Kyrinis adds Super Senior division crown and the Katherine Helleur Trophy with Team Ontario

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – Judith Kyrinis is a Canadian national champion for the seventh time. Kyrinis needed a two-hole playoff win over Tina Papatolis to claim the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. on Friday.

“I didn’t really think that was going to happen today, so I am truly grateful to get this win,” said Kyrinis following the playoff. “The playoff was great, made that great and up down with a great putt so really just thrilled to win.”

The win gives Kyrinis her third Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, having previously won in 2016 and 2019 to go along with four Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships (2016, 2019, 2023, 2025).

“It’s special to win the Ada Mackenzie Trophy and the other trophies that go along with the Mid-Am, I’m 62 years old so I try to represent the older seniors as best I can and I am just super proud,” said a smiling Kyrinis.

Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. entered the day tied with Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. at 3-over, but Papatolis quickly jumped into the solo lead following a double bogey from Kyrinis on the first hole.

Papatolis went on to open with five consecutive pars while Kyrinis followed with a pair of bogeys to sit at 4-over for her round and drop to four shots behind Papatolis.

“I didn’t have a great start, four-putting the first green then having a three-putt a couple holes later it was a rough start, but I just told myself just be patient,” said Kyrinis.

Kyrinis grabbed a crucial birdie on No. 5 to get things back on track and finished with four pars to close her front nine at 6-over. Papatolis meanwhile exchanged a bogey for a birdie on hole Nos. 6 and 7 along with two pars to make the turn at 3-over and held a three-shot advantage over Kyrinis.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and four-time Canadian Women’s Senior champion Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont. pulled into a tie with Kyrinis following a birdie at No. 10, to sit 6-over chasing Papatolis.

Both Papatolis and Kyrinis opened their second nine with a bogey at No. 10. Papatolis would bogey again at No. 12 followed by a birdie from Kyrinis on No. 13 to cut the lead to one. Kyrinis added another birdie at No. 16 to pull even with Papatolis at 5-over.

Kyrinis enjoyed playing with Papatolis, who was competing in her first Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, while knowing what she needed to do to close the gap.

“I know she won the week before so she is obviously on form, she’s playing well and played a practice round with her so it was great to see what she was doing and I was trying to see what the group in front of me was doing also just to make sure I knew where the field was at.”

Hayward added birdies at Nos. 13 and 17 to pull within a shot of the leaders until a double bogey at 18. Hayward finished with a 3-over 76 to sit at 8-over for the tournament, finishing fourth. Diane Irvin of Pacific Palisades, Calif. was clubhouse leader at 7-over following a 2-over 75 on Friday and would go on to finish third in the Senior division and runner-up in the Super Senior division.

The leaders exchanged pars on the final two holes after Papatolis narrowly missed an opportunity to close it out on 18. On the first playoff hole, Papatolis effort for birdie went past the hole while Kyrinis made an up-and-down and closed with a 6-footer to force a second playoff hole.

On the second playoff hole, Kyrinis was on in two with a look for birdie. Papatolis’ got into some trouble with her second shot and eventually had a 25-footer to save par that rimmed the cup giving Kyrinis two putts to win, which she converted with a par.

Kyrinis added that while the nerves were certainly there, she did a good job of combating them through her breathing and staying within her routine and process during the playoff.

“She played very well and had been chipping well and putting really well so I really expected her to get up and down so looking at the putt, these greens are very tough, they’re hard to read and the speed is kind of hard to figure out so after she missed, I was just trying to cozy it down there. I am most proud of the first playoff hole to get up and down and make that 6-footer,” said Kyrinis.

Kyrinis added that she is proud to win another playoff, her most recent Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship win came via a three-hole playoff in 2025 and just reminded herself that she could do it again.

“What a special week, never expected to do all this. The people here were just amazing and the weather was fabulous, the course was in fabulous condition and couldn’t ask for a better week,” she said, closing with rounds of 78-71-75-224 at 5-over.

Along with winning the Ada MacKenzie Challenge Trophy for a third time, Kyrinis also claimed the Super Senior Division title for the first time. Kyrinis joins Edie Creed, Nancy Fitzgerald, Terrill Samuel and Shelly Stouffer as three-time champions at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

Kyrinis will now compete at the 2026 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, September 26 – October 1 at the Portland Golf Club in Portland, Ore. after previously earning an exemption into the field.

Additionally, Kyrinis has earned exemptions into the 2027 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 113th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

On Thursday, Team Ontario claimed the Katherine Helleur Trophy the twelfth time since 2006, finishing with a combined score of 8-over to beat the host province, Team Alberta by 11 strokes.

