Ottawa duo crowned as national champions and earn an exemption into 2027 national finals

CALEDON, Ont. – Trevor Luedee and Jamie Pilkington won on the first hole of the playoff to be crowned as the national champions of the 2026 BDO National Golf League Saturday at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Heathlands course) in Caledon, Ont.

After finishing 18 holes with 38 stableford points along with Jeff Best and Richard White of the Princeton Golf Club (Princeton, B.C.) the duo from the Carlton Golf and Yacht Club in Manotick, Ont. proceeded to the 18th hole of the North course for a playoff to crown the third national champions.

As the players worked down the fairway, Pilkington and Luedee put themselves in prime position to win. Luedee chipped to roughly 25 feet, giving a chance for a two due to the two strokes he had as part of the scoring format. After a missed chip, Pilkington’s putt from off the green struck the pin flag, giving him an easy tap in.

Luedee sunk a short second putt for a net score of three (gross score of five) to secure the championship.

“Really just unbelievable, the whole day was a challenge, the wind was a challenge, the course is tough…we were in for it,” said Luedee. “Through some struggles and adversity, ham and egging and help from the caddies, it was a great time and still don’t actually believe it.”

Pilkington echoed his partner’s words, “when Trevor was down, I picked him up, when I was down on 18, Trevor picked me up. I couldn’t be prouder; it’s one of those things that you think can’t happen. In the short time we’ve known each other we’ve gotten very close as good friends and now, we’re National Golf League champions, it’s unbelievable.”

As the duo approached the playoff hole, the pressure didn’t seem to affect Luedee.

“I was telling Jamie before my drive, I wasn’t nervous and I hit a fantastic drive, best of the day and that’s when I got nervous.”

The pressure turned to jubilation after the final putt went in, “then it was a deep breath finally,” said Luedee with a smile.

While they will now forever be known as national champions, the duo has only golfed together for two years, where their partnership began at a similar event at their home Club.

“Trevor and I were starting to become friends, and I said let’s do this. We won that event, went to the Provincials in Quebec and won that event and I said, I think we got something going here,” said Pilkington.

Even more impressive is that both Luedee and Pilkington are relatively new to the sport. Luedee, an intellectual engineer has been playing for three years and got into the sport with his family. Pilkington, a mortgage broker is in his fifth season playing golf and took up the sport after moving close to his home course.

“We moved with the intent that I could play golf because I work from home and I took it head on. It’s now a real passion, hopefully my wife has seen all the hard work and extra rounds have paid off and I’ll still be allowed to play as much as she lets me,” he said with a laugh.

Both have enjoyed the experience of playing and competing in the BDO National Golf League.

“Playing men’s leagues through to provincials and now nationals and having the opportunity for the average golfer to compete, that’s what’s awesome about it,” said Luedee.

“We had guys from our club that participated and had nothing but great things to say and to be given the opportunity to come and experience it, everyone at Golf Canada put on a good event,” added Pilkington.

In addition to winning the national championship, the Ottawa duo have also earned an exemption into the 2027 BDO National Golf League National Championship.

The third playing of the BDO National Golf League Championship featured 108 golfers and 54 teams from across the country. The final was contested over 18-holes, using a best ball net Stableford format.

Launched by Golf Canada ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women and junior golfers. The NGL has seen substantial growth since the inaugural season, with 271 leagues now set to compete this coming season, up from 130 leagues last season; and over 30,000 participants having competed since launching in 2023. The additional of several indoor member facilities across the country and simulator qualifiers has brought forward a number of new players into the league.

Those who participate in the NGL season play a lively role in growing the sport in their community as well, with 100 per cent of the league’s proceeds benefiting First Tee – Canada in their respective provinces around the country. To learn more about First Tee – Canada programming and ways to support, please visit firstteecanada.ca.

For the final standings from the 2026 BDO National Golf League finals, click here.

For more information on the BDO National Golf League or to register, please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

PONOKA, Alta. – Ryan Mosher battled from behind while Saylar May’s two late birdies helped to secure their respective wins in the 2026 NextGen Western Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, Alta. on Saturday.

