Toronto (June 11, 2022) – Cloudy skies threatened rain at the RBC Canadian Open today, but the sunshine prevailed as the world’s top golfers teed it up at St. George’s Golf & Country Club.
 
FINAU, MCILROY LEAD HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND AT RBC CANADIAN OPEN
 
Tony Finau and Rory McIlroy sit atop the leaderboard at 11-under par after 54 holes at St. George’s Golf & Country Club. Finau’s eight-under par 62 was the low-score of the day and lowest round at the National Open since McIlroy’s 61 in the final round of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open. The Salt Lake City, Utah native tallied three birdies and an eagle through a four-hole (nos. 8 to 11) stretch to catapult up the leaderboard.
 
McIlroy continued his bid to successfully defend his RBC Canadian Open title with a five-under par 65 to grab a share of the lead. The 33-year-old is looking to become the first player to win a PGA TOUR event (non-major) back-to-back at two different courses since Jim Furyk, who won in 2006 at Hamilton G&CC and then defended his title at Angus Glen Golf Course (North) in 2007.
 
Justin Thomas, Sam Burns, Wyndham Clark and Alex Smalley sit at nine-under par, two shots back of the leaders, at nine-under par, entering the final round. Thomas’ seven-under par 63 matched his lowest round on the PGA TOUR this season since the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open. Burns will be vying for his second win on TOUR in in just a two-week span after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge on May 29.

Nick Taylor and Corey Conners were on the move on moving day at the RBC Canadian Open. The Canadian duo fired rounds of three-under par 67 and four-under par 66, respectively, to climb into the top-20 heading into Sunday’s final round.
 
“I’m probably not going to do much leaderboard watching, just keep my head down,” said Taylor. “I’ll see tonight what the lead is and have an idea of probably where I want to get to. But it’s such a jam-packed leaderboard and there’s a stretch of holes where you can really get after it. So, if I’m kind of hanging around through 8 then I think I have a decent chance.”
 
For the full leaderboard click here.
 
FINAL ROUND SCHEDULE
Final round tee times will run from 10:30 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. with threesomes off the first and ninth tees. The expected finish time is 6:00 p.m., with the trophy presentation to follow. For the full list of pairing click here.
 
CANADIAN LEADERBOARD 
 

 
Click here for the full tournament leaderboard.
 
PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPTS
The following player transcripts from Friday’s press conferences at St. George’s Golf & Country Club are available online for the following:
 
Rory McIlroy
Wyndham Clark
Sam Burns
Tony Finau
Justin Thomas
Nick Taylor
Sebastian Munoz
Adam Svensson
Corey Conners
Bo Van Pelt
Mackenzie Hughes
Nick Hardy
 
RBC CANADIAN OPEN FAST FACTS

• Number of times a leader went on to win (1945-present) after 54 Holes – 51 times
• Last to defend the RBC Canadian Open title successfully –  Jhonattan Vegas, 2017
• Lowest Canadian score, 54 Holes – Adam Hadwin (65-66-67) Hamilton G&CC, Hamilton ON, 2019
• Last winner who won the RBC Canadian Open on his first try-  Rory McIlroy, 2019.
• Last player to win a PGA TOUR event (non-major) back-to-back at two different courses was Jim Furyk, who won in 2006 at Hamilton G&CC and then defended his title at Angus Glen Golf Course (North) in 2007.

 
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR THE GOLF CANADA FOUNDATION 50/50 RAFFLE IN SUPPORT OF FIRST TEE – CANADA
From Wednesday afternoon through Sunday week, Golf Canada Foundation will be selling 50/50 tickets on-site at the RBC Canadian Open & CP Women’s Open tournaments. The draw will take place Sunday evening, with the winning number announced here on the Foundation website and across social media channels. Proceeds from the raffle in support of the First Tee – Canada, the official beneficiary of the RBC Canadian Open, will benefit junior golf initiatives and help to grow the game in Ontario and across the nation. Click here for more information.
 
2022 MEDIA GUIDE AND PLAYER PERFORMANCE BOOK:
Media can also download the 2022 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide for complete stats, records and historical information. Media can also download the 2019 RBC Canadian Open Player Performance Book which details individual player statistics from 1904-2019. Tournament notes can be found on the PGA TOUR virtual media centre here.
 
BROADCAST COVERAGE:
The following are broadcast times for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open:
 
Sunday, June 12th             1:00pm – 3:00pm (GOLF) | 3:00pm – 6:00pm (CTV; TSN1; RDS; CBS)
 
MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE
Experience the RBC Canadian Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, mobile ordering, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.
 
THE OPEN QUALIFYING
The 2022 RBC Canadian Open is also part of The Open Championship Qualifying Series. The top-2 finishers at the RBC Canadian Open (not otherwise exempt) earn a spot in the field of The 150th Open Championship, July 10-17, 2022, at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.

