PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada will merge into a singular Tour to form PGA TOUR Americas, which will begin play in February 2024, the PGA TOUR has announced.

PGA TOUR Americas will consist of 16 events contested across Latin America, Canada and the United States from February through September. The top 10 finishers on the season-long points list will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the following season.

“As we build on the rich golf history across Latin America and Canada, we are thrilled about PGA TOUR Americas and the role this tour will play in preparing players for the next step in their professional golf journey,” said Alex Baldwin, who oversees PGA TOUR Americas, the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry and PGA TOUR University. “PGA TOUR Americas will be an extremely competitive tour aimed at identifying, developing and transitioning top-performing players to the next level as they ascend through the ranks and strive to reach the highest level of professional golf, the PGA TOUR.”

The PGA TOUR Americas season will begin in February with the Latin America Swing, which will conclude in May. Eligibility for the Latin America Swing will include the top 60 finishers from the final 2022-2023 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Points List and the top 60 finishers from the final 2023 PGA TOUR Canada Points List. PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry will also provide access to the Latin America Swing of PGA TOUR Americas for the winners of a First Stage site, as well as additional finishers beyond the 40th position and ties from Final Stage of 2023 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. Additional access to the Latin America Swing will include the Latinoamérica Dev Series and the highest finisher on the 2023 APGA season-long points list who is a member of the APGA Player Development program.

The top 60 players from the Latin America Swing will continue on to compete in the North America Swing. Additionally, PGA TOUR Americas will host a mid-season Q-School, as well as introduce graduates from PGA TOUR University (finishers 6-20). Full eligibility for PGA TOUR Americas will be announced later this year and will feature similar categories to PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada, including open qualifiers, sponsor exemptions and eligible Korn Ferry Tour members.

As PGA TOUR Americas heads to the North America Swing, members will compete in Canada and the United States from June through September in an effort to finish in the top 10 on the season-long points list and earn Korn Ferry Tour membership – exempt through the third reshuffle – for the following season.

In addition to Korn Ferry Tour cards being awarded to the top 10 finishers on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List, there are also numerous performance benefits available on PGA TOUR Americas. Five conditional Korn Ferry Tour cards are available to the top two finishers in the Latin America Swing and the top three performers from the North America Swing, in the event those individuals do not finish in the top 10 on the final PGA TOUR Americas Points List.

Additionally, performance on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List will grant access into 2024 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. The top 10 finishers on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List, the top two finishers in the Latin America Swing and the top three finishers in the North America Swing will earn exemptions to Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

Finishers 11–25 on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List, finishers 3–10 from the Latin America Swing and finishers 4–10 from the North America Swing will earn exemptions to Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

All remaining PGA TOUR Americas members will earn exemptions to First Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

The 2024 PGA TOUR Americas schedule will be announced in September. Finalized details regarding eligibility – including the priority ranking – as well as purses and points distribution, will be announced closer to the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas season beginning in February 2024.

AVONDALE, La. – Paired together for the first time at the Zurich Classic, Canadians Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin matched the Zurich Classic Foursomes record with a 9-under 63 to narrowly finish runner-up; marking the second runner-up finish of Taylor’s career (2023 WM Phoenix Open) and the fourth for Hadwin (first since the 2019 Fortinet Championship).

Nick Hardy and Davis Riley birdied four of their final six holes to give both players their first PGA TOUR wins.

They began the final round three shots back and closed with a 7-under 65 in alternate-shot play to finish with a tournament-record total of 30-under 258 at TPC Louisiana, eclipsing the 259 posted by 2022 winners Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Hardy and Riley were two shots better than Canadians Hadwin and Taylor.

Riley’s previous best finish was a playoff loss to Sam Burns in the 2022 Valspar Championship. Hardy’s best was a tie for fifth at the Sanderson Farms Championship last fall.

Each takes home $1.24 million and earns a two-year exemption for winning the PGA TOUR’s only official team event.

