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PGA TOUR
Mackenzie Hughes birdied the second playoff hole to defeat Sepp Straka in the Sanderson Farms Championship. It’s his second career PGA Tour win – the first one also coming in a playoff at Sea Island in 2016. Hughes is now 2-0 in his career in playoffs. Hughes is the fourth Canadian player to win this event, joining Nick Taylor (2014), Richard Zokol (1992) and Dan Halldorson (1986). He becomes just the eighth Canadian to win two or more PGA events. The victory moves Hughes atop the FedEx Cup standings. Straka missed birdie chances of 20 feet and 18 feet on the last two holes to win it outright, and narrowly missed his birdie putt on the second playoff hole from 18 feet. Garrick Higgo of South Africa finished third. …Nick Taylor recorded his second straight top 20 result for the first time since October 2017.
POS
SCORES
TOTAL
1
Mackenzie Hughes
71-63-68-69
-17
T19
Nick Taylor
68-70-70-70
-10
T45
Michael Gligic
72-68-73-69
-6
T45
Adam Hadwin
73-69-67-73
-6
T54
Adam Svensson
69-70-74-70
-5
MC
Ben Silverman
73-74
+3
NEXT EVENT: Shriners Children’s Open (Oct. 6)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Michael Gligic, Adam Hadwin, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor
LPGA TOUR
Charley Hull ran off four birdies on the back nine for a final round 64 to win The Ascendant LPGA event by one stroke. It was her first win on the LPGA Tour in almost six years. Xiyu Lin of China missed a birdie putt on the final hole which would have forced a playoff. It was her third runner-up finish this year, and second in the last month. Lydia Ko finished third, which moved her to the top of the Race to CME Globe standings. Atthaya Thitikul, the 19-year-old from Thailand who won last week, finished fourth. A victory would have vaulted her into the No. 1 world ranking. …Maddie Szeryk notched her career-best result on the LPGA Tour and second top 30 finish in her last five starts. …It is only the second time this season Brooke Henderson has posted a result outside the top 20
Ryan Fox erased a four shot deficit with three birdies in his first seven holes on his way to a one-shot victory at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Fox finished with seven birdies and three bogeys for his third European tour title. Callum Shinkwin and Alex Noren finished in a tie for second while Rory McIlroy finished tied for fourth with seven birdies and a single bogey. The event was played over three of Scotland’s storied courses: Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and the Old Course.
POS
SCORES
TOTAL
MC
Aaron Cockerill
65-81-71
NEXT EVENT: acciona Open de Espana (Oct. 6)
CANADIANS ENTERED: No Canadians entered
EPSON TOUR
Celine Borge carded seven birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free final round 63 to win the inaugural Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic by one stroke. The win vaulted Borge from 16th up to fifth in the Ascensus Race for the Card standings with the season ending championship remaining. Hyo Joon Jang also had seven birdies to finish second while Swede Linnea Strom birdied five of her first nine holes to finish third. …Selena Costabile notched her seventh top 20 result, her third in the last five starts.
Canada’s Hughes wins Sanderson Farms with birdie on 2nd playoff hole
Mackenzie Hughes of Canada reacts after putting in to win on the second playoff hole against Sepp Straka of Austria on the 18th green during the final round of the Sanderson Farms Championship at The Country Club of Jackson on October 02, 2022 in Jackson, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. – Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont, made birdie on his third time playing the 18th hole on Sunday, and it gave him a playoff victory over Sepp Straka in the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Hughes twice had to made tough par saves on the closing hole at the Country Club of Jackson, in regulation from 100 feet behind the green for a 3-under 69 to force a playoff and from a tough spot in a bunker to keep going.
“Yeah, I’m over the moon. I had some moments today where I was tested and was able to pull through,” said Hughes. “It’s kind of my MO a little bit to scramble and save some pars. I had to do that a little bit today on the back nine. I did everything I possibly could, just grinded my butt off, and luckily it was good enough.”
Straka narrowly missed his birdie putt on the second playoff hole from 18 feet on the fringe. Hughes hit his approach to 8 feet and made the winning putt.
The victory comes one week after the Presidents Cup, and Hughes was disappointed not to be included on the International team at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he lives.
He wanted to use that as motivation, and it sure worked out that way. Hughes won for the second time on the PGA Tour, both in a playoff. His victory at Sea Island in 2016 didn’t finish until Monday morning, and this looked like it might be headed there with fading sunlight on the last hole they played.
Garrick Higgo of South Africa had a 68 and finished third.
Straka finished two groups ahead of Hughes and missed birdie chances of 20 feet and 18 feet on the last two holes for a 67 to finish at 17-under 271.
Hughes twice came up clutch with his putter down the stretch, even if the putts were for par. He was out of position on the par-5 14th, his wedge over a tree back toward the fairway came up short in a bunker, he had to lay up again and escaped with a 15-foot par putt.
On the closing hole, he was well left off the tee and punched under a tree and over the green against the grandstand. After free relief, he used putter from 100 feet away off the green with perfect pace for par.
On the first playoff hole at the 18th, Hughes came up short in a bunker with only about 15 feet from the edge of the bunker to the pin. He blasted out to 5 feet and made par.
That sent them back to the 18th for a third time, and Hughes closed him out.
Mark Hubbard, who went into the final round with a one-shot lead, managed only two birdies in his round of 74 and tied for fifth.
The final round featured five players who had at least a share of the lead at some point. That included Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, whose round came undone on the par-5 14th when he took a triple bogey without a penalty shot.
Higgo never was part of the lead, though he lingered the entire day and missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the 17th that ultimately kept him out of the playoff.
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.
Debbie Cook, The Springs Course, Hole #4
Hi,
Playing with my husband, Warren Cook, and friends, Debbie and Larry Martin. The hole is 87 yards, and I used an 8-iron.
Deb Cook
Andrew McCarthy, Donalda Club, Hole #14
Thanks! I was playing in our play with the pro final tournament with Marty Cairns, Jay Lilge and Paul McGrath. I hit my pitching wedge in from 130 yards.
Ann Kirkland, Riverside Country Club, Hole #7
103 yards with an 8 iron. I was playing with Monique Devine, Sharon Fyke and Laurel Arnason. Hole #7 has a restroom. Laurel was the only one who saw it. Monique and Sharon just heard the celebration.
Carla Johanson, Whispering Pines Golf & Country Club, Hole #14
Thanks for your email congratulating me on my hole-in-one at Whispering Pines Golf & Country Club. For this hole-in-one, I used a Cleveland 3 wood, and the yardage was approximately 145. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and I was golfing with my husband, Wayne Simms, and our good friends, Ian and Debby Fraser. I was shocked when we went to the green as we did not see my ball roll into the hole, but it was straight up the centre of the fairway rolling towards the green. We were looking all around the sides of the green and then Ian Fraser decided to check the hole and there was my ball! It was a very exciting finish to a beautiful summer and golf season!
Thanks,
Carla Johanson
Chris Appleby, Northlands Golf Course, Hole #3
Thanks. I shared the achievement with my family: wife Sandy, son, Jordon and daughter, Kendra. It was our last family golf day of the year. It was at Northlands Golf Course. On hole #3, I used an 8 iron, and the distance was scoped at 150 yards.
