Team British Columbia carries five shot lead into Thursday, looking to retain Margaret Todd Trophy; Marler leads Mid-Master division

LACHUTE, Que. – Nonie Marler and Kelsey Fuchs are tied for the lead after carding rounds of 1-over 74 on Wednesday at the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.

Marler of Vancouver, B.C. credited hitting almost every fairway and green during her opening round although she felt she couldn’t see the lines well despite having several attempts at birdie.

Marler was able to grab one on No. 4 before bogeying one hole later to eventually finish her front nine at even par. Another birdie on No. 13 was erased after a double bogey on 14 following a three-putt. Marler rebounded strongly to finish with four consecutive pars to grab a piece of the lead.

“I just tried to keep it to a shot at a time,” said Marler after her opening round. “I just tried to keep it really simple and focus on what was ahead of me and not try to get ahead of myself score wise because you can let it get away from you super quick out there.”

Marler plans to approach Thursday, exactly as she did today knowing there is a lot of golf left to play, “it’s anybody’s tournament, there are a lot of really good golfers that are within a couple shots of the lead.”

Marler has consistently found her name amongst the top of the leaderboard in the previous four years at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. She finished runner-up after losing in a playoff to Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C. in 2021 and has since earned three consecutive top 10 finishes in the national championship.

“I love this event, I think it’s amazing that Golf Canada is really supportive of mid-amateur female golfers and I want to continue to support this,” she said.

“I train and prepare for much of the summer to play in this and the U.S. Mid-Am qualifying, and I know a lot of the players and it’s just nice to come and be able to compete and see my friends every year and hopefully have some fun along the way and do well while doing it,” she added.

In addition to co-leading the Mid-Amateur division, Marler leads the Mid-Master division by three shots over a trio of golfers including three-time Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., Suzanne Ricard of Montreal, Que., and Connor Macon of Charlotte, N.C. at 4-over.

Fuchs of King City, Ont. also carded two birdies on Wednesday and closed her round with a string of five consecutive pars to join Marler atop the leaderboard. Fuchs has enjoyed a successful summer having recently won the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur title in June.

Trailing the duo are Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. who is alone in third at 2-over, Jordan Matheson of Burnaby, B.C. sits fourth at 3-over, while four golfers are tied for fifth at 4-over.

Team British Columbia (B.C.) opened its title defence of the Margaret Todd Trophy by taking a five shot lead into Thursday’s final round of the team championship. Team B.C. sits atop the lead with a collective score of 3-over. Team B.C. is represented by Marler, along with Choi who shot a 2-over 75 and Veronica Ivy of Victoria, B.C. who shot a 6-over 79. Team Quebec and Team Ontario are tied for second at 8-over heading into Thursday. The two lowest scores count towards the daily team total.

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 opening round of the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here.

Emma Bittorf and Kelly Masson lead Women’s and Men’s Net Stableford divisions to open fifth playing of Canadian All-Abilities Championship 

KAMLOOPS, B.C. Josh Hunke of New Dundee, Ont. parlayed four birdies with a 3-under 69 while Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. fired a 10-over 82 on Tuesday to each claim the top spot of the Men’s and Women’s Gross Stroke Play division respectively, capping off an exciting opening round to the Canadian All-Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C. 

It is the fifth time in as many years that Stasiuk enters the second round with a lead in the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Championship, gaining the bulk of her ground on Tuesday by playing holes No. 6 through 15 at 2-over par. The response was a timely one for Stasiuk and a stretch she later claimed to be integral to her round after falling into a tie for the lead through five with her closest chaser Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta.  

“That stretch was very important to me because I blew up two holes in the start of my round, so I needed to play really good golf so I could have a good lead in the first day,” commented Stasiuk following her round on Tuesday. “I need to play like that for the next two rounds for me to feel confident in my game and have a chance to win my title again,” she added.  

