TORONTO – There’s nothing like home cooking, and Michael Blair will get plenty of it during the 2019 RBC Canadian Open.

The Ancaster, Ont. native, who plays at Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington, Ont., was the low finisher at the second RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at TPC Toronto, Thursday. The 27-year-old shot an 8-under-par 64, earning an exemption into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, which is being held at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Blair put together a spectacular round, sinking two eagles on two par-fives on the back nine. Coupled with five front-nine birdies, Blair found himself two strokes ahead of the competition at the conclusion of play.

Trailing Blair was another Hamilton-area competitor in Christopher Ross. A Hamilton Golf and Country Club player, Ross birdied his final two holes to finish at 6 under.

Tied with Ross was Jae Kim of Toronto. Kim was bogey-free on the day, and an eagle on the eighth hole helped him to a T2 finish.

 

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Always been a dream of mine to play the @rbccanadianopen. Extremely excited to tee it up at @hamiltongolfandcountryclub in a few weeks!! Thanks to @thegolfcanada @tpc_toronto for all the help today

A post shared by Michael Blair (@mblair416) on May 16, 2019 at 5:00pm PDT

Ross, Kim and 20 other competitors, excluding Blair, advance to the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier taking place on June 3 at Heron Point Golf Links in Hamilton, Ont.

The first RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Kings Links by the Sea in Delta, B.C. saw James Allenby shoot 7-under par 65 to earn medallist honours and advance to the final qualifying event. There must be a minimum of 100 competitors in the field for there to be an exemption to the RBC Canadian Open at any of the regional qualifiers.

A third regional qualifier will take place on May 27 at Elm Ridge Country Club in L’Île Bizard, Que.

Full results can be found here.

Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at https://rbccanadianopen.com/tickets2019/

TORONTO – There’s no doubt that Corey Conners’s life has changed since winning the Valero Texas Open nearly six weeks ago.

Monday qualifiers and doubts about where he’ll play next have given way to guaranteed tournament berths for the rest of the season, a PGA Tour card for 2020 and a spot in this week’s PGA Championship.

That higher profile comes with some other perks too, including staying at prestigious hotels when coming to Toronto for meetings and getting recognized by golf fans.

“It’s a life-changing thing to win, but I still feel like the same person,” said Conners last Thursday in an interview with The Canadian Press. “Not going to be changing up my lifestyle very much. These bonuses are really awesome, a nice treat, but I’m not going to do a whole bunch of things differently.

“Probably won’t be staying at a lot of Ritz-Carltons, keep it pretty simple with a simple lifestyle.”

Conners went straight to the Masters after winning the Texas Open – the organizers flew him, his wife Malory and his agent directly from San Antonio to Augusta, Ga. – and then played in the RBC Heritage and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He took the first week of May off, visiting Toronto for a breakfast meeting with sponsor RBC, getting in a couple of practice rounds in at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, and then going to his hometown of Listowel, Ont., to see his mom and mother-in-law ahead of Mother’s Day.

That busy schedule means he hasn’t had much of a chance to absorb what the Texas Open win means for him, but there are moments where it sinks in.

“I think when we got home, back to Florida, and we were able to just sit down on our couch and think ‘wow, we won a PGA Tour event,”’ said Conners, who said he’ll put the trophy into his living room when it arrives. “I know how it is to win and how many people are trying to win week in and week out.”

AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 14: Corey Conners of Canada walks on the second hole during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Another immediate benefit is a berth in the PGA Championship, the second major of the season. It’s his first time playing in the tournament, having played in the Masters as an amateur in 2015 and the U.S. Open in 2017.

This year’s PGA Championship is the first to be played in May since 1949, and the cooler temperatures at Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. had players bundling up in toques, thick gloves and raingear during practice on Monday.

Conners is one of two Canadians in the field. The other is Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C.

“I grew up playing in the cold and I’ve embraced the challenge the additional challenge that brings,” Conners said. “It’s funny, whenever there’s bad weather on tour everyone I walk by they always joke ‘Oh, you must love this!’ and I’m like ‘No, it doesn’t mean we like the cold and the rain.’

“But I’m used to it. My dad used to play golf with me in miserable conditions back in Listowel. It would be pouring rain and we’d be the only people out there getting soaked in our rain suits.”

TORONTO – The second RBC Canadian Open regional qualifier tees off Thursday, May 16 at TPC Toronto. One-hundred and forty-four players are vying for 22 spots in the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont. on Monday, June 3.

