THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Of all the memories from Tiger Woods’ roots in Southern California, it’s easy to overlook the time he made an appearance in the Tournament of Roses parade.

Ok, so he wasn’t the grand marshal. And he had just turned 18.

Woods, coming off his first U.S. Amateur title, rode on the Chiropractic Centennial Foundation float that required seven tons of flowers to build. He wasn’t the only celebrity on the float on Jan. 2, 1995. Also riding were singer Lee Greenwood, Hall of Fame baseball player Joe Morgan and Olympic champion speedskater Cathy Turner.

The majestic float was toward the end of the order, trailed only by the Icelandic Horse Adventure Society and the International House of Pancakes.

For sure, there were far greater moments with a golf club in his hand.

Woods was only a toddler when he first went head-to-head with Sam Snead. It was only two holes, and Woods made bogey on both of them. Now, he is only four victories from breaking Snead’s record for career PGA Tour victories.

Woods made his PGA Tour debut at Riviera in the 1992 Nissan Open when he was a 16-year-old junior in high school. He might have made the cut if not for a growth spurt during the week that made the shaft in his driver too short. More on that later.

He never won what he often referred to as his “hometown event” at Riviera. He made up for it by winning five times at Sherwood Country Club, and that doesn’t include his win over David Duval at the illustrious “Showdown at Sherwood” in what amounted to Monday Night Golf.

Woods returns to Sherwood this week, in effect closing a chapter on golf in the area he always called home.

The Tiger Woods Learning Center, a superb complex that recently received a Golden Bell Award for excellence in education, remains his tie to Southern California. And the Tiger Woods Foundation headquarters will stay in Irvine.

But he stopped playing Riviera in 2006 after he narrowly made the cut. The only regular event in California that Woods still plays is in Torrey Pines, a two-hour drive from his hometown of Cypress in Orange County. The only time Los Angeles area golf fans could see him play was the World Challenge, a holiday event that attracts an 18-man field of players from the top 50 in the world.

This is the last year at Sherwood. Woods is moving the event to Isleworth, his old home in central Florida. Then, it could be headed to the Bahamas.

When he won the Canadian Open in 2000 with that 6-iron out of a bunker and over the water, his late father, Earl, said that day, “In every tournament, he’ll hit shots that people will be talking about for 30 years.”

One thing is certain _ Woods leaves a trail of stories behind. Here are five from his time in Southern California.

TIGER VS. SLAMMIN’ SAMMY

Woods was just starting kindergarten when he was invited to join Snead at Calabasas Country Club just north of LA. They played two holes, starting with a par 3. Woods hit into a creek fronting the green, and Snead suggested he just pick it up and drop it.

“That kind of ticked me off, so I decided to play it out of the water,” Woods once recalled. “I knocked it on the green and two-putted for my 4.”

THE DEBUT

Woods missed his first seven cuts on the PGA Tour, starting with the 1992 Nissan Open in his debut at age 16. He opened with a 72 and was in reasonable shape to make the cut until what his father said was a growth spurt. Woods shot 75 the next day and headed back to high school.

“I was hitting the ball good the first few days of the week, but then I suddenly outgrew my club shaft,” Woods said a year later.

His father said they didn’t figure out what happened until the tournament was over.

“He was in a growth cycle, and those teenage muscles just grew overnight,” Earl Woods said.

THE END OF RIVIERA

A beautiful afternoon off Sunset Boulevard turned nasty without warning, and Woods was on his back nine at Riviera without rain gear in 2006. He bogeyed two of his last three holes for a 74 to presumably miss the cut – until three more players dropped shots coming in and Woods made the cut on the number.

He was to be paired Saturday with J.B. Holmes, a big-hitting rookie who had just smashed his way to victory in Phoenix. The next morning, Woods was a no-show. He withdrew because of the flu, and he has not been back to Riviera since.

THE POWER MOVE

It was baking hot in August for the “Showdown at Sherwood” in 1999, a nationally televised exhibition against David Duval, who had returned to No. 1 in the world. Because it was not an official PGA Tour event, the caddies wore shorts.

