Prevailing winds continued to challenge competitors at Red Deer Golf and Country Club as the 60^th edition of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, wrapped up the second day of play in Red Deer, Alta.   

Host squad Team Alberta ran away with the lead to win 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 (the Inter-Provincial competition wasn’t contested the past two years due to complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic). Rounding out the top 3 was Team Ontario carding a consolidated score of +12.

In the individual competition, American Mike Lohner extended his stay at the top of the leaderboard, earning sole possession of first place after Rusty Strawn (McDonough, Ga.) fell one shot back after a seesaw round of four birdies and three bogeys at Red Deer Golf and Country Club. Lohner, a resident of Southlake, Tex. carded five birdies to remain steady and set himself up well after the halfway point of the tournament.

Strawn and Red Deer Golf and Country Club member Ken Griffith share second place, coming in at 4-under after Wednesday’s round.

In the 65-and-over Super Senior Championship division, which runs concurrently throughout the tournament, Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta. shot a 70 today to extend his lead after 36 holes of play. Aurora, Ont. native Michael Mealia moved up four spots to claim solo second, with a two-way tie for third including local golfers Jim Russell (Calgary, Alta.), and David Schultz (Calgary, Alta.).

Following the conclusion of round two today, the field was reduced to the low 70 players and ties with 72 competitors advancing to bid for the 60^th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title and a coveted spot on the John Rankin Memorial Trophy. The individual champion will also receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 LEADERS

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION ROUND 2 LEADERS

Round three is set to commence tomorrow at 8:10am MT.

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

Canadian Brooke Henderson joins American star Lexi Thompson and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko as the franchise-first female pros in the PGA TOUR 2K23 video game.

Other pros available in the game include cover athlete Tiger Woods, Will Zalatoris, Jon Rahm, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas, who graced the 2K21 cover.

Henderson, a 24-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., has won US$10.4 million in career earnings and currently ranks fifth in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Ko is No. 4 and Thompson No. 7.

Also featured in the game is St. George’s Golf and Country Club, host of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.

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The video game is developed by HB Studios in Lunenburg N.S., for 2K Sports.

The deluxe version of the game is scheduled for release on Oct. 11 with the standard edition to follow Oct. 14.

Through the efforts of over 10,000 women, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru raised over $327k for breast cancer research in 2022 at 112 events held across the country.

With another 10 Golf Fore the Cure events to come in the remainder of the golf season, we are looking forward to seeing this number build even higher.

Since the program’s inception in 2003, upwards of 130,000 women have raised over $7 million to date with all proceeds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Québec Breast Cancer Foundation.

Over 100 women celebrated this year’s success at the 16th annual Golf Fore the Cure National Event at Lionhead Golf and Conference Center in Brampton, Ont.

The National Event included 18 holes of golf featuring raffles, prizing, and games, followed by an awards dinner to thank the 13,000 Golf Fore the Cure participants across Canada this year.

The 18th annual Golf Fore the Cure event is underway!??@GolfLionhead @SubaruCanada pic.twitter.com/YmM3KSeQFB

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) September 6, 2022

TOP 20 FUNDRAISING SITES IN 2022

We would also like to thank our Provincial Golf Associations for their continued support in encouraging clubs to participate in Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru. Below is a breakdown of all the funds raised by province:

Totals Raised Per Province

Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru was created in 2003 by Golf Canada to drive women’s participation in the game of golf through the use of fun, non-intimidating activities. Through a unique partnership structure with the Canadian Cancer Society (and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation), the program has women across the country participating in golf activities and raising money and awareness for a cause close to Canadian hearts—the fight against breast cancer.

Canada holds over 37,000 charity events at golf courses across the country which raise approximately $533 million annually for charity.

Subaru Canada has been a proud partner of Golf Fore the Cure since 2007.

To learn how to get involved with Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, visit golfcanada.ca/golfforethecure.

Red Deer, Alta. – Red Deer Golf & Country Club proved to be a solid test for the top senior competitors from Canada and the United States with only six golfers out of a field of 156 finishing under par after Tuesday’s opening round at the 2022 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO.

