Tiger Woods returns to Tour Championship with share of lead
ATLANTA – The crowd at East Lake was larger and louder than it has been in five years, which was the last time Tiger Woods was at the Tour Championship.
It was no coincidence.
Woods played one of his best rounds of the year in his return to the FedEx Cup finale and caused the biggest cheer of a sun-baked Thursday afternoon by making an eagle putt from just over 25 feet on the par-5 18th for a 5-under 65 and a share of the lead with Rickie Fowler.
It was the second time in as many FedEx Cup playoff events that Woods was tied for the 18-hole lead. He shot a 62 at Aronimink in the opening round of the BMW Championship two weeks ago on a rain-soaked course that allowed just about everyone to go low.
This felt even better on a dry, tougher East Lake course.
“This was by far better than the 62 at Aronimink,” Woods said. “Conditions were soft there. This, it’s hard to get the ball closer. If you drive the ball in the rough, you know you can’t get the ball close. You just can’t control it.”
Fowler, who missed two playoff events recovering from an injury to his right oblique, putted for birdie on all but two holes for his 65 as he tries to avoid ending the season without winning.
Justin Rose, in his debut as the No. 1 player in the world, got up-and-down from the bunker for birdie on the 18th for a 66 and was tied with Gary Woodland. Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, all of whom will be in France next week for the Ryder Cup, were another shot behind.
Woods already considers this a successful year just by making into the 30-man field at East Lake for the FedEx Cup finale, where everyone has a mathematical shot at capturing the $10 million bonus. He started the season in January after a fourth back surgery that limited him to only 16 PGA Tour events in the previous four seasons.
“To be able to play golf again and to earn my way back to this level is something that I was hoping I would do at the beginning of the year, but I didn’t know,” Woods said. “And I’ve done it?”
What would winning mean in this comeback?
“It would enhance the year,” he said.
Woods still has 54 holes remaining. Two weeks ago, he went from a share of the first-round lead to five shots behind on a course where attacking flags on soft greens was the only option for low scoring.
This was more about precision, and Woods felt in total control. He opened with a three-putt bogey from 25 feet, and he twice ran birdie attempts farther beyond the hole than he would have liked. But after making birdie putts from 25 feet on No. 5 and from 15 feet on No. 6, he figured out the speed of the greens and was on his way.
“I hit so many quality shots all day, whether it was tee-to-green or it was putts,” Woods said. “I didn’t really mishit a single shot today. The only shot I can honestly say that I necked pretty bad was the tee shot at 17. Hit a 3-wood there, and with an iron, I probably would have shanked it. But ended up in the fairway and made par.”
Woods will play in the final group Friday with Fowler, who has seen plenty of him at home in Florida in the months before Woods returned to golf. He had finished his round and was doing interviews when he heard the head-turning roar of Woods making eagle.
They will be teammates next week at the Ryder Cup. Fowler has other objectives at East Lake.
“The biggest win for him is just staying healthy and being out here all year consistently,” Fowler said. “Definitely happy for him. It’s obviously great for our sport. It’s great to have him as part of the team next week. We hope he continues to play well. I just want to play a little bit better and beat him.”
Sixteen players in the 30-man field broke par on a hot afternoon with only a light breeze, and Thursday was all about staying in the game, especially as it relates to the chase for the FedEx Cup.
Bryson DeChambeau, the No. 1 seed after the points were reset, had to birdie two of the last three holes for a 71. For someone like Woods or Fowler to win the FedEx Cup, they would need the top five seeds to falter.
Rose and Thomas didn’t go along with that with strong opening rounds. Finau overcame a pair of early bogeys for his 67.
The key for Woods could be Friday. Only once this year, at the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook, has he stayed consistently in the thick of it all tournament. He figures to have plenty of support. Houses along the side streets outside East Lake, and even one funeral home, offered parking and their yards were packed. It hasn’t been like that in several years.
“I hadn’t played this tournament in five years, and some of the people said they haven’t been out here in five years,” Woods said. “That’s kind of nice that they’re coming out and supporting this event and supporting me, as well.”
How the World Junior Girls Championship became a must-attend event for NCAA golf coaches
OTTAWA, Ont. – Fifty-seven of the best young female golfers from 18 countries around the world will always draw a crowd – but not who you might think.
