PGA TOUR

Canadian Mac Hughes tied for 3rd at Wyndham

Mac Hughes
Mac Hughes (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Byeong Hun An and Sungjae Im each shot 8-under 62 on Thursday to share the lead after one round at the Wyndham Championship.

Mackenzie Hughes, Rory Sabbatini, Patrick Rodgers and Johnson Wagner were a stroke back behind the South Korean leaders in the final PGA Tour event before the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Former Wyndham winners Brandt Snedeker and Webb Simpson joined Jordan Spieth among the nine players at 64.

The co-leaders shot the best rounds of their PGA Tour careers. An, a 27-year-old South Korean seeking his first career victory on tour, closed with birdies on four of his final six holes and a sand save on the par-4 18th.

An had four birdies on the front nine at Sedgefield Country Club along with those four on the back nine during his bogey-free round. He hit 15 greens in regulation.

“I’ve got to do a couple more of these rounds,” An said. “One good round won’t do it, so I need to keep it up and make a lot of birdies.”

Im, one of nine players in the field with a chance at finishing in the top 10 on the points list and earning some bonus money as part of the new Wyndham Rewards Top 10 program, had three straight birdies on Nos. 14-16 and also was bogey-free. He started at No. 25 on the points list.

For a while, it looked as though Spieth would join them atop the leaderboard – teeing off on No. 18 one stroke behind the leaders, but he sent his drive out of bounds. After taking the penalty stroke, he placed his fourth stroke 21 feet from the flagstick and rolled in that putt for arguably the best bogey of the day.

“I got up there and had a putt at it, I was just trying to get the right speed,” Spieth said. “And 5 feet to go, it looked really good, just like they did all day.”

Spieth had just 23 putts during his round.

“You want putts for birdie. You want to be hitting greens in regulation,” Spieth said. “Really, two bad swings today kept it from being my lowest round on the PGA Tour. There’s a lot of good in that.”

At No. 67 on the points list, Spieth – the 2015 FedEx Cup champion – is in no danger of missing the post-season.

Others at Sedgefield aren’t so secure.

The top 125 qualify for The Northern Trust next week at Liberty National, and are assured of keeping their tour cards for next season, if they don’t already have them.

Garnett, who started at No. 121 on the points list, and Power, who is No. 144, are among those who are squarely on the playoff bubble.

“I know if it doesn’t go well where I’m going,” said Josh Teater, who is No. 165. “So I kind of made that up … in my mind a few weeks back that, hey, if I make all three cuts and finish 40th, it makes no difference, so let’s go try to play great and if we end up playing terrible, it doesn’t matter.”

The other main subplot at Sedgefield is the chase for the top 10 and the remaining $5.3 million in bonus money that is still up for grabs. The top three spots have been locked up.

Paul Casey, who at No. 8 on the points list is the highest-ranked player in the field. Eight other players, including Simpson, began the tournament with a shot at climbing into the top 10 and claiming some of that bonus cash.

“I sound free-wheeling and I am, I’m very kind of in a position where I can only improve my position in the FedExCup and maybe grab a bigger Wyndham Rewards than I already kind of got,” Casey said after his 65. “It’s not locked up, there’s still guys that can pass me. But yeah, I want to move up, plain and simple.”

LPGA Tour

Henderson 4 back after opening round of Women’s British Open

Brooke Henderson
Brooke Henderson (Getty Images)

MILTON KEYNES, England – Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the first round of the Women’s British Open on Thursday.

Buhai finished just ahead of Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and American Danielle Kang, who each had a bogey in rounds of 66.

“In my last few tournaments I’ve had three good rounds and one not so good round, so I’m hoping this is the week I can do four good rounds,” said Buhai, whose best finish this year is a tie for 11th. “The last few weeks I have been just trying to stay mellow and keep everything in check, and it seems to be helping.”

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko, seeking her third major title of the year after winning last week’s Evian Championship in France, was well positioned after a 68.

“I’m not tired yet,” Ko said. “I will do my best for this week, and then I had just great playing today, so I’m just happy.”

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., opened at 3 under 69, while Hamilton’s Alena Sharp shot an opening round of 2-over 74.

“I was just sort of making some key saves when I needed them, but just hitting the ball in good places and giving myself some looks, and it was really nice to finish with two birdies at 15 and 16 and kind of get my round to -3, and I feel like that’s a good position going into the next three days,” said Henderson.

