CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Finding chemistry on the eclectic Presidents Cup international team can be a challenge, but Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith are bringing their own spark to captain Trevor Immelman’s squad.

Conners and Pendrith played together on Golf Canada’s amateur teams before becoming teammates at Kent State University and were even the best man at each other’s weddings. They’ll be making their Presidents Cup debuts on Thursday as the best-on-best tournament tees off at Quail Hollow Golf Club outside Charlotte, N.C.

“To be here with him is really special, and if we have a partnership, I think we can certainly feed off of one another,” said Conners before Wednesday’s first-round draw. “If I hit a poor shot, I know he’s going to bail me out, and if he struggles on a hole, I’m going to be giving it my all to give us a chance to win the hole.

“We’re certainly great friends and have played a lot of golf together, so I’m very confident in his ability.”

Although Immelman split the Canadians up in the first round’s draw on Wednesday afternoon, it’s likely they will have a chance to play together at the PGA Tour event that sees 12 Americans face 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe.

Conners, from Listowel, Ont., will partner with South Korea’s Sungjae Im against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in the second match of the first round. Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., will team with Chile’s Mito Pereira against Tony Finau and Max Homa in the day’s fifth match.

Pendrith said he’s enjoying sharing the honour of playing on the international team with one of his best friends.

“To be with him is really cool and comforting,” said Pendrith. “He’s probably the person I’ve played my most rounds of golf with, ever.”

Conners was an automatic selection after finishing the PGA Tour season fourth on the international team standings. He rose up from sixth after Australia’s Cam Smith and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann jumped to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour on Aug. 30, disqualifying themselves from the PGA Tour-backed Presidents Cup.

Pendrith was officially selected by Immelman on Sept. 6 after he missed four months of the PGA Tour season with a fractured rib.

The two friends have very different play styles, with Pendrith renowned for his long drives and Conners considered a surgeon with his irons.

On paper the Presidents Cup result seems like it could be a foregone conclusion.

The American team’s average world ranking is 11.58, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama – currently No. 17 on the world rankings _ is the highest-rated member of an international team depleted by the defections to the LIV Tour. The betting line reflects that, with oddsmakers putting the Americans as -700 favourites.

History is also not on the internationals side. The United States has won the biennial event 13 times, with the internationals winning in 1998 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia and the two sides tying in 2003 at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club in George, South Africa.

Australia’s Adam Scott has played in nine of those losses and assistant captain Geoff Ogilvy, also from Australia, said those losses have served as a motivation for his countryman.

“He just wants to win it for everybody,” said Ogilvy, adding that Scott is like a fifth assistant captain. “It’s like he wants to win it for everybody who never got a chance to win one.”

However, the players on the international squad have combined for 33 victories on the PGA Tour, including Conners’ win at the 2019 Valero Texas Open. Assistant captain Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., said there’s a lot of positivity in the international locker room.

“The mood has been great. The guys are very enthusiastic. We feel they’re up for the challenge,” said Weir. “Their games look great. There’s a great buzz in our team.”

The next Presidents Cup will be in 2024 at Royal Montreal Golf Club, which hosted the event in 2007.

MISSISSAUGA, ONT. – The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and Bayer Environmental Science Canada have announced Jim Flett of Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Carling, Ont. as their Superintendent of the Year for 2022.

The award recognizes a member of the CGSA who has held the position of golf course superintendent for a minimum of five years and who has distinguished her or himself through dedication to the profession, performance as a golf course superintendent and contributions to their profession and their community.

Flett has been a CGSA member since 1990 and has held the Accredited Golf Superintendent (AGS) designation since 2007. He was CGSA President in 2017 and is a Past President of the Ontario Golf Superintendent’s Association (OGSA). He has been the Superintendent at Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club since 1992.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M in 1988 after completing the University of Guelph’s Turf Associate Diploma program in 1985. Jim apprenticed under two Canadian superintendent mentors Gordon Witteveen and David Gourlay, both CGSA Superintendent of the Year past winners.

Flett will be recognized during The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference and presented with his award during the Award Luncheon in 2023.

“My involvement in the CGSA has tremendously elevated my career through the professional development opportunities and Canada-wide networking over the years,” said Flett, “I was lucky enough to serve as President of the CGSA in 2017 when Canada celebrated its 150^th Birthday. I always thought it was important to instil the sense of Canadian pride in our association. Most of all golf has been a part of my life since I was a child and over the years, I’ve met so many amazing people I would not have met otherwise.” 

KITCHENER, Ont.—Wil Bateman didn’t necessarily need to win the season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship in order to secure the Fortinet Cup title and Player of the Year honors. That’s exactly what he did, though, shooting a final-round 1-under 69 Sunday at Deer Ridge Golf Club to defeat Jeffrey Kang by two strokes. In the process, Bateman won the Fortinet Cup, finishing with 1,654 points and vaulting past Jake Knapp, who entered the week with the standings lead. It was quite the double dip. 

ELECTRIC!!

Edmonton’s @WilsonBateman wins the @FortinetCupChmp and the #FortinetCup in dramatic fashion.

