ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. – The NextGen Western Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is set to begin Thursday at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta.

Practice rounds are scheduled for June 1, before the official 54-hole tournament gets underway on June 2. Play is scheduled to wrap up on Saturday, June 4.

The top six male competitor 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 six 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 94 players – 67 Junior Boys and 27 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The NextGen Western Championship is the third of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Alessandra Nagayo and Ben MacLean took home the honours in the latest NextGen Championship at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn, Ont. For the full schedule of 2022 NextGen Championships, click here.

Halfway between Calgary and Edmonton and a 3-wood to the west is home to Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. True to the name of the town in which it is located, Pine Hills offers an array of elevation changes and blind approaches over it’s hilly, yet majestic landscape. In 1989, an additional 9 holes were added to the original layout to complete the 18-hole championship course that requires creativity and shot-making to go low.

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

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

NOTABLES

Cole Bergheim (Red Deer, Alta.)

Top 10 results at the 2021 NextGen Fall Series West Championship and the 2022 MJT National Championship sets Cole Bergheim up nicely for another stellar result at the NextGen Western Championship. Bergheim will be hoping to improve on his 15^th place finish at the NextGen Pacific Championship earlier this year, and he will have every chance to do so this week at Pine Hills Golf Club.

Logan Graff (Sylvan Lake, Alta.)

Graff, who plays out of the same club as Bergheim, will be poised to get his hands on the trophy in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. The Sylvan Lake, Alta. native finished as the runner-up at last year’s Alberta U19 Boys Championship and is keen on taking his game to the next level in 2022.

Georgia Barr (Calgary, Alta.)

The 2020 Alberta U17 Girls Champion will look to continue making strides in her young golf career at the NextGen Western Championship. In 2021, Barr’s game trended in the right direction with a 5^th place result at the Alberta U19 Girls Championship, a T8 finish at the Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship and a 13^th place finish at the 2021 NextGen Fall Series West Championship.

Eileen Park (Red Deer, Alta.)

Don’t let Eileen Park’s size or age fool you. As a 12-year-old, Park won every event in her age category on the Maple Leaf Junior Tour last season and finished in second place at the Alberta U19 Girls Championship. She’s proven she can play with the best of them before, and she will be looking to do so again when she tees it up in Rocky Mountain House on Thursday.

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. 

BROMONT, Que. – Canada’s best student-athlete golfers will descend on Golf Château Bromont in Bromont, Que., for the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO from June 1-4. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.

2022 marks the 18^th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best university and college golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.

The 18 teams competing for the Men’s division come from the following conferences (number of teams in brackets):

• Ontario University Athletics (6)
• Canada West (5)
• Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (2)
• Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (5)

The Women’s division is composed of 12 teams from across the country:

• Canada West (4)
• OUA (5)
• RSEQ (2)
• CCAA (1)

After the third round, the field will be cut to the low ten (10) Male teams and the low six (6) Female teams, including any team within 15 shots of the lead. Individuals within 10 shots of third place, including any player within the top 10, will also make the cut.

Golf Canada prides itself on providing an opportunity for university and college players to compete at the highest level of national competition at the end of their seasons.

“The Canadian University/College Championships, presented by BDO provides an opportunity for the best student-athletes from across the country to showcase their talents and compete for a national championship,” said tournament director, Akash Patel. “After a two-year hiatus, Golf Canada recognizes the significance of the return of this event, and we are excited to get the competition underway.”

The 72-hole stroke play event – which was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – was last played in 2019 and hosted by the Fanshawe College Falcons at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. In contrast to recent years, there will be no official host school for this year’s event held in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.

The University of British Columbia enters this year’s tournament as the defending champions of both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. In 2019, the women’s team captured their fourth consecutive national championship with a one-stroke victory over the Laval Rouge et Or, while the men’s team erased a nine-stroke deficit to knock off the Western Mustangs in the final round via a playoff.

The UBC women have won 14 of the last 17 team event titles – easily the most in the competition’s history. The T-Birds also have the most men’s team championships with six.

Sarah Dunning of the University of Guelph was crowned champion of the Women’s individual competition and Charles Fitzsimmons of Western University took home the honours on the Men’s side in 2019. Neither Dunning, nor Fitzsimmons will be returning to defend their titles this year.