Rusty Strawn of McDonough, Ga., carded a 3-under 69 that included two birdies and an eagle to share possession of the lead with fellow American Mike Lohner.

Strawn is fresh off a victory last week at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at The Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass. This week, the Peach State resident will look to add another accolade to his impressive 2022 season collecting titles at the Trans-Mississippi Senior Championship and the Florida Senior Azalea Amateur Championship earlier this year.

Mike Lohner of Southlake, Tex. countered three bogeys with six birdies to fight for his share of the lead this afternoon. Lohner, who calls Vaquero Club home, finished second in the Carlton Woods Invitational earlier this year and is in the hunt for his first victory north of the border.

Hometown competitors Grant Lee and Ken Griffith share a four-way tie for third place along with Dave Terry of Langley, B.C., and Neil MacLeod of Burnaby, B.C.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship will run concurrently throughout the tournament, crowning a champion and awarding the Governor’s Cup after 72 holes of play. After round one, David Schultz of Calgary, Alta. and Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta. are tied for the lead at one-over.

The inter-provincial team competition, which returns for the first time since 2019, is also being contested over the championship’s first 36 holes.

Defending champions Team Alberta, consisting of Ken Griffith (Red Deer Golf & Country Club), Senan Foley (Public Player – Alberta), and Kelly Risling (Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club) posted a score of +4 to edge a one-stroke lead over Team Quebec.  The team title will come down to the wire Wednesday afternoon with Teams Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia also in hot pursuit at +7.

Defending champion Darren Ritchie currently sits T9 at just four strokes back.

Following the conclusion of round two tomorrow, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties as competitors vie for the 60^th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title and a coveted spot on the John Rankin Memorial Trophy. The individual champion will also receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 LEADERS

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION ROUND 1 LEADERS

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

Canada’s Taylor Pendrith has been named to the international team at the upcoming Presidents Cup.

Corey Conners, from Listowel, Ont., was an automatic selection after finishing the PGA Tour season fourth on the international team standings.

It’s the first time that more than one Canadian will compete in the best-on-best tournament that sees a team from the United States play an international squad.

Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., was a captain’s selection, officially chosen by South Africa’s Trevor Immelman on Tuesday. It’s an impressive turnaround after Pendrith missed four months of the PGA Tour due to a broken rib.

Since Pendrith returned to play at the Barbasol Championship on July 10 he has been in the top 13 at five of six events, including tying for second at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on July 31.

“Taylor really, in the last couple months, burst on to the scene, quite honestly,” said Immelman. “He sort of disappeared off of our radar a little bit because we weren’t quite sure how he was going to come back.

“But turns out, when he came back, he played some unbelievable golf.”

Quail Hollow Club outside of Charlotte, N.C., will host the Presidents Cup starting Sept. 20. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, will be one of Immelman’s assistant captains.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., were also considered for the event.

Immelman said that Hadwin and Hughes made his short list but that Pendrith’s impressive distance off the tee – his average of 316.1 yards per drive is 10th best on the PGA Tour – was an undeniable asset for his team.

“Hadwin has played a couple Presidents Cups, so he had that as a little bit of an edge in our decision-making process,” said Immelman. “Mac Hughes also a great putter, lives in Charlotte, so those were his advantages.

But at the end of the day, we had to try and find a way to blend different things together, whether it be through team chemistry, whether it be through matchups with the golf course and how we believe the golf course is going to be set up.“

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Quail Hollow Club outside of Charlotte, N.C., will host the Presidents Cup starting Sept. 20.

RED DEER, Alta. – The 60^th installment of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, tees off this week with 156 amateur golfers taking the stage in Red Deer, Alta. 

Conducted since 1962, the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship has grown to become one of the most popular amateur golf events in Canada. In 1995, the 65-and-over Super Senior division was introduced, which runs concurrently with the existing 55-and-over age group.

One of nine national championships conducted by Golf Canada for the 2022 season, the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will consist of 72 holes of stroke-play with a cut after 36 holes. The Super Senior Championship is contested concurrently over the four rounds of the championship, and the Senior Inter-provincial Team Championship, established in 1977, also runs concurrently with the first 36 holes of the tournament.