Fabian Frendo, The Pulpit Club, Hole #3
Thank you!
I feel blessed to get another hole-in-one this year as I got one last year at The Brush on number 13…which I understand just got ranked the hardest Par 3 (not sure if that is in Ontario or Canada).
This hole-in-one was on the 3rd hole from the blue tee box. The distance was about 145 yards, and I used a 7 iron. My playing partners that day were Christopher Northfield, Kelly Perrera and Tony Halovanic.
Have a great day and week!
Thank you for the acknowledgement. Much appreciated.
Fabian
Greg Poole, Langara Golf Course, Hole #12
Hi. Thanks for doing this.
I was playing Langara Golf Course in Vancouver on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, with Jerry Gildemeester and Rod Hale and we were joined by a single golfer, Rochelle.
I was having quite a bad round until the par 3 12th hole. From the blue tees the front flag was 174 yards away. There’s a rise at the front lip of the green so the hole itself was not visible from the tee. I hit a 5 iron solidly and the ball landed just in front of the green, hopped up and rolled over the little rise and onto the green. I said, “that should be close I think.” My playing partners all hit good shots. When we got to the green, I saw only three balls, so I went directly to the cup and there was my ball, resting comfortably in the hole. Quite the thrill.
Greg Poole
Jacey Kennedy, Islesmere (Club de Golf), Hole #9
Thank you for reaching out, it’s an accomplishment I’m pretty proud of!
Here are the details you requested:
– Who were you playing with? Marco Landry, Eric Moffette and Don Borne
– What was the yardage, and what club did you use? 137 and I used my 5 hybrid
Regards,
Jacey
John Murray, Greenhills Golf Club, Hole #15
Thank you for the recognition. This is my third hole-in-one and no matter what people say I put it all down to luck. It was a great day and total surprise.
I was playing with friends George Olszowy and Jeff McGuffin. Number 15 is a pretty long par 3 at our course so I used my Ping driver. From the whites it is 183 yards.
Aiming at the left edge of the left bunker the ball took off straight to the middle of it then faded right in flight, bounced as it hit prior to the trap to the front of it going 45 degrees right and rolled onto the green. We lost sight of it in the shadows as it rolled but upon walking to the hole, we all saw it had gone in.
After the patio celebration at Greenhills, opened a Hidden Bench pinot noir and lit a Cuban cigar at home to continue the lucky day till my wife could join me with the wow…wine on weekends and a hole in one.
Cheers,
John A. Murray
Jonathan Van Dyke, Cottonwood Golf & Country Club, Hole #17
I stepped up to the blue box on hole #17 and rang out the yardage as 160 playing 155. I clipped a solid 8 iron towards the green. It was right on line and Merman (Murray) said, “JVD that’s a good looking shot and tracking”, as Jordan said, “that’s going to go in!” I said, “it’s close but not going in!” Well, the flag was center and about 15 feet in as it hit the fringe, rolled directly at the flag, and dropped. We erupted in laughter, smiles and high fives as Dave yelled out, “that’s the first hole-in-one I’ve ever witnessed.” On to #18 we went and as we finished, Murray said, jeez and shook his head as I laughed and told the group I used the same ball to finish the round as we headed in and celebrate my third hole-in-one inside a 40-year career. Oddly, the ball I used was a number “3” and brand I never use.
Best part of this hole-in-one: being at my home course and surrounded by really good friends who shared in a fun and special moment in time, as well as a few libations.
Fun facts:
– Jordan had a hole-in-one on the same hole four weeks prior to mine.
– Dave played with a fellow who aced one the following Wednesday and there were two aces that Men’s night (now Dave has seen two aces inside a week).
– I’m not an angry golfer, but I have to admit I did rip my card in half on the hole prior to my hole-in-one after my second double. When I presented it to Ethan, our junior pro, he said, “I’m pretty sure we never seen that before” as we laughed.
Take care,
JVD
Josiah McColeman, Wildwinds Golf Links, Hole #3
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for the email. I was playing with a fellow member at Wild Winds, Chris. The yardage was 165, and I hit an 8 iron. This is my third hole-in-one.
Thank you,
Josiah
Kyle Morrison, Wildwinds Golf Links, Hole #5
Thank you for reaching out and for providing that awesome graphic! It was a very exciting moment and happens to be my second one this season! I had my first one on a golf trip to San Diego back in April, and sure enough I end up with a second one last week. They are the first two I have ever had and somehow, they end up occurring in the same season.
It was the first day of Fall and it sure felt like it with the 12-degree temperature and 50km/h winds. I was playing with two of my closest friends, who are also members at Wildwinds, Navid Kazemeini and Brendan Woods. The wind was blowing from left to right. We lasered the pin at 188 yards, which was at the back-centre of the green. I hit a flighted 6 iron, trying to keep it low in the wind, it started out going left and turned back with the wind pushing it right back towards the hole. The ball landed on the front left of the green, took a big first bounce, then settled on the second bounce and spun right towards the hole and then disappeared! I jumped with excitement thinking it may have gone in, but being members at Wildwinds, we all knew that it was more likely to have gone over the green into the bunker, which is usually what happens when you go at the back pin on hole #5. As we got closer to the green and the back bunker became visible, there was no ball to be seen and reality was beginning to set in. Sure enough, the ball was right in the hole and celebration ensued (sorry to the guys hitting shots on holes around us).
Lawrence Pyman, Grandview Golf Course, Hole #11
On Tuesday, September 27, on hole #11 at Grandview Golf Course in Huntsville, I recorded a hole-in-one. The hole measured 147 yards and I shot a 7 iron with a high fade to the middle pin.
Lawrence Pyman Clublink Member at GreyHawk Golf Course in Ottawa
Len Esposito, Rebel Creek Golf Club, Hole #17
On September 5, 2022, I aced the 17th hole at Rebel Creek Golf Club in Petersburg, ON. I used my 9-iron for this 141-yard shot. This was my first hole-in-one, and with my 70th birthday coming up in two months, I was wondering if I’d ever achieve the feat before I died.
I didn’t die, but my wife almost did when she saw the clubhouse tab. Unfortunately for me, it was during our Labour Day Classic, so there were lots of members there that day. Regardless, it was the highlight of my golf career.
Regards,
Len Esposito
Nick Mavromihelakis, The Pulpit Club, Hole #16
Hi,
Thanks for this. It was hole #16. I was with a client and my wife. 151 yards with an 8 iron into the wind over the water. Surreal feeling.
Thanks,
Nick
Paul Goyetche, Rosemere Fontainebleau Golf Club, Hole #17
Hi,
I was playing with fellow golfer, Yvon Dumoulin. It was only my second round with my new set of Callaway Rogue ST Max OS irons. The 17th hole, our 8th hole as there is a Friday crossover, was playing 139 yards with a strong head wind, indirectly caused by Fiona in the east. I hit a high 6 iron that bounced and started to roll towards the pin. I thought it was a good shot and stopped watching it, but Yvon said it had gone in. I wasn’t convinced until I walked up to the pin.
It was my third hole-in-one, but the first late enough in the day for the bar to be open. Our hole-in-one insurance paid off.
Regards.