A PGA Tour rules official ordered them to change into pants. Duval’s caddie complied. Woods’ caddie, Steve Williams, did not. The rules officials made it clear to Williams that if he did not change into trousers, it would be the last time he caddied on the PGA Tour.

Woods, listening to this conversation, interrupted by saying, “Guess I’ll be playing in Europe next year.”

Williams wore shorts. Woods won the match. And it wasn’t long before shorts were approved for caddies on the PGA Tour.

THE WIN

Of the five wins at his World Challenge, none was more meaningful than in 2011. One shot behind with two to play, Woods birdied his last two holes to beat Zach Johnson. It was his first win since his personal life came crashing down, a span of 26 official tournaments over 749 days.

“If he steadily progresses, keeps getting confidence and moving forward,” Jim Furyk said that day, “he’s going to return and be one of the best players in the game again.”

Woods won three times the following year, five times this year. For his swan song at Sherwood, he is No. 1 in the world.

The LPGA’s Final Stage of qualifying kicks off on Wednesday at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla., with 154 players in search of 20 fully exempt tickets to the LPGA Tour for the 2014 season.

A strong contingent of Canadians are entered into the field this week, including 4-time LPGA Tour winner, Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, PEI. Five former members of Team Canada’s National Amateur Team Program will also vie for LPGA Tour status including, Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault, Que., Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., and Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont.

Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying is contested over 90 holes on LPGA International’s Jones and Hills courses from December 4-8. The top 20 qualifiers on Sunday will earn Category 12 status for the 2014 season on the LPGA Tour, while players who finish 21st through 45 and ties will earn membership in Category 17.  The final stage of Q-School will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 72 holes. All others who make the cut will receive Symetra Tour status.

Canadians in the field this week:

• Lorie Kane, Charlottetown, PEI.
• Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Sherbrooke, Que.
• Ashley Sholer, Hamilton, Ont.
• Natalie Gleadall, Stratford, Ont.
• Jennifer Kirby, Paris, Ont.
• Sara-Maude Juneau, Fossambault, Que
• Stephanie Sherlock, Barrie, Ont.
• Erica Rivard, Tecumseh, Ont.
• Jessica Shepley, Oakville, Ont.
• Nicole Vandermade, Brantford, Ont.

For scoring, information and pairings for Stage III of LPGA Qualifying, click here.

The world’s first digital-only golf news publication announced their inaugural Global All-Amateur Teams that recognize on-course amateur excellence around the world.

Amongst the 178 players worldwide selected for the awards, 11 Canadians were recognized at the amateur, mid-amateur and senior amateur levels.

Team Canada’s Brooke Henderson, 16, of Smiths Falls, Ont., earned First Team Women’s Amateur honours alongside 2013 Canadian Women’s Open Champion and former World Amateur No. 1, Lydia Ko of New Zealand. In 2013, Henderson’s excelled on the amateur and professional stage, winning the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and also making the cut at the LPGA’s U.S. Women’s Open and Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.

On the Men’s Mid-Amateur side, Team Canada’s Garrett Rank and Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan were named to the Men’s Mid-Amateur First Team. Rank, 26, of Elmira, Ont., earned medalist honours at the U.S. Amateur Public Links in the stroke-play competition and finished runner-up to Victoria, B.C.’s Carrigan (27) at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C., and Stefi Markovich of Welland, Ont., each received Women’s Mid-Amateur First Team honours. Proteau captured the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title and advanced to the Round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, while Markovich, the 2013 Ontario Mid-Amateur Champion, was a semi-finalist at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.

On the senior side, Calgary’s David Schultz was named to the Senior Men’s First Team after his victory at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship where he held off the USA’s Chip Lutz. On the women’s side, 2013 Canadian Women’s Senior Champion, Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont., grabbed a spot on the First-Team, after making it to the Round of 16 at the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

Team Canada’s Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., notched the lone position in the Men’s Amateur awards. The Kent State University senior earned Second Team accolades after his runner-up finishes at the U.S. Amateur and Canadian Men’s Amateur Championships. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., received an honorable mention after his victory at the Porter Cup.

