19th Hole

If the Olympics were tomorrow, who would make the cut?

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Rio Summer Olympic site (Mario Tama/ Getty Images)
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Golf in the Olympics. What once seemed unlikely is now a reality just two years away. Along with the excitement surrounding our sport’s return to the Games in 2016 are a lot of questions: What is the format? Where will it be played? How will the teams be chosen? Who will play for Canada?

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The competition in Rio will look significantly different than the last time golf was contested for Olympic gold.Only Canada and the United States fielded teams at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Missouri and there were no female competitors. American teams swept all three medals in the team event, while Canadian George S. Lyon won gold in the individual match play competition. In contrast, players from more than 30 countries are expected to tee it up at the yet-to-be-completed course located in the Marapendi Environmental Protection Area. Medals will be awarded for individual play in both men’s and women’s divisions, each being contested over 72 holes of stroke play. As with many other high-profile sports, the debate over whether golf ’s Olympic athletes should be professionals or amateurs is long ended, if it ever took place at all. The biggest stars on the PGA and LPGA Tours will undoubtedly make the trip to Rio, along with their teammates chosen from golf ’s official world rankings. The top 15 players from the world rankings – with a maximum of four per country – will automatically qualify. Outside the top 15, a maximum of two players per country will be selected until the field size of 60 is filled. Just who will those players be? It’s nearly impossible to predict at this early stage. Consider that just two years ago the men’s world’s top 15 included the likes of Keegan Bradley, Lee Westwood, and Louis Oosthuizen. This year they have been replaced by Jordan Spieth, Zach Johnson, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia. While there has been considerably less movement at the top of the women’s world rankings, who knows what young superstar will take the world by storm, or which veteran will mount a comeback before 2016? A lot can change in the span of 24 months. For many fans, a Canadian golf squad without Mike Weir would be inconceivable. Yet at press time, the highest-ranked Canadian on the men’s rankings was Graham DeLaet, at number 28. He is followed by David Hearn (122), Brad Fritsch (276), and Richard Lee (701). On the women’s side, 21-year-old Rebecca Lee-Bentham leads the way at 193, with Alena Sharp (231), Lorie Kane (279) and Maude-Aimée LeBlanc (341) rounding out the top four. Lots of young Canadians are moving up the ranks in the NCAA and on developmental tours such as Symetra and Web.com. We can’t peer into a crystal ball to see which one might make it to the big leagues by 2016, but can predict one thing with confidence. More than six million Canadian golfers watching at home will wave the maple leaf and cheer on our Olympic team players with pride – whomever they may be.

19th Hole

England’s Atlantic links

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Trevose Golf Club in Padstow, England

