Rebecca Lee-Bentham made it a priority to recharge in the off season and now the long Canadian National Team member feels rejuvenated and is focused on having a successful season on the golf course.

“During the offseason I did a little bit of coaching at a new golf facility in Los Angeles called The City Golf. I went on a couple golf trips to play some of the courses on my bucket list – Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay, Spyglass, and Shadow Creek,” Lee-Bentham revealed, adding that she made it a priority to slow down and focus on her mental and physical health.

Born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Lee-Bentham was an amateur standout who first joined Golf Canada’s National Team Program in 2007.  The former Canadian Junior Girls champion and honour roll student would go on to earn a golf scholarship to the University of Texas.  

Shortly after winning the Canadian Women’s Amateur in July of 2011, she decided to forego her remaining years at the NCAA DI university to chase down her childhood dream of competing on the LPGA Tour.  And the Longhorn alum was able to realize that dream when she secured full playing status at the LPGA Q-School tournament later that year.

“She was a good classmate. I’m excited to see another Longhorn doing something big. I’m proud of her and I wish her a lot of success,” said NBA star Tristan Thompson at the time upon learning about his former classmate’s big achievement.

Lee-Bentham entered her rookie season on the LPGA Tour as a bright eyed 19-year-old in 2012 along with Maude-Aimée Leblanc.

In her sophomore season, she was the top earning Canadian on the LPGA Tour and was named by Canadian golf writers as the 2013 Female Professional Golfer of the Year.

However, nagging injuries and the constant grind would lead to inconsistent results over the next few years and Lee-Bentham decided to retire in the summer of 2016.

After stepping away from the competitive side of the game, Lee-Bentham stepped into the coaching side of the sport.

“Mentally speaking, when you do something over and over under a lot of pressure, it becomes stressful and the joy can be lost. Sometimes you just need a little break to realize the love you have for the game and you begin to appreciate the skill that you worked so hard to develop,” she said.

And in 2019, with a new found appreciation of the sport, the former LPGA pro decided to relocate to Irvine, California in order to make a return to competitive golf.

Derek Ingram – the former women’s national team head coach, and currently, the men’s national team head coach – believes Lee-Bentham has unfinished business on the golf course.

“Rebecca needed to step back and remember why she played the game and what it was all about. I personally feel she is a top 60 player in the world or better when she is engaged and practicing the right way,” he said upon learning about her return to competitive golf back in 2019.

Besides Ingram and Thompson, there are many supporters in her corner that believe Lee-Bentham still has what it takes to play the game at the highest level.

Recently, she was awarded the 2021 GJAC Women’s Player Bursary to support her in quest. 

“I really appreciate the extra support from the Golf Journalists Association of Canada and Mackenzie Investments. I’m grateful to receive the bursary that will help cover a bit of the expenses this upcoming season,” she said.

Lee-Bentham will also be receiving support from Golf Canada as it was recently announced that she will be a rejoining the Young Pro Squad for 2022. The long time National Team member is grateful for all the support she has received from Golf Canada throughout her career.

“Golf Canada gives their players the support that is needed to get onto the Tour. Along with financial support, they have a team of coaches and trainers to guide players from the junior level to life as a professional golfer,” Lee-Bentham noted

“There are a lot of costs associated to making it onto the tour and even more once you get on tour such as paying your way into Q-School, having a training facility and golf course to practice at, equipment, coaching, travel costs, caddie fees, tournament entry fees, and the list goes on,” she continued.

“I believe having funding and support is crucial to any player’s success on tour. Golf is an individual sport but it requires a team, alongside the player, to make it to the top.”

Lee-Bentham will be competing on the Epson Tour this year with the goal of taking her talents back onto the LPGA Tour.

“Ironically, before I started playing golf, my dad worked for Epson as an electronic engineer and retired early to support my golf career. What Epson is doing for the women’s tour is amazing and a huge step in the direction we all want to see,” she pointed out.