Also earning Second Team honours were Jennifer Lochhead of Ancaster, Ont., and Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., in the women’s mid-amateur division.

To see the entire award winners list, click here.

Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th hole to beat Adam Scott at the Australian Open on Sunday, winning for the first time in 2013 and denying Scott the Triple Crown of Australian golf.

McIlroy started the last round four shots behind Scott, but drew even when he eagled the seventh and birdied the eighth.

Scott went a shot ahead with a birdie at the ninth. The pair then went shot for shot over the back nine before the dramatic finish.

Scott’s approach shot went over the back of the green and his chip went well past the hole, with two putts bringing a bogey. McIlroy hit his approach to 10 feet and sank the putt to win by a shot.

“I wanted to get a win and finally I’ve been able to get one,” McIlroy said. “But more satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top.

“Adam is a phenomenal golfer, a great competitor and probably an even better guy and I feel a bit sorry that I was the one that ruined the triple crown for him.”

Scott was attempting to become only the second player after compatriot Robert Allenby in 2005 to win his country’s Triple Crown by taking the Australian Open, Australian Masters and Australian PGA titles in the same season.

He carried his form from the Masters and PGA tournaments into the Open, shattering the course record with a 10-under 62 in his opening round.

He came into the final day at 16 under, with rounds of 62, 70 and 68, four shots ahead of McIlroy, who was four ahead of the next closest challenger.

That, in effect, made Sunday’s final round a shootout between the No. 2-ranked Scott and Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, who was the world’s top-ranked player last year.

Scott was left to rue a series of missed birdie opportunities, failing to make six putts from within 12 feet during his final round.

“Nothing was going my way on the greens today,” Scott said. “I could have put this thing away early on if the putter was behaving how it should have, how it did the rest of the week.”

Both players took irons from the tee on the last hole and landed their shots adjacent to each other on the fairway. Scott’s approach landed ahead of the hole, but a bounce sent the ball flying through the back of the green.

Rather than pitch and run back onto the green, Scott chose to give his chip some loft. It failed to pull up, rolling onto the lower tier of the green and he did well to salvage a bogey.

McIlroy stood assessing his 10-foot putt during Scott’s excursions. After Scott holed out, McIlroy rolled in a slow putt that just made it to the hole.

“I didn’t think it was going to unfold the way it did,” McIlroy said. “It’s hard not to feel some guilt in the way I won it. Having a one-shot lead going into the last having it taken away from you right at the very end, it’s tough.”

McIlroy finished with an 18-under 270. Scott finished six shots ahead of Australian John Senden (11 under).

Senden and Australians Bryden MacPherson and Rhein Gibson, who tied for fourth at 9 under, all qualified for next year’s British Open.

TaylorMade has announced it will be launching an unprecedented 14° SLDR driver in the coming months.

Launched in August, the SLDR is engineered with a remarkable low and forward center of gravity (CG) placement making it the lowest spinning driver in company history. Because of this construction, TaylorMade is encouraging golfers – including PGA TOUR players – to “loft up,” a message that flies in the face of what the rest of the industry has been promoting, yet a significant step in the pursuit of the perfect launch condition.

“We have been chasing a driver that delivers high launch and low spin, a coveted combination off the tee sought after by all golfers,” said TaylorMade Golf Chief Technical Officer and 24-year industry veteran Benoit Vincent. “Having made significant industry strides with innovation advancements like movable weight, larger faces, adjustable shafts and improved aerodynamics, we are confident that we have cracked yet another code to more distance. And it’s through loft.”

This new thinking from TaylorMade changes a long-standing industry belief that a low-lofted driver is best for better golfers. TaylorMade has been working closely with its Tour Staff to show that the combination of low-forward CG and higher lofts produces a better and longer ball flight.  With the facts behind them, an unprecedented amount of Tour Pros are lofting up and reaping the reward. In fact, many SLDR users on the PGA Tour have lofted up at least 1° when compared against previous driver models that do not have low and forward CG.