He’s earned full @KornFerryTour status for next year pic.twitter.com/itRDW4eNKH

— PGA TOUR Canada – Fortinet Cup (@PGATOURCanada) September 18, 2022

With the victory, Bateman locked up his 2023 Korn Ferry Tour playing privileges, making him eligible to play in every open tournament on that Tour’s schedule. He is also the second Canadian—along with Mackenzie Hughes in 2013—to win PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honors. He pocketed a $25,000 bonus from Fortinet for winning the inaugural Fortinet Cup, and next summer Bateman is invited to play in the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open. By finishing second, Knapp will be conditionally exempt on next season’s Korn Ferry Tour. He tied for 34th at the closing tournament of the year. 

After Bateman and Knapp, the third-, fourth- and fifth-place Fortinet Cup finishers were Americans Noah Goodwin, Scott Stevens and Ryan Gerard, respectively. The players received their membership cards during a ceremony following the end of play Sunday at Deer Ridge Golf Club.

Bateman, a native of Edmonton, played in his 59th career PGA TOUR Canada event with this appearance—this season easily his best. Before this year, Bateman had never recorded a top-three finish and only had one career top-10.  

Exempt when the season began by virtue of his 21st-place finish on the 2021 Forme Tour Points List, Bateman was three strokes off the lead through 54 holes in the season-opening Royal Beach Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist. A final-round, 3-over 73 derailed his chances, but he put everybody on notice two weeks later when he chipped in to end the playoff and record an extremely popular win at his hometown ATB Classic presented by Volvo Edmonton. He put an exclamation mark on his season with his resounding victory Sunday, allowing him to join Noah Goodwin as the only two-time champions this season. 

“I think setting some solid goals for myself and knowing that I can attain them was big. Coming into this week, I think I put more pressure on myself, more than the pressure I felt when I was out [on the course] just because I wanted to achieve some of my goals,” Bateman said. “I knocked off a few of those goals, so it was a lot of fun.

“I still have bigger goals and dreams that I want to accomplish,” Bateman continued, “but this is a really good start. Just knowing where I was four to five years ago, if someone would have told me that I would be here I would say they were insane.”

“What a fun season it was, and to come down to the Fortinet Cup Championship, our final event of the year, with so many players with still so much to play for has been incredible to watch,” said PGA TOUR Canada Executive Director Scott Pritchard. “Wil proved from start to finish that he was our best player against formidable competition, and his performance under pressure this week to win the tournament and the Fortinet Cup was impressive. He will always have the Fortinet Cup on his mantel to remind him of what a special season 2022 was. Congratulations to Wil on what is an outstanding accomplishment. I can’t wait to see what he can do next season the Korn Ferry Tour.” 

The players who finished in the sixth-through-10th positions on the Fortinet Cup standings are exempt into the finals of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament in Savannah, Georgia. That 72-hole tournament is November 4-7. The five PGA TOUR Canada players exempt into the Qualifying Tournament, hoping to secure Korn Ferry Tour status via that route, are Thomas Walsh (No. 6), Jeffrey Kang (No. 7), Danny Walker (No. 8), Joe Highsmith (No. 9) and Ian Holt (No. 10). 

The 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season, the 34th in its history, starts in mid-January, the full schedule still to be announced. 

Beginning in 2013, the Korn Ferry Tour became The Path to the PGA TOUR by awarding all 50 membership cards to Korn Ferry Tour players for the following PGA TOUR season. Players can initially qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour through the Qualifying Tournament and by securing a top-five Fortinet Cup finish on PGA TOUR Canada or a top-five Totalplay Cup performance. PGA TOUR Canada sent its first five players to the Korn Ferry Tour following its inaugural season in 2013. They were Mackenzie Hughes (Canada), Riley Wheeldon (Canada), Mark Hubbard (U.S.), Hugo Leon (Chile) and Wil Collins (U.S.). This is the eighth group of PGA TOUR Canada players to move on to the Korn Ferry after the Tour did not contest tournaments in 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic.

Final 2022 Fortinet Cup Standings

HAMPTON, N.B. – The NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, wrapped up at Hampton Golf Club Sunday with Andreas Diogenous of Cambridge, Ont. and Kelly Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont. topping a field of 63 young amateurs to take home the respective Junior Boys and Girls titles.

Conditions played tough at Hampton Golf Club with 30 km winds during the first two rounds of the tournament and downpour rain during the final round.

In the Junior Girls Division, Zhao, a member of Station Creek Golf Club, used a final-round 75 and tournament-total 15-over 228 (76-77-75—228) to cruise to an eight-shot win over Emily McKee of Oakville, Ont. (+23). Carlee Meilleur of Lansdowne, Ont. (+32) finished alone in the third while Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (+34) and Genevieve Jobin-Colgan of Quebec City, Que. (+37) rounded out the top-5. 

Meilleur used rounds of 86-79-80 to win the Bantam Division title by 10 shots over Kali Yeske of Calgary (+42) and Mia Poirier of Victoriaville, Que. (+42).

Diogenous, a 3-year Team Ontario member who plays out of Whistlebear Golf Club, came into Sunday with a four-shot lead and carded a final-round 78 and tournament total 17-over 23 (78-74-78—230) to finish with a two-shot victory over Antoine Jasmin of Blainville, Que.

