Long-time executive director of Golf Manitoba, Dave Comaskey is moving onto a new chapter in his career.

Originally from the northern community of Thompson, Manitoba, he started his career at the Southwood Golf and Country Club working as an assistant golf professional from 1995 to 1999. Comaskey returned to the University of Manitoba and followed up his Bachelor of Arts degree with a degree in Recreation Studies. He went on to become the assistant executive director at Golf Manitoba under Dave Morison in 2002. After almost 13 years as the executive director, Comaskey said working in golf is a privilege.

“It’s in me, I’ve grown up around golf and loving it. It’s always been my passion, I feel very fortunate to be working in the industry. Golf has always been a major part of my life,” he said.

Comaskey took over for Morison in 2005 when the former executive director retired. The amalgamation of men’s and women’s golf associations was an initiative Comaskey is proud of. He said the 100^th anniversary of golf in the province a couple years ago was another.

“We launched some player development initiatives, a celebratory tournament, some marketing stuff, that was a really neat and challenging year,” Comaskey said.

The development of games programming (Manitoba, Western Canada and Canada Games) is also among Comaskey’s highlights.

He will continue to work in the golf industry. Comaskey is the new golf course operations coordinator for the City of Winnipeg’s Golf Services. The city has three courses that will operate with Comaskey’s management. He said the timing is right for both him and Golf Manitoba.

“It’s a good time for me and Golf Manitoba. It’s healthy for someone else to come in here and bring some new ideas and initiatives,” he said.

Comaskey is looking forward to the new opportunity. He said the choice was a difficult one to make but staying within the sport was important.

“It wasn’t an easy decision by any means to move on to a new opportunity, but it certainly made it easier having it be in golf,” he said.

The board will begin their search for Comaskey’s replacement this week. His last day will be May 11.

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Vancouver – The  Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour (MJT) presented by Boston Pizza has announced former Golf Canada staff member Russell MacKay as their new Operations Manager.

MacKay, a graduate in Recreation and Sport Business from the University of Waterloo where he was a member of the University’s Men’s Golf Team, spent three co-op terms with Golf Canada after which he joined the Association full-time to work in Amateur and Professional Championships.

MacKay relocated to British Columbia in 2016 to undertake the role of Membership and Events Manager for the PGA of BC, and has now transitioned to a national role with Canada’s most-played Junior Golf Tour.

“I am excited to apply the knowledge and experiences gained in many different facets of the golf industry to help the MJT continue its growth,” said MacKay, who will be working with MJT National Operations Director, Trent Matson and MJT Director of Marketing and Administration, Elaine Denton.

The MJT aims to develop champions, in golf and in life, promoting the game from grassroots through to provincial, national, university and professional levels. Registration for tournaments is ongoing and the full MJT National schedule is available online at www.maplejt.com.

Wolfville, N.S. – More than 800 graduates from Acadia University will receive their diplomas at ceremonies taking place May 13-14, joining Acadia’s more than 30,000 alumni worldwide. In addition, Acadia will confer Honorary Degrees on individuals who have distinguished themselves in public service, education and professional sports. Among those Honorees will be Canadian LPGA Tour professional Lorie Kane.  Kane, an Honoured Member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame who graduated from Acadia in 1988, will receive a Doctor of Humanities.

“Our Honorary Degree recipients exemplify in every way how each of us can use our background and experience to make significant and meaningful contributions to our communities, our country and to the world,” said Acadia President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Peter Ricketts.

Kane has triumphed on the golf course and is recognized as a leader for the sport. Since her rookie year on the LPGA Tour in 1996, she has won nearly $7 million in career earnings. In that time, she recorded four LPGA Tour victories and 99 top-ten finishes, including eight in majors.

In 1998, she won the Heather Farr Player Award, given by the LPGA Tour to the golfer who demonstrates determination, perseverance and spirit through hard work, dedication and love of the game.  In 2000, she won the William and Mousie Powell Award given by the LPGA Tour to the golfer whose behavior and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA. In 2006, she became a member of the Order of Canada.

Prior to turning pro in 1993, Kane represented Canada as a member of the Canadian International Team from 1989 to 1992. She was also a member of the 1991 Canadian Commonwealth Team and the 1992 Canadian World Amateur Team. As a CP Ambassador, she embodies ongoing support of women’s golf through the CP Women’s Open and helps advocate and elevate the CP Has Heart charitable campaign which raises money and awareness for heart health.