LEWISTON — The finishing holes at Niagara Falls Country Club have traditionally stressed the cardiac function of amateur golfers in championship pursuit. That held true again Friday in a dramatic conclusion to the ninth Women’s Porter Cup.

On her fifth lap of the undulating, 165-yard 18th hole, Katie Cranston wondered what the monitor on her wrist was reading about the physical and mental strain incurred by a late-round rally and an extended sudden-death playoff.

Cranston steadied her nerves and outlasted Ontarian neighbor Brooke Rivers on the fourth playoff hole to claim Porter Cup crystal from her first amateur tournament victory.

“I’m so happy,” Cranston said after walking off the green to hugs from teammates on Canada’s National Junior Squad wearing matching pink polo shirts. “I’ve won junior events, but amateurs is something different. It’s a whole new level.”

Cranston, an 18-year-old from Oakville, Ontario who will play college golf for Auburn University, emerged from five strokes back with five holes remaining in medal play to match Rivers at 5-under par 211 through 54 holes and force a playoff.

“I honestly thought it was over,” said Cranston, who pulled within a stroke of Rivers after opening the back nine with a pair of birdies, only to give four back with a bogey on No. 11 and double-bogey on 12. “I just thought, secure your second place and be happy with that.”

Officials ceased speculating on who might win and started questioning whether Rivers, a 17-year-old from Brampton, Ontario who competes for Canada’s National Amateur Squad and has committed to Wake Forest, would break the tournament record (11-under) held by Brooke Henderson (2014) and Ana Paula Valdes (2018). Having entered the final round with a one stroke lead at 5-under par, Rivers went 10-under after making birdie on her opening three holes and five of the first 12 on Friday.

That was before Rivers’ approach shot on the 360-yard 14th hole ricocheted off a greenside hill and rolled a foot beyond the out-of-bounds stakes. Rivers, who carded just three bogeys through the first 49 holes and none yet in the final round, took a triple on the par-4, trimming her lead to two strokes.

Rivers maintained that advantage as she and Cranston both made double-bogey on the 16th hole and birdied the 17th. Shooting from the elevated tee box on the 18th, Cranston landed within 10 feet of the pin before sinking her birdie putt, while Rivers plopped in the sand trap beneath the green on her way to another bogey.

“We both had a couple hiccups,” Cranston said. “It was honestly just a big mess. But we kind of equaled each other out.”

The tension increased through repeated battles on No. 18. They went shot for shot three times through, following one another into bunkers off the tee and downhill putts skirting past the cup for par-bogey-bogey.

Both took an extra club for the fourth playoff tee shot into a stiffening wind. Cranston blasted out of the sand to the middle of the green and two-putt from 15 feet for bogey. Rivers putted once from the fairway in front of the green and three more times from closer range to give Cranston the victory.

“Reading the greens were quite difficult, and putting was definitely my weak point,” Rivers said. “The entire week, I played well, was swinging it well, was hitting it how I wanted to. My short game was where I needed it to be. Putting was what let me down.”

Cranston admitted her focus waned as fatigue accumulated on the playoff holes.

“By the end, I wasn’t as into the shot as I could’ve been,” she said.

Cranston’s cheerful demeanor, however, held up as the pressure mounted.

“I was happy either way,” Cranston said. “Obviously, I’d be a little bummed if I didn’t win. But I was happy with myself if I would’ve pretty much T-1. I was kind of loose, and if she made a good putt, she deserved to win.”

Rivers concluded Cranston “was solid, kept her game together, stuck to what she was supposed to do, and kept hitting good shots.”

No matter how fast her heartbeat.

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).

Allan Lu, Quilchena, Hole #13

Thank you for your email.

I waited over 30 years for the moment.

I was playing with Ted Tran, Ustani Tran, and Ally Ng.

The yardage was around 148-150 back pin location.

I was hitting my 9 iron with a little draw and landed around 4-5 yards short and roll in the hole.

Antoinette Krusto, Glendale, Hole #4

What a wonderful surprise. I just got a new set of irons and have been having some difficulty adjusting to them. Not anymore! I hit an 8 iron 99 yards to the pin on Glendale #4 hole. I was golfing with Mary-Ann Burgess, Jessica Mancini and Susan Vance  – my regular Sunday morning group. I was sure popular when I came in and everyone enjoyed their free drink. I look forward to seeing this on the Golf Canada page. 

Antoinette Krusto

Brad Hannah, Langara Golf Course, Hole #14

Thank you for your email, first one during competition. 

Earlier in the year, I had a hole-in-one on the same hole playing with some buddies. Who knew it would happen again?