Throughout the week at Camelot, several squad leaders from some of the biggest NCAA golf programs were seen around the course to take in the action from the fifth annual World Junior Girls Championship in Ottawa. Among them were coaches of Oklahoma, Purdue, UCLA, Iowa, Arizona, Nebraska, Tennessee and Georgia, to name a few.
Close to 20 NCAA Division I golf coaches were on hand to witness history being made, as 15 year-old Atthaya Thitikul set a tournament and club record with a bogey-free round of 60 to claim the laurels and return home with the title of World Junior Girls Champion. The Thailand native is the No. 11 ranked golfer in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) and has yet to commit to an NCAA program.
Italy took the team event in a nail-biting extra-holes playoff to earn a well-deserved gold medal and return to old continent with the championship trophy.
So, what brings them to Ottawa?
“The competition level is great. Obviously, all these different countries are represented and, you know, they’re not just players but the top junior players from those countries,” confides Ryan Sirman, a first-year member of the women’s golf coaching staff at Oklahoma University. “It’s definitely a high level of play here this week,” adds Sirman.
Golf Canada’s chief sport executive Jeff Thompson concurs that this was a key driver in creating this international event. “We purposely limited the number of teams at the event and capped it at that level. The very best can go.”
Canada’s top performer was Céleste Dao, who took fifth place in the individual competition, while Team Canada 1 finished just outside the podium in fourth amongst the 19 teams taking part.
For Justin Bubser, the assistant coach from the University of Arizona Wildcats, it’s a fantastic opportunity to scout talent. “You’ve got some very good players here at this event so we’re just trying to search up the future for the University of Arizona,” says Bubser.
Accompanying Bubser is Kolton Lapa, the associate head coach at the University of Nebraska. “This is a great tournament because it’s the three best junior golfers from each country, so it gives coaches the opportunity to look at golfers that you won’t usually see in action,” adds Lapa, who shares coaching duties with Robin Krapfl at Nebraska. “For example, Thailand is here, and it gives us a chance to evaluate a number of other kids we wouldn’t see anywhere else.”
“You know, as college coaches, it’s definitely our job to do our homework and with these international girls, it’s rare for us to see – especially in this field – elite level of play and to see them all in one spot,” says Sirman. “We can see what their swings look like on video you know, but to actually see them going around the golf course – a phenomenal golf course by the way – is something else.”
From humble beginnings, this event is now a prominent competition in Golf Canada’s championship calendar.
“Year over year, it’s great to see the increase in interest from Division I programs and coaches attending. It’s our fifth year now. In our first year, we were not a ranked event and have since earned “A” ranked status – people know that now. They know the quality of players that are going to be there,” concludes Thompson, who is also in charge of Canada’s national squads at the junior, amateur and young pro levels.
For Canada’s junior girls coach Matt Wilson, the World Junior Girls Championship is circled on the calendar all year as a major opportunity for the team.
“The World Junior Girls is a can’t miss opportunity for our athletes, who are always striving to be the best they can be while competing against the best in the world,” said Matt Wilson. “It’s a great test for the world’s top talent and from a timing perspective, it’s also the perfect stage for scouts and coaches. ”
The World Junior Girls Championship will return to Canada for its sixth edition next year. Click here for additional information.
Chris Vandette climbs from 7 strokes back to capture Duke of York in playoff
INVERNESS, Scotland – Team Canada Development Squad member Christopher Vandette completed a remarkable come-from-behind victory on Thursday, gaining seven strokes on the field to capture the Duke of York Young Champions trophy in a playoff.
Vandette – who captured the Canadian Junior Boys title earlier this year – posted a final-round 71 (-1) in the gusty conditions at the Castle Stuart Golf Links to record the day’s only round under par. The Beaconsfield, Que., native drew even with Ireland’s Joseph Byrne, forcing a sudden-death playoff in Scotland.
The pair squared the first playoff hole and were all even until Byrne missed the green on his approach on the second hole. Vandette jumped at the opportunity with an approach inside 10 feet, going on to close the event with an emphatic birdie putt. At the time, the 17-year-old wasn’t paying too much attention to his movement on the leaderboard, but had a feeling he was gaining ground.
“I didn’t really want to take a look – I just wanted to finish up the best I could and focus on myself,” he said. “I made up strokes by keeping the ball in play and limiting mistakes. I also hit a lot of greens and putted well, I was very efficient around the greens which helped.”