Buhai, who has never won on the LPGA Tour, made her only bogey on the par-5 11th but responded with three straight birdies on Nos. 14-16. Her best previous British Open finish was a tie for 30th in 2017.

“I had a bit of a wobble in the middle of my round, and to finish with three birdies and come in strong – I had a goal when I saw the lead was 6 to get to 7, so I holed like a 30-footer on the 16th hole and that got me to 7,” she said.

Playing on her home Marquess Course at Woburn Golf Club, Charley Hull delighted fans with a bogey-free 67. Hull, who suffered from food poisoning at last week’s Evian Championship, showed no lingering ill effects.

“Sometimes it’s harder when it’s your home golf course because you know where not to hit it as well as where to hit it,” Hull said. “Like today, for instance, the 13th hole, it’s the first time I’ve hit that fairway for about three years, so I was quite happy about it.”

Kang, who won the Women’s PGA Championship two years ago for her only major, missed the cut last week at the Evian Championship, allowing her to arrive early for the second of back-to-back majors.

“There might have been a little bit of a blessing in disguise that I missed the cut last week because I came here on Saturday actually and I got a lot of rest, I played a few rounds,” Kang said. “I like being prepared in a proper way and competing in a proper way.”

Joining Hull at 5 under were second-ranked Sung Hyun Park, Moriya Jutanugarn and Megan Khang.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6 and Ariya Jutanugarn shot 68 along with Ko. Defending champion Georgia Hall opened with a 69.

“I think it’s important for me to take all the emotions in and really enjoy it. I loved it out there today,” Hall said. “I just loved having so much support.”

Lexi Thompson, whose wayward passport after the Evian Championship caused a delay for a van carrying golf bags for nearly 40 players to Woburn, opened with a 71.

Canadian Junior Girls Championship

YanJun (Victoria) Liu leads heading into the final round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship

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(Golf Canada)

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – YanJun (Victoria) Liu of Vancouver remains in the lead, although her advantage over the field is down to two strokes at the 65th playing of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship held at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.

Liu carded a round one 1 under 71, sinking two birdies. Her lone bogey came on the par-4 No. 11 – only her second bogey of the tournament.

“Today was a harder round than yesterday,” said Liu. “I got into some trouble again. I saved some up-and-downs and had a couple of nice birdies. I’m not going to think about the lead. I’m just going play like my first day.”

This is Liu’s third appearance at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, having finished in a tie for 13th and a tie for seventh in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

Emily Zhu sits two strokes back of Liu at 9 under. The Richmond Hill, Ont., product’s 5 under 67 tied for the lowest score of the round and was the first bogey-free round of her career.

“Of course, I could have gone even lower, but overall I’m very happy with how I played,” said Zhu. “I know [my competitors] pretty well. They’re some of my good friends so it will be really nice playing with them tomorrow.”

Zhu was in an almost identical position at the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. She was one shot back of the leader and in the final group, eventually finishing second.

“This year is a little different because I am a bit more prepared and experienced than last year,” Zhu added. “I would definitely like to shoot even lower tomorrow, hopefully, and then take the title.”

Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) sits in third, five shots back of Liu at 6 under.

Defending champion Céleste Dao tied Zhu for the low score in the third round at 5 under. Dao made six birdies, including three straight to close out her round. An eagle on the par-5 No. 3 helped move the Team Canada National Development Squad member into fourth place.

Three players sit in a tie for fifth at 4 under; first round leader Euna Han (Coquitlam, B.C.), Brooke Rivers (Brampton, Ont.) and Hailey McLaughlin (Markham, Ont.).

The shot of the day belonged to Alyssa Chang of Surrey, B.C. The 16-year-old aced the 161-yard No. 12 for her second career hole-in-one. She carded even-par 72 in the third round.

“Today was definitely crazy,” said Chang. “I saw the ball and it was just rolling, rolling and I just didn’t want it to stop and it went in. I was jumping up and down and all the parents were clapping.”

The 2019 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2020 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Full scoring can be found here.

CPKC Women's Open

Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club to host 2020 CP Women’s Open

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Golf Canada/ Julie Bernard

VANCOUVER (Golf Canada) – The stars of the LPGA Tour are headed back to Vancouver as Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) announced the 2020 CP Women’s Open will be contested at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club from August 31- September 6, 2020.