Practice rounds are scheduled for Monday, September 5^th, before the tournament officially kicks off on Tuesday, September 6^th.  

The tournament will be conducted at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. who is celebrating their centennial season this year. Five of the club’s members have qualified to play in the Championship including Ken Griffith, Grant Lee and Peter Innes, Tom Skinner and Joe Gascon.

Over 100 volunteers from both the Red Deer Golf & Country Club and the community will be on hand to host the National and International competitors and their families. 

“Golf Canada is proud to host the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship and bring together a field of top senior competitors to play in this prestigious championship,” said Adam Cinel, Senior Manager, Rules and Amateur Championships. “Red Deer Golf and Country Club is in excellent shape, and we congratulate the staff and volunteers on their significant 100-year milestone.”

Defending champion Darren Ritchie will return once again to defend his title and vie to see his name on the John Rankin Memorial Trophy for the second consecutive year. In 2021, the St. John, N.B. native from Hampton Golf Club held the lead for the majority of the tournament and finished 2-over par 72 to claim his first Canadian Men’s Senior title.

Additional notables in the field include Robert Funk (Canyon Lake, CA.), John Crowther (London, Ont.), Jim Lehman (Minnetonka, MN.), and Rusty Strawn (McDonough, GA.) who recently claimed the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship title at The Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass. this past week.

The champion will receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.  

More information about the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.

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.

Bernice Taylor, Aberdeen Glen Golf Club, Hole #14

I was playing with Steve and Lucy Martin. It was on hole #14 and was 122 yards. I used my 8 iron. It happened on August 22, 2022.

Thank you again,

Bernie Taylor

Bruce Bodden, South Muskoka Curling & Golf Club, Hole #17

Thank you for your kind message regarding my hole-in-one at South Muskoka.

From the greens, hole #17 plays about 124 yards. I hit a 7 iron which landed on the green, bounced once towards the pin and then disappeared (in the cup)! I was playing with fellow members, Dave Robinson, Dave Gray and Kim Allsop.

Nice celebration followed on the clubhouse patio.

Bryan Head, Cataraqui Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

Thank you for the email and the graphic! 

The hole was #2 and it was from 205 yards. It just happened to be on our Men’s night as well so an added bonus of winning the skin and closest to the pin. It was witnessed by my normal group, consisting of Scott Stevenson and Chris Richard. Our other buddy, Adam Stewart, was unfortunately on vacation, so he missed out on a few pops afterwards. 

Thank you again,

Bryan Head

Carl Bedford, Rustico Resort Golf & Tennis Club, Hole #5

Thank you! Was playing with Marie Janice Boudreau. I used an 8 iron. Hole measured 139 yards.

Chris Wheaton, Memramcook, Hole #8

Thanks. It was a really special moment because my two young sons (Liam and Xavier) were playing with me! It was an 8 iron into a 140-yard back pin with a decent headwind. It landed about 6-8 feet in front of the pin, bounced a couple times and rolled right in. My boys started screaming and sprinted to the green.

Chris Wheaton

Daniel Lam, Weston Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

Hey Golf Canada,

I was playing with my buddy, James Mcgrade. The back tees were playing 158 yards into the wind. I thinned my 8 iron and next thing you know it rolls out 4 feet into the hole. 

Cheers,

Daniel 

Denis Ladouceur, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #15

My playing partners were Pierre Lamontagne, Jean Boisvert and Mike Kelly; all Clublink members.

We were on the 15th hole at the Greyhawk Predator course, 197 yards on a perfect sunny day. I opted to use my Taylormade M2 5 iron and my preferred Taylormade TP5X ball.

An awesome experience. I certainly hope to make more.

Thanks.