Mosher of Saskatoon, Sask. was two strokes back of the leader heading into the final round on Saturday. Mosher started his round with three birdies to put himself one stroke behind the lead. He struggled at the start of the back nine but pulled through with birdies on holes 14 and 17 to tie the lead heading into the 18th.

Mosher recorded a par on no.18 to finish 4-under and secure the win and his second NextGen Championship title. Mosher recorded rounds of 69-70-67-206 and carded 11 birdies through three rounds. Mosher’s previous win on the NextGen Championship circuit came in 2024 at the NextGen Prairie Championship at the Whitewater Golf Club in Thunder Bay, Ont.

May of Rocky Mountain House, Alta. entered the final round two shots back of the leader, Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver B.C. and shot an even par 70 to finish the tournament at 8-over and secure the Girls division title.  May recorded rounds of 73-75-70-218 and carded seven birdies through three rounds, including two on the back nine on Saturday to earn her first win on the NextGen circuit three shots clear of Kwon.

NextGen Western Championship –

Advancing to 2026 Canadian Junior Girls Championship

Top 8 plus ties qualify

NextGen Western Championship –

Advancing to 2026 Canadian Junior Boys Championship

Top 8 qualify

The field of 154 players (115 Junior Boys and 39 Junior Girls) teed off Thursday with a cut following Friday’s second round.

The NextGen Championship series continues June 19-21 at Neepawa Golf & Country Club in Neepawa, Man. For the playing of the NextGen Prairie Championship. Practice rounds will get underway on Thursday, June 18, followed by 54-holes, set to kick off Friday, June 19 and wrap up on Sunday, June 21.

For the final leaderboards from the NextGen Western Championship, please click here

About the NextGen Championships

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six 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 2026 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

Defending champion Ryan Fox and international stars Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Viktor Hovland, Tony Finau, Shane Lowry, Aaron Rai, Jacob Bridgeman, Max Homa, Sahith Theegala, Sam Burns, Alex Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark ready to challenge TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley

2023 champion Nick Taylor and fellow Canadian stars Corey Conners, Taylor Pendrith, Mackenzie Hughes, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Adam Hadwin, A.J. Ewart, Adam Svensson and Ben Silverman headline a group of 18 Canadians set to compete in 115th playing of
Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship

Dwayne Gretzky and James Barker Band headline 2026 RBC Canadian Open After Party

CALEDON, Ont. – Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field vying for the $9.8 million USD purse at the 2026 RBC Canadian Open, June 10 –14 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.

The world-class field is led by four players currently in the top ten on the OWGR (Official World Golf Rankings) including Matt Fitzpatrick (world no. 4), Justin Rose (world no. 6), Collin Morikawa (world no. 7), Tommy Fleetwood (world no. 8) and 2025 defending champion, Ryan Fox (world no. 57).

Other fan-favourites in the field for the 115th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship feature a number of international stars including five-time major winner Brooks Koepka, 2026 PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai (world no. 13), 2024 RBC Canadian Open champion Robert MacIntyre (world no. 17), Team RBC players Sam Burns (world no. 34), Shane Lowry (world no. 41) and Sahith Theegala (world no. 82), as well as Tony Finau, Max Homa, Alex Noren (world no. 21), Jacob Bridgeman (world no. 24), Kristoffer Reitan (world no. 25), Nicolai Hojgaard (world no. 29), Michael Kim (world no. 47) and Tom Kim.

A late addition to the field on Friday afternoon, is 7-time PGA TOUR winner, Viktor Hovland. The 2023 TOUR Championship winner becomes the fifth TOUR Championship winner to commit to the field, including Tommy Fleetwood (2025), Justin Rose (2018), Billy Horschel (2014) and Brandt Snedeker (2012). This season, Hovland has four top 25 finishes, including a T10 at the WM Phoenix Open. Hovland will be making his first appearance at the RBC Canadian Open.

Along with international stars, an 18-player Canadian contingent will compete at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, led by 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. (world no. 60) and fellow PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (world no. 53), Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (world no. 92), Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. as well as fellow PGA TOUR member Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. Canadian golf legend Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. will make his 33rd start at Canada’s National Open Championship, second all-time to fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cumming (35).