Having first been introduced to the sport at the age of 12 by her dad, Ken Lee-Bentham, the former Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion and former LPGA Tour pro is celebrating a special milestone this month as she is turning 30 years old.

“As the years go by, there are more and more things to look back on and be grateful for. I’m constantly in awe when I think about where this game has taken me and all the opportunities I’ve been blessed with.  At the same time there is more to life than just golf, so I am reminded to find balance and prioritize the things that matter to me the most,” said Lee-Bentham.

As the Young Pro Squad member prepares to start her season, she feels rejuvenated and is mentally prepared to celebrate a successful year ahead.

“My goal this season is to finish Top 10 on the money list on the Epson Tour and have a tournament win. I would also love to qualify for the US Women’s Open again and earn a spot into another LPGA event,” she said.”I’m approaching this year with the mindset that I’m just going to learn, improve each week and enjoy having the opportunity to compete and do what I love.”

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Sam Burns celebrated another victory Sunday at the Valspar Championship, and it was nothing like he experienced a year ago.

Not even close.

He lowered his arms and forcefully shook his fists as raw emotion poured out of him on the 16th green, a reaction worthy under the circumstances. Burns capped off his back-to-back wins at Innisbrook with a birdie putt from just outside 30 feet to beat PGA Tour rookie and longtime friend Davis Riley on the second playoff hole.

“It felt like it looked,” Burns said with a wide smile, the trophy at his side from his third PGA Tour victory in the last year, a run that began with his first win a year ago at the Valspar Championship when he won by three shots.

“All through today, just trying to make sure that I never got too high or too low and just tried to stay even-keeled,” he said. “And to see that go in, I mean, that’s just what I felt.”

There was plenty to cause stress during a four-man chase along the back nine on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook.

Burns, who closed with a 2-under 69, had control until he had to make a 9-foot putt for bogey just to keep the lead. Riley, who steadied himself after a triple bogey on the par-5 fifth hole, hit 5-iron to 6 feet for birdie on the 17th to catch him.

Riley, who started the final round with a two-shot lead and closed with a 72, had a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a win. Burns was watching from a distance, hopeful only of a chance to play golf. The putt missed to the right, and two holes later Burns was a winner again.

He is the second straight back-to-back winner at Innisbrook following Paul Casey’s consecutive wins in 2018 and 2019. The tournament was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.

The victory moves Burns to No. 10 in the world for the first time, knocking Dustin Johnson out of the top 10 for the first time in seven years.

“Man, it’s crazy,” Burns said. “Davis played well today, especially the way he finished. I tried to stay steady. I didn’t make a lot of mistakes. A lot of time on Sunday if you plot your way around, make a bunch of pars, throw in a few birdies, a lot of times it works well. So happy.”

They finished at 17-under 267.

Both made pars on the 18th in the playoff, with Riley saving par from a front bunker. Neither looked to be in great birdie position on the 16th until Burns’ putt caught the left edge and went 180 degrees around the cup before falling in the back side.

Riley hit a strong pitch needing to hole it to extend the playoff and missed long.

“I can’t hang my head about anything,” Riley said. “I played a lot of good golf and unfortunately I didn’t have my best stuff today and I stumbled on hole 5 today and that kind of cost me. But at the end of the day it’s a great week to build on.”

Justin Thomas (70) and Matthew NeSmith (71) each finished one shot out of the playoff, and each had a share of the lead at some point during a tense final round in warm, windy conditions on the Copperhead course.

Thomas was one shot out of the lead when he laid up 54 yards short on the par-5 11th. It settled in a tiny hole that kept him from clean contact, and his wedge went just long into light rough. His chip ran 12 feet by the hole and he took bogey at the easiest hole in the course.

One hole later, Burns made a 15-foot birdie putt and Thomas suddenly was four shots behind. He had two straight birdies to stay in the game and had a chance when Burns took bogey on the 17th. But then Thomas hit his tee shot into the slope of a bunker right of the 18th and couldn’t reach the green.

