BELLEVILLE, ON – Muggy conditions kicked off the fourth and final round of the 104th annual Ontario Women’s Amateur Championships from Black Bear Ridge Golf Course. The final day would produce both an amazing comeback attempt from Emily Zhu (Team Canada National Junior Squad Member) and also an excellent display of toughness from Brigitte Thibault (Team Canada National Amateur Squad Member). This toughness allowed Thibault, who had been the leader after days two and three, to claim the title.

Zhu (National Pines Golf Club) came out very strong, carding a 4-under par 36 on the front and actually taking the lead after nine holes but Thibault battled back tying things on the 12^th with a nice birdie.  The two would stay tied until late when Zhu would bogey 16 and 17. Thibault bogeyed 18 but would still claim the title by one stroke firing a final round +1 (73). Zhu would finish with the only under par round of the day, a -2 (70) and claim the silver medal. Hailey McLaughlin (Granite GC) took home the bronze medal after another steady round of +1 (73) to finish 5 strokes back of the leader.

A thrilled Thibault spoke of her win after the round. “I knew my game wasn’t clutch-clutch the past few days, but I just tried to keep my head up” she said. “I knew Emily was playing really well and she wasn’t going to go away, so I just focused on myself and I’m someone who never gives up.” She then mentioned what it means to win this particular trophy. “It’s obviously a honour, I love to see the previous winners that have all took this kind of step to where they are now. I see a lot of names from Team Canada and excited to see where this could take me.”

Golf Ontario would like to thank Black Bear Ridge Golf Course and their staff for their support of the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship. A special thank you as well goes out to all the Golf Ontario volunteers.

Full results can be found here.

The 2019 Rules include a new form of stroke-play called “Maximum Score” where a player or side’s score for a hole is capped at a maximum number of strokes set by the Committee.

Visit golfcanada.ca/rules to learn more.

SILVIS, Ill. – Roberto Diaz shot a 9-under 62 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the John Deere Classic.

Playing in the final group of the day off the first tee, the 32-year-old Mexican player birdied four of the first five holes, eagled the par-5 10th and birdied three of the last five in the bogey-free round at TPC Deere Run. He took the lead with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th.

“I just feel that everything clicked,” Diaz said. “I’ve been playing pretty solid throughout the year. The driver has been awesome. I’ve been hitting a lot of fairways, and today I hit good numbers all day, and that helps.”

Winless on the PGA Tour, Diaz tied for eighth at the Travelers Championship last month.

Americans Adam Long and Russell Henley were two strokes back. Martin Laird was another stroke back at 65 with Ryan Palmer, Andrew Landry, Vaughn Taylor, Zack Sucher and Ryan Blaum.

Long, who got his first career win earlier this season at the Desert Classic, had eight birdies – four on the front nine and four on the back nine.

Henley has missed the weekend cuts in his last four straight starts. But he highlighted an impressive birdie run by drilling a 55-foot putt on the par-3 7th hole.

“I don’t think I’ve ever lost the belief that I can have a nice tournament,” Henley said. “It’s just a matter of a few bumps here and there.”

Scotland’s Laird, who skipped his national tournament this week in an effort to boost his playoff positioning, followed up a 65 to close out last week’s event in Minnesota with birdies on five par 4s on Thursday.

Palmer, the second-highest ranked player in the FedEx Cup standings in the field at No. 22, returned from a month-long family vacation with a strong round.

Palmer was somewhat inconsistent on his front nine before rallying for three birdies in a five-hole stretch.

“Stress-free today, it felt like. Being off for four weeks, travelling the world a little bit was fun. But I just came into the week just wanting to get my game back going for next week obviously,” Palmer said.

Twenty-year-old rookie Matthew Wolff, who picked up his first career win at the 3M Open last week, opened with a 67. Wolff, the youngest winner on the tour since Jordan Spieth won at Deere Run six years ago, hit 15 greens in regulation and played bogey-free.

“Having that PGA Tour card locked up is a lot of weight off of my shoulders,” Wolff said. “Everything in my game feels really good right now.”