In addition to world class golf, fans will be able to enjoy the 2026 RBC Canadian Open After Party headlined by Canada’s greatest party band, Dwayne Gretzky on Friday, June 12 followed by two-time JUNO Award winner, James Barker Band on Saturday, June 13. In addition, Alexa Goldie will be opening for the James Barker Band on night two of the RBC Canadian Open After Party.

The RBC Canadian Open After Party will deliver post-round entertainment spotlighting Canadian talent to the tournament’s main fan activity hub, The Fare Way featuring The Keg.

The Fare Way featuring The Keg will offer premium food and beverage options and patio experiences and will see an expanded footprint to accommodate more fans during tournament week. On Friday, June 12 a watch party will take place showing the Canada v. Bosnia and Herzegovina soccer match at 3:00 p.m. EDT.

“We are proud and excited to welcome the strongest field of the FedEx Cup era to Caledon for the 115th playing of the RBC Canadian Open. Highlighted by four players currently ranked inside the top 10 in the world and 10 in-year winners,” said Ryan Paul, Tournament Director, RBC Canadian Open. “Golf fans and event enthusiasts are in for an exceptional experience with a world-class field competing in addition to a number of exciting fan activations, highlighted by the RBC Canadian Open After Party, the FIFA World Cup watch party along with numerous premium food and beverage options at one of Canada’s annual premium live sporting events.”

In total, 147 players will compete for the $9.8 million USD purse next week in Caledon at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley. In 2023, the Doug Carrick-designed North Course underwent a major golf course renovation under the guidance of renowned architect Ian Andrew with consultation from the PGA TOUR for the venue to host large-scale, global championship level competition.

Click here for a full field list for the 2026 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont.

PGA TOUR Season Winners…

Ten in-year PGA TOUR winners will compete at TPC Toronto including: Justin Rose (Farmers Insurance Open), Collin Morikawa (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am), Jacob Bridgeman (The Genesis Invitational), Ricky Castillo (Puerto Rico Open), Matt Fitzpatrick (Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage and Zurich Classic of New Orleans), Alex Fitzpatrick (Zurich Classic of New Orleans), Kristoffer Reitan (Truist Championship), Brandt Snedeker (ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic), Aaron Rai (PGA Championship), and Wyndham Clark (The CJ Cup Byron Nelson).

Major Winners…

Eleven major winners are represented in the field including five-time major winner Brooks Koepka (2017 & 2018 U.S. Open, 2018, 2019 and 2023 PGA Championship), three-time major winner Padraig Harrington (2007, 2008 The Open Championship and 2008 PGA Championship), two-time major winner, Collin Morikawa (2020 PGA Championship, 2021 The Open Championship), Aaron Rai (2026 PGA Championship), Wyndham Clark (2023 U.S. Open), Matt Fitzpatrick (2022 U.S. Open), Shane Lowry (2019 The Open Championship), Danny Willett (2016 Masters), Justin Rose (2013 U.S. Open), Lucas Glover (2009 U.S. Open), Mike Weir (2003 Masters).

Past Champions…

Six past RBC Canadian Open champions will be in the field including defending champion Ryan Fox (2025), Robert MacIntyre (2024), Nick Taylor (2023), Jhonattan Vegas (2016, 2017), Brandt Snedeker (2013) and Sean O’Hair (2011).

International winners and other notables…

Nine winners from past European Ryder Cup Team wins along with four winners from the U.S. Team wins and 11 U.S. Presidents Cup Team winners will compete at TPC Toronto. The field includes 33 past Olympians including 2016 Olympic Games gold medallist Justin Rose and 2024 Olympic Games silver medallist Tommy Fleetwood.

18 Canadians to compete for their National Men’s Open Title…

In total, an 18-player Canadian contingent is currently set to challenge for the national championship led by 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and fellow PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. Also confirmed are Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and PGA TOUR rookies Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont. and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. Nine additional Canadians were awarded exemptions including Joey Savoie of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., Team Canada members Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. and Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont., along with Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta., Drew Nesbitt of Toronto, Ont., Yohann Benson of Pincourt, Que. and Canadian golf icon Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont.

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…

The final four spots into the field for the 2026 RBC Canadian Open will be awarded at the Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 7 at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont. Players attempted to gain entry into the field by competing at five Regional Qualifying sites earlier this month and a total of 86 players including 75 Canadians will compete at The Pulpit Club Final Qualifier. Click here for a field list.

