The short game for First Tee programming may be rooted in golf, but the long game is much more than that. The main objective of First Tee – Canada youth development programming is for participants to use the life skills learned through golf to navigate their journeys through life and opportunities thought previously inaccessible.

Golf Canada launched its partnership with First Tee in 2020, and First Tee – Canada began in 2021 under the operation of its provincial chapters, delivering programming at golf facilities, schools, and community centres.

With summer programs wrapped up, First Tee – Ontario fall programming is underway at 20 locations across the province with curriculums developed for each environment and modified to different ages and abilities.

The activities use golf as a vehicle to reinforce life skills, focused on the program’s five key commitments: pursuing goals, growing through challenge, collaborating with others, building positive self-identity, and using good judgement. First Tee – Ontario provides instructors with interactive training, equipment, and turnkey lesson plans to deliver safe and inclusive programming.

Golf Canada’s commitment to enhancing diversity and inclusivity in golf is a driving force behind the growth of First Tee – Canada and its provincial chapters. The aim is to break down existing barriers to sport participation, particularly in traditionally marginalized communities, and ultimately diversify golf’s participant pool to more closely reflect the strength of Canada’s multiculturalism.

First Tee – Ontario Program Manager Amaya Athill is responsible for overseeing the implementation of programming across the province and having a hand in providing youth with empowering and life-changing experiences. At this year’s RBC Canadian Open, her team provided an extended experience for First Tee – Ontario community program participants from local Boys and Girls Clubs to show them what life on and off the tee box can look like.

“The messaging that children often see is that a successful career pathway in sports is to rise to the level of a professional competitor. There is so much that goes into running a professional golf tournament and event of that size, so the idea was to expose as many children as possible to a wider world of opportunities and careers within golf and the sports industry. This included behind-the-scenes tours of the agronomy, media, and volunteer services teams,” said Athill. “Access to these experiences and exposure to future opportunities in the sport is a gap we hope to bridge through First Tee.”

As both an accomplished human rights lawyer and golfer since the age of five, Athill’s professional background and personal relationship with the game intersect seamlessly with the First Tee program, as they all value accessibility and opportunity.

With Ontario’s chapter experiencing rapid short-term growth, Ian Gragtmans – First Tee – Ontario’s Founding Chapter Donor and Trustee – expressed excitement about recent strides and confidence that the Gragtmans Family Foundation’s decision to support this cause was the correct one.

His decision to support the launch of the program was less influenced by the game of golf, but rather by a desire to help support the long-term development journeys of First Tee program participants.

With the help of generous donors like the Gragtmans Family Foundation, Golf Canada has fast-tracked access to these spaces where youth can learn self-sustaining life skills in a program that has over 25 years of international experience.

Gragtmans shared his personal experience engaging people who were direct participants of First Tee in the U.S. 

“I have been fortunate enough to spend time in the U.S. – meeting and speaking with some of the participants that have gone through the program, and it’s nothing shy of remarkable to see what the potential is for those that may not otherwise, if not for First Tee, had that opportunity, or exposure,” said Gragtmans.  

The Golf Canada Foundation is continuously pursuing gifts, which allow First Tee – Ontario to expand its locations across the province and further impact the lives of Canadian youth. To get involved, please visit www.firstteeontario.ca.

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Teams from Canada, USA, Australia, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa, and Sweden are set to head to Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico from October 24-29 for the second PGA Women’s Cup, where Canada will look to build on their runner-up finish from the 2019 event in Texas. 
 
Two new players, Caroline Ciot and Katy Rutherford, will join second-time competitors Emma de Groot, Casey Ward and Christine Wong at Twin Warriors Golf Club. Wong was the top player on the Canadian squad in 2019, firing the team’s low score two out of three days in the form of a 70 and 71. 
 
“I am so excited to head to New Mexico with this talented team of Canadian women to represent the PGA of Canada as playing captain,” said Emma de Groot. “The inaugural event in 2019 was such an amazing experience, and after a COVID hiatus we are excited to head to New Mexico and proud to represent the PGA of Canada. This event showcases women in the industry and provides an opportunity for collaboration, networking and competition against likeminded women with a desire to grow the game.”
 
Each of the five players will play their own ball each day, with the low three scores on each team counting for that round. The low aggregate score following the third round will determine the champion. 

The players:

Emma de Groot  
Playing Captain  
Age: 34-years old  
(Modern Golf Teaching Professional)  
 
Member of the 2019 Canadian Women’s PGA Cup Team. Holds the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s golf school records for tournament wins (6) and lowest career scoring average (74.5). She has notched 20-career top-5 finishes at the NCAA level. Since turning professional, the Modern Golf Director of Women’s Development has placed in the top-25 at the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship six times.
 
Katy Rutherford  
Age: 23-years old  
Silver Springs Golf and Country Club Apprentice Professional  
 
Received an exemption into the 2021 ATB Financial Classic on the PGA TOUR Canada. Finished as the runner-up at the Glencoe Invitational in 2021, won the Calgary Ladies Amateur and finished 42^nd in the 2021 Canadian Women’s Amateur in her final summer as an amateur. Was the runner-up to Christine Wong at the 2021 ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada. Most recently, won the PGA of Alberta Women’s Championship by nine strokes last month.  
 
Casey Ward  
Age: 32-years old 
(Credit Valley Golf and Country Club Professional) 
 
Member of the 2019 Canadian Women’s PGA Cup Team. Prior to turning professional, won the 2015 Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur, firing 3-under par over the three-day event. Was named the 2021 PGA of Ontario Teacher of the Year as the Head Teaching Professional at Credit Valley Golf Club and was also nominated for Canadian Teacher of the Year.  
 
Caroline Ciot 
Age: 31-years old  
(Golf Chateau Bromont Apprentice Professional)  
 
Held status on the Symetra Tour in 2019, playing in two events. Finished as the low PGA of Canada professional at the 2022 ORORO PGA Women’s Championship in Bromont, Quebec and finished fourth at the event in 2021. Also won the professional division of the 2022 Glencoe Invitational earlier this summer in Calgary, Alberta.  
 
Christine Wong 
Age: 30-years old  
(University Golf Club Apprentice Professional)  
 
Member of the 2019 Canadian Women’s PGA Cup Team. Alumnae of the Golf Canada National Women’s Amateur Squad (2011-2013) and National Junior Squad (2010), and represented San Diego State University from 2009-2013, winning four individual titles. In addition, Wong is a two-time BC Women’s Amateur Champion and was the second-lowest amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open held at Oakmont Country Club in 2010. Most recently, Wong claimed the PGA of B.C.’s Women’s Championship in 2020 and claimed the 2021 ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.  
 
The first round is set to begin on October 27. More information and scoring can be found here.

Canada 1 and Canada 2 finish sixth and eighth respectively in the team competition

Spain’s Cayetana Fernández finishes 6-under to win the individual title

MARKHAM, Ont. – Undeterred by cold and blustery conditions, Spaniard Cayetana Fernández saved her best for last at Angus Glen Club as the 17-year-old shot a final-round 2-under 70 to lead Spain to victory at the 2022 World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms.