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is the top Canadian after a 4-under 67.

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. (68) finished 3 under, David Hearn of Brantford, Ont. (69) is 2 under, Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (70) are 1 under, while Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., (71) is even. Austin Connelly, an American-Canadian dual citizen, shot a 1-over 72.

Defending champion Michael Kim, who set the tournament record at Deere Run a year ago by winning by eight shots, had a 73. Kim has made just five of 28 cuts since winning in the Quad Cities.

Local favourite and past tournament champion Zach Johnson saw a streak of 40 consecutive rounds of even par or better at Deere Run come to an end after a 1-over 72. Johnson, who last shot over par there in 2008, missed a long birdie putt that would’ve kept the streak alive by inches.

“Frustrating. I mean, the good shots that I hit I didn’t get anything out of it and the bad ones were, I’m scrambling a little bit,” Johnson said.

Full scoring can be found here.

SYLVANIA, Ohio — La Canadienne Alena Sharp et la Sud-Coréenne Youngin Chun partagent la tête de la Classique Marathon à l’issue de la première ronde, elles qui ont inscrit des pointages de 64 (moins-7), jeudi.

Sharp, qui est âgée de 38 ans et qui est originaire de Hamilton, a réussi huit oiselets contre un seul boguey. Elle est toujours en quête d’une première victoire sur le circuit de la LPGA.

Chun, qui est âgée de 19 ans, a évité les bogueys. Elle est aussi à la recherche d’une première victoire dans la LPGA.

À leur poursuite au club de golf Highland Meadows, on retrouve notamment quatre golfeuses à moins-6. L’Américaine Stacy Lewis, dont le dernier des 12 titres de la LPGA a été acquis en 2017, l’Espagnole Azahara Munoz, l’Allemande Caroline Masson et la Suédoise Jenny Haglund ont joué des rondes de 65.

Brooke Henderson, de Smiths Falls, en Ontario, a remis une carte de 67 pour s’installer à égalité au 11e rang à moins-4. Jaclyn Lee, de Calgary, a inscrit un score de 69, tandis qu’Anne-Catherine Tanguay, de Québec, a bouclé sa ronde en 71 coups.

SYLVANIA, Ohio – Alena Sharp of Canada and Youngin Chun of South Korea shared the Marathon Classic lead at 7-under 64 on Thursday, a stroke ahead of Stacy Lewis and three others at Highland MeadowsGolf Club.

The 38-year-old Sharp, winless on the LPGA Tour, had eight birdies and a bogey to finish with a 64 – her lowest round this season.

“I played really well right from the first tee shot,” Sharp said. “I felt really calm this morning coming into this event. I always love playing here. I have great housing.”

The 19-year-old Chun, also seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, had a bogey-free round.

“I didn’t know I shot 64 today,” Chun said. “The funniest thing I finish par on the 18 and then I saw the leaderboard and there is a 7-under and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ I asked my dad. ‘I think I shot 6, right?’ He said, ‘No, you’re 7.’ So it was me.”

Lewis won the last of her 12 LPGA Tour titles in 2017. She was born in nearby Toledo and has an endorsement deal with Marathon Oil.

“It was awesome,” Lewis said. “The biggest thing is I hit 18 greens today. I’ve been working on the ball-striking a lot, so just really nice to see some results. Got a few putts to fall there on our last few holes.”

The Texan had seven birdies and a bogey.

“It’s a golf course I’m not necessarily 100% comfortable on,” Lewis said. “I just had some really good golf shots today. Had some easy tap-in birdies. I haven’t done that in the long time, in general.”

Azahara Munoz, Caroline Masson and Jenny Haglund matched Lewis at 65.

Brooke Henderson, Smiths Falls, Ont., (67) is 4 under, Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee (69) came in 2 under, Calgary while Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City shot an even-par 71.

Lexi Thompson was at 66 with U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6, Carlota Ciganda and Clariss Guce.

Thompson is coming off a two-week break.

“I played five weeks straight before that and really I’ve never played five weeks in a row in my career,” Thompson said. “It was definitely different for me. But two weeks off just relaxing, hanging out with my family and friends, just making sure I get that relaxing time was much needed. I felt good about my game coming into this week.”