Expanded and elevated merchandise experience for fans on-site…

The reimagined Golf Canada Fan Shop will engage fans on-site at the RBC Canadian Open, featuring a significantly expanded footprint and merchandise selection. The offerings include tournament-exclusive apparel, limited-edition headwear, premium accessories and commemorative items from some of the top brands in golf and sport. The main Golf Canada Fan Shop at the RBC Canadian Open will be located near the first tee with a secondary location at The Rink (No. 14). For more information, click here.

Lambton Golf & Country Club to host Final Qualifier for 126th U.S. Open on
Golf’s Longest Day

On Monday June 8, Lambton Golf & Country Club will be one of the sites hosting a Final Qualifier into the 126th U.S. Open. The field is currently comprised of 61 players battling over 36-holes in Toronto. For the field competing at Lambton, click here. The 126th U.S. Open will take place, following the RBC Canadian Open, June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

Three places in the 154th Open Championship available at the RBC Canadian Open
The leading three players not already exempt who make the cut at the RBC Canadian Open will earn a place in The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale. For more information, click here.

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley to host National Finals of the BDO National Golf League…

The BDO National Golf League finals take place on Saturday, June 6 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley with 54 pairings (108 total golfers) competing for the national championship. Launched by Golf Canada ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women and junior golfers, the National Golf League embodies over 270 leagues across Canada. Registration for the 2026 BDO National Golf League is now open, for more information please visit nationalgolfleague.ca.

Golf Canada App Experience…

Experience the RBC Canadian Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news, and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.

RBC CANADIAN OPEN – MEDIA GUIDE & PLAYER PERFORMANCE GUIDE

Below are links to the 2026 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide as well as the all-time Player Performance Guide:

2026 RBC Canadian Open Media Guide

RBC Canadian Open – All-Time Player Performance Guide

Tickets for the 2026 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

Winning team will be awarded the NGL title and earn an exemption into 2027 national finals

CALEDON, Ont. – The BDO National Golf League Championship is set for Saturday, June 6, at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. where new champions will be crowned ahead of the 2026 RBC Canadian Open.

The third playing of the BDO National Golf League Championship will feature 108 golfers, across 54 teams who will battle for the national championship just days before the 2026 RBC Canadian Open gets underway.

The 2026 BDO National Golf League Championship (NGL) will be contested over an 18-hole shotgun, using a best ball net Stableford format as the official scoring format of the NGL. Following the conclusion of play, the top two teams (including ties) based on stableford points will enter into a playoff to determine the national champions. The playoff will take place on the 18th hole and will be a one-hole sudden death until the winners are crowned.

The playoff format was created due to a weather-shortened 2024 NGL Championship, where finalists were only able to play nine holes at Hamilton Golf & Country Club. The playoff pitted the winners of the front nine against the winners of the back nine to determine the inaugural champions. Peter Morse and Tim Charles of Nova Scotia needed just one playoff hole to top Reed Middleton and Brian Thorne of New Brunswick to claim their title.

Last season, father and son duo, Russell and Anderson MacDonald of Rothesay, N.B. ensured the title stayed within the Maritimes, defeating Ryan Tsang and Howard Wang of Scarborough, Ont. on the first playoff hole at TPC Toronto. Russell returns this season with a new playing partner, David Whittaker, aiming to defend his title.

In addition to being awarded the national championship, the winning team will also receive an exemption in the 2027 BDO National Golf League Finals.

Launched by Golf Canada ahead of the 2023 season as a nationwide, season-long competition to enhance weekly recreational league experiences for men, women and junior golfers. The NGL has seen substantial growth since the inaugural season, with 271 leagues now set to compete this coming season, up from 130 leagues last season; and over 30,000 participants having competed since launching in 2023. The additional of several indoor member facilities across the country and simulator qualifiers has brought forward a number of new players into the league.

12 courses across all 10 provinces hosted respective regional competitions in the fall of 2025 to determine the field for the national championship. To discover more results from the 2025 NGL Provincial Championships and see which teams qualified for the national championship, please click here.