Competitors faced challenging conditions Saturday that included a 46-minute weather delay with heavy morning winds in the Markham area. When play resumed, Fernández would emerge as one of only two players to score under par, leading Spain to victory and claiming the tournament’s individual title.

Fernández paired with teammate Andrea Revuelta to deliver Spain (140-143-146-146—575) a cumulative team score of 2-over on the day and 1-under for the tournament. The Spanish duo along with teammate Paula Martin, who shot a non-counting final-round 76, began the tournament as early favourites with all three players ranked inside the top-100 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

With the victory, the Spanish trio helped claim the country’s second-ever team title (2022 & 2017), joining the Republic of Korea (2019 & 2015) for most team titles at the annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms.

“We are very proud to be world champions,” said Spanish team coach Alvaro Salto. “The golf course was tough test, it played really different conditions and the weather changed a lot, so patience was the key. With these three girls, we have a really special generation now in Spain, and with a few more that could have come to the team this year, we are in good position for the next two, three years.”

Team Sweden (147-138 -142-153—580), who entered final-round action with a two-shot lead over Spain, shot a cumulative score of 4-over to finish alone in second, five shots back. The runner-up placing was the Nordic country’s best result since finishing third in 2017.

Chinese Taipei (144-150-141-147—582) finished alone in third at 6-over followed by Colombia (145-146-147-151—589) in fourth at 13-over and Germany (147-150-146-152—595) at 19-over rounding out the top-five.

The Canada 1 squad of Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.(72-76-72-79—299), Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C. (68-80-75-80—303), and Michelle Liu of Vancouver (72-77-74-83—306) finished alone in sixth at 22-over.

The Canada 2 squad of Anna Huang from Vancouver (72-77-76-76—301), Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C. (73-75-75-81—304) and Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. (74-83-82-80—319) finished solo eighth (+28).

The following are final team results at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Spain                           -1     (140-143-146-146—575)

2          Sweden                       +4     (147-138-142-153—580)

3          Chinese Taipei            +6     (144-150-141-147—582)         

4          Colombia                     +13   (145-146-147-151—589)

5          Germany                     +19   (147-150-146-152—595)

6          Canada 1                    +22   (140-153-146-159—598)

7          France                         +24   (156-146-148-150—600)

8          Canada 2                    +28   (145-152-151-156—604)

9          England                       +31   (150-151-152-154—607)

10        Belgium                       +33   (144-157-152-156—609)         

11        Mexico                        +35   (146-152-155-158—611)

12        Denmark                     +40   (150-150-158-158—616)

T13      Italy                             +46   (154-156-154-158—622)

T13      Wales                          +46   (152-159-157-154—622)

15        Ireland                        +50   (150-158-155-163—626)                     

16        Switzerland                 +52   (156-158-154-160—628)

17        Finland                        +54   (154-161-153-162—630)         

18        Austria                         +58   (156-158-155-165—634)

Click here for a link to the full team competition leaderboard.

In the individual competition, Spaniard Cayetana Fernández, who was T2 through 54 holes, hoisted double titles, shooting 2-under 70 in difficult conditions to finish at 6-under for the tournament (70-70-72-70—282).

“We feel great, super proud of ourselves,” said Fernández, whose older sister Bianca helped lead Spain to victory in 2017. “We knew today was going to be tough, and when we stopped with the weather, we knew we had to fight for it, give it our best and stay fighting. The whole team, we are very happy, we don’t have words!”

Fernández becomes the fourth player to win the individual title and lead their country to victory joining Yuka Saso of the Philippines (2016), Hye-jin Choi of Korea (2015) and Mika Kelly of the United States of America (2014) as the only players to accomplish the feat. Fernández’s finish is also the best individual result for a Spanish athlete since her older sister Bianca Fernández along with Dimana Viudes finished third and fourth respectively in 2017.

Runner-up María José Marin of Colombia (72-71-71-70—284) joined Fernández as the only players to score under par Saturday, finishing 2-under 70 on the day and 4-under for the tournament, two shots back.

Sweden’s Meja Őrtengren (71-68-70-76—285),  who entered final round action with a 3-shot lead, struggled with a final-round 76 to finish solo third at 3-under. Ting-Hsuan Huang of Chinese Taipei (70-73-69-75—287) finished at 1-under in fourth with Sweden’s Nora Sundberg (76-70-72-77—295) and Belgium’s Savannah De Bock (69-76-74-76—295) at 7-over rounding out the top-five.

Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.(72-76-72-79—299) finished as the low Canadian at 11-over (T9), the lone Canuck to finish inside the top-10.

The following are Top-10 final results in the individual competition at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Cayetana Fernández, Spain                          70-70-72-72—282  (-6)

2          María José Marin, Colombia                          72-71-71-70—284 (-4)

3          Meja Őrtengren, Sweden                               71-68-70-76—285 (-3)

4          Ting-Hsuan Huang, Chinese Taipei               70-73-69-75—287  (-1)

T5        Nora Sundberg, Sweden                                76-70-72-77—295  (+7)

T5        Savanah De Bock, Belgium                           69-76-74-76—295  (+7)

7          Andrea Revuelta, Spain                                 70-76-74-76—296  (+8)

8          Larissa Carrillo, Mexico                                  71-75-76-76—298  (+10)       

T9        Lauren Kim, Canada 1                                   72-76-72-79—299  (+11)

T9        Constance Fouillet, France                            80-71-74-74—299 (+11)                    

Click here for a link to the full individual leaderboard.

The 2023 World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms will return to Angus Glen next year with the date still to be determined.

In total, 54 athletes on 18 teams representing 17 countries—including two teams from host nation Canada—competed Oct. 12-15 at Angus Glen for the team and individual titles. The event marked the celebrated return of the prestigious global competition after two years of cancellation due to the pandemic.

This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by 11 competitors ranked inside the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) top 100. A full list of competitors including their WAGR position is here.

Angus Glen Golf Club, which hosted the World Junior Girls Championship for the third time, is home to two 18-hole championship golf courses in Markham, Ontario. The North and South courses offer variety, beauty, and challenges. Angus Glen has been ranked as one of the top 80 golf courses in the world outside of the United States. It was home to the 2002 and 2007 Canadian Open and an official host of the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games. The 2022 World Junior Championship will be contested on the South course.

Additional information regarding the seventh annual World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.

Canada 1 and Canada 2 sit fifth and seventh respectively in the team competition; Sweden’s Meja Őrtengren continues to lead in the individual stroke play competition

MARKHAM, Ont. – Individual leader Meja Őrtengren followed up yesterday’s sizzling 68 with a third-round 2-under 70 to push Team Sweden atop the leaderboard heading into Saturday’s final round of the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms.

Sweden (147-138-142—427) began the day two shots back of Spain, but paired Őrtengren’s 70 with teammate Nora Sundberg’s even-par 72 for a third-round team score of 2-under 142 to sit at 5-under through 54 holes, two shots clear of Spain. Teammate Matilda Bjőrkman shot a non-counting 77 for the Swedish team looking to claim their first-even team title at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms.