Vandette was quick to credit the new centralized program in his preparation and performance this week.
“This winter, the centralized training at Bear Mountain obviously helped me develop as a player and I also think the conditions (wind, temperature) in Victoria helped me this week. I put in a lot of hours…it felt nice to get this one.”
For Team Canada Lead Development Squad coach Robert Ratcliffe, Vandette continues to show incredible resilience and growth this season.
“Chris was able to draw on his experience of playing this event last year in some pretty testing conditions to deliver a great performance at Castle Stuart,” said the PGA of Canada Class “A” member. “The wind howled for three days but Chris kept calm and showed why he’s one of Canada’s best juniors.”
The win marks the second time a Canadian has won the event – Mississauga, Ont., native Chloe Currie won back in 2016.
Also making her mark in Scotland was fellow Canadian Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont. Zhu finished the 54-hole mixed event in a tie for 8th place, which is also good for runner-up in the girls’ division.
The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, founded in 2001, is a highly rated international event. All of the competitors are either the current holders of their Under 18 National Championship or have won another major golfing event in the previous year. The event boasts an impressive array of former competitors, including four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.
Click here for full scoring.
PGA TOUR announces 2019 Web.com Tour schedule
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR today announced the 2019 Web.com Tour schedule, which features 27 tournaments played in 17 states and four countries outside the United States and culminates with the Web.com Tour Finals in August and September. The Finals will consist of three tournaments culminating with the Web.com Tour Championship, which will conclude on Labor Day.
“The Web.com Tour has enjoyed tremendous momentum in recent years and has created a platform from which graduates are enjoying immediate success on the PGA TOUR,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “The revamped schedule will allow for a more natural cadence to the season for our fans, while providing an earlier finish that enhances the visibility of the Web.com Tour Finals.”
The Web.com Tour will welcome three new events to the 2019 calendar, with the Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, debuting the week of February 11-17 as the fifth of five consecutive events to open the season (a Web.com Tour record). The Evans Scholars Invitational will be held in suburban Chicago at The Glen Club the week of May 20-26, while The TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes in Berthoud, Colorado, will be conducted the week of July 8-14 at the newly-opened TPC Colorado.
The season-long chase for 50 available PGA TOUR cards encompasses a 24-event Regular Season that runs from The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay in January through the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz in August, before giving way to the seventh annual Web.com Tour Finals, which will consist of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship (Aug. 12-18), Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco (Aug. 19-25) and Web.com Tour Championship (Aug. 27-2). The Finals moving from four events to three mimics the PGA TOUR’s re-aligned FedExCup Playoffs, which will also feature three events in 2019.
“The 2019 Web.com Tour schedule is a result of the incredible support we receive from our title sponsors and tournament teams in their respective markets combined with the immediate and sustained success that our players are having on the PGA TOUR,” said Web.com Tour President Dan Glod. “We are excited to unveil a schedule that includes three new events as we continue to focus on growing the tournament experience for our fans and providing more playing opportunities for our membership.”
Ten events will air on Golf Channel, including all three Web.com Tour Finals tournaments. Tournament programming is distributed in 180 countries and territories across more than 320 million potential households, with 35+ channels carrying long-form and/or highlights coverage and live coverage distributed in 100+ countries and territories across 100 million potential households.
Canadian teens win FedEx Junior Achievement Finals at PGA TOUR’s TOUR Championship
MEMPHIS, Tenn., – One day prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, teen entrepreneurs myCryptoHippo from Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Ontario won the second annual FedEx Junior Business Challenge program for their business presentation and secured a $75,000 donation from FedEx to further support youth entrepreneurship.
myCryptoHippo, which aims to educate Generation Z about cryptocurrencies and blockchain through the use of their integrated cryptocurrency simulator, presented its business to a panel of judges, including Warrick Dunn (3-time Pro Bowler and Atlanta Falcons Ring of Honor member), David Cunningham (president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express), Ryan Lane (owner of Dream Beard and FedEx Small Business Grant Recipient) and Marc Leishman (3-time PGA TOUR tournament winner who is competing for the coveted FedExCup).