Hadwin and Taylor’s 63 tied the course record in alternate shot that was set in Friday’s second round by Cantlay and Schauffele. The Canadians’ 10th and final birdie of the round on the 13th hole briefly gave them a one-shot lead, and they went to the clubhouse tied for first before the eventual champions birdied twice more.

Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler, who finished each of the first three rounds atop the leaderboard and opened the final round with a one-stroke lead, made their first three bogeys of the tournament – two on their final three holes – and closed with a 1-under 71 to finish third, three shots back.

Cantlay and Schuffele made eight birdies before their second bogey of the day on 18 left them tied for fourth with Matthew NeSmith and Taylor Moore at 26-under.

OMITAMA, Japan – Australian Lucas Herbert outlasted Canada’s Aaron Cockerill to win the Handa Championship on the second extra hole Sunday for his third world tour title.

The pair finished the final round tied on 15-under 265 after Herbert just missed a birdie putt from 20 feet on the 18th for a 67. Cockerill had a chance to take advantage but saw his second shot on the last find a bunker and was lucky to save his par and force the playoff after a closing-round 68.

? Play-off ?@A_Cockerill recovers in superb fashion on 18 to force a play-off with @lhgolf5 ?

Back to 18 we go…#ISPSHandaChampionship pic.twitter.com/9mW3Vw764x

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 23, 2023

After both players made par at the first extra hole, Herbert did well to recover from a wayward tee shot on the second extra to secure his first win since the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title in 2021.

Cockerill, a 31-year old Manitoba native, was looking for his first victory on the DP World Tour. The runner-up finish ties he best result, as he also finished second at the 2022 Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa.

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Scotland’s Calum Hill took sole third place with a 14-under 266 despite shooting a tidy 5-under 65 in the final round.

Canada’s Ben Silverman fired a final round, three-under 68 to tie for third, just one shot out of a sudden death playoff on Sunday at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Lecom Suncoast Classic.

Silverman, who already has a win this season at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic, finished the event at 20-under par.

Wil Bateman tied for 18th at 14-under after a 69 on Sunday, while Roger Sloan finished with a 74 to tie for 36th at 10-under.

When Jason John and Lynn Furlotte told their only child that she could accomplish anything she puts her mind and heart into, they truly meant it – and just as important, she truly believed them. Today their daughter, Leah John, is 22 years old and is among a select group of elite athletes to be part of Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

Besides being regarded as one of the most promising amateur golfers in Canada, John is also an All-American Scholar at the University of Nevada where she is playing for the women’s golf team on a full scholarship.

That unique combination of high intellect, elite athleticism and talent is fully utilized by the five foot eight inch Canadian as she’s enjoyed notable recent success on the golf course.

John’s recent success on the links includes back to back British Columbia Women’s Amateur titles to go along with her maiden NCAA victory in February of 2022.

Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, young Leah spent time playing a number of sports. She was the type of gifted athlete that would excel at any sport she put her time and energy into. In high school, besides excelling on the golf course, she was also a star on the volleyball courts and the basketball courts.

Then at the age of 15, she made the decision to focus solely on golf.

“I chose golf because I personally felt it was the hardest sport out of all of them. I just found golf to be the most mentally and physically challenging; and I love challenges and being outdoors,” John pointed out.

After dedicating herself fully to the sport of golf, John soon started seeing breakthrough results. In 2018, just after graduating from high school, the then 18-year-old recorded a runner up finish at the B.C. Junior Girls’ Championship.

“I had shot four under the first day and led most of the tournament and ended up coming in second. It gave me a lot of confidence to do that against the best juniors in the province who had a lot more experience than me,’” she recalled.

After taking a gap year to hone her game, the Vancouver native earned a scholarship to the University of Nevada.

“It was a smaller school which was great because I felt that sense of community. They had the coaches, mentors, the resources, and the facilities to help me to develop as a player and a person. The school had all the things I was looking for,” she said.

John’s passion for golf grew during her time at the University of Nevada and that passion comes through in her positive and confident approach on the course.

“I like to have fun. You might see me laughing out there in between shots; but I’m always ready to grind also,” she noted.