Stasiuk will embark on claiming her fifth-consecutive Canadian All-Abilities Championship title buoyed by a strong finish that featured her second birdie of the afternoon at the par-4 14th. Regardless of how her tournament shakes out through the remaining 36 holes however, Stasiuk was pleased to see more female participation at the Canadian All-Abilities Championship in 2025, with the field as big as it ever has been in Kamloops.  

“Even though I am leading, golf is crazy game and anything can happen. But it’s great to see more women in it so there is more competition which is nice to see adaptive golf growing for women,” she added.  

Though trailing Stasiuk by five strokes in the Women’s Gross Play Championship, Bittorf was able to ride a hot start to her opening round to grab the outright lead in the Women’s Net Stableford division. Her ability to score points on six of her opening 12 holes paved the way to a four-point lead over Stasiuk and get herself in a prime position to defend her Women’s Stableford Championship title from 2024.  

In the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship, several contenders emerged to battle reigning champion Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. for his title including Hunke, who rolled in two birdies on his way out to build a three-stroke gap over the 2024 champion.  

Hunke responded to his only blemish of the day, a bogey on the par-4 first hole, immediately with birdies on Nos. 2 and 6 to get into red figures. Locked in a three-way tie at the top with Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. and American Zachary Larose of Denver, N.C. at 1-under, Hunke broke through with a clean back nine, highlighted by a pair of birdies to compliment a total of 13 successful par putts on the day to carry a two-stroke lead into Wednesday’s second round.  

In the Men’s Net Stableford division, Hunke trails leader Kelly Masson of Grande Prairie, Alta. by three points as part of a four-player tie for third place at 35 points. Fourteen players, including Hunke sit within five points of the lead, making for an entertaining competition running concurrently with the Gross Stroke Play Championship over the remaining 36 holes.  

This year marks the fifth playing of the Canadian All-Abilities Championship, with the annual competition 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 Willis 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 Tuesday’s busy opener to the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, and second-round tee times, please click here. 

British Columbia looks to defend 2024 Inter-Provincial title through opening 36 holes of competition 

LACHUTE, Que. – The 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, is set to get underway Wednesday, August 6 at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.  

58 of the best female amateur talents above the age of 25 will tee off in their respective divisions on Wednesday, with the mid-amateur (players aged 25-and-over as of August 6) and mid-master (players aged 40-and-over as of August 6) competitions both running concurrently through the completion of 54 holes.  

A trio of previous winners headline the field competing in Lachute, Que. including 2010 champion and Quebec Golf Hall of Famer Marie-Thérèse Torti of Candiac, Que. who will be playing the event in her home province for the first time in four years.  

Torti will be joined by Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and 2008 champion Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont., as well as three-time champion Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. Kyrinis joins the field after missing last year’s event to compete overseas at the R&A’s Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, and has since claimed a record seventh Ontario Senior Women’s Championship title to add to her impressive list of accomplishments in the game of golf. 

Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. claimed her third title in four years at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C. The 54-year-old edged out 39-year-old Catherine Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas by a pair of strokes to move within three wins of the national championship record (six) set by Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C. 

Though Stouffer will not be competing in 2025, her win last year helped Team British Columbia claim the Margaret Todd Trophy (awarded annually to the province with the lowest score after 36 holes. Team B.C. bested Team Alberta by 10 strokes to soundly take the 36-hole event in their home province last year.  

“We are thrilled to be in Quebec this week for the 18th playing of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship,” commented Golf Canada Tournament Director Madeline MacMillan. “This is the third year in which the tournament will be held independently from other national championships on our calendar, and we are looking forward to an exceptional week of golf on a historic course alongside supportive staff and volunteers at Lachute (Club de golf).”  

With over a century’s worth of history and a pair of championship-caliber golf courses nestled in its 500-acre property, Lachute (Club de golf) stands definitively as a premier golf facility in the nation. Founded in 1923, the course’s original 18-hole design was crafted and completed through the work of renowned Canadian architect Stanley Thompson in 1949. A dozen years later and with inspiration from Thompson, Lachute native Howard Watson designed the property’s second course, stretching over 7,000 yards and providing another stout test for golfers of all levels. Watson was inducted to the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame as a builder in 2021.  