Team Ontario was represented by Kyrinis, Hayward and Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont. Kyrinis carded a 2-under 71, while Samuel added a 3-over 76 to count for the team on Thursday. Hayward’s 2-over 75 and Kyrinis’ 5-over 78 counted for Ontario in the opening round.

The win marked Hayward’s tenth inter-provincial team title, Kyrinis’ seventh and Samuel’s third at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. It also marks the third time the trio have won together, previously winning in 2018 and 2023, and the seventh time Hayward and Kyrinis have done it together.

Ontario and B.C. had won 11 titles each since 2002, the win at Pine Hills now gives Ontario the edge with 12 in that time frame, and its first team title since 2023.

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship featured a pair of competitive divisions, the Senior division and the Super Senior division that ran concurrently throughout the competition’s 54 holes.

Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured many of the country’s top senior golfers. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor, Margaret Todd and Mary Ann Hayward all own senior championship titles.

For the final leaderboard following the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Defending champions, Auburn University lead field of 11 collegiate programs competing;
Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp will run concurrently

AURORA, Ont. – The second playing of Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational is set for Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. from September 21 – 22.

The 54-hole tournament will feature 10 NCAA Division I women’s golf teams led by the defending champions from Auburn University, along with the 2026 Canadian University/College Championship winners, University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds and five individuals for a field of 60 players competing in Aurora.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2027 CPKC Women’s Open at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que. (August 18-22) and the top five players will receive exemptions into the 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

“We are excited to begin the second playing of the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational next week at Beacon Hall Golf Club,” said Rogan Doyle, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “We’d extend our thanks to Sean DeSilva and the staff and membership at Beacon Hall for hosting again this year at their world-class club. We also want to give a special thanks to coach Jan Dowling at Michigan and coach Casey VanDamme at Kent State for their efforts as event co-hosts.”

The Auburn Tigers enter as the defending champions after coming from behind to win the inaugural championship last year. Auburn entered the final round trailing the Kent State Golden Flashes by three and shot a collective 12-under in the final round to win by six strokes.

In the individual competition, Veronika Kedroňová of Roznov pod Radhostem, Czechia (Kent State) completed the wire-to-wire victory to beat Balma Davalos of Auburn by two shots. Kedroňová currently ranked no. 41 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings posted rounds of 66-70 to finish 8-under for the championship. The win in Aurora, marked the fourth for Kedroňová during her junior year at Kent State.

In addition to the defending team champions, Auburn and the Canadian champion, UBC Thunderbirds the 2026 Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational will welcome back the University of Tennessee, University of Virginia and the University of South Florida (USF). Joining the field are the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNC Wilmington), University of Maryland and the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). The invitational will once again be co-hosted by the University of Michigan and Kent State.

The 54-hole stroke play tournament will kick off on Monday, September 21 with 36 holes and wrap up with 18 holes on Tuesday, September 22, both days in a shotgun format. The team component will feature five members per team with the top four scores for the round counting towards the overall team score.

Additionally, the Team Canada – NextGen Girls Selection Camp will run concurrently with the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational as 21 of Canada’s best junior girls compete for one secured spot on the 2027 Team Canada – NextGen roster. To view the player field, please click here.

Beacon Hall was the inspiration of Bryan Leggett and Bill Carruthers, whose vision was to create one of Canada’s finest private golf clubs. Today, Beacon Hall’s mission remains focused on delivering a premier standard of excellence across every aspect of the member experience and a world class golf club.

Designed by renowned golf course architect Bob Cupp, Beacon Hall opened on July 1, 1988. Since 1990, the course has consistently been recognized (including 2026) among the top golf courses in Canada by SCOREGolf Magazine and has also earned international recognition as one of the leading courses outside the United States.

Beacon Hall is particularly known for the distinctly different character of its front and back nines. The front nine winds through mature stands of pine, creating a setting reminiscent of courses found in the Carolinas and Georgia. The back nine transitions to a more open landscape featuring native fescue, expansive waste areas and strategic bunkering, providing elements reminiscent of traditional Scottish links-style golf.

In 2026, Beacon Hall is proud to welcome the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational back for a second consecutive year, continuing its partnership with Golf Canada and its commitment to supporting amateur and collegiate golf.