Elaine McCall, Innerkip Highlands, Hole #2

Yesterday, after 25 years of golfing, I achieved my first hole-in-one. Before leaving my home, I thought to myself I wish it was raining, I feel like I have golfed too much lately and don’t really feel like golfing today. On the second hole, par 3 at Innerkip Highlands, measuring 126 yards from the tee, I pulled out my driver. I knew that in all likelihood it was too much club but for me that particular hole always seems to play long. I took my tee shot and the ball landed on the green five or six feet to the left of the pin. It then started to roll very slowly to the right and disappeared at the pin. One lady in my group said, “did that go in?”. I thought that it might have gone in but, I also thought that it was possibly tucked behind the pin and hidden from my line of vision by the ball lifter that was installed at the start of the pandemic. When we got to the green and there was no sign of the ball, the cameras came out and a video was filmed as I lifted the ball from the cup. At the end of the round, we all celebrated, and the club gifted us a bottle of champagne, and gifted me a commemorative certificate and a future round of golf. All-in-all a very satisfying day and I am so glad that I didn’t listen to my inner voice, and I went golfing.

Elaine McCall

Eric White, The Links at Penn Hills, Hole #8

Hole-in-one on #8 at Penn Hills.

My playing partners were Ryan Julian and Kelly Powell. I used a 7 iron which measured 144 yards.

Eric White

George Crocker, Terra Nova Golf Resort & Golf Community, Hole #12

After thirty years of golfing, I finally got a hole-in-one.

I was playing with my wife, Angela, and used a 6 iron for a 155-yard shot. With strong winds and heavy rainfall, the group of four in front of us, decided to let us play through and wouldn’t you know it, they witnessed the shot. Unfortunately, I didn’t get their names, but we did have a discussion on what happened to my ball.  It looked like it disappeared and someone in the group said it’s in the hole.

With all the rain coming down, it was hard to tell, so I proceeded on over to the green and walked to the hole and there it was, in the hole.

I looked back at the group, raised my arms and gave a yell to them. We also caught up with the next group and Angela told them that I had just made a hole-in-one.

Thanks for contacting me.

Greg Jackson, Rivershore Golf Links, Hole #7

Thanks for the email. I was playing with Kevin Brett and Gerry Illner on the second day of the Club Championship. The funny thing is I had a hole-in-one on the same hole a year earlier on the second day of our Club Championship. The yardage was 179 and I hit a ping 22-degree hybrid.

Thanks,

Greg Jackson

Harvey Brinkman, Royalwood Golf and RV Resort, Hole #8

I had a hole-in-one at Royalwood Golf and RV Resort on August 9, 2022. Hole #8 it was playing 130 yards from the white tees. I am a member at Royalwood Golf and RV Resort.

Janet Johnson, Glen Lea Golf Course, Hole #2

Was golfing with my friend, Ann Hlynsky, at Glen Lea Golf Course in Brandon, Manitoba on July 03, 2022. I had a terrible first hole (scored a 7)! When I got to the second hole, the course Marshall (Brent Mills) was there filling the box up with score cards. We talked a bit, then he stayed and watched us tee off. Ann went first, hit a nice ball which landed in the green. My turn now. Swing and finish felt perfect, and we watched it land near the hole, and roll right into the cup! At first, I was a little stunned, then realized what happened! Threw my club up in the air, hugged Ann and then the Marshall (whom I’d just met!) 

When we finished the front nine, the staff was waiting for me, and presented me with a ‘hole in one’ congratulations banner, and took a photo of me holding it, as well as my pitching wedge and Titleist golf ball, that I had used. 

As I found out later, I had two witnesses, but the whole golf course heard me. ?

To have witnessed a hole-in-one on TV, or have a friend tell you they had one is one thing, but when you get your own first one, there’s no feeling like it! Plus, I had just turned 75, five weeks earlier! ?

Jason Higson, Summerland Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

What a fun time in Summerland, B.C.! I was playing with my dad, Gary Higson, his friend, Tom Moran and one of Tom’s friends from Penticton. The yardage was 135 yards. I used a gap wedge and hit it 10 feet pass the pin and it slowly backed up to the flag and then disappeared! After some celebrating on the tee box, we snapped a picture with the three of us from Dawson Creek, B.C.! 