Jasmin, who’s final round 73 was the low round of the day, finished at 19-over for the tournament (85-74-73—232). Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. (+21) finished alone in third while Toronto native Matteo Rocco was fourth at 23-over for the championship.

Charly Pinel of Beaumont, Que., who finished T5 in the Junior Division at 26-over 239 used rounds of 82-79-78 to win the Bantam Division by three shots over Chase Jerome of Ottawa, Ont. (+29). 

CLICK HERE for complete final scoring results from the NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

The top three female golfers (including ties) have earned exemptions into next year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, August 1-4, 2023, also at Hampton Golf Club while the top three male competitors have earned a spot in the 2023 Canadian Jr Boys Championship, presented by BDO.

The NextGen Fall Series East Championship is the second-last of Golf Canada’s regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. The final stop – the NextGen Fall Series West Championship will run Sept. 23-25 at Golden Golf Club in Golden, B.C.

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships, with two Fall Series events taking place in September. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

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.

Balwinder Sahota, Glen Eagle Golf Club, Hole #8

Hello,

Thanks. It was an amazing time. I experienced this with family and friends. That day, I played with my neighbour, Jazz Makkar, Aman Saggu and nephew, Raman Sahota. We were on 8th hole par 3 and playing from white tees. Hole measured 165 yards and I used a 7 iron. I was the last guy to shoot and had a good swing. One bounce and it rolled in.

Cody Yaremovich, St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino, Hole #7

Thank you! That was my first, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. The annual boys trip! Yes, it got pricey, but it was unforgettable. 

My playing partners that day were Dave Lengyel, Jamie Hiltz and Jonathan Hirst. Yardage for the day was 126, playing into a slight breeze. I hit a choked down, sawed off 9 iron that flew right over the flag, eight inches passed the cup and spun back into the hole! We may have been the loudest group on the course once we realized it went in.

Thanks again! 

Cody Yaremovich 

Craig Huxter, Glendenning Golf Course, Hole #11

Thanks for the congratulations. I was playing with Kent Rowe, a Golf Canada member, as well as Jennifer Baker and Phonse Leonard. The tees were forward on September 3^rd on the 11th hole and I lasered the flag at 122 yards. I pulled a Callaway Apex DCB pitching wedge which is my 115–120-yard club. The ball was blown by the wind, a little right to left. It landed on the right edge of the bunker on the left of the green and bounced right and spun right across the green, hit the flag and dropped into the hole.  

Glen Erickson, Connaught Golf Club, Hole #3

Thanks so much for the kind words and congratulations! This was a cool experience, my second hole-in-one.

I was playing with Gary Kavanaugh (Medicine Hat) and Brian Paush (Edmonton) in the final round of the 89th Southeastern Open at the Connaught Golf Club in Medicine Hat. I had a four-shot lead after two rounds but by the time we reached our 14^th hole (it was shotgun start), I’m pretty sure were all tied for the lead, or at least within a shot of each other. I’d played kind of an erratic round in the wind.

The second hole at Connaught, our 14^th of the day, is a par 5. Both Gary and Brian made birdie while I four-putted for a double-bogey seven. I was livid about the three-shot swing, but knew I had to keep my wits about me. When we arrived at the par 3, third hole, our 15^th of the day, I joked with the volunteer on the tee box that I would have to hole my tee shot to play #2 and #3 in even-par.

Gary hit his tee shot on the 3^rd into the left greenside bunker, then Brian hit his into the bunker on the right side. I hit a good shot, a high draw with my 9-iron, a shot the wind moved slowly toward the flagstick. One bounce and in, from 127 yards! I think I flipped my club into the air and raised my arms and looked back at the guys with some bewilderment. Gary and Brian came running up to me with handshakes and congratulations. Gary laughed, “that’s how you make up for a double-bogey”.

We took a couple of pictures at the green before Gary and Brian played out the hole. They both made bogey. So, that was a three-shot swing in my favour!

Three holes later, I rolled in a birdie putt on the last hole to win the Senior Men’s Division by one stroke. It’s really fun to be in the hunt!

Coincidentally, I used a Ben Hogan FTX 9-iron to make the ace, the same club I used back in 2008 when I made my first hole-in-one at the Shannon Lake Golf Club in West Kelowna.

A few days later, head pro, Brian Oliphant, presented me with a wonderful memento on behalf of the entire team at Connaught. It’s just beautiful! The ace is a nice accomplishment, but the camaraderie that day and the celebration after play with my friends and competitors is really what made it all so special!

Glen Erickson

Gordon Harrison, Napanee Golf & Country Club, Hole #16

I was golfing with fellow member, Mike Bellerive, and two green fee players whose names I have forgotten. I used a Jumbo 32* 11 wood, and the yardage was about 125 (not measured). This was my second hole-in-one.

Gord

Graham Macdougall, Algonquin Golf Course, Hole #14

Many thanks for the recognition of my hole-in-one last week at the Algonquin Golf Course in St. Andrews N.B. I am a 79-year-old Senior who plays out of the Riverside Country Club in Rothesay N.B. (not Saskatoon). I have a 12 handicap and was visiting the Algonquin Golf Course with my brother, Alan, who was visiting from Toronto. The magic moment came on the 130-yard, 14th hole. Used a 7 iron. As so often happens, the shot was later in the afternoon and directly into the sun, so I did not see the result until I got to the green. Just to bring a bit of sobriety to the day, I made a double bogey on 18 to shoot 80. Nevertheless, a magic golfer’s day. We went to the Rossmount Inn for a nice celebratory dinner. This was my second hole-in-one.

