OTTAWA, Ont. – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) board of directors has announced that Chief Operating Officer Nathalie Lavallée will be promoted to Chief Executive Officer, effective Dec. 31, following the retirement of long-time CEO Jeff Calderwood.

Lavallée’s appointment follows a 25-year career with NGCOA Canada, where she has held several senior roles including director of membership, director of communications, and most recently COO. She has overseen day-to-day operations, led a national team, and played a key role in the Association’s growth over the past two and a half decades.

Her professional background includes experience in hotel management and work on Parliament Hill for a federal cabinet minister. Fully bilingual, Lavallée is recognized for her strong leadership skills and broad industry perspective.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nathalie as our next CEO,” said NGCOA Canada president Richard Edmonds. “She is a dynamic, forward-thinking leader whose experience aligns perfectly with our ongoing strategic goals serving Canadian golf course operators from coast to coast.”

Lavallée expressed excitement about her new role.

“I am honoured and energized by the opportunity to lead the NGCOA Canada into its next chapter,” she said. “With the strength of our team, the continued support of our dedicated board, and the foundation built over the past 34 years, I’m confident this will be a smooth and seamless transition

“Having had the privilege of working alongside Jeff Calderwood for the past 25 years, I want to express my sincere appreciation for his visionary leadership and mentorship. His passion and dedication have shaped the NGCOA Canada into what it is today, and I am committed to building on that legacy.”

Lavallée will remain based at the NGCOA Canada head office in Ottawa and will travel as needed to lead its national membership and eight regional chapters.

Nine members of Team Canada program set to join Brooke Henderson, Savannah Grewal, Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee Leblanc in 13-player Canadian contingent along with other notable exemptions into the field for Canada’s National Open Championship

CPKC Women’s Open to benefit MacKids through CPKC Has Heart program

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) today announced 13 players that have received exemptions to compete in the 51st playing of the CPKC Women’s Open, August 20-24 at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

Leading the way are nine members of Team Canada, including 15-year-old Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. Deng made history last month, becoming the first Canadian to win the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga. The win was the third of the year for Deng, having previously won two junior titles earlier this season. Deng was victorious at the 2025 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley in April and the 2025 Mizuho Americas Open in May where she played alongside then world no. 1, Nelly Korda. Deng will be making her first appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open and is currently ranked No. 22 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. earned an exemption as the top ranked Canadian on WAGR at No. 17. Kim will compete in her third consecutive CPKC Women’s Open coming off a strong sophomore season at the University of Texas. Kim captured her second collegiate title at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and earned eight top 10 finishes last season. Kim also competed in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) for a second consecutive year, finishing T14 to tie the best-ever Canadian finish at the prestigious championship.

Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. will be competing in her second consecutive CPKC Women’s Open. The 16-year-old turned professional in January and earned status to compete on the Ladies European Tour for the 2025 season. Huang has competed in 11 events this season and has earned four top 20 finishes and one additional top 25 finish to date. In 2023, Huang helped Canada win its first-ever World Junior Girls Championship on home soil at Brampton Golf Club, an event where she finished T2 in the individual competition.  

Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. (No. 42 WAGR) will be competing in her third consecutive CPKC Women’s Open. The 19-year-old recently set the record for the lowest round of stroke play in the 125-year history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Golf Championship last week at Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Ore. Borovilos also qualified and competed in the U.S. Women’s Open in May. Borovilos recently completed her first year at Texas A&M University, where she earned her first collegiate title at The Chevron Collegiate along with three additional runner-up finishes and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

The foursome will join several other Team Canada teammates who earned exemptions through the She Plays Golf Championship Series. 14-year-old Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. won the Golf BC Group BC Women’s Open and 16-year-old Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., won The Peloton Glencoe Invitational. Both Ding and Liu will be making their first starts in an LPGA Tour event. Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta. booked her spot after winning the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada and Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. earned an exemption after finishing atop the Order of Merit standings for the three-tournament series. Cranston will be competing in her fourth consecutive CPKC Women’s Open, while Claggett will be making her debut in Mississauga.

Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. recently earned an exemption for winning the 111th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. The 17-year-old was the only player under par for the tournament and won the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup by four shots. Xing will be making her second consecutive appearance in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship after earning an exemption through the She Plays Golf Championship Series last year.

The nine members of Team Canada will join previously announced, 13-time LPGA Tour winner and the winningest golfer in Canadian history, Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. in the field for the CPKC Women’s Open. Additional Canadian LPGA Tour players competing as part of the 13-player Canadian contingent are Mississauga’s own Savannah Grewal, Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que.

Joining the Canadian contingent is fellow Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship winner, Yurang Li of Fullerton, Calif., who earned an exemption for winning the Canadian Women’s Amateur title in 2024. Li recently transferred to Baylor University ahead of her junior year after spending the previous two years at the University of Illinois. Li will make her first appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open.

