Taylor opens with 63 to lead in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS – Canada’s Nick Taylor had to scramble for par on his opening two holes Thursday, and then he couldn’t miss in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., ran off a six-hole stretch at 6-under par, including a drive on the 314-yard 14th hole at the TPC Summerlin that stopped 5 feet away for eagle. He birdied all the par 5s, kept bogeys off his card and opened with an 8-under 63 for a two-shot lead among early starters.
Phil Mickelson, who missed the cut last week at the Safeway Open in his season debut, had a 65 for his lowest round since late February.
Taylor faced ideal conditions and the easier side at Summerlin to start his round, and he found himself having to get up-and-down to save par with 5-foot putts.
“The first two holes, I actually hit pretty good drives. Had a little bit of mud on it, so the ball just kind of took off oddly,” Taylor said. “Was able to make two good par saves, and from there was able to hit a bunch of greens, make some putts.”
The 15th hole was a bonus. On the three par 5s, he was either on in two shots or just off the green.
“That always makes the round pretty easy,” Taylor said.
Mickelson, Brian Day and Sam Ryder were at 65. Adam Scott, who spent a year at UNLV as a teenager, was among those at 66.
Mickelson is playing Las Vegas for the first time since 2005, and he didn’t start his season well when he chopped up the par 5s at Silverado – making a 9 on one of the easier holes – to miss the cut.
Lefty wasn’t worried. Take out his play on the par 5s, and he felt his game was fine. He showed that Thursday, and finished his round with a 60-foot eagle attempt that had a chance to go in before leaving a short putt for his final birdie.
The 65 was his best score since a second-round 65 in the Mexico Championship.
With the fairways running tight and fast, Mickelson said he relied on a low cut to keep it in play and give himself chances.
“They’re not going very far, but they’re in play,” he said. “My iron play right now is really good, so I just want to give myself chances with my irons.”
He said he needed only a “subtle fix” from how he played the par 5s at the Safeway Open and it was easy.
Brooks Koepka, who had stem cell treatment on his left knee on Aug. 25 after the FedEx Cup ended, began his season by needing two birdies over the last four holes just to break par. He opened with a 70.
Tony Finau was at 68 after spending the last two weeks on the European Tour and flying eight time zones away to Las Vegas.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Cantlay, who won the previous year, were among those playing the afternoon. Both are among the top 10 in the world ranking, giving Las Vegas its strongest field in more than 15 years.
Koepka is the first No. 1 player in Las Vegas since Greg Norman in 1988.
Canadian Graham DeLaet made his first PGA appearance in nearly two years because of a back injury.
The 37-year-old native of Weyburn, Sask., shot a 4-over 75. DeLaet had a triple bogey on No. 3 and was 7 over though 11 before rallying with three consecutive birdies from Nos. 13-15.
Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., carded a one-under 70.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., had afternoon tee times.
Survey: Economic impact of golf in Canada
Whether you’re a club member, an avid public player or a new enthusiast to the game, spending on the sport of golf drives massive benefit to communities across Canada.
The impact of golf on the Canadian economy is enormous—an economic impact in excess of $14B is only part of the story. Golf courses and the industry at large account for hundreds of thousands of jobs. Canadians and international visitors plan golf vacations to communities that market themselves as golf destinations and resorts offer golf packages that result in millions of tourism dollars. Tens of thousands of charitable causes use golf as the platform to general $500M annually for worthwhile causes. The golf industry—including more than 5M golfers, nearly 2,300 facilities and local retailers plus countless superintendents, PGA of Canada professionals and industry stakeholders—play a vital role in the continued growth and health of the sport.
Understanding the full scope of Canadian golf including the economic, employment, environmental, tourism and charitable impact of the game in communities from coast to coast is critical. Evaluating that impact is why We Are Golf, a coalition of Canadian golf associations, are inviting Canadians to participate in the latest iteration of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
The survey, which takes approximately 12-15 minutes to complete, will generate incredible insights, spending trends and meaningful data towards understanding the current impact of golf in Canada.
As part of the survey, We Are Golf wants to know how much you have or expect to spend on golf and golf related activities or purchases. From green fees and equipment to trips or other golf related spending, the confidential information and insights you share will help estimate the economic impact of golf in your community.
The Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study will be carried out by Group ATN Consulting and your privacy as well as any personal or proprietary information shared will be protected in strict confidence. Results of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study will be reported in early 2020 and the information gathered will only be used to report aggregate results both at the national and provincial level.