On Sunday it was raining, hole was playing 158 yards, 7 iron, to a three-tiered green.

Playing with a member, Dan Gomes, and we did not see it go in, but we knew it was close as the middle part of the green is below first tier.

When we approached the green, we did not see my ball so I immediately got excited and sure enough it was in.

Brett Van Den Bossche, Revelstoke Golf Club, Hole #14

The ace happened on hole 14 at the Revelstoke Golf Course. It was playing 140, a hair downhill to a back right pin. I was down in a skins match 8-2 and we had 4 skins riding on the hole and I had to give my buddy a stroke on a short par 3 so in my mind I needed a birdie just to push. 

I hit a 52-degree wedge right at it and it never left the stick. It landed about 3 feet long, but with the firm greens I had given up on it going in and was just happy to have a good look at a two. But after a short hop forward it ripped back, and my buddy called it in just before it dropped in dead weight. 

Needless to say, the entire course heard us and I managed to take the remainder of the skins to eke out a 10-8 win. Broke my buddy’s heart, but if there’s a way to do it, I think that’s it!

This wasn’t my first ace. I got one in 2015 in California, but this one is extra special getting to share it with a couple friends. 

Thanks for reaching out and to anyone out there patiently waiting for theirs, I promise you the wait is well worth it. 

Cheers, 

Brett 

Cody Stewart, Fredericton Golf Club, Hole #4

When I recorded the hole-in-one I was playing with David Dewolfe, Nathan Greenbank and Jacob Ebbett. I hit a 9 iron from 174 yards. It was our normal grouping, and we always play a match. Jacob had just hit a really good shot to 12 feet before I hit and then I followed it up with the hole in one. It was the first for any of us, so we were very excited. Glad that those guys were there with me when it happened! Yes, you have my permission to share this information on your social platforms and golfcanada.ca. Thank you for the graphic. 

Colin Ben, Silver Springs, Hole #7

Playing with Gary Simpson, Ron Anderson, Scott Shepherd. Silver Springs G&CC Blue Tee. #7 193 Yards uphill into the wind, 3 hybrid (played a 215 yd shot).  

Debbie Clark, Beverly, Hole #7

Good day:

I got my hole in one on the 7th hole at the Beverly Golf Club on Friday June 3rd. I was playing with my husband, John Benedetti, and our friends, Barb Galway and her husband Paul McKeon. The pin was at 119 yards and I hit a 9 iron.

It rained and we were called off the course twice due to storms, we went back out the 2nd time and finished all 18 holes, taking 6 hours. True friends to play the whole round with me!

Thanks,

Debbie Clark

Don Dayian, Upper Unionville, Hole #8

Thank you for your email. I played the course with two good friends of mine in the afternoon. 

8th hole

126 yards

Pitching Wedge

Randy from Upper Unionville Golf Club was very courteous, offering me a UU hole in hat for the accomplishment, I was very impressed with the kind gesture…it’s the little things that should make us happy!

Eddie Chan, Coppinwood, Hole #11

I was playing with 3 other members – Lawrence Ho, Juan Lau and Huy Do. Yardage was 180 Yards – Hole 11. Club Used: 5 iron.

I’ve attached some pictures.  Feel free to share on your social media channels and GolfCanada.ca.

Thanks,

Eddie

Fred Dyck, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #16

Hole No. 16

175 yards uphill (front flag)

5 Iron

Playing with other Harvest member, Guy Frigon.

You may share.

Greg Hay, Country Hills Golf Course, Hole #6

It was the 6th hole on the Talons course. It was 125 yards and I used an 8 iron. I was playing with Ross Fujino, Jim Foster and Mike Taylor. No pictures.

This was my 3rd Hole-in-One.

Feel free to put on GolfCanada.ca.

Greg

Joe Chambers, McCleery Public, Hole #7

Hello,

Thanks for the email. Yes, you can share the hole in one on your website and social. I have attached a couple of photos.

It was the 7th hole at McCleery Golf Course. The yardage was 133 yards and I used a 7 iron. I was playing with my sister Colleen Chambers, friend Michael Tablit, and Jennifer Sydenham.

Thanks so much,

Joe Chambers

Jordan Pettetie, Sturgeon Valley, Hole #5

Thanks for the email! I was playing in a foursome with one of the others being a Golf Canada member: Chance Thomas. The yardage was 142 yards and pitching wedge was club of choice. I have also attached a photo!

Thanks again.