Congrats to CP ambassador @LorieKaneLPGA on @AcadiaU’s announcement that she will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree! With her dedication to @CPHasHeart, we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving. ❤️?? https://t.co/Tr8I3jiFOx pic.twitter.com/A9p5fWWS3x

— Canadian Pacific (@CanadianPacific) May 2, 2018

Golf fans in Saskatchewan will be able to watch Kane compete live at the 2018 CP Women’s Open, taking place August 20-26 at Wascana Country Club in Regina.

This fourth of five official 2018 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournaments takes place this week at The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland, Florida, as 132 players compete for various levels of status on the PGA TOUR’s development circuit.

Eight Canadians are among the field competing for membership on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, where this week’s medalist receives an exemption for the entire 2018 season. Those finishing 2nd through 5th (no ties) are exempt for first eight events and subject to second re-shuffle, while those finishing 6th through 16th (no ties) are exempt for first four events and subject to the first re-shuffle. Golfers finishing 17th through 40th (plus ties) receive conditional status.

Leading the Canadian contingent is Sebastian Szirmak of Toronto. The Mackenzie Tour veteran played in 10 of the 12 tournaments last year – a tie for 19th at the National Capital Open to Support Our Troops in Ottawa was his top finish. He opened the tournament in Ottawa with a 68-68-66 start and was only four strokes off the lead entering the final round before a Sunday 72 derailed his chances. He enjoyed two top-10s in 2016—both ties for 10th (at the Staal Foundation Open and the Cape Breton Open).

Here’s a full list of Canadians among the field:

• Pierre-Alexander Bédard (Chibougamau, Quebec)
• Bradford Curren (Hammond Plains, Nova Scotia)
• Sonny Michaud (Neuville, Quebec)
• Cory Racioppo (Vaughan, Ontario)
• Gajan Sivabalasingham (Stouffville, Ontario)
• Turner Southey-Gordon (Toronto, Ontario)
• Sebastian Szirmak (Toronto, Ontario)
• Christopher Wilson (Timmons, Ontario)

The Mackenzie Tour provides players with the opportunity to make the first step on the path to the PGA TOUR by rewarding high finishers on the Order of Merit with steps toward and status on the Web.com Tour. The Order of Merit winner following the 2018 season will be fully exempt on the 2019 Web.com Tour, while finishers 2-5 earn conditional status and an exemption into the Final Stage of Q-School. Finishers 6-10 also earn an exemption directly into Final Stage, while players in the 11th through 20th spots earn exemptions through Second Stage.

The path has already been utilized by 20 players who have gone on to earn PGA TOUR cards since 2013, highlighted by PGA TOUR winners Nick Taylor, Tony Finau and Mackenzie Hughes. Since the Tour’s inception, 166 alumni have earned Web.com Tour status, including 72 competing there for the 2018 season.

East Gwillimbury, ON – The breakthrough performance of Titleist AVX – a new high performance golf ball providing remarkable distance and exceptionally soft feel through proprietary core, cover and aerodynamic technologies – will now be available to golfers everywhere.

A comprehensive test market conducted in Arizona, California and Florida from October 2017 to January 2018 resulted in the resounding validation of AVX, particularly among golfers who prioritize distance and extremely soft feel.

Beginning today, Titleist AVX is available in golf shops across the U.S.  AVX will be available in Canada starting May 2. The precision manufacturing of AVX at Titleist Ball Plant 3 in New Bedford, Mass. – also home to the industry-leading Pro V1 and Pro V1x models – has been accelerated in order to meet golfer demand and the worldwide launch of AVX in the coming months.

“Golfers have spoken loud and clear about the performance of AVX,” said Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing. “While our R&D team is constantly exploring new golf ball technologies, only a limited number of prototypes ever make it past the initial machine and player testing phases. AVX stood out from the beginning. Ultimately, it was important to let golfers decide whether this golf ball had a place in our line and the results of our test market were emphatic. Many golfers were waiting for a product like AVX – our lowest flying, lowest spinning and softest feeling high performance golf ball – to help them play their best.”

Featuring a proprietary multi-component construction, AVX delivers remarkable distance and penetrating flight, very low long game and iron spin, exceptionally soft feel and premium scoring control through the following new technologies:

• An innovative high speed, low compression core technology results in a powerful engine to drive remarkable distance with exceptionally soft feel.
• The invention of a new high flex casing layer enhances speed and controls spin to promote even greater distance.
•  The proprietary GRN41 thermoset cast urethane elastomer cover has been specifically formulated by Titleist Golf Ball R&D to deliver premium scoring control with exceptionally soft feel and long lasting durability.
• A unique catenary aerodynamic design delivers a piercing, low trajectory while providing a consistent ball flight on all shots.
• AVX is made by Titleist associates in the company’s state-of-the-art Ball Plant 3 manufacturing facility to the highest performance and quality specifications in the industry, ensuring the most consistent performance ball to ball, and dozen to dozen.
• AVX is offered in both white and high-optic yellow.