The second-round leaders from Spain (140-143-146—429) counted rounds of even-par 72 from Cayetana Fernández and 2-over 74 by teammate Andrea Revuelta to sit alone in second at 3-under, setting up a Saturday showdown.

Chinese Taipei (144-150-141—435)  sits alone in third at 3-over and Colombia (145-146-147—438) is fourth at 6-over.

The Canada 1 squad of Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.(72-76-72—220), Michelle Liu of Vancouver (72-77-74—223), and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C. (68-80-75—223) sits alone at 7-over to round out the top-five.

The Canada 2 squad of Anna Huang from Vancouver (72-77-76—225), Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C. (73-75-75—223) and Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. (74-83-82—239) are seventh (+14), five shots back of sixth-place Germany (+11).  

The following are third-round team results at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Sweden                       -5     (147-138-142—427)

2          Spain                           -3     (140-143-146—429)

3          Chinese Taipei            +3    (144-150-141—435)      

4          Colombia                     +6    (145-146-147—438)

5          Canada 1                    +7    (140-153-146—439)

6          Germany                     +11  (147-150-146—443)

7          Canada 2                    +14  (145-152-151—448)

8          France                         +17  (156-146-148—450)

T9        Belgium                       +21  (144-157-152—453)      

T9        England                       +21  (150-151-152—453)

T9        Mexico                        +21  (146-152-155—453)

12        Denmark                     +26  (150-150-158—458)

13        Ireland                        +31  (150-158-155—463)                  

14        Italy                             +32  (154-156-154—464)

T15      Finland                        +36  (154-161-153—468)      

T15      Switzerland                 +36  (156-158-154—468)

T15      Wales                          +36  (152-159-157—468)

18        Austria                         +37  (156-158-155—469)

Click here for a link to the full team competition leaderboard.

In the individual competition, Meja Őrtengren of Sweden shot 2-under 70 Friday to sit at 7-under for the tournament (71-68-70—209), good for a 3-shot lead. Spain’s Cayetana Fernández (70-70-72—212) sits T2 at 4-under with Ting-Hsuan Huang of Chinese Taipei (70-73-69—212) while María José Marin of Colombia (72-71-71—214) at 2-under and Nora Sundberg (76-70-72—218) at 2-over round out the top-five.

Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.(72-76-72—220) is the low Canadian at 4-over (T7) with a trio of Canucks –  Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C. (73-75-75—223), Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C. (68-80-75—223), and Michelle Liu of Vancouver (72-77-74—223) – sitting inside the top-10 at 7-over.

The following are Top-10 results in the individual competition at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Meja Őrtengren, Sweden                               71-68-70—209  (-7)

T2        Cayetana Fernández, Spain                          70-70-72—212  (-4)

T2        Ting-Hsuan Huang, Chinese Taipei               70-73-69—212  (-4)

4          María José Marin, Colombia                          72-71-71—214  (-2)

5          Nora Sundberg, Sweden                                76-70-72—218  (+2)

6          Savanah De Bock, Belgium                           69-76-74—219  (+3)

T7        Andrea Revuelta, Spain                                 70-76-74—220  (+4)

T7        Lauren Kim, Canada 1                                   72-76-72—220  (+4)

9          Larissa Carrillo, Mexico                                  71-75-76—222  (+6)  

T10      Yeji Kwon, Canada 2                                      73-75-75—223  (+7)

T10      Angela Arora, Canada 1                                 68-80-75—223  (+7)

T10      Hsin Chun Liao, Chinese Taipei                     74-77-72—223  (+7)

T10      Marie-Agnes Fischer, Germany                     72-73-78—223  (+7)

T10      Michelle Liu, Canada 1                                  72-77-74—223) (+7)

T10      Sophia Fullbrook, England                             76-74-73—223) (+7)

Click here for a link to the full individual leaderboard.

In total, 54 athletes on 18 teams representing 17 countries—including two teams from host nation Canada—are competing Oct. 12-15 at Angus Glen for the team and individual titles. The event marks the celebrated return of the prestigious global competition after two years of cancellation due to the pandemic.

The final round of the 72-hole competition gets underway Saturday morning at 8:30am with the final groups teeing off at 9:50am. Admission to the competition is free.

This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by 11 competitors ranked inside the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) top 100. A full list of competitors including their WAGR position is here.

With two victories (2015 & 2019) in the event’s six-year history, Korea has won the most team competition titles followed by USA (2014), Philippines (2016), Spain (2017), and Italy (2018). A history of past winners is available here.

A number of players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Championship have gone on great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 12-time LPGA winner and world no. 6 who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014. 

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include world no. 2 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as world no. 35 Yuka Saso of Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

In addition, 12 players who competed for the 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club are alumni of the World Junior Girls Championship.

Angus Glen Golf Club, which is hosting the World Junior Girls Championship for the third time, is home to two 18-hole championship golf courses in Markham, Ontario. The North and South courses offer variety, beauty, and challenges. Angus Glen has been ranked as one of the top 80 golf courses in the world outside of the United States. It was home to the 2002 and 2007 Canadian Open and an official host of the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games. The 2022 World Junior Championship will be contested on the South course.

Additional information regarding the seventh annual World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.

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.

Anisur Salim, Dentonia Park Golf Course, Hole #1

I recorded my seventh hole-in-one on October 6^th at Dentonia Park Golf Course. Occurred on the 102-yard first hole. I used my 56-degree wedge.

Thanks,

Anisur

Brian Morice, The Golf Club at Lora Bay, Hole #7

Playing with Kim MacDonald, Diane Finkle and Laurie Blair. I used a 5 iron on this hole which was playing 157 yards that day.

Brian Morice 

Darryl Palmer, The Falls Golf Club, Hole #10

Thank you. I was playing with Ken Scott, Daryl Quigg and Dennis Dejong. The yardage that day was roughly 114. The club I used was my 50-degree wedge. It was also a beautiful day to be golfing!

Donald Cohn, Fairwinds Golf Course, Hole #10

The score was witnessed by Bruce Wylie from Fairwinds Golf Course in Nanoose Bay, B.C. I used a soft 6 iron from the Spirit (white) tees at 106 yards. 

Gail Stirling, Glendale Golf Club, Hole #4

Hello,

Details below:

– Hole #4

– 5 hybrid 

– 132 yards

– Playing with Lori Gabriele and Jill Weldon

Thank you.

Gail Stirling 

George Keen, Copper Point Golf Club, Hole #15

It was 140 yards. I used a 9 iron. I was with Dave Braund and Kent Gunter. It was my fifth hole-in-one, so not as exciting as my first.

Glen Barnden, Irish Hills, Hole #2

Thanks so much, much appreciated!

Red #2 at Irish Hills is a 190 elevated green par 3. In the past, I’ve had some difficulty with this hole and tend to hit my ball predominantly to the right side of the green. It’s a safe landing spot and I have managed to chip and putt for pars or bogeys from there. 

I had been out with our Director of Golf, Ryan Hale, the day before and discussions were had about getting an ace.