Last time the event was held in Quebec (2013), the UBC Thunderbirds won the Men’s division, and the Université de Montréal Carabins were named the Women’s champions.

Multiple winners of the event include Christina Spence (2007 & 2008), Kat Kennedy (2016 & 2017) and Evan Holmes (2015 & 2017). 

For more information about the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, including the player list, pairings and leaderboards, click here.
 
MENS TEAMS
Bishop’s University Gaiters
Brock University Badgers
Champlain St Lawrence Lions
Humber College Hawks
McMaster University Marauders
Queen’s University Gaels
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Université du Montréal Carabins
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Calgary Dinos
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Guelph Gryphons
University of Manitoba Bisons
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Windsor Lancers
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks
 
WOMENS TEAMS
Brock University Badgers
Humber College Hawks
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Université du Montréal Carabins
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of British Columbia – Okanagan Heat
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Windsor Lancers
Western University Mustangs
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks

CALGARY, Alta. – Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta., was the lone golfer to shoot even-par or better on a unforgiving day at Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.  

The amateur, who plays his collegiate golf at Utah Valley University, rolled in birdies on holes no. 1, 5 and 16 to offset a bogey on no. 3 and a double bogey on no. 11 for an even-par 72 and medallist honours at the fourth and final RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier in Alberta.

As there were less than 100 competitors at the Regional Qualifier, McKinlay did not earn a direct exemption into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open but will be vying for a spot in the tournament at the Final Qualifier at Oakdale Golf & Country Club on June 6.

Five others in the starting field of 54 added their names to the tee sheet at the Final Qualifier next Monday in Toronto, Ont.:

• Jeffrey Kang (Anaheim, California)
• Carter Code (Calgary, Alta.)
• David Durbeniuk (Calgary, Alta.)
• Carter Lewis (Calgary, Alta.)
• Dane Thorogood (Calgary, Alta.)

Kang’s 1-over par 73 placed him alone in second. The American pencilled not one, not two but three eagles to his scorecard after starting the day +4 through the first three holes.

Code and Durbeniuk each had eagles of their own on holes no. 4 and no. 9, respectively, en route to a 2-over par 74. The amateur duo finished T3 and will be travelling east later this week to compete for a chance to play in Canada’s National Open.

It was a grind to the finish line for Lewis, but the Calgary, Alta. native prevailed. After 11 holes, Lewis was 3-under par and atop the leaderboard, but four bogeys and a double coming in pushed him back to T5 in the standings – a result that stood up for the former college player.   

Joining him to round out the top-five was Dane Thorogood who, opposite to Lewis, struggled out of the gates before ending his round in style. The former South Alabama Jaguar recorded birdies on holes no. 15 and no. 18 to make the cut on the number and book his spot into the final stage of qualifying.

A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Oakdale Golf & Country Club will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.

For the full leaderboard click here.

For past 2022 results of RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier: Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.

Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation have announced a major gift from the Stollery Family that will see the official title of the women’s national team head coach renamed as the Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach and Stollery Family Olympic Women’s Head Coach.

The Stollery Family, long-time supporters of Canadian golf and especially the women’s game including junior girls and high-performance activities, have donated a total $2M to the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Olympic Foundation in support of the Team Canada program to help fund the Women’s Head Coach position over a 30-year term.

“We are so honoured that the Stollerys, a family with such a long history of philanthropy and promoting sport, has chosen to make this meaningful gift in support of women’s golf,” said Golf Canada President Liz Hoffman, who also sits as a Board Member on the Golf Canada Foundation. “We are excited for what this means for the growth of the women’s game, and the powerful statement it makes in support of coaching across Canada.”

Salimah Mussani, recently promoted by Golf Canada to lead the women’s team will be the inaugural Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach.