We Are Golf includes Golf Canada, the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada, the PGA of Canada, the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and the Canadian Society of Club Managers. The results of the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study will be shared across the Canadian golf community and used to advocate the benefits of our sport.
Thank you for your participation in the Canadian Golf Economic Impact Study.
Luna Lu and Ashton McCulloch win Future Links’ BC Fall Series finale at Crown Isle
COURTENAY, B.C. —Luna Lu of Burnaby, BC, went wire-to-wire at Crown Isle Golf Resort on picturesque Vancouver Island, signing a final scorecard of 70 to win the last of eight Golf Canada junior championships for the 2019 golf season, taking home the title of the BC Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series Junior Girls champion with an overall score of plus +2 for the tournament. In the Junior Boys division, Kingston, Ontario’s Ashton McCulloch topped a strong field of 71 competitors to claim the title.
Leading the pack at the conclusion of day one, Lu managed to fend off strong competition from Victoria’s Olivia Wu – who had closed the gap to a one-shot deficit the previous day with a Round 2 low score of 72 – and 12 year-old CP Women’s Open entrant, Vancouver’s Michelle Liu. Wu and Liu put up a valiant fight but their final round scores of 74 were not enough to catch the champion. They finished the event at T2 with a total score of plus +7, which is enough for both to earn exemptions to join Lu at the 2020 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, which will take place July 28-31 at Club de golf de Lorette in Loretteville, Québec.
“It was a very strong field,” affirms Lu. “I’m really happy that I got this win, especially since it is my first Golf Canada (sanctioned event) win and that really means a lot to me.”
In the Junior Boys division, the suspense lasted until the very end as James Swan of Esquimalt, BC, and Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. took turns atop the leaderboard, after entering the final round neck-to-neck in a tie for first place. Still tied for the lead entering the final stretch at the par-4 17th hole, a costly bogey for Swan while McCulloch saved par allowed the Kingston native to reclaim a one-shot lead and paved the way for a dramatic finishing hole. McCulloch and Swan both managed to save par on the par-4 18th, confirming McCulloch as the victor. The runner-up finish for Swan earns him a berth in the 2020 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. He’ll join McCulloch and third-place finisher Daniel Bennett of Victoria as all three will be exempted to the next year’s national junior championship held August 10-13 at Rivershore Estate and Golf Links in Kamloops, BC.
“I was a little bit shaky at times and it was a bit of a grind,” said McCulloch. “Great up and down on 18 to secure the win. It was great to come out on top with such a strong field.”
Designed by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Honoured Member Graham Cooke, Crown Isle opened in 1992. The course is known for being superbly maintained and having a fun, yet challenging layout. With 12 lakes, views of the Beaufort Range & Comox Glacier, as well as verdant fairways, Crown Isle offers a stunningly picturesque golf experience.
The Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series’ BC event wrapped up a fantastic 2019 tournament season for Golf Canada. The 2020 Championship season will kick off May 8 with the presentation of the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship in British Columbia.
Results for previous 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Championship can be found here: Pacific, Ontario, Western, Quebec, Prairie, Atlantic, Fall Series (Quebec).
For more information and final results from the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series event at Crown Isle Golf Resort, click here.
Hadwin finishes 2nd at Safeway Open
NAPA, Calif. – Cameron Champ made a 3-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole for a one-stroke victory over Adam Hadwin on Sunday in the Safeway Open, finishing off an emotional week with his grandfather battling cancer.
Three strokes ahead entering the round, Champ had five birdies and overcame a bogey on No. 17 to hold off Hadwin for his second PGA Tour victory. Champ closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 17-under 271 at Silverado Resort.
Champ raised both arms then shared a long embrace with his caddie before breaking into tears as he hugged his father on the green. Champ’s grandfather, Mack, is fighting stomach cancer and is in hospice in Sacramento. Mack introduced Champ to golf at a young age.
Hadwin birdied the final three holes for a 67 to tie Champ at 16 under, then watched from nearby as Champ nearly chipped in for eagle on the par-5 18th before making the short birdie putt.
Fellow Canadian Nick Taylor (Abbotsford, B.C.), who was paired with Hadwin, finished at 11 under par in a tie for 10th. Countrymen Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.) and Roger Sloan (Merritt, B.C.) closed at 10 under par.
Marc Leishman (65) was third at 14 under. Justin Thomas (69), Charles Howell III (68) and Zac Blair (68) were 13 under.