“The Lachute Golf Club, it’s members and the entire community is very eager to host the 2025 Women’s Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship,” said Benjamin Painchaud, General Manager of the course. “In 2024, Golf Quebec made it an absolute priority to promote and develop women’s golf. The Lachute Golf Club has followed suit in 2025 by donating funds to this cause, hosting women’s junior events and the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship. The entire community here in Lachute is looking forward to meeting the athletes and ensuring a quality Championship experience,” he added.  

Lachute (Club de golf) has hosted numerous major golf tournaments throughout its history, including the 1977 Peter Jackson Classic (now known as the CPKC Women’s Open) won by World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Rankin of St. Louis, Mo. In addition to the LPGA TOUR great, the course’s greens have also been graced by the presence of other legends in the game, including Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Nick Price among the many to tee off at one of Quebec’s finest golf locations.  

Female golfers (aged 25-and-over as of August 6, 2025), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less are eligible to compete in the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Lachute, Que. A pair of notable exemptions are up for grabs for the winner, including entry into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship set to descend on Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) in Pebble Beach, Calif. October 4-9, as well as a spot in the field for the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship to be held at Burlington Golf & Country Club, in Burlington, Ont. from August 4 – 7, 2026.  

To view the full field, tee times and more information on the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here. Practice rounds for the tournament will take place on Tuesday, August 5 at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.  

Epson Tour sophomore Leah John drained her final putt on the 18th green at South Bend Country Club to claim the first professional victory of her career. John started the week with a new personal best, posting a 9-under bogey-free 63 on Friday, making the celebratory moment even more meaningful.

Despite having a three-shot lead heading into Championship Sunday, the Canadian felt some nerves after bogeying the first hole. The 25-year-old carded four birdies on the day to hold her 36-hole lead and finish the tournament with a total of 9-under par.

“I was super excited to play with Melanie (Green) and Leo today, so I was just looking forward to the day and learning from her and her experiences, and just prioritizing joy, sticking to my game plan, and just seeing where the day takes me,” said John. “I was ready for anything that came.”

The University of Nevada graduate settled in quickly, making three birdies in a row on holes five, six, and seven, posting a 1-under 36 on her opening nine. The nerves got the best of John as she made a bogey and double-bogey to start out her back nine, but dug deep to find a birdie on 16  in her final stretch to post a 2-over 74.

Melanie Green and Jennifer Chang started the day just three shots back of John, ultimately finishing in a share of second place. Green, the winner of the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber, put an eagle and one birdie on her card during the round but posted an even par 72 and was unable to secure her second victory.

Chang couldn’t get things to fall her way on Sunday, carding an even par 72 and a combined 8-under for the tournament. Despite not being in the final pairing, the 25-year-old made two birdies, posting an even par front side. The University of Southern California alumna, found a birdie and a bogey on her finishing nine to secure her runner-up finish.

John, a first-time Epson Tour champion, jumped 77 spots in the Race for the Card standings after receiving 500 points from her win at the Four Winds Invitational. This is John’s highest rank of the 2025 season, number 22, putting the Canadian in a good spot to climb her way into the top 15 with five tournaments remaining.

“It’s super special,” John said of the win. “I said earlier that I love golf because of the game, but I think I love it more because of the people in it. It’s just nice to have a day like this, to represent all the hard work and the communities that have helped me along the way.”

As the final week of the Northeast stretch comes to a close, the Epson Tour will enjoy a well-deserved week off before traveling to Pendleton, Oregon, for the fourth playing of the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic at Wildhorse Golf Course from August 15-17.

The leaderboard was stacked with red numbers and ties after the first round of the 14th annual Four Winds Invitational. The field of 144 athletes took advantage of the cooler temperatures and pure conditions at South Bend Country Club in round one of the final leg in the Northeast Stretch.