A trio of international rising stars have also accepted tournament exemptions to compete at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club.

Carla Bernat Escuder of Castellón de la Plana, Spain will be making her professional debut at the CPKC Women’s Open. Escuder won the 2025 ANWA by one shot in her third appearance in the prestigious amateur championship. This season, Escuder has competed in four majors on the LPGA Tour and recently finished T58 at the AIG Women’s Open. She also won five collegiate titles and earned 14 top-fives, and 16 top 10 finishes during her time at Kansas State University.

Anna Davis of Spring Valley, Calif. will be making her third appearance in tournament history. Davis competed in both the 2022 and 2024 CPKC Women’s Opens and was the low amateur in both tournaments, finishing T39 and T56, respectively. Davis is entering her junior year at Auburn University where she has already won three collegiate tournaments. In addition, Davis won the 2022 ANWA and competed in the 2023 and 2024 tournaments in Augusta, Ga.

Soomin Oh of Ansan, South Korea will also be competing in Mississauga. The 16-year-old earned her exemption after winning the individual title at the 2024 World Junior Girls Championship at the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, right next door to Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga. Oh is currently ranked No. 12 on WAGR and has earned three titles in 2025 after winning five times in 2024. Oh won the Kang Min Koo Cup Korean Women’s Amateur in June for the second straight year and competed in her first ANWA in April.

“We are very proud to add these 13 incredibly talented players into our field for the 51st playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship,” said Claire Welsh, Tournament Director, CPKC Women’s Open. “Our field is shaping up to be one of the strongest in recent years and we are excited to offer these Canadian and international rising talents an opportunity to compete alongside the best in the world on the LPGA Tour.”

There are four additional tournament exemptions to be awarded during the CPKC Women’s Open Qualifier on Monday, August 18 at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club.

The CPKC Women’s Open through CPKC Has Heart will once again leave a meaningful impact in the host community of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. For 2025, CPKC has selected MacKids, the arm of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation dedicated to fundraising for McMaster Children’s Hospital, as the primary charity partner with a goal to raise more than $2.8 million in support of pediatric cardiac care initiatives from newborn to adolescent. In addition, Trillium Health Partners will be the community charity partner with CPKC generously matching donations up to $250,000 in support of Trillium Health Partners cardiac program equipment needs, with up to $500,000 expected to be raised.

Tickets for the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

Canadian golfers were busy racking up numbers this summer — and not just on their scorecards.

July 2025 set a new record for scores entered into the Golf Canada Score Centre, with members logging a whopping 2,082,814 rounds for the month.

That’s a 6.6 per cent jump over the previous July high of 1,953,807 set in 2024. Compared with 2019, July score entries are up more than 44 per cent — a sign that more golfers than ever are tracking their play and keeping their Handicap Index® current.

The mid-summer surge came as golfers across the country took advantage of long daylight hours, prime course conditions and a busy stretch of club, provincial and national events. With the Golf Canada app and web platform making score entry quicker than ever, members are keeping their stats up to date from the clubhouse, the parking lot — even right on the 18th green.

July has traditionally been the biggest month for score posting in Canada, but 2025’s total pushes the benchmark to new heights. The upward trend in recent years shows no signs of slowing, with steady growth in score entries across nearly every province.

With August and September still ahead — and plenty of fairways yet to be played — there’s every chance golfers will post another banner stretch before the season wraps.

Download the Golf Canada App

Field of 144 will compete for the Brokenshire Trophy in La Belle Province; Inter-Provincial Team Championship to be contested over first 36 holes

Sainte-Marie, Que. – The top junior female golfers from across North America are set to compete at Club de golf Sainte Marie in Sainte-Marie, Que. for the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO from August 13-16.

This year’s field features 141 of Canada’s top golfers from the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) are included in the 144-player field along with three international competitors.

The field is led by defending champion, Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. Last year the Team Canada NextGen member fired a 2-under to win the national championship by three shots. Liu has already earned four wins in 2025, including the Peloton Glencoe Invitational, where she earned an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series. Liu also earned two wins on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and one NXXT Epson Tour Qualifier. Liu is currently ranked No. 118 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

Joining Liu is fellow Team Canada NextGen member and 2023 Canadian Junior Girls champion Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. Eileen will be joined by teammates Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C., Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C., and Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. Lin has earned one win this year competing on AJGA, while Park has earned six victories this season, including the NextGen Ontario Championship, the Ontario Junior Players Invitational and four wins from AJGA competitions.

In addition to Park, there are three additional 2025 NextGen Championship winners including, Alexis Card of Cambridge, Ont. (NextGen Quebec), Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver, B.C. (NextGen Western), and Maggie Zhang of Richmond, B.C. (NextGen Prairie).

