Victoria, B.C. – Five players shot matching rounds of 6-under 64 on Thursday at Uplands Golf Club to share the first round lead at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist, the second event of the 2016 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season.

Rockford, Illnois’ Brad Benjamin and Victoria, B.C.’s Ben Griffin – a PGA of Canada member and Assistant Pro at Uplands – both recorded albatrosses on the par-5 seventh hole to reach 6-under, tied with Langley, B.C.’s Adam Cornelson, Cibolo, Texas’ Jeff Rein and Shelton, Washington’s Chris Evans.

Griffin and Benjamin’s deuces mark the first time two albatrosses have been recorded in the same round in Mackenzie Tour history.

“It reminded me of when I made my first hole-in-one,” said Benjamin, a first-year Mackenzie Tour member. “You’re just kind of mentally out of it. I just tried to use that experience, because you’re just trying to stay focused for eight and nine. Those holes are just as important as any others.”

Griffin, a 36-year old Victoria native with more than 20 years’ worth of experience playing at Uplands, was treated to a hero’s welcome from fans at the 18^th hole.

“I just kept saying to myself, ‘Why not me? Someone’s got to play well.’ It was a little bit of a steer job on the last couple of holes just trying to get it into the clubhouse, but it was great to see people out here – it’s like a second family to me.”

Rein matched Benjamin’s 64 playing in the same group, while Cornelson and Evans posted their scores in windier conditions Thursday morning to take the early lead.

“It’s a nice, but we all know on this Tour how the guys can go low, so I’m focused on getting some rest and hitting that first tee shot and seeing how it goes,” said Cornelson.

One shot behind the group at 6-under were Seann Harlingten, Aaron Cockerill, Scott Vincent and Hank Lebioda with rounds of 5-under 65.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – The storied legacy of Canadian golf courses has been collected and presented through a new interactive website designed to map out 143 years of Canadian golf course history in communities from coast to coast.

Through the combined efforts of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum, Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation, the Canadian Golf Course History website traces the journey that golf has undertaken in this country since Royal Montreal Golf Club – the nation’s first golf course – established in 1873.

The interactive website map, presented as a timeline, serves as both a historical tool and an extensive database of many golf courses – both historic and current – that have formed the Canadian golf landscape in the past 143 years. A ‘search-for-people’ function allows users to discover the course architects who have built the game in Canada along with the many PGA of Canada professionals who continue to shape it.

“While the Canadian Golf Course History website is an excellent resource to discover our many golf facilities, it also celebrates the roots of the game and maps out golf’s footprint in communities across Canada, “said Karen Hewson, Golf Canada’s Managing Director, Membership and Heritage Services.. “The interactive map helps to tell the story of golf in this country and provides a historical lens to examine the state of the game and it’s evolution over the past 143 years. Perhaps the best feature is that this map is designed to encourage participation from golfer’s across Canada; feedback, recommended edits, stories and photos are all great contributions to the map. The scope of this project depends on user engagement to ensure the best content available. There is no doubt many people will see an opportunity to contribute.

“A snapshot of the development of golf in Canada reinforces the important contributions of so many individuals—from renowned architects to talented professionals—along with the historic landmarks and breathtaking destinations that define the Canadian golf landscape,” added Hewson. “The website takes an in-depth look at not only where we are as a golfing nation, but where we have been, the steps that were taken, and the individuals who have developed the game for more than a century.”

Numerous golf courses have hosted the RBC Canadian Open, the CP Women’s Open and Golf Canada’s national amateur championships or welcomed provincial or PGA of Canada championships to their facilities. The historical database recognizes the role that hosting these championships has played in writing the story of Canadian golf.

While the Canadian Golf Course History website launched with a wealth of information, it is also a social hub to foster interaction and conversation among golf enthusiasts. Individual course profiles will allow users to share their personal tales, tips, and information. Golf clubs and individuals are invited to share in the compilation of Canadian golf history by submitting stories, photos and/or updates for golf courses in their community.