Champ missed every fairway on the front nine but made several big second shots to stay in front. None was more impressive than after he drove into the far left rough on the par-5 fifth, pitched up and over a tall tree and onto the green 17 feet away and two-putted for birdie.
Champ bogeyed No. 8, but rebounded with a birdie on No. 9. He had a short chip-in for par on No. 11 after chunking his approach shot.
Champ’s only other tour victory came last October in Mississippi at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He hadn’t finished higher than sixth since, missing the cut 12 times.
Canadian duo of Taylor, Hadwin sit T2 heading into Safeway finale
NAPA, Calif. – Even as he bolted to the top of the leaderboard at the Safeway Open, Cameron Champ’s mind was elsewhere.
Champ’s grandfather, Mack, is in hospice battling stomach cancer and the family has been commuting back and forth between the tournament and his hometown of Sacramento, about 65 miles northeast of Silverado Resort.
“It’s been a pretty emotional week,” Champ said Saturday after shooting a bogey-free 5-under 67 in windy conditions to take a three-shot lead into the final round. “He just made me realize there’s a lot more to life than golf. His thing is he likes to say ‘focus’ a lot. Me and my dad always laugh about it. like, ‘OK Pops.”’
Champ has certainly looked focused this week. He opened with a 67 on Thursday, had two bogeys and a six birdies for a 68 on Friday, then moved into the lead with steady iron play and strong putting. Champ narrowly missed a sixth birdie on No. 17 after nearly driving the green. He had a 14-under 202 total despite playing the four par 5s without a birdie.
“I’m certainly happy with the position I’m in,” Champ said. “I know if I can get in the fairways on those (par 5s) and kind of do what I did today, it will be a good day.”
Champ didn’t make the trip to visit his grandfather following Friday night’s round and was uncertain of his plans after taking the lead.
Closing out Sunday with his second PGA Tour victory would provide Champ and his family a much-needed lift.
“It would be mind-blowing, honestly,” Champ said. “I’m going to continue doing what I’m ding. Whether I shoot 80 tomorrow or whether I shoot 65, I really don’t care. I’m just going to focus on putting my best round together, and whatever that’s going to be tomorrow, it’s going to be.”
Canadians Adam Hadwin (67) and Nick Taylor (70) were 11 under, and Chez Reavie (69), Collin Morikawa (70), Justin Thomas (71) and Nick Watney (72) followed at 10 under.
Hadwin and Taylor are paired in the second-last grouping on Sunday, teeing off at 1:50 p.m. ET
Munoz, the Sanderson Farms Championship winner last week in Mississippi, got back into the mix with six birdies. That followed an uneven second round when the 26-year-old Colombian had a double bogey and an eagle.
“I’m just playing a little more fun, a little more loose and having fun,” Munoz said.
Second-round leader Bryson DeChambeau was 8 under after a 76. DeChambeau bogeyed Nos. 3 and 10, double-bogeyed No. 13 then ran into big trouble after hitting his second shot on No. 18 over the grandstands around the green and into a patch of reeds.
Following a lengthy discussion with course officials and a delay of at least 20 minutes, DeChambeau took a drop and flopped a shot back over the grandstands onto the green 10 feet from the pin. He two-putted for par.
Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul repeats as World Junior Girls individual champion
MARKHAM, Ont. – Canadian golf fans should take good note of Atthaya Thitikul’s name, as they will surely hear it mentioned again in the same breath as the game’s best female players. She is that good. And on Friday, her poise and talent were in evidence at Angus Glen Golf Club of Markham, Ontario, where she claimed her second consecutive World Junior Girls Championship title by two strokes over Ye Won Lee of the Republic of Korea.
In the team competition, it is the Republic of Korea that claimed the gold medal, their second World Junior Girls title after winning it in 2015 at The Marshes GC of Ottawa. After rallying to take the lead following Thursday’s weather delay, the Korean team never looked back. They registered an aggregate score of 3-under (141) in the final round to take the laurels. After claiming bronze at Camelot Golf Club in 2018, Thailand upgraded its 2019 haul by winning silver, while last year’s champions Italy finished third to earn the bronze medal.
“It’s very, very nice to win. I’m so happy now. But I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t catch the (girl in) first place. But only ten percent disappointed (laughs),” said team gold and individual silver medalist Ye Won Lee.
The 2019 gold is Korea’s fourth World Junior Girls Championship medal in only five participations in the event, a tournament record.