“We have a strong field of Canadian and international talents ready to compete for our prestigious national championship. We are proud and excited to begin play at the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO at the beautiful Club de Golf Sainte-Marie,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Connor Doyle. “We would like to thank the incredible staff and volunteers for all the work in the lead up to ensure those competing this week are treated to a memorable experience.

Prior to the start of the tournament, a practice round will be held on Tuesday, August 12, with championship rounds beginning on Wednesday, August 13. Following the first two rounds of play, the field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties with the top ten juvenile and ties included in the final two rounds. An inter-provincial team competition will take place over the first two rounds. Each day, the lowest two of three individuals 18-hole scores will count towards the team total. The lowest aggregate score over rounds one and two determines the inter-provincial team champions, who will claim the Mary Pyke Trophy.

Last year, Team British Columbia, consisting of Ha Young Chang (Surrey, B.C.), Amy Seung Hyun Lee (Langley, B.C.) and Chelsea Truong (Victoria, B.C.) were victorious in Vancouver to finish at 1-over, eight shots clear of Team Manitoba.

Founded in 1962, the Sainte-Marie Golf Club is set in a stunning landscape with mature trees and views of the Beauce Valley; the Sainte-Marie Golf Club offers greens and fairways of unmatched quality. Thanks to the partnership of two visionary businessmen, Mr. Benoît Vachon and Mr. Roland Lacroix, land located on Rang St-Étienne in Sainte-Marie caught their attention due to its proximity, terrain, and vegetation. Together, Mr. Vachon and Mr. Lacroix fully committed to realizing this great dream, investing their time and generously contributing significant financial support. From 1968 to 1969, under the supervision of architect Howard Watson, a series of major works were carried out to expand and improve the original nine-hole course.

The Beauce Golf Club of Sainte-Marie has also had the privilege of hosting prestigious events, including the Canadian Junior Championship in 1982 and the Québec District Junior Final in 2009, along with numerous amateur golf tournaments held annually. Over the years, the leadership of Golf de Beauce has ensured the best facilities for its visitors, including the expansion of the clubhouse and improvements to the golf course.

“Being selected to host a national-level event is a deeply meaning recognition. It reflects the quality of our course, the professionalism of our team and above all, the warm welcome for which the people of the Beauce region are known,” said Daniel Drouin, President, Club de Golf Sainte-Marie. “It is a great source of pride for our members to see their club shine on the Canadian stage. This championship is an opportunity to showcase the expertise of our organization, but also the celebrate the talent and determination of these young golfers who represent the future of the sport. To all participants, welcome to our home. May your stay in Sainte-Marie be filled with great performances and last memories. Wishing you all a great championship.”

The Championship was first contested in 1955 and operated by the former Canadian Ladies Association (CLGA) until the amalgamation of CLGA and Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) in 2005.

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship has a long list of distinguished past champions that have etched their name on the Brokenshire Trophy. Past champions include, Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Sandra Post (1964-66), Betty Stanhope (1956), Judy Darling (1957), Gail Harvey Moore (1958-1960) and Gayle Borthwick (1961). In addition, LPGA Tour players, Alena Sharp (1999), Brooke Henderson (2012) and Maddie Szeryk (2013). Stollery Family Team Canada Women’s Head Coach Salimah Mussani (1996) is also a past Canadian Junior Champion.

The 2025 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2026 Canadian Junior Girls Championship and 2026 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship, if eligible.

For the full player field competing in the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, click here.

Ten provinces represented in the field as Team Ontario eyes third-consecutive win at Championship’s Inter-Provincial Team event through opening 36 holes 

BATHURST, N.B. – After six entertaining NextGen Championships and various junior tournaments from coast-to-coast, the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO has arrived and is set to run August 12-15 at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B.  

156 of Canada’s top junior golfers will tee off in the 72-hole event and battle for the Silver Cup (awarded annually to the Canadian Junior Boys champion) as well as the top spot in the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship over the event’s first 36 holes. The winner of the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will earn coveted exemptions into both the U.S. Junior Amateur and 121st Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2026.  

“We have a competitive and proven field teeing off at our Canadian Junior Boys Championship this week,” commented Sam Brown, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club is a premier golf facility on our country’s east coast and will offer a unique challenge to Canada’s best young talent. This opportunity is made possible through the skilled staff and volunteers working the event and we are excited for play to get underway.”   

Chase Lassman of Parkland County, Alta. headlines the list of in-season NextGen winners teeing off in New Brunswick this week after claiming a pair of wins in June (NextGen Western and NextGen Prairie) to emphatically punch his ticket into this year’s national championship.  

Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C. (NextGen Pacific), Henry Dao of La Prairie, Que. (NextGen Quebec) and Cole Stewart of Fall River, N.S. (NextGen Atlantic) also joined the winners circle through the NextGen Championship circuit this summer and will each rival Lassman’s ambitions for a third title.  