Kaitlyn Papp Budde was the first leader in the clubhouse of the day, posting a 5-under 67. Papp Budde started off strong, sinking four birdies on her opening nine. The Texas native settled into her round carding a 1-under 34 on the back nine to tie her low round of the 2025 Epson Tour season.

Monet Chun followed closely behind Papp Budde, tying her 5-under round of 67 to start off the morning wave. Chun made six birdies and was bogey-free until her 16th hole, breaking her record for the lowest round in her professional career. The University of Michigan alumna is finding her spark at no better venue than in rival territory of South Bend, Ind., as she looks forward to continuing a weekend of solid golf in hopes of securing the best finish of her young professional career.

Epson Tour sophomore Leah John had a number to chase by the time she teed off in the afternoon and started off strong with three consecutive birdies on holes one, two, and three. The Canadian continued her string with birdies on holes five, six, seven, and nine to shoot a 7-under 30 on her front nine.

“I had a very unexpected beginning to my round,” said John. “I made a couple of putts in the beginning, and I was like, ‘Hey, this is great.’ And then it just kept happening and sort of felt like it was out of my control a little bit, but it was pretty exciting. The girls I was playing with were super nice, so I could keep myself distracted just chatting, but it was a pretty epic day.”

John rounded the turn, making two pars before sinking a birdie putt on the par-5 12th hole. The 25-year-old settled into her back nine with five pars before hitting the green on the par-5 18 in two to finish off her round with a birdie. The University of Nevada alumna carded a bogey-free round of 63, finding herself at the top of the leaderboard and leaving round one having tied the 18-hole tournament record along with her new career low round.

“I think that’s the coolest part about golf, it’s about playing against yourself and the golf course, so you’re always striving for more,” said John. “It’s just hard. You never really see yourself as good or a record person, so it’ll be just a nice thing to have in my pocket to remember.”

Tillie Claggett has had a tremendous summertime stretch and now she’s as eager as ever to put a tidy exclamation point on things with a start at the CPKC Women’s Open in August.  

Claggett earned her spot in Canada’s National Women’s Open at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club via her incredible seven-shot victory at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series.  

An incoming senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., who shot a second-round 63 to push her to what turned out to be an insurmountable lead, also had a runner-up result at the Texas Women’s Amateur Championship in June and a semi-final appearance at The Women’s Amateur in Scotland. 

This year will mark the CPKC Women’s Open debut for Claggett, a member of Team Canada’s National Team. It will not be, however, her LPGA Tour debut. She received a sponsor invite into the Volunteers of America Classic in 2020.  

Claggett has always been an athlete growing up as a star swimmer before beginning to take golf lessons with her dad. She went to a sports school in Calgary which accommodates the schedule of high performing athletes before moving to Texas in Grade 9. She did club swimming there for a year but living in Texas she was obviously able to practice golf more, she says, and the schedule of balancing both sports became too much.  

“Honestly, when I was doing both, I was so afraid of the day I had to choose,” she explains. “But the choice kind of made itself. I loved golf so much and there was so much more longevity in it. There was a lot more joy in it. I kept swimming in high school, but I chose golf from there pretty quickly.”  

Claggett says she went to a “few” different post-secondary camps but with a laugh she explains, the way recruiting works now, she was able to send a lot of emails to coaches, but they are not allowed to respond. Alas, she kept her options open but quickly fell in love with the Vanderbilt campus, the coaches, the team environment and the city of Nashville and yet again, her decision was made quickly.  

Growing up an athlete, Claggett says she’s always hit the ball awfully far which has helped her grow as a competitor as she’s notched five top-10 finishes across the last two seasons at Vanderbilt. Claggett says, even though her swimming days are behind her, she still “loves” the gym, working out upwards of six times per week.  

“And when my putter gets hot, it’s hot. (At the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship) with the win, I was gaining two shots a round with the putting. Mainly my style is just that I like to play aggressive – I want to take advantage of my distance. It’s just how I play the game. It’s my style and it pays off more often than not,” Claggett says.  