“Following the tremendous success of last year’s inaugural event, we are incredibly proud to welcome the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational back to Beacon Hall for a second year,” said Sean DeSilva, General Manager. “This championship provides a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of the finest collegiate talent from Canada, and around the world, while giving these exceptional athletes the opportunity to experience Beacon Hall and the environment our members enjoy every day. Our members take great pride in supporting the game, and it is a privilege for Beacon Hall to continue playing a role in the development of amateur and Canadian golf.”

Beacon Hall Golf Club has a proud history of hosting championship golf. In addition to the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational, the Club has hosted several marquee events, including the 100th playing of the PGA Championship of Canada in 2022, a U.S. Open Local Qualifier in 2017 and the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship in 1998.

Hosting the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational for a second consecutive year continues that tradition and reinforces Beacon Hall’s commitment to supporting championship golf in Canada.

To view the full field, tee times and live leaderboards throughout the 2026 Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational, please click here. 

Judith Kyrinis co-leads Senior division with Tina Papatolis
and holds solo lead in Super Senior division

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – For the twelfth time since 2006, Team Ontario are the Inter-Provincial Team champions at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO. Team Ontario finished with a collective score of 8-over at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. to earn team honours.

Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. led the way for Ontario, firing a 2-under 71, while Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont. added a 3-over 76 to count for the team on Thursday. Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, Mary Ann Hayward’s 2-over 75 and Kyrinis’ 5-over 78 counted for Ontario in the opening round.

The win marks Hayward’s tenth inter-provincial team title, Kyrinis’ seventh and Samuel’s third at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. It also marks the third time the trio have won together, previously winning in 2018 and 2023, and the seventh time Hayward and Kyrinis have done it together.

“It’s nice to beat B.C.,” said the four-time Senior champion and hall of famer, Hayward.

Ontario and B.C. had won 11 titles each since 2002, the win at Pine Hills now gives Ontario the edge with 12 in that time frame, and its first since 2023.

“We have quite the rivalry with B.C. so it’s good and Terrill doesn’t always play on the team so when we can get her to play on the team, we have a great shot so it’s a lot of fun,” added Hayward.

“I was just happy to be there to make it easier for them to play,” said Samuel who added it’s great to play along side friends and fellow competitors.

“These are two of the best in Ontario so it’s wonderful to play alongside them and its way better to play with them as a team then trying to go at them in our own events. It’s very special and I was just so happy that Terrill agreed to get on the team because it’s great that we can all do it together,” said Kyrinis.

Hayward echoed Kyrinis’ compliments of her teammates.

“These two are two of the best in the world, senior golfers now and I’m at the tail end of that, but no seriously, to have three of us from the same province that are dominating at the international level is pretty special so whenever we can get the three of us on a team, we have a great shot at it.

Ontario topped the hosts from Team Alberta by 11 shots (Alberta 19-over) with the two-time defending champions, Team British Columbia finished third at 26-over.

Kyrinis’ 2-under round put her into familiar territory as she will enter Friday’s final round as the co-leader in the Senior division with Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. at 3-over, holding a one-shot lead over first round leader, Andrea Kosa of Calgary, Alta. who recorded a 3-over 76 to move to 4-over for the championship. Diane Irvin of Pacific Palisades, Calif. and Hayward are tied for fourth at 5-over, providing a crowded leaderboard heading into Friday.

Kyrinis closed her round with three birdies, 15 pars and only one bogey, to jump into the co-lead citing being “steady eddy” out there on Thursday.

“Nothing was spectacular, just trying to keep it in the fairway and hit some more greens, get it a little closer to the hole today and had some looks at birdie which was good and made a couple putts there which was good and I think it was just staying very present and staying fairways and greens as best you can,” added Kyrinis.

Kyrinis credited a better driver on Thursday to avoid the rough which can be troublesome to get out of in order to set up scoring opportunities at Pine Hills. Additionally, Kyrinis had no three putts during her second round.

While she has been in this position many times throughout her accomplished career, Kyrinis plans to attack Friday as she did today in search of her third Canadian Women’s Senior title and seventh Canadian national championship.

“A lot of fairways, a lot of greens, a lot of pars and I think there are a lot of people that are close to where I am and just need to play my own game, stay where my feet are.”

Kyrinis holds the lead in the Super Senior division with Irvin and Hayward within two shots of her.

Following Thursday’s second round the field has now been cut to the low 70 players and ties, with 74 players advancing to the final round following a cut line of 36-over based off the Senior division.

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship features a pair of competitive divisions, the Senior division and the Super Senior division that run concurrently throughout the competition’s 54 holes.

Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured many of the country’s top senior golfers. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor, Margaret Todd and Mary Ann Hayward all own senior championship titles.