In the individual contest, Thitikul managed to keep her playing partners at bay on the front nine, taking a stroke back from the silver medallist, Republic of Korea’s Ye Won Lee, thanks to three birdies against only one bogey. Despite committing two more bogeys on the back nine and briefly finding herself only one stroke up, Thitikul, who fired a final round of 70 (-2), scored a superb eagle on the par-5 16th hole which Ye Won Lee couldn’t match, albeit adding a birdie of her own to the score card.
When asked how important that shot was to her victory, Thitikul declared that “It helped me a lot, you know. When I putt it, in mind I was like ‘Yes! I will get this.’ It made me feel more confident when walking to the 18th hole.”
Italy’s Alessia Nobilio, an individual silver medallist in both 2017 and 2018, shot 71 in the final round to finish the tournament at 6-under, in third place. She is now the World Junior Girls most decorated competitor in tournament history with three individual and two team medals.
As the organizing federation, Canada delegated two teams to participate in the Championship.
Canada 1, consisting of Brooke Rivers (Brampton, Ont.), Euna Han (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) had a strong finish to the tourney, posting their first negative team score of the week (-2) which allowed them to climb to 7th in a tie with Switzerland. Canada 2, composed of Lauren Kim and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., with Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.), scored plus +7 and dropped to 19th, ahead of Ireland.
The 2019 World Junior Girls Championship was conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with Golf Ontario and supported by the R&A and the International Golf Federation. Recognized as an “A” ranked event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the seventh edition of the World Junior Girls Championship will be presented at Angus Glen Golf Club in 2020.
2019 TEAM COMPETITION RESULTS
Gold Republic of Korea
Jung-Min Hong, Ye Won Lee, Yoon Ina, *143-139-140-141-563 (-13)
Silver Thailand
Kan Bunnabodee, Yosita Khawnuna, Atthaya Thitikul, *144-137-142-144-567 (-9)
Bronze Italy
Carolina Melgrati, Alessia Nobilio, Benedetta Moresco, *147-140-143-143-573 (-3)
2019 INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION (TOP 10)
- Atthaya Thitikul, Thailand, *73-63-71-70-277 -11
2. Ye Won Lee, Republic of Korea, *71-70-68-70-279 -9
3. Alessia Nobilio, Italy, *72-67-72-71-282 -6
4. Ho-Yu An, Chinese Taipei, *75-65-74-70-284 -4
4. Jung-Min Hong, Republic of Korea, *72-69-72-71-284 -4
6. Yin Xiaowen, People’s Republic of China, *71-71-72-72-286 -2
6. Hannah Darling, Scotland, *73-66-71-76-286 -2
8. Elena Moosmann, Switzerland, *73-74-69-71-287 -1
9. Lucie Malchirand, France, *73-71-72-72-288 E
9. Annabell Fuller, England, *72-72-73-71-288 E
11. Amalie Leth-Nissen, Denmark, *76-70-73-71-290 +2
11. Anne Normann, Denmark, *78-70-69-73-290 +2
13. Mimi Rhodes, England, *73-71-77-72-293 +5
13. Yoon Ina, Republic of Korea, *74-72-74-73-293 +5
15. Brooke Rivers, Canada 1, *74-73-76-71-294 +6
15. Paula Schulz-Hanssen, Germany, *78-72-74-70-294 +6
15. Chun-Wei Wu, Chinese Taipei, *74-70-78-72-294 +6
18. Yosita Khawnuna, Thailand, *71-74-76-74-295 +7
19. Carla Tejedo, Spain, *75-72-75-74-296 +8
20. Kan Bunnabodee, Thailand, *73-79-71-74-297 +9
20. Angela Arora, Canada 2, *76-73-74-74-297 +9
22. Ester Fagersten, Sweden, *72-74-78-75-299 +11
23. Natacha Høst Husted, Denmark, *76-79-74-71-300 +12
23. Benedetta Moresco, Italy, *77-73-78-72-300 +12
25. Emily Zhu, Canada 1, *82-75-73-71-301 +13