That positive and confident mindset has served her well. In the summer of 2021, John recorded the most notable win of her young career when she captured the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship.

Building on the momentum of that big triumph, John would record her first NCAA victory by capturing The Show at Spanish Trail in February of 2022.

“On the third day, the conditions were very windy and I was trying my best to hold on to the lead. I hit some good shots and some not so good shots but found a way to win; and learned a lot about myself during that tournament,” said John of her maiden NCAA victory.

In the summer of 2022, she would defend her title at the British Columbia Women’s Amateur.

While winning in her province in two consecutive years is great, John said it was extra special to be able to share it with her family.

“My dad caddied for me in those two events and they were special wins for us. It brings me a lot of joy to think about that. My parents have always been my biggest supporters and it’s hands down the best time we spent together,” she said.

“Getting those wins in front of family and friends was just amazing and something I will always remember.”

The recent success on the golf course has John eager for more. And she believes her selection into Golf Canada’s National Team Program will give her the opportunity to reach her full potential as a golfer.

“I want to play this sport professionally and I want to be the best player I can be and the objective of the Program is to help us achieve that goal. I’m grateful Golf Canada sees the potential in me,” said John.

National Team women’s head coach, Salimah Mussani, speaks highly about John’s potential and her dedication to being the best version of herself.

“Leah is super powerful. She has the fastest club head speed on our team. She’s also very eager to learn and is very receptive and open to hearing feedback and exploring different things,” Mussani pointed out about the first year National Team member.

“She’s got all the talent and is also very dedicated; has a great work ethic and a great attitude. These are the type of things that could push her to that next level.”

Currently in her fifth year at the University of Nevada, the 22-year-old Canadian has her mind and heart set on playing the sport professionally at the highest level after she graduates.

As she prepares for that exciting journey ahead, she is motivated and inspired to see the success of other Canadians who have been through the National Team Program such as Brooke Henderson, Corey Conners, and Mackenzie, Hughes, just to name a few.

“Everyone has their own paths but if they did it and this is what it looks like then it gives me confidence to know that I’m following in their footsteps by being in this Program,” said John.

“It gives me a lot of trust that I’m doing the right things and gives me motivation to work even harder to achieve my goals.”

Canada’s Aaron Cockerill heads into the final round of the 2023 ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP with a one-shot lead after a terrific start on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Manitoba native began his third-round 64 with a hat-trick of birdies before making four more and a single bogey to reach 13 under par.

But if Cockerill is to secure his maiden DP World Tour title at PGM Ishioka Golf Club on Sunday, he will have to fight off a stellar chasing pack.

Australian Lucas Herbert and Scotland’s David Law were just a shot back on 12 under after posting rounds of 68 and 64 respectively on Moving Day.

Japanese duo Rikuya Hoshino and Takumi Kanaya shared fourth place with Scot Grant Forrest on 11 under, one stroke clear of Jazz Janewattananond and Rafa Cabrera Bello.

This week, we are kicking off the 2023 Hole-in-One Report. 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.

Alan Robichaud, Burnt Store Marina & Country Club, Hole #14

Hello,

Just here to recap the hole-in-one I got. I came up to the tee box, held tight and swung away. Oddly enough it was a very straight shot over the water against the wind. Bounced just before the green rolled up and dropped right in on the right side of the cup. It was pretty surreal since four holes before it took me eleven strokes to bury it in! I’m not a good golfer by any means and it was something to see for sure. I was super excited. But also laughed because I used a 10 iron. Which I didn’t know they made. Back home it’s a pitching wedge, but this has a 10 written on it. We got a kick out of that for sure. I played with three of my close friends, Paul Desjardins, and father and son Mark and Ryan Boudens. It was about 120 yards. I was just glad I got it with my golfing friends. Made it that much more special!

This is the only photo I got on that day. We were here on a mini vacation, and it started off pretty amazing. 