“This initiative will enhance the historical compilation of Canadian golf through crowd sourcing from within the golf community,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “We invite courses and individuals to be a part of this living, evolving hub for Canadian golf by sharing photos and stories of their favourite facilities.”

At the time of launch, the Canadian Golf Course History website maps the information of more than 1,800 courses across Canada with new content, facts and images added daily.  Each club page includes a ‘suggest an edit’ function along with an area for individuals to share their stories and provide pivotal history.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame would like to acknowledge Scott Burke, Dave Daye, Emily White and Laura Di Nicola for their generous contributions of time and effort that made the Canadian golf course history website possible.

Find out more or make a contribution to the Canadian Golf Course History Website by visiting www.golfcanada.ca/coursehistory.

Brooke Henderson is used to pitching around the green, not pitching on the mound.

But last night in Philadelphia, that changed for the 18-year-old, as the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball asked her to throw out the first pitch before their game against the Washington Nationals.

The squad, who has one two World Series titles, most recently in 2008, even made custom ‘Henderson’ jerseys for both Brooke and her sister Brittany.

Her father, Dave, was behind the plate as his youngest daughter threw a strike over the middle of the plate.

The ump called it a strike Thank you @Phillies!! pic.twitter.com/uAyjAORYoM

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) June 1, 2016

Henderson is in nearby Atlantic City, N.J. for the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer Henderson, Philadelphia cheesesteak in hand, called it a “really fun night” on Twitter.

Such a fun night in Philly thanks to @ShopRiteLPGA. Looking forward to a great week in Atlantic City! pic.twitter.com/fk5M71zes0

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) June 2, 2016

She also took to Twitter to answer some fan questions as the game went on, admitting she “can’t wait” for the Olympics (and hopes to watch Track & Field if she has time), is looking forward to playing Pebble Beach one day, and says while she has more golf shoes than Brittany, her elder sister has way more “dressy” shoes.

After a week at home in early May, where Brooke and Brittany made appearances in Ottawa and enjoyed some downtime at their cottage, Henderson was right back to it. She finished tied for 3rd last week at the LPGA Volvik Championship, pushing her to fourth in the world.

It is the highest Henderson has ever been in the Rolex Rankings. She is now only behind Lydia Ko, Inbee Park, and Lexi Thompson.

Henderson has earned $538,344 for the season.

Next week is the second major championship of the year on the LPGA Tour at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship where Henderson is a betting favourite. June 30th also marks the start of the Cambia Portland Classic, where Henderson will be the defending champion.

Graham DeLaet announced Wednesday he has withdrawn from this week’s PGA Tour event citing a case of anxiety that has affected his play around the greens.

DeLaet, who was just topped by David Hearn as Canada’s highest-ranked Canadian, admitted last week while on a media tour promoting his new beer, Prairie Baard, that he loved Memorial and had good memories from the golf course – thanks to his tremendous performance at the Presidents Cup in 2013.

Although the Weyburn, Sask. product has battled a myriad of injuries in his career in his back, neck, and last year, his hand, he told the Canadian Press earlier this year that physically he’s been feeling good through 2016.

“Probably the best I have been on the PGA Tour, probably since I was on the Canadian Tour, which is promising,” he stated.

DeLaet’s best finish this year was a tie for fifth at the Valspar Championship in March. He had a good chance for his first PGA Tour victory going into Sunday, but was derailed by a 75, a product of a poor putting performance.

“I played great and putted horribly, especially on Sunday. You can’t win golf tournaments like that,” he said.

Although DeLaet has never employed a swing coach, he has worked with a short-game coach in the past, Gabe Hjertstedt. He also took a putting lesson from noted instructor and CBS commentator Peter Kostis at DeLaet’s home club in Arizona earlier this year.

DeLaet was coming off a stretch of two straight missed cuts – at The Players Championship and the AT&T Byron Nelson, respectively – before passing on the Dean & Deluca Invitational at Colonial last week to attend the wedding of a good friend of his in Edmonton, Alta.