Paul Goyetche
Paul Moffatt, Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #15
Last Tuesday, I was playing Credit Valley with three members – Chris Strome, Eric Zeldin and Pierre Natividad. The 15th hole measured 149 yards and I used an 8 iron. I shot my lowest nine-hole score of 29. On the back nine, I made four birdies and an ace!
Rick Ferguson, Brooklea Golf & Country Club, Hole #7
Thank you very much for your email.
I was playing that day with three guys in the Brooklea Senior Men’s League which I joined for the first time this year: John Young, Jim Goom and Paul Muldoon. We arrived at the 7th hole which is a medium length par 3 which crosses a bit of a ravine to a fairly wide green with a bunker protecting the left side and a bit of a hump between it and the green. This day the flag was tucked in behind that hump on the left and was a bit over 140 yards away. There was also about a 15 to 20 km/hr wind coming pretty much straight at us so rather than play my usual 9 iron, I opted to go up to the 8. Both Paul and I were ready on the tee chatting a bit about the pin placement and how it was a sucker pin, so you don’t want to go straight at it. I suggested that I would go first and give him a target. Paul half-jokingly said that all I needed to do was aim at the fat of the green with a little draw toward the pin. So, I set up and hit my shot and, sure enough, it started about 15 feet right of the pin and started drawing in toward it. When it landed, it seemed to have just cleared the hump in front of the pin and then we couldn’t see where it ended up. The rest of the guys hit their shots and we proceeded to the green. When we got there, we quickly found the other three balls but didn’t see mine. I figured it must have rolled right through and was hiding in the rough behind the green so John and I looked and couldn’t find it so then John suggested we should look in the cup. I said yeah, let’s make sure it’s not there but when we got there, it was nicely resting in the bottom. What a surprise and thrill we all got!
There is also a little bit of back story I would like to share with you. My dad passed away about four months ago and he loved the game of golf. Although he took me and my brothers out a couple of times as kids, I never took much interest in the game until I was nearly 50. My dad introduced his dad to the game at about the same age and he was able to have more than one hole-in-one during his time with the game. So, when I did take up the game a bit, he would ask me any time I was out whether I got a hole-in-one yet like his dad. Unfortunately, it never happened while he was alive but a couple of days before he died, I told him I was going to get one for him and if I did, I would know he was up there helping me out. Dad’s birthday was September 19th, and I couldn’t play that day, but it was only two days later that this happened, and it just seems incredibly fitting. So, this one’s for you dad.
Gratefully,
Rick Ferguson
Rick Harper, Lookout Point Country Club, Hole #5
I scored my hole-in-one on the 5th hole at Lookout Point Country Club. Tee to pin was 135 yards with a headwind. I choked up on a pitching wedge and took a full swing at the ball. It drew in just a bit, before landing on the front middle edge of the green and smoothly rolled right to the front of the cup before dropping right into the hole. Although this was my 2nd hole in one (my first was at another club nearby), it was a much more satisfying experience due to the fact that it was on my home course, and I was playing with my regular group of friends.
Tyler Eby, Shelburne Golf & Country Club, Hole #14
I was playing in our club championship. Yardage was around 145 with the wind in the face so I hit a three-quarter 8 iron to keep it a little lower. My first ever hole-in-one.
Atlantic golf community looks to rebound after impact from tropical storm Fiona
Photo by Stephan Newman for Stingray Media)
Adam Stanley/ Golf Canada
Golf is all about community – friends, family, your local club or course. Everything is connected. It’s part of what makes this game so great.
Canada’s golf community was struck a blow in late September as tropical storm Fiona impacted in the Atlantic provinces with wind speeds up to 177 km/h and sustained winds of over 100 km/h blowing for up to 10 hours in parts of the Maritimes.
Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, said the army would be deployed to help with clean-up efforts.
“This is hands down the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” journalist Rene Roy told the CBC.
“It looks like a bomb went off,” Newfoundland resident David Harvey told the National Post while working with displaced residents at a local Salvation Army.
Nine people are estimated to have died due to the storm, with nearly 13,000 people displaced, and at least 20 buildings destroyed.
One of those buildings was the clubhouse of the Stanhope Golf and Country Club in Charlottetown, P.E.I. It burned down Sept. 24, and the golf course will likely be closed for the balance of the season as there was significant damage there, too.
“This is a real loss for the community. It’s a community club,” said Merlin Affleck, the club’s head professional. “It’s just devastating.”
Plenty of other courses in Eastern Canada escaped from the wrath of the storm relatively unscathed including Cabot Cape Breton, and Digby Pines in western Nova Scotia took to social media to say they were “open as usual.”
Golf Prince Edward Island posted on Twitter on Sunday morning encouraging patience as turf crews assess and clean up any damages. The island is home to more than 25 courses and has long been a popular destination for tourists and Canadians alike to get feet on the fairway.
“Islanders are resilient, and we will get through this together,” the statement said.
After two summers of COVID-19 restrictions, golf in Atlantic Canada was opening its doors at an impressive clip before Fiona made landfall. If there was a silver lining to the time of the storm, the 2022 golf season is much closer to its conclusion than its beginning, and there will hopefully be enough time to get things settled and sorted before shutting things down for the winter.
Ryan Logan, Director of Golf Services at Golf Canada, says it’s no surprise to see the golf community in Eastern Canada band together.
While golf courses in Canada are just starting to exit from the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic – a situation that bonded golf courses unlike ever before – the clubs in eastern Canada will now need to come together again to get things back to relative normalcy before the end of the 2022 season.
“We’ve seen great strength and heard great stories of community support already,” says Logan. “This was a catastrophic environmental event and Golf Canada knows the staff at impacted clubs will bind together and hopefully be able to come out stronger on the other side.”
US wins Presidents Cup for 12th time with Canada’s Conners and Pendrith wanting more
Tony Finau of the United States and Taylor Pendrith of Canada (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith made Canadian history twice at the Presidents Cup and, although they’re disappointed in the result, they’re ready for more.
It was the first time two Canadians had ever played at the prestigious best-on-best tournament that sees 12 Americans take on 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe. When the longtime friends were partnered on Friday they became the first-ever Canadians to play together at the storied tournament.
But Conners, from Listowel, Ont., lost to Xander Schauffele 1 up in Sunday’s seventh match to clinch the American victory. Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., also lost his match in the event’s final round when he dropped a 3 and 1 decision to Tony Finau.
Ultimately, the United States beat the international team 17.5 to 12.5 for its 12th Presidents Cup title.
The Canadians were the only members of the international team not to earn a point over the four-day, five-session tournament. Conners said he was disappointed to not maintain the international team’s momentum in the final round.
“All the guys were ready to go today,” said Conners by the 18th green. “Some of the guys got some points early to keep us in it.
“I’m really disappointed not to be able to add to our total, but it was a fun week.”
The biennial event alternates between courses in the U.S. and international locations. The next edition will be at Royal Montreal Golf Club, which last hosted in 2007 when Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., had a legendary showdown with Tiger Woods in the final round.
“It’s definitely going to be a goal of mine to make that team,” said Pendrith, who like Conners made his Presidents Cup debut. “This week was great, and I’m hungry to get some points.”