Ash Kayastha, Royal Colwood Golf Club, Hole #15

Thank you so much for sharing! My ace was on April, 1 (tough day to get one). I used an 8 iron. 140 yards uphill against the wind. I was playing with Carter Franks and another member of Colwood.

Brad Hotham, Ambassador Golf Club, Hole #14

Hello and thank you for the email. I was playing with Mike Kainz, Jeff Sanford, and Chris Gilbert. I used a 5 iron from 185 yards, and it bounced twice before going in.

Brandy Montgomery, Bridgewater Country Club, Hole #4

Hello Golf Canada!

This is amazing! Thank you for reaching out to me and wanting to find out the details about my hole-in-one last week Wednesday! It was an amazing feeling and witnessing it go in the hole in front of my eyes was the best feeling!

It was my first round back for the season as our club (Bridgewater Golf and CC) just opened that Monday prior. I was with my two friends, Ellen Fisher and Stephanie Noble, and they both witnessed it drop in the hole with me! We try weekly to get out for a round, just us girls and this one was the most memorable yet! I was the last of our group to tee off and I double checked the yardage with Ellen, and we clocked it at 123 yards from the red tees. I got out my 9 iron and hit the cleanest strike I had hit so far that round. I even yelled at the ball “get there” thinking it would hit the deadly front right bunker, but it caught the back slope of it instead and curved from right to left and dropped right in! It was a tough front pin with not much green to work with so it really was the most perfect shot I could have hit!

I was so nervous after walking up to the green I screamed in excitement when I saw the ball in the hole!

As the cofounder of Mishits Golf, I was wearing my favourite shirt under my long sleeve that day, but I sure didn’t Mishit that shot! 🙂

The best part about the whole thing was calling my husband (who got me into golf about eight years ago) to tell him! He was not the happiest as he has yet to get a hole-in-one himself – but he was so excited for my accomplishment!

My course gave me this flag to remember that day! It is now hanging proudly in my garage at home beside the golf simulator my husband built. Hopefully one day I can add more to the collection 🙂

Thank you again for reaching out to me!

Brandy Montgomery

Brenda Lund, Sunnydale Golf Society, Hole #10

That great day was spent with my husband, Paul Lund, who saw the hole-in-one. The yardage was 108 and I used my 5 iron. What a great day and moment.

Dave Heenan, Timber Ridge Golf Course, Hole #8

Hello,

Thanks for the email.

Yes, I had a hole-in-one on the 8^th hole at Timber Ridge, a course located between Trenton and Brighton, Ontario. It’s one of my favourites in this region due to the rolling hills, elevation changes, and nice greens. The 8^th hole is an elevated green, that plays 102 yards on the card, but was playing 110 yards on the rangefinder. I was playing with Robert Kimber and Graham Stratford, who I’ve played with for more than 30 years. Our home course is Loyalist G&CC in Bath, Ontario.

I hit a pitching wedge straight at the flag but did not see the result because of the elevation. Robert played the same club, straight as well. Graham hit a slight draw to the left, just off the green. When we arrived at the green, I only saw one ball (yellow) a few feet left of the hole which was Robert’s, not my white ball (Kirkland Signature #2, in case Costco wants to sponsor me on the tour). I thought I might be slightly long, so took a lob wedge and putter to the green. When Robert went to mark his ball, he saw mine in the hole.

I must admit I never thought to take a photo, because there was a group behind and I would have had to walk back to the cart to get my cellphone (pace of play, of course!). Graham made an up-and-down for par and a kick-in birdie for Robert meant we scored 1-2-3 on this hole!

Ironically, about 5 years ago both guys had a hole-in-one on the same hole at Amherstview golf course (the 3^rd) about one year apart, so I was the last of this group to achieve an ace.

Regards,

Dave Heenan

Gail Fennell, Chesapeake Golf Club, Hole #3

My wife Gail Fennell, 61 years old from Stoney Creek, ON, got a hole-in-one at the Chesapeake Golf Club in Chesapeake, Virginia. We originally had a reservation at another course, but they were overbooked. We looked for another course in the area and booked a tee time for 12:00pm. It was the third hole and she hit it with a 9 iron. It sailed towards the hole, one bounce and about 25 feet of roll an in!