The 2020 CP Women’s Open will mark the sixth time that the province of British Columbia has hosted Canada’s Women’s Open Championship, with the last time being 2015 at The Vancouver Golf Club, where Lydia Ko won her third CP Women’s Open title.

“Together, with our partners at Canadian Pacific (CP) and the LPGA Tour, we are very excited to bring the 2020 CP Women’s Open to the world-class city of Vancouver and the prestigious Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada.

“Vancouver and the entire province of British Columbia are home to a tremendously passionate golf community, and we are excited to see the LPGA Tour’s best take on one of Canada’s premier golf courses.”

CP, through its community investment program CP Has Heart, will once again be making a significant charitable contribution to the host community. In its first five years of title sponsorship, from 2014-2018, the campaign has raised more than $8.5 million for children’s cardiac care in the tournament’s host communities.

“CP is proud to bring the CP Women’s Open back to the Vancouver area,” said Keith Creel, CP President and CEO.

“Vancouver is vital to our network and home to more than 500 CP employees. This venue in particular evokes CP pride at every turn, including bearing the name of long-time CP president, Thomas Shaughnessy. We look forward to leaving a significant charitable donation and an indelible mark on this area, just as our predecessors have.”

Founded in 1911 and on its current site since 1960, Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club lies on the shores of the Fraser River, minutes from downtown Vancouver. Both the original course and the 1960 course were designed by famed golf course architect and Vancouver resident A.V. Macan, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2018. The 2020 event will mark the first time that Shaughnessy has hosted the stars of the LPGA Tour. The club has hosted the RBC Canadian Open four times, most recently in 2011. In hosting both the CP Women’s Open and RBC Canadian Open, Shaughnessy becomes the 14th club to host both of Canada’s Men’s and Women’s Open Championships.

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“Our Board of Directors, members and staff are truly excited about hosting this most prestigious golf championship,” said Brian Mossop, General Manager and COO of Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club. “Our club is ready and our course will undoubtedly provide a terrific test for the world’s greatest golfers. We are looking forward to being part of the great history of the CP Women’s Open.”

The CP Women’s Open has traditionally featured one of the strongest fields on the LPGA Tour vying for a total purse of $2.25 million USD, one of the largest purses on tour.

The 2019 CP Women’s Open is being held at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., from August 19-25 and will welcome 94 of the top 100 players on the LPGA Tour, including CP golf ambassador and defending champion Brooke Henderson, fellow CP ambassador Lorie Kane, Canadians Alena Sharp, Britany Marchand, Jaclyn Lee and A.C. Tanguay along with past champions and LPGA stars such as Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn, So Yeon Ryu, Sung Hyun Park and Katherine Kirk.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil to inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Brooke Henderson’s historic victory in 2018 was the first time a Canadian had won the Canadian Women’s Open since golf legend Jocelyne Bourassa 45 years earlier.

PGA of Canada

Canadian golf legends head to Ottawa

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Jim Rutledge

A number of notable Canadian golf legends will tee it up in our nation’s capital region next week for the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.

The Carleton Golf and Yacht Club—which sits on the banks of the Rideau River, just south of Ottawa—hosts the likes of Jim Rutledge, Graham Gunn, Phil Jonas, Danny King, Ken Tarling, Serge Thivierge and many more Aug. 6-9.

“The PGA of Canada is absolutely thrilled to be returning to the Ottawa region and the Carleton Golf and Yacht Club for this year’s PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada,” said PGA of Canada President Mark Patterson. “There’s so many fine past PGA of Canada national champions in the field, it will most definitely be a riveting event.”

Rutledge looks to secure his sixth PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada title, however past winners such as Thivierge (2018), Hocan Olsson (2005), Gunn (2006), Tarling (2011) and Claude Grenier (2016) should have something to say about the Victoria native’s run at Moe Norman’s record eight wins.

Rutledge’s past PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada wins came in 2017 at Burlington Golf and Country Club; 2015 at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club; 2013 at Lookout Point Country Club; 2012 at Emerald Hills Golf Club; and 2010 at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club. The 59-year-old is also a former winner on the Web.com Tour; has six Mackenzie-PGA TOUR Canada titles and is a former PGA Championship of Canada winner.

Additionally, past PGA of Canada national championship winners Marc Girouard, Ian Doig, Benoit Boudreau, King, Jonas and John Cochrane undoubtedly will want to add their to names to the list of champions of this historic event.

The PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada was first played in 1938 as a division of the Canadian PGA Championship. In 1973, the championship became an independent event and has stayed that way since.

Among the Canadian golf legends to win the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada are Stan Leonard, Moe Norman—who won a record seven straight years from 1979-1985—Bob Panasik, Al Balding—who wowed the golf world by winning at age 76 in 2000—Rutledge, Ray Stewart, Dave Barr, Bob Panasik, Murray Tucker, Bill Kozak, Gar Hamilton and Remi Bouchard.

The host of both the 1998 and 2002 PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada, Carleton is considered a true shot-maker’s venue, requiring timely strategy and rewarding accuracy.

Admittance to the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend the 54-hole championship.

Click here for the full field.

 

Canadian Men's Amateur Championship

Glen Arbour Golf Course and The Links at Brunello set to host 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship

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(Glen Arbour Golf Course)

HAMMONDS PLAINS, N.S. – The world’s best amateur golfers are set to compete in the 115th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in Nova Scotia at both Glen Arbour Golf Course and The Links at Brunello from August 5-8.

The championship was first held in 1895, making it one of the most storied sporting events in Canada and the third oldest amateur golf championship in the world. Glen Arbour will play host to 264 players from 12 countries over four stroke play rounds, while The Links at Brunello will co-host for the first two rounds prior to the 36-hole cut.

“Golf Canada is delighted to be back in Nova Scotia to conduct the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at two terrific venues,” said Adam Helmer, the Tournament Director. “We are confident both Glen Arbour Golf Course and The Links at Brunello will challenge some of the top amateur golfers in the world as they vie for exemptions into two prestigious national championships.”

In 2018, Zach Bauchou of Forest, Va. defended his championship by winning at Duncan Meadows Golf Course in Duncan, B.C., by a three-stroke margin. Bauchou is the 22nd American to capture the Canadian Men’s Amateur crown and made his pro debut at this year’s RBC Canadian Open.

Current PGA TOUR players Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.) and Nick Taylor (Abbotsford, B.C.) are both winners of the event. Taylor won it in 2007, while Hughes won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012.

“We are thrilled to be hosting this strong field at Glen Arbour Golf Club and welcoming this prestigious championship to our course,” said Mike DeYoung, General Manager of Glen Arbour Golf Club. “The golf course is in tremendous shape and we look forward to seeing some of the world’s top amateur competitors take to the fairways.”

“The Links at Brunello and our members are excited to be the co-host for the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship,” added Miles Mortensen, General Manager of The Links at Brunello. “Our staff has been working tirelessly to prepare for the competition and we are proud to showcase our course and our community.”

A full field of competitors will compete for the Earl Grey Trophy and the title of Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, including Team Canada’s Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont., who was the low Canadian in 2017, Brendan MacDougall of Calgary, who finished in a tie for 16th in 2018 and Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., who is the reigning South American Amateur champion.

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An inter-provincial team championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition, with three-member teams vying for the Willingdon Cup. Team Québec, consisting of Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.), Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Julien Sale (Gatineau, Que.) shot a combined 10 under par to capture Québec’s second straight team championship in 2018.

The field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties for the final two rounds contested at Glen Arbour.

Glen Arbour Golf Course is one of Atlantic Canada’s and Halifax’s premiere golf destinations. Designed by renowned Canadian golfer and course architect Graham Cooke, the course previously hosted the 2005 CP Women’s Open, as well as the TELUS World Skins Game, the Mike Weir Miracle Golf Drive and the first Wayne Gretzky & Friends Tournament.

The Canadian Men’s Amateur Qualifier will be played at Glen Arbour Golf Course on Aug. 2 – a minimum of five spots into the tournament will be awarded. Additional information can be found here.

Co-host The Links at Brunello, located in Timberlea, N.S., was voted as one of Canada’s top 25 golf courses by Golf Digest in 2018. Designed by Thomas McBroom, the course was opened in 2015 and is regarded as one of the region’s finest.

In addition to claiming the title of 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, the winner will earn exemptions into the 2019 U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C. and the 2020 RBC Canadian Open at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto from June 8-14.

The champion will also be eligible to receive an exemption into the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Mid-Amateur or the U.S. Senior Amateur, if applicable.

