Marchand rebounds to sit T6 after 54 holes at Thornberry
ONEIDA, Wis. – After entering round two in third and falling to 22nd, Brittany Marchand climbed up the leaderboard in the third round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
The Orangeville, Ont., native, who recently hit a hole in one at last weekend’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship fired a 66 in a strong third round that included four consecutive birdies on the back-nine. Marchand will head into Sunday’s final round in a tie for sixth behind leader Sei Young Kim.
Kim shot an 8-under-par 64 in the third round to tie the 54-hole record of 24 under and take a commanding eight-stroke lead.
Kim, who had a 63 on Thursday and a 65 on Friday, got rolling with an eagle on No. 3 and added six birdies. A birdie on No. 16 tied Annika Sorenstam’s 24 under at the Mizuno Classic in Japan in 2003. After Kim missed a long birdie putt on the par-3 17th, she hit her tee shot on the 390-yard 18th into the left rough. Her approach was well short of the hole, and her birdie putt missed badly. She made a testy putt to save par.
Kim will take aim at Sorenstam’s 72-hole record of 27-under par, set at the Standard Register Ping in 2001 in Phoenix. Kim will need a 4-under 68 on Sunday to break that record.
Amy Yang is a distant second at 16 under after shooting a 5-under 67. Eight players are within two shots of Yang but 10 shots of the record-setting Kim.
Canadian Brooke Henderson is four shots behind Marchand at 10 under.
Sloan T4 heading into final round at LECOM Health Challenge
CLYMER, N.Y. – Canadian Roger Sloan climbed back up 20 spots to sit tied for fourth after the third round of the LECOM Health Challenge at Peek’n Peak Resort.
With an impressive seven consecutive birdies on the back-nine, the Calgary, Alta., product fired an 8 under in the third round. Sloan will head into the final day tied for fourth with American Hank Lebioda, four strokes back of leader Sebastian Muñoz at 14-under-par 202.
After shooting a 3-under 69 on Friday to retain a share of the lead, the Colombia native remarked that he believed this was the week the lessons he’d learned this season would pay off. With another round in the books at Peek’n Peak Resort, it looks as if Muñoz might be right. The 26-year-old carded a 7-under 65 during the third round Saturday to move to 18-under 198 for the tournament, setting a tournament record for lowest 54-hole score and claiming the solo lead heading into Sunday. Nelson Ledesma and Kyle Jones sit one stroke back, tied for second.
The round began slowly for Muñoz, who carded five-consecutive pars and a bogey in his first six holes. The 2016 Country Club de Bogotá Championship winner remained calm and collected, however, not letting the slow start rattle him, despite a leaderboard that was quickly bunching up around him.
“I had a few looks that I could’ve made birdies on,” Muñoz remarked. “I didn’t make them and then made a bogey, so that’s always frustrating. You start to think that maybe it’s not your day, but I wasn’t negative at all. I just hit three great shots on No. 8 and then completely flipped the switch.”
Flipping the switch was indeed what Muñoz did. After hitting a strong drive off the tee, he was left with 289 yards to the pin. Despite initially being hesitant to play aggressive from his spot, Muñoz and his caddie decided to take a chance. The play ended up paying off for the University of North Texas alum, who landed his ball on the first cut of the green, about 15 feet from the hole. He would successfully make the putt, picking up an eagle in the process.
He continued to ride that momentum, picking up birdies on his next four holes. Confident in his play, Muñoz glanced up at a leaderboard for the first time on No. 15. When he noticed that he wasn’t leading, despite what he felt was great play, he realized he needed to keep pressing on the gas through his closing stretch.
“I noticed I wasn’t leading,” he said about looking up at the scores, “even though I was playing good and I was like, ‘wow.’ I think that helped me make birdie on Nos. 16 and 18.”
When Muñoz approached the green on No. 18, he shared the lead with Jones and Ledesma, who had already finished their rounds. As he looked around at the fans packed into the grandstands and bleachers and looked back at the putt he had remaining for birdie, he knew that was about to change.