So, on this occasion I thought I’d try for the green and use my driver with a slight adjustment to shoot left. I struck the ball well and watched it land just on the front fringe of the green and then start to roll. The green slopes towards the back so from where I was standing at the tees it rolled out of sight. 

The backstory here is that my wife and I had been golfing with Jan Sola on the front nine when our motorized cart broke down. He was walking so we had told him to continue ahead of us while we got a new cart. We caught up to him on the Red Course when we were teeing off on hole #2 and he was about to tee off on Red hole #3 which is right adjacent to hole #2. He waved and waited for us to finish the hole. From his vantage point he could see what was happening on our green.

When I got to the green, I couldn’t find my ball. I figured it must have rolled off and was buried in the fringe somewhere, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Jan meantime, walks over on our green and while standing by the pin says, “why don’t you look in here?” Cool as a cucumber, he had seen my ball land on the fringe of the green and start rolling towards the pin. He said he thought it looked like it was going to be a good shot. He watched it roll and then it disappeared. He knew I had a hole-in-one but didn’t say a thing until I had gone through all my ranting about losing my ball after such a good hit. We laughed about that!

Needless to say, my game fell apart for the next several holes as all concentration was lost. The hole-in-one was witnessed by Jan, the groundskeeper, Brian, and my wife Mary.

Can’t wait to do it again on a hole where I can see it all unfold for myself!

Cheers,

Glen Barnden

P.S. It was great that Ryan was working that same day and the head groundskeeper Peter came out to congratulate me! Certainly makes one feel special!

Graham Bartsch, The Dunes, Hole #6

Good day,

Just reporting that after 30 plus years of playing, and over 1,200 rounds, I recorded my first ever hole-in-one on Sunday, October 11, 2022!

It happened on hole #6 at The Dunes in Kamloops, B.C.

Playing conditions were windy, so I swung an easy pitching wedge from 127 yards to a front pin location. After I struck the ball, I thought “great line, but I think it will be a bit long” and bent down to pick up my tee. Just then, my playing partner yelled “get in the hole” and I looked to the pin just in time to see white turn to green! The ball traveled slightly past the pin and screwed back into the cup for my first ever!

Needless to say, it was pretty exciting!

Have a great day.

Graham Bartsch

Henry Mah, Victoria Golf Club, Hole #8

Hi, 

Thanks for the note. Yes, it was exciting getting my first hole-in-one after 30 years of playing golf. I was playing with another Victoria Golf Club member, Henry S. The hole-in-one was on the 8th hole playing 106 yards and I used a pitching wedge.  

Regards,

Henry Mah

Jim Zhu, Mayfair Lakes Golf Course, Hole #8

Hello!

I was playing in a tournament that I won with Michael Li, Vincent Guo and Oscar Yu. It was on hole #8 in Mayfair Lakes located in Richmond, B.C. from 150 yards. I hit a 9 iron and it turned out to be my first hole-in-one. The hole-in-one on the second day got me to -7 and also gave me a six-shot lead!

Thank you,

Jim Zhu

John Raeburn, Wildwinds Golf Links, Hole #9

Thank you for this.

It was my first hole-in-one, and thankfully it wasn’t a flukes shot. I was playing with Terry Blakely and Stephen Casey.

It was 180 yards with a 5 wood on hole 9. It was a beautiful high fade, and just tracked straight to the hole. As a side note – on the front nine, I “hit for the cycle”: eagle, birdie, par, bogey and double bogey, to end up with a 1 over 36 on the front, and overall, six over 76 – my best round or the year!

John

Kelly Dearborn, The Golf House Club – Elie, Hole #7

I was playing with Tom Volk, Dave Neville and James Holder (all Golf Canada members). We were on a Scotland golf trip that was three years in the making…twice delayed due to the pandemic. Eleven rounds in total. Played the Old Course today!

It was the par 4 7th hole called Peggy, 241 yards from our tees. It was a very windy day in Elie, Scotland. I hit a driver, low, over the mount in the fairway. The others hit similar shots. When we got over the mount, we saw three balls just short of the green. We checked the bunkers to the right of the green and didn’t see anything. Then we thought to look in the hole and there it was, my ball. First hole-in-one and it was an albatross. 

Cheers.

Kelly

Mike Mason, Speargrass Golf Course, Hole #14

Thanks!

I think the yardage was about 154, playing 144 downhill. I used an A wedge. I was playing with my friend, Scott Carr.

Nancy Forbes, The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, Hole #5

After struggling at the early part of the 2022 season, I took some lessons from Glencoe’s Judy Forshner and Canadian tour pro, Wes Heffernan. With just a few swing thoughts, they got me back on track. I was playing the Forest course at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club with my best friend, Lynn Grafton, on Thursday, October 6, the day before my birthday! Hole #5 has an elevated tee box, with water on the right and sand all along the left of the green. It was windy and a blue flag, so I took a couple of wedges up to the tee box. The flag was 116 yards. I decided to hit my gap wedge, because it is an accurate club for me. The shot was on line to the pin. It hit the green, bounced once or twice and rolled in. It was my fourth hole-in-one but the best one because I was playing with my bestie, on the day before my birthday and just before Thanksgiving. Doesn’t get any better than that as they say. I just wish I had worn a nicer outfit! 

The PGA of Canada announced it has renewed its partnership with Titleist & FootJoy, who will continue on as presenting sponsor of the PGA Training Academy.

The exclusive sponsorship will help the PGA of Canada continue to innovate within the PGA Training Academy – the association’s dynamic world-class education system designed to increase the value, integrity and employability of PGA of Canada professionals

“We are thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership with Titleist and FootJoy as they remain presenting sponsor of the PGA Training Academy,” PGA of Canada CEO, Kevin Thistle. “PGA of Canada members have raved about the innovation and usability of the PGA Training Academy ever since its launch, and it could not have been accomplished without the help of our partners at Titleist & Footjoy, who have played an integral role in the support of the PGA of Canada and its members for decades.” 

As part of the partnership, PGA of Canada Zone education seminars will have the opportunity to secure keynote speakers and sponsored content that will be funded out of the national sponsorship on a rotational basis. The PGA of Canada will also provide marketing support for Titleist University and FootJoy University.

“PGA of Canada professionals play an important role in the leadership of the game in Canada, and we are beyond excited to continue supporting their education and professional growth. It has been incredible to see how many professionals have taken advantage of the PGA Training Academy in their development and we are committed to continue supporting the 3,700 PGA of Canada members from coast-to-coast for years to come,” said Acushnet Canada President Ted Manning. 

Titleist & FootJoy are also the founding partner of the PGA of Canada Retirement Advantage Program, which gives members an opportunity to increase their RRSP contributions through various offers. 

To view the PGA of Canada Training Academy presented by Titleist & FootJoy, click here.

Canada 1 and Canada 2 sit fourth and T6 respectively in the team competition; Sweden’s Meja Őrtengren leads by one in the individual stroke play competition

MARKHAM, Ont. – Cold and wet conditions at Angus Glen Golf Club couldn’t cool down Team Spain Thursday as the early tournament favourite jumped out to a two-shot lead in the team competition through 36 holes at the seventh annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms.