NOTABLES

Josh Whalen, Napanee, Ont.
Whalen returns to the Canadian Men’s Amateur with unfinished business. The Kent State alumnus finished third with four under-par rounds in 2017, but missed the cut last year. He enjoyed a strong 2018 season that saw him earn top-5 finishes at the Flagstick Open and the Argentinian Men’s Amateur Championship. He enters the tournament ranked No. 623 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Canon Claycomb, Bowling Green, Ky.
Claycomb has represented the United States on the international stage on numerous occasions, including most recently as a member of the 2019 Wyndham Cup team. He was the youngest member of the 2017 Junior President’s Cup team. The 17-year-old was the winner of the 2017 PING Invitational, and is the 61st-ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Chris Crisologo, Richmond, B.C.
Crisologo made a name for himself at the 2018 RBC Canadian Open, winning the Gary Cowan Award as the low amateur at the event. Currently studying at Simon Fraser University, he won three tournaments in 2018 – the Concordia Invitational (NCAA), the South American Amateur and the British Columbia Amateur. This season, Crisologo won the South American Amateur in February.

Noah Goodwin, Corinth, Tex.
Ranked No. 67 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Goodwin is entering his junior year at Southern Methodist University. The highlight of his junior career was winning the 2017 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Goodwin won the Rolex Junior Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, becoming only the fifth player ever to do so, joining an exclusive club that includes Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Brendan MacDougall, Calgary
As a sophomore, Calgary’s MacDougall captured the Big South Conference Championship as a member of High Point University by a convincing six strokes and added four top-20 results for the Panthers. He followed his collegiate season with a T16 result at the 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur and a victory at the Alberta Match Play Championship. In 2016, MacDougall lost in a playoff at the Future Links, driven by Acura Western Championship.

Christopher Vandette, Beaconsfield, Que.
One of the brightest prospects in Canadian golf, Vandette recently placed third at the 2019 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup. As a 16-year-old, he made the cut of the 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and was in a tie for 7th following the opening round after posting a 68.

More information on the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship can be found here.

Canadian Junior Girls Championship

YanJun (Victoria) Liu leads following second round of Canadian Junior Girls Championship

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(Golf Canada)

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – YanJun (Victoria) Liu of Vancouver carded her second straight round in the 60s, opening a three-stroke lead at the 65th Canadian Junior Girls Championship held at Lethbridge Country Club.

Liu shot 3 under 69, moving herself to 10 under for the tournament. Her 65 yesterday tied the old course record at Lethbridge Country Club – the record was broken by Euna Han only minutes earlier. Liu has only committed a single bogey through 36 holes.

“Today was a different round from yesterday,” said Liu. “Yesterday I had lots of birdie opportunities. Today was more of a regular day – lots of up-and-downs and some birdies too. I kept it real consistent today and made many great putts.”

This is the 16-year-old’s third appearance at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. She finished in a tie for 13th and a tie for seventh in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Liu won the D.A. Points Junior Championship earlier in July.

“I think my putting’s been really good for both rounds,” added Liu. “I had some miss hits with my driver, but I saved them. Also, my mental game was key – I kept everything together.”

The low round of the day belonged to Tiffany Kong. The Vancouver product carded a 5 under par 67, bringing her score on the tournament to 7 under. She sits three strokes back of Liu heading into moving day.

Brooke Rivers (Brampton, Ont.) shot 4 under in round two, which included an eagle on the par-4 No. 14. Rivers is tied with Han, a Coquitlam, B.C. product, for third. Han carded 3 over on the day.

Team Canada National Junior Squad member Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) posted her second consecutive round of 70, moving her to 4 under for the tournament in fifth.

Team British Columbia won the Inter-Provincial Team Competition. The trio of Angela (ZiLan) Zhang (Vancouver), Cindy Koira (Victoria) and Erin Lee (Langley, B.C.) finished at even par, four strokes ahead of Team Québec in second place.

“The players did all the work – we came up with a good plan and they all stuck to it,” said Team British Columbia coach Colin Lavers. “It’s awesome for B.C. golf. We’re really proud and we’re trying to build a strong program. Results aren’t everything, but they are nice.”

This is Team British Columbia’s first time claiming the Mary Pyke Trophy since 2016 and they have now won three of the last five Inter-Provincial Team Championships.

Full scoring can be found here.