Thanks for being interested.

Graham Macdougall

Grant Noble, Scarboro Golf & Country Club, Hole #11

Firstly, thank you for the email and yes, I’m super stoked. 

So, I had the worst round of the year funnily enough when I dropped the ace. I was playing with good friends Nathan Tam, Taylor Tolleffson and Ryan Son Kee who are just beauties and were just as happy as myself. 

It was playing 96 yards and we thought 100 yards with the wind.  Nathan went up first and flushed a shot into the back bunker. I went and changed my club from a 50-degree wedge to a 54-degree. Flushed the shot to the right of the hole and it juiced back into the hole. We went crazy.

Heather Murray, Predator Ridge, Hole #4

Dear Golf Canada,

Thank you so much for the note and the wonderful graphic acknowledging my hole-in-one.

My playing partners were Doris Ritter and Barbara Reid. I was the first player to hit off the tee on hole #4 of the Predator Ridge Golf Course. The yardage was 98 from the lavender tees and I chose to hit my 9 iron. The pin was middle centre on the green. My ball landed below the hole but was moving forward towards the pin. My ball had good line to the pin, but it seemed like it was moving in slow motion, and I thought to myself, “Geez this is probably going to be one that stops just inches from the cup.” But the ball kept rolling forward and then disappeared into the hole! Whoa! I turned to my playing partners and said, “That is unbelievable!” Next were high fives and texting to my other golf buddies to meet after the round in the clubhouse because drinks were on me!

It was a rush and a thrill to walk to the hole, look down into the cup and say, “Yup, that’s my ball”. TaylorMade black number zero ball marked with a red racing stripe and that is the picture I took to remember this hole-in-one. I retired the ball.  

Cheers,

Heather

Jeff Ostrow, Ambassador Golf Club, Hole #16

Thank you for your interest in my story.

It was a beautiful day for golf, 22 degrees, light breeze. It was the last day of league play at Ambassador Golf Club. Starting on the back 9 and walking up to the tee, I surveyed the distance to be 190 yards to the par 3 16th hole. I placed my tee a yard or so behind the pewter tee markers and took my swing with my TaylorMade 3 hybrid. It felt good, since I knew it was going to be on the green, I bent down to pick up my tee and I heard Enzo say, “Jeff you might want to watch this”.  Watch it I did. The ball was fading from left to right, landed about 15 feet left and short of the hole, rolled towards the pin and disappeared. Steve and Enzo were convinced, but from 190 yards I needed to get closer to know for sure. As I drove up to the green and noted it was not behind the pin I was thrilled to walk up to the hole and find it at the bottom of the cup. How awesome. High fives, fist pumps and pictures! Witnessed by Enzo Pappini and Steve Jaksich. 

After I finished my round and went into the clubhouse to buy some drinks for everyone, I realized that another league member had a hole-in-one on the same hole 30 minutes after me. No one has had a hole-in-one all year on that hole, and two in the same night.  I guess I don’t even get a skin!

What a great feeling.

Jeff Ostrow

John Volcko, Fox Harb’r, Hole #7

Thank you very much for the email! It took 45 years to get my first one and now I’m hoping for many more. 

The hole-in-one occurred on the 7th hole at Fox Harb’r on September 3rd, 2022. I hit a 5 iron to pin that was at 173 yards into a slight breeze on a bright sunny day. It was witnessed by Cindy Bruce.

Thanks for reaching out!

Sincerely,

John Volcko

Judy Chin, Stony Plain Golf Course, Hole #12

Thank you for your congratulatory email. Yes, I was very excited and totally elated to have a hole-in-one on September 5th.

I was golfing with Murray Chase and my significant other, Patrick Kelly, who just had his first hole-in-one in June at Stony Plain. My hole-in-one was on hole #12. The yardage was 150 with wind towards me. So, I played a toned down 5 wood and it did the job superbly for me! I actually have a picture taken at hole #12 and also Jeff, our Pro/General Manager, gifted me with a flag for that.

I do not have an objection in sharing this good news with Golf Canada. I hope this will help inspire more women golfers to come out and play. 

Best regards,

Judy Chin

Justin Ward, Redwood Meadows Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

Hey Golf Canada! 

Thanks for the email. 

Details on the hole-in-one. We only played 9 holes as it gets dark early. Played the gold and black combo (tips). 8th hole. 150.9 yards out. Centre red flag pin. It two hopped then rolled straight to the pin then disappeared. I was the first to shoot as well. I played with my friend Cherokee Eagletail and her boyfriend, her boyfriend’s younger brother and another friend (we were allowed a fivesome). 

Keith Wyman, Mount Brenton Golf Course, Hole #3

I was playing with Ron Voldeng, David Pringle and Mike Smith. Hole number 3 is about 120 yards so I used a nine iron. Hit a high one over the sand trap. lost sight of the ball when it went past thousand trap. When I went to find the ball on the green. it was not there, so I looked around the edges. I found my ball mark when I was repairing the green which is when Ron said my ball was in the hole. I said yeh sure thing it must have run off the green, but then I looked and it was there.