Brett Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. will also tee off at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club, qualifying through his fourth-place finish at the 2025 British Columbia Junior Championship in July. Brett is the son of Shelly Stouffer, a two-time Canadian Women’s Senior champion and three-time winner of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.  

Additionally, a pair of Team Canada NextGen members will join the hunt for the Silver Cup, including Austin Krahn of Christina Lakes, B.C. and Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. Krahn enters his fourth-career Canadian Junior Boys Championship having pocketed a trio of provincial victories in July (British Columbia Junior Championship, British Columbia Amateur and British Columbia Indigenous Championship), while Gillespie looks to avenge his runner-up defeat to NextGen teammate Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. in last year’s event. In addition to claiming last year’s Canadian Junior Boys Championship, Ibit helped Team Ontario clinch their second consecutive Inter-Provincial Team Championship in 2024. 

“The Gowan Brae Golf Club is very pleased to host the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. We look forward to the players and their families enjoying some maritime hospitality this week along with a challenging golf experience at Gowan Brae,”commented Adam Chamberlain, Director of Golf at Gowan Brae.   

Located on the shores of New Brunswick’s Bathurst Harbour, Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club parlays picturesque views with a stiff challenge for golfers of every level. The surrounding water and windy conditions that Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club is known for can be spotted and experienced on 14 different holes throughout the golf course, maintaining the natural test envisioned by renowned Canadian architect C.E (Robbie) Robinson when he designed the property in 1958. 

“The golf course offers great views of the Bathurst Harbour and Bay of Chaleur but the breeze off the water along with quick greens will provide a great test for the players at this national championship. Our members and local community are excited to host this prestigious event,” Chamberlain added.  

Coupled with slick greens and breezy weather, the 6,700-yard property was considered to be one of the most demanding courses in Atlantic Canada following its 18-hole completion in 1962. The 243-yard par-three 17th into prevailing winds and 447-yard par-four 13th featuring sloping fairways in addition to a three-tiered green are among the most vigorous tests one will find on the property and help differentiate Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Canada’s modern golf landscape.  

Since 1938, the Canadian Junior Boys Championship has brought together the top junior talent in the country for four rounds of entertaining competition. Those to have previously claimed the Silver Cup have gone on to serve memorable careers in the game of golf, including Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Doug Silverberg (1950), George Knudson (1955), Gary Cowan (1956) and Doug Roxburgh (1970), as well as current PGA TOUR stars Nick Taylor and Adam Svensson who each won the tournament in 2006 and 2012 respectively.  

The 16-and-under Juvenile Championship has featured in the tournament since 1970, with the winner receiving the Jack Bailey Trophy. Only 11 players have ever claimed both the Juvenile and Junior championship in the same year, with Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. being the last to accomplish the feat in 2023.  

Both Junior and Juvenile championship rounds are played concurrently over 72 holes and are open male amateur golfers that have not reached their 19th and 17th birthday respectively by August 1st. All competing players, no matter their division, must have their Handicap Index below 10 to be eligible to compete in the tournament. Further information on eligibility requirements can be found here.  

The first round of the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will get underway on Tuesday, August 12 and run until a winner is crowned on Friday, August 15. Practice rounds will precede the tournament on Monday, August 11, 2025.  

To view live leaderboards and the up-to-date tee times throughout the tournament, please click here.  

Kyrinis tops Nonie Marler in three-hole playoff to win Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master titles; Team British Columbia retains Inter-Provincial Team title in Lachute

LACHUTE, Que. – Judith Kyrinis is a national champion once again, following a three-hole playoff win over Nonie Marler at the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que. on Friday.

Kyrinis, of Thornhill, Ont. tapped in her par putt on the third playoff hole to win the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship for the fourth time. Her previous wins came in 2016, 2019 and 2023. She sits second all-time, just behind Christina Spence Proteau who has six.

“It’s wonderful, you don’t really expect to do some of this stuff but I’m just very thankful for the opportunity and for the people that helped me get here and all the work that Liz and Mark Hoffman do for me and to help me achieve these goals and my family too,” said Kyrinis following the awards ceremony on 18.

Kyrinis opened the day one shot back of Marler, who held the 36-hole lead. The pair found themselves tied after two holes following a bogey from Marler. The co-lead was short lived however as Marler quickly answered with a birdie on the third to regain her lead by one. The biggest swing of the day came at the par-3 5th hole, where Kyrinis carded her lone birdie on the day to drop to even par, while a double bogey from Marler put Kyrinis ahead by two.

Kyrinis said there was “lots of golf left and many opportunities for the longer hitters to take advantage,” so she remained patient.

“I was hitting the ball really well and neither one of us were getting many putts to drop but getting really good looks at it, so I said just stay patient,” she said.