The 18-hole qualifier at TPC Toronto is the second of three regional qualifiers taking place across the country. The first qualifier was on May 6 at Kings Links by the Sea in Delta, B.C., while the third regional qualifier is at Elm Ridge Country Club in L’Île Bizard, Que. on Monday, May 27.

The top 15% of finishers at each regional qualifier are eligible to compete at Final Qualifying on June 3. As there are more than 100 competitors in the field at TPC Toronto, the low qualifier will receive an exemption directly into the RBC Canadian Open field.

The regional qualification process allows amateurs and professionals from across Canada and the world a chance to qualify for the RBC Canadian Open.

The qualifying competitions are open to members in good standing with the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates, amateur golfers with a current Handicap Factor not exceeding 2.0 who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective associations, as well as other golf professionals.

Pairings are available online here.

Follow scoring online as players complete their rounds by clicking here.

Tickets to the RBC Canadian Open are available at: https://rbccanadianopen.com/tickets2019/

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DUNROBIN, Ont. – While Brooke Henderson is enjoying some time off at home, she’s ready for a busy stretch.

The Canadian golf star, who put on a clinic for youngsters at the Kevin Haime Kids to the Course Classic at Eagle Creek Golf Club on Wednesday, will play six weeks in a row starting next week. After another week off, the 21-year-old native of Smiths Falls, Ont., will play four more tournaments in a row.

Henderson also will be in Aurora, Ont., on July 2 for an appearance leading into this year’s CP Women’s Open in August, where she is the defending champion.

Although Henderson has a win this year – her eighth LPGA Tour victory at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii tied her for the all-time wins record by a Canadian – she has missed two cuts, which she admitted was “unlike” her. Earlier this year, Henderson had to drop out of two events due to illness.

Still, she said she’s been pleased with her year.

“Winning is fun,” she said. “It’s fun for me to have these goals, and they’re realistic goals. This is a big stretch and if I can get my game going, I can put myself into contention.”

Henderson and her older sister/caddie Brittany don’t return home too often these days – although their family still lives in Smiths Falls, the siblings spend more time at a home in Naples, Fla. But even when Brooke’s not in the region, her presence is felt.

Haime runs a driving range in Ottawa’s west end and has a junior golf initiative that has given many youngsters free memberships for the past 12 years. He said Henderson’s impact on junior golf in Canada is “immeasurable.”

“Kids just idolize her. It’s not just girls. It’s boys. It’s teenagers,” he said. “Everyone thinks Brooke is awesome.”

During the clinic, Henderson told stories from her time on the LPGA Tour and gave some advice to young golfers.

For her own career, Henderson said she’ll be trying to improve her short game over the next few weeks.

While her scoring average ranks fourth on the LPGA Tour, her putting has held her back this year. She’ll be switching putters for next week’s Pure Silk Championship.

 

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“If people can find that love and passion for the game, good things will happen for them.” @BrookeHendersonGolf #WeAreCanadianGolf Celebrate #CanadaGolfDay and go play! ??⛳

A post shared by CP Women’s Open (@cpwomensopen) on May 1, 2019 at 10:42am PDT

Henderson said she enjoys the River Course at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., where she finished fourth in 2018.

“(The course) is lush and tree-lined which I love. I’ve played OK there before, but I feel potentially I could play really well there,” she said. “I always look forward to that week.”

Henderson said she’s also excited to play in the U.S. Women’s Open, the next LPGA major, May 30-June 2 in Charleston, S.C. She competed at the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2013 at the Country Club of Charleston, the host club for this year’s event, and said that should give her a boost.

Henderson, who withdrew after the first round of last year’s U.S. Women’s Open due to the death of her grandfather, said the tournament is special.

“You get there and the atmosphere is just so different,” she said. “The U.S. Women’s Open is a big one that hopefully I can get before my career is over.”

Henderson also has enjoyed watching some golf recently. She said seeing fellow Canadian Corey Conners win his first PGA Tour title in April was “unreal.”

The victory, Henderson said, inspired her to practise a little more and boosted her energy on the course.

“It’s hard work for sure, but it’s also my dream to be out here,” said Henderson. “When I have a chance to win, it potentially makes it even better ? it brings a smile to my face because as a little girl that’s what I dreamt of, and now I’m living that dream.”

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The regional tournaments for the NCAA Division I men’s golf championships got underway on Monday May 13 and will conclude on Wednesday, May 15, at six different sites.

Each regional tournament will conduct play across 54 holes through May 15. Each regional site will have 13 to 14 teams and five to 10 individuals. In all, the regional stages will feature 81 teams and 45 individuals. The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each regional will advance to the finals.