Those who participate in the NGL season play a lively role in growing the sport in their community as well, with 100 per cent of the league’s proceeds benefiting First Tee – Canada in their respective provinces around the country. First Tee – Canada is a youth development program striving to bring accessible and inclusive pathways to golf participants at schools, community centres, and golf courses across the country. Strong charitable incentive towards First Tee – Canada have been a pattern throughout each of the NGL’s first two seasons, with gifts and other forms philanthropic practices directly impacting youth in the province in which the money was raised. To learn more about First Tee – Canada programming and ways to support, please visit firstteecanada.ca

CALEDON, Ont. – Vince Dunn (Seattle Kraken) and Brandon Tanev (Utah Mammoth) finished the round with 39 Stableford points to win both the net and gross categories in the RBC Canadian Open Faceoff on Thursday, at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont.

The RBC Canadian Open Shootout format uses a Stableford point system which awards points as opposed to strokes based off their score related to par on each hole (Eagle 4-points, Birdie-3 points, Par 2-points, Bogey 1-point, Double Bogey or worse 0-points).

In addition to Dunn and Tanev, the field featured 12 NHL players including Jake McCabe (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Steven Lorentz (Toronto Maple Leafs), Taylor Raddysh (New York Rangers) and Darren Raddysh (Tampa Bay Lightning), Jordan Kyrou (St. Louis Blues) and Jake Wallman (Edmonton Oilers), and Johnathan Castagna (Calgary Flames) and Zayne Parekh (Calgary Flames). Dunn and Tanev secured the win finishing with 39 Stableford points and shooting a net score of 8-under 62. Along with winning the RBC Canadian Open Shootout, Dunn and Tanev have won a trip courtesy of Turkish Airlines to anywhere the airlines fly’s out of.

Tanev finished the round with two birdies shooting 1-over 70. “It was nice to see lots of guys coming out from the Toronto area getting to have a cool experience. Not often you get to play a great course like this, especially right before the RBC Canadian Open,” said Tanev. “We had a great day, lots of fun, and a lot of great people, glad we could all come out here and have a great experience. Vince and I played some good golf which was fun.”

“Didn’t have a great day out there, on 18 I put the drive a little bit to the right in the fescue which was honestly better than the rough a lot of times today, had a nice four iron and hit it to about a foot and a half and tapped it in for eagle,” said Lorentz after finishing his round on a high note.

McCabe had the longest drive on hole five hitting it 330 yards, and Parekh hit closest to the pin on the Rink Hole no. 14.

For the full leaderboard from today’s round click here.

The 115^th playing of the RBC Canadian Open will take place June 10-14 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont. For more information on the RBC Canadian Open, including volunteer opportunities or to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.rbccanadianopen.com/

PONOKA, Alta. — The 2026 NextGen Championship season continues with the NextGen Western Championship from June 3-6 at Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, Alta.

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Wednesday, June 3, and championship rounds beginning on Thursday, June 4. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 52 Junior Boys and top 18 Junior Girls, including ties, for the final round which wraps up on Saturday, June 6.

The top eight players in the Junior Boys division of the NextGen Western Championship will earn exemptions into the 2026 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 10-14, at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Saskatchewan. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division of the NextGen Western Championship will earn exemptions into the 2026 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, August 10-14, at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Heathlands Course) in Caledon, Ontario.

The top three players (including ties) per division in the 2026 NextGen Western Championship will earn exemptions into the 2026 Canadian U15 Championship, August 24-27, at Loyalist Country Club in Bath, Ontario, if age eligible.

“Wolf Creek Golf Resort opened in 1984, this original par-70 Rod Whitman design spans 6,624 yards from the back tees. The layout features deep pot bunkers, undulating greens, and native grasses, including several links-style holes,” said Jim Boomer, CPGA Head Professional and General Manager. “It frequently hosts the Alberta Open Championship along with various other provincial championships. The Old Course challenges golfers with tight tee shots and often plays longer than its scorecard indicates.”

“We are excited to host the NextGen Western Championship. The course will challenge everyone mentally and physically throughout the week, and smart club selection will be key for players to achieve their best scores,” added Boomer. “The Course is in excellent spring conditions, and we wish everyone the best of luck.”

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Western Championship, click here

About the NextGen Championships  

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six 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 2026 national junior championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.