25. Ffion Tynan, Wales, *75-79-70-77-301 +13
25. Carolina Melgrati, Italy, *75-80-71-75-301 +13
28. Maria Jose Bohorquez Fonseca, Colombia, *81-73-73-76-303 +15
29. Marie Bechtold, Germany, *78-70-76-80-304 +16
29. Darcey Harry, Wales, *80-70-82-72-304 +16
29. Christina Ochoa, Colombia, *79-74-76-75-304 +16
29. Cory Lopez, Mexico, *78-77-75-74-304 +16
33. Louise Rydqvist, Sweden, *76-77-79-74-306 +18
33. Aada Rissanen, Finland, *81-74-80-71-306 +18
35. Chiara Horder, Germany, *78-77-78-74-307 +19
35. Carolina López-Chacarra, Spain, *80-71-76-80-307 +19
35. Yael Berger, Switzerland, *80-76-77-74-307 +19
35. Paola Alonso, Mexico, *79-75-81-72-307 +19
39. Carmen Griffiths, Scotland, *78-81-75-74-308 +20
40. Li Shuying, People’s Republic of China, *82-80-75-72-309 +21
40. Lily May Humphreys, England, *86-75-72-76-309 +21
42. Adela Cernousek, France, *75-79-80-76-310 +22
42. Sofia Torres Villarreal, Colombia, *80-75-79-76-310 +22
44. Sara Ericsson, Sweden, *78-77-78-78-311 +23
44. Aine Donegan, Ireland, *81-81-74-75-311 +23
44. Ada Huhtala, Finland, *81-78-75-77-311 +23
47. Euna Han, Canada 1, *77-80-80-75-312 +24
48. Lilas Pinthier, France, *83-77-79-74-313 +25
48. Beth Coulter, Ireland, *78-81-74-80-313 +25
50. Victoria Monod, Switzerland, *77-84-76-78-315 +27
51. Lauren Daiana Olivares, Mexico, *81-79-81-75-316 +28
52. Hsin-Chun Liao, Chinese Taipei, *84-76-80-77-317 +29
52. Lauren Kim, Canada 2, *79-79-82-77-317 +29
54. Carys Worby, Wales, *86-81-77-75-319 +31
54. Kerttu Hiltunen, Finland, *88-76-79-76-319 +31
56. Peng You, People’s Republic of China, *83-86-79-77-325 +37
57. Nieves Martín , Spain, *84-81-89-73-327 +39
58. Katy Alexander, Scotland, *83-80-86-79-328 +40
59. Ellie Szeryk, Canada 2, *85-84-84-86-339 +51
WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL HISTORY
2014 TEAM INDIVIDUAL
Gold USA Mika Liu (USA)
Silver Sweden Megan Khang (USA)
Bronze Canada 1 Emma Svensson (Sweden)
2015 TEAM INDIVIDUAL
Gold Korea Hye-jin Choi (Korea)
Silver Denmark Cecilie Bofill (Denmark)
Bronze Sweden Filippa Moork (Sweden)
2016 TEAM INDIVIDUAL
Gold Philippines Yuka Saso (Philippines)
Silver Korea Jennifer Chang (USA)
Bronze USA Caterina Don (Italy)
2017 TEAM INDIVIDUAL
Gold Spain Seo-yun Kwon (Korea)
Silver Korea Alessia Nobilio (Italy)
Bronze Sweden Bianca Fernandez (Spain)
2018 TEAM INDIVIDUAL
Gold Italy Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand)
Silver USA Alessia Nobilio (Italy)
Bronze Thailand Zoe Campos (USA)
2019 TEAM INDIVIDUAL
Gold Korea Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand)
Silver Thailand Ye Won Lee (Republic of Korea)
Bronze Italy Alessia Nobilio (Italy)
Additional information regarding the World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.
Full results can be found here.
Titleist introduces new TruFeel golf ball – The softest-feeling Titleist
The new Titleist TruFeel golf ball is engineered to deliver longer distance and excellent control for golfers who rely on the consistent performance and quality of the softest-feeling Titleist.
Now available in golf shops worldwide, Titleist TruFeel has been reimagined with a new TruTouch core and new TruFit aerodynamics for more distance with the driver and in the long game. A proprietary TruFlex cover provides ultra-soft feel and excellent control on shots into and around the green.
For golfers who prefer a very soft compression feel, Titleist TruFeel improves upon the prior generation DT TruSoft as the best performing golf ball in its class, offering a superior combination of soft feel, longer distance and short game control.