A total of 8 Canadian golfers are taking part in the competition.

Pullman Regional

Myrtle Beach Regional

Louisville Regional

Athens Regional

Austin Regional

Team and individual medalist titles will be decided May 24-29 at Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The University of Arkansas is the host institution for the 2019 championships.

Click on the event site above to access the tournament leaderboard and follow our Canadian golfers throughout the competition.

TORONTO – Sebastian Szirmak fired a 5-under-par 67 on Monday to win medallist honours in Canada’s only U.S. Open Local Qualifier on the north course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.

Szirmak entered the back nine at 1 under par, but roared to the lead by sinking birdies on five of his final six holes. The Toronto native’s birdie on the 18th hole gave him sole possession of the lead.

The 29-year-old competes on PGA Tour Latinoamérica and finished T7 at a qualifying tournament in January. However, Szirmak has missed the cut in three of his five tournaments since. He played on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2016.

Trailing Szirmak were co-runners-ups Chase Komaromi, Mitchell Sutton and Zach Giusti, each a 4 under.

Komaromi, an amateur from London, Ont., earned medallist honours at the 2017 U.S. Open Local Qualifier in Canada, and finds himself in sectional qualifying for the second time in three years.

A trio of birdies on the back nine for Giusti and a bogey-free round by Sutton secured them both exemptions into U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying.

Rounding out golfers earning exemptions was amateur Cougar Collins. A sophomore at Eastern Michigan University, Collins fired a 2-under-par 70.

The five to advance are among 500 who will play in 36-hole sectional qualifying events at 12 locations, one of which is Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ont. Sectional qualifying takes place between May 20 and June 3.

A hole-by-hole playoff was conducted to determine the first two alternate positions, which went to Peter Laws and Jake Montemurro.

This week is a busy one for TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, as the course is hosting an RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier on Thursday, May 16.

Click here for full results.

More information on U.S. Open qualifying can be found here.

The top-5 advancing to sectional qualifying

1. Sebastian Szirmak, Toronto, Ont. | 67 (-5)
T-2 Chase Komaromi (a), London, Ont. | 68 (-4)
T-2 Mitchell Sutton, London, Ont. | 68 (-4)
T-2 Zach Giusti, Aurora, Ont. | 68 (-4)
5. Cougar Collins (a), Caledon, Ont. | 70 (-2)

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PITT MEADOWS, B.C. – Lauren Kim fended off competitors five years her senior and held on to a second-round lead, while Michael Crisologo won in a playoff in their respective divisions at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

Kim, 13, rocketed to the lead by knocking in six birdies in round two. The Surrey, B.C. native shot a bogey-free round on Sunday, finishing at 6 under during the 54-hole event, one shot ahead of Euna Han in second place.

“I feel really good about myself,” said Kim. “My best hole out of the entire round was the sixth hole. I thought I was going to make a bogey because I went into the trees. I made the putt for a [par] save and I was really shocked, but I feel that really helped me stay calm.”

As the top five finishers, Kim, Han, YanJun (Victoria) Liu, Tiffany Kong and Angel (Mu Chen) Lin each earned exemptions into the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on July 29-Aug. 2 at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.

Narrowly missing the top five was Céleste Dao. The Team Canada Junior Development Squad member led after 18 holes, but ultimately finished in sixth place at 2 over. Dao’s Team Canada teammate Ellie Szeryk joined her in the top ten by carding a 6-over 74.

.@laurenjkim13 and Michael Crisologo earned medalist honours in a breathtaking day three at #FutureLinks Pacific ?️‍♀️?️‍♂️

?https://t.co/D88wPCgguN pic.twitter.com/rsMUQie7Y0

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) May 13, 2019

It was a stunning finish in the boys’ division, as Crisologo and Laurent Desmarchais both put together impressive final rounds and finished tied at 5 under on the tournament. A playoff was needed to decide the winner, and Crisologo birdied the first playoff hole to secure the victory.

“I’m super excited, I can’t really put it into words right now,” said Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. “[My family] watched me through all 18 holes, and it was good to have that support.”

It was a strong showing for the Team Canada Junior Boys Development Squad, as three of the five lowest scores were carded by team members. In addition to Desmarchais, Christopher Vandette and Jeevan Sihota finished tied for third place.

Crisologo, Desmarchais, Vandette and Sihota each earned exemptions into the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, head at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, N.B. from Aug. 11-15.

Along with the four lowest finishers, Ethan Choi of Pincher Creek, Alta. also earned an exemption into the Canadian Junior Boys Championship by shooting even par to round out the top five.

Full scoring can be found here.