Golf pioneer and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Jocelyne Bourassa passes away at 74
Jocelyne Bourassa (Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada)
Garry McKay
Golf Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum are sad to report the passing of Jocelyne Bourassa.
The Quebec golf legend was a pioneer and inspiration to young female golfers across the country for close to 60 years.
“I wouldn’t be here and able to talk about my career without Jocelyne,” said Lorie Kane who won four times on the LPGA Tour and was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2016.
“When I decided to turn pro in 1993 she was working with du Maurier to establish the du Maurier series so I was able to learn how to be a pro from one of the best.”
Kane said the lessons included dealing with sponsors and how to give clinics and how to make the game fun on the corporate level.
“All of those things helped elevate me to who I am today,” she says. “I think it was my second tournament I played in that series I was pretty nervous about how I might be accepted or treated and Jocelyne made a point of coming over to me and telling me I was welcome and that if I ever needed advice she was there for me.”
During her amateur career in the 1960s and 70s Bourassa won three Quebec Junior Championships (1963, 1964 and 1965) and four Amateur Championships (1963, 1969, 1970 and 1971).
She also won the Canadian Women’s Amateur in 1965 and again in 1971 and then turned pro the following year.
“She and I went head-to-head a lot as junior players,” says Sandra Post who has fond memories of her follow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer.
“We were competitors back then but as the years went on we became very good friends. She was so much fun to be around. Very popular and very talented.”
Bourassa joined the LPGA Tour in 1972 and won their Rookie of the Year award. That helped her garner the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award that year as Canada’s best female athlete.
The Shawinigan, Que., native was also named to the Order of Canada in 1972.
Her biggest professional victory came the following year when she captured the inaugural La Canadienne at the Municipal Golf Club in Montreal.
No other Canadian was able to win the Canadian Women’s Open until Brooke Henderson’s victory 45 years later in Regina.
Bourassa’s eight-year LPGA Tour career was cut short by injuries but she began a second career immediately by becoming the du Maurier Classic’s executive director.
Post says it was Bourassa who helped make that event one of the most popular on the LPGA Tour with the players.
“They updated the accommodations, and the hospitality wanting the players to have a great experience,” said Post. “At that time they were really cutting edge.”
Bourassa was active in helping promote golf in Quebec at all levels and served on the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame Committee from 2011 to 2019.
Bourassa was inducted into the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Quebec Golf Hall of Fame in 1996 and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada honoured her in 2014 with their highest honour, the Dick Grimm Award, for a lifetime of service to the game.
“This is a sad day for Canadian golf,” said Meggan Gardner, head of Heritage Services for Golf Canada. “Jocelyne Bourassa was Canada’s first golfer to win an LPGA event in their home country but she took her national pride to the next level by helping to develop a competitive tournament series for women.
“Outside of her playing record, which is very impressive, she was a great mentor to golfers of all levels. Her legacy will continue to shine for many years to come.”
Bourassa, who was 74, had been battling dementia for several years.
SAITAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 04: Brooke Henderson of Canada plays the a shot on the first hole during the first round of the Women’s Individual Stroke Play event on Day 15 of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics at the Kasumigaseki Country Club on August 4, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Stan Badz/PGA TOUR/IGF)
Golf Canada
Both Canadians struggled in the first round of women’s golf.
Alena Sharp and teammate Brooke Henderson shot opening rounds of 3-over 74. Henderson was near the top of the leaderboard for the first nine holes. But four bogeys on the back nine saw her slide down the standings.
“I hit it really well today for the most part. A couple loose swings cost me,” Henderson said. “But otherwise the ball striking was in pretty good shape, it was just kind of around the greens, disappointing to not see more putts fall but that’s golf, I guess, right? So hopefully tomorrow clean it up a little bit, make some more birdies and climb up.”
Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden leads after carding a 5-under 66, with Nelly Korda of the U.S. and Aditi Ashok of India behind her at 4-under
While the summer heat was something of a forgotten concern ahead of the Tokyo Olympics due to the pandemic, it definitely was noticeable last week during the men’s golf competition and became a real-life factor Wednesday as the women’s tournament got underway at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Leader Sagstrom certainly didn’t experience the 41C/105.8F afternoon heat index in her home country of Sweden, but she did attend Louisiana State University, now lives in Orlando, Florida, and has played in even worse furnace-like conditions in Thailand and Singapore.