My friend Clive Agran, a fellow golf travel writer who lives in East Sussex, England, prefers to put his own unique spin on things. When Clive first told me about the Atlantic Links, a brilliant collection of ancient courses scattered along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, I was keen to pack my clubs. While Clive undertook his Atlantic adventure by bicycling from course to course on two wheels (approximately 525km), I don’t necessarily recommend his method of transportation. I do strongly suggest that you put the Atlantic Links on your hit list. The courses are grand, the scenery sublime and there are plenty of other temptations along the way, including Devon cream teas, Cornish pasties and some remarkable villages and gardens. channel-hole-6 Burnham & Barrow An easy half-hour drive from Bristol is Burnham & Berrow Golf Club, originally laid out by Herbert Fowler with more recent tinkerings by Harry Colt and Alister MacKenzie. Dune-lined fairways heave and ho like the sea beyond and a few marsh holes create a memorable first impression. Number 10 requires a blind drive over a hill through a couple of striped goalposts. The 18th finale is a longish sweeping dogleg to a green surrounded by four daunting bunkers. The welcoming clubhouse serves terrific Thai fishcakes. England’s former reputation for bad food is long gone and West Country cuisine, we soon discovered, is worth the trip for its own sake. edonoc copy St. Ednoc We bade farewell to Devon and crossed into Cornwall. In the small hamlet of Rock, where the likes of Prince Andrew come to play and party, we found St. Enodoc Golf Club, designed in the early 1900s by James Braid. You can play 36 holes here, but if time is short, the fabled Church course is your best bet for a memorable 18. The quality of the links and the incomparable views of the nearby town of Padstow and the Camel Estuary make for an enchanting round. The first three holes are blind and there are plentiful oddities and obstacles, plus lots of walkers with their dogs, simply enjoying the stunning scenery. Number six boasts the Himalayas Bunker, reputedly the highest in Europe. Don’t miss a small detour to the 13th-century chapel tucked behind the tenth green. At this point, you might feel the need for a bit of divine intervention. The gravestone of Poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman, who penned beguiling verses about his beloved game of golf, is buried beside his favourite course. Recently, St Enodoc’s Church Course was included in Golf Digest’s inaugural ranking of the “World’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” proving that shorter and quirkier (it’s a par-69 and just 6,557 from the tips) can be sweeter. After our round we took a quick ferry over to Padstow, a harbour town the locals have nicknamed “Padstein” because British restaurateur Rick Stein has opened several eateries here. For a splurge, book a table at his Seafood Restaurant. Or, go local with an award-winning Cornish pasty from Chough Bakery. The 1st Hole Of The Royal North Devon Golf Course Royal North Devon Wild and windswept Royal North Devon, also known as Westward Ho! is England’s oldest course, dating back to 1864. Originally laid out by Old Tom Morris, not much has changed today except the sheep are fatter. This is common land where the livestock get lifetime memberships. Hole number one resembles a petting zoo. You’ll have to let it rip to clear the massive Cape bunker on number four and don’t let that pesky creek on 18 ruin your score. Be sure to have a “cuppa” in the atmospheric clubhouse filled with antique golf memorabilia, mashies and featheries. Royal North Devon was the first club in England to have the title “Royal” conferred upon it by the Prince of Wales in 1866; it also became the first true ladies’ golf club in the world in 1868. KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA Saunton We could have saved time by taking the M5 highway to our evening destination, Saunton Sands in Devon. Instead, we took the coastal route past idyllic villages and patchwork fields of green and gold. Often the roads were barely wide enough for Clive’s bicycle, let alone four wheels. We arrived at the white art deco Saunton Sands Hotel, with commanding views of a long golden strand, in time for an alfresco dinner of lamb Provençal and strawberries topped with Devon’s decadent clotted cream. We were booked to play the Saunton East and West courses the following day. North Americans accustomed to using carts (or buggies as they are called in the U.K.) should take note that these courses were meant to be walked. Make sure you have comfortable shoes and be prepared to shoulder your bag or haul a trolley up and over the dunes. Some clubs rent battery-operated trollies, which I highly recommend, especially if you’re tackling 36 holes in a day. We played the East course, built circa 1897, with members Danny and Ann Wallace. Here, as at all the other clubhouses, we were struck by the warm welcome we received and the pride local members take in their clubs’ pedigrees. Sir Nick Faldo once remarked that Saunton East was “the finest course never to hold an Open.” So lofty are the dunes, it feels like each fairway is your private playground. The East may be lovely, but it’s no walk in the park. Eight par-fours exceed 400 yards and the par-threes demand accuracy. The West layout is shorter and a bit easier, but still a worthy challenge for any golfer. Dinner at Squires in nearby Braunton lived up to its reputation for serving the best fish and chips in North Devon. How they get such a light crispy batter remains chef Mike’s secret. trevose copy Trevose Our last round on The Atlantic Links was at Trevose, located high on a promontory overlooking Constantine Bay. We stayed comfortably in a self-catering cottage nestled just a pitching wedge away from the first elevated tees of the impressive Championship Course. We won’t forget the par-five fourth where the sea froths and crashes against the headland. This masterpiece, another by Harry Colt circa 1925, requires every club in your bag and the ever-present wind is a significant factor. Trevose’s Constantine restaurant, with its sensational sunset views and heavenly local scallops, made the ideal grand finale to our Atlantic Links romp — and a fitting place to toast “cyclopath Clive” for introducing us to this splendid collection of venerable links and some of the best scenery and hospitality to be found in England. Screen Shot 2014-05-21 at 1.36.59 PM

Begay set to return to work after heart attack

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Notah Begay III (Scott Halleran/ Getty Images)

ORLANDO, Fla. – Notah Begay will return to his broadcasting job next week, one month after suffering a heart attack.

Golf Channel said Wednesday that he will serve as an on-course reporter for its coverage of the NCAA men’s golf championships, which starts Monday.