“During the test market, we heard from a lot of golfers playing competitive models who realized they had been giving up performance in order to play a softer feeling golf ball,” Mahoney said. “With AVX, not only were they getting the feel that they love, they were also getting longer distance with great performance in the short game – and they were playing better. That’s the reason so many golfers are talking about this golf ball.”

New Titleist AVX golf balls are available in the Canada beginning May 2, 2018. For more information, www.titleist.ca/golf-balls/avx.

The stars of men’s golf take centre stage this week as the first men’s major of 2018 gets underway at Augusta National.

To help tee up the Masters, actor/comedian/impressionist Conor Moore took to Twitter with a hilarious video, nailing hilarious impersonations of the game’s biggest names, including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and reigning Masters champ Sergio Garcia.

Well done, Conor. We’d love to see some Canadian flavour! How about adding Mike Weir or Graham DeLaet into the mix next time?

GOLF WEEK*** US Masters – Heres what Sergio, Rory, Poults and Co are saying!! pic.twitter.com/ar7Atb1qwy

— Conor Moore (@ConorSketches) April 2, 2018

Conor’s impressions earned praise from several big name golfers, including a few who were featured in the video.

Very funny! Well done!?? https://t.co/9YINndxiGY

— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) April 3, 2018

Just watch it ? https://t.co/r0g4nRfIuh

— Andrew’BEEF’Johnston (@BeefGolf) April 3, 2018

So good https://t.co/rXwl10NeEd

— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) April 2, 2018

This week, 132 players will take their first steps on the path toward the PGA TOUR, at The Wigwam in Phoenix, Arizona, as they battle for Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada status.

Among those players looking to earn status as part of of the third the third of five Mackenzie Tour Qualifying Tournaments this season will be 14 Canadians, headlined by Jamie Sadlowski of St. Paul, Alta. The two-time World Long Drive Champion made his first full foray into professional golf last year and proved he could compete, making the cut six times in 10 starts, with three top-30 Mackenzie Tour finishes.

Another Canadian to watch is Burlington, Ont., native Blair Hamilton. A former member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team and an NCAA All-American at the University of Houston, Hamilton posted three top-25 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour during his first season as a professional, in 2017.

Here’s a full list of Canadians in the field.

• Jamie Sadlowski (St. Paul, Alta.)
• Blair Hamilton (Burlington, Ont.)
• David Rose (West Vancouver, B.C.)
• Wil Bateman (Edmonton, Alta.)
• Patrick Williams (Toronto, Ont.)
• Gianfranco Guida (Maple, Ont.)
• Zachary Giusti (Aurora, Ont.)
• James Seymour (Aurora, Ont.)
• Aaron Crawford (Calgary, Ont.)
• Evan DeGrazia (Thunder Bay, Ont.)
• Luke Moser (Waterloo, Ont.)
• Michael McAdam (Red Deer, Alta.)
• David Little (Toronto, Ont.)
• Samuel Diamond (Winnipeg, Man.)

The Mackenzie Tour provides players with the opportunity to make the first step on the path to the PGA TOUR by rewarding high finishers on the Order of Merit with steps toward and status on the Web.com Tour. The Order of Merit winner following the 2018 season will be fully exempt on the 2019 Web.com Tour, while finishers 2-5 earn conditional status and an exemption into the Final Stage of Q-School. Finishers 6-10 also earn an exemption directly into Final Stage, while players in the 11th through 20th spots earn exemptions through Second Stage.

The path has already been utilized by 20 players who have gone on to earn PGA TOUR cards since 2013, highlighted by PGA TOUR winners Nick Taylor, Tony Finau and Mackenzie Hughes. Since the Tour’s inception, 166 alumni have earned Web.com Tour status, including 72 competing there for the 2018 season.

OAKVILLE, ONT. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada has unveiled its new Junior Ticket designs for the RBC Canadian Open taking place July 23-29 at Glen Abbey Golf Club and the CP Women’s Open taking place August 20-26 at Wascana Country Club in Regina.

The designs were selected from entries received from local elementary school classes in Oakville and across Saskatchewan who signed on to participate in the second annual Junior Ticket Design Contests for each event.