He was originally going to play in Memphis at the FedEx St. Jude Classic next week, but this recent withdraw puts that into question. There’s no word yet how extensive this struggle is, or for how long he’s been battling it.

But looking at the numbers, it’s easy to see where DeLaet’s struggles have been.

He ranks 186th on Tour in Scrambling, 141st in Strokes Gained: Putting, and perhaps most indicative of where his anxiety is stemming from, 188th on Tour in Strokes Gained: Around-The-Green.

Meanwhile, DeLaet is 36th in Driving Distance on Tour, and 20th in Strokes Gained: Approach-The-Green, showing that his iron play and driving remain at an elite level.

And while DeLaet could have easily said this was a physical injury, for him to admit it was on the mental side is admirable, as made evident by the copious well-wishers replying to his tweet from Wednesday.

I’m dealing with incredible anxiety while chipping/pitching right now. It’s not fun. I needed to WD to get it sorted out and get back ASAP.

— Graham DeLaet (@GrahamDeLaet) June 1, 2016

EUGENE, Ore. – Sulman Raza made a 7-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole to outlast Taylor Funk and give Oregon its first NCAA men’s golf title, 3-2 over short-handed Texas on Wednesday.

Raza rallied in regulation at Eugene Country Club and finished off Funk – the son of PGA Tour Champions player Fred Funk – with the birdie on the par-4 10th on the 21st hole.

“Those last two holes of regular play and those three playoff holes, I felt like everybody was watching and everything was on my shoulders,” said Raza, a junior from Eugene. “I think I handled it great. I’ve worked so hard to put myself in this position and excel and achieve this goal. To do it on this kind of stage and in front of this many people and fans, I think it is going to give me a huge confidence boost.”

Oregon became the first host school to win since Oklahoma in 1989 at Oak Tree. The Ducks entered the tournament 26th in the NCAA ranking and were the No. 6 seed in match play.

“They are just competitors. They worked hard and they are great players,” Oregon coach Casey Martin said. “It is all about these guys. I haven’t hit a shot, I just told them to breathe. That was the extent of my work. These guys did an awesome job. It is a special group.”

Raza also scored the deciding point in the Ducks’ 3-2 semifinal victory over Illinois on Tuesday.

“This is a dream come true,” said Aaron Wise, also the individual champion Monday. “We have worked so hard for this exact moment. For Raza yesterday and today to do what he did is incredible.”

Spotted a 1-0 lead when Texas star Beau Hossler withdrew against Zach Foushee because of a left shoulder injury, Oregon made it 2-0 when Edwin Yi beat Gavin Hall 4 and 3 in the first match.

Hossler was unable to play after fighting through pain Tuesday to score the winning point in the Longhorns’ 4-1 semifinal victory over Southern California.

“With the way my shoulder is right now I don’t have a chance of competing at all,” Hossler said during the match. “I’d be doing my team a disservice to be out there and, obviously, be risking some serious injury on my shoulder.”

Top-ranked Texas missed a chance to become the first No. 1 seed to win since the format changed to match play. Texas won the last of its three titles in 2012 at Riviera when Jordan Spieth was a freshman

“We came up short today just a little bit,” Texas coach John Fields said. “The NCAA crowned a great champion in Oregon. It is their moment, and we gave it our best. We didn’t lose this golf tournament, they won it. I’m excited for them.”

Scottie Scheffler and Doug Ghim won for Texas. Scheffler beat Wise 4 and 3 in the second match, and Ghim topped Thomas Lim 2 and 1 in the fifth.

“Scottie just played a heck of match,” Wise said. “I just got beat.”

Set to turn pro, Wise became the first individual champion to also play on the team winner since Kevin Chappell at UCLA in 2008, the year before the format switch to match play.

It came down to Raja and Funk in the fourth match.

“I realized Scottie won and Doug was basically closing out,” Funk said. “I knew at that point it was going to come down to our match for the national championship. I played some good golf, and he played a little better golf.”

Raja tied Funk with a par on the par-4 17th, and they halved the par-4 18th with pars. On 18, Funk made a 5-footer to extend the match after Raja two-putted from 35 feet.