The winner of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship will earn an exemption into the field at the 2026 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, set for September 26 – October 1 at the Portland Golf Club in Portland, Ore. Additionally, spots in the 2027 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 113th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

For the leaderboard following the second round of the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Golf Canada is saddened to learn of the passing of longtime volunteer and former president David Douglas Shaw of Saint John, N.B.  

David died Sept. 9 at Saint John Regional Hospital. He was 81. 

David served as president of the Royal Canadian Golf Association, now Golf Canada, in 2004. He also served as president of the New Brunswick Golf Association and Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, N.B. 

During his presidency, David represented Golf Canada at events around the world, including The Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, RBC Canadian Open and Australian Open. He was also a member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland. 

David joined Riverside at age 17 and was recently named an honorary lifetime member. This past summer, he shot his age at the club and in September 2023, he recorded the fourth hole-in-one of his golfing career.
 
Away from golf, David was a chartered accountant and former vice-president of finance and administration at Saint John Regional Hospital. He also served as president of the New Brunswick Institute of Chartered Accountants and received the Fellow Chartered Accountant designation. 
 
David is survived by Lynda, his wife of 57 years, their three children, nine grandchildren and extended family. 

Golf Canada joins Golf New Brunswick in extending sincere condolences to the Shaw family and David’s many friends across the Canadian golf community. 

—————–
More information about David Shaw’s celebrated life can be found here.  

Mary Ann Hayward leads Super Senior division; Team Ontario holds one-shot lead in Inter-Provincial Team Championship

Play was delayed an hour to start due to frost

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – Andrea Kosa is the clubhouse leader following the opening round of the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. on Wednesday.

Kosa of Calgary, Alta. finished with a 1-over 74 with a birdie and 15 pars during her round to sit atop the leaderboard in the race for the Ada MacKenzie Challenge Trophy.

Pine Hills requires accuracy off the tee and that is one aspect that stood out in Kosa’s game on Wednesday.

“My driver was working really well for me except for on one hole so I can’t complain and it was just a nice day, the weather was nice, it was a nice day to play golf,” said Kosa.

While she considers length to be an advantage of her game, keeping the ball in play off the tee will be an area of focus to avoid the rough, which has provided a challenge for the field.

“Everything was working nicely today so no complaints, it’s a fickle game, it could go the wrong way tomorrow,” Kosa said with a laugh, adding that the hour delay this morning didn’t have a negative impact on her preparation as she took it in stride simply saying, “you just wait a little longer.”

Trailing behind Kosa are Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and three-time champion Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont. who both finished with rounds of 2-over 75.

A trio of golfers are tied for fifth at 3-over (76) including Robin Krapfl of Peoria, Ariz., Julie Streng of Greensboro, N.C. and Diane Irvin of Pacific Palisades, Calif.

In the Super Senior division, Hayward who is defending champion, leads Krapfl and Irvin by one stroke. Hayward is seeking her third Super Senior division title in five years.

Hayward is also part of Team Ontario who find themselves atop the leaderboard for the Inter-Provincial Team Championship by one over Team Alberta. Hayward is joined a pair of past Senior national champions including two-time winner Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. and three-time champion, Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont. Kyrinis shot a 5-over 78 to have her score count along with Hayward at a combined 7-over. Samuel finish with a 6-over 79 on Wednesday.

Team Alberta sits second at 8-over with Kosa’s 1-over and Daniela Pacheco of Calgary, Alta.’s 7-over 80 counting toward the team total. Teammate Gisselle Willimus of Edmonton, Alta. shot a 15-over 88. The two-time defending champions, Team British Columbia sit third at 12-over. Since 2002, Team British Columbia and Team Ontario have claimed the Katherine Helleur Trophy 11 times each. Team Alberta was the last province outside of B.C. or Ontario to win in 2001.

The opening round of the tournament was delayed for an hour due to frost and began at 9:30 a.m. MDT.

The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship features a pair of competitive divisions, the Senior division and the Super Senior division that run concurrently throughout the competition’s 54 holes. After 36 holes the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties based off the Senior division with a minimum of five Super Seniors making the cut and anyone within 10 shots of the lead in the division.

Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured many of the country’s top senior golfers. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor, Margaret Todd and Mary Ann Hayward all own senior championship titles.