“I didn’t really do anything at all today and I very easily could have won the tournament,” Thomas said. “I mean, good drive on 18, and I have a wedge in there and could be in this playoff just as easily. But a lot to build on a, lot of positives, and we got a big stretch coming up, so I’m excited for it.”

NeSmith was one shot behind heading to the 10th tee. He made all pars until a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th. He had a 35-foot putt from the fringe to join the playoff and narrowly missed.

Riley had never been in contention on the back nine on the PGA Tour and looked like he might not get there Sunday after his triple bogey.

From well left of the fairway, he went left down the adjacent sixth fairway, only to chunk his third shot from 106 yards into the base of a tree. He took a penalty drop, hit long into the rough, chipped long again into the rough and made triple bogey.

But he steadied himself with a 50-foot birdie putt from the fringe on No. 8 and a nervy 7-foot par putt on the ninth and the race was on.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Davis Riley was expecting a big stage Saturday in his rookie year on the PGA Tour. He was playing with fellow Alabama alum and close friend Justin Thomas, both of them in the mix on the weekend in the Valspar Championship.

Indeed, they had the largest gallery at Innisbrook. Most of the cheers were for Riley.

Riley made three birdies from tough spots to close out the front nine, and then rode the cheers of “Roll Tide” until he had a 9-under 62, a tournament scoring record and a two-shot lead over Matthew NeSmith going into the final round.

“Super exciting,” Riley said. “Just beginning of the day I was excited to play with Justin. He’s a good friend of mine. We’ve kept in touch. And obviously he’s a one of the best players in the world. Playing with him was really fun.”

Canada’s Adam Hadwin, who won at Innisbrook five years ago for his only PGA Tour title, shot 70 and was at 13-under 200. He had three birdies and two bogeys.

The 34-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., was second entering weekend play after rounds of 64 and 66. His 70 dropped him into fifth place.

Adam Svensson (67) of Surrey, B.C., was at 7 under and Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor (68) was one stroke behind him.

After judging the distance perfectly out of the rough for a 5-foot birdie on No. 6, Riley was in rough left of the seventh fairway with a tree blocking his path to the green. He used a 7-iron for a chip-and-run from 135 yards, the ball rolling the last 60 yards and up a narrow ramp to the green to 10 feet for birdie.

From the upslope of the bunker in front of the ninth green, 70 feet away, Riley blasted it hard and watched it bang into the cup on the fly for another birdie.

“It was really impressive,” Thomas said. “It’s a big moment for a rookie _ anybody – and he handled it like a rock star and made 9 under look very, very easy.”

Thomas did his part with a third straight 66, which any other year would have set the 54-hole scoring record at the Valspar Championship. Just not this one after Riley’s performance.

Riley was at 18-under 195, breaking by four the tournament record last set a year ago by Sam Burns, who remains very much in the mix to win back-to-back.

NeSmith, who set the 36-hole record and led by four shots when he made the turn, made his first bogey of the week at No. 10 and then made three more. He sprinkled in enough birdies and a solid par save on the 18th for a 69.

Riley and NeSmith will be in the final group Sunday.

“This is what I’ve dreamed of as a little kid, coming out here and playing in the final group,” NeSmith said. “On the PGA Tour the final group is the coolest thing in the world, and to have that opportunity and to play well was great. And I just tried to enjoy the walk. It’s hard. It’s obviously very hard. But I did a good job.

Thomas and Burns (67) were three shots behind and have the experience of winning.

Thomas is now 14 under for the three rounds on the back nine alone. He needs a better start on Sunday, but has few complaints about his game.

“Didn’t feel like a great round playing with Davis,” he said. “But yeah, it was a solid day and put myself in a good position for tomorrow.”

NeSmith had reason to wonder what happened. He did everything right, with birdies on the par 5s, at 15-foot birdie putt on No. 7 and an 8-foot birdie on the ninth to reach 18 under.