The plan now, Claggett explains, is to get her degree (in communications) that’s she’s worked so hard for and then will turn professional after that.  

One more year of school, and one very special opportunity at Mississaugua to come.  

SHE PLAYS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES QUALIFIERS  

The She Plays Golf Championship Series began in 2024 at The Peloton Glencoe Invitational in Calgary and features =three enhanced $60,000 54-hole championships.  

Katie Cranston: Cranston received an exemption due to her finishing first in the Order of Merit at the conclusion of the She Plays Golf Championship Series. The Team Canada member went T2-T9-T9 in the trio of events.  

Clara Ding: Ding, a member of Team Canada NexGen, won the first event of the She Plays Golf Championship Series in B.C. with a dramatic final-hole birdie. Amongst those Ding defeated was Cranston – they were two of three golfers to share a piece of the lead in the final day.  

Shauna Liu: Liu won the Peloton Glencoe Invitational, the first event of the She Plays Golf Championship Series in a come-from-behind effort. It was the fourth win of the year for the 16-year-old and another Team Canada NexGen member. 

Fifth playing of the national championship is headlined by four-time women’s champion, Natasha Stasiuk and two-time defending men’s champion Chris Willis

Kamloops, B.C. – The 2025 Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO is set for August 4 – 7 at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C.

The fifth playing of the national championship will be contested over 54-holes, featuring a field of 50 players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. The tournament was expanded to three rounds last year after the first three editions were comprised of 36-holes.

There are four different divisions in the Canadian All Abilities Championship that players will compete in, regardless of disability classification: Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play and Men’s Net Stableford.

The field of competitors includes four-time Women’s Gross Stroke Play defending champion Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont., three-time Women’s Net Stableford winner, Tess Trojan of St. Catharines, Ont., and defending Women’s Stableford champion, Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta.

On the men’s side, two-time defending champion, Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. currently ranked no. 11 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), Vic McClelland of High River, Alta. (no. 12 WR4GD), 2022 Men’s Stableford winner, Kevin Delaney of Windsor, Ont. (no. 54 WR4GD) and Kelly Masson of Grand Prairie, Alta. (no. 47 WR4GD).

Earlier this season, both Willis and Stasiuk competed in the G4D Open at the Duchess Course at Woburn in Milton Keynes, England, where Willis finished in 12th and Stasiuk placed seventh on the women’s leaderboard. Both Stasiuk and Willis competed at the U.S. Adaptive Open Championship at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. in July. Stasiuk finished first in the women’s intellectual impairment category and fifth overall and Willis finished second in the men’s upper limb impairment category and 16th overall. Last month, the duo was successful winning the men’s and women’s individual division titles at the Ontario Adaptive Open at Weston Golf and Country Club in Toronto, Ont. The win marked Stasiuk’s sixth title and Willis’ second having won his first in 2023. Stasiuk has also won a bronze medal from the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany.

“We are excited to begin the fifth playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship at The Dunes at Kamloops next week,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Rogan Doyle. “Our championship expanded to 54-holes last year, featuring both a gross stroke play championship and a net stableford championship. This format provides equitability for the field competing in for the national championship. We appreciate the work of the staff and volunteers at The Dunes as we work to collectively deliver a memorable experience for those competing in Kamloops.”

The Dunes was founded in 1996 and has played host to a variety of big events including the CCAA Championship, B.C. Amateur, Western Canadian Summer games and many more. The Dunes is known for its rolling fairways and bountiful dunes mounds lining all fairways. Players will use all clubs in their bag at The Dunes, as well as some very imaginative shot shapes during their round.

“The Dunes at Kamloops is very pleased to be chosen as the host site for the 2025 Canadian All Abilities Championship. The participants are in for a treat as the course is in excellent condition and the forecast looks amazing,” said Bill Bilton, Owner and Head Professional, The Dunes at Kamloops. “Players will be challenged with true U.K. links style fairways, rolling hills and natural fescue. We eagerly await the opening tee shot and making new friends during the event.”