Kody Thorne, RedTail Landing Golf Club, Hole #4

Hello, 

Thanks so much for offering congratulations on my recent hole-in-one at RedTail Landing Golf Club on September 5^th, 2022.

I was with my regular golfing buddy, Walter Richards. We have golfed together regularly for the last five years. I have been golfing on and off over the last 30 years, but it has really been the last five years that I have taken it more seriously, setting new targets every year and focusing on reducing my handicap index which I am happy to say now sits at a very healthy 3.5. 

We were also paired up with two other gentlemen. Unfortunately, I can’t recall their names, but I remember that they are both very fine first responders enjoying some time off by golfing. I was very pleased to buy them both some drinks to mark them sharing this occasion with us!

It was hole 4. It was an overcast day and there had been a little bit of light rain, but nothing to warrant putting waterproofs on. The yardage was 180. I chose a 6 iron. When the ball was hit, we watched it land just in front of the green, bounce onto it and then roll eight or so feet and drop into the hole. A very surreal moment and one that I will never forget, especially as this was my first hole-in-one!

Thanks for reaching out with the congratulations! It was unexpected and a very pleasant surprise!

Kind regards, 

Kody

Latch Sanker, Watson’s Glen Golf Club, Hole #13

Thanks for noticing and following up. To fill you in with the details of my hole-in-one. I was playing with my wife, Rosemarie, and a buddy, Jim Doucet. We also had a walk on playing with us. His name was Jay. I was playing from the blue tee blocks and that day where the pin measured 164 yards. I used an eight iron (Srixon ZX7). After teeing off and approaching the green, the Marshall informed us that the group behind us was on a timeline and if we would let them play through. We waved them to hit on and watched them putt. One of the players was surprised that there was already a ball in the hole. The group was then told about the hole-in-one.

Just an added note. My wife, Rosemarie Sanker, also had a hole-in-one on the same hole on August 31, 2020.

Thanks,

Latch Sanker

Linda Gordon, Spallumcheen Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

Thank you.

I was playing with my husband, Tom Gordon, and Ben and Greg Poggemoeller. The yardage was 84 and I used my 9 iron.

Thank you,

Linda Gordon

Matthew Langelaan, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

Good morning, 

Thank you very much for reaching out!

Some information about the round:

– Course: St. Catharines Golf & Country Club

– Hole: #12

– Yardage: 165

– Club: 8-iron

– Played with: Tom Rankin, Brendan Robertson and Mark Cahill

Sincerely,

Matthew Langelaan

Maureen Bowerman, The Legends Golf Club, Hole #3

Thank you so much for your acknowledgement of my hole-in-one. It was a real surprise and fun shot! I was playing with Luella, and Trish on the first day of our League Championship. Trish Santo got a hole-in-one in August, so we feel we are lucky charms for each other. The hole measured approximately 117 yards with a fairly strong left to right wind. I used a Callaway 8 hybrid (clubbed up for the wind). Again, thank you for the acknowledgement.

Maureen Bowerman

Nickie Aumiller, Wildwood Golf Course, Hole #14

I was golfing with Gus Gerecke, John Zerr and Dick Froese who are also members of the Wildwood Golf Course. They told me to go first, and I said to them, “you just want me to show you how to get a hole-in-one.” The hole was reading approximately 110 yards and I used my seven iron. The ball hit the green and we all watched it drop in the hole. It was very exciting as it was my third hole-in-one. I had two prior in Hanna, Alberta. 

Thanks for the message. 

Nickie Aumiller

Patrick Hammerschmidt, Valley Ridge Golf Club, Hole #11

Hi,

It was one of those rounds of golf where everything clicked and to make it special, a hole-in-one on hole #11 to top it off.

The 11^th hole is a par 3, with an elevated green. The pin was in front, playing 131 yards and my 9 iron was the choice. I played past the pin, the ball rolled back to the flag and in the hole.

I was playing with two other Valley Ridge members and a guest, my wife’s uncle, who was my guest for the day.

What a great day.

Pat

Rick Atkinson, St. Catharines Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

I was playing last Wednesday with Ed Fox (who was kind enough to take the picture), Bill Longlade and John Giddings at St. Catharines Golf & Country Club. I hit a 9 iron on the 155-yard fourth hole. It rained the entire 9 holes, so we were unable to play 18. It was my third hole-in-one. Better to be lucky than good!

Rick Lambert, Broadmoor Public Golf Course, Hole #16

The hole-in-one occurred on Wednesday, September 7 during our Men’s night (a costly one for sure).

Hole #16 was playing uphill at 120 yards and a pitching wedge was used.

This is my fifth hole-in-one. It took me about 35 years before I got my first in 2000 and it seems that I get one every 5 years or so although at times it seems longer.

Robert Fellows, Westfield Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

Thank you.

I was playing with Dale Price and Reggie Williams. It was hole #12 which is 200 yards but it was back pin (blue) so it was playing 211 yards. I striped a 3 iron which landed in middle of green and rolled right towards pin. Ball disappeared but we thought it just went over back. Dale discovered it in the hole.