Why is there a Maximum Hole Score for Handicap Purposes?
Shaun Hall
A score for handicap purposes should not be overly influenced by one or two bad hole scores they are not reflective of a players demonstrated ability. To prevent the occasional bad hole from impacting your Handicap Index too severely, the World Handicap System (WHS) outlines how to determine your maximum hole score. Remember…this is used for handicap purposes, but a higher score in an event would stand for the purposes of declaring a winner!
How do I calculate my Maximum Score Hole?
Referring to the Rules of Handciapping (Rule 3.1), players with an established Handicap Index can enter a maximum score of Net Double Bogey, calculated as follows:
How do I enter a score with a Net Double Bogey?
To apply a Net Double Bogey, use your Course Handicap to determine which holes you give or receive strokes. Then, on any holes where you have surpassed your maximum hole score, your score will be adjusted downward to your maximum.
Looking at this example, Jane has a Course Handicap of 16. Jane receives one stroke on each of the stroke index holes 1-16, Jane’s maximum score on these holes would be a triple bogey (Par + 2 strokes + 1 stroke received). On holes 17 & 18 (where Jane does not receive a stroke), her maximum score is a double bogey.
This sounds like a lot of work; can this adjustment be done automatically?
Yes, if you enter your scores in the Golf Canada Score Centre hole-by-hole (via the mobile app or website), the system will automatically adjust your hole scores to your Net Double Bogey should it be surpassed.
What if I do not have a Handicap Index?
If you have not yet established a Handicap Index, your maximum score per hole is Par + 5 strokes.
To learn more please watch the following video ; or read more here.
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If you have any questions regarding the Rules of Handicapping, please feel free to Ask an Expert or complete our Rules of Handicapping Certification seminar and quiz.
The PGA TOUR and European Tour today unveiled new details around their Strategic Alliance, with the PGA TOUR also releasing its 2021-22 PGA TOUR Season schedule.
The landmark agreement, announced in November 2020, further enhances and connects the ecosystem of men’s professional golf through a number of areas, including global scheduling, prize funds and playing opportunities for the respective memberships.
In terms of scheduling, the most significant piece of collaboration is the fact that three tournaments will be co-sanctioned in 2022 and therefore count on both the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai next season: the Barbasol Championship; the Barracuda Championship; and the Genesis Scottish Open.
The latter event also has a new title sponsor in Genesis, the luxury automotive brand from South Korea, who will now title sponsor two tournaments on the PGA TOUR, with the Genesis Scottish Open joining The Genesis Invitational, which Genesis has titled since 2017; The Genesis Invitational will once again be played at The Riviera Country Club next year (February 14-20).
The Genesis Scottish Open (July 4-10), which is part of the European Tour’s Rolex Series, retains its place in golf’s global calendar the week ahead of The Open Championship (July 11-17), a date confirmed through to 2025. The player field will be a split between members of both Tours.
The tournament will also benefit from the continued commitment of the Scottish Government, managed by Visit Scotland – the agreement also running through 2025.
“We are delighted to welcome Genesis as a title sponsor of a European Tour event for the first time,” said European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley. “Genesis has a strong history of sponsorship on the PGA TOUR through The Genesis Invitational, and their commitment to the Scottish Open will further enhance one of our premier events of the season.”
Although it will be on the PGA TOUR’s official schedule for the first time, the Genesis Scottish Open has a rich history on the European Tour, appearing in the Tour’s first two official seasons (1972 and 1973) and as part of the Tour’s International Schedule since 1986. It has also been part of the Rolex Series – the European Tour’s premium series of events – since the Series’ inception in 2017.
“Adding an existing, strong title sponsor in Genesis to our Strategic Alliance in the form of the Genesis Scottish Open – to be sanctioned by both Tours – is a significant step for the global game,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “Coupled with their support of The Genesis Invitational at Riviera, we’re incredibly proud to forge a deeper relationship with this premier brand across the global game.”