Defending champion Jasmine Suwannapura opened with a 70.

Yealimi Noh, the 17-year-old from California who tied for sixth last week in Wisconsin in her LPGA Tour debut, had a 73. Playing on a sponsor exemption after Monday qualifying last week, she had five birdies and seven bogeys.

Full scoring can be found here.

Caledon, Ont. — When Taylor Pendrith hits the golf ball, people take notice, especially when he does so in the General Toronto Area.

Growing up in Richmond Hill, Ont, about an hour east of TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, site of this week’s Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos and CBM Aggregaetes, Pendrith feels right at home on the North course’s fairways, proven by Thursday’s 9-under 63, which leads the tournament by one-stroke among those to finish their opening round.

“I’ve been out here a bunch, living kind of close by,” said Pendrith. “I didn’t play very well here last year, so this is a little redemption.”

Being one of the longest hitters on not only the Mackenzie Tour, but any Tour, Pendrith says the wide fairways suit his style of play, despite missing the cut at the event in 2018.

“There’s lots of drivers,” said the 28-year old. “I can cut it over a couple bunkers, which is an advantage for me, and I drove it fantastic today, hitting lots of fairways and giving myself some opportunities.”

Pendrith did his damage on the back nine on Thursday. Making the turn at 3-under, the Kent State alum made four birdies on his next five holes to move to 7-under.

“Honestly, on the front nine I missed two or three very makeable putts and I was a little disappointed to be 3-under through 8,” said Pendrith. “I was hitting it great, I think I only missed one green, so I had a lot of opportunities and I was able to get the putter going on the back nine.”

Finishing with back-to-back birdies, the second coming after a weather delay that lasted nearly two hours, Pendrith signed for his lowest score of the season, and best opening round since his 62 to open the 2018 Windsor Championship.

“I’ve been pretty close to having a good tournament, I just haven’t capped it off,” said Pendrith, who has one top-10 finish this season and is coming off a T16 at last week’s Windsor Championship. “I’ve been hovering around 25^th going into Sunday and I’ve played OK. It’s nice to get off to a good start and hopefully keep it going.”

Paul Barjon, who continued his strong 2019 season by posting a bogey-free 64, looking for his fifth top-10 finish this season, and Jeremy Gandon trail Pendrith by one stroke.

Due to Thursday’s weather delay, play was suspended due to darkness and 19 players will return to finish their opening rounds at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on Friday morning at 8:15 A.M., while second round tee times will begin at 7:15 A.M., as originally planned.

Full scoring can be found here.

Golf Canada caught up with 21-year-old superstar Brooke Henderson at Magna Golf Club, site of the 2019 CP Women’s Open from August 19-25.

Southwood Golf & Country Club’s 125th anniversary highlights a list of 52 Golf Canada member clubs across all ten provinces that are celebrating anniversaries in 2019.

Founded in 1894 and on its current site since 2011, Southwood Golf & Country Club is one of the oldest clubs in Canada. As part of the Winnipeg club’s anniversary celebrations, The Players Cup, a Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada event, will be held at the course from Aug. 15-18.

All clubs that are celebrating an anniversary will receive a plaque from Golf Canada. Clubs celebrating their 100th anniversary will receive a commemorative scroll.

In addition to Southwood Golf & Country Club’s 125th, 11 clubs are celebrating their centennial:

• Abercrombie Country Club (New Glasgow, N.S.)
• Westfield Golf & Country Club (Grand Bay – Westfield, N.B.)
• Club de golf Islesmere (Sainte-Dorothée, Que.)
• Glendale Golf & Country Club (Hamilton, Ont.)
• Midland Golf & Country Club (Midland, Ont.)
• Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club (Port Carling, Ont.)
• Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.)
• Windermere Golf & Country Club (Windermere, Ont.)
• Elmwood Golf Club (Swift Current, Sask.)
• Weyburn Golf Club (Weyburn, Sask.)
• Earl Grey Golf Club (Calgary, Alta.)