But he began showing a few cracks in his iron game, going into a bunker on the 10th, long on a pair of the par 3s and hitting a poor chip that led to bogey on the 16th.

Even so, he was right there with a chance to win for the first time and earn a trip to the Masters, where his dad used to work as a part-time caddie.

The Copperhead course played slightly tougher with the strongest breeze of the week on the tree-lined property. Even three days of sunshine couldn’t make the greens too firm, and players still took aim and scored low. The average score was 69.7.

Xander Schauffele had a 68 and was in the large group at 11-under 202, all of them likely too far behind to make up that kind of ground.b

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Two days around the Copperhead course has created very little stress for Canada’s Adam Hadwin, with his game and between the ears.

The 34-year-old from Abbotsford, B.C., has been patient about when to attack and relied on confidence in his putting stroke to pile up the birdies and one big par.

Hadwin finished the second round of the Valspar Championship in second place, two shots behind Matthew NeSmith, who tied the Copperhead course record at Innisbrook with a 10-under 61. NeSmith also set the tournament record for 36 holes in building a lead going into the weekend at the Valspar Championship.

Hadwin, meanwhile, was out of position on the seventh hole in the right bunker when he made a 15-foot putt to escape with par. On the par-3 eighth, he made a 20-foot birdie and before long was on his way.

Scoring has been low all week after rain softened the course and the wind has been minimal. Even so, no one had posted better than 64 until NeSmith put together the round that was more than nine shots better than the average.

He had eagle putts on three of four par 5s, making an eight-footer on the par-5 14th. He shot 30 on the front nine, and his 18-foot birdie putt on his final hole at No. 9 burned the edge of the cup.

The 61 tied the course set by Padraig Harrington in 2012.

NeSmith was at 14-under 128, breaking by two shots the 36-hole record at the Valspar Championship that Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley set a year ago.

Hadwin, whose lone PGA Tour victory was five years ago at Innisbrook, had a 66.

Burns remained in the hunt in the title defense of his first PGA Tour victory. He recovered from a rugged start to post a 67 and was three shots behind with Scott Stallings (66).

Justin Thomas was four behind.

NeSmith only missed one fairway and two greens, and the only stress he was under came on the par-4 second hole, his 11th of the day, when he had to make an eight-foot par putt to avoid a three-putt from 50 feet.

His bonus came two holes later by making a 40-footer on the par-3 fourth.

Thomas was right alongside Hadwin most of the morning, running off four birdies in a five-hole stretch along the back nine. He took care of both par 5s on the front nine and was at 12 under when he attempted one shot he would like to have back.

Blocked by a tree in the rough, Thomas thought he could get enough spin on his ball to hook it toward the green with a 52-degree wedge. It just didn’t work out that way. He missed well to the right by some 30 yards, put it into a bunker between him and the green and took double bogey.

He had to settle for another 66, a good effort over 36 holes, and a reminder to not take on too much, especially in the early rounds.

“I should have just tried to hit it in the front bunker and it was a pretty easy up-and-down,” Thomas said. “As soft as the greens are, I was like, `If I can get this thing turning and landing around there, I can actually had a putt at this.’ As good as I felt with my putter, I felt like if I got it on the green, I could make a 3. But it wasn’t necessary. It just didn’t really need to happen.”

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., finished the day in a group tied for 49th, Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., was tied for 73rd, and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., was tied for 83rd.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Sam Burns prefers to look at what’s next instead of what happened, and that was a big part in how he responded for a 7-under 64 and a share of the lead Thursday in the Valspar Championship, his first time as defending champion.

He used the phrase “flush and move on,” and that’s what he did. Twice after taking bogey, he took aim at the flag on tough par 3s and make short birdie putts. That featured an 8-iron to 2 feet on the par-3 17th and a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole at Innisbrook.