When the pencil crayons were put away, Sarah Suozzi, a grade 6 student from St. Luke Catholic Elementary School in Oakville, will have her design dawn the Junior Tickets for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open. Austin Marshall, a grade 5 student from Tompkins School in Tompkins, Sask., will have his drawing featured on the 2018 CP Women’s Open Junior Tickets.

Suozzi will win a pizza party for her class and a Golf in Schools kit, as well as RBC Canadian Open tickets for her family. Marshall’s class will receive a pizza party, while he wins a life size ticket and tickets for his family to attend the CP Women’s Open.

“I’d like to thank and congratulate all students who took part in our Junior Ticket design contests,” said Bill Paul, Chief Championships Officer for Golf Canada. “We were ecstatic with the creativity and quality of all entries we received.”

Let’s hear it for our #RBCCO & #CPWO Junior Ticket design winners – congrats Sarah and Austin! ?⛳️

Read ➡️ https://t.co/XzUFkyfmUE pic.twitter.com/vsSZJFOR9P

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) March 29, 2018

The winning illustrations were selected out of more than 100 entries received. Ten finalists were identified by the tournament’s marketing team and then Golf Canada staff voted the winners. The final 10 selections were also shared via Twitter and Instagram.

The contest reinforced Golf Canada’s commitment to conducting events for fans of all ages.

“Family and junior engagement is very important to golf in Canada as well as our championships,” Paul added. “We’re proud to be considered among the most fan-friendly events on both the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour. We pride ourselves on making sure the entire family can enjoy themselves onsite. It’s about bringing everyone together to celebrate community and Canadian golf.”

Last year, nearly 20,000 free RBC Canadian Open and 7,500 CP Women’s Open Junior Tickets were printed and distributed. Free Junior Tickets were also available online for download and printing.

Complimentary Junior Tickets, applicable to kids 17-and-under, are ideal giveaways for sports teams, schools, golf tournaments and summer camps.

Free RBC Canadian Open Junior Tickets are available for download by clicking here, while CP Women’s Open Free Junior Tickets can be downloaded here. They can also be ordered through Golf Canada’s sales department at 1-855-985-5000.

Information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open or CP Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com or www.rbccanadianopen.com.

OAKVILLE – Team Canada alumnae and LPGA Tour veteran Jennifer Kirby is stepping away from professional golf.

The news broke as the Paris, Ont., native confirmed her decision via an interview with TSN’s Bob Weeks.   In the article, Kirby cites a lack of passion and enjoyment for her decision to leave the game.

As soon as Weeks shared his article on Twitter Friday, messages and kudos started to pour in for Kirby.  The LPGA Tour veteran showed class, taking the time to respond to each one.

It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to coach @kirbyjennifer @TheGolfCanada. Smart, tough, dedicated – a real winner! Plus many laughs too! With skills like that success in life will follow you! #alwaysadragon ??? https://t.co/mLGQct50bJ

— Derek Ingram (@dingramgolf) March 24, 2018

I admired you as a golfer growing up. And then I got to know you, and beyond a golfer, this is one of the many reasons I admire you as a https://t.co/4cVvm2wLZX listened to your heart and were honest. So excited for what the future holds for you?@kirbyjennifer https://t.co/euWp3s7QS9

— Brittany Marchand (@Britt_Marchand) March 24, 2018

Jen is a fantastic young lady, over and above being a great player. Tour life is hard, JK got a great education at Alabama and will be a great addition to any business! Wish her all the best https://t.co/DuFSO2nO8V

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) March 23, 2018

Kirby joined Golf Canada’s Team Canada program as a member of the Development Squad in 2007 before graduating to the National Team in 2010. In 2009, Kirby made history by becoming the first golfer to win Ontario Junior, Ontario Amateur, Canadian Junior and Canadian Amateur titles.

“As an amateur they gave me every opportunity I could ask for,” Kirby said.  “I travelled all around the world representing my country. They gave me all the tools to succeed and all the opportunities to play against good competitors. Every day I’m very thankful to have gone through that program.”

She led the University of Alabama Crimson Tide to a national title in 2012.

In 2013, she won her first event as a professional – Canadian Women’s Tour event in Quebec – and secured her LPGA Tour card on her first attempt, where she finished 5^th.

Her time on the LPGA and Symetra Tour had mixed results.

Kirby doesn’t know what lies ahead for her, but she hinted to Weeks that she may like to pursue a career coaching or mentoring girls just getting into professional golf.

On behalf of all of us at Golf Canada, best wishes Jennifer. Thank you for everything you’ve done for Canadian golf.