It was an awesome thing to watch, and we couldn’t be happier for her!

Geramy Powell, Paraiso Del Mar, Hole #14

So nice of Golf Canada to notice my little accomplishment. It was an exciting moment for all four of us. I couldn’t believe the ball went in but the rest all saw it hit the green and “go in the hole”. It was on hole #14, about 88 yards so I used my wedge. With a wind coming in off the water at about 30 kmh. I was with my good friends Bill Rafter, Leonard Johnson and his wife Diana Johnson. All this after crossing the paths of two rattlesnakes. 

Helen Knowlton, Superstition Golf Course, Hole #3

I’m a social golfer but got three hole-in-ones in less than a year!

My first hole-in-one occurred on December 2, 2021, at Superstition Golf Course in Mesa, Arizona. Happened on hole #3 which measured 105 yards.

Then, on June 3, 2022, at Olds Golf Club in Olds, Alberta, I got a hole-in-one on hole #7 (110 yards).

My most recent hole-in-one happened on hole #16 at Foothills Golf Course in Phoenix, Arizona. 112 yards. November 27, 2022.

Jerry Parnell, Creston Golf Club, Hole #13

March 31st, 2023. It was a blustery day for the first day of the season. I went out with friends Noel and Larry to knock the rust out of my game. I was having a rather rough time until hole #13. A par 3, 138-yard shot. Noel, a much better golfer than me, tee’s up and struck a nice shot onto the green ending up with a seven-foot putt (and I’m sorry I can’t, for the life of me, remember if he sunk his birdie). I’m up next, so I take my trusty 8 iron, place the Callaway ChromeSoft ball onto my lucky orange tee and gave it a nice solid hit. Felt good…flew high and a little left of the flag…rolled toward the hole and looked like it might have settled just behind the pin. Larry pulled his shot a tad so off we set to assess the situation. My ball was nowhere in sight, so we looked in the cup. Sure enough, there the baby was nestled snug as a bug in the bottom of the hole. At this point, I’m in a state of disbelief. WOW. JUST WOW! Finished the round in a haze. Or rather, blaze of glory! 

Here’s to the start of a great season! Cheers!

Jerry Parnell 

Joanne Webster, Desert Falls Country Club, Hole #3

Wow, thank you for the congratulations, how awesome!

Played Desert Falls Golf and Country Club, Palm Desert, April 12, 2023.

3rd hole is a short 101-yard par 3 from the front tees, flag middle back. My nine

iron landed 15 feet to the right of the pin and slowly rolled left until we saw it gently nudge the pin and disappear! “Think I just got a hole-in-one”, but never sure (had not played there before so wasn’t familiar with the green), “maybe it disappeared over a ridge and rolled off to the back?”

Partner, Sue Rea, and I scurried up to the green. Sue’s ball (pretty shot) was 20 feet short of the pin (which she sank for a bird) and my ball was in the hole!!

The serendipitous part of it all was I witnessed Sue drop one, 134 meters on hole #16, County Sligo Golf Club, Ross’s Point, Ireland in 2013! The hole-in-one Sista’s!

Must mention Tom, the single we let through on hole #2. As he was passing by our tee box, he said “Thanks. I’d like to share something with you.” Tom had a hole-in-one on hole #3 the first time he played Desert Falls! “Wow, good on you” we said, and calling out as he drove away, “Send those hole-in-one vibes our way.” Seems like he did!

This was my second hole-in-one with my first being at Predators Ridge in Vernon. My husband said to our son Scott, as they were waiting for me to tee off, “Your mom is going to get a hole-in-one!”

4th hole – 133 yards, slightly downhill big green, pin middle right. 6 iron landed on the left side of the green and fed down to the hole, didn’t see it drop, but Ralph knew it was in, and it was!

Thanks for asking. Everyone’s hole-in-one story is a story and a lifelong memory! ⛳

Joanne Webster

John Cormier, Bear Creek Golf Club, Hole #14

Thank you for your response.