Burns shared the lead with past champion Adam Hadwin, the well-traveled David Lipsky and Jhonattan Vegas, who had a bounce-back of his own variety.

Burns was closing in on the lead set earlier in the day by Vegas when his bunker shot from right of the 16th green came out soft and he missed the 10-foot par. He followed birdie-birdie.

“It’s OK to be frustrated,” Burns said. “I think it’s just what do you do with that frustration? Do you let it carry over to the next shot or do you address it, flush it and move on? I think that’s the most important thing.”

He felt the same way about his title defense. Burns didn’t get caught up in memories of closing with a 68 to win by three shots last year. The Copperhead course, a sturdy test even in the ideal scoring conditions, was among his favorites even before he won.

“The thing about last year is it has nothing to do with this year,” Burns said. “So many things are different. There’s not much correlation between the two. … I’ll look back forever on that event, it being my first win. Wins don’t happen out here often.”

Danny Lee was among four players at 65, Justin Thomas was another shot back and Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka led the large group at 67.

Hadwin, who won the Valspar Championship in 2017, finished with a birdie to cap off a day of remembering why patience is so important to the way he plays. It’s all about knowing when to attack for Hadwin, and even a little bad judgment worked in his favor.

He went for a front right pin on No. 6 with a pitching wedge when he says he should have taken a safer approach with a 9-iron and leaving a 15-foot putt. No matter he chipped in for birdie. And on his final hole at No. 9, uphill and over a bunker, he had about the same yardage.

His strategy is simple: “Keep it out of the water, hit as many greens as possible.”

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Lipsky went to the same Los Angeles-area high school as Collin Morikawa. He’s 9 years older than the two-time major champion, and his road to the PGA Tour wasn’t quite so smooth.

“I just wanted to play wherever I could,” he said. That took the 33-year-old Californian to a pair of wins on the Asian Tour and the European tour, and a Korn Ferry Tour win _ the same day Morikawa won at Muirfield Village _ that eventually led to a PGA Tour card.

Lipsky played bogey-free at Innisbrook, which he described as one of “crusiest” rounds he could play. He was rarely in trouble. His birdie putts were on the short side. The few times he had to save par, the putts were never far out of range. And he signed for a 64. Cruising.

As for Vegas? He needed a round like this.

Still stinging was his finish Sunday last week at The Players Championship. Despite hitting two balls in the water on the island-green 17th at TPC Sawgrass, Vegas came the par-5 ninth hole right on the cut line and 25 yards from the hole in two shots.

He he bladed a gap wedge over the green and into a bunker, made bogey and missed the cut.

The recovery process is off to a great start.

“Absolutely great,” Vegas said. “Exactly what I needed after last week. Game was there. I took advantage of the great conditions this morning. Greens are a little softer, not much wind, absolutely a perfect day out here.”

Vegas gave his round a boost with a 4-iron to 6 feet for eagle on the par-5 first hole after he made the turn. He had a 25-foot birdie on the par-3 fourth, a tough putt from right of the hole that can get away from players if they’re not careful, and a 6-foot birdie on No. 7.

The Canadian golf community is rallying in support for the heartbreaking auto accident involving the University of Southwest golf teams in Texas on Tuesday. 

It is with deep sadness that Golf Canada passes along our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the nine victims who passed in the tragic accident.

Two Canadian athletes, Dayton Price, of Mississauga, Ont., and Hayden Underhill of Amherstview, Ont., survived the crash and are now in critical condition. Both are members of the University of Southwest Men’s golf team and have played in various Golf Ontario championships.

Price, 19, is a member at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. Underhill, 20, is a member of Cataraqui Golf & Country Club.

“Our hearts go out to all of the families involved in this devastating accident,” said Liz Hoffman, President of Golf Canada. “On behalf of the Canadian golf community, our thoughts and best wishes are with Dayton and Hayden as well as their families as they deal through this tragedy.

Public GoFundMe pages are set up for both Price and Underhill to help the families with medical bills – please consider a donation if you are able. 