Genesis will take over the title sponsorship of the event from abrdn, who are exploring ways for the decade-long partnership with the European Tour to continue moving forward. The venue for the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open will be confirmed at a later date.
“We are extremely excited to become title sponsor of the Scottish Open at this historic moment, as the PGA TOUR and European Tour announce details on their Strategic Alliance,” said Jay Chang, Global head of Genesis. “Genesis and golf share a culture centered on respect, mutual admiration and innovation. We will continue to strengthen our partnership with both Tours to deliver this spirit to golfers, communities and individuals around the world through successful tournaments.”
Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said, “We are thrilled the European Tour and PGA TOUR have identified the Genesis Scottish Open to further develop their Strategic Alliance, and there is no more fitting stage than Scotland, the Home of Golf, on which to embark on such a historic journey.”
In addition to the Genesis Scottish Open being co-sanctioned, there will also be access for 50 European Tour members to each of two PGA TOUR events in 2022 for the first time – the Barbasol Championship, which will be played concurrently with the Genesis Scottish Open, and the Barracuda Championship, which will be played alongside the following week’s 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews. Both events will be added to the Race to Dubai for European Tour members.
It was also confirmed today that as part of the Strategic Alliance and collaboration between the two Tours, the Irish Open will see a significant increase in prize money for its annual European Tour event – to $6 million, starting in 2022 – nearly double the amount on offer at Mount Juliet last month. In addition, the PGA TOUR will continue to work with the European Tour on commercial opportunities across the Tour.
“When we announced the Strategic Alliance at the end of last year, we said it was a landmark moment for global golf’s ecosystem that would benefit all members of both Tours,” said Pelley. “Today’s announcement underlines that promise, with further enhancements to the Genesis Scottish Open, a strengthening of the Irish Open for our members, and direct access for European Tour members to two PGA TOUR events.
“There has been considerable collaboration behind the scenes between our two Tours since November’s Alliance was unveiled, and we are delighted to share these initial developments, which demonstrate our commitment to working together for the betterment of our sport globally. We will have more to announce in the coming months – this is most definitely just the beginning.”
“With today’s news, I am pleased to say that the PGA TOUR and the European Tour are both stronger than at any time in our history, as we are positioned to grow – together – over the next 10 years faster than we have at any point in our existence,” said Monahan. “We are committed to continuing to evolve and adapt, and with our ever-strengthening partnership with the European Tour, to take the global game to the heights we all know it is capable of.”
PGA TOUR Schedule Highlights
The 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule includes several significant enhancements and features a total of 48 official events – 45 during the FedExCup Regular Season along with three 2022 FedExCup Playoffs events.
The 2022 portion of the schedule will kick off the PGA TOUR’s new, nine-year domestic media rights agreements with ViacomCBS, Comcast/NBC and ESPN. As part of the agreement, all three 2022 FedExCup Playoffs events will be broadcast domestically on NBC network television, beginning a rotation that continues with CBS hosting all three events in 2023.
Headline news includes the change in location and venue for the kickoff of the FedExCup Playoffs to TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, starting in 2022, replacing the Regular Season event that has been held in Memphis since 1958. FedEx will serve as the title sponsor of the event, to be known as the FedEx St. Jude Championship (August 8-14), replacing existing title sponsor Northern Trust after this year’s playing of THE NORTHERN TRUST at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.
“FedEx is excited that the first event of the 2022 FedExCup Playoffs will be hosted in our hometown of Memphis, Tennessee,” said Raj Subramaniam, President and Chief Operating Officer of FedEx Corporation. “We are proud of our history and the community impact we’ve had since becoming title sponsor of our hometown TOUR stop in 1986. We look forward to the impact it will bring to our local community and will continue to use it as a platform to showcase the groundbreaking work being done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to golf fans around the world.”