It was after some 55 years of playing, my first. I was playing with my wife, Shelley Keyser, and a couple from Dundas Valley Golf Club and good friends Bill and Brooke Hutchings.

The shot was 156 yards into the wind. I hit a 6 iron and the ball landed two inches behind hole and one hopped back and in! Coming off a birdie on the previous hole it felt great.

Cheers,

John Cormier

John White, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Hole #6

Thank you. The hole measured 156 yards with my range finder. It was downwind and I used an 8 iron. Playing partners were Kirk Steele, Garth Cousins and Jamie Stride. It was my third career hole-in-one, the last one in 1995.

John White

Kim Tran, Loomis Trail Golf Club, Hole #16

I was playing with three buddies’: Mark Vaughan, Scott Hurdle and Keith MacKinnon. The yardage was 190and I used a 4 rescue. It was a high shot that landed eight feet short of the hole and rolled right in.

Michael Fines, The Links at Penn Hills, Hole #6

I was golfing with my two daughters and my son-in-law. We are having a beautiful early spring and a few courses had opened so why not. I had just come up short from 100 yards out with my pitching wedge the previous hole into the wind, so for this tee shot on hole #8 I decided to club up just in case. I didn’t want to force a full swing, so I used my 9 from between 105-110. As soon as I struck it, I knew it was close and the water was not a factor. It landed about six feet short of the pin and went in on the second bounce. This was my second hole-in-one. The other one being on hole #6 at Furness Golf Club in 2001. That one I didn’t see as it was to an elevated green. 

I had a stroke in 2014 and it has limited my time golfing dramatically, and until last year I never really thought I would be able to continue playing. Needless to say, I was a little excited for this one.

Thanks again for reaching out.

Respectfully,

Michael Fines

Michael Mayer, Champions Gate Golf Resort, Hole #5

Details:

– Group: Steve Bryksa, Rick Holden and Tom Smith

– Davenport, Florida

– Champions Gate (National Course)

– Hole #5

– 5 hybrid used

My first one. Just turned 70. Thought it would never happen.

Thanks,

Mike

Mike Gibson, Rolling Meadows, Hole #4

Hi,

I was very excited to receive your email. Took me completely by surprise.

Thank you so much for the graphic. It is now my screen saver, and I flash it to everyone.

I played with three buddies who are members of Rolling Meadows: Greg Waters, Ron Labatt and Don Yaki. I am a member of Niagara National Golf Course. We played the white tees, and it was 171 yards. I used a 5 hybrid.

Unfortunately, I left my phone in the car that day, so I plan on playing again soon, and will get myself a photo taking the ball out of the cup.

My son is getting a plaque made for me.

Thank you so much again for the email and the graphic keepsake!

Rhonda Thompson, Tobiano Golf Course, Hole #7

Hi,

Thank you for the acknowledgment and the graphic!  

I was playing with my husband and two friends when I got the hole-in-one. The yardage was about 120 and I used my 4 hybrid. There was a 10-15 kmh wind and I was hitting into it. The hole has an 80 yard carry over a deep gully as well. It was a very chilly windy day and no joke; I had 6 layers on! I could barely swing my club.

I would be honoured if you used my story, I feel it proves that anyone in any circumstances can get a hole-in-one it just has to be “your time”.

Rob Charron, Victoria Golf Club, Hole #13

Thanks for the interest in my hole-in-one ?. It was on hole #13 on April 6th at Victoria Golf Club. It was a very windy day, and the wind was directly behind us. The pin was set to the front and was playing 135 yards. I played a pitching wedge to the right side of the green, it landed soft, and curled down to the left, and the four of us were able to see it roll in. Another group a few holes down from us said they heard the cheers. That was my second hole-in-one.  

Shannon Schrader, Heritage Bay, Hole #6

I’ve been golfing since I was five years old when I started with my grandpa and this is my first hole-in-one!  