Canadian Junior Girls Championship

Euna Han sets course record, leads after opening round of Canadian Junior Girls Championship

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(Golf Canada)

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Euna Han of Coquitlam, B.C., set the course record with a 64 to take the lead heading into the second round of the 65th Canadian Junior Girls Championship held at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.

Han was six under through the front nine and the lone blemish on her scorecard was a bogey on the par-3 No. 16. She could have gone even lower, narrowly missing an eagle putt on the par-5 No. 17.

“I cannot feel better really,” said Han. “I putted really well, but I also hit good shots into the green, so the putts weren’t as tricky as they could have been.”

Han’s 8 under 64, course record-setting round was especially remarkable as Lethbridge Country Club hosted the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. Future LPGA players Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn played the 2012 Canadian Women’s Amateur, with the former claiming the title and firing a round of 65.

“I want to stay calm and stay patient, not getting too excited or too down if I make mistakes,” added Han when asked about her outlook on the rest of the tournament.

The 16-year-old has enjoyed a successful season, finishing runner-up at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship and third at the B.C. Women’s Amateur. Han’s 64 also leads the Juvenile competition.

YanJun (Victoria) Liu finished a single stroke back of Han at 7 under 65. Liu was bogey free, notching six birdies on the front nine.

Hsin Chiao Chang of Chinese Taipei shot 5 under and sits in third place.

Four players are tied for fourth at 2 under; Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Angela Zhang (Vancouver), Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Annabelle Ackroyd (Calgary).

“My front nine was really good,” said Zhu. “I thought I kept my cool and overall I’m very happy with my round. The course is really nice, very well maintained and challenging.”

“I hit the ball really well, so I just stayed consistent out there,” said Ackroyd. “The course is in great shape, it’s playing awesome. It was a good test. I’d love to play the same way I played today. It’s awesome being home in Alberta.”

Team British Columbia, consisting of Angela Zhang (Vancouver), Cindy Koira (Victoria) and Erin Lee (Langley, B.C.), lead the inter-provincial team competition at 2 under. Team Québec, the defending champions, sit three strokes back in second.

The 2019 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2020 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Full scoring can be found here.

19th Hole

Introducing the New Titleist TS Hybrids – Scoring Clubs with Titleist Speed

Titleist TS Hybrids

Born from the Titleist Speed Project, the new Titleist TS hybrids represent a new standard in hybrid performance – combining the explosive speed and distance of TS metalwoods with the advanced technology that has made Titleist the most played hybrids on the PGA Tour.

For dedicated golfers – and Titleist Golf Club R&D engineers – hybrids are considered scoring clubs, not rescue clubs. The new TS2 and TS3 hybrids, benefitting from the innovations of the Titleist Speed Chassis, allow players to replace their long irons with even more speed, launch and precision:

  • The tremendously forgiving TS2 hybrids maximize performance for players who have a sweeping delivery to the ball – delivering high launch and easy distance. The larger profile is designed for players who prefer the look of a fairway metal.
  • The fast-launching TS3 hybrids produce outstanding distance and control for players who hit down on the ball – offering mid launch, precise distance and iron-like control. The compact, square toe shape is designed for players who want more of an iron look.

“Pretty much every golfer we’ve had test a TS hybrid has had the same reaction – these things just go,” said Josh Talge, Vice President, Titleist Golf Club Marketing. “When it comes to the world of golf clubs, hybrids don’t always generate the type of excitement you see with other categories. But with TS hybrids, our R&D team has developed a hybrid that players will start thinking about as their go-to club. A club they just can’t wait to hit.”

FREE TRIAL & FITTINGS

Beginning Aug. 8, golfers can experience the speed of Titleist TS hybrids by attending a Titleist Fitting and Trial event (including Titleist Thursdays) being held at hundreds of locations nationwide. To find an event, or book a free fitting with a Titleist Product Specialist, golfers should visit www.titleist.ca/events​.

TS hybrids are available in golf shops worldwide beginning Aug. 30.

TS HYBRID PERFORMANCE & TECHNOLOGY

The improved performance of TS hybrids is driven by the innovative Titleist Speed Chassis, featuring technologies originally developed for TS drivers and fairways and now optimized for each hybrid shape:

  • Thinner, faster face. The fastest hybrid face Titleist has ever made (16 percent thinner than prior generation 818 hybrids) – delivers faster ball speeds and increased forgiveness.
  • Optimized Weight Distribution. Refined crown and face thicknesses create a lower CG for higher launch and lower spin. The resulting MOI is up to 10 percent higher on average than 818, creating a powerful combination of speed and stability.