The U.S. dominated the first two days of play, building a commanding 8-2 lead. But the internationals gained ground on Saturday, finishing the fourth session just four points back.
With the U.S. leading 11-7 and needing just 15.5 points to win, American captain Davis Love III was aggressive in his picks for individual play, putting Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth – his most consistent players – into Sunday’s first two matches.
That gamble produced mixed results with South Korea’s Si Woo Kim beating Thomas 1 up but Spieth topped Australia’s Cam Davis 4 and 3.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama tied Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay downed Australia’s Adam Scott 3 and 2.
Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz kept the internationals in it with a 2 and 1 victory over Scottie Scheffler before Pendrith and Conners lost their matches as the Americans clinched their title.
Finau jumped out to a 2 up lead in his match against Pendrith, but the Canadian answered back with birdies on the third and fourth holes to tie it.
Pendrith made a 33-foot chip in on the par-3 sixth hole for a birdie and his first lead of the match. He also birdied the next hole, but Finau birdied on Nos. 9 and 12 to tie the match, then pulled ahead with birdies on Nos. 13, 16 and 17.
“I felt like I played decent today in the middle of the round and had some chances on the back nine,” said Pendrith by the 17th green. “No. 15 stings. No. 16, I hit a good putt, but Tony played really good as well.
“He made seven or eight birdies or something like that. Can’t really do much about that.”
Schauffele and Conners were tied through the first five holes, but the American eagled and had a birdie on Nos. 6 and 7 to take a lead. He added to that when Conners bogeyed No. 10. The Canadian rallied with three consecutive won holes, starting with No. 12, to even the score.
Conners bogeyed the par-4 15th hole, which Schauffele parred, and the American held on the rest of the way.
“It was a good battle. I feel like every match I got down, every match I fought back,” said Conners. “Ultimately I came up a little short, but good stuff.”
Play continued, however, with the remaining matches being seen to completion. South Korea’s Sungjae Im bested Cameron Young 1 up. Billy Horschel conceded to South Korea’s K.H. Lee for a 3 and 1 internationals win.
Max Homa fended off fan favourite Tom Kim of South Korea for a 1 up win, Collin Morikawa beat Chile’s Mito Pereira 3 and 2, and in the day’s final match South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout downed Kevin Kisner 2 and 1.
Ryan Hart, the executive director of the 2024 Presidents Cup, said he hopes that Royal Montreal will truly feel like an away game for the Americans.
“All the structures will be wrapped black and gold,” said Hart, gesturing to the white-sheathed structures at Quail Hollow. “So (the international team) can come out and we can hopefully have the entire country feel like they are part of the international team and cheer them on to victory.”
The atmosphere at the Presidents Cup has changed in the 15 years since Canada last hosted the event. Organizers said that 40,000 spectators attended the Presidents Cup every day, a massive gathering for golf that was amplified because those crowds were concentrated around just four or five groups the first three days of the tournament.
Pendrith said that it was the most people he had ever played in front of but he feels like he rose to the occasion.
“Obviously, the stakes were really high. Lots of pressure,” said Pendrith. “But the first day, I feel like I handled it pretty well.
“Really, all week, it was a lot of fun, and it will be a good experience to move forward.”
Rosie Bee Kim and Matthew Wilson win NextGen Fall Series West Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards
(Dave Best/ Golf Canada)
Dan Pino/ Golf Canada
Golden, B.C. – The NextGen Fall Series West Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, wrapped up at Golden Golf Club Sunday with Matthew Wilson of Nanaimo, B.C. and Rosie Bee Kim of Edmonton besting a field of 90 young amateurs to take home the respective Junior Boys and Girls titles.
In the Junior Girls Division, 15-year-old Rosie Bee Kim, a member of Highlands, Golf Club, used a final-round, even-par 72 and tournament-total 3-under 213 (69-72-72) for a 4-shot, wire-to-wire victory over runner-up Erin Lee of Langley, B.C. at 1-over 217. Lucy Lin of Vancouver, B.C. (+3) finished alone in the third while Kelly Zhao of Richmond Hill, B.C. (+5) and Elisa Liu of Richmond, B.C. (+5) rounded out the top 5.
Lin, a 12-year-old who Monday qualified into the 2022 CP Women’s Open last month to become the youngest competitor in the event’s history, used rounds of 76-70-73—219 (+3) to win the (U15) Bantam Division title by seven shots over Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (+10). Earlier this summer, Lin, a member of Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, also won the NextGen Western Championship contested at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta.
In the Junior Boys Division, Wilson, who plays out of Nanaimo Golf Club, followed up a second-round 4-under 68 with a final-round 72, and tournament total 2-under 214 (74-68-72) to win by three shots over Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. (+1). Wilson, 15, entered final-round play with a share of the lead at 2-under through 36 holes and held off a back-nine push by Zhang as well as a trio of players – second-round co-leader Joshua Ince of Surrey, B.C. (+2) as well as Ryan Vest of Vernon, B.C. (+2), and Caleb Davies of Langley, B.C. (+2) – who fired matching final-round 72s to finish T3 at 2-over 218 for the championship.
Zhang, 14, carded tournament rounds of 69-76-72—217 (+1) to cruise to a 10-shot victory in the (U15) Bantam Division over Brae Rogalczyk of Innisfail, Alta. (+11) followed by Jaden August of Pitt Meadows, B.C. in third (+12).
CLICK HERE for complete final scoring results from the NextGen Fall Series West Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.
The top three male competitors (Mathew Wilson, Alex Zhang, and , Ryan Vest,) from the 54-hole championship will earn a spot in the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO (location TBD). The top three female golfers (Rose Bee Kim, Erin Lee, and Lucy Lin) will also earn exemptions into next year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO at Hampton Golf Club in Hampton, N.B.
The NextGen Fall Series West Championship conducted by Golf Canada was the final of eight regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards.
From May through July, six championships took place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers competed to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national junior championships, with two Fall Series events taking place in September. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and display their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.
For the full schedule of Golf Canada’s 2022 competitions, click here.
Internationals close gap at Presidents Cup, trail Americans 11 7 after four sessions
Taylor Pendrith of the International team blasts a sand shot but the ball failed to leae the bunker during the PGA President's Cup golf tournament on September 24, 2022, at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Canada’s Taylor Pendrith thought he and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama were going to earn some points back for the international team when they were announced as partners for Saturday’s afternoon session at the Presidents Cup.
Unfortunately for them, they drew the duo of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth, the most reliable pairing for the United States.
After Matsuyama birdied the first hole for an early lead in the four-ball match, the Americans had six birdies to earn a 4 and 3 win, the one international loss in the day’s second session. The United States held an 11-7 lead when play wrapped.
“They just kept making birdies. Hideki hit an unreal shot on No. 1, and we went 1 up,” said Pendrith just off the 15th green at Quail Hollow Club after shaking hands with Spieth and Thomas. “I don’t know how many birdies exactly they had, but it seemed like a lot.”
Shortly after that defeat, South Korea’s Sungjae Im and Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz earned a 3 and 2 win over Tony Finau and Kevin Kisner.
Then South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim birdied No. 18 for a 1 up win over Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Finally, Australia’s Adam Scott and Cam Davis held off Billy Horschel and Sam Burns for a 1 up victory as the internationals closed the gap on the host Americans.
Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Matsuyama were consistently driving further and with more accuracy than Spieth and Thomas, but the internationals struggled with their chipping and putting as the Americans excelled.
“I think the pins, some of the pins, were pretty tricky,” said Pendrith. “I didn’t really have many great looks at birdie.
“Hitting into 30 feet with putts that break eight to ten feet, it’s tough to make those.”
It was the second time on Saturday that Spieth and Thomas had beaten a Canadian. In the morning session, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Im also conceded to the Americans on the 15th green for a 4 and 3 loss.
Pendrith and Conners were paired together in Friday’s final match, a close 1 up loss to Horschel and Max Homa that was decided on the 18th hole. Conners was then in Saturday’s first match of the day, about 12 hours later.
“It was an early morning but I had a great sleep last night and I was raring to go again,” said Conners. “I was a little sore leaving the golf course after being close in that match so getting back this morning I was looking forward to playing again.
It’s the first time two Canadians have played at the prestigious Presidents Cup, which will move to Royal Montreal Golf Club for the next edition in 2024. Conners and Pendrith are the only players on the international team to not yet earn a point, with three of their four losses coming at the hands of Spieth and Thomas.
That led to Spieth and Thomas being asked why they hate Canada.
“That’s not a serious question, is it?” laughed Thomas.
“We love Canada,” said Spieth. “Remember in two years, that’s where we’re going to be.”
Added Thomas: “We love Canada.”
“We try to challenge whoever we’re going to play as best we could,” said Spieth, who has an impressive 8-2-0 record when paired with Thomas at the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.
“We have full trust and belief that we can beat whoever we play,” said Thomas. “Whether it’s a Presidents Cup or a Ryder Cup or a money game, we enjoy the challenge and try to embrace it.”
The first team to 15.5 points will win the biennial event that sees 12 Americans take on 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe. Sunday’s round will be singles matches, with Pendrith playing Finau and Conners taking on Schauffele.
In morning play Saturday, Scott and Matsuyama beat Cameron Young and Collin Morikawa 3 and 2 in the day’s second match. Lee and Tom Kim beat Scheffler and Burns 2 and 1. The U.S. answered back as Finau and Homa topped Si Woo Kim and Davis 4 and 3.
Americans add to lead at Presidents Cup as Canada’s Conners, Pendrith paired together
aylor Pendrith of Canada and the International Team and Corey Conners of Canada and the International Team look on from the fourth tee during Friday four-ball matches on day two of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Taylor Pendrith centred himself over the ball, took a breath, and rolled his putt 13 feet, five inches into the hole. He pumped his fist and embraced partner Corey Conners on the 18th green as the international team celebrated on the fairway and fans cheered.
Pendrith’s putt kept the hopes of a draw against Americans Billy Horschel and Max Homa alive in the second round of the Presidents Cup, a potentially critical half point for the international team.
But Homa extinguished those hopes a moment later when he drained his 11-foot putt for a bigger fist pump, a louder cheer, and a 1 up win over the Canadians. That victory also gave the Americans a commanding 8-2 lead over the internationals on Friday at Quail Hollow Golf Club.
“I still feel like there’s some adrenalin flowing,” said Conners on the lip of the 18th green after the loss. “It’s tough. We played against some world class players.
“The atmosphere’s pretty loud, there’s a lot going on. You try to enjoy it, but it’s definitely challenging.”
This year’s Presidents Cup is the first time two Canadians have played in the event that sees 12 Americans take on 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe. Conners and Pendrith had different partners in the first round, making Friday’s pairing the first time two Canadians have ever teamed up at the event.
“To pair up today is really special,” said Conners, who also went to Kent State University with Pendrith. “Hopefully we’ve got a couple more in us, and we’ll see if we can get some points the rest of the way.”
Conners, from Listowel, Ont., will be paired with South Korea’s Sungjae Im for foursome play in the third round Saturday morning. The pairings for Saturday afternoon’s fourth round will be announced after the completion of the third round.
The first team to 15.5 points wins the PGA Tour-sponsored event, with the Americans’ sizable lead putting Sunday’s fifth round at risk of not being played at all.
Im and Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz tied Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns in the day’s second match. Chile’s Mito Pereira and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout also tied Kevin Kisner and Cameron Young in the third match to earn the internationals their second point of the tournament.
“We’ve just got to keep fighting, man,” said team captain Trevor Immelman of South Africa. “Keep putting one foot in front of the other.
“We feel like we’ve played some pretty good golf, some solid golf tee-to-green, particularly the last couple of days, but we have absolutely been outputted. No doubt about it.”
Perennial American pairing Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas beat Australia’s Adam Scott and Cam Davis 2&1 in the day’s first match. Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele downed Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and South Korea’s Tom Kim 3&2.
Both of the Canadians showed off their specialties throughout the match. Pendrith had the longest drive on eight of the foursome’s holes, consistently hitting the fairway. Conners, meanwhile, was unerring in his approach shots, regularly dropping in closest to the pin.
Their displays of power and accuracy even wowed the loudly pro-American crowd at Quail Hollow, earning loud rounds of applause, whistles as the long shots flew through the air, and calls of “Maple syrup!” and “Peameal bacon!”
“We just try to play our own games,” said Conners. “I try to do what I do well. I try to get it on the fairway, get it on the green, have some birdie looks and free up Taylor to hit the balls and attack some of those pins.”
Putting was the Canadians’ Achilles heel early in the match, however, as Horschel and Homa took a 2 up lead on the front nine. Conners birdied the par-4 11th hole and the par-4 13th to tie the match. Homa then birdied the par-4 No. 17 to set up his and Pendrith’s fateful putts.
“It stings a little bit. Max made two really nice putts on the last two holes,” said Pendrith, who is from Richmond Hill, Ont. “We battled very hard but didn’t have our best stuff early in the round. Good enough to stick around.”
Officials said that about 40,000 fans attended each of the first two days at the Presidents Cup, with a similarly large crowd expected on Saturday and, if play continues, the same number on Sunday. The most notable people in Friday’s crowds were former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, who arrived at Quail Hollow Club several hours before Scott, Davis, Spieth and Thomas teed off in the day’s first group.
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.
Erik Lee, Portage Golf Club, Hole #12
On July 15th during the Aaron Asham tournament, I got a hole-in-one on the 12th hole at the Portage Golf Club in Manitoba. It was a hot day with the temperature around 31 with a humidex close to 38. I was golfing with Mike Panko, Gary Woods and Susanna L’Heureux. There was a bit of wind from the east so slightly helping. Pin was set middle front at a distance of 139 yards from the tees.
I was between clubs, thinking I might hit a nine but also took an 8 iron up to the tee box. I decided on hitting a nine. Stride had a couple of tents set up handing out BP Pizza on the back of tee box with Stacy and another employee there. Brad Bailey was also there with his group.
I hit the nine beautifully, a high fade turning towards the pin. It looked like it landed right beside the pin and had stopped so I picked up my tee and turned around. A bit of time had passed when all of the sudden everyone starts going crazy. I hit it 10 feet past the pin, but the ball bounced forward and then spun all the way back into the cup. So, it looked like it was stopped but it was rolling back towards the cup when I turned around. So, I actually never saw it fall in!