My playing partners were Murray Schrader (husband), Jim Costello and Paula Costello (friends). 129 yards. Used a 7 iron.

Steve Jung, Mayfair Lakes Golf Course, Hole #15

Thanks for the congratulations!

It was during a VGT event. 15th hole. 178 yards on a rainy windy tournament. It sat wedged on the hole for over two minutes as the flag was bent over from the wind and then dropped after the other competitor hit his shot! 

My brother hit a hole-in-one eight days later at Quilchena!

Thanks.

Steve Jung

Even after appearing in 42 majors – and winning two – Brooke Henderson is still learning how to balance the pressure and opportunity of playing in the biggest tournaments of the women’s golf season.

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., is the highest ranked Canadian at this week’s Chevron Championship, the first major of the LPGA Tour season. The 25-year-old Henderson said that she tries to stick to her usual preparation routines while being mindful of playing on some of the biggest stages in women’s golf.

“Everyone has these weeks circled on their calendar and they’re trying to peak for these events, but at the same time, you can’t go too far outside of what you’re comfortable with and what you’re used to,” said Henderson, while seeking shelter from the rain at The Club at Carlton Woods. “We play almost every week out here on tour, so we know what works and what doesn’t.

“I think sometimes you can put a little bit too much pressure on these weeks but at the same time you have to elevate.”

Henderson certainly elevated her game at majors last season, arguably having her best-ever season at the biggest five tournament’s on the women’s golf calendar, including winning The Evian Championship on July 24. She also tied for 13th at last year’s Chevron Championship, tied for 15th at the U.S. Open Women’s, tied for 16th at the Women’s PGA Championship, and tied for seventh at the Women’s British Open.

“I don’t think it will ever get old,” she said about playing in a major. “You walk in here and the atmosphere is just different. Everybody’s super excited and really focused and it’s just the next level.

“These weeks are just next level and you have to really bring your A game if you want to compete.”

Henderson will be joined by Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., in The Woodlands, Texas. It will be the 26-year-old Szeryk’s first appearance at a major as professional, having played in the U.S. Women’s Open as an amateur in 2017.

Szeryk qualified for the Chevron based on her CME Race to the Globe rankings. She’s 65th entering play this week. Like Henderson, Szeryk noticed a difference when practising on Monday.

“I was out playing and it struck me ‘I played my way into a major,”’ said Szeryk. “How exciting is that? I’m just going to enjoy every moment of it.

“We get there and there’s a player gift, they’ve got a fancy coffee bar, the food is great. I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, this is a major.”’

Despite it being a greater stage with one of the largest purses on the LPGA Tour, Szeryk said she isn’t especially intimidated.

“It is a major and it’s supposed to be this big thing but the field is also pretty similar from week to week,” she said. “Obviously, you have all of the top players, but it’s still the same people, my same friend group is out here.

“I’m just trying to not make it bigger than any other tournament.”

Although in many respects the Chevron Championship looks like any other week on the LPGA Tour, it is very different than previous editions of the same tournament.

Originally called the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle when it was founded in 1972, the event has had several name changes but is still colloquially known as “the Dinah Shore.” Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., just outside of Palm Springs, has always hosted the event until this year. Chevron became the named sponsor last year and moved it to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Club at Carlton Woods, a luxury course in The Woodlands, Texas, just outside of Houston, this year.

“It’s all bigger and better here in Houston, which is pretty cool,” said Henderson. “I think we’re all a little bit sad to lose the tradition and history that Palm Springs had like the (winner’s) leap into Poppie’s Pond and the connection with Dinah Shore.

“But so far this week, it’s been an amazing experience here in Houston. (…) I think they’re just trying to make improvements and continue to grow the women’s game.”

With an impressive list of accomplishments as an amateur, Quebec City’s Sarah-Eve Rhéaume now has her sights set on transitioning that success to the professional ranks.

Currently in her fourth year on Golf Canada’s National Team Program, the 22-year-old’s resume includes victories at the 2019 Quebec Women’s Amateur Championship, the 2021 SoCon Women’s Championship, the 2022 Glencoe Invitational, and the 2022 Ororo PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.