Team Canada members Ashton McCulloch, Justin Matthews, Matthew Anderson and
Dawson Lew along with Joey Savoie, Roger Sloan, Drew Nesbitt and Yohann Benson join previously announced exemption recipient, Mike Weir and Canadian PGA TOUR members as part of an 18-player Canadian contingent currently in the field for the 115th playing of
Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship

CALEDON, Ont. – Golf Canada and RBC have confirmed the names of 13 players who have accepted exemptions into the 2026 RBC Canadian Open, taking place June 10 – 14 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.

Among those earning exemptions are nine Canadians, led by recent winner and current top Canadian on PGA TOUR Americas, Joey Savoie of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. Savoie won the KIA Open de Ecuador earlier this month and has one additional top 10 finish in four events played this season. He will be making his third appearance at the RBC Canadian Open.

Joining Savoie are four members of Team Canada, Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont., Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont. and Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont.

McCullochwill compete in his third consecutive RBC Canadian Open and his first since turning professional earlier this month. McCulloch earned two top five finishes this year at The Duck Invitational (T3) and the Watersound Invitational (T5) as he closed out his collegiate career at Michigan State University. The 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion will be competing in his fifth PGA TOUR event, having played at the 2025 U.S. Open and 2025 Rocket Classic in addition to his RBC Canadian Open appearances.

Matthews will also make his third consecutive appearance at the RBC Canadian Open, earning his exemption as the low Canadian on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), currently at No. 138. This season, Matthews earned two top fives and an additional top 10 in his senior year at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Anderson will be competing at Canada’s Men’s National Open Championship for the fourth time, with his best finish coming last year at T47. This season, Anderson has two top 25 finishes in 12 events on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Lew will be making his first appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. Lew is coming off a strong season last year, winning five tournaments including the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The Team Ontario program alum also earned a T5 finish at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship last year. This season, Lew earned a runner-up finish at the Terra Cotta Invitational in April and is currently the fourth ranked Canadian on WAGR (World Amateur Golf Rankings) at 17 years old.

Three other Canadians will be in field including Roger Sloan of Calgary, Alta. who will be making his 10th appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. This season, Sloan has one runner-up finish and two additional top 25s in 12 events played on the Korn Ferry Tour. His best finish at the RBC Canadian Open was T34 in 2023. Drew Nesbitt of Toronto, Ont. will be making his fourth appearance at Canada’s National Open Championship. Nesbitt earned his exemption as the top Canadian on PGA TOUR Americas last season with one win and two additional top five finishes. Yohann Benson of Pincourt, Que. earned his exemption as the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit leader and will make his first appearance at the RBC Canadian Open.

As previously announced, Canadian golf icon Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont. will compete in his 33rd RBC Canadian Open. Weir sits second all-time in appearances at Canada’s National Open Championship behind fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George Cumming (35).

A 18-player Canadian contingent is currently set to challenge for the national championship led by 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and fellow PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. Also confirmed are Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and PGA TOUR rookies Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont. and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C.

“We are pleased to announce these additional exemptions, led by a group of Canadians that will be competing for our National Men’s Open Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “We look forward to the field continuing to take shape this week and awarding the final four spots into the field at Sunday’s Final Qualifier.”

Declan O’Donovan of Sydney, Australia, who won the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and Calen Sanderson of Newton, Pa. winner of the individual championship at the 2025 Men’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational, will both make their first appearance at the RBC Canadian Open. O’Donovan and Sanderson earned exemptions for their wins last season.

Two additional international exemptions have been awarded to Padraig Harrington of Dublin, Ireland and 2011 RBC Canadian Open champion, Sean O’Hair of Lubbock, Texas.

Harrington, a three-time major winner (2007 & 2008 Open Championship, 2008 PGA Championship) also won three additional times on the PGA TOUR and has 11 PGA TOUR Champions wins and 15 international wins during his career. Harrington represented Team Europe as a player in six Ryder Cups, winning four (2002, 2004, 2006, 2010) and served as Captain in 2020. In addition, Harrington competed in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and will be making his second RBC Canadian Open appearance.