Spain, which came into second-round action tied for the team lead with Canada 1, rode a 2-under 70 by Cayetana Fernández as well as a 1-over 73 by teammate Paula Martin to count a team score of 143 on the day (140-143—283) to sit at 5-under for the tournament.

The pair were joined by teammate Andrea Revuelta who shot a (non-counting) 76 for Spain, winners of the 2017 World Junior Girls Championship who came into this year’s event as the only country with all three players ranked inside the Top-100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

Spain heads into Friday’s third round with a two-shot lead over Sweden (147-138—285) who vaulted from T8 into solo second at 3-under for followed by Colombia (145-146-291) in solo third at 3-over.

The Canada 1 squad of opening-round individual leader Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C. (68-80—148) along with Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.(72-76—148) and Michelle Liu of Vancouver (72-77—149), who came into Thursday’s second round with a share of the opening-round lead with Spain, fell back into fourth position at 5-over (140-153—293).

The Canada 2 squad of Anna Huang from Vancouver (72-77—149), Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C. (73-75—148) and Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. (74-83—157) sit T6 with Germany at 9-over through 36 holes.

The following are second round team results at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Spain                           -5     (140-143—283)

2          Sweden                       -3     (147-138—285)

3          Colombia                     +3    (145-146—291)

4          Canada 1                    +5    (140-153—293)

5          Chinese Taipei            +6    (144-150—294) 

T6        Canada 2                    +9    (145-152—297)

T6        Germany                     +9    (147-150—297)

8          Mexico                        +10  (146-152—298)

9          Denmark                     +12  (150-150—300)

T10      Belgium                       +13  (144-157—301)

T10      England                       +13  (150-151—301)

12        France                         +14  (156-146—302)

13        Ireland                        +20  (150-158—308)             

14        Italy                             +22  (154-156—310)

15        Wales                          +23  (152-159—311)

T16      Austria                         +26  (156-158—314)

T16      Switzerland                 +26  (156-158—314)

18        Finland                        +27  (154-161—315)

Click here for a link to the full team competition leaderboard.

In the individual competition, Meja Őrtengren of Sweden shot the low round of the day (4-under 68) to sit at 5-under for the tournament (71-68—139), good for a 1-shot lead. Spain’s Cayetana Fernández (70-70—140 sits at 4-under followed by a pair of players – María José Marin of Colombia (72-71—143) and Ting-Hsuan Huang of Chinese Taipei (70-73—143) – tied for third at 1-under. Rounding out the top-five are a pair of players 1-over through 36 holes – Savannah De Bock of Belgium (69-76—145) and Marie-Agnes Fischer of Germany (72-73—145).  

A trio of Canadians sit T10 at 4-over through 36 holes including reigning Canadian Junior champion Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C. (73-75—148), opening-round leader Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C. (68-80—148), and Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.(72-76—148).   

The following are Top-10 results in the individual competition at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Meja Őrtengren, Sweden                               71-68—139 (-5)

2          Cayetana Fernández, Spain                          70-70—140 (-4)

T3        María José Marin, Colombia                          72-71—143 (-1)

T3        Ting-Hsuan Huang, Chinese Taipei               70-73—143 (-1)

T5        Savanah De Bock, Belgium                           69-76—145 (+1)

T5        Marie-Agnes Fischer, Germany                     72-73—145 (+1)

T7        Andrea Revuelta, Spain                                 70-76—146 (+2)

T7        Larissa Carrillo, Mexico                                  71-75—146 (+2)        

T7        Nora Sundberg, Sweden                                76-70—146 (+2)

T10      Yeji Kwon, Canada 2                                      73-75—148 (+4)

T10      Angela Arora, Canada 1                                 68-80—148 (+4)

T10      Lauren Kim, Canada 1                                   72-76—148 (+4)

Click here for a link to the full individual leaderboard.

In total, 54 athletes on 18 teams representing 17 countries—including two teams from host nation Canada—are competing Oct. 12-15 at Angus Glen for the team and individual titles. The event marks the celebrated return of the prestigious global competition after two years of cancellation due to the pandemic.

The third round of the 72-hole competition gets underway Friday morning at 8:30am with the final groups teeing off at 9:50am. Admission to the competition is free.

This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by 11 competitors ranked inside the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) top 100. A full list of competitors including their WAGR position is here.

With two victories (2015 & 2019) in the event’s six-year history, Korea has won the most team competition titles followed by USA (2014), Philippines (2016), Spain (2017), and Italy (2018). A history of past winners is available here.

A number of players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Championship have gone on great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 12-time LPGA winner and world no. 6 who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014. 

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include world no. 2 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as world no. 35 Yuka Saso of Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

In addition, 12 players who competed for the 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club are alumni of the World Junior Girls Championship.

Angus Glen Golf Club, which is hosting the World Junior Girls Championship for the third time, is home to two 18-hole championship golf courses in Markham, Ontario. The North and South courses offer variety, beauty, and challenges. Angus Glen has been ranked as one of the top 80 golf courses in the world outside of the United States. It was home to the 2002 and 2007 Canadian Open and an official host of the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games. The 2022 World Junior Championship will be contested on the South course.

Angela Arora shoots 4-under 68 to lead Canada 1 in the prestigious global golf championship; Surrey, B.C. native leads individual competition by one shot through 18 holes

MARKHAM, Ont. – Team Canada entered the opening-round of play at Angus Glen Golf Club looking for a fast start and got just that—riding a sizzling opening-round 4-under 68 by Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C. to take a share of the opening-round lead with Team Spain at the seventh annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms.

The Canada 1 squad of Arora (4-under 68), along with 17-year-old Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C.(E 72), and 15-year-old Michelle Liu of Vancouver (E 72) shot a team-total 4-under 140 with the top two of three individual scores counting towards the overall team total.

The opening-round co-leaders from Spain were led by matching scores of 2-under 70 by Andrea Revuelta and Cayetana Fernández under cool conditions at the Markham, Ont. layout. The pair were joined by teammate Paula Martin who shot a (non-counting) 4-over 76 for the Spanish favourites who came into the championship as the only country with all three players ranked inside the Top-100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR).

Spain is looking for their second team title, having previously won the championship in 2017.

Canada 1 and Spain head into Thursday’s second round with a four-shot lead over Belgium and Chinese Taipei who sit T3 at even par 144 through 18 holes.

As the host nation, Canada is fielding two teams in the international championship and while the Canada 1 squad holds a share of the opening-round lead, it was the younger Canada 2 squad comprised of 13-year-old Anna Huang from Vancouver (E 72), 16-year-old Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C. (1-over 73), and 14-year-old Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. (2-over 74) that was equally as impressive, firing a team-total 1-over 145 to sit T5 with Colombia after the opening round of the championship.

With 54 holes still to be played on the South Course at Angus Glen, Canada is looking for their best-ever result in the team competition, having previously finished third in 2014 and fourth in 2018. 