I golfed pretty well after that and made a number of putts and another birdie on five by hitting it over the trees even with a headwind. Great day.
Thank you,
Erik Lee
Andrew McCarthy, Donalda Club, Hole #14
Thanks! I was playing in our play with the pro final tournament with Marty Cairns, Jay Lilge and Paul McGrath. I hit my pitching wedge in from 130 yards.
Ann Kirkland, Riverside Country Club, Hole #7
103 yards with an 8 iron. I was playing with Monique Devine, Sharon Fyke and Laurel Arnason. Hole #7 has a restroom. Laurel was the only one who saw it. Monique and Sharon just heard the celebration.
Carla Johanson, Whispering Pines Golf & Country Club, Hole #14
Thanks for your email congratulating me on my hole-in-one at Whispering Pines Golf & Country Club. For this hole-in-one, I used a Cleveland 3 wood, and the yardage was approximately 145. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and I was golfing with my husband, Wayne Simms, and our good friends, Ian and Debby Fraser. I was shocked when we went to the green as we did not see my ball roll into the hole, but it was straight up the centre of the fairway rolling towards the green. We were looking all around the sides of the green and then Ian Fraser decided to check the hole and there was my ball! It was a very exciting finish to a beautiful summer and golf season!
Thanks,
Carla Johanson
Chris Appleby, Northlands Golf Course, Hole #3
Thanks. I shared the achievement with my family: wife Sandy, son, Jordon and daughter, Kendra. It was our last family golf day of the year. It was at Northlands Golf Course. On hole #3, I used an 8 iron, and the distance was scoped at 150 yards.
Fabian Frendo, The Pulpit Club, Hole #3
Thank you!
I feel blessed to get another hole-in-one this year as I got one last year at The Brush on number 13…which I understand just got ranked the hardest Par 3 (not sure if that is in Ontario or Canada).
This hole-in-one was on the 3rd hole from the blue tee box. The distance was about 145 yards, and I used a 7 iron. My playing partners that day were Christopher Northfield, Kelly Perrera and Tony Halovanic.
Have a great day and week!
Thank you for the acknowledgement. Much appreciated.
Fabian
Greg Poole, Langara Golf Course, Hole #12
Hi. Thanks for doing this.
I was playing Langara Golf Course in Vancouver on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, with Jerry Gildemeester and Rod Hale and we were joined by a single golfer, Rochelle.
I was having quite a bad round until the par 3 12th hole. From the blue tees the front flag was 174 yards away. There’s a rise at the front lip of the green so the hole itself was not visible from the tee. I hit a 5 iron solidly and the ball landed just in front of the green, hopped up and rolled over the little rise and onto the green. I said, “that should be close I think.” My playing partners all hit good shots. When we got to the green, I saw only three balls, so I went directly to the cup and there was my ball, resting comfortably in the hole. Quite the thrill.
Greg Poole
Jacey Kennedy, Islesmere (Club de Golf), Hole #9
Thank you for reaching out, it’s an accomplishment I’m pretty proud of!
Here are the details you requested:
– Who were you playing with? Marco Landry, Eric Moffette and Don Borne
– What was the yardage, and what club did you use? 137 and I used my 5 hybrid
Regards,
Jacey
John Murray, Greenhills Golf Club, Hole #15
Thank you for the recognition. This is my third hole-in-one and no matter what people say I put it all down to luck. It was a great day and total surprise.
I was playing with friends George Olszowy and Jeff McGuffin. Number 15 is a pretty long par 3 at our course so I used my Ping driver. From the whites it is 183 yards.
Aiming at the left edge of the left bunker the ball took off straight to the middle of it then faded right in flight, bounced as it hit prior to the trap to the front of it going 45 degrees right and rolled onto the green. We lost sight of it in the shadows as it rolled but upon walking to the hole, we all saw it had gone in.
After the patio celebration at Greenhills, opened a Hidden Bench pinot noir and lit a Cuban cigar at home to continue the lucky day till my wife could join me with the wow…wine on weekends and a hole in one.
Cheers,
John A. Murray
Jonathan Van Dyke, Cottonwood Golf & Country Club, Hole #17
I stepped up to the blue box on hole #17 and rang out the yardage as 160 playing 155. I clipped a solid 8 iron towards the green. It was right on line and Merman (Murray) said, “JVD that’s a good looking shot and tracking”, as Jordan said, “that’s going to go in!” I said, “it’s close but not going in!” Well, the flag was center and about 15 feet in as it hit the fringe, rolled directly at the flag, and dropped. We erupted in laughter, smiles and high fives as Dave yelled out, “that’s the first hole-in-one I’ve ever witnessed.” On to #18 we went and as we finished, Murray said, jeez and shook his head as I laughed and told the group I used the same ball to finish the round as we headed in and celebrate my third hole-in-one inside a 40-year career. Oddly, the ball I used was a number “3” and brand I never use.
Best part of this hole-in-one: being at my home course and surrounded by really good friends who shared in a fun and special moment in time, as well as a few libations.
Fun facts:
– Jordan had a hole-in-one on the same hole four weeks prior to mine.
– Dave played with a fellow who aced one the following Wednesday and there were two aces that Men’s night (now Dave has seen two aces inside a week).
– I’m not an angry golfer, but I have to admit I did rip my card in half on the hole prior to my hole-in-one after my second double. When I presented it to Ethan, our junior pro, he said, “I’m pretty sure we never seen that before” as we laughed.
Take care,
JVD
Josiah McColeman, Wildwinds Golf Links, Hole #3
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for the email. I was playing with a fellow member at Wild Winds, Chris. The yardage was 165, and I hit an 8 iron. This is my third hole-in-one.
Thank you,
Josiah
Kyle Morrison, Wildwinds Golf Links, Hole #5
Thank you for reaching out and for providing that awesome graphic! It was a very exciting moment and happens to be my second one this season! I had my first one on a golf trip to San Diego back in April, and sure enough I end up with a second one last week. They are the first two I have ever had and somehow, they end up occurring in the same season.
It was the first day of Fall and it sure felt like it with the 12-degree temperature and 50km/h winds. I was playing with two of my closest friends, who are also members at Wildwinds, Navid Kazemeini and Brendan Woods. The wind was blowing from left to right. We lasered the pin at 188 yards, which was at the back-centre of the green. I hit a flighted 6 iron, trying to keep it low in the wind, it started out going left and turned back with the wind pushing it right back towards the hole. The ball landed on the front left of the green, took a big first bounce, then settled on the second bounce and spun right towards the hole and then disappeared! I jumped with excitement thinking it may have gone in, but being members at Wildwinds, we all knew that it was more likely to have gone over the green into the bunker, which is usually what happens when you go at the back pin on hole #5. As we got closer to the green and the back bunker became visible, there was no ball to be seen and reality was beginning to set in. Sure enough, the ball was right in the hole and celebration ensued (sorry to the guys hitting shots on holes around us).
Lawrence Pyman, Grandview Golf Course, Hole #11
On Tuesday, September 27, on hole #11 at Grandview Golf Course in Huntsville, I recorded a hole-in-one. The hole measured 147 yards and I shot a 7 iron with a high fade to the middle pin.