“Since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007, we have made a number of changes to enhance the quality of the FedExCup Playoffs for our players, fans and partners,” said Monahan. “Thanks to the continued support from FedEx as the TOUR’s umbrella partner, we’re proud to bring the start of the FedExCup to Memphis and a course loved by our players. Not only will it be a great test worthy of Playoff golf, but we also anticipate tremendous enthusiasm from a community that has steadfastly supported the PGA TOUR for more than 60 years. And, of course, the important work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will continue to be front and center.
“In totality, the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule, combined with the momentum we have with our now-entrenched partnership with the European Tour, puts the PGA TOUR in a position of strength within professional golf like never before. We’re confident this schedule will give the world’s best players the opportunity to do what they do best – inspire and entertain our fans around the globe while helping our tournaments make a significant impact in their respective communities.”
The 2022 FedExCup Playoffs will continue to include the BMW Championship (August 15-21), which rotates next year to Wilmington Country Club in Wilmington, Delaware, and the FedExCup Playoffs finale, the TOUR Championship (August 22-28), once again slated for East Lake Golf Club.
The PGA TOUR’s flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship (March 7-13), will anchor a true Florida Swing in 2022, which features four consecutive events through The Sunshine State in the spring, including the Valspar Championship, which was played in April/May this past year. THE PLAYERS will be in year three of its March date and as a kickoff to the Season of Championships, with Justin Thomas returning as defending champion.
The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday (May 30-June 5) enters the first year of a 10-year agreement in 2022 with new presenting sponsor, Workday. Founded in 1976 by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, the tournament partners for the first time with three-time NBA champion and two-time MVP Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, and Ayesha Curry, an entrepreneur, host and New York Times bestselling author.
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the RBC Canadian Open (June 6-12) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, returns to the schedule in 2022 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club. Rory McIlroy won the last RBC Canadian Open, played in 2019.
Other notable items and changes to the 2021-22 PGA TOUR Schedule include (in chronological order):
2021
As previously announced, the Fortinet Championship (September 13-19), with new title sponsor Fortinet, kicks off the 2021-22 FedExCup Regular Season at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, California.
The Ryder Cup will be played the week following the Fortinet Championship, with nine official events played during the balance of 2021 for a total of 10 events to be played in the fall.
The reconfigured Asia Swing will begin with THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT (October 11-17), which moves to the United States for the second year in a row and will be staged at The Summit Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, delivering back-to-back weeks of PGA TOUR golf in Las Vegas, as the Shriners Children’s Open will be contested October 4-10.
Following THE CJ CUP @ SUMMIT will be the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, with additional details to be available in the near future.
As previously announced, World Wide Technology embarks on its first year of title sponsorship of the TOUR’s original event in Mexico, the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba (November 1-7).
2022
The Sentry Tournament of Champions – a PGA TOUR winners-only event – leads off the 2022 calendar year (January 3-9).
The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am (January 31-February 6) and the Waste Management Phoenix Open (February 7-13) trade spots in the schedule, as the TOUR’s event at TPC Scottsdale remains in its traditional date of Super Bowl week.
The Puerto Rico Open (February 28-March 6) will be played as an additional event alongside the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.
The Corales Puntacana Championship (March 21-27), in its first year under an extended term, will be played as an additional event alongside the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play.
The Mexico Championship (April 25-May 1) returns to the calendar as a PGA TOUR co-sponsored event, no longer under the World Golf Championships umbrella. With the field of 132 players, there is an anticipation of additional Mexican golfers in the field to help in inspire and grow the game in one of golf’s key emerging markets.
With the biennial Presidents Cup being held at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte in 2022, the Wells Fargo Championship (May 2-8) will be contested for one year at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm in Potomac, Maryland.
The John Deere Classic (June 27-July 3), traditionally played the week prior to The Open Championship, moves one week earlier.
Following The Open Championship, the 3M Open (July 18-24), Rocket Mortgage Classic (July 25-31) and Wyndham Championship (August 1-7) close out the FedExCup Regular Season.
The European Tour will announce the initial portion of its 2022 schedule later this month, with the full season announcement to follow in due course.
Below is a list of how Canadian golfers fared across the major professional tours the week prior.