Seven sisters –Cailey, Victoria, Gillian, Lindsay, Claire, Sarah, and Hannah – have proudly carried on the family legacy of support for the game initiated by their late father Gordon Stollery. Among other successful business ventures, the Stollery Family are the owners and operators of Goodwood Golf Club in Goodwood, Ont. as well as Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. which has played host to numerous major golf championships including the CP Women’s Open (2001), the Telus Skins Game (2001), the RBC Canadian Open (2002, 2007) and the golf competition of the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Angus Glen is also proud host of the annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargeant Farms, set to return October 12-15, 2022. The Stollery Family have also been long-time supporters of the Golf Canada Foundation including events such as the popular Wine, Women’ & Shoes Fundraiser. The generosity of the Stollery Family has supported numerous charitable legacies including a $5M donation to Markham Stouffville Hospital which named the Stollery Family Centre for Childbirth and Children in their honour.

“Our family recognizes and values the critical role that women’s golf and high-performance coaching can have on the overall growth of a sport that has meant so such much to us all,” said Cailey Stollery who sits on the Board Directors of both the Golf Canada Foundation as well as the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

The Stollery Family’s major gift to fund the Women’s Head Coach position is the first of its kind for a Canadian National Sport Federation head coaching position.

The Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach will also be a first for a Canadian Olympic Team coach as the Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach will also guide Women’s Golf Team that is named by the Canadian Olympic Committee to represent Team Canada at future Olympic Games.

“This gift from the Stollery Family is remarkable, and a clear indication of the entire family’s shared belief in the transformational power of sport,” says Jacqueline Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee and CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. “This contribution is truly inspiring and will help shape the exciting future of women’s golf in Canada for years to come.”

The continued expansion of the National Team Program through major donor gifts is a driving force behind Golf Canada’s enhanced support of the High-Performance Program with a goal to advance 30 Canadian athletes to the LPGA and PGA TOUR by 2032.

PORT SEVERN, Ont. – There wasn’t much for Ben MacLean and Alessandra Nagayo to worry about on Saturday at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn, Ont. 

MacLean (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led wire-to-wire and Nagayo (Toronto, Ont.) made a final round comeback to capture the titles in their respective divisions at the NextGen Ontario Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

MacLean carded rounds of 69, 69 and 70 for an 11-stroke victory for his second championship in as many weeks, after bringing home the 2022 Ontario Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship last week. 

“I made a huge jump in my game last year and I took most of the stuff I did last year and added to that,” said MacLean on his recent success. “[I’m] finding better shots off the tee and hitting my shots a lot better than I was last year which has been pretty helpful, and I’m trusting everything more.”

Next for the 17-year-old is the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on June 6 at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, an event MacLean says he’s confident he can qualify for. 

Nagayo’s week wasn’t as straight forward, but the result was no different. Entering Saturday’s round five strokes back, the 18-year-old carded a final round 71 to win the Junior Girls division by five strokes. 

Swetha Sathish, who held the 36-hole lead in the Junior Girls division wasn’t able to get it done down the stretch, but her confidence remains intact.

“Thinking about those good shots, visualizing those good shots, and then making them happen was really crucial [this week],” said Sathish, and the positive thoughts didn’t end there.

“I see myself probably winning a couple provincial championships, maybe even a national championship, and definitely getting into a good university in the future and [eventually] going professional.” 

From the Junior Boys division, the top eight players have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 6-10, at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Including Nagayo, the top eight players in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship taking place July 25-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

For full results click here.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Germany’s Bernhard Langer and Canada’s Mike Weir made third-round moves Saturday in the 82nd Senior PGA Championship, under improved weather conditions.

The 64-year-old Langer and the left-handed Weir, who started the day two strokes behind co-leaders Scott McCarron and Calgary’s Stephen Ames, played the front side of the Jack Nicklaus designed course on the shores of Lake Michigan in 3 under. They were one stroke behind Ames, who turned at 2 under for the third round and an early 10 under for the tournament.

Ames birdied No. 2 and 3. After he bogeyed the 436-yard seventh hole, Ames finished the front with a birdie on the par-5 ninth to turn in 2-under 34. McCarron turned in 1 under after a front nine that included three birdies and two bogeys.

Following Friday’s rain and temperatures in the 50s, the 72 golfers who made the cut at 3-over 145 at Harbor Shores were taking advantage of the soft conditions and temperatures nearing 70 degrees. It’s the Senior PGA’s fifth visit to the par-71 course that opened in 2010. It’s produced four champions, whose victories totaled a combined 64 under. The record score is 19-under 265 by champions Rocco Mediate (2016) and Paul Broadhurst (2018).