O’Hair is a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR and will be making his 16th start at the RBC Canadian Open. In addition to winning in 2011, O’Hair has a pair of third place finishes (2006, 2008). O’Hair represented and won as a member the United States team at the 2009 Presidents Cup.

Three additional exemptions will be awarded by Golf Canada ahead of the field being finalized for the 2026 RBC Canadian Open. Four additional spots into the field will be up for grabs during the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on Sunday, June 7 at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.

Tickets for the 2026 RBC Canadian Open are available here. Children aged 12-and-under get free admission with a ticketed adult.

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. – Sixteen months ago, Anna Huang was at home in Vancouver wrestling with one of the biggest decisions of her young life: whether to turn professional. At just 16 years old, she wasn’t sure if making the leap so early was the right move. 

Fast forward to today, and the Canadian teenager has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in women’s golf. This week, she’ll tee it up at the U.S. Women’s Open, marking her third appearance in a major championship and fifth LPGA start. 

“It’s cool when you used to just watch these events and suddenly, you’re playing in them,” Huang said ahead of her trip to Los Angeles. “I have yet to make the cut at a major, so the goal is to make the cut and try to go low on the weekend.” 

To do that, she’ll need to maintain the strong form that has fueled her rapid rise through the professional ranks. Riviera Country Club’s demanding setup will present a stern test, and Huang knows her putting could be the difference-maker. With difficult pin positions expected throughout the week, capitalizing on scoring opportunities will be crucial. 

Despite her early success, Huang admits she’s still learning from the whirlwind of experiences that have come in such a short span of time. For now, her focus remains simple; continue developing her game, embrace the journey and enjoy the ride. 

Her confidence has grown alongside her results. Earlier this season, Huang became the youngest player in Ladies European Tour history to win three titles, breaking a record previously held by one of her idols, Lydia Ko. 

“I’ve always looked up to Lydia, and it’s so hard to beat a Lydia Ko record,” she said with a smile. “I grew up watching her play, and in 2015, when she was playing the CPKC Women’s Open in Vancouver, that was a really cool experience for me.” 

While Ko has gone on to become one of the game’s biggest stars, an LPGA Hall of Famer and a fixture among the world’s elite, Huang hopes her own career can follow a similar trajectory. She has climbed to a career-high No. 51 in the world rankings after starting her professional career at nearly No. 1,200 just over a year ago. 

The rapid ascent has surprised even Huang herself. As an amateur, she never cracked the world’s top 100. 

“It’s crazy — when you look at the rankings, it just goes ‘boop,’ straight up,” Huang said with a laugh, gesturing upward. “I definitely didn’t expect to get this high in the rankings so quickly, and I’m really grateful that I’ve been able to play so well in my first couple of years.” 

One person who isn’t surprised is Salimah Mussani, one of Huang’s coaches and the leader of Team Canada’s women’s program. Mussani points to Huang’s exceptional golf IQ and relentless attention to detail as key reasons for her success. 

“Very, very mature. Very self-aware,” said Mussani. “She has amazing reflection skills, understands what’s happening in her game and knows how to make adjustments. She’s not afraid to try different things, and she’s not afraid to be vulnerable. Those are all traits of a high-performance athlete.” 

Huang won’t be the only Canadian competing at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open. She’ll be joined by Brooke Henderson and amateurs Lauren Kim and Aphrodite Deng. But with a spot already secured in this week’s championship and the remaining three majors on the calendar, Canadian golf fans should expect to see Huang’s name on some of the sport’s biggest stages for years to come. 

Get back into the swing of things with tips, stories and so much more!

May Newsletter

May always feels like a fresh start on the course. The fairways are finally green again, the layers start coming off and there’s a sense of excitement for the season ahead. This month’s She Plays Golf newsletter is here to help you settle into your game and build some early-season momentum.

Delivery Partner Spotlight

Throughout the year, we’ll be highlighting some incredible delivery partners helping bring She Plays Golf to life across Canada. This is an opportunity to recognize their efforts, share their story, and acknowledge the amazing work they are doing in their community through golf.

For the month of May, we’re proud to highlight Golf Ontario’s Women’s Participation program. Golf Ontario continues to lead the way in growing the game by creating fun, welcoming and non-competitive environments where women can confidently try, learn and play golf.