Jeff Morris, Clovelly Golf Course, Hole #15

I did get a hole-in-one on Saturday, and it was my first! I was playing with Jacob Losinski (another member at Clovelly), and it was on hole #15 at The Osprey. It was a front pin, 120 yards, playing about 130 with wind in the face. I hit a flighted pitching wedge that landed about a foot past the hole and rolled back in!

Jeff

Jeff Narraway, Mountain Creek Golf Club, Hole #14

Thank you for the congratulations.

– Whether: Sunny, high around 30 degrees Celsius.

– Location: Mountain Creek Golf Course is located just outside of Arnprior, Ontario. Hole #14 is a 135-yard par 3 from the whites and runs east to west with a small pond to the front right of the green. That day it was playing 129 yards from the whites.

– Club: I used my Mazuma pitching wedge.

– Ball: Orange Titleist Velocity

– Background: Playing a threesome (Wendy MacNaughton, Dan Turcotte and I), teed off at 08:00. We were shooting into the sun, and it was difficult to watch/see the ball. But we could hear the plop when the ball landed. Dan shot first, then me and Wendy. When we arrived at the green, Dan’s ball was sitting on the front of the green. But I could not see my ball on the green. We looked all over and off the green in case I overshot. Then we saw the ball mark about 30” in front of the hole and when I looked in the hole and to my surprise there it was, and I had my first hole-in-one.

Take care and stay safe.

Jeff

Jim Cronin, Crimson Ridge, Hole #7

I scored my ace on #7 at Crimson Ridge golf course in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on August 22, 2022. Playing partners were Gino Cavallo and Val and Jean Suriano. The pin was at the back which made it a 180 yard shot. I used my two hybrid club and initially thought I had overshot the green. One of my playing partners helped me look in the rough behind the green. I was preparing to take my penalty shot when another member of our foursome yelled “There’s a ball in the hole!” Sure enough my Titlest with a distinctive red stripe was nestled in the bottom of the hole.This is my second hole-in-one, the first one being scored nine years ago on a Michigan course. Kudos to PGA of Canada instructor Travis Spiess at Crimson who has helped improve my swing.  

Jim Cronin

Jon Andrews, St. Andrews By-The-Lake, Hole #5

Given my surname, it is rather ironic that my first hole-in-one occurred at St. “Andrews” by the lake.  

It occurred on August 9, 2022, during a family reunion trip in Summerland (I live in Ladner and normally play at Surrey Golf). I was golfing with my wife, Karen, and my cousin, Ray, who was visiting from England. I had last played the course about 25 years ago when I had just taken up golfing. 

There is a walk up to the tee box. As the card said 191 yards, I went up with 5 hybrid. However, once at the tee box, my GPS read 204. There was a wait before I could tee off and someone in the following group arrived and confirmed the distance as 204 yards.

Given the GPS reading, it was a good thing I was too lazy to go back and get my 4 hybrid as the 5 hybrid did the trick. I saw it land before the green and bend on the green towards the hole, but I thought the ball had rolled past the hole. My wife thought it might have gone in the hole.  

When I didn’t see the ball on the green, I didn’t dare look in the hole until I checked behind the green. As the ball wasn’t there, I peeked into the hole and was ecstatic to see the ball and that I finally had my first hole in one at age 58.

As it happens, on the previous hole I was 2” from getting an eagle on a par 4 for the first time. That’ll have to wait for another day. 

Judi Richard, Eaglequest Grandview Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

Thank you for your kind letter, I was thrilled to receive it!

I played from the red tees. Yardage was 140 yards, and I used my 4 hybrid. It’s an elevated tee with the flag was at the front of the green. I watched it go straight for the flag. I couldn’t see the hole, so we had to wait until we reached the green. When I didn’t see my ball anywhere, I presumed it was in the hole and it was. Lots of screaming started happening when we all took a look at it sitting pretty in the hole! It was Ladies Day, so we had ladies coming up #6 and ladies in front on #8, lots of excitement. It was my first hole-in-one at Grandview and a day I’ll not likely forget. 

The names of the ladies I was playing with when I got my hole-in-one are Sheila MacDougall, Sandra Attersley and Pam Ellis.

