ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Team Canada Young Pro Squad’s Augusta James shot a 71 during the third round of the Danielle Downey Credit Union after two consecutive rounds of 69.

The Bath, Ont., talent heads into the final day sharing a piece of sixth at 7 under, separated from the leader by four shots.

With three rounds complete in the fourth annual Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic at Brook-Lea Country Club, Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland) has separated herself from the rest of the field at 11-under par overall.

On moving day in the Empire State, the former four-time First Team All-American performer for the University of Alabama signed a 4-under par scorecard, recording six birdies in the process.

“Anytime you can lead going into the final day is always a bonus,” said Meadow, who has hit 39-of-42 fairways so far this tournament. “I’m excited to have a tiny bit of a cushion, but tomorrow I just need to keep doing my same thing. Get as far ahead as I can as soon as possible.”

The only thing that held her back from an even lower number this afternoon was a double bogey on the par-3 9th hole.

“I was going good until I misjudged the wind and hit it over on nine, which is absolutely a no-go,” Meadow said. “To come back on the back nine with a 4-under was pretty awesome. The greens are firming up, so any downwind holes are pretty hard to get close.”

It may be the first time in the final pairing for Meadow, but she is no stranger to finding the winner’s circle. In early April, she captured the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

That experience is something she is sure to use to get her through tomorrow.

“I can draw on that since I’ve already been there, in contention playing good golf,” said Meadow. “At the IOA Championship I played really well and came from behind. If I can go out with that mentality, even though I am not in that current situation, I think that will help. Once you do something you want to do it again, especially when you know the feeling.”

Meadow will be joined by Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California) in the final pairing off No. 1 tee at 1:10 p.m. ET tomorrow.

Furthermore, a group of four individuals sit at 8-under par overall, just three shots back of the lead. Among them is Natalie Sheary (New Britain, Connecticut), who has put together three consecutive rounds under par for the first time this season.

“I’ve hit my irons well all week, so that has been a strong point for me,” Sheary said after a 1-under par third round. “I have been working on my game for so long, but I have been working really hard lately and it’s just nice to see things pay off.”

Ranked No. 1 on the Symetra Tour in driving accuracy (88.2 percent) and greens in regulation (84.7 percent) coming into this event, Sheary could be found right back at the range once she left the scoring tent.

Hitting 12-of-14 fairways in each of the last two days, as well as 15 greens, has her work ethic wanting more.

“I had two missed fairways today which is a lot for me, but on the holes that you really need to have a perfect drive, I missed a little left and you can’t do that,” said Sheary. “This course allows so many birdie opportunities that it’s easy to bounce back after you made a really easy bogey. It’s a classic northeastern golf course that is tree-lined, with some holes that are open and some you have to hit certain targets.”

Final round action picks up tomorrow morning at 7:30 p.m. ET and all pairings will start off No. 1 tee.

MOVE(S) OF THE DAY ON MOVING DAY 

Entering the third round of the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic, Jenny Coleman and Marissa Dodd (Allen, Texas) were both tied for 25th at 2-under par, but they launched up the leaderboard with strong efforts today.

At separate points during play this afternoon, both players saw their name atop the leaderboard holding a solo advantage.

“It feels really good to do that, especially at a tournament I love so much,” said Dodd. “It doesn’t matter where you are standing on the leaderboard, you can chase the number. You aren’t necessarily chasing a person.”

It was Coleman who fired the lowest round of day three. She carded a bogey-free, 5-under par 31 going out. Then coming in she stayed steady with two birdies and a bogey to complete a 6-under day.

“You just have to keep your gameplan, be confident in your game and see what it brings that day,” said Coleman, who tied her season-best round score with today’s performance. “I have hit the ball well enough all week and just needed some putts to drop, which they finally did. I know my plan and need to try to execute it as well as I can tomorrow.”

Meanwhile, Dodd found her way to a 5-under par round. Like Coleman, she also scored a bogey-free, 5-under par 31 on the front nine. Two birdies and two bogeys evened their way out from there.

All in all, it was a Symetra Tour career-best showing for Dodd.

“When I have those steady rounds, that’s me feeling really close and like everything is in good form, just waiting for it all to fall in place,” said Dodd, who will join Natalie Sheary in the third to last group tomorrow. “It’s honestly not that different of a game from the days before. Overall, it is just a little more concentrated and focused. It’s really getting dialed in on those putts, over those shots.”