The following are round-one team results at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Canada 1                    -4  (140)

1          Spain                           -4  (140)

T3        Belgium                       E  (144)         

T3        Chinese Taipei             E  (144)         

T5        Canada 2                    +1  (145)

T5        Colombia                     +1  (145)

7          Mexico                        +2  (146)

T8        Germany                     +3  (147)

T8        Sweden                       +3  (147)

T10      Denmark                     +6  (150)

T10      England                       +6  (150)

T10      Ireland                        +6  (150)                    

13        Wales                          +8  (152)

T14      Finland                        +10 (154)       

T14      Italy                             +10 (154)

T16      Austria                         +12 (156)

T16      France                         +12 (156)

T16      Switzerland                 +12 (156)

Click here for the full team competition leaderboard.

In the individual competition, Arora’s 4-under 68 leads by a single shot, followed closely by Savannah De Bock of Belgium at 3-under 69. A trio of players – Ting-Hsuan Huang of Chinese Taipei, along with Spanish teammates Andrea Revuelta and Cayetana Fernández – sit T3 to round out the top-five at 2-under 70 through 18 holes of play.

The following are Top-10 results in the individual competition at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

1          Angela Arora, Canada                                    68 (-4)

2          Savanah De Bock, Belgium                           69 (-3)

T3        Ting-Hsuan Huang, Chinese Taipei               70 (-2)

T3        Andrea Revuelta, Spain                                 70 (-2)

T3        Cayetana Fernández, Spain                            70 (-2)

T6        Larissa Carrillo, Mexico                                  71 (-1)

T6        Meja Őrtengren, Sweden                                 71 (-1)

T8        Emilia Väistö, Finland                                      72 (E)

T8        María José Marin, Colombia                            72 (E)

T8        Marie-Agnes Fischer, Germany                       72 (E)

T8        Anna Huang, Canada 2                                 72 (E) 

T8        Lauren Kim, Canada 1                                   72 (E)

T8        Michelle Liu, Canada 1                                   72 (E)

Click here for a link to the full individual leaderboard.

In total, 54 athletes on 18 teams representing 17 countries—including two teams from host nation Canada—are competing Oct. 12-15 at Angus Glen for the team and individual titles. The event marks the celebrated return of the prestigious global competition after two years of cancellation due to the pandemic.

The second round of the 72-hole competition gets underway Thursday morning at 8:30am with the final groups teeing off at 9:50am. Admission to the competition is free.

This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by 11 competitors ranked inside the World Golf Amateur Rankings (WAGR) top 100. A full list of competitors including their WAGR position is here.

With two victories (2015 & 2019) in the event’s six-year history, Republic of Korea has won the most team competition titles followed by USA (2014), Philippines (2016), Spain (2017), and Italy (2018). A history of past winners is available here.

A number of players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Championship have gone on great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 12-time LPGA winner and world no. 6 who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014. 

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include world no. 2 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as world no. 35 Yuka Saso of Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. Other former World Junior Girls competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

In addition, 12 players who competed for the 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club are alumni of the World Junior Girls Championship.

Angus Glen Golf Club, which is hosting the World Junior Girls Championship for the third time, is home to two 18-hole championship golf courses in Markham, Ontario. The North and South courses offer variety, beauty, and challenges. Angus Glen has been ranked as one of the top 80 golf courses in the world outside of the United States. It was home to the 2002 and 2007 Canadian Open and an official host of the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games. The 2022 World Junior Championship will be contested on the South course.

Additional information regarding the seventh annual World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.

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.

Al Sampson, Sleepy Hollow Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

Further to your request, I was playing in senior tournament with: Mike Fitzpatrick, Peter Lao and Daniel Deng. On hole #17, 187 par 3, I used a fairway 5 wood. I saw my ball drop from the tee blocks, but there were some doubts that it dropped. Mr. Deng rushed to the green screening, “it’s in, it’s in.”

Brendan Koch, Lynx Ridge Golf Club, Hole #12

Hi there,

I was playing with a few friends from work at Lynx Ridge. The 12th hole was a front left pin position that day. I hit a 6-iron from around 200 yards to the pin. Landed about 4 feet before the pin and just released into the hole. Very exciting. Shoutout to Matt, who I was playing with, for an eagle (2) on the ninth hole from 145 yards out. Big day on the course.

Thanks,

Brendan

Carole Withers, Radium Course, Hole #12

Good morning,

Thank you for your email in regard to my hole-in-one. It happened on September 24th on the Radium Course. I was golfing with my husband, Wayne, and my daughter, Stacey. It was hole #12; it was a 141-yard par 3 with an elevated tee box. The club I used was an 8 iron. Unfortunately, I personally didn’t see it actually go in the hole but my daughter did so that was fun. 

Thanks,

Carole

Carolyn Rutter, Tsawwassen Springs Golf Course, Hole #13

Hi,

My hole-in-one was on hole 13 at Tsawwassen Springs. I was playing in my Tuesday Ladies League with Alison, Margaret and Laureen. It was 106 yards, and I used my 7 iron. I watched the ball hit the green curl toward the hole and fall in. Very exciting! It was an expensive day though as there were about 40 ladies to buy drinks for after the round…well worth it though!

Cheers,

Carolyn Rutter

Chris Ritchie, Eagle Crest Golf Couse, Hole #16

Hello,

I shot a hole-in-one on September 18, 2022, during the Acadia University golf team tryouts at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Centreville, N.S. Shot a pitching wedge on the 117-yard hole #16, with a Taylormade TP5 “bacon and eggs” logo ball. Playing partners were Tai Robichaud and Connor Stites.

Chris

Doug Skinner, Loch March Golf & Country Club, Hole #16

I organized a small Fall tournament to enjoy the changing of the leaves consisting of 16 players. That hole was the closest to the pin contest where everyone threw in $5 each to compete. So bottom line, I won $80 but the bar tab was $125. I was playing with Chris Day, John Black and Jamie York. The hole was 138 yards. Used a 9 iron.

Fred Ollewagen, Deer Creek Golf Club, Hole #18

Hi,  

It was on the last hole of the Ruby 9 at Deer Creek North. It was 171 yards and I hit 8 iron and it bounced once and disappeared.

As chance may have it, I made another hole-in-one yesterday only a couple of hours after responding to your email. That makes it two in three days after struggling for 25 years! This one was a pitching wedge from 148 yards on the 4th, Ruby at Deer Creek North in Ajax and it went straight into the hole, not even a dent on the cup! 

Kind regards,

Ferdinand Ollewagen

George Land, Tumbler Ridge Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

I was golfing with Terry and Ray. 144 yards to the middle pin and used an 8 iron.

Thanks,

George 

Grant Armstrong, Royal Liverpool Golf Course, Hole #11

Good morning and thank you for your email.

It really was a thrill for me! I’ve been playing for 50 years and that was my first hole-in-one. My playing partners were Ray Leonard (also a Golf Canada member) and Graham Child (a resident of England). I hit the smoothest 4 iron of my life! The hole was 171 yards.

Many thanks.

Grant

Greg Peebles, Magna Golf Club, Hole #17

Thanks for the congratulations from Golf Canada. This was my second hole-in-one, the first being on the 8th hole at Bayview Golf and Country Club. I used a 9 iron for a 146-yard shot directly into the wind. The best part was seeing the ball fly over the water, hit the front of the green and roll into the hole. What an experience. Made it even more fun because I shared it with my friends from Bayview that were playing in my foursome – Michel Paradis, Nick D’Agostino and Mark Paterson. What a day.