Lane Menage, Lloydminster, Hole #6

It was a beautiful morning in Lloydminister and I was playing with three of my best friends. Their names are Mark, Rylan and Stephane. I was having a particularly rough round so I just reached in my bag and grabbed whatever ball came out. It turned out to be a very dirty taylormade ball. My friends were laughing at me saying why are you using that ball! When we got to hole 6 it was playing 179 yards from the blue tee’s and I pulled a 7 iron out of the bag. It was the purest 7 iron I have ever hit. As soon as I hit it it felt so good! The ball flight never left the flag and my friends kept saying “oh this looks good! Ohhhh this could go in” we heard a loud bang as the ball struck the pin and disappeared. We didn’t see it land on the green and my friends got very excited! I wasn’t buying it as I thought I saw something go right after we heard the ball hit the pin. My friends kept telling me it was In. I grew more curious and more excited but I had to wait for Stephane to hit. After he hit we rush down to the green, I ran towards the hole and didn’t see any balls that’s could have been mine. I got more and more excited and when I got to the hole I saw my dirty Taylormade ball sitting in the hole! I screamed with excitement and threw my hat with extreme excitement and started running away from my friends. Haha. When I turned around they were chasing me down and we celebrated on the green for a few minutes and took a couple pictures. The old dirty Taylormade ball is now retired and I still can’t believe this is real life. What a day, something my friends and I will never forget!  

You can absolutely share my story and picture on your website and social Chanel’s, thank you for reaching out! 

Cheers,

Lane Menage 

Larry Plante, The Dunes at Kamloops, Hole #13

Thank you for the email.

It was hole 13 at the Dunes of Kamloops. It was hailing at the time with a little wind. The yardage was 143 and I hit a pitching wedge. 

Thank you,

Larry Plante

Mary Monk, Kelowna Springs, Hole #13

Happy to share my story. I was with two of my golf girls on the 13th hole at Kelowna Springs; Maureen Ziprick and Gloria Westgate.   

The distance that day was showing 122, which put me in between clubs. I opted for my 7 iron – glad I did. I could see the flag but not the hole. My friends said “it went in”! I didn’t take them seriously. When I got up to the green and didn’t see my ball I figured I over shot the green. Gloria walked over to the pin and said it’s in!

Needless to say my friends and I were thrilled as were some of the other golfers that were close by.  

Thank you for interest in my hole in one. It was a great afternoon.  

Matthew Hunter, Riveredge Golf Club, Hole #4

Was playing with a few buddies on men’s night. Yardage was around 137 yards. Little into the wind. Hit 8 iron. Nice high draw. Two bounces and the ball vanished. Because the pin was tucked just over a ridge we weren’t 100% certain if it was in or bounced long. Didn’t take long once we arrived on the green before we located the ball in the hole. I ran all the way back to the tee and jumped in the pond with the boys chasing/filming.  

Feel free to share as you please!

Maureen Haight, Sirocco Golf Club, Hole #7

Thank you for acknowledging my Hole In One at Sirocco Golf course, where I am a member. It was very exciting. 

I retired on May 1, 2022 and had my first ever hole-in-one on May 31, 2022;  which is a great way to start my retirement.

I was playing in our Ladies’ League with three great friends. It was a gorgeous evening.

We were on hole 7, down hill to the pin 93 yards. The pin was middle left. I used my wedge; the shot felt good and even better, when it rolled into the hole.

Please feel free to share my story and picture.

Mike Wraith, St. Mary’s, Hole #18

Thank you for the congratulations. I was playing with Rich Parsons and Jim Robson. The 18^th hole was playing about 122 yards from the white tee block and I used a 9 iron. It was my third ace on that hole.

Thanks again,

Mike Wraith

Sue Stankievech, Kamloops, Hole #4

I played with Garry Stankievech and Brent Bowden. Yardage 132. I used a 3 wood. The ball hit the front of the green and rolled in the hole, we all saw it.  So exciting. 

Tim Ricketts, Beaconsfield Golf Club, Hole #8

Hi. Tks,

No problem on sharing the info. 

So it was hole #8 at Beaconsfield Golf Club, about 160 yds into wind. I hit a 7 iron, one bounce and in landed in the hole on the second bounce. 

I was playing with fellow members Shep Abbey and Cameron Long.

Photo attached.

Tim

Tim Whitton, St. Mary’s, Hole #2

Thank you for you email. It was my first hole-in-one, hole #2, 179 was the yardage that day with the pin front on the two-tiered green. I hit 3 rescue and well it went in. I was playing with Mike Forestell and Laurie  Jackson.

I have attached the photo Mike took of me retrieving the ball.

Tim

Vic Juzenas, Batteaux Creek, Hole #8

I was playing with my wife Cheryl Juzenas. However Sunday was a slow day the group behind us was waiting on the same tee with us Andrew Lauren also witnessed it. 

I used a 9 iron pin was 127 yards from yellow tees.