Marler responded with birdie at No. 6 to pull within a stroke of the lead and it would remain that way as both women went on to card five consecutive pars through 11 holes. Marler dropped her third birdie on the day at No. 12 to pull even with Kyrinis. Following consecutive pars, Kyrinis regained her one stroke advantage on No. 15 following a bogey from Marler. That lead was also short lived as Kyrinis dropped a stroke on the very next hole, putting both players at even par with two to play.

The final two holes solved nothing, and a playoff was required. The duo teed off on No. 18 to begin the playoff and both recorded bogey after Marler missed her chance at par. Kyrinis would just miss a birdie opportunity on the second playoff hole (Hole No. 1) to make par and force a return to No. 18 for the third playoff hole.

There Marler would hit her drive out of bounds, having to return to the tee. Kyrinis had a look at birdie from the fringe and left herself with a short par putt, which she sunk to seal the win and her fourth Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title.

“I just wanted to make par, knowing with Nonie unfortunately going O.B. it gave me a little bit of room, but you never know,” she said.

“I knew I had to get my ball into the hole because she could have got it up and down and I could have three-putted. I mean I hit one less going into that green and I still kind of went long. Funny what adrenaline will do for you.

“It feels great, bit of a relief though to finally get it done,” added Kyrinis with a laugh.

Past champions, Marie-Thérèse Torti and Mary Ann Hayward greeted Kyrinis on 18, spraying her with champagne to celebrate their friend’s victory.

Kyrinis finished the tournament at 1-over following rounds of 77-70-73=220. In addition to winning the Mid-Amateur title, Kyrinis also won the Mid-Master title for a record, fourth time.

Kelsey Fuchs of King City, Ont. who held a piece of lead following the opening round fired a 2-under 71 on Friday to finish 3-over and tied for third with Haley Yerxa of Ottawa, Ont. Jordan Matheson of Burnaby, B.C. finished 4-over to round out the top five in the Mid-Amateur division. In the Mid-Master division, Connor Macon of Charlotte, N.C., Suzanne Ricard of Montreal, Que. and Charmaine Hayden of Winnipeg, Man. finished in a three-way tie for third at 9-over.

On Thursday, Team British Columbia (B.C.) retained the Margaret Todd Trophy, winning the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, finishing with a total combined score of 5-over, beating Team Ontario by eight shots. Team B.C. was represented by Nonie Marler of Vancouver, B.C., Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. and Veronica Ivy of Victoria, B.C. Marler shot a 1-under 72, while Ivy shot a 3-over 76 and Choi a 6-over 79 on Thursday. On Wednesday, Marler shot 74, Choi shot 75 and Ivy shot 79. Team Manitoba and Team Quebec tied for third at 19-over. The two lowest scores counted towards the daily team total for the inter-provincial title.

The field of 57 female amateur talents (aged 25-and-over as of August 6, 2025), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less began play on Wednesday. In addition to winning the national championship, Kyrinis will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) in Pebble Beach, Calif. October 4-9, as well as the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at The Toronto Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. from July 20 – 24 and the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at Burlington Golf & Country Club, in Burlington, Ont. from August 4 – 7.

For the final leaderboard following the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here.

Picture this: on a bright Sunday at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, as the final putt drops and the crowd erupts in applause, RCMP Staff Sergeant Carolyn Shaffner stands tall in her red serge, trophy in hand, ready to honour the champion. This moment, set to take place this August, will be more than ceremonial for Shaffner – it will mark a full-circle return to the game that shaped her, a tribute to the sport that taught her patience, perseverance, and purpose.

Born and raised in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Carolyn’s journey began on the fairways of Ken-Wo Golf Club. Introduced to the game by her father, she quickly found herself immersed in junior tournaments, eventually earning a spot on the provincial team and competing in national championships across Canada. “Golf taught me how to lead,” she reflects. “Even though it’s an individual sport, representing your province with a team of young women… that builds something deeper. It teaches you how to show up for others.”

But Carolyn’s path wasn’t confined to the course. After university, where she played varsity basketball, she took on a grassroots role as a Future Links coordinator with the Nova Scotia Golf Association. Driving across the province, she introduced golf to children who might never have had access to it otherwise. “It was such an incredible experience,” she says. “These kids didn’t have the resources to join a club or take lessons. Being able to give them a taste of the game that gave me so much was powerful.”

That spirit of service eventually led Carolyn to the RCMP. “I’ve always been proud to be Canadian. I wanted to help people and represent my country in a meaningful way.” From rural Newfoundland to Fort McMurray and now London, Ontario, Shaffner’s career has spanned the country. And through it all, the lessons from golf have stayed with her.

“Golf taught me patience — and I needed that,” she laughs. “Especially in this job. You deal with high-pressure situations, and keeping a cool head is everything. I used to be a bit of a firecracker, but golf helped me manage that aspect of myself. It taught me to lead with calm and confidence.”

