players may register for the season through Golf Canada’s championship schedule.  Volunteers can register for our national championships via the schedule or for all other tournaments, through the host golf club.

PHOENIX – Hyo Joo Kim birdied five of the last eight holes to outlast Stacy Lewis on Sunday at Desert Ridge in the JTBC Founders Cup.

The 19-year-old Kim closed with a 5-under 67, holing a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to beat Lewis by three strokes for her second LPGA Tour title.

“In the morning I wasn’t concentrating on winning because I was playing with Stacy Lewis and as a rookie, I just felt that by playing with her, I would learn a lot from her,” Kim said through a translator. “I was just trying to make a good impression as a rookie.”

She did.

“She’s just really solid,” Lewis said. “Even when I did make some putts, she made the putts to follow and she put a lot of pressure on.”

The third-ranked Lewis shot a 68. She pulled within a stroke with a birdie on the par-4 16th, but three-putted for bogey on 18.

“The way I played on the front, to think I could still be within a shot coming up those last few holes was pretty amazing,” Lewis said. “I’m proud of the way I hung in there. I was in three divots today in the fairway, so that didn’t really help things.”

Projected to jump from eighth to fourth in the world, Kim finished at 21-under 267 at Wildfire Golf Club. She won the Evian Championship last year in France for first major title and has eight victories on the South Korean tour.

Kim is the fifth South Korean winner in the first six events this year – and the other winner, top-ranked Lydia Ko, was born in South Korea.

Kim bogeyed the par-4 10th after driving under a tree that had a beehive. She was denied relief from the bees, hit her second to the fairway and failed to get up-and-down for par.

“I was just scared of the bees and I didn’t want to be stung,” Kim said. “So I kept asking if I can get relief and I kept asking and they said, `No, you can’t.’ So, I just swallowed my fears and tried to play the slot as best I could.”

She rebounded with birdies on Nos. 11-13 – holing putts of 5, 50 and 3 feet – and matched Lewis’ birdie on the par-5 15th to remain two strokes ahead.

“If anything, I think the situation on hole 10 helped,” Kim said. “After I went through there and I got a bogey, I just realized there’s no time to feel pressure or feel afraid. I just had to go out there and play.”

On the 18th, Kim hit a perfect drive and put her 140-yard approach pin-high to the right of the difficult pin placed over the large left-side bunker and in front of a rear falloff.

Lewis drove into a sand-filled divot on the left side of the fairway, making it nearly impossible to clear the bunker and stop the ball near the pin. She ended up 30 feet away at the back of the green and missed a 4 1/2-foot comebacker.

“I was obviously not happy,” Lewis said. “Just being the third one of the day and, just more than anything, where that pin was. You just needed something with spin on it coming in and it was a sand-filled divot, so you couldn’t get a lot of check on it. For the lie I had, I hit it a really good shot.”

Lewis won the 2013 tournament and has 11 LPGA Tour titles. The 30-year-old Texan finished second for the second time this year and the 17th time in her career.

South Korea’s Ilhee Lee (66) and Mi Hyang Lee (68) and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum (67) tied for third at 16 under.

Ko had her third straight 69 to tie for sixth at 15 under. The 17-year-old New Zealander has broken par in her last 24 LPGA Tour rounds and 27 worldwide, a streak that started in the first round of her victory last year in the season-ending event.

Ko won the Women’s Australian Open and the Ladies European Tour’s New Zealand Women’s Open in consecutive weeks this year. In her other three LPGA Tour starts, she tied for second in Florida in the opener, tied for seventh in the Bahamas and was second in Singapore.

Anna Nordqvist (64), Austin Ernst (65), Sei Young Kim (65), Na Yeon Choi (66) matched Ko at 15 under. Nordqvist, the former Arizona State player from Sweden, had the best round of the day. She birdied nine of the first 15 holes, missed an eagle putt on 15 and bogeyed 17.

Alison Lee, the 20-year-old former UCLA player who matched the course record with a 63 on Saturday, had a 74 to tie for 24th at 11 under.

Canada’s Alena Sharp tied for 29th at 10 under.

Karrie Webb, the 2011 and 2014 winner, finished with a 69 to tie for 34th at 9 under. Michelle Wie tied for 64th at 4 under after a 71.