Russ Ingram, Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club, Hole #6

Hello,

My name is Russ Ingram, and I had a hole-in-one at Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club in Eastern Passage, N.S.

It was on the 9th of September 2022, a beautiful day for golf in Nova Scotia. It was the par three, hole number six, and I was hitting from the gold tees.  The distance was just over 130 yards and the club I used was a nine iron. The shot was high like a nine iron should be and the ball landed on the edge of the green, took one bounce and curled perfectly into the hole. Bingo! My second hole-in-one, 31 years after my first.

Here is a picture of me taken from just off the number six green that day with my three witnesses, Gerry Locke, Mike Taylor and Bert Elms standing behind. 

Steve Blair, Shilo Country Club, Hole #16

Thank you for the congratulations. 

I hit a 7 iron 154 yards on the 16th hole in Shilo. It landed three feet from the hole and rolled in. There was a backup on our hole so there were 9 people who witnessed it. Marlene Blair (my wife), Roy Demers, Jake Degroot, Stewart Burnett, Dwight Edwards, Jim Renwick, Dick Scott, Myles Hubbard and Bob Cummings. 

Steven Polsinelli, The National Golf Club of Canada, Hole #10

Thank you so much for the kind words. 

I was playing with my good friends, Andrew and Stephen, at our home course: The National Golf Club of Canada. I was having quite an average round when we made the turn to a back nine, I will never forget. 

I was the first to tee off on hole 10. For background, the hole is one of the most beautiful on the course: an elevated tee shot to a green surrounded by water and perfectly placed bunkers. 

The hole was playing 158 yards into the breeze. I pulled out my trusted 7 iron and gave my best swing. At first, I thought my shot was going to fly the green. However, to my surprise, the ball landed four feet from the pin and rolled in! We all screamed in celebration!

I am thrilled to have experienced this special moment at The National, but more importantly, with great company.

Thank you,

Steven Polsinelli

Thom Hannah, Shannon Lake Golf Course, Hole #5

I achieved my fifth hole-in-one on September 7, 2022, on hole #16 at Shannon Lake Golf Course. I hit an 8 iron since the hole was playing 147 yards. I was playing with fellow members, Oliver McEvoy, Steve Gorkoff and Bernie Cundliffe. What a thrill that all four of us saw the ball go in the hole.  

If anyone visits the Okanagan Valley, make sure you play our hidden gem, Shannon Lake Golf Course in West Kelowna, B.C.  

Cheers,

Thom Hannah 

Tom Schurman, Green Gables Golf Club, Hole #5

Well, the hole-in-one gods are in my favour again. Haha!

Funny thing is…it was a reunion of our “Scotland Trip” back in May when I had the hole-in-one at the Old Course in Scotland. Almost four months later, I’m at it again. 

This time it was on the fifth hole at Green Gables Golf Club in Cavendish, P.E.I. I used a pitching wedge from about 120 yards. My playing partners were Ian Power, Mark Francoeur and Andrew Mills. 

2nd of 2022 and 6th ace in my golfing career. ?

Tony Barnes, Langara Golf Course, Hole #14

Thanks. My first one in 30 years of golf. 118 yards into the wind. 7 iron. Played with two old friends. Saw it go in from tee box. Yippee! 

HAMPTON, N.B. – The NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, tees off this week with 65 amateur golfers taking the stage in Hampton, N.B. 

Practice rounds are scheduled for Thursday, September 15, before the official 54-hole tournament gets underway on September 16. Play is scheduled to conclude September 18^th with an awards ceremony scheduled immediately following play at Hampton Golf Club.

The starting field will feature 65 players –50 Junior Boys and 16 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer. Thirteen players in the field hail from host province, New Brunswick, and 12 boys and eight girls are competing from the Bantam Division (Under 15 years of age).

The top 3 male competitors will earn a spot in the 2023 Canadian Jr Boys Championship, presented by BDO. The top 3 and female golfers (including ties) will also earn exemptions into next year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, August 1-4, 2023, also at Hampton Golf Club. 

“Hampton Golf Club is in excellent shape and will serve as a challenging test to this talented field of junior competitors,” said tournament director Melany Chong. “We look forward to what is sure to be an exciting competition and are grateful for the support from the community and our hard-working volunteers”.

The NextGen Fall Series East Championship is one of Golf Canada’s regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Ella Weber and Cameron Pero took home the honours in their respective divisions in 2021.

For the full schedule of 2022 competitions, click here.

Hampton Golf Club is a 18-hole located in the Town of Hampton, a 25-minute drive from Saint John, N.B. Hampton offers scenic views and sits high up on a hill overlooking Darlings Lake and the rolling hills of Kings County.

Additional information about the 2022 NextGen Fall Series East Championship can be found here.