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the six champions of Saturday’s Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

The National Event, running for the 10th consecutive year, crowned female and male champions from three age groups (9-11, 12-14 and 15-18). Among the 24 participants from across the country, the following six individuals emerged as champions:

• Andre Zhu, (King City, Ont., King Valley Golf Club | Boys 9-11)
• Lindsay McGrath (Milton, Ont, Rattlesnake Point Golf Club | Girls 9-11)
• Matis Lessard (Québec, Que., Académie de Golf Fred Colgan | Boys 12-15)
• Alissa Xu (King City, Ont., Kings Riding Golf Club | Girls 12-15)
• Gregoire Vincent (Québec, Que., Académie de golf Fred Colgan | Boys 15-18)
• Taylor Cormier (Corner Brook, N.L., Blomidon Golf and Country Club | Girls 15-18)

The winners of each age group received a champion’s package from Titleist Footjoy. In addition, Gregoire Vincent and Taylor Cormier – winners of the 15-18 age groups – have earned exemptions into their local 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Championship.

In Saturday’s National Event, juniors competed in a four-part skills challenge which tested putting, chipping, driving and iron play.

Saturday’s participants had the highest scores on the National Leaderboard after participating in a Skills Challenge qualifying event at their local club. Throughout the year, over 180 clubs hosted a Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge with over 3000 junior golfers participating.

“This was our strongest year yet for the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge,” said Adam Hunter, Manager of Junior Programs at Golf Canada. “We are extremely happy with another excellent National Event and want to thank our sponsors Acura Canada, Cobra Golf and Golf Town for their support of the program.”

On Friday, the National Event participants received an apparel prize pack from Cobra Golf handed out in the Glen Abbey locker room and they will play the back nine of Glen Abbey on Sunday in the Golf Canada Junior Open.

Following that, participants will be provided weekly grounds passes and have an opportunity to be involved in Monday’s Golf Canada Foundation Pro-Am and secure a spot in Wednesday’s Walk with a Pro event.

For more information on the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills National Event click here.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Augusta James fires a bogey free round on Friday at the fourth annual Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic at Brook-Lea Country Club. The Team Canada Young Pro Squad member sits T5 after recording 69 in back to back rounds with three birdies today.

Four players head into the weekend tied for the lead at 7-under par overall.

Symetra Tour rookie Eun Jeong Seong (Yongin, Republic of Korea), 18-hole leader Csicsi Rozsa(Budapest, Hungary), Stephanie Meadow (Jordanstown, Northern Ireland) and Natalie Sheary (New Britain, Connecticut) each sit atop the leaderboard after two rounds.

“Yesterday I was making a lot of putts and today I was making a lot of good rolls, but they were not falling as much,” said Rozsa, who went even par today with three birdies and three bogeys. “To be honest, my hands were shaking a little bit this morning when I went out. It was my first time on top of the leaderboard, but I think I handled it pretty well.”

Meanwhile, Meadow entered the day only one shot off the lead. She made that up with a 1-under par second round. Every time the former four-time First Team All-American seemed to get in trouble, she immediately bounced back.

Already a winner on the Symetra Tour this season at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Meadow finished the day with three birdies, four bogeys and an eagle.

“It was a little more windy and honestly, my ball striking just wasn’t quite as good,” Meadow said. “I missed some fairways and hitting it out of the rough, combined with the wind, is a little tricky. I had similar rounds like this recently and then ended up two- or three-over. To keep it under par today was great and hopefully I can have another round like I did yesterday at some point during the weekend.”

Furthermore, it is only the seventh career Symetra Tour start for Seong. She has made the cut in all but one event, with a season-best tied for second finish coming in June at the Four Winds Invitational.

Today, Seong found her way to five birdies, surrendering only one bogey to turn in a 4-under par 68. She entered round two tied for eighth.

“This is a good chance for me, but we still have two more days,” said Seong. “I don’t think about being the leader, just focus on my game. If I think about the scores, that puts a lot of pressure on me.”

Rounding out the foursome the field will be chasing is Sheary. The Wake Forest University alumna fired a 3-under par this afternoon to join the mix at 7-under overall.

Playing in the first group off No. 10 tee today, Sheary signed a scorecard that featured six birdies and three bogeys. It is the third time this season that she has put together back-to-back rounds under par.

“You have to start off relatively strong and I think I have done a pretty good with that this week,” Sheary said. “I have missed a few fairways, but given myself the chance to get up and down. I’ve done the best I could and moved onto the next, which I think has really helped.”

A total of 70 players made the cut of 1-over par and third round action is set to start at 7:30 a.m. ET tomorrow. All pairings will begin on No. 1 tee.

OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada)  —  Golf Canada and RBC are pleased to announce the final field of competitors vying for the US $6.2 million purse at the 2018 RBC Canadian Open, July 23-29 at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

World no. 1 and Team RBC member Dustin Johnson will be challenged by a stellar field of PGA TOUR stars including former Masters champion and world no.19 Sergio Garcia, two-time defending US Open champion and world no. 4 Brooks Koepka, world no.10 Tommy Fleetwood and big-hitting world no.13 Bubba Watson, a 12-time PGA TOUR winner who has won three times in 2018. 

Other notable additions to the field for the 109th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship include world no. 27 Matt Kuchar; rising star and world no.31 Tony Finau; world no. 33 Kevin Kisner; former FedEx Cup champions Billy Horschel and Bill Haas; 12-time PGA TOUR winner Steve Stricker;  six-time PGA TOUR winners Jimmy Walker, Stewart Cink and Rory Sabbatini; fan-favourites Ian Poulter, J.B. Holmes, Charley Hoffman and Martin Kaymer; and two-time defending champion Jhonattan Vegas. 

Johnson, an 18-time winner on the PGA TOUR and Kuchar, a seven-time PGA TOUR winner will lead a roster of Team RBC players to Glen Abbey that includes three-time PGA TOUR winners Ryan Palmer and Graeme McDowell, 2013 RBC Canadian Open champion and eight-time winner Brandt Snedeker; Jim Furyk, a 17-time winner and two-time RBC Canadian Open champion; along with Canadian Team RBC players Adam Hadwin, David Hearn and Nick Taylor.

“The field is nearly set and we’re ready to tee-up the 109th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship, starting next week at Glen Abbey Golf Club,” said Golf Canada Chief Championship Officer Bill Paul. “This year’s championship will feature a re-energized mix of international stars led by Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Keopka, Bubba Watson, Tony Finau and Tommy Fleetwood, plus five past champions, eight in-year PGA TOUR winners and the deepest field of Canadian talent ever to compete for our National Men’s Open title. Golf fans are sure to be treated to another world-class showcase when the stars of the PGA TOUR return to Glen Abbey.”

In total, 156 players will compete for the US$6.2 million purse next week in Oakville when Canada’s National Open Championship returns to Glen Abbey for a record 30th time.

Click here for a full field list for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.

PGA TOUR In-Year Winners…
A total of eight in-year PGA TOUR winners (accounting for 11 PGA TOUR titles in 2018) will compete at Glen Abbey led by three-time winner Bubba Watson (Genesis Open, World Golf Championship-Dell Technologies Match Play and Travelers Championship) and two-time winner Dustin Johnson (Sentry Tournament of Champions and FedEx St. Jude Classic). Other 2018 PGA TOUR winners include Brooks Koepka (US Open), Ian Poulter (Houston Open), Ryan Armour (Sanderson Farms Championship), Austin Cook (RSM Classic), and Gary Woodland (Waste Management Phoenix Open) and Billy Horschel (Zurich Classic of New Orleans).

Past Champions…
Two-time (2016-17) defending champion Jhonattan Vegas returns to Glen Abbey looking to become the first player ever to win Canada’s National Open Championship on three consecutive occasions. Vegas is one of five past champions set to compete including Brandt Snedeker (2013), Sean O’Hair (2011) and Chez Reavie (2008) along with Jim Furyk who claimed back to back titles in 2006-07.

Sixteen Canadians to compete for National Men’s Open Title…
Leading the Canadian contingent at Glen Abbey will be Abbotsford, B.C. native and world No. 48 Adam Hadwin, who will return to Glen Abbey to play in his ninth RBC Canadian Open. Other confirmed Canadians include past PGA TOUR winners Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas Valley, Ont., and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., Cory Conners of Listowel, Ont., Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., and David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., who finished third at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open. Also confirmed to compete is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., who will tee it up in his 28th RBC Canadian Open.

Each of the 16 Canadian players in the field will look to become the first Canadian to capture the national title since Pat Fletcher accomplished the feat in 1954.

Twelve Canadians to receive Tournament Exemptions….
Web.com Tour players Adam Svensson and Roger Sloan as well as European Tour player Austin Connelly, and Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member Jared du Toit, along with a trio of National Amateur Squad members—Hugo Bernard, Joey Savoie and Chris Crisologo—are among the Canadians receiving tournament exemptions.

Svensson is tracking well to earn his PGA TOUR card, sitting eighth on the Web.com Tour money list with $187,607. The 24-year-old Surrey, B.C., talent and Team Canada graduate has four Web.com Tour top-10 finishes this season, including a win at the 2018 Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in January. 