Thank you once again, I’m grateful for Golf Canada’s interest.

Judi Richard

Kristy Fearn, Sandpiper Golf Club, Hole #12

It was a very fun day. I was playing with Jenifer Jones. Yardage on hole 12 that day was about 89 yards. I used my approach wedge, hit the fringe, took one hop, and rolled in the hole. Nicest hole for it as the view is spectacular. 

Louise Lee, Campbell River Golf & Country Club, Hole #18

I made my hole-in-one on hole #18. It was a back pin that day so it lasered at about 120 yards. Wind was against us, so I clubbed up to a 7 wood. Landed in front and rolled about 30 feet to the pin.

I knew to club up as I had participated with my Mayfair Lakes GC (Richmond, B.C.) members two days earlier in the Howie Meeker golf tournament (in support of Special Olympics for the Campbell River chapter) held at the Campbell River GC and my 9 wood fell short and the ball ended in the lake fronting the green. Lesson learned!

The assistant pro, Tony Rommel, at Mayfair grew up in the Campbell River/Comox area and he brings a contingent of members to support the Howie Meeker tournament every year. We only missed 2020 tournament due to COVID-19. It is always great fun!

Regards,

Louise

Mark Hougen, Silver Springs Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

My first hole-in-one was Friday August 26 at Silver Springs Golf Club is sunny Calgary. I was playing with my amazing wife, Traci Meades, (who had her first hole-in-one earlier this season as well) and our friends Randy and Corrine Chappell.

Hole #17. par 3. 142 yards. Used a pitching wedge.

Randy and I jokingly talked about not having seen a hole-in-one as we walked up to the 17^th tee box. I went first. While my well struck ball, with a baby draw, is in the air, I jokingly say “get in the hole so Randy can see a hole-in-one.” 

As the ball approaches the green, I lose sight of it in the shadows. Randy says he heard my ball hit the flagstick. But none of us know where my ball ended up.

As we walked up to the green, we discover that my ball went directly into the cup…never hit the putting surface.

I don’t normally take my cell phone on the golf course, but I did that day as I was expecting a call from a client. Glad I did…so I have great photos (and memories) from that day!

Thanks Golf Canada!

Matthew Watson, Brightwood Golf & Country Club, Hole #15

I was golfing with my mom and dad (Stehpanie and John Watson). I hit an 8 iron 144 yards. We watched it hit the front of the green and roll in. It was my first ever hole-in-one. Thank you for the image.

Nathan Keller, Greenbryre Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

Thank you so much for reaching out! As if getting my first hole-in-one wasn’t already exciting enough.

I’ve been playing golf a long time, but it wasn’t until the last three years that I started putting more effort into improving my game. I’ve always been a long hitter, coming from a baseball and hockey background, so my short game is where I have been spending the most practise. With more time spent golfing, my wife and son started joining me and golfing more as well. Sunday was the first time we took on the challenge of taking my daughter (2 years old) along with my son, (5 years old) out for a round. Amongst the chaos of two restless kids, I somehow managed to pull off the best shot of my life so far.

The hole was a 126-yard par 3, slightly uphill and playing a bit downwind. 126 yards is between a gap wedge and a pitching wedge for me, but I opted to go for a choked up three-quarter swing pitching wedge. The ball was struck perfectly, and it was precisely on the line I had picked. I knew it was a good shot instantly. Upon landing, I immediately froze trying to focus my eyes on just how close it really was, and that’s when the ball disappeared. My wife and I quickly turn to each other, and both simultaneously say, “I think it went in!”

I took a video of the walk with my son up to the green to verify that it had indeed dropped in the hole. Below is the hole in one picture, and a day on the course with my family I’ll never forget.

Roberto Erana, Fort Langley Golf Course, Hole #15

It was on hole #15. 158 yards. I used a Callaway Razr 4 rescue club.

We are part of a golf club called Parbreakers Vancouver.

The other 3 golfers in my flight were Binky Cruz, Vic Legazpi and Chole Cebrero.

Thanks.