Rhéaume graduated from Furman University in December and is now focused on the exciting journey ahead as a professional. Given her consistent results as an amateur combined with her powerful and solid all-around game, respected golf insiders are predicting a bright future ahead.

One of them is her long-time coach, Fred Colgan, who has been working with Rhéaume since she was nine years old.

“Sarah-Eve is a pretty long player and can hit her driver between 260 and 270 yards on a regular basis; and in the last 12 months, she’s been very good in every aspect of her game,” he said about Rhéaume who also played hockey growing up but gave it up at 15 to focus solely on golf.

It’s interesting to note that Colgan also provided golf lessons to Rhéaume’s parents, Alain and Monique, and her older brother, Joel. In fact, he was giving lessons to Rhéaume’s mom when she was 38 months pregnant with the long time National Team member.

“Sarah-Eve has been improving in every aspect of her game year after year and she’s got the talent and motivation to make it onto the LPGA Tour,” Colgan added confidently.

National Team women’s head coach, Salimah Mussani, is also optimistic about Rhéaume’s chances to succeed at the highest level.

“Sarah-Eve has got all the talent in the world and a great team behind her including her long-time coach Fred Colgan,” she said about the five foot eight inch amateur standout.

“One of the things we do at the National Team Program is we work with the athletes like Sarah-Eve to help them make that successful transition from amateur to professional. We help them create routines and plans to build on their good habits and to achieve their goals,” Mussani added.

Rhéaume says her time spent with Golf Canada has been a great benefit towards her overall development.

“Besides all the great resources we have access to, the program has the best players in the country coming together and we compete against each other and could push each other to another level,” she noted.

“Also all the best pro golfers in Canada have been through the program and it’s great to see their success and it gives us motivation to work even harder.”

Rhéaume’s hard work and talent led to a stellar 2022 season. Last June, she won the Glencoe Invitational and then followed that up by winning the Ororo PGA Women’s Canada Championship shortly after.

Having competed against her at the Ororo PGA Women’s Canada Championship in Bromont, Quebec last summer, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, a former LPGA Tour player and also the 2019 PGA Women’s Canada Champion, sees a bright future ahead for Rhéaume.

“Sarah-Eve is athletic and talented from what I’ve seen and she’s definitely got the potential to be successful as a professional,” said Lee-Bentham.

After her triumph in Bromont, Quebec, Rhéaume earned an exemption into the 2022 CP Women’s Open.

“It was my first LPGA tournament. It was in Ottawa and it was just a great atmosphere as it was in Brooke Henderson’s home town. It was also not too far from Quebec City so my parents and a couple of friends came also,” she recalled.

“I missed playing the weekend by one shot, but still it was a great experience and a super fun week. I got to meet a lot of girls that I watched on TV and got to see what it’s like to play on the LPGA Tour.”

Having caddied for his long-time student on the second day of the CP Women’s Open, Colgan clearly remembers Rhéaume’s strong second round, where she shot 69.

“On the back nine we had some really good looks at birdie but didn’t make any of them. One or two more putts and she would have played on Saturday and Sunday which would have been awesome,” he noted. “Still, it was a good performance and gave her a lot of confidence and motivation.”

The experience at the CP Women’s Open definitely has given Rhéaume confidence that she could hold her own against the best of the best. And with the support of Golf Canada along with a solid team behind her, the 22-year-old Canadian is eager to reach her full potential on the golf course.

“I have been playing pretty well the last 12 months. I feel pretty confident about my ball striking and so when I get my putter going I could put up some strong results,” said Rhéaume, who has partial status on the Epson Tour this year.

“My goal is to work hard and be able to play on the LPGA Tour one day and also represent Canada in the Olympics.”

Canadians Dayton Price & Hayden Underhill were survivors of a horrific car crash in Texas that took nine lives, including seven members of the University of the Southwest golf team they were part of.

Here’s the story of their accident and how the game they love is helping them heal.