Calgary native Roger Sloan currently sit no. 52 on the Web.com Tour money list and will make his fourth appearance in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. He has two top-10 finishes on the Web.com Tour this season.  

Austin Connelly, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States, is a former member of Canada’s National Amateur Team. He made international headlines at last year’s Open Championship, where he finished with a share of 14th. He has three top-20 finishes on the European Tour this season, including a tie for 11th at the Rocco Forte Sicilian Open. 

In 2016, Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., took a thrilling run at the RBC Canadian Open, taking a share of the 54-hole lead into the final round before eventually finishing tied for ninth. A member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, du Toit is ranked 21st on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit including four top-10 finishes. 

Tournament exemptions were also given to Team Canada National Amateur Squad members Hugo Bernard of Mont St-Hilaire, Que., Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., and Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C.

As well, 50-year old Winnipeg native Todd Fanning earned his place in the RBC Canadian Open by claiming victory in the 2017 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Fanning, a former pro who returned to amateur golf, will be making his fifth appearance in Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. 

PGA of Canada professional Marc-Etienne Bussières of Gatineau, Que., earned his way into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open by claiming the no. 1 position on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.

Other confirmed tournament exemptions to notable international competitors including American Zach Bauchou, winner of the 2017 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship; Nyasha Mauchaza of Zimbabwe who topped the 144-player at the Ontario Regional Qualifer at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont. to earn automatic exemption; and recent amateur standout turned professional Norman Xiong of Canyon Lake, Calif., the 2018 recipient of the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award as the top player in NCAA Division I golf and Haskin Award as the most outstanding collegiate golfer.

Final Tournament Exemptions to be Named…
Following the Osprey Valley Open which concludes on Sunday July 22, the top-three players on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit will earn exemptions to compete in the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.

The final four exemptions into the field for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open will be handed out at the Monday Final Qualifier on July 23, to be played at Heron Point Golf Links near Ancaster, Ont.

Click here for the full current list of competitors competing in the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club from July 23-29.

Tickets for all tournament rounds of the RBC Canadian Open are still available for purchase at www.rbccanadianopen.com. As well, kids 17-and-under get FREE admission all week long.

VANCOUVER — The women’s course record at Marine Drive Golf Club is 68 and chances are you may be familiar with the player who set that mark. Here’s a hint: she’s Swedish and has 72 LPGA Tour wins.

That’s right, Annika Sorenstam holds that record at Marine Drive, which way back in 1992 co-hosted the World Amateur Team Championships in Vancouver where Sorenstam won the individual title.

Sorenstam’s record has stood for the last 26 years, but some think it could finally fall when an exceptionally strong field gathers for the 105th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, which goes July 24-27 at Marine Drive.

“It’s a fantastic field,” says Doug Roxburgh, the legendary Marine Drive member who played in that World Amateur tourney in 1992. “The No. 1, 2 and 6 ranked women in the world will be there and a whole bunch more in the top 50 and top 100.”

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster, Colo., and Lilia Kha-Tu Vu of Fountain Valley, Calif., are ranked 1 and 2 in the current World Amateur Golf Rankings and that is exactly how they finished at last summer’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.

Kupcho returns as defending champion and the 21-year-old has enjoyed a terrific 2018 season that includes winning the individual title at the NCAA Women’s Golf Championships this spring playing for Wake Forest University. Earlier this month, Kupcho finished tied for 16th at the LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic in Ohio. She went wire to wire at last year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur and beat Vu by five shots.

Vu, a 20-year-old who plays for the UCLA Bruins, has already won four times this year, including the Pac-12 Championship. Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, currently ranked sixth in the world, is the other top-10 player in the field at Marine Drive.

A spot in the 156-player field was a hot ticket as Golf Canada received 241 applications. The fact Marine Drive is playing host to the event likely played a part in that demand. The venerable private club, which is located on Southwest Marine Drive in south Vancouver, is a classic design of prolific architect A.V. Macan. It opened for play in 1922 and is renowned for producing a number of great players, including Roxburgh, Stan Leonard, Richard Zokol and Marilyn Palmer O’Connor.

At 6,361 yards from the tips, Marine Drive is not a long course by today’s standards, but it is tight and demands precision shot-making.

“They are playing the golf course basically kind of between the white and blue tees,” said Tim Tait, the longtime director of golf at Marine Drive. “It is going to be about 6,200 yards.