Trish Santo, Legends in Warman, Hole #7

I was very amazed to learn that you knew about my hole-in-one on Tuesday, August 16 at the Legends in Warman. Thank you for your recognition of my special day.

To answer your questions: Tuesday is Ladies’ Day for our Tuesday Morning Ladies Golf League at the Legends. This year, we have 37 members from all walks of life and a very sociable group. I was playing with Maureen, Sylvia and Cindy. The par 3, hole #7 from the forward red blocks is 92 yards. In the past, I have tried using a 9 iron and was never satisfied with the results. So, recently I have started using my 6 iron (I don’t have a 7 or 8 iron in my bag) with better results. On the 16^th, I teed up and had also changed my ball from a Callaway to a Pinnacle Lady with my lucky number 4 on it. My shot was the sweetest, lovely in the air, straight at the flag and dropped almost immediately into the hole. Our cheers echoed across to the group behind us. Since our fun day game was closest to the pin on the par 3’s. I had my name on the proximity marker for the prize.
 

The next sweetest thing is my name and date goes on a small, engraved plate mounted on the hole #7 board in the upper hall of the clubhouse. Four boards are there for each of the par 3 holes and above, the title Legends Hole in One Club. My name plate is the first one on the hole #14 board for my hole-in-one on September 28, 2011, during the first game I played at the newly opened Legends course. I didn’t see that one go into the hole because I was picking up my tee and looked up to see my playing partners cheering wildly. This wall display is a special to all the people whose names are on it and an excellent tribute by the Legends course management.

Thank you for the extra special celebration you have added to my achievement.

HEADINGLEY, Man. – The summer of Shelly Stouffer rolled on at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship, presented by BDO, at Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley, Man.

After winning the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in early August, the Nanoose, B.C., native added a Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title and a second consecutive Canadian Women’s Senior Championship to her trophy case. The hardware didn’t end there, though. Stouffer was crowned champion of the Mid-Master division, to boot.

“That’s the first time I won the Mid-Am, so [I’m] pretty excited about that,” said Stouffer. “Last year I won just the Mid-Master and the Senior, so, yeah, it was exciting.”

Stouffer says this win is “right up there” with the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and so is the Ada Mackenzie Trophy.

“This gives Big Bertha a run,” Stouffer laughed as she hoisted one of three trophies she was awarded on Thursday, bringing her week total to five after winning both the Katherine Holleur and Crockett trophies as part of Team British Columbia in the Interprovincial Team competitions.

Opposite to the 52-year-old’s triumph in Anchorage, AK., the odds were against Stouffer coming down the stretch in Thursday’s final round. Terrill Samuel and Christina Spence Proteau lead by one over the former professional golfer with just five holes to play, but in came the wind that blew Stouffer into the lead.

With a one-stroke advantage on No. 18, Stouffer guided an iron onto the green and two-putted for par to secure the one stroke victory over Samuel.

“I’m just kind of going with the flow here,” admitted Stouffer. “I was hitting the ball well down in, well, everywhere, but the last place I was at was Dayton at the U.S. Open, so I just kind of kept that going and my ball striking was actually really, really good this week. I can’t even express how awesome it is.”

Stouffer becomes only the second Canadian in history to win both the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in the same year, joining World Golf Hall of Famer, Marlene Streit, who accomplished the feat in 1995.

“It’s amazing; it’s so great,” said Stouffer on being in the same company as Streit. “She sent me messages when I was over in Anchorage, being encouraging and everything like that and, you know, it’s phenomenal – it’s awesome.”

With the win, Stouffer earns an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax, N.S. The B.C. native’s win in the Senior division earns her direct entry into the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, where she will look to defend her title.

Samuel, the 2022 British Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, carded a final round 73 to win the Super Senior division. The Etobocoke, Ont., native also finished as the runner-up in the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Senior divisions.

In the Mid-Amateur section, six-time champion, Christina Spence Proteau, earned the bronze medal, finishing just two strokes back of Stouffer. Helene Chartrand of Sallabery-de-Valleyfield, Que.; 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Judith Kyrinis; and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, Mary-Ann Hayward all posted T4 results at 8-over-par for the tournament.

