LONDON, Ont. – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Golf Canada have announced a significant extension of CP’s golf sponsorship program that will help fund and enhance high performance golf in Canada.

Already the title sponsor for Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship – the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open which is being held this week at the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. – CP has also partnered with Golf Canada in support of the National Amateur Team program – Team Canada – as well as Canada’s National Amateur Championships.

“We are proud to support Golf Canada’s vision to drive excellence in competitive amateur golf,” said Mark Wallace, CP’s Vice President, Corporate Affairs. “CP is committed, through our role as title sponsor of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, to extending our investment in the rising talents of Team Canada as natural extension of our commitment to Canadian golfing excellence.”

As part of its investment, CP has also aligned its brand with the Golf Canada Foundation in becoming a Founding Partner of the Team Canada Young Pro program which launched in May. 

The Young Pro program, developed in partnership with the PGA of Canada, is intended to extend the success of Team Canada’s amateur program to help the top young professional players bridge the gap between successful amateur and professional performance on the international golfing stage. The program provides coaching, sports science support, mental and physical training, season planning, and financial support for golf expenses.

In all, five athletes – three female and two male – have been selected to the inaugural Team Canada Young Pro squad. The squad is comprised of  LPGA Tour players Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. and Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. on the women’s side as well as Web.com Tour players Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. and Albin Choi of Toronto.

“We applaud CP for their vision in supporting an environment that will build competitive golf excellence across Canada,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “From high performance amateur golf to CP’s support of emerging professional talents and the Golf Canada Foundation, we are thrilled with this extended investment to help Canada’s most promising golfers develop their competitive potential.” 

In addition to CP as a Founding Partner, the Golf Canada Foundation also welcomed Citi Canada as a Supporting Partner of the Team Canada Young Pro Program through donations to the Foundation. 

“We are pleased to support Golf Canada’s young pro program in its inaugural year, and it’s five impressive members,” said Citi Canada Chairman and CEO John Hastings. “Citi aspires to enable the progress of these young athletes from ambition to achievement, just as we do for our clients around the world.”

On Monday, August 18th, during tournament week at the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, a Pro-Am was held in support of the Golf Canada Foundation with proceeds directed to the Team Canada Young Pro program.

LONDON, Ont. – At the age of 16, Brooke Henderson gets it.

The amateur from Smiths Falls, Ont., is well aware of the high expectations that come from finishing in the top 10 at a major tournament and emerging as the best young Canadian women’s golfers.

“I see the pressure and I hear it,” Henderson said. “I hear that I’m the face of Canadian golf, but I’m just trying to improve and trying to get better.”

Henderson doesn’t seem to be buying into the hype that she has created for herself. With Lorie Kane about to turn 50, she’s considered the future of the sport in Canada, even with Alena Sharp, Sue Kim, Jennifer Kirby and Rebecca Lee-Bentham already established on the LPGA Tour.

She goes into this week’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at London Hunt and Country Club with all that perspective to go with her experience. Henderson missed the cut the past two years in Edmonton and Vancouver and understands what it’s all about this time, playing about a seven-hour drive from where she grew up.

“Definitely there is pressure,” Henderson said. “But I’m excited to be able to play for my family and friends and show them what I can do. They’re out there cheering for me, and I know every shot they’re going to be happy either way.”

Henderson set her expectation at making the cut and then “hopefully climb up the leader board a little bit.” That’s a realistic goal two weeks after she finished second to Kristen Gillman at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

But this is a different animal for Henderson as the home-country girl who’s blossoming into a star. On her way from the putting green to the driving range on Wednesday, several fans stopped her for autographs, photos and or just to chat.

When she tees off just before 8:30 a.m. for Thursday’s first round, Henderson will get to focus in on just golf. Her caddy, longtime family friend Bunk Lee, will do his part to keep Henderson focused.

“I think Brooke is very good at relaxing herself,” Lee said. “She’s been exposed to this enough, and she takes care of most of it. I’m just there for reassurance and making sure I’m doing my job as the caddy and trying to provide the best environment for her to perform in and it all takes care of itself.”

Kane recalled being overwhelmed at times during her first appearances at the Canadian Women’s Open – then called the du Maurier Classic – worried that she couldn’t live up to external expectations.

The four-time champion on the LPGA Tour said she has no doubt Henderson is prepared for the atmosphere she’s about to face and the future she’s embarking on.

“Brooke, she’s hard-working, very dedicated to what she does,” Kane said in a phone interview last week. “Brooke’s career can be what Brooke wants it to be. The sky’s the limit. She’s got a great head on her shoulders, she’s a very level-headed kid.”

That came across Wednesday in her pre-tournament news conference during which she fielded a handful of questions about her place in history and the hefty weight on her young shoulders. In the short-term – the next few days – Henderson expects to feel more comfortable now that she has gotten to know more professional colleagues and what to expect.