“The ladies par is generally 73, but it is going to play as 71 for the tournament. The par 4s are challenging here at Marine and most of our par 3s are also challenging. I think you are going to see the final four holes determine who wins the championship. They are very tough. Three long par 4s and a tough par 3.”

A strong Canadian contingent will be on hand to try and keep the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup — awarded to the winner — on home soil. Augusta James, back in 2014, was the last Canadian to win the event. Canadian LPGA star Brooke Henderson won it in 2013.

All four members of Canada’s national amateur team — World No. 16 Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.), No.  26 Jaclyn Lee (Calgary), No. 177 Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.) and No. 249 Grace Ste. Germain (Ottawa) — are in the field. They will be joined by development squad members  Celeste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-I’lle-Perrot, Que, Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.) and Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Maple Ont).

Ko had the top Canadian finish at last year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur, where she tied for third spot. She recently got her first look at Marine Drive.

“It’s pretty exciting to be here and getting to see the course before the rest of the field,” said Ko, a former Canadian Junior Girls champion who is heading into her senior year at North Carolina State University. “It is an advantage for sure.”

Ko knows a couple of Marine Drive members well in national men’s team member Chris Crisologo and Roxburgh, who recently retired as Golf Canada’s director of player development.

“It is comforting to know people here, so I will probably kind of try to get the little secrets, the inside info from them,” Ko said.

Ko will be joined by B.C. Women’s Amateur champion Mary Parsons of Delta and B.C. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Christina Proteau of Port Alberni as British Columbia tries to defend its inter-provincial team title won last year at Cutten Fields. That competition takes place during the first two rounds of the tournament.

Avril Li, the Canadian University-College champion from Port Moody, B.C., has a spot in the field and has been doing some extra practising to prepare for the event.

“It is definitely motivating when you see such a strong field,” said Li, who is heading into her senior year at the University of British Columbia. “I have been practising as much as I can these days.”

“This is a tournament where if you come and play well it is a confidence-booster and you can kind from learn from these great players as well. It is a privilege to play in the same event as people ranked that high in the world.”

Roxburgh, the 13-time B.C. Amateur and four-time Canadian Amateur champion, is serving as co-chair of the tournament and is delighted with the way the club’s members are supporting the event.

“It’s been great,” Roxburgh said. “We have 125 volunteers, maybe 110 from the club and 15 from other clubs. We have been busy and the members have come through.  We are hoping to put on a really good tournament.”

The winner and top Canadian at Marine Drive will earn exemptions into the CP Women’s Open, which goes Aug. 23-26 at Wascana Country Club in Regina. Admission to the Canadian Women’s Amateur at Marine Drive is free.

Glen Abbey Golf Club hosts the RBC Canadian Open for the 30th – and possibly final – time next week. Here are five of the top moments at the club, which first hosted Canada’s lone PGA tournament back in 1977.

2000 – Tiger’s towering drive

The biggest moment of them all from the biggest golfer of the last 25 years. Woods hit a towering six-iron more than 200 yards from a bunker, over water, on 18 to win by a shot over Grant Waite. It was his ninth win of the year and his only Canadian Open triumph. He joined Lee Trevino as the only two golfers to capture the Triple Crown, winning the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the Canadian Open in the same year.

2004 – So near for Weir

Canadian golfer Mike Weir lost the 2004 Canadian Open in a playoff to Vijay Singh after knocking his approach in the water on 18. The native of Bright’s Grove, Ont., came into the tournament as one of the biggest athletes in the country after his Masters victory in 2003 – the first, and only, time a Canadian male golfer has won a major.

1984 – Valet service

Greg Norman’s win in 1984 was made more memorable by his unique path to victory. In the final round, Norman hit an approach over the 17th green and it came to rest under a parked car. A volunteer moved the car and Norman caught a break. He’d go on to win by two shots over Jack Nicklaus.

1985 – Don’t be a stranger

Strange won his eighth PGA Tour event at the 1985 Canadian Open. He was paired with Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman for the final round and told The Canadian Press it was “one of the thrills” of his life and added the Canadian fans “adopted” him after that win. Nicklaus would never win the Canadian Open, but would finish runner-up seven times.

1977 – Grand debut

Lee Trevino won the first event at Glen Abbey when he bested Englishman Peter Oosterhuis by four shots. It was Trevino’s second Canadian Open (he also won in 1971), and was the first golfer in history to win the Triple Crown.

For over four decades, Glen Abbey Golf Club has been synonymous with the RBC Canadian Open. When the lone Canadian stop on the PGA Tour gets underway next week, it will mark the 30th time the venerable course in suburban Toronto has hosted the event.