Through its PGA TOUR sponsorship, FedEx teed off the second annual FedEx Junior Business Challenge program earlier this year at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship (Austin, Texas) and held three other qualifying events at THE PLAYERS Championship (Jacksonville, Florida), the RBC Canadian Open (Ontario) and Dell Technologies Championship (Boston). Judging panels comprised of PGA TOUR players, business leaders and local celebrities selected one junior achievement business at each qualifying event to move on to the FedEx Junior Business Challenge finals. myCryptoHippo was the JA champter that moved on from the 2018 RBC Canadian Open held at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
The four student-led companies that qualified for the finals were evaluated on their pitch skills, presentation content, visual aids and connection to innovation, sustainability, job creation or trade industry. myCryptoHippo came out on top for their integrated cryptocurrency simulator, impressing the judges with their goal to make blockchain technology easy to learn and investing in cryptocurrencies less intimidating by providing a hands-on learning experience.
“It was incredible to see these teenagers from JA chapters across the country showcase their entrepreneurial skills and ambition, in addition to their innovation and intellectual curiosity,” said Warrick Dunn. “I don’t remember what I was doing at their age, but I wasn’t starting a business. I’m inspired by these young entrepreneurs and it’s comforting to know the kids from JA will be tomorrow’s business leaders.”
In just two years, the FedEx Junior Business Challenge program has provided more than 30 JA student-led companies the chance to present their businesses at more than ten PGA TOUR tournaments, and awarded $150,000 to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs.
“Every day around the world, businesses are faced with new challenges, and to stay ahead of competition, companies and leaders need to be creative, agile and innovative,” said David Cunningham, president and CEO, FedEx Express. “Success in small business and entrepreneurship is paramount to FedEx, and the JA students who participated in today’s FedEx Junior Business Challenge finals proved that the future is bright.”
Since 1996, FedEx has donated nearly $14 million to JA Worldwide in support of small businesses and future entrepreneurs. As a part of FedEx Cares global giving initiative, the FedEx Junior Business Challenge program is part of FedEx’s goal of investing $200 million in more than 200 global communities by 2020 to create opportunities and deliver solutions for people around the world. The JA Worldwide network reaches more than 10 million young people in more than 100 countries, making JA a natural partner for FedEx Cares.
With FedEx as the official sponsor of the PGA TOUR since 2002, FedEx and the PGA TOUR have a long-standing relationship. In 2007, the PGA TOUR introduced the FedExCup as the first season-long competitive and promotional platform, transforming the competitive landscape of professional golf. The performance-based point structure culminates with the FedExCup Playoffs, a four-tournament playoff at the end of the season to determine the FedExCup Champion.
Marc-Etienne Bussieres repeats as PGA of Canada Assistant’s champion
CALGARY – For the second consecutive year, Marc-Etienne Bussieres came roaring from behind to capture the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.
When the final round at The Winston Golf Club in Calgary began, the 32-year-old from Longchamp, Que., sat four shots off the lead. But by the time the dust had settled after a wild final round featuring impressive scoring from the just about everyone in the field, Bussieres found himself two clear of his nearest competitor.
“I can admit it now, but I was nervous all day long—right from the very first tee shot until I made the birdie putt on the last hole,” Bussieres said. “However, for whatever reason, I usually play my best when I feel the nerves.”
Bussieres’ final round 7-under-65 included seven birdies, five of which came on Winston’s tough back-nine holes.
“All of a sudden I got my groove going on the back nine and the birdies started happening,” he said. “I think it helped that I was playing with Dustin (Risdon) and he was playing so well, that pushed me to make more birdies.”
Bussieres’ three-day total of 199 (65-69-65) saw him two-shots better than Airdrie, Alta’s., Riley Fleming who posted the round of the championship Wednesday, shooting an astounding 9-under-par 63.
“I figured I had to take it really low today to even have a chance,” Riley said after his round. “Unfortunately, I didn’t take it deep enough, but it was still an amazing round with 11 birdies.”
Risdon, who won the 2016 PGA Assistants’ Championship in 2016 finished solo third at -13. Thirty-six hole leader Albert Pistorius and 2013 PGA Assistants’ Championship Billy Walsh shared fourth spot at -12.
Nearly 40 players finished the national championship at even-par or better.
For the full leaderboard, click here.