Langer has three top-10 finishes in the 2012, 2014 and 2016. He didn’t play in 2018 because of his son’s graduation but showed up that year for media day after winning the Senior PGA championship in 2017.

On Saturday, Langer, a two-time winner of the Masters who has won the most senior majors (11) on the PGA Tour Champions, picked up where he left off after two straight rounds of 68 by making birdies on holes 1, 6 and 9. Weir, from Bright’s Grove, Ont., who opened with a 65 Thursday before scrambling for a 71 in Friday’s poor weather, started his round with a bogey on the par-4 third hole but then birdied four of his last five holes.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Tournament housemates Scott McCarron and Stephen Ames each shot 5-under 66 in stormy and cold conditions Friday at Harbor Shores to share the second-round lead in the Senior PGA Championship.

The round started with rain and wind and it got colder as the day progressed.

“It was crazy,” McCarron said. “Weather (when) we teed off ? was not too bad. (It was) 60 (degrees) and then we got to the third hole, and I think it dropped 10 or 15 degrees.”

The 56-year-old McCarron had eight birdies, five in a back-nine 30 on the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout that sits near Lake Michigan. McCarron has 11 PGA Tour Champions victories, including the 2017 Senior Players.

The 58-year-old Ames, who had a double bogey for the second straight day, made six birdies over the final 11 holes.

“It’s not my cup of tea,” Ames said. “I’m not a fan of the cold weather even though I lived in Canada. But I never went out and played golf in this.”

McCarron had major reconstructive surgery of his left ankle in August and has just one top-25 finish in nine events this season, a tie for 16th in the major Regions Tradition on May 15.

“It’s been a slow process,” McCarron said. “I knew it would be. It’s been a struggle, but the last couple of weeks it’s gotten better.”

Ames has four top-10 finishes.

“Putting has been a bit of an issue the last six weeks I’ve played,” Ames said after making a 25-foot birdie putt for his final birdie at the 16th. “I’ve had opportunities, but I couldn’t make putts to close things out.”

McCarron and Ames were at 8-under 134, two strokes ahead of 64-year-old Bernhard Langer (68), Brian Gay (68), Mike Weir (71) and Steven Alker (72).

Langer made four birdies, three of them on par-5 holes at 9, 10 and 15, to offset a bogey at the 436-yard seventh hole where the windswept small green overlooks Lake Michigan.

“It was cold today, much colder, and the ball just went nowhere at times,” Langer said. “It’s nice to go below 70 on a day like this because it’s not easy. The course played a lot longer.”

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).

John Kim, TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, Hole #14

I got my ace on the 14th hole, North Course, white tees. I think it was about 128 yards, helping wind and I used my nine iron. The course was in great shape and we had a terrific day. Here is a pic that you can share. Not bad for a 18 handicap!

Cheers,

John Kim

Angela McNaughton, Hylands Golf Club, Hole #7

Thank you for your email!

My foursome was very quick to celebrate with me… Phyllis B; Christine D; and Patricia H. Patricia is one of the league coordinators and spent the rest of the morning yelling out the news to each group that we crossed paths with! I’m extremely lucky to be able to record this as my 2nd hole-in-one… the other was many years ago at the Ottawa Hunt Club while golfing with my dad, Fred J. (he was ecstatic to hear the news of this one).

This one was on the 7th hole of the North Course; 142 yards from the red tees; and I used a magical 7-iron. I was happy to get it on this hole as it is usually one of my more challenging holes for some reason!

I’ve attached the picture that Phyllis took for me and I’m glad she did as I was not thinking very clearly at the time! You also have my permission to use this.

Thanks again for your follow-up with me.

Angela

Lisa Walker, Castlegar Golf Club, Hole #8

I was playing with my husband, Mike A., and my sisters-in-law, Judy W. and Donna W. I used my 5-iron on the 141 yard hole #8. I was the last to hit and hit it well but I thought it would be about 5 or 6 feet from the hole if I was lucky.

I bent down to get my tee, and Mike was saying that it was heading for the hole and then that it went in. He likes to joke around so I didn’t get too excited but when I looked, I couldn’t see it but thought it could be behind the flag or even off the green. I kept looking as we walked up to the hole but still couldn’t see anything but couldn’t and wouldn’t believe it until I looked into the hole.