“Everything we thought we knew about engineering drivers has been turned on its head,” added Vincent. “I have never been more convinced that building a driver with low and forward CG is the future in metalwood construction.”

TaylorMade’s engineering team has calculated that 17 degrees of launch and 1700 RPMs of spin create the perfect combination for maximizing driver distance.  The new high-lofted 14° SLDR driver, combined with strategically designed low/forward CG is another step closer to achieving the perfect ball flight.

PUMA Golf has introduced the Monolite golf shoe, a versatile shoe designed to provide maximum comfort for 19 holes. The Monolite
weighs in at just 9.5oz. (269 grams) and is more than 30% lighter than comparable styles on the market.

The spikeless shoe goes isn’t only lightweight, it’s also quite stylish.

“The Monolite is the perfect shoe to showcase our new LiteStyleTM platform we are launching in 2014,” said Grant Knudson, Footwear Product Manager for PUMA Golf. “It is an impressive blend of lightweight performance, versatility, comfort and style that will
attract golfers of all kinds.”

The Carbon Rubber outsole uses SmartQuill® to enhance grip and traction throughout the golfer’s swing by strategically shaping and positioning traction lugs directionally. The compression EVA midsole is fully integrated with the external heel counter, creating one
cohesive unit that allows for ultimate lightweight comfort and cushioning while maintaining high levels of support and traction.

A premium, waterproof upper made with full-grain leather features subtle design and color details in five hard-to-resist color options. Everfoam is strategically positioned within the upper for a comfortable fit that has slow recovery memory foam adjusting to the contours of your foot with every step.

Available in two perforated leather options (Monaco Blue/Lime Green/White and Black/White) and three smooth leather options (Tradewinds/White/Monaco Blue, Chestnut/Black Coffee/Vibrant), each shoe comes with two laces to customize your look as often as you want.

The Monolite Wns is available in four trendsetting color combinations with an upper inspired by an oxford silhouette. Featuring a yoga mat sockliner (that is literally made out of yoga mat material) the Monolite Wns provides all day comfort and cushioning to keep your feet feeling relaxed and looking great.

PUMA Golf’s Monolite (120$ CDN) will be available on local retailers shelves starting Feb. 1, 2014.

Golf Canada is proud to be a partner of the PGA of Canada. And, with such partnership, opportunities arise to assist each other in the execution of our championships. Last week, my colleagues and I were fortunate enough to officiate the PGA Championship of Canada at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. It was exciting to see spectacular play from the top 64 club professionals from across the country.

The championship was a match play event which differs in the Rules from stroke play championships. In any form of play, a referee is one who is appointed by the Committee to decide questions of fact and apply the Rules. He or she must act on any breach of a Rule that he observes or is reported to him.

In match play, there is an exception: unless a referee is assigned to accompany the players throughout the entire match, he has no authority to intervene in a match other than in relation to Rule 1-3 (Agreement to Waive Rules), 6-7 (Undue Delay), and 33-7 (Disqualification Penalties; Committee Discretion). The first two days we were faced with this type of officiating and only able to intervene under the 3 scenarios.

Beyond these three Rules, if we saw a Rules breach, we were unable to interject in a match. Note 1 under Rule 2-5 states a player may disregard a breach of the Rules by his opponent provided there is no agreement by the sides to waive a Rule (Rule 1-3). It is solely up to the player whether he wants to overlook a Rules breach of his opponent.

My colleague Adam Helmer, was called into an interesting scenario during the first round. A player had hit the cart path on his approach shot and it bounced down the road into a manhole. A spectator witnessed the ball enter the manhole which allowed the player to find and identify the ball. The player was able to take relief under Rule 24-2b, relief from interference by an immovable obstruction through the green. Note 2 to Rule 24-2 states if a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted which was the case with this ruling.