In the long term, Henderson doesn’t consider herself standing alone as Canada’s only hope in women’s golf.

“Definitely I think the game in Canada is growing, and there are some young pros coming up like Sue Kim, and Jennifer Kirby and Rebecca Lee-Bentham that are great players and have full status on the tour this year,” she said. “Maybe they haven’t played as well as they would have liked, but I think the future is bright for them.”

It could be even brighter for Henderson if she continues down her developmental path. Golf Canada’s Brent McLaughlin said just like with men’s golfer Mike Weir, Canadian fans “need to rally around heroes” and considers Henderson one of those.

“We’re so proud of Brooke. … Any time you see young talents just excel, you’re proud of them,” McLaughlin said on a conference call last week. “(Fans) need to have a reason to watch. … It makes kids want to be like them. We need that in our sport. We’ve very fortunate, very lucky and very proud.”

Henderson is one of 15 Canadians in the field this week, along with pros Kane, Sharp, Lee-Bentham, Kirby, Kim, Maude-Aimee LeBlanc, Sara-Maude Juneau, Samantha Richdale, Nicole Vandermade, Natalie Gleadall, Erica Rivard, Jessica Wallace and fellow amateurs Jennifer Ha and Elizabeth Tong.

No Canadian woman has won this tournament since Jocelyne Bourassa captured the title at the inaugural edition in 1973. For 22 years from 1979 through 2000 it was a major, and it still carries that importance to Henderson.

“It used to be a major back in the day, and to me it still is one,” she said. “It’s very close to home. It’s our national championship.”

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, at 17 a two-time defending champion at Canada’s national championship, knows from experience that Henderson has had to repeatedly answer the question about when she’s turning pro. Henderson said Wednesday it’s still her plan to attend the University of Florida with the hope of having an LPGA Tour career in the future.

That means for now Henderson – a Team Canada member – is one of the faces of amateur women’s golf, something she has accepted.

“Of course there is a little bit of pressure, but I enjoy it,” Henderson said. “I love a challenge.”

Sherbrooke, Qué. (Golf Canada) – Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont. is in the hunt for her fourth Women’s Senior Champion title after firing an opening round 3-under 70 at Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Qué. on Tuesday.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Famer leads the competition by four strokes after a first round that consisted of five total birdies – two on the front nine and three on the back.

“I played very well,” Hayward said. “It was tough to know how the course was going to play since the greens were so wet from the rain in yesterday’s practice round. I hit the ball very well on a couple holes – the back nine was very good with only a couple hiccups on the front. Overall, I’m really happy.”

The defending champion also claimed the Canadian Women’s Senior title in both 2010 and 2011. She is looking for another win this year to earn an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Women’s Senior.

“I’d really like to get to the U.S. Senior, and since I missed the qualifier for it, this is sort of my second chance,” she said. “But it’s a good field, lots of strong players, and a good golf course. I’m quite happy with a good start, but there’s a lot of golf left to play so we will see how it goes.”

Following Hayward in second is Teri deLuis of Brockville, Ont. Her first round score of 1-over 74 puts her in the lead of the Super Senior division, which is open to players who have reached their 60th birthday by the first day of the competition.

In the Inter-Provincial Team competition – contested over the first 36 holes of the tournament – the Team Ontario contingent of Hayward, Judith Allan-Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. and Ivy Steinberg of Stouffville, Ont. lead with a combined score of 2-over 148. Team British Columbia, which includes Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C., Holly Horwood of Vancouver and Penny Baziuk, of North Saanich, B.C., follow in second at 11-over.

Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

PARAMUS, N.J. – Chalk this up to one of the more bizarre injuries in golf. Matt Kuchar missed the final major of the year when his back locked up on him from having to sit too long in traffic.

Adding to this forgettable tale: He was shopping for a slip-and-slide.

Kuchar was considered among the favorites at the PGA Championship and felt his game was rounding into form after two days of practice at Valhalla. There was a party planned at the house he was staying in Louisville, and Kuchar went looking for a slip-and-slide for the kids. He tried two stores and couldn’t find one.

“Sat in the car for about an hour fighting traffic and when I got back, I thought, `Boy, my back doesn’t feel very good right now,'” Kuchar said Tuesday.

He figured it would loosen up on Wednesday after some treatment – no such luck.

“I took Wednesday off, and figured by the time Thursday comes around it will have loosened up,” he said. “Got treatment, tried to hit balls. Figured I could warm up into it and just couldn’t warm up into it. I guess I basically had gotten a little out of alignment.”