Their programs are designed to meet golfers at different points in their journey:

• Try Golf introduces the game through relaxed, beginner-friendly 9-hole rounds
• Learn Golf programs focus on building fundamental skills through clinic-based instruction
• Learn and Play events combine instruction with on-course experience during a 9-hole round

Whether you’re picking up a club for the first time or returning after time away, these programs create welcoming spaces to build skills, gain confidence and connect through the game.

Read More

Accounts to Follow

Looking for inspiration in your golf feed? Check out these accounts helping grow the game online:

• Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada): Your go-to source for everything Canadian golf.
• Kerry Maher (@kerrymahergolf): Golf, fitness and confidence. A women-only community led by a female golf pro.
• Kyla Inaba (@kylainabagolf): Practical coaching to help you build confidence and lower your scores.

Tips & Tricks

Tap the images below to explore golf content shared by golfers across the community.

Golf Rules Made Simple: Pace of Play

Golf is more fun when it flows—after all, no one likes a traffic jam in the middle of a round. At any level, good pace comes down to awareness and preparation. The image below from the R&A highlights a few easy habits that help keep the game moving and the good vibes going.

Read About the Official Pace of Play Rule

Monthly Story: The Mental Side of Golf

You step up to the tee, take a swing and it’s not even close to how you pictured it. Instantly, your focus shifts from the shot ahead to everything that just went wrong. Suddenly, every shot feels like it carries a bit more pressure.

This is where the mental side of golf really comes into play. Sometimes performance is less about the swing itself and more about what happens mentally, managing your thoughts, accepting mistakes and resetting for the next shot.

Golf isn’t perfect (as much as we wish it were). Even the best players make mistakes. Real consistency shows up in how you respond – by letting go, trusting your swing and moving forward.

Next time a shot doesn’t go as planned, try a simple reset: take a breath, pick a clear target and commit to your next swing. And honestly, sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh it off and keep going.

Stay Connected

We’re excited to grow the She Plays Golf community and share more opportunities for women to connect through the game.

Have ideas or content you’d like to see? Email us and we’ll do our best to include it! After all, we want to create content specifically tailored just for our community.

Stay tuned for next month’s features, including:

• A delivery partner spotlight
• Upcoming She Plays Golf opportunities
• More tips and friendly golf advice

We hope to see you out on the course this season!

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Foundational Partner

Ottawa, Ont. – The National Allied Golf Associations (NAGA) hosted its Hill Day in Ottawa on May 26th, to coincide with National Golf Day. NAGA delegates meet with Members of Parliament and Senators to highlight the Canadian golf industry’s unprecedented economic and social momentum.

As a coalition of Canada’s five major golf associations – Golf Canada; National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Canada; the Club Management Association of Canada (CMAC); Professional Golfers Association of Canada (PGA of Canada); and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) – NAGA advocates for the sector with a single, unified voice.

Golf serves as a key pillar of the Canadian economy, generating more than $23 billion in total economic impact and $4.7 billion in tax revenues. The industry supports 239,000 jobs, including employment for 45,000 students annually, and helps to raise over $382 million for charitable causes.

“The sector has undergone a historic transformation since 2020. Today, golf is much more than a seasonal pastime; it has evolved into a year-round cultural force, an economic engine, and an accessible, mainstream platform for community connection enjoyed by over 6 million players,” said Kathryn Wood, Chair of NAGA. “Alongside these economic and social benefits, the industry is deeply committed to protecting and enhancing our role as stewards for the environment.”

Through sustainable turf management practices across 2,100 golf courses in Canada—90% of which are publicly accessible—the industry acts as stewards for almost 250,000 acres of greenspace, playing a leading role in wildlife conservation and carbon sequestration.

“As an accessible, outdoor activity for Canadians of all ages and abilities, golf serves as a primary vehicle for preventative health and social connection, particularly within rural and remote communities where local courses often act as the primary hubs for social infrastructure,” said Wood.

NAGA welcomes the opportunity to work with parliamentarians, senators and the public service to capitalize on the sport’s momentum by expanding accessibility for all Canadians, fostering industry-wide innovation, and bolstering the sector’s contribution to healthy communities, responsible resource management, and environmental stewards from the grassroots to the international stage.