Heather Swallow, Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club, Hole #5

Hello,

Thank you for the note and recognition of my hole-in-one. They are indeed exciting, and I am lucky enough to have now experienced this excitement four times.

The yardage for my hole-in-one was 107 and I used a 9 iron.

Thank you,

Heather Swallow

Hugh McEwen, Glacier Greens Golf Club, Hole #12

Hole-in-one was on #12 at the Glacier Greens course in Comox, B.C. The hole was playing 109 yards and I used a 9 iron. I was playing with two of my buddies, Dave and Rick. It was my second hole-in-one on that hole and third total. ?

Hugh McEwen

John Leask, Michelson National Golf Club, Hole #15

Thanks for the email. It was a great day for sure at Mickelson National! The hole was #15. The yardage was 169. I took the shot with a 7 iron.

Thank you!

John Leask

Jordan Tinney, Gallangher’s Canyon, Hole #2

Hello,

Thank you. To your questions:

We have just completed renovations to our home and wanted to thank the husband-and-wife team who partnered with us on the renovation for the past six months. They golf so we wanted to take them out. It was a late afternoon tee time and a gorgeous day.

I had the yardage as 135 and its slightly downhill. I took out a nine iron. Since it was late afternoon, it was one of those shots where the sun was in your eyes. I hit it and it felt solid but with the sun, I couldn’t see it in flight. I put my hand up to block the sun and just looked at the pin waiting for it to land (hopefully) somewhere on the green. You can see the green well, it landed right in front of the pin, and seemed to take a small roll and just disappear. We all thought that it went in and as we then walked to the green, there it was, in the hole. Wild. I’ve never had one.

In true golf fashion, I did the following things. I fixed my ball mark, took a picture because it was amazing. Then, I was reminded about the golf gods who got even with me as I went on to double the next hole. 

The ball now sits on my shelf, as who knows if it will ever happen again. Oh, what’s luckier than getting a hole-in-one? Doing it on a day when the course bar was closed (as they were punching the fairways on the main course).

Take care,

Jordan

Joseph Han, Deerfield Golf Club, Hole #11

Hi Golf Canada,

On September 17, I got a hole-in-one at Deerfield Golf Club which is located in Oakville, ON. Occurred on hole 11 with a 7 iron.

Joseph Han 

Kevin Fairburn, Flowing Springs, Hole #8

I would like to report a hole-in-one.

Details:

– Course: Flowing Springs

– City: Regina, Saskatchewan

– Date: October 1, 2022

– Hole:8

– Yardage: 136

– Ball used: Callaway Chrome soft #3

– Club Used: Taylormade 9

– Had three people see it go in Larry Scheffer, Cam Leonard and Randy Taylor.

– Wind coming from the Northeast. Hit the green about 2’ from the pin. One bounce and went into the hole.  

Thanks,

Kevin Fairburn

Leo Jacques, Bellmere Winds Golf Resort, Hole #8

I had a hole-in-one at Bellmere Winds, hole #8.

Thanks,

Leo

Mike Elwood, Islington Golf Club, Hole #6

Thank you for the email regarding my hole-in-one on number 6 at Islington Golf Course. 

The group is the usual gang on Wednesdays, who I refer to as the Super Seniors. Let me clarify, I am not one of them, I am the young one.

The group in the picture attached is me, Bob Guthrie, Larry Citrullo and Goerge Mitchell who was filling in for the absent Bruce Kenney.

Hole #6 was playing 108 yards from the blue tees which is the Super Seniors tee of choice on Wednesdays. I hit last as we play ready golf, and I grabbed my pitching wedge, the pin was white which is middle, but it was behind a mound so you couldn’t see the ground. I fired a little draw to the right side of the green and it actually hit the fringe and did the left turn. That was all I saw from the tee, but I knew it was good. When I got up to the green, I passed George’s shot, he was right, off the putting surface. Larry had already arrived at the back of the green as he was long and in a cart that day. Bob was lumbering up to the bunker short of the green. 

As I climbed the little rise to the green and noted all of the above, I did not see my ball, and the pin was about 10 paces off the right, so I proceeded to the hole with my clubs still on my back, I looked down and there it was lying comfortably in the bottom of the cup. I bent over and quietly picked it out of the hole. Larry was the first to notice and acknowledge that it was an ace. I was thrilled but didn’t celebrate in a manner one might expect. Bob was shocked that I didn’t hoot and holler but it’s not my style and even though that was my third ace on number 6 the celebrations have all been the same, very subdued.

Mike Elwood 

Mike Gains, Uplands Golf Club, Hole #4

It was our last Uplands Golf Club Men’s Night, and I was playing with my three chums Mike Paget, Kerry Davies and Randy Price from high school in Victoria (1974).

4th hole at Uplands GC, 165 yards and the ball took one bounce and the second bounce disappeared into the hole! Very special hole-in-one to me as it came during the 100-year Anniversary of our Golf Club!

My only other hole-in-one was at Gorge Vale Golf Club as a new member in 1984. 

Michael (Mike) Gains

Pamela Piotrowski, Boyne Highlands Resort & Country Club, Hole #16

Hi,

Thank you very much for reaching out and acknowledging this exciting moment during my 2022 golf season.

I was playing with my husband, Alex Yandryk, and friends, Angie and Craig Anderson (all active Golf Canada members). During our last day of playing at Boyne Highlands, I stared down the 95 yard #16 at the Arthur Hills course with my pitching wedge and after one bounce, it rolled into the hole. Funny thing is that my playing partners all saw the ball go into the hole, but I forgot to wear my contacts that day and only saw the ball flight off the tee but nothing else!

Although this is my second hole-in-one, it truly an awesome moment for me.

Thanks for the graphic to help commemorate this occasion.

Regards,

Pam Piotrowski

Rae McLeod, Dakota Dunes Golf Links, Hole #15

Had an absolutely marvelous day on the course today. Great weather, great friends and a hole-in-one. What more could I ask for?

I hit a 7 iron in to the 135-yard, back pin on the signature hole. It traced nicely to the green and rolled down toward the pin. It looked good but appeared to stop a couple feet short, so I bent over to pick up my tee when my playing partners yelled, “it went in” simultaneously.  I looked up and the ball was nowhere to be seen so had to be in the hole. This is my second hole-in-one at the Dunes and both times I was picking up my tee when the ball went in and missed the actual ball drop. Still a thrilling experience.

Rae McLeod

Richard Bigsby, Riverside Country Club, Hole #11

Thanks for your email. I was playing with Rory Picklyk and Rick Gore-Hickman. It was 208 yards into a two-club wind. Hit a 3 wood. Cheers.

Scott Morgan, University Golf Club, Hole #7

Details of my fourth ace:

– UGC hole #7, 127 yards off whites.

– 6 hybrid

– Playing with Jim Davidson and Ken Teskey!

Sharon Case, Miramichi Golf & Country Club, Hole #5

Thanks for the lovely follow up regarding my recent hole-in-one.