This is my 5th hole-in-one, the second on the 8th hole at Batteaux. I also had a hole in one at Settlers’ Ghost 2 weeks previous. All of my hole-in-ones have been at Golf North managed courses. I had one in 1992 at Trafalgar.

Hopefully I have not had my luck run out.

Vic Juzenas 

Vishal Tulsi, Silvertip Golf Resort, Hole #3

Thanks for reaching out. I was playing with my brother-in-law the day before his wedding at Silvertip in Canmore.

The hole was number 3 playing 196 yds. I hit a solid 6 iron and it was tracking but we lost sight of the ball as the green is slightly uphill. When we got to the green I didn’t see my ball so I checked the cup and saw my ball in the hole!

It was an incredible experience and was capped off by an awesome wedding the next day.

Thanks!

Vishal Tulsi

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.

Ian McQueen’s extraordinary ability to  manicure a championship caliber golf course is on display, and the culmination of this achievement has not gone unnoticed.   

The St. George’s Golf and Country Club superintendent was hosting his first PGA TOUR event, and his member association was on hand to present him with a commemorative plaque. 

McQueen is an 18-year member of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) whose reputation for ensuring the fair and consistent management of golf courses precedes him, and this award puts a stamp on his accomplishments.

“It means a lot,” he said. “It’s been a goal of mine to be at St. George’s, and come back to Toronto where I grew up and host a national event like this.”

The year marked the 111th RBC Canadian Open, aged only behind The Open Championship and the U.S. Open among national championships, and by nature presents challenges with rooted expectations. 

Tasked with maintaining St. George’s member satisfaction, and meeting the Open’s  planning objectives, under the cloud of a pandemic, required strong leadership and the buy-in of his team. More remarkably, he ensured that St. George’s remains ranked among the top-five facilities in the country. 

“Delaying it for a couple years actually gave us a great run through spring to make sure we had everything in place (for the tournament),” he said. “It was a challenge, but something that we accepted, and I think we accomplished as a team.” 

Before arriving at St. George’s, McQueen honed his craft between public, semi-private and private golf clubs. 

His previous club, The Club at Bond Head, has a long-standing reputation that praises its stunning views, challenging holes, and well-maintained grounds. It is also known for being tournament ready by May. 

The key difference with managing St. George’s is the added support of private membership that helps him achieve the course conditions that fit his ideal vision.

“When you get to a private club like St. George’s, the support from the membership, board, and club allows you to achieve (the) goals and conditions that you want to produce on a day-to-day basis,” he said. 

The challenges involved with managing a golf course in Canada’s climate also presents an unpredictability that is near impossible to gauge, and one that McQueen has consistently managed to handle. 

“Managing turf conditions to the standard that we want takes into consideration all of the weather inputs; the uncontrollable that we can’t control makes it difficult,” he said. “I have a great staff of about 45 people, who you couldn’t do without — without them we would never get it to what it is today.”

TORONTO, Ont. – Mackenzie Hughes had a solid start at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, shooting a four-under par 66 after the opening round of action.

“It feels great. The excitement and the buzz seem to be here and I know after three years of not playing the tournament, everyone’s pretty excited about it, so we share that same feeling,” said Hughes. “I know the Canadian players I talked to are all really excited to be here. It’s a different week for us because we don’t get to feel, I don’t do press every week on PGA TOUR, so it’s kind of neat, I kind of relish the opportunity to do it and hopefully have a great week and get the fans behind me on Sunday.”

The Dundas, Ont., native, who was paired with fellow Canadians Adam Hadwin (-1) and Mike Weir (+2), is T5 alongside Rory McIlroy, Lee Hodges, Tony Finau, Patrick Rodgers and Jonas Blixt.

Leader Wyndham Clark boarded the birdie train in the early stages of his opening round at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open and rode it all the way to the top of the leaderboard.

The Denver, Colorado native experienced few speedbumps along the way, carding a seven-under par 63 to claim the outright lead after Thursday’s highly anticipated opening round at St George’s Golf & Country Club.

Clark, who started his day on the back nine, poured in five birdies on his opening nine holes and added a pair coming in, in a bogey-free first round effort – one he felt he deserved.

“I just had the putts fall,” said Clark. “That’s all I felt I’ve needed all year was just a little jump start like this where I see some putts and it’s okay, I’m doing the right things, and I’m finally getting rewarded for all the hard work.”

This is Clark’s third appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. He missed the cut in each of his previous two showings. The 28-year-old says he hopes the momentum from round one snowballs further into the week and beyond.

“I’ve been trending in the right direction, and today it all kind of came together,” said Clark. “I’m really hoping that we keep going this week with that and leading into next week at the U.S. Open and for the rest of the summer. My game feels good.”