NOTABLES

Andreas Diogenous: Whistle Bear GC

• 3 year member of Team Ontario
• 2021 Ontario (U17) Juvenile Boys Championship
• T3 at the 2021 Ontario Junior Tour Championship
• Semi-finalist in the 2021 Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship
• Qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship

Isaiah Ibit: Greyhawk GC

• Top 3 finishes at 2021 Ontario Junior Boys Championship, Ontario Juvenile Boys Championship and winner of the Ottawa Valley Association Junior and City District Championship

Jacob LeBlanc: Fox Creek Golf Club

• 2020 Junior Boys U-15 Champion

Lindsay McGrath : Rattlesnake Point Golf Club

• Youngest female member of Team Ontario
• 2021 Ontario Bantam Girls Champion

Emily McKee: Rattlesnake Pointe Golf Club

• Qualified for the 2021 U.S Junior Girls Championship

Carlee Meilleur: Loyalist Golf and Country Club

• 2022 Ontario Women’s Am & Mid-Am Champion
• 3^rd Place in 2022 Canada Summer Games

Kelly Zhao: Station Creek Golf Club

• 2022 top 10 finish at AJGA Junior at Southpointe
• 2022 top 10 finish at Canadian Women’s Am Championship
• 3^rd place finish at 2022 Golf Ontario Junior Girls’ (U19) Championship

The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships, with two Fall Series events taking place in September. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

Windsor, Ont. – Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg, Ont. and Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. both completed wire-to-wire victories to defend their respective Gross Stroke Play titles at the second annual Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO and hosted at Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ont.

Barkley followed up an opening-round 4-under 67 with an even par 71 on Wednesday to finish the championship at 4-under 138, one shot better than runner-up Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. whose round of 1-under 70 was the low round of the day.

“The conditions were awesome tee to green. It’s a ball striker course you know, tee to green which I’m usually pretty good at it. I think I hit 14 greens today and I hit 17 yesterday, so it was definitely suited to my game,” said Barkley, a member of Cedar Glen Golf Course who came into the championship ranked no. 6 on the World Gross Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD). “I played smart percentage wise, and Kris is an amazing player. I battled with him in the Ontario one and I look forward to many battles with this guy.”

Rounding out the top-five behind Barkley (67-71—138) and Willis (69-70—139) were Jesse Florkowski of Medicine Hat, Alta. (73-72—145), Michael Pisaric of Fort Erie, Ont. (77-77—154) and local product Kevin Delaney of Windsor (76-81—157).   

The win marks back-to-back victories in the Men’s Gross Stroke Play division for the 34-year-old Barkley, who won the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Club in Toronto. Barkley’s impressive season also includes a victory at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship in July, his fourth consecutive win at the provincial event.

In the women’s Gross Stroke Play division, defending champion Natasha Stasiuk carded rounds of 84-82 to finish 24-over 166. The 24-year-old Oakville, Ont., native finished 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Tess Trojan of St. Catharines, Ont. (91-88—179).

“It feels pretty awesome and amazing,” said Stasiuk, who also collected her fourth consecutive title at the Ontario Disability Championship earlier this summer. “It was a tough situation. It was back-to-back-to-back with Tess on the back nine. I’ve been working a lot on my game, my mental game. I went to Pinehurst in July, and it helped me prepare for this.”

For the Women’s Net Stableford Competition, Trojan, a public player with the Golf Canada, earned 39 stableford points in the second round for tournament total of 74 stableford points to defend her division title. Trojan finished 20 points clear of Stasiuk who earned 28 points Wednesday and a tournament total of 54 stableford points.

In the Men’s Net Stableford competition, the local favourite Delaney, a member of Pointe West Golf Club in Windsor, earned 35 stableford points Wednesday to finish with 75 total points for the championship, two clear of Pisaric (73). Rounding out the top-five were Randall Mackus of Prince George, B.C., (72) in third and Willis in fourth (71) with Vic McLelland of High River, Alta. and Kristian Hammerback of Winnipeg, Man. in a share of fifth at 70 stableford points.

Click here for complete final results from the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship.

A total of 39 players, regardless of disability classification, competed over 36 holes across four divisions— Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford. 

As a legacy of the second annual Canadian All Abilities Golf Championship, Golf Canada was proud to donate a SoloRider (Para Golfer adaptive golf equipment) to the City of Windsor to support golfers with a disability. The SoloRider will be utilized at the Roseland Golf & Curling Club.  

A venue for the 2023 Canadian All Abilities Championship will be announced at later date.

The Canadian All Abilities Championship was contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition featuring players from Canada and the United States with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes.

Tess Trojan and Randall Mackus lead in the Women’s and Men’s Net Stableford Competitions

Windsor, Ont. – Defending champions Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. and Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg, Ont. have jumped out to an early-opening lead at the second playing of Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO and hosted at the Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ont.

A total of 39 players, regardless of disability classification, are competing over 36 holes across four divisions— Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford. 

In the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Competition, Stasiuk, a member of Heron Point Golf Links who won the 2021 Women’s Gross Stroke Play title at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, shot a 13-over 84 and heads into Wednesday’s final round with a seven-shot lead over Tess Trojan of St. Catharines. Earlier this year Stasiuk won the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship.

For the Women’s Net Stableford Competition, Trojan, a public player with the Golf Canada, earned 35 total stableford points and leads Stasiuk (26) by nine points. Trojan also won the Women’s Net Stableford Competition in 2021.

In the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Competition, Barkley, currently ranked no. 6 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GWD), fired an opening-round 4-under 67 to take a two-shot lead into Wednesday’s final round. A member of Cedar Glen Golf Course, Barkley also won the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship in July.

Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. sits alone in second at 2-under 69 while Jesse Florkowski of Medicine Hat, Alta. (2-over 73), local product Kevin Delaney of Windsor (5-over 76) and Michael Pisaric (6-over 77) round out the top-five.

In the Men’s Net Stableford competition, Randall Mackus, a member of Prince George Golf and Country Club, earned 42 total stableford points Tuesday and leads Delaney by two points. Vic McLelland of High River, Alta. is third with 39 points with Pisaric is fourth with 37 points. Barkley and Willis round out the top-five with 36 points each.

The national golf championship is being contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition and features players from Canada and the United States with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes.

Click here for opening-round results from the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship.

WINDSOR, Ont. – The Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, heads to Essex Golf and Country Club this week to celebrate the second playing of the now-annual championship.
 
With international competitors permitted to take part this year following restrictions in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the field will expand to feature 39 golfers from Canada and the United States.
 
The national golf championship will be contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition and will feature players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.
 
“We are extremely proud to host the Canadian All Abilities Championship, a signature event on Golf Canada’s calendar that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Golf Canada Director of Rules and Championships, Mary Beth McKenna. “Essex Golf and Country Club will prove to be an excellent test for our talented competitors, and we look forward to an exciting competition ahead.”
 
There are four different divisions in the Canadian All Abilities Championship that players will compete in, regardless of disability classification: Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford. 
 
Williamsburg, Ont., product Kurtis Barkley will return to defend his title in the Men’s Gross Stroke Play division. The 34-year-old is currently ranked no. 6 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GD) and carded the lowest score in last years tournament at 3-under 67.  Barkley, who is a member at Cedar Glen Golf Course, also claimed victory at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship back in July.
 
2021 Women’s Gross Stroke Play champion Natasha Stasiuk will also make her way to Essex Golf and Country Club to compete for a chance at back-to-back victories. Like Barkley, the Oakville, Ont. resident came out on top of her division at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship.
 
2021 Canadian All Abilities Women’s Net Stableford champion Tess Trojan will also return to the field to compete in the second playing of the championship in Windsor.
 
Essex Golf and Country Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross and played host to the Canadian Open in 1976 won by Jerry Pate. In 1998 the club also hosted the world’s finest female golfers by staging one of the four “Majors” on the LPGA tour, the du Maurier Classic, won by Brandie Burton. This year, the club celebrates its 120th year of operation.
 
As part of Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment, the national sport federation in concert with the PGA of Canada has also launched the EDGA 359 Pilot Project, partnering with EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association) on coach training designed to demystify adaptive golf and give coaches the confidence needed to launch and develop programs for golfers with disabilities across Canada. More information about the EDGA 359 Pilot Project is available here.
 
More information about the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship can be found here.

RED DEER, Alta.  – As the saying goes, there’s power in momentum. It’s a saying that Rusty Strawn knows all too well after securing back-to-back victories this September at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in Marion, Mass., and the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO in Red Deer, Alta. Nine days separated the two wins. Needless to say, the McDonough, Ga. resident is going to need a bigger trophy case.

Heading into the final round at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, the 59-year-old shared the lead with fellow American, Mike Lohner of Southlake, Tex. The pair went back and forth throughout the day, both beginning their round at 5-under-par. It wasn’t until the back nine when Strawn hit a groove, birdieing three of his last eight holes to pull away from the pack to secure the 60^th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title.

“I was very fortunate last week to win the United States Senior Amateur,” said Strawn. “And of course, by doing it I got the exemption to the United States Mid-Amateur, and I told the people at the USGA, I said, there is no way I’m going to miss the Canadian Men’s Senior. I absolutely love it here.”

To celebrate, Strawn popped a bottle of champagne and toasted the volunteers, Red Deer Golf and Country Club staff, and fellow competitors “To my new Canadian friends!”. He also commented, “having my picture taken with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the coolest picture I’ve ever taken.”

Strawn was also highly complimentary of the host club.

“It’s just been a wonderful week here in Red Deer,” said Strawn. “When I arrived here for my practice round on Sunday – probably the strength of my game is my putting – and when I rolled those first few putts on the practice green, I was like, I have nobody but myself to blame because they were absolutely awesome.”

Low Canadian Ken Griffith, who is a member at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, placed third on the leaderboard, carding a total score of 288, his best finish ever at the national championship.  Fellow members, Grant Lee and Peter Innes also competed in the tournament and finished T7 and T15, respectively.

Frank Van Dornick ran away with the Super Senior division securing the title and the Governor’s Cup by 10 strokes.

Earlier in the week, host club Team Alberta won the 36-hole inter-provincial team competition in an impressive 11-stroke victory over runner-up Team British Columbia. Ken Griffith (Red Deer Golf & Country Club), Senan Foley (Public Player – Alberta), and Kelly Risling (Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club) shot a collective one-under to give Team Alberta the back-to-back victory as they defended their 2019 title and claimed the Phil Farley Memorial Trophy.

Quick Links:

Leaderboard
Course statistics

Championship history

For more information on Golf Canada’s Amateur Championships, click here.