It might also be the last. Glen Abbey’s owner, ClubLink Corp., announced plans to redevelop the site last year and the future of the venerable course – the first ever solo design project by the legendary Jack Niklaus – is in doubt.

The idea of the distinctive course in Oakville, Ont., with a parkland-style upper portion and an infamous 11th hole that leads into a steep drop into a valley, being bulldozed over for condos and offices does not sit well with some of Glen Abbey’s past champions.

“It’s a terrible idea,” said Chez Reavie, who won the 2008 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey. “All the people spent all that money to live on a golf course and they should still be on a golf course. It’s sad when you see pretty golf courses like that get torn up.”

ClubLink plans to build more than 3,200 residential units on the site along with office space and commercial/retail space. Officials from the Town of Oakville, which is fighting the development proposal, and ClubLink were in Toronto Superior Court this week arguing the property’s future.

Built in the late 1970s, Glen Abbey first hosted the Canadian Open in 1977. Golf legend Lee Trevino, who won that tournament, said he’s never been an advocate for plowing up a golf course to develop real estate, but understands its a business decision.

“There are dozens of golf courses that go under, but that would be a shame. It’s a great spot,” he said.

Nick Price, who won two RBC Canadian Opens at Glen Abbey, said he can see both sides of the development argument.

“Obviously as real estate becomes more valuable, and there is a need for people and housing, it’s hard to hang on to a golf course,” says Price. “But it would be very sad to see it go.”

With the future of Glen Abbey up in the air, Golf Canada and tournament sponsor RBC have decided to take event on a rotation of clubs in the Greater Toronto Area.

“From our standpoint, not knowing what that future was (of Glen Abbey) we had to re-tool and look at moving the Open around,” says Bill Paul, Golf Canada’s Chief Championship Officer.

Jane Clohecy, commissioner of community development for the Town of Oakville, said Glen Abbey is a cultural heritage landscape and that ClubLink’s proposal doesn’t fit in with the town’s growth management policy.

Clohecy says Oakville has identified six primary areas where it wants to grow. Glen Abbey’s location isn’t on the town’s radar.

“From a growth management perspective and a cultural heritage perspective, we didn’t see it as an appropriate place to redevelop,” she said.

The tournament will be played at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 and 2023. Paul said Glen Abbey will always be “part of the mix” in to deciding where to host the Canadian Open so long as the course remains intact.

But an official from Mississaugua Golf and Country Club told The Canadian Press the club has had discussions with Golf Canada about potentially hosting an upcoming Canadian Open, and a member of St. George’s Golf and Country Club said discussions have taken place there as well.

“For 2020 and 2021 we’ve had really developed discussions with a number of phenomenal golf courses,” Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum said in a recent press conference. “Hopefully in the short term we’ll have some announcements in that regard.”

While the Greater Toronto Area appears set for the next five years to host the Canadian Open, British Columbia has a PGA Tour winner in Adam Hadwin, whose best result at the tournament came at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club outside Vancouver in 2011.

Calgary also hosts an annual event on the senior PGA Tour Champions circuit, the Shaw Charity Classic, which has been named the top tournament on that Tour (for professional golfers aged 50-plus) three out of the last four years.

Hadwin says he would like to see the tournament moved around, but understands why it remains in the GTA.

“Any sort of national open – British Open, U.S. Open – they move it around the country and around some of the best courses the area has to offer,” Hadwin says. “I understand it from a tournament standpoint. I get why they do it. It’s the largest population to draw from and one (RBC) knows that’s supported well.”

Starting in 2019 the tournament will also have a new date, moving from early June after more than a decade following the British Open in late July.

After incorporating feedback from the global golf community as part of the Rules Modernization Initiative, the finalized Rules of Golf were officially released this past Spring by Golf’s governing bodies. The new Rules will take effect January 1, 2019.

We gathered the responses of everyone – from golf writers to industry professionals, PGA Tour players to recreational golfers, as well as Directors from golf’s governing bodies – to help gauge how the golf world is feeling about the finalized Rules.

“I really like them. The finished rules, I think, have done a nice job of first and foremost in modernizing the game. I really applaud them for going as far as they did and really looking at everything.”  – Doug Hoffmann, Minnesota Golf Association Rules & Competition Director

The one common denominator that everyone seems to agree on is that the new Rules are easier to read and understand, resulting in a reorganization of the Rules leading to a net reduction from 34 to 24 in the total number of Rules.

Modernizing the Rules

As alluded to in the project’s title, the other critical theme was modernization. Many believe that Golf was due for a modification of its Rules (considering the last fundamental revision came in 1984) with the and the recent amendments will help propel the game into its next era.