On the 10th on the first extra hole, Raza’s 6-foot birdie try for the victory slid right, and Funk made a 3 1/2-footer for par to extend the match. On the 18th on the second extra hole, Funk had a chance to win, but missed a 10-foot birdie try.

Funk took the lead with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 15th. The sophomore escaped with a halve on the par-3 16th, getting up-and-down for bogey from the drop zone after hitting into the water.

“There were a lot of nerves,” Funk said. “Obviously, there is a hometown crowd for Oregon, so I wanted to keep that as quiet as possible. Obviously, the nerves were there. I loved every minute of it. That is what you live for and we didn’t come out on top this time, but there will be many more opportunities and I’m looking forward to those.”

Scheffler closed out Wise on the 15th after the Oregon star four-putted for bogey.

“I was pretty nervous out there, but I was able to handle it pretty well, thankfully,” Scheffler said.

DUBLIN, Ohio – Phil Mickelson said he was disappointed to get caught up in a federal investigation that linked him to an insider trader scheme and that he needed to be more responsible for the company he keeps off the golf course.

“I feel excited to start playing golf again,” he said Wednesday. “I feel excited to have that part behind me and move forward.”

It was his first public appearance since Mickelson was named in a federal complaint that accused Las Vegas gambler Billy Walters and Thomas Davis, a former corporate board member of Dean Foods Co., of making tens of millions of dollars in illicit stock trades.

Mickelson was spared criminal charges. The Securities and Exchange Commissioner alleges he benefited only from the misdeeds of others. Mickelson agreed to repay the $931,000 (plus interest) he made in a single trade of Dean Foods in the summer of 2012.

It was the second time in two years that Mickelson met the media at the Memorial to talk about stock deals instead of his short game. FBI agents met him after his first round of the 2014 Memorial to ask him about Walters during an insider trading investigation. Mickelson said that week he had done nothing wrong.

Walking into the same room after his pro-am round, he smiled and said, “This looks familiar.”

But he didn’t have much to say except that he felt a burden lifted that his part was over, and he thanked his family and corporate sponsors for their support.

“I’m disappointed to have been a part of that whole thing,” he said. “But after a thorough investigation, I’m pleased that it’s behind me. … I’m glad it’s over and it’s in the past. Ready to move on.”

Still to be determined was any action by the PGA Tour.

The tour in its player handbook has a section under “Conduct of Players” that says a player shall not “associate with or have dealings with persons whose activities, including gambling, might reflect adversely upon the integrity of the game of golf.”

Spokesman Ty Votaw had said May 19 when the indictment was announced that the tour was in the process of looking into it.

Mickelson said he had yet to meet with the tour and wasn’t sure if he faced any punishment.

“I’m not really able to talk about … I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know anything to even comment on that.”

According to the SEC complaint, Walters called Mickelson on July 27, 2012, and they exchanged texts over the next two days. Mickelson bought $2.4 million of Dean Foods shares July 30 and July 31 from three brokerage accounts. The SEC said he had less than $250,000 in those accounts, had not been a frequent trader and had never bought Dean Foods stock.

The day after Dean Foods announced its quarterly earnings and that it was spinning off subsidiary White Wave Foods, the stock price went up 40 percent and Mickelson sold all his shares for a $931,000 profit.

The SEC also alleged that Mickelson had placed bets with Walters before the stock tip, Mickelson owed him money at the time of the trading and that he repaid Walters a month later “in part with the proceeds of his trading.”

As Mickelson was playing his pro-am, a New York judge set bail at $25 million for Walters, who pleaded not guilty to the insider trading charges.

“I have to be responsible for the people I associated with,” Mickelson said when asked about the PGA Tour policy on dealing with people who might reflect badly on the game. “Going forward, I’ll make my best effort I can to make sure I represent myself, as well as my family, as well as my companies, in the way that I want to and they deserve.”

Aurora, Oregon – Victoria, B.C., native Naomi Ko won the Cambia Portland Classic Amateur Open, earning a spot in the Cambia Portland Classic.