“Being the No. 1-ranked player is always on my mind because of the prestige and the exemption into the RBC Canadian Open,” Bussieres admitted.
Originally launched in 2011, the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC has received much praise over the past seven years.
Players ranked inside the top 64 earn invites to the PGA Championship of Canada. The player who is ranked No. 1 at the conclusion of the championship earns an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open.
Team Canada’s Jaclyn Lee wins in Ann Arbour to collect 4th NCAA golf title
ANN ARBOUR, Mich. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee has picked up right where she left off last season, winning medalist honours and her fourth NCAA golf title on Tuesday at the East & West Match Play event.
The Ohio State senior carded rounds of 69-71 to finish the stroke-play portion at 4 under par, two strokes clear of the pack. The three-time Team Canada Amateur Squad member continued rolling in the match play rounds with 5&3 and 5&4 victories, leading the Buckeyes into a 3rd place finish.
Last season for the Buckeyes, Lee was a First-Team ALL-BIG10 athlete thanks to three victories, including a record-tying victory at the BIG10 championship.
The medal comes with a heavy heart for the 21-year-old Lee, who paid her respects to the late Celia Barquin Arozamena, a European golf star and Iowa State student who had her life tragically taken away this week.
Next up, Ohio State travels to the Windy City Collegiate in Chicago Oct. 1-2.
Click here for full results.
After solid year, Canada’s Sloan ready to join PGA TOUR full-time
The last time Roger Sloan had long hair, he was playing on the PGA Tour.
After a tie for second at Sunday’s Albertsons Boise Open, the native of Meritt, B.C. locked up a return to the top circuit in men’s golf. And, he said, there was a consensus amongst his family it was time to “grow the flow” again.
While the long locks might make a return, Sloan will hope his scorecards have a different look from when he last played on the PGA Tour full time in 2015. He appeared in 20 tournaments but made only seven cuts that year, and has been playing on the feeder Web.com Tour since 2016.
With his tie for second Sunday, Sloan moved to 10th on money list of the Web.com Tour Finals – a four-tournament series where the top 25 earn status on the PGA Tour – and has already secured a promotion with one event left to play.
“It all came together and I was able to play Roger Sloan golf,” Sloan said in a phone interview. “At the end of the day it was a great score and we had a chance to win and we’re walking away with a job promotion. All in all it was a great tournament.”
The 31-year-old will cap his Web.com season when the circuit’s Tour Championship starts Thursday at the Atlantic Beach Country Club in Florida.
The 2018-19 PGA Tour season starts Oct. 4 at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif.
Sloan will join fellow British Columbian Adam Svensson, who earned his first PGA Tour card by finishing in the top 25 of the regular season money list on the Web.com Tour, along with Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners, David Hearn, and Ben Silverman as part of the Canadian contingent on the PGA Tour next season.
Sloan credited the work he’s done with mental coach Paul Dewland and swing coach Jeff Barton as keys for his success this year.
“He’s worked really hard, and that’s what it takes. Everyone gets mystical about the mental game but it’s just habits and skills. You’ve just got to work at it, and has,” said Dewland. “He’s ready for the PGA Tour.”
Sloan’s runner-up result Sunday was his best finish on the Web.com Tour since he won the Nova Scotia Open in 2014. He finished tied for ninth in Boise in 2017 and said the familiarity with the golf course helped him to a near-win.
“You just really have to be patient and tactical. That combination suits me, and how I prep for a golf tournament,” said Sloan. “Boise is also a very similar climate to where I grew up in Meritt, and there are a lot of similarities. Plus Boise is a great city, and my wife and I love being there.”
Sloan and his wife, Casey, welcomed their first child – Leighton Maddox – last September. Her first birthday is September 19, and Sloan said there would be a small celebration this week, followed by a big family party next week to also celebrate his promotion to the PGA Tour.
He said travelling with an infant while playing golf this year was like “throwing a wrench into an engine” in terms of his routine, but said it was an “easy” adjustment to make.
“I got to see first-hand my daughter growing up, whereas the alternative was to see her a few weeks throughout the course of the season. I wouldn’t have changed it for the world,” said Sloan, whose wife and daughter joined him on the road this year.
The trio will continue to travel together this year on the PGA Tour.
“It was a huge upgrade for my wife because there is consistent, quality health care at every event,” said Sloan. “She is more pumped than I am.”