The 41-year-old Begay suffered the heart attack April 24. Doctors at Methodist Hospital in Dallas diagnosed a 100 percent blockage of his right coronary artery. A stent was inserted to unblock the artery.

Begay is in his second full year as a TV analyst. He won four times on the PGA Tour.

A Navajo from New Mexico, Begay has a history of heart disease in his family. He hopes to expand his NB3 Foundation’s mission to address health and wellness issues among Native American youth.

Amateur

Acura partners with Golf Canada to drive CN Future Links mobile clinics

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Acura CN Future Links Mobile Clinics

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada and Acura are pleased to announce a three-year partnership in which Acura will become vehicle sponsor of the CN Future Links Mobile Golf Clinics – an initiative of Canada’s national junior golf program.

A joint initiative developed by Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and Canada’s provincial golf associations, Canada’s national junior golf program is also supported by the National Golf Course Owners Association. The program offers a full suite of junior golf programs for boys and girls ages 6-18, from beginners to those with a high degree of experience and playing ability. CN Future Links is committed to providing junior golfers and young golf enthusiasts in communities across Canada with affordable and accessible golf programs.

”We are thrilled that Acura has aligned their respected brand with Canada’s national junior golf program,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “Through the efforts of our partners at the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations, CN Future Links Mobile Clinics are bringing quality golf activities to communities across Canada and now Acura will be a big part of that success.”

Acura will support the CN Future Links program by providing each of the 10 provincial golf associations with a current model year MDX vehicle. Each vehicle will be decaled in CN Future Links artwork and used as the official vehicle of CN Future Links Mobile Clinics presented by Acura.

Each fully equipped Mobile Clinics Acura MDX vehicle will be staffed with a PGA of Canada professional and will travel to various locations across each province to teach juniors golfers introductory golf lessons. The CN Future Links Mobile Clinics vehicle will travel to almost any location including parks, recreation centres, schools and golf facilities, ensuring golf is brought to where the kids are.

“We are delighted to sponsor CN Future Links Mobile Clinics, as Acura is committed to supporting youth initiatives across Canada and this is a natural partnership of the two brands,” said Dave Gardner, vice president of sales and marketing, Acura Canada. “With luxury comfort, dynamic performance, class-leading fuel economy ratings, advanced safety features, and a versatile passenger and cargo cabin, the MDX fits the needs of the program and will contribute greatly to its overall success.”

In addition to being the official vehicle sponsor, Acura has committed to providing branded range balls, BirdieBalls and the almostGOLF balls to the program. Each CN Future Links Mobile Clinic presented by Acura participant will also receive Acura branded tee packs and a participation certificate.

Under the leadership of PGA of Canada golf professionals, CN Future Links junior programs help young golfers develop the technical skills, appropriate attitude and self-confidence to succeed on the course, while teaching them the positive life lessons to succeed off the course.

“This is an exciting and worthwhile partnership for the CN Future Links Mobile Golf Clinics,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “Since the program’s inception in 1996 the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada have seen more than 1-million kids go through CN Future Links and I feel this terrific initiative will only enhance the world-class junior golf program.”

In 2013, nearly 65,000 juniors took part in more than 1,700 CN Future Links Mobile Clinics across the country. Since launching in 1996, more than 1 million juniors have experienced quality golf activities through the CN Future Links program.

Checking in with Team Canada

From the links to the library

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Corey Conners (Golf Canada/ Chuck Russell)

Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad players are busy. They have to plan around their competitive NCAA schedules, weight training, practice sessions and everything else that comes with life as full-time student/athletes.

Picture this – you are in Sunday’s final pairing for an ‘A’ ranked NCAA event. You are in contention to win the tournament. You are on the cusp of doing wonders for your golf career. You are heading home after the tournament to prepare for your final exam in corporate accounting.

National Amateur athletes are swamped with 40+ hour school weeks. We may forget this fact from time to time – but they certainly don’t. Take Québec’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay for example, who was recently honoured with her third mention to the All-American-Conference (AAC) All-Academic Team.

Tanguay, a senior at Oklahoma University, is in her final year of double-majoring in Business Management and Accounting.

“It’s been a really big challenge for me in my senior year of studies – I spend at least 20 hours a week practicing and then another 20 hours studying for my courses,” said Tanguay. “I would credit my academic success to being a highly structured person, with a very tight schedule that I don’t stray away from.”