Huge news in the GOLF WORLD!
AND, much needed. ???

— ?️‍♂️Posting & Toasting ⛳(@netteKnows) March 13, 2018

Pace of Play Stewardship

One prominent theme that the new Rules were designed to help remedy is pace of play.

“(Slow Play) is tedious on TV and brutal for fans on-site at tournaments, and a major issue for recreational players – how much more would you play if 18 holes took three hours instead of five?” – Alan Shipnuck – Senior Writer, Golf Magazine

Pat anticipates the revisions helping to make meaningful strides in reducing the amount of time to play a round:

Woo hoo! Pace of play should improve dramatically with these changes!

— Pat MacKichan (@PGMacKich) March 14, 2018

Moreover, when a sport becomes easier to understand and quicker to play, it should aid in enticing new players to participate, ultimately contributing to the ultimate goal of growing the game.

“Perception is very important. Everywhere you looked you had tour players, even guys like Jack Nicklaus, talking about how difficult the rules are. If those people are talking about how difficult the rules are, the perception is the game is difficult and it’s going to deter players from getting involved in the game.” – Doug Hoffmann, Minnesota Golf Association Rules & Competition Director

Stroke and Distance: New Local Rule

One of the most widely discussed revisions that should have profound impact on pace of play is a new Local Rules available to Committees to implement an additional option for Stroke and Distance. It allows players who have hit OB or lost their ball to – instead of retreating back to the tee – move their ball to the nearest edge of the fairway (no closer to the hole) while incurring a two-stroke penalty.

“This addresses the issue you hear at the club level about the practical nature of going back (to the tee) and playing under stroke and distance. It has a negative impact on pace of play – that’s what this local rule is about.” said Thomas Pagel, USGA senior director of Rules & Amateur Status.

How do the end users feel about this new rule? Well, many golfers admit that this is how they play anyway, so it’s about time that we made one of Golf’s un-written recreational Rules, written.

Love all the changes, especially the OB rule which most of us weekend golfers do anyway.

— Eric ⛳️?????? (@realMacNeil) March 12, 2018

Me and my mates already play 2 stroke penalty for Lost Ball or Out of Bounds. Makes the game so much quicker and easier…

— Benjamin Williams (@BenjitoWilliams) March 12, 2018

Dropping a Ball

A rule that was proposed – and ended up being revised during the feedback period – is the height of the drop. The initial Rules from March 2017 proposed that the ball be placed on the ground at the drop site. After review, the final decision was that all drops will be taken from knee-height.

“We feel that going to knee height strikes that right balance. It is going to be quicker and going to be accurate in terms of dropping in the relief area. But, equally so, it preserves that element of chance. There’s not that guarantee of getting the best possible lie in and, on reflection, we felt that was an appropriate outcome.” – David Rickman, Executive Director, Governance at R&A

Jason seems to think that the new drop will be an absolute game-changer and seems abnormally excited to officially try it in 2019:

The drop from “knee height” will be epic.

— Jason P. (@JasonP_YYC) March 12, 2018

Reduction of Ball Moved Penalties

The removal of several other accidental “ball-moved” penalties (accidently moving your ball on the green, or while searching for your ball) were made with common sense in mind. However, they were also intended to help eliminate awkward situations like at the 2016 US Open with Dustin Johnson – a situation that brought heavy criticism from Golf Fans, and players alike (including Tiger Woods).

“We have had situations in recent years with retrospective penalties where players haven’t realized there is a penalty but perhaps there is. So, by removing a number of these at source, you remove the possibility of there being an issue that develops later on.”- David Rickman

DJ himself says that he is a fan of the new rule heavy criticism changes, specifically the rule in question.

“Some of the rule changes I think are really good, especially the ball on the putting green when you don’t feel like you caused it to move and you’re still getting a penalty, that to me makes no sense. I know now that I wouldn’t get a penalty if my ball rolls, so that’s nice.” – Dustin Johnson

Repairing Damage on the Putting Green

Another revision that seems to be met with approval is the new ability to repair spike marks on a putting green.

Overall Findings

As you can see, the revision and modernization of the Rules of Golf was truly a global team effort. The golfing public certainly appreciates their opportunity to engage and contribute in the process.

Nice to see the changes ratified AND that the feedback was listened too and, perhaps more importantly, acted on (eg using longest club to measure).