OLYMPICS
American Xander Schauffele carded a final round 67, including a four foot putt for par on the final hole, to claim the gold medal in the men’s golf competition at the Tokyo Olympics. The win was an emotional one for Schauffele whose father Stefan, a former track and field athlete, had his Olympic hopes dashed 40 years ago when a car crash left him blind in one eye. Schauffele is just the second American ever to win gold in golf, the first since Charles Sands in Paris in 1900.
Rory Sabbatini set an Olympic record with a final round 61, despite two bogeys, and almost forced a sudden-death playoff before settling for the silver medal while playing for Slovakia. The South African-born Sabbatini became a Slovakian citizen in 2018 thanks to his wife, Martina.
Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama was one shot off the lead with four holes to play in his quest to win a gold medal at his home Olympics. But he missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole which would have given him the bronze medal. Instead, it forced a seven-man playoff for the final medal. The Japanese hopeful was eliminated on the first extra hole with a bogey.
Rory McIlroy, Mito Pereira and Sebastian Munoz were eliminated on the third playoff hole with pars, leaving C.T. Pan and British Open champion Collin Morikawa to fight for the final medal. Pan, representing Chinese Taipei, won it with a par on the fourth extra hole.
Canada’s Corey Conners carded a final round 65 to finish 13th, five strokes back of Schauffele. Teammate Mackenzie Hughes shot 75 and ended up 50th. Both were representing Canada for the first time at the Olympic Games.
England’s Daniel Gavins overcame a seven stroke deficit to win the ISPS HANDA World Invitational by one stroke over fellow Englishman David Horsey. For Gavins it was his first European Tour after never previously recording a single top-10 finish. New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, who was tied for the lead before dropping shots on the 16th and 17th, finished tied for third with third round leader Jordan Smith, Alejandro Canizares and Masahiro Kawamura.
In the women’s event, Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn overcame a triple bogey on the sixth hole to defeat American Emma Talley on the second playoff hole. Along with Jennifer Kupcho, the trio reached the final hole in regulation in a tie but Kupcho bogeyed the 18th to finish outside the playoff. Both players made par on the first extra hole and Anannarukarn needed another par on the second playoff hole to win after Talley missed the green on her approach. Anannarukarn becomes the fifth first-time winner on the LPGA Tour this season.
NEXT EVENT: Hero Open (Aug 5) CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill
FORME TOUR
Turk Pettit shot a final round 67 to win the Birck Boilermaker Classic in just the third start of his professional golf career. Two months ago, Pettit was putting the finishing touches on a win at the 2021 NCAA Championship. Joseph Harrison missed a 10 foot putt which could have forced a playoff, leaving him alone in second place. The victory moves Pettit to the top of the Tour’s points list. The top five at the end of the season will earn membership on the Korn Ferry Tour. …Will Bateman posted his best result on the tour and second top 20 result in four starts. …Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member Joey Savoie recovered from rounds of 74 and 76 to card a final round 69 and maintain his top 10 points standing. He sits ninth and is the only Canadian in the top 10.
POS
SCORES
TOTAL
T13
Wil Bateman
67-72-71-69
-9
T31
James Allenby
73-65-75-70
-5
T31
Lawren Rowe
71-69-69-74
-5
T39
Joey Savoie
65-74-76-69
-4
T55
Riley Wheeldon
74-68-71-75
E
MC
Blair Hamilton
73-71
MC
Chris Crisologo
72-75
MC
Jared du Toit
74-73
MC
Myles Creighton
75-72
MC
Callum Davison
77-72
NEXT EVENT: Fuzzy Zoeller Classic (Aug 10) CANADIANS ENTERED: TBA
MACKENZIE TOUR-PGA TOUR CANADA
Brendan Leonard birdied three of the final five holes to overcome a five stroke deficit and win the Mackenzie Investments Open, the opening event of the 2021 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada schedule. Leonard was tied for the lead before making back-to-back birdies on the final two holes to finish two shots better than Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Marc Casullo. Blair Bursey led through each of the first three rounds but a final round 76 denied him a chance of going wire-to-wire, finishing in a tie for fourth with Keven Fortin-Simard. Other notable finishers: Jamie Sadlowski tied for 6th, Sebastian Szirmak tied for 8th, and Eric Banks tied for 12th. The top player on the final points list will earn full exempt status on the 2022 PGA TOUR Canada while second-through-fifth will earn exempt status up until the first reshuffle. Finishers six through 10 will each earn a sponsor exemption into a 2022 Mackenzie Tour event.