As a woman in uniform, Shaffner understands the power of representation, not only in the impact she has on others, but in the inspiration she’s drawn from those who came before her. As a young golfer, she looked up to provincial champions like Leanne Jeffcock, and throughout her RCMP career, she’s been mentored by senior female officers who helped shape her path. Now, she finds herself on the other side of that dynamic. Whether mentoring young officers or teaching firearms training, she’s often reminded of that influence: “I’ve had women come up to me and say, ‘I never thought I could do this until I saw you doing it.’ Sometimes, that’s all it takes — seeing someone who looks like you doing something you never imagined for yourself.”

That’s why her role at the CPKC Women’s Open means so much. “I’ll have to try hard not to fangirl,” she jokes. “These women work so hard. They’re not just athletes — they’re trailblazers. When I was growing up, we didn’t see women’s sports on TV. Now, there’s this momentum, and I’m so proud to have a small part in it.”

Shaffner’s message to young girls watching the tournament is rooted in belief and possibility: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Believe in yourself. Set no limits. You never know who might be watching, and who you might inspire just by being you.”

From fairways to the force, Carolyn Shaffner’s story is a testament to the transformative power of sport — and a reminder that leadership, like golf, is built one swing, one step, one act of courage at a time.

—

Witness live history this summer as the best female golfers in the world take on the fairways of Mississaugua Golf and Country Club at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, August 20–24 in Mississauga, Ont. As part of tournament week, Golf Canada and CPKC will host the eighth annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday, August 19, at Toronto’s Boulevard Club — a powerful gathering of leaders and changemakers celebrating the advancement of women in sport, business, and beyond.

For more information, tickets, volunteer opportunities, and corporate hospitality, visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com.

Kelly Masson and Emma Bittorf round out 2025 All Abilities Championship with wins in Men’s and Women’s Net Stableford divisions respectively 

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. put the finishing touches on her fifth-consecutive wire-to-wire victory at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, on Thursday while Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. fired a 3-under 69 to nab his maiden win at the tournament and cap off a thrilling 54 holes at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C. 

The victories secure both Stasiuk and Williams a spot in the 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open taking place July 6-8 at Woodmont Country Club (South Course) in Rockville, M.D. The event, which the United States Golf Association (USGA) debuted in 2022, will mark the second and third appearance for Williams and Stasiuk respectively, the latter looking to repeat her first place finish in the intellectual impairment category from 2024.  

“It means everything to me to qualify for the USGA Adaptive Open 2026,” said Stasiuk following her round. It’s very competitive event and I am friends with a lot of people there and it feels like home. But I am proud Canadian and love the Golf Canada tournament but I also I love representing Canada on an international level,” she added.  

Stasiuk shot an 11-over 83 in the final round to complete her fifth victory in as many years, firing rounds of 82-86-83=251 to finish 28 strokes ahead of Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta. in the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Championship.  

“Being a five-time champion means a lot to me because I have come a long way in my golf development, I still got work to do to be the best, I try to improve each day, but it’s nice to be rewarded for my hard work, and I look forward to defending my title next year.” 

Williams jumped into the lead three holes into Thursday’s final round and never relinquished his position at the top of the Men’s Gross Stroke Play leaderboard, rolling in birdie putts on Nos. 4, 5, 11 and 15 to seal the deal on his come-from-behind win.  

“I’ve won a lot of tournaments over the years, but none would be considered this high profile, I don’t think I’ve quite let it sink in that I won a national event,” commented an elated Williams following his round on Thursday. His only blemish came at the par-4 18th, solidifying his 54-hole score of 71-70-69=210 to claim Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship.  

Williams’ playing partner, Josh Hunke of New Dundee, Ont., led after each of the tournament’s opening two rounds but was unable to recover from a pair of early bogeys on Thursday to complete the wire-to-wire triumph. Hunke fell into second place following the second bogey of his final round at the par-4 third hole but clawed his way back to even par with birdies at the seventh, 10th and 15th to maintain his runner-up finish and finish two strokes behind Williams at 4-under.  

The two players have a friendly history and currently live just twenty minutes apart from one another in eastern Ontario. Williams praised the ball striking abilities of Hunke following his round and noted how his own ability to strike the ball as well as his hometown mate will have to improve if he wishes to defend his title in 2026.  

“If [Hunke] even putted half decent, he would have won this tournament for fun… I know he’s going to find that putter and it’s going to be a problem,” added Williams.  

In the Men’s Net Stableford division, Kelly Masson of Grande Prairie, Alta. pieced together a strong finish to surge back into contention and retain his 36-hole lead. Randall Mackus of Prince George, B.C. made claiming the Men’s Net Stableford Championship an uphill battle for Masson on Thursday, teeing off earlier in the day and setting the pace with 37 Stableford points to grab the clubhouse lead at 108 total Stableford points.  