The winner of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship will earn an exemption into the field at the 2026 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, set for September 26 – October 1 at the Portland Golf Club in Portland, Ore. Additionally, spots in the 2027 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, 113th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, 2027 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and a 10-year exemption into the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

For the leaderboard from the opening round of the 2026 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

For the second consecutive year, Alexis Rouleau claimed top honours at the Team Canada Selection Camp, putting an exclamation point on a season that has established the young Quebecer as one of Canada’s rising junior stars. After a summer filled with victories, international appearances and podium finishes, the repeat title was another reminder that Rouleau’s development continues to accelerate.

The victory carries extra significance for Rouleau, who recently completed his first season as a member of Team Canada – NextGen. While his results on the golf course have been impressive, he believes some of his biggest gains have come away from the scorecard.

“The biggest area I’ve grown is mentally,” said Rouleau. “The mental coaching has been very helpful, and my decision-making has improved a lot.”

That growth has shown up throughout the season. Against many of the best junior players in North America and beyond, Rouleau has consistently displayed the patience and composure needed to contend in big events.

Defending a title is never easy, especially in difficult conditions, but Rouleau relied on a simple approach at the Selection Camp.

“I think it was mostly about being patient,” he said. “Just enjoying being out there, taking one shot at a time and letting the result come afterward.”

That mindset has become a recurring theme in Rouleau’s success.

The Montreal-area golfer opened his season by winning the NextGen Ontario Championship, rallying from outside the top 20 after the opening round to secure his first victory on Golf Canada’s NextGen circuit.

He followed that performance with a commanding win at the Golf Québec Provincial Junior Championship, finishing 15-under-par and separating himself from a strong field of Quebec’s top junior players.

The summer only gained momentum from there.

Representing Canada at the Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan, Rouleau recorded a top-five individual finish against an international field before claiming third place at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Regina. After opening with a 75, he finished his final 54 holes 14 under par to secure a spot on the national podium.

Most recently, Rouleau turned heads on one of the game’s most recognizable stages, finishing tied for third at the Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex at TPC Sawgrass. Competing against many of the world’s leading junior golfers, the Class of 2029 standout posted rounds of 72-70-70 to finish at four-under-par, earning one of the biggest results of his young career.

Rouleau credits much of that success to what he has learned during his first season with Team Canada. In particular, he credits head coach Matt Wilson for helping simplify the game.

“I really like the way Matt keeps things simple,” said Rouleau. “If you put too many things in my head, it starts to get complicated. I like that approach. It’s simple: go out and hit the golf ball.”

It’s a philosophy that appears to suit him perfectly.

At an age when many junior golfers are still learning to compete consistently, Rouleau has already proven he can win at home, contend nationally, and perform on some of junior golf’s biggest international stages. His success story is also an encouraging sign for Quebec’s junior talent pipeline, where athletes continue to benefit from opportunities to advance from provincial development programs to Golf Canada’s national high-performance pathway.

He still has more golf ahead before he shuts things down for the year, but after a busy and highly successful summer, a short break is finally on the horizon.

For now, Rouleau leaves the Team Canada Selection Camp with another title and a reminder that his progress over the past year is paying off. The results speak for themselves, and if this season is any indication, even bigger moments may be ahead.

New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark wins individual competition to earn exemption in 2027 RBC Canadian Open; Alexis Rouleau wins Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp for second straight year

FOOTS BAY, Ont. – The New Mexico Lobos battled the elements to complete the wire-to-wire victory at the 2026 Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in Foots Bay, Ont. on Tuesday.

The sunny skies of Monday turned grey bringing cooler temperatures and rain throughout the morning on Tuesday making for a challenging final round for the field with only two players shooting under par.

New Mexico finished the tournament at a collective 5-under following a 10-over round, to finish 10 shots clear of the two-time defending champions, Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

New Mexico coach Jake Harrington and Johnnie Clark both described the day as a “grind” but were able to get the job done.

“We were able to maintain and hang in there and pull it together and finish it off. To go wire-to-wire and lead in the opening round and finish off with the lead is not easy to do in college golf especially when you have a team like Notre Dame, one of the best teams in the country chasing you down, I am extremely proud of these guys and what they accomplished,” said Harrington.

New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark led the way for the Lobos shooting a respectable 1-over 72, Oliver Scriven’s 2-over 73, Clark Sonnenberg’s 3-over 74 and Wyatt Provence’s 4-over 75 contributed to the team score on Tuesday, ensuring all five team members had scores count for the championship highlighting the depth and resiliency that Harrington praises his group for.