Sloan played one PGA Tour event this summer, the RBC Canadian Open in Oakville, Ont. He made the cut and finished tied for 37th.
He said that week he knew he was “good enough” for the next level.
“I didn’t have the greatest week at the Canadian Open but I still was able to have a decent finish,” he said. “That validated the whole processed we’ve devoted ourselves to, and I’m excited for the next several months, and the rest of my career too.”
MARCHAND, SHARP LOCK UP LPGA TOUR STATUS
After Sunday’s final round at The Evian Championship, both Alena Sharp and Brittany Marchand secured LPGA Tour status for 2019.
At the LPGA Tour’s final major of the year, Sharp, of Hamilton, Ont., finished tied for 37th, while Marchand, of Orangeville, Ont., finished tied for 49th.
The top 100 on the money list after Sunday earned LPGA Tour status for next year.
Sharp was 92nd while Marchand, a rookie this year, was 89th.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. is second on the money list and finished tied for 10th at the Evian.
Canadian golfers react to slaying of Spaniard golfer in Iowa city
AMES, Iowa – They had both recently turned 22 and were residing in the same Iowa college town but their lives couldn’t have been more different before allegedly intersecting in the most violent way.
Celia Barquin Arozamena was a top amateur golfer from Spain who was finishing her degree at Iowa State University. Collin Daniel Richards was a former inmate from small-town Iowa with a history of violence.
The Big 12 conference champion, Barquin had dreams of making the pro tour and spent hours practicing at Coldwater Golf Links in Ames. Jobless and homeless, Richards had been living in a tent in an encampment near the course and had spoken of his desire to “rape and kill a woman,” police said.
Richards was charged with stabbing Barquin to death during a random attack while she was golfing by herself in broad daylight on Monday morning. Barquin’s body was found in a pond on the course near the ninth hole after fellow golfers noticed her abandoned bag and called police. Richards was arrested within hours, suffering from injuries to his face and hand after Barquin apparently tried to fight him off, investigators said.
As Barquin’s colleagues began grieving the loss of a talented teammate and classmate, Richards was ordered jailed on a $5 million cash-only bond at the county jail and facing the rest of his life in prison. It was, said Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell, a “cowardly act of violence.”
The university had planned to honour Barquin at its football game Saturday for being its female athlete of the year – news that had brought Barquin to tears, according to athletic director Jamie Pollard. Instead, football players will wear helmet decals with her initials to mourn the loss.
“We’re all devastated and heartbroken,” said Pollard, who choked back tears at a news conference.
The golf course issued a statement calling Barquin an amazing young woman with an infectious smile who “made the people around her better.”
Barquin was a top golfer in Spain as a teenager and came to Iowa State to pursue her career, drawn by its facilities, coaches, and picturesque campus. She became one of the best in school history and was completing her civil engineering degree after exhausting her athletic eligibility earlier this year. She recently won an amateur tournament in Europe and competed in the U.S. Women’s Open Championship.
Richards had lived in small towns throughout western Iowa, residing with his mother, father and grandparents at various times. He ended up in Ames in January 2017 when he was placed in a halfway house there after violating his probation, court records show. By then, he had convictions for burglary, theft, criminal mischief and harassment. A judge revoked his probation, and he was sent to prison in November 2017.
Richards left a state prison in southeastern Iowa in June after completing the sentence. Soon he was back in Ames, arrested weeks later after being found passed out at a liquor store and admitting that he drank heavily after taking antidepressants.
Police Cmdr. Geoff Huff said homicides are rare in the city, and it’s “very troubling for something like this to happen in broad daylight.”
Police said officers recovered a knife that Richards had given to acquaintances after the slaying, as well as bloody clothing from his belongings.
Officers were called to the course around 10:20 a.m. Monday to investigate a possible missing female player. They found Barquin’s body in the pond with several stab wounds to her upper torso, head and neck, according to the complaint filed Tuesday against Richards.
A police dog tracked Barquin’s scent to a homeless encampment along a creek near the golf course where Richards had been living in a tent, the complaint said. Officers found Richards with several fresh scratches on his face consistent with fighting and a deep laceration in his left hand that he tried to hide, it said.
“What did he do to her?” an acquaintance of Richards allegedly asked officers who were searching the area.