Here’s another interesting situation that arose at Magna. Prior to the Round of 16, a competitor approached an official inquiring about a ruling. The competitor presented the situation; if he was chipping onto the green, and his opponent’s ball was a few feet from the pin, could he request his opponent to leave his ball beside the hole. In a stroke play competition, this would be a disqualification under Rule 22-1, but this situation differed due to the form of play. The Rules do not require the opponent to leave the ball beside the hole to assist his opponent, and the opponent was not in breach of the Rules by asking his player to leave the ball there. In Decision 22/5 there is a similar situation where an assisting ball is requested to be replaced after the opponent had marked his ball.

There were four Golf Canada championship staff members helping out with the PGA Championship which allowed each of us to be assigned to a match in the quarterfinals, entitling us to apply the Rules in each match. Each official walked with the groups for the remainder of the championship encountering clarification questions and routine rulings. It was a great experience assisting the players and the PGA of Canada throughout the week.

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If you would like to expand your Rules base, you can begin your Rules of Golf Education anytime, beginning with our online curriculum. To start your Rules Education, click here.

As always, our ‘Ask an Expert’ tool can be utilized and accessed online here. We would be happy to answer your Rules-related inquiries.

Last month, Westfield Golf and Country Club in Grand Bay-Westfield, N.B. honoured Doug Campbell as the eighth member inducted into the Westfield Wall of Fame. Doug has been a great ambassador for his club as a long-time volunteer and through all the friendships that golf has brought him at the club.

To be eligible for this honour a member must have participated in club activities, provincial and national events, and demonstrated great sportsmanship serving as a role model and mentor to fellow members at Westfield. Over the years Doug has easily met all the requirements, having made Westfield a big part of his life. As part of his volunteer days in golf Doug served his provincial golf association culminating as president of The New Brunswick Golf Association in 1973-74. He also served as non-playing captain for the 1974 N.B. Willington Cup Team at the Canadian Amateur.

Doug Campbell is still described by friends as a competitive player who gives his best effort on every shot. He understands that golf is a game and a little wager is always a welcome addition with friends. As a competitor Doug sites his victory in the 1986 St. Croix Invitational as one of his golf career highlights. He also has shared his love of the game with his family who is very proud of him and this latest accomplishment. His wife Jane took up the game in recent years. Sons Andrew and David were introduced to the game by their father. David has made a career in the golf industry as the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Golf Association.

On behalf of Golf Canada, congratulations Doug Campbell on this fine honour by your club. Thank you for your service to the game of golf and your passion as a player. We wish you a healthy winter season and many more great years down the middle of the fine fairways at Westfield Golf and Country Club.

After another busy year, Golf Canada’s amateur championship season came to an end last month at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. In all, 25 competitions were conducted from the beginning of May to mid-September.

Golf Canada’s Amateur championship department conducts eight National Championships. Our Canadian Amateur Championships continue to attract more top international competitors and offer exemptions into the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship as well as the RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Women’s Open. With the commitment of our national partners in RBC Wealth Management, Titleist and Footjoy, we have been able to hold best in class events. The Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship retained its reputation on the world stage remaining an ‘A’ ranked event on the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the highest distinction behind the four elite ranked championships.

In case you missed any events, here’s the low down on who took home Golf Canada hardware in 2013. Our reigning champions are:

Canadian University/College Championship – Club de golf Val des Lacs in Ste-Sophie, QC

Men’s Team Champions: Université Laval Rouge et Or
Women’s Team Champions: Université de Montréal
Low Men’s Medalist: Ugo Coussard of Université Laval Rouge et Or
Low Women’s Medalist: Sabrina Sapone of Université de Montréal

Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship – Club de golf Beloeil in Beloeil, QC

Amateur Champion: Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, ON
Mid-Amateur Champion: Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, BC
Mid-Master Champion: Helene Chartrand of Pincourt, QC
Inter-Provincial Team Champions: British Columbia

Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship – Cherry Downs Golf & Country Club in Pickering, ON

Junior Champion: Maddie Szeryk of Allen, Texas
Juvenile Champion: Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, ON
Inter-Provincial Team Champions: Alberta

Canadian Junior Boys Championship – Timberwolf Golf Club in Garson, ON

Junior Champion: Kevin Kwon of Maple Ridge, BC
Juvenile Champion: Andrew Harrison of Camrose, AB
Inter-Provincial Team Champions: Alberta

Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship – Royal Colwood Golf & Country Club in Victoria, BC

Amateur Champion: Eli Cole of Beverly Hills, California
Inter-Provincial Team Champions: British Columbia
Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship held at Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club in Vernon, BC
Senior Champion: Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, ON
Super-Senior Champion: Alison Murdoch of Victoria, BC
Inter-Provincial Team Champions: Québec

Canadian Men’s Senior Championship – The Briars Golf Club in Sutton West, ON

Senior Champion: David Schultz of Calgary, AB
Super-Senior Champion: Robert Fugere of Gatineau, QC
Inter-Provincial Team Champions: Alberta

Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship – Blackhawk Golf Club in Spruce Grove, AB

Mid-Amateur Champion: Kevin Carrigan of Victoria, BC
Mid-Master Champion: David Bartman of Los Angeles, California
Inter-Provincial Team Champions: Ontario

The CN Future Links series featured six regional events across the country. Each championship offered an opportunity for the top six boys to earn an exemption into the 2013 Canadian Junior Boys Championship and the girls champion to earn an exemption into the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The 2013 Champions:

Pacific Championship – Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay, BC

Boys Champion: Kevin Kwon of Maple Ridge, BC
Girls Champion: Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, ON

Ontario Championship – Listowel Golf Club in Listowel, ON

Boys Champion: Carter Simon of Sutton, ON
Girls Champion: Maddie Szeryk of Allen, Texas

Prairie Championship – Elmwood Golf & Country Club in Swift Current, SK

Boys Champion: Zach Anderson of Nanaimo, BC
Girls Champion: Jaclyn Lee of Calgary, AB

Quebec Championship – Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, QC

Boys Champion: Etienne Papineau of Champlain St. Lawrence, QC
Girls Champion: Annie Lacombe of Laval, QC

Western Championship – Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, AB

Boys Champion: Brett Pasula of Red Deer, AB
Girls Champion: Sabrine Garrison of Calgary, AB

Atlantic Championship – Antigonish Golf & Country Club in Antigonish, NS

Boys Champion: Ryan Nowe of Bridgewater, NS
Girls Champion: Krysta Schaus of Fredericton, NB

The Canada Games were hosted in Sherbrooke, Québec with the golf portion held at Club de golf Milby. Thirty-six junior boys and thirty junior girls represented their provinces in an individual and team competition. British Columbia proved to be a dominating force as they were crowned the champion in the boy’s individual, girl’s individual, boy’s team, and girl’s team competition. The 2013 Champions:

Boy’s Individual
1st Place: Kevin Kwon of British Columbia
2nd Place: Étienne Papineau of Québec
3rd Place: Matt Williams of Alberta

Girl’s Individual
1st Place: Taylor Kim of British Columbia
2nd Place: Valérie Tanguay of Québec
3rd Place: Sabrine Garrison of Alberta

Boy’s Team
1st Place: British Columbia
2nd Place: Ontario
3rd Place: Québec

Girl’s Team
1st Place: British Columbia
2nd Place: Québec
3rd Place: Alberta

In its eighth season, the Canadian Women’s Tour continues to be one of the world’s premier development tours for women attracting rising professionals and elite amateurs, both Canadian and internationals. Samantha Richdale was awarded as the Jocelyne Bourassa player of the year after winning the Tour’s Order of Merit and topping the money list. Richdale then went on to win the low Canadian honours at the CN Canadian Women’s Open. The 2013 Champions:

CN Canadian Women’s Tour held – Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, BC

Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, BC

CN Canadian Women’s Tour – Club de golf Cowansville in Cowansville, QC

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, ON

CN Canadian Women’s Tour held – Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, ON

Emily Childs of Alameda, California

New to the Championship schedule in 2013 was the PGA Tour Canada TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial. This event was conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA Tour Canada. Held at Sunningdale Golf & Country Club in London, Ontario, the 2013 champion was Université Laval alum, Max Gilbert. Five exemptions to the Web.com Tour were handed out at the conclusion of the championship. Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, ON, Riley Wheeldon of Comox, BC, Mark Hubbard of San Jose, CA, Hugo Leon of Chile, and Wil Collins of Albuquerque, NM earned their ticket to the Web.com Tour as the top five finishers on the PGA Tour Canada’s Order of Merit.