American Schauffele wins gold at men’s Olympic golf tournament
Terry Lenyk
Xander Schauffele won the Olympic gold medal in golf in a tense finish.
Schauffele was tied for the lead with Rory Sabbatini of Slovakia with two holes to play. The American made birdie from 6 feet on the 17th hole to regain the lead. Then after a bad tee shot that forced him to play short of the water, he hit wedge to 4 feet and made the par to win.
“I felt like for the most part of the day I stayed very calm,” Schauffele said. “I usually look very calm but there’s something terrible happening inside at times. So I was able to learn on those moments where I’ve lost coming down the stretch, where I hit a bad shot or a bad wedge or a bad putt and sort of lose my cool. But I felt like today I really, I thought I had a one-shot lead going into 16 or 17 and I looked at the board and I saw Rory shot 61, so that was a nice wake up call for me; thank goodness there was a board there or I wouldn’t have known. Yeah, it was a roller coaster day for me especially on that back nine coming in and just happy I could fall back on parts of my game to sort of pull me through.”
Sabbatini set an Olympic record with a 61 and won the silver.
“I was out there today and I kept just trying to remind myself, okay, don’t think ahead, don’t think ahead, just enjoy the moment that you’re in because you don’t know what it’s going to end, just enjoy every hole as it comes,” Sabbatini said. “It just seemed like every time I kind of had a hiccup out there I was like, oh, maybe this is the end of the run, but okay. And then all of a sudden, I kicked back into gear. So it was a lot of fun and it was just one of those rare days that you have on the golf course.”
The bronze medal was determined by playoff which included a star-packed field that also included Matsuyama (who shot 67), Paul Casey of Great Britain (68), Rory McIlroy of Ireland (67), Mito Pereira of Chile (67) and Sebastián Muñoz of Colombia (67). It was so large, it required splitting into two groups.
Matsuyama and Casey were eliminated first, followed by Muñoz, then Pereira and McIlroy.
Morikawa bogeyed the final hole after his approach to the 18th green plugged in the steep upslope of the fronting bunker. Pan sank a par-saving putt for the medal.
Canada’s Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., finished 13th (65) at 13-under and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., (75) was 50th at 3-under.
Canadians climb back into contention at Olympic men’s golf tournament
Mackenzie Hughes (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)
Terry Lenyk
Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners are tied for 17th after three rounds at the Olympic men’s golf tournament, seven shots behind the leader heading into Sunday’s final round.
Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., carded a 65.
“I know I’m still well on the outside looking in, but I do have a chance and you always have a chance until the last shot, I guess, so I’m going to give it all I have tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.”
– MACKENZIE HUGHES
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., had a 66 to climb up the leaderboard.
“Fairly pleased with the third round. I could have got a lot more out of the round. I feel like I played well and gave myself a lot of good chances.”
– COREY CONNERS
American Xander Schauffele maintained the one-stroke lead he held at the beginning of the day, though now the closest pursuer is Japan’s own golf hero, Hideki Matsuyama, who replaced Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz as Schauffele’s closest pursuer at Kasumigaseki Country Club.
Lauren Zaretsky wins 107th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship
107th Canadian Women's Amateur Champion Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont. (Andrew Penner/Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
SPRUCE GROVE, Alta. – Lauren Zaretsky of Thornhill, Ont., shot a final-round 70 on Friday to win the 107th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club in Spruce Grove, Alta., as the only player in red numbers.
She finished two strokes ahead of recent Canadian Junior Girls Champion Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., in second at even par.
“It feels amazing,” said Zaretsky. “I’ve been dreaming to win a Golf Canada event my whole entire life. So, it means the world to me just to be able to do it here in 2021.”
Zaretsky, who plays out of the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto & Maple Downs Golf & Country Club, credited a combination of her putting and driving for her final-round 70 and said her plan going into the round was to stay focused and commit to every shot.