After netting 18 Stableford points at the turn, Masson found another gear on the back nine, collecting his tournament best 21 points over the last nine holes to take the lead for good with 112 total Stableford points.   

Bittorf collected 32 Stableford points on Thursday to reel in 36-hole leader, Stasiuk, and successfully defend her 2024 title in the Women’s Net Stableford division. Bittorf trailed Stasiuk by a single stroke heading into Thursday’s round and used a hot start to propel herself into the lead. With 15 points through her first nine holes, Bittorf continued to add to her total, collecting nine Stableford points on holes 10 through 13 before entering the clubhouse with six points through her last three holes. She finished the tournament with 90 total Stableford points and a two-point victory over Stasiuk.  

This year marked the fifth playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship; an event that debuted at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto, Ont. in 2021 and has since run annually to support Golf Canada’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful sport environment throughout the nation’s golf community.  

“It’s just amazing how far the sport has come in the last four or five years to have national sport organizations like Golf Canada and the USGA and even provincial governing bodies and state governing bodies in the U.S. step up and start hosting these high-profile events,” praised Williams. 

The Women’s Gross Stroke Play, Women’s Net Stableford, Men’s Gross Stroke Play and Men’s Net Stableford make up the four different divisions that players compete in each year – regardless of disability – throughout the competition’s 54 holes.     

The stableford scoring format of the Canadian All Abilities Championship awards set points based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. The points are awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points).  

To view the final leaderboard from the fifth playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.   

Nonie Marler holds one shot lead over Judith Kyrinis in Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions into Friday

LACHUTE, Que. – Team British Columbia has retained the Margaret Todd Trophy, winning the Inter-Provincial Team Championship on Thursday at the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.

Team British Columbia (B.C.) finished with a total combined score of 5-over, beating Team Ontario by eight shots. Team B.C. was represented by Nonie Marler of Vancouver, B.C., Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. and Veronica Ivy of Victoria, B.C. Marler shot a 1-under 72, while Ivy shot a 3-over 76 and Choi a 6-over 79 on Thursday. On Wednesday, Marler shot 74, Choi shot 75 and Ivy shot 79. Team Manitoba and Team Quebec tied for third at 19-over. The two lowest scores counted towards the daily team total for the inter-provincial title.

“Always proud to represent the province and we put some good scores up there the last couple days and we all hope to do it again tomorrow too and finish the tournament strong individually as well as collectively. It’s special to be able to represent the province and to go and come out on top,” said Marler, who won her second inter-provincial title with Team B.C. at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Marler credited her ability to hit the majority of fairways and greens helping her to sit as co-leader, while she struggled to see the lines on greens after the opening round. When asked if that improved on Thursday, Marler replied “marginally” with a laugh.

“There were a lot of things out there that I thought would break more than they did and they didn’t and conversely the opposite as well. I think it’s more a pace thing than a line thing now, what I am figuring out for my own game, but game plan is going to stay the same for the final round and just stay patient and hopefully get a few more to drop tomorrow,” she added.

Marler added that taking things one shot at a time and being particular with yardages was a continued approach on Thursday.

The battle for both the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master division championships is shaping up to be an exciting one on Friday as Marler takes a one-shot lead over three-time Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. The two will be playing together in the final group tomorrow.

“I love Judith, we’ve played a bunch of tournaments together and she caddied for me at the U.S. Mid-Am back in 2021 when we were both down there together. She’s a great friend and playing competitor and I respect her game immensely and I’m really looking forward to playing with her tomorrow, we have a lot of fun playing together,” said Marler.

Kyrinis fired the low round of the day with a bogey free, 3-under 70 on Thursday. Kyrinis said her goal for today was to get back in it and stay close to the leaders. She credited a couple aspects of her game that allowed her to bounce back on Thursday.

“I would say my irons were pretty good today and my pace on the greens was pretty good, I wasn’t struggling too hard on any of the comeback putts.”

Kyrinis added that fairways are indeed tough to hit in Lachute, but she won’t change her approach heading into Friday.

“Same thing that I always try to work on and that’s keep it simple. Fairways and greens. Par is your friend out here and just play my game. These girls can hit it down there pretty good, and I just have to know where my game is and play to my strengths,” she said.

In the Mid-Amateur division, Haley Yerxa of Ottawa, Ont. fired a 1-under 72 to move up into third at 4-over for the tournament. Yerxa, Marler and Kyrinis were the only players in the field that were able to shoot under par on Thursday. Jordan Matheson of Burnaby, B.C. and Kelsey Fuchs on King City, Ont. are tied for fourth at 5-over for the championship.

In the Mid-Master division, Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. and Suzanne Ricard of Montreal, Que. are tied for third at 7-over and Charmaine Hayden of Winnipeg, Man. is fifth at 8-over.