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Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – The Players Championship had no shortage of weather delays as the rain and wind pushed the competition to a Monday afternoon finish.

While speaking of the wild week at TPC Sawgrass, Adam Hadwin noted he was “happy to be done” after battling inclement weather conditions since the start of play on Thursday. The B.C. native played well on Sunday and Monday to finish the tournament five under 67 and tied for 9th on the leaderboard.

“Got away with a few things today,” said Hawdin of his game. “I hit some really good shots that I took advantage of, obviously. Made a lot of putts early. Had 10 putts through nine holes today, hit four greens and was 2-under on the front, and that doesn’t happen very often here.”

Taylor Pendrith finished just one shot back of Hadwin to tie for 13th in his first appearance at The Players. The 30 year old also noted his familiarity with playing in colder conditions from his time spent on the Korn Ferry Tour.

“The course was great, yeah,” said Pendrith of the course conditions. “The greens were still very receptive I would say, obviously with all the rain. The rough seems to be a little easier to hit out of than the start of the week, but the greens are good. They’ve got some really nice speed to them and are rolling true. It’s challenging but it’s very fair.”

Corey Conners posted a bogey-free two under 70 in the final round to finish T26.

Next week the PGA TOUR heads to Palm Harbour Florida for the Valspar Championship.

Click here to view the full leaderboard from The Players Championship.

Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, is pleased to announce the qualifying format for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto with nearby Islington Golf Club serving as the official practice facility.

A two-stage qualifying process for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship will feature regional qualifying competitions in Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario, as well as Alberta which is new for 2022.

Each of the four regional qualifiers will consist of 18 holes of stroke-play with the low qualifier at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open field (provided a minimum of 100 competitors participate at each site). The top 10% of finishers beyond the low qualifier at each regional qualifying competition are eligible to compete at the Final Qualifying Competition.

The final qualifying competition will take place on Monday, June 6 at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, host of the 2023 & 2026 RBC Canadian Open. 

“With the return of the RBC Canadian Open to the PGA TOUR schedule, we are very pleased to bring back our regional qualifying competitions, adding a fourth qualifier in Alberta, and providing players from across the country the opportunity to compete in our National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. Regional qualifying has always brought an important element to our championship field, and with such great momentum behind golf right now, we look forward to the excitement of Canadian and international competitors playing their way into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.”

Participation in the final qualifying competition is limited to those competitors receiving requisite exemptions, or individuals who have advanced through regional qualifying. The Final Qualifier will feature 18 holes of stroke play, with a minimum of four (4) spots available for direct entry into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open field.

2022 RBC Canadian Open Qualifying Competitions

• Quebec Regional Qualifier, Monday May 9, 2022 @ Club de Golf Le Blainvillier in Blainvillier, Que.
• British Columbia Regional Qualifier, Tuesday, May 17 @ Meadow Gardens Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.
• Ontario Regional Qualifier, Wednesday, May 18 @ TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.   
• Alberta Regional Qualifier, Monday, May 30 @ Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.
• RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier, Monday, June 6 @ Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont.

Registration for all four 2022 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers is now open. 

The RBC Canadian Open qualifying competition is open to members in good standing of the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates; amateur golfers who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective association; and other golf professionals. Players’ Handicap Index must not exceed 2.0 on the date of the application filing and must be within the Handicap Index requirements at the entry deadline.

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 150^th Open Championship, July 10-17, 2022, at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.

For more information about RBC Canadian Open qualifying criteria and player registration, click here.

Acton, Ont. – The PGA of Canada is pleased to announce that some of Canada’s top courses have been secured as host sites for the 2022 RBC PGA Scramble Regional Finals.