Unbelievable! And I still can’t believe it. What a thrill!

Lisa

Katie Barron, Cobble Beach Golf Links, Hole #8

Hi – thank you so much! It was an amazing experience!!! I couldn’t believe it happened. I was playing with my fiancé Amy S., and friends Frank H. and Keith D. It was hole 8. It was 98 yards and I used my pitching wedge.

By all means you have my permission to post on any of your stuff. Thank you so much for reaching out!!!

Mike McLaughlin, Trafalgar Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

It was my third hole in one at Trafalgar and it was on the third hole. It was 100 yards and I used an eight iron. My partners for that morning were: David P. and Andrew M. David confirmed that my ball was in the hole and he removed it.

Please see attached photograph.

Thank you,

Mike

Jim Sirup, Water Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #13

Hi,

Thanks for your congratulatory email acknowledging my hole-in-one. Details are as follows:

• I was golfing with my wife Karen and another couple, Ron and Donna S.
• Golf Course: Water Valley Golf Club, Alberta
• Date: May 16, 2022
• My hole-in-one was on hole #13; the flag was 172 yards from the blue tee box – I used a 5 iron
• I am 68 years old, this was my 2nd hole in one

Regards,

Jim Sirup

Mike Potter, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Hole #14

Hello,

Thank you very much! It was 138 yards and I used my 9 iron, playing with my best buddy Taylor F., just the two of us that day. Here is the photo. You have permission to use all photo/details as you see fit.

Thank you again,

Mike Potter
Gorge Vale Golf Club

Karen Brosko, Wildwood Golf Course, Hole #14

Good morning,

First thank you very much for acknowledging this accomplishment. The hole-in-one occurred during regular Ladies 18 Hole League at Wildwood Golf Course in Saskatoon, SK. My playing partners on May 22, 2022 were Dorothy C. and Joyce P. The 14th hole is a 108 yard par-3. I played a 7-iron with a Callaway ball. It was extra fun for me because I got to see the ball go into the hole. A special memory for sure. Unfortunately the picture that we took that day did not turn out very well…..

Karen Brosko

Mahboob Nawaz, GlenDenning Golf Course, Hole #6

Thank you for your kind wishes and gesture on hearing the news of my hole-in-one at Glendenning Golf Club (GD). It is certainly much appreciated!

Although this was my second ‘Ace’ in golf, it certainly was the first at GD, which is my ‘home course’ where I have been a member for almost 13 years!

My amazing moment came on a beautiful sunny Saturday May 21, 2022, at the par 3, hole #6, which was playing about 156 yards into a decent headwind (more of a breeze). I decided to go with my 8 iron. Just as I addressed my ball, a light gust hit us head-on that prompted me to back-off my shot and readjust my stance to hit a lower ball flight. My shot was a firm hit with a lower trajectory than I normally hit coupled with a very slight (baby) fade where I saw the ball go in the hole after the second hop! Initially, it was an unbelievable ‘shock’ to the system where I said out loud to my playing partners, “Oh my gosh… that didn’t just happen…”, and they all erupted in unison saying, “That’s in the hole!”

Not too far away from our tee box is the 15th green where a few other members/friends were putting and they also heard the commotion and joined in to congratulate me, and so did another foursome of avid golfers from the previous hole!

Needless to say, it was an expensive celebration after the round (ha ha ha), which in my opinion, needs to change.

In the excitement of this hole-in-one achievement, I forgot to take more pictures, but I thank a good friend, Jeanette H., who took the time to snap a picture of me retrieving my ball out of the hole, which I am enclosing with this message. My other playing partners were Ronnie H. and Gerard P.

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to relive that wonderful moment.

Cheers,

Mahboob Nawaz

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.

Canada’s Brigitte Thibault is ready to take the next step in her career.

The product of Rosemere, Que., said on Wednesday that she plans to turn professional sometime this summer after a successful career as an elite amateur, competing in the NCAA and representing Canada internationally.

“Next will be half pro events this summer, half amateur events,” said Thibault after competing in her last tournament with the Texas Longhorns. “Just making sure I get in the best field I can to challenge myself as much as possible.

Thibault said that she intends to turn professional either before the LPGA’s Q School or the CP Women’s Open, both of which will be held in late August.