Kuchar was among four Americans with Ryder Cup chances who were injured during the PGA, leading U.S. captain Tom Watson to say they were “falling like flies.” Jason Dufner withdrew with a neck injury and failed to qualify. Tiger Woods had another back injury and subsequently took himself out of consideration as a pick. Dustin Johnson is on “voluntary leave” to seek professional help for “personal challenges.”

Kuchar, though, appears to be fine.

“The muscles kind of locked up and with the help of chiropractor, massage therapist, physical therapist, got it straight again and feel good,” Kuchar said. “They have given me a handful of little exercises to try to help strengthen the area and help prevent this from happening again.”

The “Ice Bucket Challenge” has made it’s return to golf thanks to the sport’s two biggest superstars.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy took time Monday between filming “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” and taking part in a Nike Vapor Irons launch event to dump ice cold water on each other.

Ice Bucket Challenge from Rory McIlroy on Vimeo.

Woods and McIlroy were called out by Mark Parker, President and CEO of Nike.

Woods and McIlroy are far from the first golfers to take part in the latest social media craze. In fact golfers have been doing it far before ALS assumed ownership of the campaign.

Here are a few others…

The “Ice Bucket Challenge” has made it’s return to golf thanks to the sport’s two biggest superstars.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy took time Monday between filming “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” and taking part in a Nike Vapor Irons launch event to dump ice cold water on each other.

Ice Bucket Challenge from Rory McIlroy on Vimeo.

Woods and McIlroy were called out by Mark Parker, President and CEO of Nike.

Woods and McIlroy are far from the first golfers to take part in the latest social media craze. In fact golfers have been doing it far before ALS assumed ownership of the campaign.

Here are a few others…

London, Ont.– TSN and RDS will deliver live coverage of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, giving Canadians access to more than 16 hours of Canada’s national women’s open golf championship tournament in both English and French across multiple platforms.

The network’s coverage of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open begins on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 12 noon ET live from the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont.

TSN’s live coverage of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is also available to TSN subscribers for live streaming and on demand viewing through TSN GO.

“We are thrilled to partner with TSN and RDS in delivering the excitement of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and the LPGA Tour to television and online audiences across the country in both French and English,” said Scott Simmons, Executive Director and CEO, Golf Canada. “Together with our partners at Canadian Pacific and the LPGA Tour, we look forward to working with Canada’s leading sports networks to elevate the profile of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and showcase this elite event to millions of golf enthusiasts.”

This marks the first time in nine years that TSN has broadcast all four rounds of Canada’s national women’s open golf championship,and the first time since 2011 that RDS has broadcast the event.

TSN’s coverage is led by Rod Black along with veteran golf analyst Judy Rankin. They will be joined by analysts Bob Weeks, Gail Graham, TSN’s Cory Woron and The Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz.

The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open features the world’s best women’s golfers – including two-time defending champion Lydia Ko, top-ranked golfer Stacey Lewis, and Canadian teenage sensation Brooke Henderson.

The fully customizable TSN Golf app also features up-to-the-minute news and analysis from the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

In addition to domestic coverage from TSN and RDS, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open will also be broadcast on The Golf Channel in the United States and by LPGA international broadcast licensees around the world.

Broadcast Schedule

See below for a complete broadcast schedule of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Thursday, Aug. 21
12 noon ET – First Round – Part I (TSN / RDS2)
3 p.m. ET – First Round – Part II (TSN / RDS2)

Friday, Aug. 22
12 noon ET – Second Round – Part I  (TSN / RDS2)
3 p.m. ET – Second Round – Part II (TSN / RDS2)

Saturday, Aug. 23
2 p.m. ET – Third Round (TSN2 / RDS2)

Sunday, Aug. 24
2 p.m. ET – Final Round (TSN2 / RDS2)

*Schedule subject to change

London, Ont.– TSN and RDS will deliver live coverage of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, giving Canadians access to more than 16 hours of Canada’s national women’s open golf championship tournament in both English and French across multiple platforms.

The network’s coverage of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open begins on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 12 noon ET live from the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont.

TSN’s live coverage of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is also available to TSN subscribers for live streaming and on demand viewing through TSN GO.

“We are thrilled to partner with TSN and RDS in delivering the excitement of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and the LPGA Tour to television and online audiences across the country in both French and English,” said Scott Simmons, Executive Director and CEO, Golf Canada. “Together with our partners at Canadian Pacific and the LPGA Tour, we look forward to working with Canada’s leading sports networks to elevate the profile of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and showcase this elite event to millions of golf enthusiasts.”

This marks the first time in nine years that TSN has broadcast all four rounds of Canada’s national women’s open golf championship,and the first time since 2011 that RDS has broadcast the event.

TSN’s coverage is led by Rod Black along with veteran golf analyst Judy Rankin. They will be joined by analysts Bob Weeks, Gail Graham, TSN’s Cory Woron and The Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz.