Of course, Golf Canada also conducted our National Open Golf Championships. The champions were:

RBC Canadian Open – Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, ON

Brandt Snedeker of Nashville, Tennessee

CN Canadian Women’s Open – Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton, AB

Lydia Ko of Seoul, South Korea

Training Camp

Last week, Team Canada’s newly announced Development Squad took to the facilities at the University of Houston for their first official training camp of the new season. All 10 players were in attendance to begin the rigorous training routine and sports science assessments that come along with the first training camp of a new season.

To give some insight into what a typical day is like at a Development Squad camp, see the agenda below:

7:00am – Team breakfast

7:30am – Flight Scope technology

8:30am – Physiotherapy

9:00am – Strength & Conditioning assessment

9:30am – Strength & Conditioning coaching

10:00am – Sports Psychology

11:00am – Class: Sports Nutrition

12:00pm – Lunch

1:00pm – Alternate through morning activities

4:00pm – 9 holes of golf with coaches

6:30pm – Dinner

8:00pm – Class: Shot by Shot

Get to know Sabrine Garrison

Hometown: Calgary
Age: 17

Q: What are some of your nicknames?
A: “Gare Bear”

Q: Who or what got you into golf?
A: My dad introduced me to the game of golf. I swung my first golf club at the age of 4!

Q: What is your best golfing moment? (i.e. Tournament finishes, first eagle, hole in one etc..)
A: Winning the CN Future Links Western with a final round of 69.

Q: What is your worst golfing moment, and the lesson you learned from it?
A: Shooting 11 over par on the front nine of my very first AJGA. I was so nervous and couldn’t find my swing. On the back nine I stopped caring about the score and finished that nine only one over. This experience taught me to forget about the score until the end of the round.

Q: When you aren’t working on your golf game, you are likely:
A: Hanging out with my friends, doing homework and taking hot yoga classes.

Q: Who is in your dream foursome?
A: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Annika Sorenstam

Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
A: I have completed my grade 6 Royal Conservatory of Music Piano Exam.

Q: What course would you most like to play that you haven’t already?
A: Augusta National

Q: What is the best thing about your hometown?
A: Being so close to the Rocky Mountains. (Skiing, scenery, lots to do).

Q: Favourite type of shot to hit?
A: Anything straight, but I do enjoy hitting a nice solid drive.

Q: What is the most surprising thing in your golf bag?
A: My varied assortment of allergy medication.

Q: If you could have a walk-up song on the first tee box, what would it be?
A: “Send me on My Way” – Rusted Roots

College signing tracker

See the latest official National Letter of Intent signings by our Team Canada athletes below:

Valérie Tanguay – University of Oklahoma

Carter Simon – NC State

Sabrine Garrison – University of Minnesota

Q-School Alumni Updates

Web.com Tour – final stage

Justin Shin
Maple Ridge, B.C.
Alumnus (2013)

Eugene Wong
North Vancouver, B.C.
Alumnus (2011, 2010, 2009, 2007)

Albin Choi
Toronto, Ont.
Alumnus (2012, 2011, 2010, 2009)

Cam Burke
New Hamburg, Ont.
Alumnus (2010)

Nick Taylor
Abbotsford, B.C.
Alumnus (2010, 2009, 2008, 2006)

Riley Wheeldon
Courtenay, B.C.
Alumnus (2008)

LPGA Tour – final stage

Jennifer Kirby
Paris, Ont.
Alumnus (2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007)

Nicole Vandermade
Brantford, Ont.
Alumnus (2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007)

Sara-Maude Juneau
Fossambault, Qué.
Alumnus (2010, 2008)

Maude-Aimée LeBlanc
Sherbrooke, Qué.
Alumnus (2010, 2009, 2008, 2007)