Matthew Fitzpatrick also jumped out to a quick start at the National Open, registering a six-under par 64 for sole position of second place. Fitzpatrick was firing on all cylinders out of the gate, notching four birdies in as many holes to start his round and steadied the ship the rest of the way.

“Growing up, I’ve always been kind of more of a straighter player and solid putter,” said the Englishman. “To me round here, it’s just about giving myself plenty of chances to get shots off the fairway to give myself chances for birdie. Today I did that well.”

Doug Ghim and Harold Varner III rounded out the top-three with a pair of five-under par performances at St George’s.

“If you’re hitting it in the fairways and you’re attacking the greens, you can post a low one. But if you’re just a yard off, you’re scrambling for par very quickly,” said Ghim. “I put the ball in play for most of the day and hit a lot of greens. Felt pretty dialed on the greens too, so that always helps.”

“Obviously every week you go on the PGA TOUR, you want to play well, but playing well in front of the home fans and your friends and family, it’s hard to describe how good that feels. So when you’re out there and you’re making birdies and having a good round, it just feels that much better,” said Hughes.

Second round tee times are scheduled to begin at 6:40 a.m. For the full list of Friday’s pairings, click here.

See below for an all-Canadian leaderboard.

STEINBACH, Man. – The NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards lands in Central Canada at Quarry Oak Golf Course in Steinbach, Man., June 10 – 12.

Practice rounds are scheduled for June 9, before the official 54-hole tournament gets underway on June 10. Play is scheduled to wrap up on June 12.

The top 6 male competitors will earn a spot in the upcoming Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, August 7-10, at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. The top 6 female golfers (including ties) will also earn exemptions into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 25-29, at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

The starting field will feature 89 players – 67 Junior Boys and 22 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The NextGen Prairie Championship is the fourth of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Lucy Lin and Alex Zhang took home the honours in the latest NextGen Championship at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. For the full schedule of 2022 NextGen Championships, click here.

Quarry Oaks Golf Course, a 27-hole course located southeast of Winnipeg Man., will play host to the junior event. The Central Canadian club covers 440 acres and features three different nine-hole courses, each unique in their own way. The diversifying stylistic variety allows a challenge for intermediate golfers up to professionals and will test the best junior golfers of the Prairie provinces this week.

For past results of the 2022 NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards: Pacific | Ontario | Western

Additional information about the 2022 NextGen Prairie Championship can be found here.

NOTABLES

Ella Kozak (Yorkton, Sask.)

Ella Kozak continues to climb the ranks in Canadian junior golf and saw her name mixed in with some of the best Junior Girls in Canada at last year’s Golf Canada Junior Selection Camp. Prior to that, the Yorkton, Sask., native won the Saskatchewan Amateur Women’s Championship and will be vying for the NextGen Prairie Championship this week.

Ryan Blair (Winnipeg, Man.)

Ryan Blair will be in familiar territory at Quarry Oaks Golf Course this week. Blair is less than a week removed from a semi-final performance at the Steinbach, Man. track at last week’s 2022 Manitoba Match Play Championship and will be looking for a repeat performance at the stroke play event June 10-12.

Clara Peake (Binscarth, Man.)

The reigning 2021 Manitoba Junior Women’s Provincial Champion headlines the Junior Girls field at Quarry Oaks this week. Peake’s rise to the top of Manitoba junior golf came after just three years from her picking up a golf club. The Binscarth, Man., native will look to continue building on an impressive resume at the NextGen Prairie Championship.

Hunter Kutcher (Regina, Sask.)

Kutcher was crowned champion of the 2021 Saskatchewan Junior Men’s Provincial Championship and will be taking his talents to the neighbouring province of Manitoba for a shot at the NextGen Prairie Championship.  

OTHER NOTABLES

• Addison Kartush
• Jack Taylor
• Noah Fiks
• Jack Moro
• Alex Swinnerton
• Carter Timmerman
• Darien Herlick
• Max Regier
• Autumn Neiszner

About the NextGen Championships series, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

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. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

TORONTO – The RBC Canadian Open tees off at St. George’s Golf and Country Club on Thursday morning. It’s the first time the men’s national golf championship has been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are five thing to know about the tournament:

REPPING THE MAPLE LEAF

There are 20 Canadians in the field, more than any other PGA Tour event, increasing the likelihood of a Canadian winning the national championship for the first time since Pat Fletcher did it in 1954. Canadian golf fans will want to pay attention at 7:02 a.m. local time when an all-Canadian trio featuring Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., tee off together.

SMALL FOOTPRINT

At 165 acres St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto’s west end is one of the smallest courses on the PGA Tour this season. Returning champion Rory McIlroy noted on Wednesday how tight the grandstands were to some of the fairways, meaning spectators will be right in on the action.