The Canadian Pacific Women’s Open features the world’s best women’s golfers – including two-time defending champion Lydia Ko, top-ranked golfer Stacey Lewis, and Canadian teenage sensation Brooke Henderson.

The fully customizable TSN Golf app also features up-to-the-minute news and analysis from the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

In addition to domestic coverage from TSN and RDS, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open will also be broadcast on The Golf Channel in the United States and by LPGA international broadcast licensees around the world.

Broadcast Schedule

See below for a complete broadcast schedule of the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Thursday, Aug. 21
12 noon ET – First Round – Part I (TSN / RDS2)
3 p.m. ET – First Round – Part II (TSN / RDS2)

Friday, Aug. 22
12 noon ET – Second Round – Part I  (TSN / RDS2)
3 p.m. ET – Second Round – Part II (TSN / RDS2)

Saturday, Aug. 23
2 p.m. ET – Third Round (TSN2 / RDS2)

Sunday, Aug. 24
2 p.m. ET – Final Round (TSN2 / RDS2)

*Schedule subject to change

NANJING, China – Canada’s Tony Gil and Maddie Szeryk sit T5 and T16, respectively, following the opening stroke play rounds of the boys and girls divisions at the Summer Youth Olympics.

Gil, a native of Vaughan, Ont., made his first round one for the ages as he fired a hole-in-one on the par-3 3^rd. The ace marks the first time in Olympic history.

“I had to carry the ball 164 yards to the pin, and chose a smooth swing with my 7-iron,” said Gil of the hole-in-one, also the first of his career. “I couldn’t actually tell it went in from the tee,” he said with a laugh.

The Team Canada Development Squad member closed out the front nine with a 1-under 35, crediting his ability to get out of trouble with up-and-downs. The 16-year-old went on to card three birdies on the back, leaving him at 3-under for the day in a tie for fifth.

On the girls side, Maddie Szeryk, 18, posted a 2-over par 74, leaving her in a tie for 16^th, five strokes back of the leaders. In addition to competition, the 2013 Canadian Junior Girls Champion is really enjoying the atmosphere with golf back in the Olympics.

“It’s awesome that it’s finally back in the Olympics and it’s so great to be here,” said Szeryk. “I’m hoping to play better in the next few days but overall the experience has been amazing.”

Team coach, Robert Ratcliffe, is very pleased with the performance so far and will make some slight adjustments to the strategy going forward.

“I want to change a bit of the strategy in regards to course management in the next few days,” said Ratcliffe, also Team Canada’s Lead Development Squad coach. “We are playing some of the highest ranked players in the world here and I think we are in good position to gain on the leaders.”

The second round of stroke play resumes Wednesday. Gil will tee off at 9:50 am (CST) and Szeryk will tee off at 8:50 am (CST).

Click here for boys division results.
Click here for girls division results.

Tony Gil (Golf Canada)

NANJING, China – Canada’s Tony Gil and Maddie Szeryk sit T5 and T16, respectively, following the opening stroke play rounds of the boys and girls divisions at the Summer Youth Olympics.

Gil, a native of Vaughan, Ont., made his first round one for the ages as he fired a hole-in-one on the par-3 3^rd. The ace marks the first time in Olympic history.

“I had to carry the ball 164 yards to the pin, and chose a smooth swing with my 7-iron,” said Gil of the hole-in-one, also the first of his career. “I couldn’t actually tell it went in from the tee,” he said with a laugh.

The Team Canada Development Squad member closed out the front nine with a 1-under 35, crediting his ability to get out of trouble with up-and-downs. The 16-year-old went on to card three birdies on the back, leaving him at 3-under for the day in a tie for fifth.

On the girls side, Maddie Szeryk, 18, posted a 2-over par 74, leaving her in a tie for 16^th, five strokes back of the leaders. In addition to competition, the 2013 Canadian Junior Girls Champion is really enjoying the atmosphere with golf back in the Olympics.

“It’s awesome that it’s finally back in the Olympics and it’s so great to be here,” said Szeryk. “I’m hoping to play better in the next few days but overall the experience has been amazing.”

Team coach, Robert Ratcliffe, is very pleased with the performance so far and will make some slight adjustments to the strategy going forward.

“I want to change a bit of the strategy in regards to course management in the next few days,” said Ratcliffe, also Team Canada’s Lead Development Squad coach. “We are playing some of the highest ranked players in the world here and I think we are in good position to gain on the leaders.”

The second round of stroke play resumes Wednesday. Gil will tee off at 9:50 am (CST) and Szeryk will tee off at 8:50 am (CST).

Click here for boys division results.
Click here for girls division results.

Tony Gil (Golf Canada)