“I kind of just pictured the line when I was walking the first time I saw it,” he commented when asked about the birdie putt. “I just thought, ‘I want to hit it right now.’ It was one of those that you just kind of instinctively know you’re going to make.”
Muñoz would card the birdie to move to 18-under 198 heading into Sunday, marking the ninth time this season that he has held a round lead/co-lead on Tour. Despite having been in contention early on in four different tournaments heading into this week, the Bogotá native had failed to carry any lead into Sunday. While his results have still been strong (a runner-up performance, a third-place, and six additional top-25s), victory has seemed to evade him each week.
“I feel like this year I’ve learned a lot,” Muñoz reflected. “I feel like I’ve grown as a player from last year, and even from [the beginning of] this year. It just keeps proving that work does pay off. I’m happy with the position I’m in and we’ll see [what happens tomorrow].”
While a victory Sunday in Western New York would secure his return to the PGA TOUR next season, the win would come with additional meaning for Muñoz, who is quickly becoming one of the main faces of professional golf in Colombia.
“Man, I love it,” Muñoz said about being able to represent his home country. “I just think it’s huge for golf in Colombia, trying to make it bigger, trying to make it more popular. I think the things it’s doing for the tournament in Bogotá and the sponsors – for me to be able to help a little is just great.”
Pendrith and Anguiano lead in Windsor
WINDSOR, Ont. — The third round of the inaugural Windsor Championship finished as it started; with Mark Anguiano and Taylor Pendrith the two names at the top of the leaderboard at Ambassador Golf Club.
Though, in the words of Mark Anguiano, the routes the two golfers took to get there were completely different.
“We have the complete opposite games, but we have the exact same mentality,” said the Bellflower, California native, who began the day with a one-stroke advantage over the Canadian Pendrith.
While Pendrith is known for his length off the tee, often registering ball speeds of up to 200 MPH, Anguiano’s graceful swing is built on finesse, similar to his aptitude around the greens.
Take for example, the par-5 third. Anguiano found himself nearby the 200-yard plate while Pendrith waited 50-yards ahead with a wedge in hand – both players made birdie on the hole.
Anguiano’s largest lead on Sunday came after birdie on the 11th hole put him at 18-under for the event, three clear of his nearest competitor.
The back nine, though, was Pendrith’s to dominate. A monstrous drive on 13 set Pendrith up with a 7-iron into the par five. Leaving himself a 30-footer for eagle, the Richmond Hill, ONT native used the claw grip he implemented a few months prior and dropped his first eagle of the tournament to get within a single stroke of Anguiano.
After all was said and done, Pendrith made 5 birdies, an eagle and a bogey to shoot 65 compared to Anguiano’s six birdies and a bogey for 66, drawing the pair even and into the final grouping on Sunday.
“Me and Mark had a good battle today,” said Pendrith. “We were kind of going back and forth, and it was a little bit of a grind. I didn’t hit the driver as well as I did the first two days and was in the rough a bit, but my putter bailed me out and I made some birdies.”
Pendrith is well acclimated to the situation. In 2015, the then 24-year-old drew into three separate playoffs on the Mackenzie Tour. While he was unable to get the job done three years ago, he is looking forward to the chance to once again compete in the final round.
“It’s exciting, any time you have a chance to win on Sunday is a good thing,” said Pendrith. “I’m just going to do my thing and just play golf and see where I stack up at the end.”
Meanwhile Anguiano, who missed the cut by a single stroke in Lethbridge at the Tour’s last stop, has also been in the situation before, coming T6 at the GolfBC Championship last month following a first round 62.
“He’s Canadian, so I feel like I’m going to be the bad guy playing with him, but that’s good, I like that, I think it’s fun,” said Anguiano. “The crowds today were very nice to me, I can’t thank them enough and hopefully it’s like that tomorrow.”