To make the team, upper-year students in the AAC must maintain a GPA above 3.0 (equivalent to a ‘B’ in Canadian schooling). They must also have participated in at least 60% of the team’s scheduled events.

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If not a star on the LPGA tour, Tanguay would love to work on the business side of the golf industry. The 23-year-old is moving back to Quebec City for the summer, where she aims to train for the World Amateur Championship before turning pro in the fall.

Many of Team Canada’s athletes have been recognized for several other academic achievements:

  • Jennifer Ha (2013 MAC All-Academic team)
  • Corey Conners (2012 MAC All-Academic)
  • Augusta James (2012 ACC All-Academic)
  • Brittany Marchand (2013, 2012, 2011 ACC All-Academic)

Here’s what some of the National Amateur Team players are studying:

  • Corey Conners – Actuary Math
  • Brittany Marchand – Chemical Engineering
  • Chris Hemmerich – Commerce
  • Augusta James – Sport Management
  • Jennifer Ha – Communications

The Golf Canada Foundation has contributed more than $2.2 million towards scholarships and grants in Canada. To learn more about available scholarships for rising Canadian golfers, click here.

McIlroy calls off engagement to Wozniacki

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Photos Getty

VIRGINIA WATER, England – Only a few days after sending out wedding invitations, golfer Rory McIlroy broke off his engagement to Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki on Wednesday.

Uncomfortable and subdued, the two-time major winner spoke about the decision ahead of the BMW PGA Championship, only a few hours after first announcing the split in a statement.

“It is quite a difficult time for Caroline and myself, and the statement really said it all this morning,” McIlroy said at Wentworth. “It was mutual and we both thought it was the best for us, the best for both of us. Time to move on, and I’ve said all that I need to say.”

The 25-year-old McIlroy and 23-year-old Wozniacki have been dating since 2011. They were engaged on New Year’s Eve in Australia.

The decision to call off the wedding came as surprise to many, especially since McIlroy had only recently spoke of his delight in meeting up with Wozniacki in London after competing in the Players Championship a couple of weeks ago. Wozniacki had been due to compete in an event in Rome but withdrew to meet up with him.

“Look, I’m no different than anyone else,” the Northern Irishman said. “Everyone has been through breakups, and it’s obviously very, very difficult. But look, I’m here to try and concentrate on this week and answer questions about golf, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Both McIlroy and Wozniacki have been the top-ranked player in their respective sports, but Wozniacki has not won a major title. McIlroy won his first major at the 2011 U.S. Open, and then added another a year later at the U.S. PGA Championship.

In the earlier statement, McIlroy took the blame for the breakup.

“The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realize that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails,” McIlroy said. “I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.”

At Wentworth, McIlroy is among the top players at this week’s European Tour flagship event.

“I’m not going to lie. It’s going to be very difficult,” McIlroy said of playing this week. “But you know, at least when I get inside the ropes, just try and concentrate on the shot at hand. But yeah, it’s obviously going to be difficult.”

At least McIlroy will have something to cheer him up. The Manchester United fan will play in the pro-am alongside three former stars from the club, Teddy Sheringham, Peter Schmeichel and Phil Neville.

“I’ve been a Manchester United fan my whole life, and getting to play with three Manchester United legends is going to be a nice afternoon,” McIlroy said. “I remember watching the Champions League final in `99 when United beat (Bayern) Munich in Barcelona, and it was a very memorable night. All those three guys were involved.”

Just a few days ago, McIlroy tweeted a view from dinner with Wozniacki.

 

Rules and Rants

P.E.I. Golf Association appoints new chief rules official

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(Darren Carroll/ Getty Images)

The Prince Edward Island Golf Association has appointed Bob Irwin of Charlottetown as it’s new Chief Rules Official .

As Chief Rules Official, Irwin will oversee officiating at provincial tournaments and will promote the development of new rules officials in the province . He will also coordinate the Associations Course Rating program. Mr. Irwin has officiated at a number of Provincial Championships .

“We are fortunate to have Bob accept this position,” said the Association’s Executive Director , Ron MacNeill. “He has been a competitive golfer for many years and has a keen interest in officiating. The Rules of Golf can be challenging for golfers and it is important for the sport to have someone that understands and promotes them . Golfers at all levels, especially juniors, can benefit from a better understanding of the rules.“

The Prince Edward Island Golf Association is the governing body for golf in the province. In addition to overseeing the Rules of Golf the Association delivers a number of programs for competitive golfers, seniors and juniors.