First conducted in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto, Ont., the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

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.

Practice rounds are scheduled for Monday, August 4, and the tournament gets underway on Tuesday, August 5.

For the full player field competing in the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Isaiah Ibit played final six holes at 4-under par to force playoff with O’Donovan.  

GATINEAU, Que. – Declan O’Donovan of Sydney, Australia edged out Team Canada NextGen member Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. on the second playoff hole to claim the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, and cap off a memorable finish at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que.  

O’Donovan captured his title by draining a birdie putt from outside 30 feet, becoming the first Australian winner to hoist the Earl Grey Cup since Gary Simpson claimed the 89th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 1993. 

O’Donovan carded rounds of 69-67-67-64=267 to win the tournament, playing alongside Ibit and Andre Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont. in the final group on Thursday. All three players held a share of the lead throughout the final round. It was the first-ever playoff of O’Donovan’s golf career.  

After opening his final round with a pair of bogeys to fall out of the lead, O’Donovan orchestrated a clinical start to his back nine to authoritatively retrieve his place atop Thursday’s leaderboard.  

The 22-year-old made the turn exactly how he needed to, holing out on his second shot on the par-4 10th for eagle to claw his way back in contention. A birdie at the 11th followed for the Australian, tying him for the lead before outright securing it four holes later following a pair of dropped shots from Ibit and Andre Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont.  

His one-shot lead rendered safely until the final hole, with O’Donovan adding some insurance with consecutive birdies on Nos. 16 and 17. The cushion however, failed to hold off the red-hot putter of Ibit who roared to life with three-straight birdies on Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to dramatically force a playoff with O’Donovan.  

“Isaiah, he really got the momentum going for me,” praised O’Donovan of Ibit, his playing partner. “He was forcing me to play well. 16, 17 and 18, for him, three birdies was absolutely incredible… he’ll definitely win this event. I’m not sure how many people have won the junior Canadian amateur and the men’s Canadian amateur, but if he’s the first, I could definitely see that happening,” he added.   

The two played the 18th hole twice, escaping the first playoff hole equally with par before a wayward approach shot on the par-5 shaped the tournament’s outcome. Alongside O’Donovan in the first cut of the rough aligning the fairway, Ibit opted to use a three-wood to get his ball onto the green. His shot veered left of the target, failing to find his ball and forcing him to take back-on-the-line penalty relief on the fringe of the 16th green, as O’Donovan safely delivered his approach to the edge of the fairway.  

Moments later, an up-and-down secured O’Donovan the title, with the Australian diverting from his lack of playoff experience by reading his last putt perfectly to become the second international player in as many years to hoist the Earl Grey Cup.  

“I’ve played tournaments before. I’ve won, and I have been behind the eight ball, and I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned in situations like today is just keep hitting the ball. Don’t let your head take you out of it. Just keep hitting as many good shots as possible. And I definitely did that today,” said O’Donovan. 

In addition to winning the Earl Grey Cup, O’Donovan becomes one of the first players to clinch their place in next year’s RBC Canadian Open, set to return to TPC Toronto (North Course) at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. The win also grants the Australian a place in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship, set for August 11-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. and fully exempts him from local qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Amateur and 2026 U.S. Open.  

“There’s a lot of opportunity that comes with this event. I mean, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about what, what could happen if I did win. I think rolling that putt in on the last really let the feeling sink in of that I’m going to be playing in a PGA TOUR event, I’m going to be playing my first U.S. Amateur,” said O’Donovan. 

If eligible, O’Donovan will be able to defend his title next year as Thursday’s win secures his place in the field at the 121st Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. He also joins a prestigious list of players to have their name etched into the Earl Grey Cup, including Canadian Golf Hall of Famers George S. Lyon and Sandy Somerville who captured eight and six championships respectively. 

Other past champions include Canadian Golf Hall of Famers and four-time winners, Nick Weslock (1957, 1963, 1964, 1966) and Doug Roxburgh (1972, 1974, 1982, 1988). More recently, two-time PGA TOUR winner Mackenzie Hughes claimed the championship in consecutive years (2011, 2012) while 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion and five-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor claimed the 103rd Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2007. 