The duo will head to the first tee on Sunday at 12:40 P.M.
Fellow Canadian Michael Gligic is on Pendrith and Anguiano’s heels, just one-stroke behind. Gligic made eight birdies and fired his second 64 of the week to draw into the second last pairing alongside Zach Foushee. Gligic, thanks to a suggestion by Pendrith, switched to the claw grip and has revitalized his game since, shooting 65 or lower in four out of his last seven tournament rounds since.
Taylor Pendrith sits one-stroke back of lead
Windsor, Ontario, Canada—A trio of players sit one-stroke back of Mark Anguiano, including Canadian Taylor Pendrith, who set the course record on Thursday with a 62. While the 27-year-old was unable to replicate his round-one form, Pendrith made 5 birdies to shoot 68 and will play in the final pairing for the first time this season at the Windsor Championship.
“It was pretty difficult out there I thought. I stayed patient all day because I didn’t have too many great looks at birdies, but I birdied the par 5s and made some on the back 9, which I think is the harder nine, and it turned out to be a good day. It was a grind, but I got in at 3-under, so I’m pleased,” said Pendrith.
Canadian Michael Gligic continued to impress with his Pendrith-inspired claw grip with the putter. Gligic followed up his first round 64 with a four-birdie front 9 to make the turn in 33 strokes. The 28-year-old made 9-consecutive pars on the back side to sign for 68 and heads into the weekend tied for 8th.
For the second consecutive round, only a single square appeared on Mark Anguiano’s scorecard, who followed up his first-round 63 with a 66 to take a two-stroke lead into the weekend at Ambassador Golf Club.
Anguiano had just finished the 16th hole when adverse weather struck on Thursday evening, forcing his group to return to the course Friday morning to complete their first round before beginning the second loop.
Upon his return, the Bellflower, California native birdied the 17th hole and found himself at 8- under for the tournament, just one-stroke off Taylor Pendrith and Theo Humphrey’s lead.
“I made about a 30-footer on my second-last hole in the first round this morning, and then made par on the last, so it was really nice to start that way,” said Anguiano. “I was pretty much on cruise control the rest of the day.”
After making birdie on his fourth hole of the second round, Anguiano rebounded from a 6th hole bogey with back-to-back birdies on 7 and 8 to make the turn in 33 strokes. The 25-year-old carded a clean back nine with three birdies to sign for 66.
“It was a good day, I hit it really well off the tee, and I needed to today, it was tricky, especially with the wind change coming from the North,” said Anguiano. “The pins were pretty tucked, so it was tough to get close, so I did well and made some long putts.”
Early in the season, Anguiano was getting starts on the Mackenzie Tour due to his Web.com Tour status. Recent events have quickly changed that; a T23 finish in Victoria at the Bayview Place DCBank Open presented by Times Colonist and a T6 finish at the GolfBC Championship, which included a first-round 62, gives him full status as he sits comfortably in 25th spot on the PGA TOUR Canada Order of Merit.
“I like the courses up here, I think they fit my game pretty well,” said Anguiano. “Most of the time you have to drive it pretty straight out here. You don’t really see yourself short sided that often, and because of that, you can make a lot of birdies and you can save a lot of pars if you’re dialed in with the short game.”
Ian Davis played his back nine in 30 strokes, making eagle on both par fives to match Pendrith’s 12-under mark with a second round 64. Meanwhile, Monday qualifier Jake Scott becomes the first player this season to make three eagles in a single Mackenzie Tour round, shooting a 64 to match Pendrith and Davis’ two-day totals.
Team Canada’s Pendrith and Humphrey atop leaderboard in Windsor
Note: Play was suspended due to adverse weather conditions at 7:30 P.M. local time with 18 golfers still on the course. Players will complete their rounds at 8:30 A.M. Friday morning.