“We’re a solid team, we’re an underrated team and the problem is they keep giving me bulletin board material because they didn’t put us in the top 30 in the country in the Coaches Poll and I made sure the guys knew about that, we were 26th in the country last year and you can slide us all you want, we’re a pretty good team. I tell the guys you put in so much hard work, you come here and enjoy it.”

Harrington added that the tournament exceeded the team’s expectations and complimented their host family for the memorable experience.

“This place is special, the staff and everybody here, to be able to come to Canada and have a life experience for the young men but then to win and make it a good golf experience as well is the cherry on top. That’s what you try to do as a coach, yeah, you’re a golf coach this is what I get paid for but to have life experiences that’s what these kids are going to remember for the rest of their life and they’re going to remember this week forever because it was a special week.

“It’s been amazing, the people are amazing, the place is beautiful, the golf course is amazing everything about it is first class and it’s an honour to be here and be the champion,” said Harrington.

Notre Dame finished the tournament at 5-over to earn runner-up honours and Santa Clara finished third at 12-over.

In the individual competition New Mexico’s Clark’s 1-over 72 put him to 6-under for the tournament and gave him individual honours by one over Emil Nielsen (Santa Clara), carding 15 pars to close things out.

“I didn’t do anything particularly well today, it was just solid golf. Made a lot of pars on a tough day and I guess that’s what you have to do. I made a few clutch putts and coming down the stretch I had a couple 60 footers that I two-putted, so the lag putting was really good and on a day like today it’s hard to hit it close, the pins are tucked the lag putting helps a lot,” said Clark.

The win marks three consecutive regular season wins for Clark, who won the Thunderbird Collegiate in April and earlier this month at the Pan Pacific University Golf Super League in Shizuoka, Japan.

“It means so much, just been playing really solid golf and just having the confidence I can go to each week and win is huge and knowing my game is good enough to perform at the highest D1 level and win here, hopefully that shows a little something towards the future in that regard. It’s awesome,” he added.

With the individual win, Clark has earned an exemption into the 2027 RBC Canadian Open, returning to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, June 7 – 13, 2027, where he will compete in a PGA TOUR event for the first time.

“I think it’s amazing the opportunities we have in college golf, you win a tournament like this, and you get to go play on the PGA Tour and compete with the best in the world so I couldn’t be happier to go play,” he said with a smile after earning his exemption.

Along with Clark and Nielsen, Veikka Viskari (Missouri), Provence (New Mexico) and Rocco Salvitti (Notre Dame) have also earned exemptions into the 122nd Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO for finishing in the top five individually.

The 54-hole tournament featured an expanded field of 13 teams and eight individuals, totalling 73 collegiate players competing for the top spot in both team and individual competitions in Foots Bay, Ont. The top four scores from each team of five counted towards the daily team combined score.

To view the final team and player leaderboards following the 2026 Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational click here.

Alexis Rouleau of Montreal, Que. completed the wire-to-wire victory, finishing atop the Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp leaderboard for a second consecutive year.

Rouleau finished the tournament at 2-over following rounds of 69-72-74 to win by four shots. The win sees Rouleau secure his place on the 2027 Team Canada – NextGen Boys roster.

“It feels great, I proved a lot of things, all the hard work this summer, it’s incredible,” said Rouleau on securing his place on the team next year.

Rouleau added that he has grown a lot in the past year being part of the Team Canada program.

Andy Dai of Markham, Ont. and Team Canada NextGen member, Eddie Gu of Aurora, Ont. finished tied for second at 6-over.

The selection camp ran concurrently with the Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational with a field of 21 junior boys. To view the final leaderboard click here.

Michelle Xing’s first collegiate tournament was one for the UCLA women’s golf record books. 

The freshman from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, delivered a remarkable performance at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate at Royal Golf Club in Lake Elmo, Minnesota, rallying from five shots behind to claim medalist honours in her UCLA debut. Her performance earned her both Big Ten Golfer of the Week and Freshman of the Week honours. 

A member of Team Canada – NextGen, Xing finished the tournament at 9-under 207 after rounds of 70-72-65. Her final-round 7-under 65 was the week’s low round and tied the UCLA freshman record for the lowest 18-hole score, joining Bruins Bronte Law, Mariajo Uribe and Jane Park. 

The victory was even more impressive given the conditions and the deficit Xing faced entering the final round. 

After making par on her opening five holes, Xing caught fire, recording seven birdies over an eight-hole stretch. She ultimately carded eight birdies to move to 9-under for the tournament with five holes remaining. 

A bogey on her 16th hole briefly interrupted her momentum, but Xing responded with a birdie on her final hole to finish 7-under for the day and secure the individual title by one stroke over Kovelesky. 