Lawrence Pyman Clublink Member at GreyHawk Golf Course in Ottawa
Len Esposito, Rebel Creek Golf Club, Hole #17
On September 5, 2022, I aced the 17th hole at Rebel Creek Golf Club in Petersburg, ON. I used my 9-iron for this 141-yard shot. This was my first hole-in-one, and with my 70th birthday coming up in two months, I was wondering if I’d ever achieve the feat before I died.
I didn’t die, but my wife almost did when she saw the clubhouse tab. Unfortunately for me, it was during our Labour Day Classic, so there were lots of members there that day. Regardless, it was the highlight of my golf career.
Regards,
Len Esposito
Nick Mavromihelakis, The Pulpit Club, Hole #16
Hi,
Thanks for this. It was hole #16. I was with a client and my wife. 151 yards with an 8 iron into the wind over the water. Surreal feeling.
Thanks,
Nick
Paul Goyetche, Rosemere Fontainebleau Golf Club, Hole #17
Hi,
I was playing with fellow golfer, Yvon Dumoulin. It was only my second round with my new set of Callaway Rogue ST Max OS irons. The 17th hole, our 8th hole as there is a Friday crossover, was playing 139 yards with a strong head wind, indirectly caused by Fiona in the east. I hit a high 6 iron that bounced and started to roll towards the pin. I thought it was a good shot and stopped watching it, but Yvon said it had gone in. I wasn’t convinced until I walked up to the pin.
It was my third hole-in-one, but the first late enough in the day for the bar to be open. Our hole-in-one insurance paid off.
Regards.
Paul Goyetche
Paul Moffatt, Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #15
Last Tuesday, I was playing Credit Valley with three members – Chris Strome, Eric Zeldin and Pierre Natividad. The 15th hole measured 149 yards and I used an 8 iron. I shot my lowest nine-hole score of 29. On the back nine, I made four birdies and an ace!
Matthew Bylander, Belmont Golf Course, Hole #5
Hello! Thank you for the note.
I was a single and got paired with some folks I’ve never met, who will probably become good golf buddies now. 😊 The shot played 167 yards and I hit a 7 iron.
Couldn’t have asked for many better holes on which to pull it off. It’s probably a 60-foot drop from the tee box to the green.
There were a few people around, but I think just my partners saw the shot. I was second to hit in the group. It was just perfect; the ball pitched a foot in front of the hole and dunked on the first bounce. A club flip and a few good whoops and high fives were had, and the starter even came over to say congratulations then the drinking began! 🥳
Thank you so much. Have a great week!
Matt Bylander
Pat Meyer, Poppy Estate Golf Club, Hole #15
Hi,
I played with Sharon Owen and Barb Davison. The 15th hole is 145 yards, and I used my driver. The hole is uphill, and we didn’t see the ball go into the hole but when we got to the green, we couldn’t find my ball. When Barb was putting out, she said there’s a ball in here. Pulled it out and lo and behold my Srixon marked with my name in red. A thrill for sure.
Paul Deruiter, Cardinal Lakes Golf Club, Hole #18
Thanks so much for reaching out about my hole-in-one. I was playing in our Thursday night Men’s league with Greg Greovski, Bob Warnick and Steve Moore. The hole was playing 160 yards and I used an 8 iron. It was my third hole-in-one, but the first one in about 30 years.
Thanks again!
Paul Deruiter
Paul Titus, Batteaux Creek Golf Course, Hole #16
Thanks for the congratulations on my hole-in-one. I was playing with Bill Lynch, Doug Wanamaker and John Eversfield. On September 14, hole number 16 measured 140 yards and I hit an 8 iron.
Rick Hayes, Whitetail Crossing Golf Course, Hole #16
Thanks for reaching out with the accolades and for the graphic. Here’s the story:
This is my first hole-in-one after 40 some years of playing. I’ve come close a few times, but this was the first to drop. I was playing with three buddies, Daryl, Andy and Kyle. It was a beautiful day at Whitetail Crossing (Mundare, A.B.) and I had a great back nine going. I was one over on the back heading into the par 3, 16th hole. It was playing 155 yards with a slight breeze from behind. Normally an 8 iron, but the breeze was enough for me to use my Ping G410 9 iron. I hit a solid shot just left of the target. It landed short of the green on a downslope, bounced a couple of times onto the green, then rolled in a nice arc straight into the hole. The small hill in front of the green prevented us from seeing it go in, but I thought it would be close. As we approached the green, I could not see the ball so I thought it might have rolled off the back (the greens were pretty fast that day). But Andy was there first and shouted that it was in the hole! I didn’t believe him at first, but it hit me when I looked down into the hole and there it was, my first hole-in-one! Celebratory high fives all around! This was also the last day for the CCT hole-in-one contest that ran all summer. The rules said you must call the club house right away so they can capture the video as proof. I made the call in order to qualify for the $1000 prize.
Rick Hayes
Ron Braedley, Eagle Creek Golf Course, Hole #8
Thanks for reaching out about my hole-in-one.
The details are as follows:
I was playing with some of the hole #12 volunteers, who marshalled the hole during the CP Women’s Open recently held in Ottawa, ON. Our hole Captain, Riad, arranged the game. The hole was playing about 115 yards with a slight headwind. I was playing the forward tees and used a nine iron. The ball landed on the fringe, and we saw it roll in the hole. This was my second hole-in-one.
Ron
Ron Koop, Talbot Trail Golf Club, Hole #18
Thanks for the interest in my hole-in-one. I was playing with Frank Gow, Kevin Shaten and Claudio Sabelli. All of us are members at Erie Shores Golf Couse in Leamington, ON. Our course was closed for a tournament, so we played Talbot Trail in Wheatley, ON. The yardage was 119 yards, and I used a seven iron into the wind. Pretty good shot for someone who usually misses the green from that yardage. Thanks again for the interest.
Sharon Booth, Granite Pointe Golf Course, Hole #7
Thank you very much! This was an exciting day for me. I am 65 years old, and I have only been golfing for five years and never thought I would get a hole-in-one in my lifetime. I was playing with my husband, Doug, and some dear friends, Nancy Houston and Rod Trites. I don’t remember the exact yardage, but it was a back pin and I used my 5 hybrid. My husband saw it go in and I thought I did but I know how deceiving it can be from a distance, so I didn’t believe it until I saw the ball in the hole.
Thank you for the graphic. I have shared this with my friends and family!
Sharon Booth
Shawn Trudeau, Meadows Golf Club, Hole #7
Hello,
Our league was holding their year-end golf tournament at the Meadows Golf Club, Gloucester. On Saturday, September 17th, Shawn Trudeau was playing the South Course, hole #7 when we heard allot of happy screaming from the players. We heard, hole-in-one!
I didn’t know exactly who got the hole-in-one from the foursome, but as President of our Bell Golf League, I knew I would need to do something. I advised the golf club of this momentous experience.
This hole-in-one was on the South Course, hole #7.