WINDSOR, Ont.— Without a bogey on either card, Taylor Pendrith and Theo Humphrey each signed for a 9-under, 62 following the first round of the Windsor Championship at Ambassador Golf Club. The pair are positioned at the top of the leaderboard headed into Friday with a one-stroke lead over Carter Jenkins.
Pendrith, the Richmond Hill, Ontario native, was the first to sign for the new Ambassador Golf Club course record after knocking in an 8-foot birdie putt on the 9th hole, his last of the day, to complete the nine-hole stretch in 29 shots.
“I’ve shot a few 29s, a couple competitive, but that was a pretty good back nine for me,” said the Team Canada Young Pro Squad member after the round. “I missed a relatively short one on one of the par 3s, too, so it could have been better, but I’m definitely not complaining.”
Early on in the round, it wasn’t Pendrith’s aptitude off the tee that got the job done – that would be saved for later – it was a hot putter that bailed the 27-year-old out.
“My putter got hot, and it was hot all day,” said Pendrith, who’s 62 is his lowest career round on the Mackenzie Tour. “I made a lot good putts, putts for par actually, on the front nine, then I just got hot on the back and went with it.”
Known for his length off the tee, Pendrith noted that scoring on the back nine was aided by a confident driver swing that put plenty of wedges in his hands.
Meanwhile, Theo Humphrey, who was recently ranked eighth on the World Amateur Golf Rankings before turning professional last month, played consistent golf all day en-route to his 62.
Humphrey’s first Mackenzie Tour event came at the Tour’s latest stop in Lethbridge. Prior to that, he was busy preparing and playing in a well-known golf tournament – the U.S. Open.
Despite missing the cut at the event, the Vanderbilt alum shot a spectacular second-round 72 at Shinnecock prior to beginning his professional career on the Mackenzie Tour.
Leaping out of the gate with a first hole birdie, Humphrey made eagle on the 3rd and made two more birdies before making the turn. On the back, Humphrey birdied four of his last five to sign for matching front and back 31s.
“I feel great. You shoot a round like that the first round of a tournament and it makes the rest of the tournament a lot easier because you’re ahead,” said Humphrey. “I got off to a great start this morning and finished strong as well, so obviously overall it was an excellent day for me.”
After missing the cut in Lethbridge by one stroke, Humphrey flew to Florida to put some work in with his coach, Todd Anderson, at TPC Sawgrass. After dissecting his putting stroke, it appears that the team rectified any sort of putting woes.
“I was happy to see I was able to perform in a tournament after,” said Humphrey, who has been with Anderson since he was 15-years-old.
Behind the two leaders is Raleigh, North Carolina’s Carter Jenkins. The 22-year-old carded 8 birdies and trails the leaders by one after his first-round 63.
Canadian Michael Gligic overcame a double bogey on his 5th hole of the day by making eight birdies and an eagle and is 7-under with one hole remaining in his first round. The Canadian is coming of a T34 finish in Lethbridge which included rounds of 65 and 63 the first two days.
Pendrith’s fellow Team Canada member Jared du Toit made only a single par on his back nine, making three bogeys and five birdies to go along with a trio of circles on his front side. The Canadian heads into Friday four strokes off the pace.
Team Canada Alum and NHL referee Garrett Rank held his own on Thursday at Ambassador Golf Club, making eagle on the 7th hole to go along with 4 more birdies to put himself at 3-under with two holes remaining in his opening round.
Marchand and Henderson crack top-five after round 1 of Thornberry Creek
ONEIDA, Wis. – Canadian Brittany Marchand is in the early hunt at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
The Orangeville, Ont., native opened with an 8-under 64 to sit in a tie for third, two shots back of leader Katherine Kirk of Australia on Thursday.
Marchand was 2 under at the turn, but birdied six of the seven final holes to shoot up the leaderboard. She carded eight birdies and went bogey free.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is right behind Marchand after an opening 65. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc Sherbrooke, Que., opened with 72s.
Kirk carded 10 birdies en route to shooting 62. South Korea’s Sei Young Kim is second with a 63.