Team Ontario was able to successfully reclaim the Willingdon Cup on Tuesday with a seven-stroke come-from-behind win over Team Quebec and Team Alberta.  

The trio, represented by Eric Zhao of North York, Ont., Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont. and Zhu parlayed a 7-under 63 from Zhu on Monday with a 4-under performance from Lew the following day to clinch the province’s 33rd title at the Inter-Provincial Team Championship.  

The team championship ran concurrently over the first 36 holes, with the two lowest scores from the three-person team counting towards the combined team total for each round. Team Ontario finished last year’s tournament four shots behind Team British Columbia.  

The top 20 finishers on Thursday have also secured a spot in next year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. To view the final leaderboard from the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.  

Andre Zhu and Team Canada NextGen member Isaiah Ibit enter final round two and three shots off the pace  

GATINEAU, Que. – Declan O’Donovan of Sydney, Australia fired a 6-under 64 on Wednesday to claim the top spot of the leaderboard at the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. O’Donovan’s lead caps off a busy round of international talents soaring into contention at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que.  

O’Donovan pulled in front of Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. and Andre Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont. on the 14th hole, converting on his fifth birdie putt of the day as the 36-hole co-leaders dropped shots.  

An eagle at the scorable par-5 fifth electrified O’Donovan’s round on Wednesday, leading to six additional birdies and helping the Australian climb four places to hold the outright lead at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. 

“It honestly put a kick in my step which was very nice,” commented O’Donovan of his early eagle to get the ball rolling on his round. “I went on a nice string of birdies on some tough holes later on,” he added.  

The Australian – ranked no. 352 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and one of five competing in the field – wasn’t the only international player to catch fire and make a charge on moving day. His 6-under 64 on Wednesday overtook Noa Auch-Roy of Lyon, France for the lowest score of the day, with the latter negating a trio of bogeys with eagles on Nos. 1 and 5 before playing his back nine 4-under par and rising 19 places.  

Auch-Roy will open Thursday’s final round four strokes off the pace and in a tie for fourth alongside Calen Sanderson of Newtown, Pa. – who was able to claw his way into contention. Pain rounds out the trio at 6-under after following up three birdies in his first four holes with a 3-over finish on his back nine to close with an even par 70 on Wednesday. Zhu, who co-led the tournament alongside Pain after 36 holes, will tee off on Thursday alongside O’Donovan in the final group. Zhu carded a timely birdie on the par-4 16th to help recover from a double bogey at the pivotal 14th hole to move into the final grouping.  

Team Canada NextGen member Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. led the Canadian charge throughout the third round and will open his quest for the Earl Grey Cup on Thursday after firing his lowest round of the tournament. Ibit birdied Nos. 16 and 18 to get to 7-under for the tournament, finishing his round at 3-under 67 to pull within three shots of O’Donovan.  

O’Donovan, Zhu and Ibit will all tee off in Thursday’s final group at 10:10 a.m. EDT.

The Royal Ottawa Golf Club played nearly two strokes easier than Tuesday’s second round, prompting lower scoring and charges from various players that started their round outside the first page of the leaderboard on Wednesday. Cloudy conditions surrounded the Ottawa-Gatineau region throughout the third round and is expected to linger into Thursday.   

As for the 54-hole leader, excitement stands as the only emotion O’Donovan has felt since exiting the 18th green on Wednesday, with a chance to come out victorious in less than 24 hours at one of golf’s oldest amateur championships  

“I love playing golf and playing in different countries, this is another great opportunity,” commented the 22-year-old. 

“There’s a lot of opportunity ahead of me but regardless of what happens tomorrow I’m still going to be playing golf the next day so as long as I stick with that mindset and stay aggressive, I’ll be very happy with whatever the result is.”  