I reached out to Steve (one of the foursome) who was golfing with Shawn, and this is what he recounted:
We were standing behind Shawn on the tee block as he teed off last in the group. When he hit the ball, it landed just before the green and we all thought something good could be happening. Once the ball hits pin and dropped in, I may have blacked out. Pretty sure I may have been more excited than him. Congratulations Shawn.
Regards,
Sandy Booth, on behalf of Shawn Trudeau
Stan Pink, Lingan Golf & Country Club, Hole #6
Hello and thank you! The day I achieved the hole-in-one I was using a 6 iron as I was hitting into 50 km/h cross winds. I was golfing with Vaughn MacDonald, Cyril MacQueen, and one other individual. The distance I hit it from was 172 yards.
It was a good day!
Thanks,
Stan Pink
Susan Hansen, Edson Golf Club, Hole #17
Hi. Thanks for following up! I was playing with a fellow member, Catie Kopp. It was 128 yards, and I used a 7 iron and a Titleist ball. This was actually my second hole-in-one, my first was August 6, 2008, at Edson as well, hole #8. I have been golfing for 36 years. Thanks.
Terry Hilton, Princeton Golf Course, Hole #7
Hi,
Every Fall, this group gets together and travels to a B.C. area for a week of golf. This year, we stayed in Osoyoos. Each day we golfed a different golf club ending with a team scramble event at the Princeton Golf Course on Friday. On Friday September 16th, I was golfing with Charlie Brard, Newton Wainman and Neil Weisner.
We were -2 getting to the sixth hole and shot a bogey. The 7th hole was a par 135-yard par 3. I was second in the order. We could see the flag but a mound in front prevented seeing the hole. I selected an 8 iron and aimed right of the hole hoping it would roll down to the flag. We were confident that three of the four tee shots were on the green. Once we got to the green, we only saw two balls. Neil went and checked the hole and there was my ball. I was ecstatic!
Good thing I bought hole-in-one insurance. This was a thirsty group. We ended up tied for first place with two other teams at six under. Amazing day to end a great trip with great people.
The Princeton Golf Course gave me 2 passes and a hole-in-one golf bag tag.
Great golf course.
Terry Hilton
Tim Heffernan, Emma Lake Golf Course, Hole #10
Thank you for the congratulations. This was my first hole-in-one. The distance was 184 yards, and I used my TaylorMade five iron and a Titleist Velocity ball. I was golfing with my wife Judy, and my hole-in-one was also witnessed by Gerald Brunning who works at the Saskatchewan golf course. My golf swing and contact was one of my best, which made the results even more exciting. The trajectory was perfect, and the ball tracked the pin for the entire shot, absolutely no fade or draw. It was difficult to be 100% certain that the ball had gone in, so Gerald jumped in his cart, rushed to the green, verified the hole-in-one, and then gave me two thumbs up before Judy and I had left the tee box. Judy missed the green on her shot but followed up with a beautify pitch shot that we will also remember for a long time.
My excitement likely contributed to my double bogey on hole #11, but then I settled down and had three birdies on the back nine, in addition to the hole-in-one. It was late in the day when we finished, and the Emma Lake Golf Course Bar was closed so Jude and I drove straight home for a couple cold beers. What a beautiful ending to the day.
Tony Gibbs, Brundenell Golf Course, Hole #5
Thanks for reaching out to me on the hole-in-one. The yardage was 135 and I used a 7 iron. It was quite windy there as well with the wind blowing from left to right. The ball landed on the front of the green, took one hop and rolled to the cup and dropped in. My playing partners were all yelling, “go in, go in.” We have been playing this mini tournament for quite a while now and usually we have anywhere from 12-16 guys, and some come from as far away as British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. This was our 25th anniversary this year and it is the first hole-in-one in 25 years. The names of my foursome are Roger Maslen, Fred Graham and Gerrard McInnis.
Travis Bale, Rossmere Country Club, Hole #12
Thanks so much! I was playing with fellow members Evan Riffel and Zach Payonk. It was a well struck 8 iron from 158 yards that bounced on the green, hit the flagstick and disappeared into the cup.
Americans take 4-1 lead at Presidents Cup as Canada’s Conners, Pendrith make debuts
Corey Conners (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Taylor Pendrith woke up early on Thursday morning and couldn’t get back to sleep. Thoughts of his first tee shot at the Presidents Cup were running through his head, keeping him awake.
But when Pendrith laid into a 308-yard drive on the first hole at Quail Hollow Club, he felt like he belonged at the prestigious international event.
“I knew I was going (to) be nervous. I think if you’re not nervous, there’s something wrong with you,” said Pendrith. “It’s obviously a huge event with tons of history and to be a part of the squad is amazing.
“I was thinking about that tee shot for a long time but I stepped up and hit a really good one and just trusted my skills.”
Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., debuted for the international team at the Presidents Cup on Thursday. Pendrith and partner Mito Pereira of Chile battled with American Tony Finau and Max Homa until the 18th hole, eventually losing 1 up as the United States took a 4-1 lead overall.
“I think me and Mito did a good job today staying in it, giving ourselves lots of chances and staying patient,” said Pendrith, as he and Pereira rallied from a two-shot deficit after six holes to carry a tie into the final hole. “Lots of confidence moving forward to tomorrow.
“If we can come out and steal a couple of points I think we’ll be right in it.”
Conners and Pendrith, close friends who were teammates and roommates at Kent State University, will be paired together for Friday’s final match as the event’s format switches from foursomes to four ball.
It’s the first time two Canadians have played in the best-on-best tournament that sees 12 Americans take on 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe.
Conners and South Korea’s Sungjae Im fell to Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas 2&1 in Thursday’s second match. They shook hands on the 17th green with a tie out of reach.
“We just didn’t get off to the best start in the match,” said Conners. “We battled back nicely but just couldn’t get the important putts to go in at the end there.”
South Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Australia’s Cam Davis were the only international pairing to win. After seven holes they were trailing Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns 3 up but closed out with six birdies in their last 10 holes, including four in a row on Nos. 15-18, to beat the Americans 2 up.
“It’s always more satisfying when you start off not having your best stuff and then you find a way to turn it around, especially against the calibre of players that are playing here,” said Davis.
“I was just really proud of the way I started hitting good shots when it mattered, and I was really proud of the way Woo started getting the putts at perfect speed.”
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele beat Australia’s Adam Scott and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama 6&5. Americans Cameron Young and Collin Morikawa downed Tom Kim and K.H. Lee, both from South Korea, 2&1.
Typically a biennial event, the 2021 Presidents Cup was postponed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Venues alternate between the U.S. and international locations, with Royal Montreal Golf Club scheduled to host the Presidents Cup in 2024.
This year’s edition is undeniably on American soil, with fans wearing star-spangled outfits, loudly cheering their team, and booing when international fans tried to get their own chants going.
The internationals weren’t without their supporters, however. A pair of fans from Winnipeg were dressed as Mounties despite the 35 degrees Celsius heat, with a Canadian flag draped off the grandstand tightly hugging the first tee box. They chanted Conners’s and Pendrith‘s names when they were introduced to the crowd, even if they were quickly drowned out by “U-S-A” chants.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this before. It was crazy. It was so much fun,” said Pendrith. “Tons of people, good support for the international team.
“The first tee shot was quite the experience, got up there and hit it right down the middle and settled in after that.”