The field of 57 female amateur talents (aged 25-and-over as of August 6, 2025), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less began play on Wednesday. The winner of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) in Pebble Beach, Calif. October 4-9, as well as the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at Burlington Golf & Country Club, in Burlington, Ont. from August 4 – 7, 2026.

For the leaderboard following the second round of the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here.

Kelly Masson and Dustin Boydell share lead in the Men’s Net Stableford Championship, Natasha Stasiuk moves into top spot of Women’s Net Stableford Championship 

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Josh Hunke of New Dundee, Ont. and Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. were able to navigate wet conditions throughout Wednesday’s second round to keep their opening round leads intact at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C. 

Hunke steered around a pair of bogeys on his scorecard with three birdies to shoot a 1-under 71 while Stasiuk added some major insurance over Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta. with a 14-over par performance to get a hand on her fifth-straight title. Both hold outright leads in the Men’s and Women’s Gross Stroke Play division respectively heading into Thursday’s final round. 

A close race for the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship emerged in the early stages of Wednesday’s second round as Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. reeled in birdies at holes two and four to slice his deficit in half and get within a stroke of Hunke.  

Williams – who started two shots back of Hunke on Wednesday – stayed in limbo with his playing partner, remedying a pair of bogeys on his front nine with birdies at Nos. 8 and 12 to shoot a 2-under 70 and enter his final round one stroke off the pace.  

A bogey at the par-3 16th reeled in Hunke from entering the clubhouse with the same two-stroke lead he ended his round with on Tuesday and sets the Ontarian up for a tight race to claim the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship in less than 24 hours.  

“The round was a difficult one with the weather. It was just one of those rounds you needed to be patient, and I was proud of myself that I stayed in it for the most part,” commented Hunke, who teed off at 9:20 a.m. PST and endured wet conditions until the rain exited the Kamloops region at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time.  

“Today was all about trying to keep dry and stay within myself,” continued Hunke. “I was trying to keep it in play and in front of me which I did for the most part. There were a couple of errant shots due to weather but all in all I played within my game plan.”  

Hunke has been surrounded by his family all tournament long and praised his support system for being a major motivational element to help find success in Kamloops. Personally, the week is a special one for the Hunke family, marking the seventh birthday of one of their close family friends that has led Josh to illustrate his ball with seven dots in their honour. He is hopeful that the practice will bring him luck in the form of birdies throughout his final round as he contends for a maiden win at the event.  

“It is really exciting to be in this position. I have worked really hard to hopefully have these types of opportunities… really looking forward to tomorrow,” he added.  

Similarly to Hunke, Kelly Masson of Grande Prairie, Alta. was able to maintain his first round lead in the Net Stableford division on Wednesday, adding 35 Stableford points to get in a two-player tie with Dustin Boydell of Chilliwack, B.C. The two hold a two-point lead over Randall Mackus of Prince George, B.C. and sit at the top of the leaderboard with 73 total Stableford points.  

In the Women’s Net Stableford division, Stasiuk was able to overtake Bittorf for the top spot after picking up 27 Stableford points on Wednesday to get to 59 total points. The four-time Canadian All-Abilities champion enters Thursday’s final round with a one-point lead over Bittorf and a seven-point lead over reining Women’s Net Stableford Champion Tess Trojan of St. Catharines, Ont.  

“With one more round to go I am determined to play my best tomorrow…I am a proud Canadian and I want to show Canada what I can do,” said Stasiuk, who plans on getting a good night’s sleep and some pasta for dinner before heading out to the range early Thursday morning.  

“With all the rain today, it was about tough for me, I don’t play with a glove due to a sensory issue so my goal for the whole round was to keep them dry during the round” added Stasiuk. Her game plan on Wednesday hinged on keeping her golf ball in play and staying out of trouble in which the perimeter of The Dunes at Kamloops can offer.  

The Canadian All Abilities Championship debuted in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto, Ont. and has since run annually while supporting Golf Canada’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful sport environment throughout the nation’s golf community. The Women’s Gross Stroke Play, Women’s Net Stableford, Men’s Gross Stroke Play and Men’s Net Stableford make up the four different divisions that players compete in – regardless of disability – throughout the competition’s 54 holes.    

The stableford scoring format of the Canadian All Abilities Championship awards set points based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. The points will be awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points). The golfers with the highest total of accumulated points over 54-holes will win their respective divisions.  

The gross champions will earn exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open taking place July 6-8 at Woodmont Country Club (South Course) in Rockville, M.D. Last month, Stasiuk and Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. each competed at Woodmont Country Club for the 2025 U.S. Adaptive Open through exemptions from their 2024 titles, finishing first in the intellectual impairment category and second in the men’s upper limb impairment category respectively.   

To view the full leaderboard from Wednesday’s second round at Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.