American Megan Khang matched Marchand with a 64.
Jessica Porvasnik wins DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
THORNHILL, Ont. —Until today, Jessica Porvasnik hadn’t won a professional golf championship outside the state of Ohio. Now, however, the 23-year-old American can call herself national championship winner.
Porvasnik captured the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada Thursday at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, finishing the 36-hole event at 4-under-par, 140.
“I’ve won two professional events in Ohio, but this is my first win outside of the state,” Provasnik said. “There are some pretty impressive names on the trophy, so to win this championship is very special to me.”
The DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and past champions include five-time winner Lorie Kane, Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, and Jessica Shepley.
With the win, Provasnik takes home the first place prize of $10,000 and an exemption into this year’s CP Women’s Open at Wascana Country Club in Regina, Aug. 20-26.
Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C., and Mexico’s Sandra Angulo finished T2, one shot back at 3-under-par.
Hamilton Golf & Country Club’s Emma De Groot finished fourth at 2-under-par for the championship. With her impressive finish, she takes home the low PGA of Canada club professional division title, along with a spot on the PGA of Canada’s PGA Cup team.
The PGA of America recently formed the Women’s PGA Cup, a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world. The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event, which will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.
The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DCM PGA Women’s Championship.
American Jenny Lee, Valerie Tanguay and Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto member Elizabeth Tong round out the top-five at 1-over-par.
Earlier in the week, title sponsor DCM announced the ‘Power Up’ initiative.
Founded by DCM, in partnership with the PGA of Canada, the Power Up initiative aims to support the athletic, personal and financial needs of Canadian female golfers. The initiative has the two main goals of supporting top Canadian female golfers on the brink of LPGA Tour status and create a landmark Canadian championship in women’s golf.
More information about the Power Up initiative will be announced in the coming weeks.
To follow the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada online, visit pgaofcanada.com, twitter.com/pgaofcanada, instagram.com/thepgaofcanada and facebook.com/pgaofcanada
The next PGA of Canada national championship takes place at the Beverly Golf & Country Club, Aug. 7-10 for the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.
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Golf legend Lee Trevino to join 2018 RBC Canadian Open celebration
OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada, in partnership with RBC, is pleased to announce that golf legend Lee Trevino will be taking part in the RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration on Tuesday, July 24th, beginning at 11 a.m. ET, as part of the 2018 RBC Canadian Open.
A three-time RBC Canadian Open champion (1971, 1977, 1979) and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Trevino will join 20 honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame at a free outdoor public event to officially celebrate the newest inductees—former LPGA Tour player and broadcaster Gail Graham along with the late renowned golf course architect Arthur Vernon (A.V.) Macan as the 80th and 81st honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
Over the course of his professional career, Trevino won six major golf championships and 29 PGA TOUR events. Trevino’s victory at the 1971 Canadian Open at Club de golf de la Vallée du Richelieu in Sainte-Julie, Que, earned him golf’s Triple Crown, awarded to a golfer who wins The Open Championship, the U.S. Open and the RBC Canadian Open in the same year. Tiger Woods is the only other player to accomplish the feat (2000). Trevino’s win in 1977 is also remembered as the first Canadian Open conducted at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
Trevino will also be awarded a keepsake Triple Crown trophy during the outdoor celebration, which will take place in Spectator Village at Glen Abbey Golf Club.
“We are absolutely honoured to welcome golf legend Lee Trevino back to Canada to help celebrate RBC Hall of Fame Day at the RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum.” As a three-time Canadian Open winner and one of only two golfers ever to win the illusive Triple Crown trophy, we are extremely proud to have Mr. Trevino participate in RBC Hall of Fame Day and celebrate his unique and meaningful connection to Canada’s National Open Championship.”