“We know from our extensive player testing that golfers who gravitate toward the softest-feeling golf balls are also clearly focused on performance,” said Michael Mahoney, Vice President, Titleist Golf Ball Marketing. “In this category, we continue to see competitive products that sacrifice distance or short-game spin in order to gain a softer feel. TruFeel strikes the perfect balance of extremely soft feel and all-around performance. Our engineers have advanced TruFeel’s low compression technology to add speed and distance in the long game while preserving the feel that golfers tell us they love – and the playability on every shot that makes this ball a Titleist.”
TruFeel is available in White and Optic Yellow, with a new Matte Red colour option to be added in January 2020. The new TruFeel sidestamp has been designed to double as an alignment aid.
TruFeel PERFORMANCE & TECHNOLOGY
Titleist TruFeel delivers best-in-class performance through the most advanced low compression design and manufacturing technologies:
- New TruTouch Core: The fast, low compression TruTouch core generates low spin for long distance.
- TruFlex Cover: The TruFlex cover is a proprietary Titleist formulation designed for very soft feel around the green and excellent greenside control.
- New TruFit Aerodynamics: The new TruFit aerodynamics are designed with a symmetrically optimized pattern to enhance long game distance.
Every TruFeel golf ball is made at Titleist Ball Plant 2 in North Dartmouth, Mass., to ensure the most consistent performance, quality and feel – from ball to ball and dozen to dozen.
Korea moving on up on moving day at World Junior Girls Championship
MARKHAM, Ont. — Many golfers despise being interrupted by the elements when playing a round. But don’t say that to Team Korea. After a thunderstorm stopped play for just under three hours on Thursday during the third round, the Koreans rallied after play resumed to erase the four-stroke lead that Thailand held before the stoppage and take a one-shot advantage in the team competition.
Korea now sits in first with an aggregate score of 422 (-10), just one shot separating them from Thailand at No. 2. Italy also made the most of moving day, as the 2018 team champions in Ottawa posted a score of minus -1 to climb to third position (-2). England and Denmark also moved up a notch, to fourth and fifth respectively.
In the individual competition, the top of the leader board is occupied by seven competitors that remain under par this week and it is still led by Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand.
Ye Won Lee of Korea (-7), who fired a four-under 68 for the lowest round of the day, climbs to within two shots of Thitikul, who holds on to the lead with a tournament-best score of -9. Scotland’s Hannah Darling, whose hole-in-one yesterday helped her close in on the leaders, sits third at -6. Alessia Nobilio of Italy drops back to 4th place at -5, after shooting even par today.
After the round, Ye Won Lee explained: “I felt really good with my swing but I think that I could have done even better than I did today, because my putter was a little shaky.”
2018 champion Thitikul declared that: “I had a little bit of trouble with my putter when we got back (after the weather delay). The wind also the last two rounds was so strong.” Final round Friday promise to deliver an exciting finish on the South Course at Angus Glen.
As the organizing federation, Canada is afforded two teams to participate in the Championship.
Canada 1, which consists of Brooke Rivers (Brampton, Ont.), Euna Han (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) gained one position today with a team score of plus +5 and is in a tie for 10th with Germany. Canada 2, composed of Lauren Kim and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., with Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.), remains in 17th. Angela Arora joins Brooke Rivers as the low Canadians, in a tie for 18th position at plus +7.
The World Junior Girls Championship is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with Golf Ontario and supported by the R&A and the International Golf Federation. Recognized as an “A” ranked event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the World Junior Girls Championship is in its sixth edition.
Play resumes at 8 AM on Friday for the final round. The closing ceremony will start shortly after the conclusion of play around 3:00 P.M. (EDT).
Admission to the competition is free. Additional information regarding the sixth annual World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.
Full results and tournament information can be found here.
Crown Isle Golf Resort set to host Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series event
COURTENAY, B.C. – Golf Canada’s eighth and final regional junior golf championship of 2019 is set to begin Friday as the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series continues at Crown Isle Golf Resort.
The tournament marks the second instalment of the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series — a two-championship extension of the popular junior golf series which first took place in 2018. With the addition of the two events, the Future Links championship series now features eight tournaments through the course of the season, each hosted in conjunction with the respective provincial association in which the championship is hosted.
The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on September 26, before the tournament officially gets underway with the opening-round taking place September 27.
“British Columbia Golf is thrilled to co-host the final Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series event with Golf Canada at one of British Columbia’s top golf facilities,” said Doug Hastie, tournament director with British Columbia Golf. “Hosting another Future Links regional championship provides top junior golfers from our area with yet another opportunity for to showcase their skills and continue their development both on and off the course.”