— Ian Atherton (@IAtherton) March 12, 2018

It appears that the overwhelming reaction to the new Rules of Golf has been positive. It seems virtually everyone can agree that they will help accomplish the overarching objectives of the project – to simplify and speed up the game while simultaneously growing it’s popularity as it enters the modern era.

Winnipeg, MB – The Board of Directors of Golf Manitoba is please to announce Jared Ladobruk as the new Executive Director for Golf Manitoba.

Jared is a B.Comm from the University of Manitoba and a Class A Professional, PGA of Canada.  Jared brings with him a wealth of business and marketing knowledge and experience from his eight years working for the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management at the University of Manitoba.  Earlier in his career, Jared was an Associate Pro at St. Charles CC.

Jared is in his 3^rd decade of involvement with the Manitoba golfing community.  He was a member of both the University of British Columbia golf team (98-99) and the University of Manitoba golf team (00-02) – where he was co-captain.    He was even a Summer Student at Golf Manitoba!

Jared is very excited to become part of the Golf Manitoba team, and will begin his new position on July 26, 2018.

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — Canadians Nick Taylor and Ben Silverman were the top Canadians after the first round of the Barbasol Championship on Tuesday, sitting five strokes off the lead at 5 under.

Brittany Lincicome has a huge hole to climb out of if she hopes to make golf history.

Lincicome shot a 6-over 78 in the first round of the Barbasol Championship on Thursday, leaving the LPGA Tour pro’s goal of making the cut likely out of reach.

Lincicome was hoping to become the second woman to make the cut in a men’s event and the first since Babe Zaharias in 1945. She’s the first woman to get a PGA Tour start since Michelle Wie a decade ago.

Troy Merritt surged to the first-round lead with a 10-under 62, equaling the course record on the Champion Trace course at Keene Trace Golf Club, which is hosting the event for the first time.

However, much of Thursday’s attention centred on Lincicome, whose eight LPGA Tour victories include two majors.

Although Lincicome expected to struggle with the length of the golf course, her worst holes were two par 3s. She missed her tee shot well right on the 191-yard seventh _ her 16th hole of the day _ leaving her a difficult pitch from a downhill lie in the rough. That came up short of the green and she ultimately made a triple-bogey 6.

“Probably one too many clubs,” Lincicome said of her tee shot. “Hit it short of there in case I do miss the green, because over that green was absolutely dead.”

On the 205-yard 18th, her tee shot came up short in the water, leading to double bogey.

She played the other 16 holes in 1 over, making her only birdie on the par-4 third.

Lincicome ended up in a three-way tie for 129th and would likely need a round in the mid-60s on Friday to make the cut.

“If I can drive it like I did today and just make a few putts here and there, I think I’ll be back in good shape,” Lincicome said.

“It’s out there. I was much calmer than I thought I was going to be. I love playing with the guys. It’s so much fun being inside the ropes with them. Hopefully, I can get a good one tomorrow.”

Lincicome was cheered while being introduced on the 10th hole. Her gallery was among the largest and encouraged playing partners Sam Ryder (68) and Conrad Shindler (72).

Initially concerned about nerves, Lincicome got off to a solid start with pars on her first three holes. She appeared unfazed by a bogey on No. 13 after her 10-foot par putt edged the cup.

“She’s a very solid player,” Ryder said.

Lincicome bogeyed the par-4 16th, but her quest became tougher after the double-bogey 5 on 18. She hung in and was able to post her only birdie before unraveling on the seventh.

Lincicome’s goal now is remembering what she did well and using it to salvage what’s left of her PGA Tour debut.

“Pretty happy with my game overall,” she said. “I had two bad holes, but I drove it well. I did all the things I said I needed to do, but my putter let me down today.”

Playing in the afternoon and using a new putter, Merritt surged into the lead by shooting 6 under on his second nine. He holed a 34-footer for eagle on the par-5 sixth, and his four other birdies on the side were from inside 11 feet.

“This is a week where you might have to get up to 20 under to win this thing,” said Merritt, who got his only tour victory in 2015. “We were just fortunate enough to make a lot of birdies and didn’t make any mistakes.”

The golf course was firm on Thursday, but that may change with thunderstorms in the forecast Friday.

Andres Romero, Billy Horschel and Joel Dahmen shot 65s and were three shots back. Hunter Mahan was one of eight players to shoot 66.

Eleven years ago, the last time the British Open was played at Carnoustie, Romero finished alone in third, one shot out of a playoff won by Padraig Harrington. But the up-and-down Argentinian hasn’t won in the U.S. in a decade and didn’t qualify for the Open this year.

He tied for seventh last week at the John Deere Classic in only his third PGA Tour start of the season.