Only 10 players finished under par at Royal Golf Club. 

With the victory, Xing became the first Bruin in program history to win her first college event and the first UCLA freshman to claim an individual title since Francesca Fiorellini won the 2025 Bruin Wave Invitational. 

Xing and the Bruins return to action September 21-22, 2026, at the Canadian Collegiate Invitational at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Ontario, giving the Canadian freshman the opportunity to compete in her home province.

Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Ashwyn Lalji, Banff Springs Golf Course, Hole #4

My 9-year-old son, Ashwyn Lalji, made his first hole-in-one at the Banff Springs Golf Course on August 12, 2026. Ashwyn was playing the 4th hole of the Tunnel Nine from the red tees, a 104-yard par 3. He hit a 7-iron, and the ball bounced short of the green and rolled toward the hole. Nobody in the group saw it go in, but when they arrived at the green, they found the ball in the hole! Ashwyn was playing with his older brother and younger sister – all three of the kids are Youth on Course members.

– Submitted by Ashwyns parent

Karen Lewis, Kenora Golf & Country Club, Hole #15

I was playing in the “Monday Morning Ladies Best Ball Match Play League” at the Kenora Golf & Country Club. It was a windy rainy morning. We pulled up to the picturesque par 3, hole #15. An 80-yard shot from the red tees. I normally play my 52 degree wedge, but with the rain I opted for my 48 degree. My friends Liz McKenzie reports, “I witnessed it and there was a downpour with tree branches flying by like tumble weeds. We were under cover in the cart. She stepped out into the storm, teed up and into the hole!”

Jin Wen, Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, Hole #13

My first hole-in-one! I used a 6 hybrid and I am still processing the fact that I had a hole-in-one.

Ben Fraser, River Oaks Golf Club, Hole #3

A blind tee shot on the 344-yard par 4. The ball rolled onto the green and dropped into the cup out of sight from the tee. The achievement was witnessed and confirmed by the group playing directly ahead of us on the green.

Mark Skidmore, Carstairs Community Golf Course , Hole #12

It was Sunday August 30th, 2026 on hole #12 at Carstairs Community Golf Course in Carstairs, Alberta. It was a 176-yard par 3 over water and a bunker with the flag at the back of the green. I pulled my new 7 wood and watched it fly the water and bunker and take one hop to the right and disappear. From 176 yards it was tough to tell if it had gone in the hole or rolled off of the green. My wife had videoed the walk up to the hole and found the ball in the hole for my first ever hole-in-one.

Terry Fascione, Naturally Pacific Resort, Hole #18

I was playing a Spectrum Therapeutics sponsored scramble tournament and scored the hole-in-one on hole #18, a 155-yard par 3. We were playing from the white tees with a blue pin at the back of the green. I measured the yardage at just over 170 so I used my 5 wood with an easy swing to avoid danger to the left. The shot flew straight into a light breeze and rolled directly to the pin and dropped. This is my second career hole-in-one.

Lisa Nevakshonoff, Creston Golf Club, Hole #4

It was very exciting! I was golfing with my husband Mike Nevakshonoff and our friends Kathleen Elias and her husband Garry Thiessen.

I hit my new Calaway 9 wood from 123 yards and the ball bounced once rolled a few feet, hit the pin and dropped in the cup! Kathleen and I started screaming and jumping up and down and then our husband’s joined us in the celebration.

Two local men were on the top tee box behind us and seen the hole-in-one as well. They started cheering and clapping! My husband and I will be going back to Creston to attend their clubs annual hole-in-one dinner.

New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark and Wyatt Provence co-lead individual competition;
Alexis Rouleau leads Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp

FOOTS BAY, Ont. – The New Mexico Lobos followed up Sunday with a collective 7-under to remain atop the team leaderboard in the third playing of the Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in Foots Bay, Ont. on Monday.

The Lobos now sit at 15-under for the tournament and take a six-shot lead into Tuesday’s final round over the two-time defending champion, Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Johnnie Clark and Wyatt Provence led the way for New Mexico on Monday, posting scores of 4-under 67. Thayer Plewe’s 1-under 70 and Clark Sonnenberg’s 2-over 73 counted toward the team total in the second round.

New Mexico coach Jake Harrington praised his team’s resiliency on Monday after a tough stretch through the day resulted in a strong finish with the team shooting a collective 11-under through their final six holes of the day.

“Just finishing strong and that’s what we talk about all the time. You’re going to have adversity out there and every day is going to be a different kind of adversity and how you handle it so that’s what the guys did.