ROUGH STUFF

The U.S. Open is renowned for its long rough and, as the event preceding the third major of the men’s golf season, the Canadian Open is following suit. Several players remarked on the deep rough at St. George’s on Wednesday, including McIlroy, who won the American national championship in 2011.

BEST CANADIAN IN EUROPE

Aaron Cockerill has consistently been the best Canadian on the European-based DP World Tour. Cockerill, from Stony Mountain, Man., is currently ranked 42nd on the circuit that takes in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Despite his international success, it will be the 30-year-old’s first appearance at a Canadian Open as a professional.

SUMMER’S OPEN

The Canadian Open is being positioned by the PGA Tour, Golf Canada, and their partners as the unofficial opening of summer. Part of that is creating a festival atmosphere. Concerts headlined by rapper Flo Rida and pop group Maroon 5 will be held on Friday and Saturday night at nearby Richview Collegiate Institute. The Rink, a hockey-themed feature hole, will return with arena boards surrounding the tee box and goalie helmets marking the tee.

Rory’s Lucky Loonie

Defending RBC Canadian Open Champion Rory McIlroy doesn’t need luck on his side when it comes to his golf game. The Northern-Ireland native has notched five top 10 finishes this season – including a second-place finish at The Masters – bringing his total PGA TOUR career victories to 20. However, some would argue that a little extra luck never hurts.

During the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, McIlroy tried on a Canuck superstition when marking his ball for the week – the lucky loonie. Shooting 22-under-par 258 in 2019 (the lowest 72-hole score ever carded at the event), it’s a superstition he’s keeping as he chases back-to-back RBC Canadian Open titles for the 111^th playing of the historic tournament.

“I turned up to the locker and there was already one in my locker,” said McIlroy. “And then one of my pro-am partners give me one this morning on the first green as well. So I’m loaded with loonies this week. Yeah, so, yes, I will use it, for sure.”

The lucky loonie tradition became famous during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City when the one-dollar coin was embedded into centre ice by a Canadian maintenance crew to bring luck to the men’s and women’s ice hockey teams. After both squads claimed gold medals, the tradition became a sensation for Canadian sports pursuits across the country and has been going strong ever since.  

 It comes as no surprise that McIlroy, a self-professed fan of history, would partake in the now-iconic tradition.

“One of the great things about our game is you can in some way compare yourself to historical figures. Figures that I’ve never met before, but I look at a trophy that my name’s on and Walter Hagan’s name is on there or Gene Sarazen or Byron Nelson or Ben Hogan or Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer or whoever it is,” said McIlroy.  “And I think that’s one of the coolest things about our sport that not a lot of other sports can sort of tap into. As a golf historian and traditionalist, I like that stuff. I like sitting down with the Claret Jug at home and looking at the names on the trophy. Like that is so cool. And you look at the Canadian Open trophy and you look at the names that are on that. You’re putting your name in history by winning these national championships.”

Rory will seek to defend his title as the first round of the tournament commences tomorrow.

Corey’s Canadian Coffee

Corey Conners needed a taste of home, and he got it – literally. There’s nothing that yells ‘Canada’ quite like Tim Horton’s and there are few people on TOUR who know that better than the Listowel, Ont. native. The Canadian honoured his citizenship with a visit to the renown coffee shop as soon as his plane touched down in Toronto and, suddenly, he was home again.

“That reminds me I’m home. I think that’s the first stop every time I get back to Canada. Don’t know what it is about it, but that makes me feel like I’m at home,” Conners said.

His order: one cream, one sugar. “Don’t mind an apple fritter [either],” he added.

Mac’s Caddie Shack

Before Mackenzie Hughes played in the RBC Canadian Open Championship Pro-Am, he caddied in it – or at least tried to. Mike Weir served as the ultimate distraction for the 13-year-old Hughes who he walked alongside down the fairways of Glen Abbey Golf Course at the 2004 Pro-Am event. Unfortunately for Hughes, the fairway wasn’t where he needed to be.

“I just did a horrendous job caddying that day because I was so intrigued by just being close to Mike and trying to ask him a question here and there,” said Hughes. “Then my player would be over here in the rough and I’m like, ‘Oh, sorry,’ just nowhere near him.”

Luckily for Hughes, his playing skills make up for his lackluster caddying.  

Full press release transcripts here.

TORONTO, ON ― June 7, 2022 ― Thousands of people around the world gathered today wearing red and white to join the 7th annual Women’s Golf Day (WGD) celebration, which takes place every year on the first Tuesday in June. Over 80 countries from Japan to Gambia hosted events. This morning, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), a global partner of Women’s Golf Day, hosted the inaugural WGD RBC Toronto event, which took place at the historic Scarboro Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Canada. The Women’s Golf Day movement includes more than 1,000 events in over 80 countries and celebrates women and girls learning valuable skills that will empower them on and off the golf course.