Stage I of the Q School will be held Aug. 18-21 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., the CP Women’s Open is at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club Aug. 22-28, and Stage II of the Q School will be held Oct. 18-21 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla.

Thibault had an exemplary NCAA career, winning five titles while as an undergrad at Fresno State between 2018 and 2021. She won the 2019 Mountain West Conference Championship, the 2019 Ontario Women’s amateur Championship, the 2020 Women’s Western Amateur Championship, the 2020 Women’s Dixie Amateur and the 2021 Rebel Beach Intercollegiate. She also won bronze with Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games in the mixed team event.

She moved from Fresno State to the University of Texas at Austin for her fifth and final year of eligibility as a graduate student. Her best result as a Longhorn was tying for 14th at the Bruzzy. She also helped the Texas Women’s Golf squad to a one-over-par 289 on Monday to close out the season in 13th-place at the NCAA Championship.

“I think it hasn’t sunk in yet to be honest,” said Thibault of her collegiate career coming to an end. “I was just with my teammates today and reminiscing on all of the years.

“I’m at a loss for words, I’m just super grateful for all the years, all the learning experiences, and it’s just a lot of emotions altogether.”

Thibault said her next event will still be an amateur tournament, either the British Women’s Amateur Championship at Hunstanton Golf Club in Norfolk, England, on June 20-25 or the Porter Cup at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, N.Y., on July 13-16.

LPGA TOUR _ Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was paired with Jeongeun Lee6 at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play in Las Vegas. The event at Shadow Creek Golf Course will have three days of round-robin play and then the knockout round.

EPSON TOUR _ Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., and Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., will tee off on Friday in the Inova Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. Costabile is 66th on the Epson Tour’s money list and Szeryk is 148th.

CP WOMEN’S OPEN _ The Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, host of this summer’s CP Women’s Open, posted on Sunday that its course was severely damaged by a severe storm that swept through the area over the weekend. The club shared photos of several uprooted trees in an Instagram post announcing that the club would be closed until further notice.

PGA TOUR _ Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., are the only Canadians in this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Taylor enters play this week 112th in the FedEx Cup rankings and Svensson is 126th.

KORN FERRY TOUR _ Toronto’s Albin Choi leads the Canadian contingent into this week’s NV5 Invitational at the Glen Club Golf Course in Glenview, Il. He’ll be joined by David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. Choi is ranked 89th on the second-tier tour, Hearn is 117th and Silverman is 190th.

Fresh off a captivating playoff victory this past weekend at the PGA Championship, Justin Thomas has confirmed his intention to compete in the 2022 RBC Canadian Open. 

Thomas is a 15-time winner on the PGA TOUR and 2-time major champion, having previously won the PGA Championship in 2017. Currently no. 5 on the Official World Golf Ranking, Thomas will be competing in his second RBC Canadian Open when the stars of the PGA TOUR descend on St. George’s Golf & Country Club along with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility. 

A celebrated amateur and college star at Alabama, the 29-year-old returns north to challenge for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship after finishing T20 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 in his first-ever start at the event. 

One of the brightest stars in professional golf, Thomas has competed in the past two Ryder Cups, the past two President’s Cups and also represented the United States at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last summer.  

Through a solid start to the 2021-22 PGA TOUR season, Thomas has eight top-10 finishes in 13 events played and is currently no. 4 on the FedExCup Ranking. Five of his 15 PGA TOUR wins came during a breakout season in 2016-17. 

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic the RBC Canadian Open is set to return June 6-12 in Toronto with Thomas joining an exciting field led by defending champion and world no. 7 Rory McIlroy; world no. 1 and reigning Master champion Scottie Scheffler; The Players 2022 champion and world no. 3 Cameron Smith; world no. 13 and Team RBC ambassador Dustin Johnson; world No. 15 Matthew Fitzpatrick; and world no. 21 Tony Finau. 

Canadian PGA TOUR players looking forward to the celebrated return of the RBC Canadian Open include Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor, Roger Sloan, Taylor Pendrith, Adam Svensson, and Michael Gligic. 

More field announcements including additional Canadian player exemptions are set for the coming weeks as golf and festival fans look ahead to the 111^th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Tickets for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open are available here.