That man told investigators Richards had said in recent days that he had “an urge to rape and kill a woman,” the complaint said. A second acquaintance told police that Richards arrived at his nearby home on Monday appearing “disheveled and covered in blood, sand and water” before bathing and leaving.
Paul Rounds, a public defender representing Richards, declined comment.
Court records show that since 2014, Richards had been charged with abusing a former girlfriend, stealing a pickup truck after wrecking his own vehicle, using a baseball bat to smash a car window and burglarizing a gas station. In one case, the Iowa State Patrol seized a long knife from him during a traffic stop. In another, he threatened to return to a convenience store to shoot clerks after they caught him shoplifting.
Barquin’s former team announced Tuesday it was pulling out of the East & West Match Play in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to grieve their loss. Women’s golf coach Christie Martens said Barquin was an “outstanding representative of our school.”
Professional golfer Sergio Garcia, one of Barquin’s favourite players, tweeted that he was heartbroken by the news.
Heartbroken over what happened to #CeliaBarquinArozamena I had the pleasure of meeting her and I know she was a special person. Sending my thoughts and prayers to her family and loved ones in this difficult time
— Sergio Garcia (@TheSergioGarcia) September 18, 2018
Garcia wasn’t the only golfer to take to social media to express their condolences. Several Canadian golfers also shared their thoughts.
You can’t even explain such lose. RIP Celia???? https://t.co/pGbxEYUYxh
— Lorie Kane (@loriekanelpga) September 18, 2018
So heartbreaking?… As a former college golfer and student, if there was any place that was safe, the golf course was just that. My heart goes out to the family, friends and teammates. RIP Celia https://t.co/LBlrtcnEU6
— Brittany Marchand (@Britt_Marchand) September 18, 2018
This really brings tears to my eyes. Cannot believe such a horrible thing could Happen to such a nice person. Can’t even describe in words how I’m feeling right now. RIP Celia. https://t.co/4oV3N1o8HC
— Albin Choi (@AlbinChoi) September 19, 2018
I cannot imagine why this would happen to anyone. To her family, friends and teammates you are in my thoughts. Rest In Peace Celia. https://t.co/HV6QDkOhkI
— Alisha Lau (@alishalau13) September 19, 2018
How many times have we enjoyed the solitude of playing a round on our own? Early morning, late evening, just you and the course. I can’t fully wrap my head around something like this happening. RIP https://t.co/2m67vHYQZP
— Jessica Wallace (@JessWGolf) September 19, 2018
Golf Fore the Cure National Event to be held at the Thornhill Club
Golf Canada is pleased to announce that the Thornhill Club will host the 15th annual Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event on Sept. 24.
The event will mark a celebration of the success of all Golf Fore the Cure events held nationwide during the 2018 season. Since its inception in 2003, Golf Fore the Cure has introduced the sport to over 14,000 women while simultaneously raising over $6.4 million for breast cancer research, with proceeds going to program partners Canadian Cancer Society and Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.
“The Thornhill Club is proud to be the host venue for the 2018 Golf Fore the Cure National Event,” said Todd McGrath, Head PGA of Canada professional at Thornhill Club. “We have a very strong female membership and are proud to host an event that supports both the growth of women’s golf and breast cancer research.”
The 18-hole charity event expects over 120 women, including the top-three fundraising teams from across Canada as well as program ambassador and Rogers Sportsnet broadcaster Evanka Osmak, who will be delivering opening remarks.
Founded in 1922, Thornhill Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Stanley Thompson. The club has a long tradition of hosting major events including the 1987 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship, the 2006 Canadian University/College Championship and the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. In addition, Thornhill was the site that played host to 1945 Canadian Open where Byron Nelson claimed his remarkable 11th victory in a row.
The day will culminate with a special presentation involving representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society, who will be on hand to accept the cheque for funds raised nationally through this program during the summer.
Presenting partner Subaru continues to extend their commitment to the program with the “Subaru Safest Drive” mini-game, adding to their generous gifting at the event. Pink Partner adidas Golf will be providing an apparel piece to all participants in addition to providing the top-three fundraising teams with a winter gift package including golf pants, sweater and shoes. The evening will commence with a three-course dinner, coupled with speeches from keynote speakers and followed by a special prize draw.
Registration is open to public and corporate teams.
Click here to register.