With the win, Zaretsky receives an exemption into the 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur held Aug. 2-8 at Westchester Country Club and the 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.
“I’m really excited for the CP Women’s Open,” said Zaretsky. “That’s something that I’ve been watching since I started golf five years ago.”
Zaretsky also adds her name to a notable list of Canadian Women’s Amateur Champions including LPGA Tour players Jennifer Kupcho (2017), Brooke Henderson (2013), and Ariya Jutanugarn (2012).
Fifty-four-hole leader Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que., and Team Canada National Junior Squad member Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., finished tied for third at 2 over.
Round Three ✅
Céleste Dao leads the Canadian Women's Amateur Championship at 1-under after the third round at @EPGCC ⛳️ #CDNWAm
Team Canada National Amateur Squad members had a strong showing with Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C., finishing in 10th at 5 over, Noémie Paré of Victoriaville, Que., tied for 8th at 4 over and Sara-Eve Rhéaume of Quebec City tied for 5th at 3 over.
The National Junior Squad members in the field found success as well, as Gal finished runner-up and Arora behind her in the tie for third while Jennifer Gu of West Vancouver, B.C., finished right behind them in the tie for fifth at 3-over.
Ambassador Golf Club set to host the 116th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship
15th hole, Ambassador Golf Club, ON Canada
Golf Canada
WINDSOR, Ont. – The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is set for Aug. 2-5 at the Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ont., for the 116th installment of the event.
The 72-hole tournament returns for the first time since 2019, after the pandemic caused the cancellation of Golf Canada’s 2020 competitive season.
The 156-player field include all eight of the Team Canada National Amateur Squad members; Brendan MacDougall (Calgary, Alta.), Cougar Collins (Caledon, Ont.), Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Qué.), Henry Lee (Coquitlam, B.C.), Johnny Travale (Hamilton, Ont.), Laurent Desmarchais (Longueuil, Qué.), Matthew Anderson (Mississauga, Ont.), and Noah Steele (Kingston, Ont.).
“The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is one of Canada’s longest running amateur championships and we couldn’t be happier to have it back in 2021,” said tournament director Adam Cinel. “The golf course is in great condition and will serve as an excellent test for Canada’s top players.”
The winner will receive an exemption into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open from June 6-12 at St George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont. and the 2021 U.S. Amateur from August 9-15 at Oakmont Country Club & Longue Vue Club in Oakmont & Verona, Pa.
The 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion was William Buhl from Norway.
Ambassador Golf Club was designed by architect Thomas McBroom. It is a par-71 public golf course that has hosted many previous provincial, national, and professional championships including the Windsor Championship on the PGA TOUR Canada – Mackenzie Tour in 2018 and 2019, the Golf Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship in 2017, the Golf Ontario Ladies Amateur Championship in 2016, and the OUA Golf Championships in 2016.
The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is a 72-hole stroke play event, with a 36-hole cut for the low 70 players and ties. In the event of a tie at the end of four rounds, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following completion of 72-holes.
The practice round will be conducted on Sunday, Aug 1.
Previous winners of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship include PGA TOUR winner and Olympian Mackenzie Hughes (2011-12), PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor (2007), and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Moe Norman (1955-56).
Click here for the full field and tournament information.
NOTABLES
Garrett Rank
The 33-year-old from Elmira, Ont., is the highest ranked Canadian men’s golfer on the World Amateur Golf Rankings at 36th. In addition to winning the Western Amateur in 2019, he finished runner-up at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, tied for fifth at the Men’s Porter Cup, and seventh at the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship. He won the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship three years in a row between 2014-2016.