Thursday’s winner will receive a direct exemption into several marquee events, including a spot in the field at the 2026 RBC Canadian Open. Additionally, the Canadian Men’s Amateur champion will lock up a place in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship, set for August 11-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. and will be fully exempt from local qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Amateur and 2026 U.S. Open. The winner – as well as the top 20 finishers – will also be exempt into next year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and will be able to defend their title, if eligible.    

To view the full leaderboard after 54 holes, as well as scheduled tee times for Thursday’s final round of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.  

Three players hold a share of the individual lead entering the third round on Wednesday 

GATINEAU, Que. – Team Ontario overcame a three-stroke deficit on Tuesday to avenge their runner-up finish from last year’s event and claim their 33rd Willingdon Cup, capping off a busy second round at the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.  

Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont. led the comeback to help Team Ontario reclaim their place atop the annual Inter-Provincial Team Championship, negating an early bogey on his round by playing his next 10 holes at 5-under par to disarm Team Quebec of their lead and give his side the momentum they needed to win the title.  

“It’s awesome,” commented Lew on the feeling of winning the Willingdon Cup. “I know both of the guys on the team, so it feels nice to be able to get it done with them,” he added. “We just wanted to play good on our own and kind of let the results take care of itself.”  

Team Ontario was represented by Andre Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., Eric Zhao of North York, Ont. and Lew. The trio combined to shoot 10-under par over 36 holes as Team Quebec settled in a tie for second with Team Alberta at 3-under par despite leading the field by three strokes at the start of Tuesday’s round.  

Team Canada NextGen member Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. was able to capitalize on easier scoring during Tuesday’s morning wave to wrap up the day with a share of the lead despite trailing by two upon entering the clubhouse. His ability to work around an early bogey at the par-4 second highlighted the 18-year-old’s ascension up the leaderboard on Tuesday, playing the following four holes at 3-under par with his dad on his bag.  

All week, the focus between the two has been situated on consistently finding new ways to follow dropped shots with pars and birdies, with Jager going as far as drawing a blue goldfish on his golf ball to remind himself of the short memory needed to do so.  

“It’s been a birdie mindset, trying to get as many birdies as I can and eliminating bogeys with strategy,” commented Jager, backing up his claims with 12 pars on Tuesday including eight-straight to close out his second round. He enters Wednesday’s third round in a deadlock with Zhu and Ryan Vest of Vernon, B.C. atop the leaderboard at 6-under par, crediting his play off the tee as the difference maker at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club.  

“I just tried to play simple golf and not do anything crazy. There’s a lot of places you can’t miss out here, so I just tried to avoid those. I think playing steady golf all week is the way to go,” added Pain.  

Vest – who teed off in the afternoon five shots off the pace – fired a bogey-free 67 to give himself a look at hoisting the Earl Grey Cup on Thursday as tougher conditions brought much of the field back into contention.  

Thirteen players will start their third round within three shots of the lead after 18-hole leader Thomas Grenier of Thetford Mines, Que. laboured to a 3-over 73 finish just a day removed from setting a tournament scoring record. Grenier was unable to shake off consecutive dropped shots at Nos. 6 and 7, compounding his efforts with a double-bogey at 17 to start Wednesday’s third round a shot behind the leaders at 6-under par.  

Team Canada NextGen members Ethan Wilson of St. Albert, Alta. and Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. sit two strokes off the lead and will begin their third rounds in a tie for fifth. Declan O’Donovan of Sydney, Australia shot a 3-under 67 on Wednesday to rise 23 places and join the duo. He’s ranked no. 348 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).  

The winner of the Earl Grey Cup will receive a direct exemption into several marquee events, including a spot in the field at the 2026 RBC Canadian Open. Additionally, the Canadian Men’s Amateur champion will lock up a place in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship, set for August 11-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. and will be fully exempt from local qualifying for the 2026 U.S. Amateur and 2026 U.S. Open. The winner will also be exempt into next year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and will be able to defend their title, if eligible.   

For the individual and inter-provincial team leaderboards following the second round of the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.