Ko, who just completed her freshman year at North Carolina State and who is a member of Team Canada, carded a 1-under par 71 at Langdon Farms Golf Club.

The Cambia Portland Classic will be held June 30-July 3, at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, OR and will be Ko’s first LPGA tournament.

Sydney Maluenda of George Fox University finished second with a round of 72 and UCLA signee Mariel Galdiano finished third at 74 earning opportunities to compete in the tournament’s Monday qualifier alongside professionals.  The qualifier will be held on Monday, June 27.  The top two finishers from the Monday qualifier will earn entry into the tournament proper.  2015 Tournament Champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., earned a spot in the event through the Monday qualifier last year and went on to win the event by eight shots over a strong field, for her first LPGA victory.

Ko recently qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open which takes place the week after the Cambia Portland Classic.  She finished 5th in the ACC tournament this season.

Ko, who knows Henderson from Team Canada, has actually roomed with her on occasion.

“I’m really excited to be playing in the Portland Classic,” said Ko.  “I know Brooke (Henderson) won it last year and look forward to seeing her here this year.”

Last year’s Amateur Open winner, Gigi Stoll, a Beaverton High School graduate, who just completed her freshman year at the University of Arizona, was unable to defend her title, shooting a 77 to finish three shots out of contention.  In 2015, Stoll set a course and tournament record with a 9-under par 63 at Langdon Farms.

The Cambia Portland Classic will take place at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club in Portland, OR, from June 30-July 3, 2016.  The 72-hole tournament features a purse of $1.3 million and broadcast coverage on the Golf Channel for all four rounds.  Brooke Henderson won the 2016 tournament, setting a new 72-hole tournament scoring record at 21-under par. Henderson became just the second player and first since 2000 to Monday qualify for an LPGA Tour event and go on to win. One of the hottest rising stars on the LPGA, Henderson has moved up to the 4th spot on the Rolex Rankings list of the world’s top women golfers.

Volunteer applications and Tickets to the Cambia Portland Classic are available now at www.portlandclassic.com.

Calgary – She’s only 19 years old, but this August 22-28 at the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Lydia Ko will be looking to make history when she defends her title at the 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

A 12-time winner on the LPGA Tour and the no. 1 ranked player on the Rolex Women’s World Ranking, Ko will try to claim her record fourth Canadian Women’s Open title when she leads the stars of the LPGA Tour back to Calgary.

The New Zealand teen sensation won her first Canadian Women’s Open title in 2012 as a 15-year old amateur at The Vancouver Golf Club to become the youngest player (15 years, four months, three days) ever to win on the LPGA Tour. She would defend her title a year later—again as an amateur—with a victory in Edmonton at the Royal Mayfair Golf Club. Last August, she returned to The Vancouver Golf Club to claim her third title in four years—along with the $337,500 USD winner’s prize—and tie the record for most wins at the Canadian Women’s Open shared by Pat Bradley (1980, 1985, 1986) and Meg Mallon (2000, 2002, 2004).

As the defending champion, Ko feels a great sense of pride competing in front of Canadian crowds that have embraced her as a three-time winner of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a lot of success in Canada both as an amateur in 2012 and 2013 and then again last year back at The Vancouver Golf Club,” said Ko, whose impressive 2016 season already includes a pair of victories and six top-10 finishes. “Any time you win a LPGA Tour event, especially a national championship like the CP Women’s Open, it’s a huge accomplishment. The fans, volunteers and sponsors have made me feel so welcomed and I am proud to be returning to try and defend the title.”

“What can you say about Lydia Ko that hasn’t already been said—world-class talent, fierce competitor and an amazing global ambassador for golf,” said CP Women’s Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “She’s become a special part of our event’s history winning three times in four starts. Together with our partners at CP, we are proud to welcome Lydia back to Canada as our defending champion and I know she’ll once again be a fan-favourite.”