RBC Hall of Fame Day will be hosted by Canadian golf legend Sandra Post, an honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Chair of the Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
Following the free public outdoor induction ceremony, Trevino and attending members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame will participate in a gala luncheon—the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Induction Celebration presented by Emerick Construction—taking place inside the clubhouse at Glen Abbey. Individual tickets can be purchased by clicking here and full tables are also available by contacting cghf@golfcanada.ca. In addition, a silent auction—open online to the public—will be taking place in conjunction with the RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration with all proceeds going to the Golf Canada Foundation in support of Canadian golf heritage.
Media interested in attending the outdoor RBC Hall of Fame Day celebration on Tuesday, July 24 at 11:00 a.m. must register for media credentials prior to July 13, 2018.
Spectators interested in attending the FREE onsite celebration and induction ceremony on Tuesday of RBC Canadian Open week can find directions and parking here.
Tickets, volunteer or corporate hospitality opportunities are available at www.rbccanadianopen.com
Celebrating 50 year milestones
Fifty years ago, in 1968, we celebrated the opening of a number of golf courses from coast-to-coast in Canada.
The list of clubs include:
- Acme Golf Club (Acme, AB)
- Fort Langley Golf Club (Fort Langley, BC)
- Kokanee Springs Resort Club (Crawford Bay, BC)
- Meadow Gardens Golf Club (Pitt Meadows, BC)
- West Pubnico Golf & Country Club (Pubnico, NS)
- Kanata Golf & Country Club (Kanata, ON)
- Chibougamau-Chapais Club de Golf (Chiboufamau, QC)
- Glen Cedars Golf Club (Claremont, ON)
Notable Golf Moments in 1968:
The World Amateur Team Championship was held in Australia, Bob Charles is the first left-handed golfer to win the Canadian Open and the only New Zealander, and Sandra Post wins LPGA Rookie-of-the-Year Award as well as the 1968 LPGA Championship in a playoff. Bob Goalby won his only major championship, one stroke ahead of Roberto De Vicenzo, the reigning British Open champion.
Jessica Porvasnik leads PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
THORNHILL, Ont. —Players took advantage of ideal scoring conditions Wednesday at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto for the first round of the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.
A total of seven players posted rounds under par on the venerable Stanley Thompson designed gem in Toronto’s north end.
Jessica Porvasnik of Ohio leads the way after an opening-round 4-under-par 68, which included five birdies on the inward nine. Kayla Lawrence, Aram Choi and Sandra Angulo are just one shot back at 3-under-par. Emma De Groot and Brooke Baker were both 70, while local favourite and Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto member Elizabeth Tong was 71 Wednesday.
“This golf course is in great shape with perfect greens,” Angulo said. “It’s a very risk and reward type of golf course, so you have to be very aware where to attack.”
“My experience this week has just been amazing,” she said. “The support from everyone here at the club, the PGA of Canada, the sponsors have just been first class.”
The Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto hosted the inaugural DCM PGA Women’s Championship in 1987, which was won by PGA of Canada Hall of Fame member Cathy Sherk. The club also hosted the event in 1999 (won by Lorie Kane) and for the third time in 2007 (won by Salimah Mussani).
Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto is North America’s only remaining private golf club established by women for women and was founded in 1924 by Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Ada Mackenzie. Designed by famed Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson, the course was officially opened for play in 1926.
The winner of this year’s championship will earn an exemption into the CP Canadian Women’s Open at the Wascana Country Club, Aug. 20-26.
De Groot of Hamilton Golf & Country Club leads the PGA Club Professional division by three shots over Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
Additionally, the PGA of America recently formed the Women’s PGA Cup, a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world.
The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event. The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.
The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DCM PGA Women’s Championship.
Those eligible to represent their country in the Women’s PGA Cup must be members in good standing with their respective Professional Golfers Association (PGA). They must also be active in the game, be it as a teacher, coach or working as club professional/assistant. Tour professionals who primarily compete for a living are not eligible to participate.
Admittance to the DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend the 36-hole championship play.
The DCM PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and past champions include five-time winner Lorie Kane, Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp, Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, and Jessica Shepley.
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