With a shared vision of advancing the game of golf for women, RBC recently announced their support of WGD, a global network of women dedicated to supporting golf and one another in the pursuit of excellence in the game. The WGD RBC Toronto event included a panel discussion moderated by Lindsay Hamilton of SportsCentre. Panelists included Shannon Cole, VP RBC Brand Management; Elisa Gaudet, Founder of Women’s Golf Day; and Lorie Kane, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Member. Guests weathered the rain to enjoy either a 9-hole game or a golf clinic, as well as a club fitting experience from Callaway Golf and networking opportunities with leading golf industry professionals.

“We were thrilled to partner with Women’s Golf Day for the launch of the inaugural WGD RBC Toronto event and to further our commitment to supporting women in sports,” said Shannon Cole, Vice-President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “WGD’s passion for championing the advancement of women in golf is inspiring, and we are excited to be joining their incredible global network.”

“This was such a joyous occasion for everyone who took part,” commented Elisa Gaudet, founder of Women’s Golf Day. “It was the perfect example of how golf can unite women through golf, irrespective of their playing experience. This year, by partnering with like-minded organizations who see the value of women’s golf, we are inspired and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish collectively.”

Additionally, event participants received complimentary tickets, courtesy of Golf Canada, to the RBC Canadian Open taking place from June 6-12 at the iconic St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke.

“Scarboro Golf and Country Club is thrilled to host the Toronto event for Women’s Golf Day and to partner with RBC and WGD on this amazing initiative,” said Carol-Ann Goering, Chief Operating Officer at Scarboro Golf and Country Club. “Our Club aims to engage a diverse community of golfers and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the WGD network this June.”

RBC is a proud supporter of women’s golf on both the professional and grassroots level, demonstrated through longstanding sponsorships including Team Canada; CP Women’s Open; RBC PGA Scramble; and RBC Community Junior Golf. RBC is also the official financial services partner of golfers on the LPGA TOUR including world no. 9 Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp and Morgan Pressel.

TORONTO, Ont. – Patrick Flavin beat the rush hour traffic but Braden Thornberry, Brad Adamonis and Jeff Kang got caught in the thick of things at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Monday. Thankfully for them, the highway to St George’s Golf and Country Club opened up quickly.

Thornberry, Adamonis and Kang survived a 4-for-3 playoff at Oakdale Golf & Country Club to secure three of the final four spots at the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12, at St George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont.

The trio of Americans, who registered rounds of two-under par 69 in regulation, made their pars on the second playoff hole to settle a four-way tie. Piercen Hunt did not make it through.

Flavin carded a three-under par 68 earlier in the day to dodge the madness and punch his ticket to the National Open Championship.

The Chicago, Illinois native was one-over after the front nine but turned things around down the stretch to fire the low round of the day.

“You’re never as far out of it as you think,” he said. “There’s been a couple shockers this year where it’s not as low as you think, especially with this course being so hard. I figured anything under par was going to be a really good score, so three-under when I finished, I felt really good about.”

Flavin is no stranger to Monday qualifiers. The 18-hole stroke play tournament in Toronto, Ont. marks his fourth entry into a tournament via the final qualifier this season, and his sixth total PGA TOUR event in 2022.

“When you Monday in it’s kind of a little bit of a whirlwind because there’s so much to get done, but I think I’ve developed a good formula for what is going to allow me to play well and have a lot of energy on the weekend,” said the 26-year-old.

Adamonis found the greenside bunker on the second playoff hole but for him, that was just as good as hitting the green.

“Long ago, I had a bunker in my yard and I’m like, ‘I’ve hit these a million times, this is an easy shot,’” Adamonis told himself. “I felt comfortable, I didn’t even think about it, and I hit a good shot,” added the 49-year-old journeyman.

The RBC Canadian Open will be Adamonis’ first start on TOUR since the 2021 Valspar Championship.

Thornberry was rolling at Oakdale, sitting at four-under par thru 14 holes but bogeys on No. 16 and 17 forced him down into a T2 position and into the thick of things on the leaderboard but the former Ole Miss Rebel was able to collect himself and prevail.

“I think I had the best round going through 14 holes […] I feel like I was playing really good but kind of didn’t play well coming in, so it was nice to still get through and not have that cost me at all,” said Thornberry.

Thornberry’s first trip to Canada has already been memorable and the Germantown, Tennessee native will look to add to the memories when he tees it up on Thursday.

Flavin, Thornberry, Adamonis and Kang complete the starting field of 156 that will compete for the $8.7 million purse at St George’s Golf and Country Club. Click here for the full list of competitors.

Click here for full results of the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier.

For tickets to the 2022 RBC Canadian Open click here.