Earl Grey Golf Club (Calgary, Alta.)

Three clubs are celebrating their 75th anniversary:

• Club de golf Victoriaville (Victoriaville, Que.)
• Neepawa Golf & Country Club (Neepawa, Man.)
• Humboldt Golf Club (Humboldt, Sask.)

Neepawa Golf & Country Club (Neepawa, Man.)

Sixteen clubs are celebrating their 50th anniversary:

• Brudenell Golf Course (Cardigan, PEI)
• Mactaquac Provincial Park Golf Club (Mactaquac, N.B.)
• Club de golf Revermont (Amqui, Que.)
• Horseshoe Resort (Barrie, Ont.)
• MontHill Golf & Country Club (Caledonia, Ont.)
• Petawawa Golf Club (Petawawa, Ont.)
• Pine Valley Golf Club (Brantford, Ont.)
• Tilbury Golf Club (Tilbury, Ont.)
• Rock Creek Golf Club (Shaunavon, Sask.)
• North Battleford Golf & Country Club (North Battleford, Sask.)
• Maple Ridge Golf Couse (Calgary, Alta.)
• Taber Golf Club (Taber, Alta.)
• Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club (Roberts Creek, B.C.)
• Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club (Kitimat, B.C.)
• Prince Rupert Golf Club (Prince Rupert, B.C.)
• Musqueam Ladies Golf Club (Vancouver, B.C.)

Brudenell Golf Course (Cardigan, PEI)

Twenty-one clubs are celebrating their 25th anniversary

• Humber River Golf Club (Deer Lake, N.F.)
• Eagle Crest Golf Couse (Centreville, N.S.)
• Club de golf Baie-Comeau (Baie-Comeau, Que.)
• Diamond ‘In the Ruff’ Golf Club (Utterson, Ont.)
• NationView Golf Course (South Mountain, Ont.)
• Pakenham Highlands Golf Couse (Pakenham, Ont.)
• Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club (East Gwillimbury, Ont.)
• The Fox Golf Club (Granton, Ont.)
• Lashburn Town & Country Club (Lashburn, Sask.)
• Mainprize Regional Park Golf Couse (Midale, Sask.)
• Riverview Golf Course (Mannville, Alta.)
• The Legends Golf & Country Club (Sherwood Park, Alta.)
• Big Sky Golf & Country Club (Pemberton, B.C.)
• Golden Eagle Golf Club (Pitt Meadows, B.C.)
• Northview Golf & Country Club (Surrey, B.C.)
• Riverway Golf Couse (Burnaby, B.C.)
• The Redwoods Golf Club (Langley, B.C.)
• Valemount Pines Golf & Country Club (Valemount, B.C.)
• Winchelsea View Golf Course (Lantzville, B.C.)
• Harvest Golf Club (Kelowna, B.C.)
• Chinook Cove Golf Couse (Barriere, B.C.)

Winchelsea View Golf Course (Lantzville, B.C.)

If you take an action near your ball and cause it to move, you get a one-stroke penalty, unless your ball is on the putting green.

Visit golfcanada.ca/rules to learn more.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The trophies continue to pile up for Canadian superstar Brooke Henderson.

The 21-year-old Smiths Falls, Ont., native was honoured with an ESPY award on Wednesday night for the Best Female Golfer of 2019. Earlier this spring, Henderson collected her ninth LPGA Tour title, becoming the winningest Canadian professional golfer in history.

The Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards are presented by the ABC television network and were previously put on by American sports network ESPN.

“Extremely honoured to receive Best Female Golfer at the #ESPYS!! So cool!” said Henderson from her verified Twitter account.

She was unable to attend the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles because she’s competing at the Marathon Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, this week.

Extremely honoured to receive Best Female Golfer at the #ESPYS!! So cool! ☺️??

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) July 11, 2019

Henderson, a graduate of Golf Canada’s National Team program, captured the hearts of Canadians from coast-to-coast in August of 2018 when she became the first Canadian to win the National Open since 1973. 

The other nominees were Ariya Jutanugarn, Jin-Young Ko and Sung Hyun Park.