“Obviously, Johnnie and Wyatt picked us up today with 67s and even Thayer had a stretch of four birdies in a row and as long as you’re playing consistent golf those birdies can happen at any given moment and we’re lucky that’s what happened today and made a little run at the end,” he added.

Notre Dame responded with a collective 9-under on Monday to cut into the Lobos lead after entering the day eight back. Three of the four members of the Fighting Irish fired in the red figures on Monday with Rocco Salvitti’s 4-under 67, Mike Qui’s 3-under 68 and Peyton Blackard’s 2-under 69. Jacob Modleski added an even par 71 to help the two-times champs get within six of the leaders.

“Notre Dame is not going away, they’re a great squad, coached by a great coach and we know they’re great and they’re going to come after us with everything every single day, so we just got to try and win the day,” said Harrington.

Harrington has said his team will need another round like Sunday, tomorrow to hold off the Fighting Irish.

“Those guys, they’re solid, they’re one of the best teams in the country for a reason. John [Handrigan] being from around the area, I know how bad he wants it, so I’d like to knock him off his pedestal a little bit,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s just fun competing against great coaches, great players and they’re a really good group of guys. We’ve been with them the past two days and it’s been super enjoyable and they’re a class act and they’re powerful so we can’t let our foot off the gas.”

Harrington will reiterate that things are all even in his message to his team tonight.

“We’re still tied at even, you better go beat them today because they’re coming for you tomorrow and that’s the message and I think if we do that, we can hold our own and it’s going to be a fun day tomorrow and that’s what I hope, I hope they play great and I hope we play a little better.”

In the individual competition New Mexico’s Clark and Provence co-lead at 7-under in a crowded leaderboard.

Clark carded six birdies in his round on Monday, narrowly missing an eagle putt on the par-5 18th that would have given him the solo lead. Clark credits his iron play as the strongest part of his game and that aspect helped him today.

“My distance control on iron shots was really good today. I hit a few loose drives but was able to recover and controlling distance out of the rough and putting was pretty solid as well,” he said.

Clark has enjoyed a successful run recently, winning in April at the Thunderbird Collegiate in Tempe, Ariz. and earlier this month at the Pan Pacific University Golf Super League in Shizuoka, Japan and is currently playing with a lot of confidence and will try to carry that into tomorrow.

“If the putts fall, they fall and if they don’t, they don’t so just try to come out and do my thing and if it leads to a win then great,” he added.

While the teammates battle for individual honours, Harrington praises his team’s selflessness.

“All they want to do is win as a team and they’re going to go out and try to win the day but they’re not going to do anything stupid. If they’re out of position they’re going to lay up to a spot that they need to for the team. At the end of the day we want them both to play great and fight it out and one of them will have bragging rights on the way home and that’s just how they are as teammates to each other, they’re all friends and the friendship goes out the window when you’re on the golf course but we’re all still fighting for each other, you fight for something bigger than yourself and that’s how you win tournaments.”

Clark agrees with his coach citing the team’s focus of playing for each other and having each other’s backs.

“We’re all going to be out here grinding and trying to finish it off and if one person isn’t playing well, we’ll have their back. We have a really good group of guys, great group of ball strikers and I think that’s important on this course. Keeping it in play and on the correct side of pins.”

Bennett Espenshade of Rutgers who led after round one, is currently one shot back of the leaders in third at 6-under. Salvitti of Notre Dame is fourth at 5-under, and four players are tied for fifth at 4-under.

The 54-hole tournament features an expanded field of 13 teams and eight individuals, totalling 73 collegiate players competing for the top spot in both team and individual competitions, running concurrently over 54 holes. The top four scores from each team of five count towards the daily team combined score.

This year’s individual champion will earn an exemption into the 2027 RBC Canadian Open, returning to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, June 7 – 13, 2027. The top five individual finishers will also receive exemptions into the 122nd Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

Current Team Canada – NextGen member Alexis Rouleau of Montreal, Que. holds a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp.

Rouleau shot a 1-over 72 on Monday to sit 1-under overall. Trailing the 2025 selection camp winner is Team Canada – NextGen teammate Eddie Gu of Aurora, Ont. Gu shot a 2-under 69 to drop to 1-over for the tournament.

The selection camp is running concurrently with the Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational with a field of 21 junior boys competing for one secured spot on the 2027 Team Canada – NextGen roster. To view the leaderboard following the second round click here.

To view the team and player leaderboards following the second round of the 2026 Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational click here.