The field will consist of 96 junior golfers under 19 years of age of under (as of August 1, 2020) with the top six earning exemptions into their respective Golf Canada junior national championship.
Seventy-one boys will vie for one of three spots into the 2020 Canadian Junior Boys Championship taking place August 10-13 at Rivershore Estate & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C.
The Junior Girls Division will see 25 girls battle for one of three exemptions into the 2020 Canadian Junior Girls Championship being held July 28–31 at Club de golf de Lorette in Loretteville, Qué.
A tie for the 3rd position in the Junior Boys division will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.
Designed by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Honoured Member Graham Cooke, Crown Isle opened in 1992. The course is known for being superbly maintained and having a fun yet challenging layout. With 12 lakes, views of the Beaufort Range & Comox Glacier, as well as verdant fairways, Crown Isle offers a stunningly picturesque golf experience.
The course will play as a 6,791-yard par 72 for the championship and will undoubtedly be a good challenge for up-and-coming junior golfers in Golf Canada’s final championship of the 2019 season.
Results for previous 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Championship can be found here: Pacific, Ontario, Western, Quebec, Prairie, Atlantic, Fall Series (Quebec).
For scoring, pairings and additional information from the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series event at Crown Isle Golf Club, click here
Thailand’s Thitikul surges to the lead after Round 2 of the World Junior Girls Championship
MARKHAM, Ont. —There is something about Canada that brings out the best in Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul’s game and it was on full display today at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario, during the second round of the 2019 World Junior Girls Championship (WJG).
Teeing it up from the 10th hole in a split-tee start this morning, Thitikul, the defending champion from last year’s WJG in Ottawa, had a relatively inauspicious start with four consecutive pars, before finding a new gear following a birdie on the par-5 14th hole. And she was all business from there, collecting seven more birdies and an eagle against only one bogey the rest of the way. With a blistering score of 30 on the front nine for a total of 63 on the day, Thitikul returned to the clubhouse this afternoon with a three-stroke lead over her nearest rivals, Hannah Darling of Scotland and last year’s individual silver medallist, Alessia Nobilio of Italy, who are tied for second place at 5-under for the tournament.
In her post-round interview, the personable Thitikul was frank in her assessment: “You know, I give all the credit to my putter, it worked really good today. I just had fun in the round and that’s good. And the results come.” When asked what adjustments she needs to make for the rest of the week, she declared that “what I need to improve on … are the approaches, with my wedge. You know, at 80 or 90, it was not as good, and I need to improve.” This bodes well for Thailand moving forward.
Darling had quite the outing herself, firing her first career hole-in-one on the 2nd hole, en route to a tidy score of 66 (-6). Nobilio put herself in the hunt, handing in a minus -5 scorecard to rebound from a somewhat disappointing day one that had left her at even par.
Of joining the hole-in-one club today, Darling confides that “it’s the first I’ve ever had … that was pretty cool! Me and Beth (Coulter, of Ireland) were playing together and we were just going mad!”
Ho-Yu An of Chinese Taipei also had a wonderful round and put herself in the mix with a score of 65 (-7) in the second round. An now trails Darling and Nobilio by only one shot, in fourth position at 4-under par.
In the team competition, the Thai squad managed to create a little space atop of what was a very crowded leaderboard following the first round. Propelled by Thitikul’s stellar outing, Thailand shaved 7 strokes from par on Wednesday for an aggregate total of 281 (-7), one shot better than Korea in second place at 282 (-6) and Chinese Taipei, who jump up the rankings to No. 3 with a total team score of 284. Last year’s champion team Italy is close behind in fourth spot at minus -1.
As the organizing federation, Canada can delegate two squads to the Championship.
Canada 1, comprised of Brooke Rivers (Brampton, Ont.), Euna Han (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) lost a little ground and now sits in a tie for 11th with Sweden. Canada 2, which includes Lauren Kim and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., with Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.), dropped four ranks to 17th. For the second day, Rivers remains the low Canadian, firing a 1-over-par 73 that leaves her in a tie for 16th position.
Team Canada is looking for its first medal since capturing bronze at the first ever World Junior Girls Championship in 2014.
The World Junior Girls Championship is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with Golf Ontario and supported by the R&A and the International Golf Federation. Recognized as an “A” ranked event by the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the World Junior Girls Championship is in its sixth edition.
Play resumes at 8 AM on Thursday. Full results and tournament information can be found here.
Admission to the competition is free. Additional information regarding the sixth annual World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.