“Titleist hybrids were already by far the industry leader for hybrid performance, speed and distance – and now we’ve taken that to another level with these TS models,” said Stephanie Luttrell, Director, Metalwoods Development, Titleist Golf Club R&D. “By taking everything we learned in developing TS drivers and fairways and implementing those technologies into our hybrid platform, we’ve been able to improve our speed and distance performance while maintaining the incredible playability that makes these hybrids scoring clubs – that easy, consistent distance that launches high and lands soft, closer to the hole.”

TWO WAYS TO SPEED

Like their driver and fairway counterparts, TS hybrids bring more speed to golfers through two distinct designs. The new TS2 is a scoring club built for distance with maximum forgiveness across the face, while TS3 offers outstanding distance with shot-shape customization through the adjustable Magnetic SureFit CG. Both models feature Titleist’s patented SureFit hosel with 16 independent loft and lie settings to create a more consistent and optimized ball flight through precision fitting.

  • Loft Options: TS2 – 17º (RH Only), 19º, 21º, 23º, 25º, 27º | TS3 – 19º, 21º, 23º, 25º.

PREMIUM STOCK SHAFTS

The TS stock shaft lineup extends to TS hybrids with four aftermarket models – KURO KAGE Dual Core Black 60 (High launch and moderate spin), TENSEI AV Series Blue 70 (Mid launch and spin), HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 (Low/mid launch and spin) and Even Flow T1100 White 90 (Low launch and spin) – developed by the game’s top shaft manufacturers using insights from Titleist’s industry-best motion capture and consumer testing.

In addition, Titleist offers an industry-leading number of custom shaft choices.

TS HYBRIDS ON TOUR

TS hybrids made their PGA Tour debut at the Memorial Tournament, where Charley Hoffman (TS3 17º) and Robert Streb (TS3 21º) were among those who put TS hybrids immediately in play. Ian Poulter and Charles Howell III put new TS2 21º models in their bags for the U.S. Open, while Patton Kizzire added a TS3 19º, as players around the world continue to switch into the new TS2 and TS3 models.

Titleist has been the most played hybrid on the PGA Tour since 2014 and continues to be the field favorite week in and week out.

AVAILABILITY: Titleist TS hybrids are available in golf shops worldwide beginning Aug. 30. MAP $379.99 CAD.

Amateur Team Canada

Nine Canadians to play 119th U.S. Amateur Championship

Calvin Ross
Calvin Ross (Golf Canada)

Nine Canadians, including two members of the Team Canada National Amateur Squad have qualified to play the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship.

Ninety-six sectional qualifiers were held across North America from July 1-24, including one at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont., on Monday, July 22. Cougar Collins of Caledon, Ont., and Jackson Bowery of London, Ont., earned the two automatic exemptions at The Thornhill Club.

Julien Sale (Reunion Island) produced one of the lowest scores of any qualifier when he carded 10 under 132 at Mendon Golf Club in Rochester, N.Y. on July 8.

Calvin Ross (Fredericton, N.B.) was the low qualifier at The Ledges Golf Club in York, Maine on July 15. The 2017 Canadian Junior Boys champion finished one stroke ahead of Team Canada member Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.), with both players earning qualification.

Colwyn Abgrall (Niverville, Man.) finished as the low qualifier at the sectional at Fargo Country Club in Fargo, N.D.

Étienne Brault (Mercier, Que.), Tristan Mandur (Mill Bay, B.C.) and Chris Crisologo (Richmond, B.C.) all finished as runners-up at their respective qualifiers, therefore earning exemptions.

Eight additional Canadians are alternates for the championship; Jacob Presutti (Brampton, Ont.), Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.), Tyson Turchanski (Calgary), Kade Johnson (Yorkton, Sask.), Jeevan Sihota (Victoria), Cameron Kellett (Lambeth, Ont.), Josh Whalen (Napanee, Ont.) and Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.).

Each qualifier consisted of two stroke play rounds on the same day. Over 7,000 players attempted to qualify for the 312-player field.

The 119th U.S. Amateur Championship is being held at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C., from August 12-18.

Full results from all U.S. Amateur Championship sectional qualifiers can be found here.