Building on last year’s return to Cabot Links for the National Final and the largest draw of players ever to participate in the program, we are excited to announce that players who qualify from their local qualifier will head to one of the following Regional Final hosts:

August 11 – B.C. EAST – Black Mountain Golf Club – Kelowna, BC 
August 13 – B.C. WEST – Morningstar Golf Club – Parksville, BC 
August 15 – ONTARIO GTA – Maple Downs G&CC – Maple, ON
August 16 – ALBERTA NORTH – Wolf Creek Golf Resort – Ponoka, AB 
August 16 – QUEBEC – Le Maitre De Mont Tremblant – Mont-Tremblant, QC   
August 22 – SASKATCHEWAN – The Legends Golf Club – Warman, SK 
August 22- ONTARIO SW – FireRock Golf Club – Komoka, ON 
August 29 – MANITOBA – Quarry Oaks Golf Course – Steinback, MB 
September 1 – ALBERTA SOUTH – The Winston Golf Club – Calgary, AB 
September 6 – ATLANTIC – Mill River Resort – Woodstock, PEI 
September 6 – ONTARIO NE – Wildfire Golf Club – Douro-Dummer, ON

“We have some incredibly impressive venues that are set to play host to RBC PGA Scramble Regional Finals in 2022,” said PGA of Canada president Teejay Alderdice. “Players who make it through local qualifying are in for a very memorable day, especially with the improvements RBC and the PGA of Canada teams have worked to implement this year.” 

As the premier amateur team golf tournament in the country, the 2022 edition of the RBC PGA Scramble expects to once again see more than 10,000 golfers participate in over 150 local qualifiers throughout the country. With the increase in participation last year, many clubs benefited from additional revenue after hosting RBC PGA Scramble qualifiers.  With continued efforts to make the RBC PGA Scramble inclusive for all players, there will again be a guaranteed spot for an all-female team at each Regional Final. 

The PGA of Canada and RBC teams have spent the past few months working on significant improvements to the program based on participant feedback. Specifically, a task force was organized to evaluate and identify potential improvements to the handicap stipulations. The Task Force took past participant feedback into account based on the program’s various player surveys. An announcement will be made in the coming weeks with more information about the handicap amendments for 2022. 

In addition, we will be announcing further RBC PGA Scramble partnerships in the coming weeks that will greatly improve the value for participants and host facilities. 

If you would like to register your facility to host a local qualifier, click here. The registration deadline for courses to register themselves as a local qualifying destination is April 16, 2022. 

Player registration is set to open April 4^th. 

Last week, the LPGA Tour headed to Thailand for the 15th edition of the Honda LPGA Classic.

During the four-day competition, temperatures reached upwards of 42C prompting Brooke Henderson to comment, “I think today was the hottest I’ve ever been in my life.” Still, that didn’t stop the Smith Falls, Ont. native from posting a T4 finish at 23 under – three shots back from leader Nanna Koerstz Madsen.

“Yeah, it was a good finish. I felt like I’ve been playing really well, which is a really good feeling, especially after last year wasn’t my best year,” said Henderson. “So to come out this year so strong, I’m definitely happy and proud of that. I feel like I’m inching my way closer every week to getting a little bit more comfortable and just enjoying those final groups as much as I have been. It’s just so fun, so exciting to be in them. I just look forward to when I have my opportunity to win.”

For Henderson, that win seems just around the corner as the 24 year old recorded her fourth top ten finish in five starts for the 2022 season.

While Henderson was competing abroad, International Women’s Day took place in North America. When asked about the celebration and the women’s game, Henderson responded:

“I think the women’s game is in a great spot. The depth of the tour and the strength of the players coming out every year just keeps getting better. It’s exciting to be part of the LPGA Tour right now just because you feel like you’re part of a movement and part of pushing it forward, which is amazing. It’s nice to see some of the sponsors step up, and to get to play better golf courses at some of our major championships, it’s definitely a cool time to be part of the tour, and hopefully I can keep getting better, too, and keep pushing the boundaries.”

Next up, Henderson heads to Carlsbad, Ca. to compete in the JTBC Classic.

Click here for the full leaderboard from the Honda LPGA Classic.