To learn more about the Rules of Golf, including how you can become a Rules Official, click here.

Amateur

Canada’s top junior golfers ready to battle at CN Future Links Ontario Championship

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Carter Simon (Golf Canada/Chuck Russell)

Minett, Ont. – The Rock Golf Course in Minett, Ont., will play host to the second CN Future Links Championship event of 2014 – the CN Future Links Ontario Championship – which will be held May 22-25, with a practice round being staged on Thursday, May 22.

The 54-hole stroke play championship will feature the country’s top junior golfers aged 11-18. Players will vie for titles in a Junior Boys and Junior Girls division, respectively.

“We are excited to be in Muskoka for the CN Future Links Ontario Championship,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Cam Crawford. “With so many Team Canada Development Squad members, as well as other CN Future Links veterans, this championship should prove to be both exciting and challenging for the competitors.”

In the Junior Girls division Team Canada Development Squad members Valérie Tanguay, 18, of St. Hyacinthe, Que. and Naomi Ko, 16, of Victoria will look to continue their strong play from the CN Future Links Pacific Championship. Earlier this month, Tanguay captured the season-opening event in a playoff, while Ko finished third. On the Junior Boys side, Team Canada Development Squad member Carter Simon of Sutton, Ont., returns to defend his CN Future Links Ontario title from 2013. Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon County, Alta., will also look to improve on his third place finish at CN Future Links Pacific.

The Rock Golf Club opened in 2004 and was Nick Faldo’s first Canadian design course. The Rock has previously played host to the Ontario PGA Class ‘A’ Championship in 2009 where golfers battled for a coveted spot on PGA Team Ontario.

“The Rock takes pride in helping to build the game of golf in Canada, and in doing so we recognize that growing junior golf is imperative to that,” said Spencer Morland, Director of Instruction and Associate Golf Professional at The Rock Golf Course. “There is nothing better than hosting competitive junior events to carry on our tradition of being family-friendly and a great home for junior golfers.”

Team Canada’s Development Squad will be well represented at The Rock in both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls divisions. The men’s side will be represented by defending champion, Carter Simon, 18, of Sutton, Ont., along with Étienne Papineau, 17, of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., and Matt Williams, 18, of Calgary, Alta.

From the Women’s Development Squad, the field includes Tanguay, Ko and Sabrine Garrison, 18, of Calgary, Alta.

In 2013, Carter Simon won the CN Future Links Ontario Championship at the Listowel Golf Club, while Matt Williams placed first in the 2012 championship at the Loyalist Golf and Country Club in Bath, Ont. Maddie Szeryk , the 2013 CN Future Links Ontario Junior Girls champion, will not be in the field at this year’s event.

The top six competitors in the Junior Boys division of each CN Future Links Championship will earn exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which will be contested July 28 – August 1 at the Legends on the Niagara Battlefield course in Niagara Falls, Ont. The Junior Girls Champion from each CN Future Links Championship will earn an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, which runs July 28 – August 1 at the Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont.

The CN Future Links Junior Golf Championships are part of CN’s ongoing partnership with Golf Canada and their commitment to junior golf. Focused on supporting safe and fun activities that have a positive impact on children’s health and well being, CN’s investment in CN Future Links is helping to increase grassroots junior golf participation in communities across Canada. In addition, the Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into a Canadian Women’s Tour event.

The CN Future Links tournament schedule also includes the CN Future Links Prairie Championship (May 29 – June 1 at Shilo Country Club in Westman, Man.), the CN Future Links Western Championship (July 1- 4 at Birchbank Golf Course in Trail, B.C.), the CN Future Links Quebec Championship (July 7 – 10 at Club de Golf Continental in Ste-Victoire de Sorel, Qué.), and the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship (July 13 – 16 at Humber Valley Resort in Little Rapids, N.L.).

For more information on the 2014 CN Future Links Ontario Championship, click here. 

Amateur

Gil, Costabile win 2014 Investors Group Junior Spring Classic

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Tony Gil (Golf Association of Ontario)

UXBRIDGE, Ont. — Vaughn, Ont.’s Tony Gil and Thornhill, Ont.’s Selena Costabile each earned comeback wins this long weekend at the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2014 Investors Group Junior Spring Classic.