I was very fortunate to have my brother, Bruce Clark, and my twin sister, Karen Flett, witness my shot. This was on the 5th hole and the yardage as indicated on the scorecard is 88 yards. I used a gap wedge. This actually was my seventh recorded hole-in-one which gives me a one up on my husband who last month recorded his sixth on the very same hole!  We have quite the friendly competition going!

Golf is such a great game, and we sure enjoy the amazement by our fellow club mates that as a husband and wife we have 13 between the two of us. 

Terri Buckingham, Fairwinds Golf Course, Hole #2

Thank you for your congratulations!

Trevor Yachimec, Pine Hills Golf Club, Hole #4

My playing partners for that beautiful day were Les Desi, Duncan Chisholm and Don (Shorty) Owchar. It was hole #4 which scoped out at 147 yards. I used my 9 iron. Shorty called it in the air and to my disbelief, it hit right of the pin, one hopped and spun into the hole.

Wanda Cook, Harmon Seaside Links, Hole #5

Hi. Thank you. It was at Harmon Seaside Links, Stephenville, N.L. on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, on hole #5 which was playing 129 yards.  I used my R7 rescue draw #6. My golfing buddies, Glenda White and Rowena MacDonald, were playing with me. It was very exciting.

Will Lake, Lowville Golf Club, Hole #13

Hi,

Thanks for reaching out. It feels like I’ve been on cloud nine since that magical moment. 

I was golfing with Mike Morningstar and Dino Zampini. We normally tee off early and last Sunday was no different as we teed off at 7:10am at Lowville. 

The round was going a little sideways before I stepped up to the tee box on hole #13. Dino had just made birdie on No. 12 to increase his lead on both Mike and me.

The wind was directly in our face on the par 3 which measured at 149 yards but was playing 160. The hole was cut on the lower tier of the green. Dino played first and came up just short. I was the next to play and used a 7 iron. I hit my line which was to land on the top tier and allow the ball to disappear down the slope to the hole. Mike’s shot ended up on the back of the green 15 feet from the hole. From the tee box, the hole was out of sight so as we were walking up to the green, we only saw Mike’s ball. I started to get a little excited. I crept up to the hole like I was hunting, trying not to make a noise. I peered over the lip of the hole and there it was, all snuggled in cozy in the bottom of the cup. 

As this was my first hole-in-one ever, a rush of excitement stayed with me for the rest of the round and day. To say there were a few high fives and smiles would be an understatement. It was amazing to share that moment with the boys as while we want to beat each other, we high five each other when a great shot it made.

Will

MARKHAM, Ont. – Canada is set to host a global showcase of the world’s best junior golfers as the seventh edition of the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms will be contested October 10-15, 2022 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

In total, 54 athletes on 18 teams representing 17 countries—including two teams from host nation Canada—will compete for the team and individual titles. The event marks the celebrated return of the prestigious global competition after two years of cancellation due to the pandemic.

“Together with our partners at Golf Ontario and Sargent Farms, Golf Canada is extremely proud to celebrate the return of the World Junior Girls Championship,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada Director, Amateur Championships and Rules. “This championship has become a world-class showcase featuring some of the most promising young athletes from around the world. It is an honour to welcome these talented juniors—many whom we know will go on to great success in the professional game—back to Angus Glen and support these Canadian and international talents in their golf journey.”

“The World Junior Girls Championship has become a signature event on our championship calendar and there is a great excitement in welcoming this outstanding group of athletes from around the world to compete for an international title on Canadian soil,” said Golf Ontario CEO Mike Kelly. “Angus Glen has proven itself time and again to be a world-class host and a championship-worthy venue that will be ready to challenge the world’s best junior golfers.”

Canada’s lead coach will be Jennifer Ha of Calgary, Alta., who is currently the Assistant Coach of the Team Canada – NextGen Squad.  The supporting coach will be PGA of Canada professional Emma de Groot, a native of New South Wales, Australia and resident of Hamilton, Ont. who is currently the director of women’s development with Modern Golf.

Canada 1 includes 18-year-old Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., 17-year-old Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., and 15-year-old Michelle Liu of Vancouver. Arora, who finished T20 at the 2019 World Junior Girls Championship, made it to match play of the 2022 US Women’s Amateur, finished runner-up at both the Pacific Northwest Women’s Amateur and NextGen Selection Camp, and also won the NextGen Pacific Championship. Kim, who finished T52 at the 2019 World Junior Girls Championship, had a 2022 season highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Canada Summer Games, a third-place finish at the Canadian Women’s Amateur and a T33 individual result at the World Amateur Team Championship. Liu, who qualified for her second CP Women’s Open in 2022, made it to match play at the US Junior Girls Championship, finished 7^th at the Texas Women’s Open (pro), and was the winner of Golf Canada’s recent NextGen Selection Camp.

The Canada 2 squad is represented by 16-year-old Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C., 14-year-old Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. and 13-year-old Anna Huang from Vancouver. Kwon earned a spot on the team by winning the 2022 Canadian Junior in a season that also included a ninth-place result at the Toyota Junior World Cup. Xing, who finished third at the NextGen Selection Camp, won the 2022 Ontario Junior Girls Match Play and finished runner-up at the Ontario Juvenile Girls Championship. Huang’s notable results include a T4 finish at the Canadian Junior, a T22 finish at the Canadian Amateur, a victory at the Toyota Tour Cup and a T3 finish a the NextGen Selection Camp.

This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by 11 competitors ranked inside the World Golf Amateur Rankings (WAGR) top 100 including the tournament’s top-ranked player, Germany’s Helen Briem (no. 13). Spain is the lone country with all three players ranked inside the WAGR top-100 with Sweden next at two top-100 players.  A full list of competitors including their WAGR position is here.

With two victories (2015 & 2019) in the event’s six-year history, Korea has won the most team competition titles followed by USA (2014), Philippines (2016), Spain (2017), and Italy (2018). A history of past winners is available here.

Canada’s best finish in the team competition was third in 2014 and fourth in 2018.

A number of players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Championship have gone on great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 12-time LPGA winner and world no. 6 who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include world no. 2 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as world no. 35 Yuka Saso of Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

In addition, 12 players who competed for the 2022 CP Women’s Open at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club are alumni of the World Junior Girls Championship.

Angus Glen Golf Club, which will host the World Junior Girls Championship for the third time, is home to two 18-hole championship golf courses in Markham, Ontario. The North and South courses offer variety, beauty, and challenges. Angus Glen has been ranked as one of the top 80 golf courses in the world outside of the United States. It was home to the 2002 and 2007 Canadian Open and an official host of the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan American Games. The 2022 World Junior Championship will be contested on the South course.

The following is a list of competing countries in the seventh annual World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada (2)
• Chinese Taipei
• Colombia
• Denmark
• England
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Italy
• Mexico
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Wales

Practice rounds for the 72-hole competition will take place October 10-11 with the first round of play set for Wednesday, October 12. The tournament’s closing ceremony will immediately follow the conclusion of play on Saturday, October 15.

Admission to the competition is free.