On Thursday, Golf Canada announced the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship would act as a stand-alone event in 2023 and beyond. The national championship will be held at Mad River Golf Club in Creemore, Ont., July 24-27.

The 2023 Canadian Senior Women’s Championship is moving to the Maritimes. It will take place at Mill River Golf Course in O’Leary, P.E.I.

For full results of the 2022 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship click here.

(AUGUST 31, 2022) – Golf Canada announced today format changes to the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Effective 2023, the national championship, currently held in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, will act independently as a stand-alone event.

“The decision to proceed with format changes to our Women’s Mid-Amateur aligns with the growth of golf in Canada,” said Golf Canada’s Director of Amateur Championships and Rules, Mary Beth McKenna. “We feel that this championship deserves its own spotlight and we’re confident that the talent displayed in 2023 and beyond will reflect that.”

Since 2007, the Women’s Mid-Amateur has a provided women over the age of 25 a chance to compete on a national stage. From its inaugural year to 2014, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship ran in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. In 2015, the tournament shifted gears and joined forces with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, but Breezy Bend Country Club will serve as the final joint venture for the two events.

In 2023, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will take place at Mad River Golf Club in Creemore, Ont., July 24-27. The field size will cap at 90 players and an Interprovincial team competition will also be incorporated into the reformatted event. As in years past, the Mid-Master division – a division for players 40 years or older – will remain a part of the national championship.

The winner of the 2023 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. Past winners of the event include 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Judith Kyrinis; six-time champion Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion, Christina Spence Proteau; and 2022 British Women’s Senior Amateur Champion, Terrill Samuel.

(September 1, 2022) – Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are committed to providing opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the physical, psychological, and social benefits golf can offer.

As part of this commitment, the national golf organizations have launched the EDGA 359 Pilot Project, presented by Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada, 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.

“Through this coach training, we are eager to increase support for golfers of all abilities and make our sport inclusive of more Canadians,”  said Laura Wilson, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Safe Sport for Golf Canada.

Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada have invited Mark Taylor, PGA Fellow Professional, Head of Development/Coach Education, and Instruction for EDGA to educate coaches in Canada who will be involved in the future recruitment and support of golfers with disabilities. PGA of Canada Technical Director Glenn Cundari will co-facilitate the sessions. 

The EDGA curriculum is a three-step curriculum that identifies a participation pathway for golfers with disabilities. The training will provide coaches with the knowledge and skills to support golfers at each stage of the pathway from Sample – Participant – Compete. The first two stages of training will be piloted to provide coaches (PGA of Canada professionals, Physical Therapists, trainers, etc.) in Canada with the training, confidence and resources needed to develop and expand programs for golfers with disabilities.

The PGA of Canada is committed to supporting a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive sporting and workplace experience in Canadian golf. The launch of this inclusive coaching context is one of our priorities to the 88 recommendations we have committed to as an organization from our EDI task force report – said PGA of Canada Chief Innovation Officer Matt Allen.

EDGA has been providing training and resources to sport federations for more that 20 years.  

Through the EDGA 359 project, two coach training clinics will be piloted this year—one in Nova Scotia at Glen Arbour Golf Course, just outside of Halifax and one in Ontario at Lionhead Golf and Conference Centre in Brampton. Once the pilot workshops are completed this fall, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada will look to roll out EDGA workshops nationally beginning in 2023.

EDGA 359 – Pilot Workshops:

Nova Scotia Clinic:

Glen Arbour Golf Course
September 9-10

Level 1   

Combined Level 1 & 2

Ontario Clinic:

Lionhead Golf Course
September 13-14

Level 1

Combined Level 1 & 2

The training will take place at a similar time as the 2^nd annual Canadian All Abilities Championship, which is being contested this year September 13-14 at Essex Golf & Country Club in Lasalle, Ont. The EDGA 359 Pilot Project is legacy component to the event with up to 50 new coaches trained to support golfers with disabilities.

The EDGA 359 pilot clinics will be supported respectively by the Nova Scotia Golf Association and Golf Ontario.