Gil entered the final round tied with fellow Team Canada National Development Team member Carter Simon. Gil went on to score one of the best rounds of the day, a 4-under 68, to finish the tournament at 7-under. As for Simon, the Sutton, Ont. resident carded an 1-under 71 for a tournament total of 4-under.

“My iron play was right on throughout the week.  I made a lot of good putts and didn’t make any big mistakes, so it was a good week for me,” said Gil. “The first three birdies on 10, 11 and 12 was a confidence booster and turned my game on. I was a little nervous on the first tee and cold topped it but I just thought to myself that there were 17 holes to go and anything could happen.”

At 16-years-old, Gil also captured the juvenile division title.

Finishing in a tie for third at 3-under for the tournament were Waterloo’s Trevor Ranton and Cayuga’s Charles Corner. In fifth was Mississauga’s Conner Watt.

Over at Sleepy Hollow, in Stouffville, Ont., Alyssa Getty of Kingsville, Ont. began the day with a single shot lead going into the final round. Selena Costabile edged the lead from her with a birdie-birdie start. Costabile continued on to birdie four on the back nine and finished with a confortable three-shot victory. She ended the day 3-under for a tournament total of 2-under.

“I played really well today which helped me close the victory,” said Costabile. “My putts were rolling really well the past three days and most of the credit for my win is because of my putting. After nine holes I was behind but once I started making those birdies on the back nine I knew I had a good chance to win. Birdieing my first two holes, especially the second, was a huge confidence boost, even though I double bogeyed six. I was able to make a few good putts later and it all turned out ok.”

Finishing third was Toronto’s Ana Peric. Pickering’s Crystina Kertsos and Markham’s Stephanie Chu tied for fourth.

The Investors Group Junior Spring Classic Championship is a 54-hole stroke-play competition contested annually over the Victoria Day long weekend that features many of Ontario’s best male and female junior golfers. The field of competitors gained entry to the competition through a qualifying process earlier in the season.

Full Leaderboard and Scorecards – Investors Group Junior Spring Classic, Boys

Full Leaderboard, Info and Scorecards – Investors Group Junior Spring Classic, Girls

Brooke Henderson LPGA Tour Team Canada

Five Canadians qualify for U.S. Women’s Open

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Brooke Henderson (Golf Canada/ Chuck Russell)

MANAKIN-SABOT, Va – Canada’s Sue Kim, Rebecca Lee Bentham, Jessica Wallace and amateurs Brooke Henderson and Elizabeth Tong qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open on Monday.

Henderson, playing at the qualifier in Manakin-Sabot, Va., totaled a score of 140 through two rounds en route to capturing medalist honours. This year’s U.S. Women’s Open will mark the third LPGA major tournament for the Smiths Falls, Ont. native – she played in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open and this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Joining Henderson are Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. and Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Richmond Hill, Ont. Both Kim and Lee-Bentham were recently named to Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad. Kim, 23, carded a 142 and Lee-Bentham, 22, was three strokes behind with a 145.

Wallace, a Langley, B.C. native, became one of three who qualified at the Dunwoody, Ga., event. The 23-year-old finished with a 148 through two rounds.

Tong, a Thornhill, Ont., native, qualified with 148 at the Winnetka, Ill., event. The 21-year-old Indiana University student will join Henderson in the field as an amateur.

Also to note, Canada’s A. Ram Choi of Surrey, B.C., will be listed as an alternate player after carding a 151 at the Seattle, Wash., qualifier. Choi is a junior for the Portland State Vikings.

All five Canadians will head to North Carolina from June 17-22 to tee-it-up at the famous Pinehurst No. 2 golf course.

For all sectional qualifier results, click here.

To cap off the week, Henderson got word on Tuesday that she earned a sponsor exemption to play in the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic for a second straight year. In 2013, the National Squad member fared well with a promising T35 finish.

With the announcement, Henderson becomes the seventh Canadian set to compete at the Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ont., from June 4-8. She will be joined by veteran professionals Lorie Kane, Alena Sharp, and Maude-Aimee Leblanc. Also in attendance will be the three members of the Young Pro Squad – Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Sue Kim and Jennifer Kirby.