Related:

CP Has Heart Charity Campaign:
Now in its third year, the CP Has Heart charity campaign is committed to raising funds in support of children’s heart health in the host community of the CP Women’s Open. The 2016 event is proud to have the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation as the host charity with a goal to raise more than $1.2M for heart health in the name of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. Between April 1 and August 28, 2016, CP will match all donations made towards pediatric cardiac care and research. CP will also donate $5,000 for every birdie made by a player on the 18^th hole at Priddis Greens during the championship. A special bleacher – the 18^th Green CP Fan Zone – will offer spectators a premium seating area for a $20 donation upgrade that CP will match. Since 2014, CP Has Heart has committed more than $6M to heart health, including $2.3 million raised in support of children’s heart health in the first two years of CP’s title sponsorship of the event.

Stars of the LPGA Tour Return to Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club…
The 44^th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will return to the formidable venue which had previously hosted in 1999 and 2009. The 2009 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship saw Norway’s Suzann Petersen card a final-round one-under par 70 and tournament-total 269 (15-under) to claim the title. Among those in the five-way tie for second that year was World Golf Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb, who claimed victory in 1999 when Priddis Greens hosted the LPGA Tour for the first time.

Hall of Fame calls CP Ambassador Lorie Kane…
LPGA Tour legend and CP Ambassador Lorie Kane will have her career deservedly acknowledged in 2016 with induction into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame during the week of this year’s CP Women’s Open.  The four-time LPGA Tour winner and Order of Canada recipient will have her Hall of Fame induction ceremony take place in Calgary during tournament week as part of the CP Women’s Open Pro-Am Draw Party on August 23^rd.

Canadian Pacific and WestJet Honour Moms’ Unconditional Love In Video…
Canadian Pacific along with CP Women’s Open partner WestJet released a mother’s day video earlier this month celebrating Canadian golf idols, Lorie Kane and Brooke Henderson, and the love they have for their mothers. Journey to the LPGA: #LoveMom witnesses the unconditional love between mother and daughter and inspires the golfers to thank and recognize the one person who’s been with them every step of the way to the top – mom.

Kids 17-and-under Get in Free…
Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific are committed to offering a fan friendly, family event with the CP Women’s Open. In an effort to introduce more juniors to the sport, children aged 17-and-under get FREE admission to the CP Women’s Open for the entire week.  Click here to download a FREE Junior Pass

Tickets…
Juniors – 17 & Under                                                      Free
Early Week (Mon-Wed)                                             $10.50
Anyday Grounds (Thurs-Sun)                                  $31.50
Weekly (Mon-Sun)                                                      $78.50

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

Two more Canadians punched their tickets to the U.S. Women’s Open on Tuesday at sectional qualifying events in the United States.

Sue Kim, a Young Pro Squad member, closed at 5-under par (66-69) to tie for first at the Twin Hills Country Club event in Longmeadow, Mass., earning one of five available spots. The Langley, B.C. product will look to build on her T59 finish at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.

Fellow B.C. native Taylor Kim of Surrey topped the leaderboard to earn medalist honours with a 2-under par score (71-71) at the Green Valley Country Club event in Green Valley, Calif. The Team Canada graduate marks the third B.C. native to qualify for the event—Amateur Squad’s Naomi Ko qualified earlier this month. Quebec’s Maude-Aimée Leblanc is the fourth Canadian to secure a spot so far, winning medalist honours last week.

The Canadian quartet will tee-it-up at the U.S. Women’s Open from July 4–10 at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif.

Click here for all qualifier scoring.

Starting mid-July, Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont., will have a new leadership as Jeff Germond has been appointed the club’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Germond has more than 25 years of private club management experience including senior roles at Hamilton Golf & Country Club, the National Golf Club of Canada, and most recently, as COO of The St. Catharines Golf and Country Club where he has held the position since 2008.  Jeff is also the president of the Ontario Branch of the Canadian Society of Club Managers.

Jeff’s experience includes having been involved in all aspects of running a private club including administration, financial planning, marketing, capital projects and membership. Jeff also brings a strong food and beverage background, having spent some time as a chef early in his career.