Brendan MacDougall
The 23-year-old from Calgary is in his third year as a part of the National Amateur Squad. In 2020, he won The Challenge at The Concession and finished tied for fifth at the Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate, both NCAA events. He finished tied for 10th at the 2020 Alberta Amateur Championship and finished tied for 16th at the 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Cougar Collins
The 22-year-old from Caledon, Ont., is in his second year as a part of the National Amateur Squad. In 2020, he won the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship and finished tied for ninth at the Colleton River Collegiate (NCAA). In 2019, he finished tied for 10th at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Étienne Papineau
The 24-year-old from St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Qué., is in his fourth year as a part of Team Canada. He was a member of the Junior Squad in 2014 and 2015, and previously a member of the Amateur Squad in 2020. In 2019, he finished tied for 10th at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, and finished 6th and 7th at the Old Town Club Collegiate and Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational, both NCAA events, respectively.
Henry Lee
The 23-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C. is in his first year as a member of the Amateur Squad. In 2020, he won the Arizona Intercollegiate, an NCAA event, and finished fifth at the Bandon Dunes Championship, also an NCAA event. In 2019, he won the Georgetown Intercollegiate, also an NCAA event, and in 2018 he finished ninth at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Johnny Travale
The 20-year-old from Hamilton, Ont., is in his second year as a member of Team Canada. Previously, he was a member of the Junior Squad in 2018. In 2019, he won the Tavistock Collegiate Invitational and finished tied for fourth at the Hartford Hawk Invitational, both NCAA events. In 2018, he finished tied for 14th at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Laurent Desmarchais
The 20-year-old from Longueuil, Qué., is in his third year as a part of Team Canada. He previously spent two years as a part of the Junior Squad in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, Desmarchais won the Canada Life Series Championship at TPC Toronto, and in 2019 won the Pacific Northwest Amateur Championship. In 2018, he won four events, including the Future Links Ontario Championship and the Québec Junior Boys Championship. In 2019, he finished tied for fourth at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
Matthew Anderson
The 21-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., is in his first year as a part of the Amateur Squad. In 2019, he won the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, and finished second at the Oregon State Invitational (NCAA). Also in 2019, he finished in a tie for fourth at the Carpet Capital Collegiate, and tied for sixth at the Orange Co. Collegiate Classic, both NCAA events.
Noah Steele
The 23-year-old from Kingston, Ont., is in his second year as a part of the Amateur Squad. In 2020, he won the Border Olympics (NCAA) and finished third at the 2020 The All American (NCAA). In 2019, he won both the Southland Conference Championship and The Sam Hall Intercollegiate, both NCAA events. He also finished fourth at the 2019 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship.
FAST FACTS
Currently ranked 36th on the WAGR, Garret Rank of Elmira, Ont., is also an NHL referee.
T.M. Harley of Kingston Golf Club won the inaugural Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 1895.
George S. Lyon won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship eight times and was runner-up twice. Lyon won the Gold Medal for Canada in the 1904 Olympic Games.
Sandy Somerville was a match play finalist 10 times and won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship six times.
Canadian men lose ground during second round of Olympic golf tournament
Terry Lenyk
Both Canadians slipped down the leaderboard during the second round of the men’s Olympic golf tournament in Japan on Friday.
Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., shot a 1-over 72 and dropped into a tie for 39th at 1-under.
“There’s lots of positives to it, but yeah, I walk away disappointed, I’m further away than I started and I know I have a huge hill to climb this weekend. But I did a lot of good stuff today, I just probably had four, five swings I would like to have back. I haven’t been myself on the greens, haven’t made much and putter’s gone a little cold. So if I can get that heated up and kind of bottle up some of those good swings, you never know. And that’s why we’re going to play four rounds and I’ll give it my all for the next two days and we’ll see what happens.”
Mackenzie Hughes
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., is tied for 34th overall at 2-under par thru 16 holes.
Due to lightning, the second round was suspended at 11:57 a.m. and resumed at 2:21 p.m., a delay of 2 hours, 24 minutes. Another thunderstorm forced the second round to be suspended for the day at 5:20 p.m. with 16 players left to complete round two. Play will resume at 7:45 a.m. Saturday morning with round three scheduled to start at 9:03 a.m. off split tees.
American Xander Schauffele leads at 11-under par with rounds of 68-63. Schauffele’s father, Stefan, is French/German and grew up in Germany as an Olympic decathlete hopeful before a car crash with a drunk driver caused loss of vision in his left eye, ending his Olympic dream at age 20
