Canadian culture extends its arms to welcome people of all race, ethnicity and background. A nation rooted in diversity, accessibility and inclusiveness has molded Canada into the one of the most accepting nations in the world. Now golf—with a new pilot program aligning junior golf life skills with student learning outcomes—is taking steps to make the sport more accessible in First Nations communities.

Golf Canada, working in conjunction with the PGA of Canada and The University of Ottawa, has partnered with Indigenous Northern Affairs of Canada (INAC) to pilot the Future Links Driven by Acura Golf in Schools program at Alexander First Nations, a community northwest of Edmonton, Alta.

A first of its kind pilot program integrating golf’s Life Skills with student learning outcomes, the Golf in Schools pilot ran from January through April at the Kipohtakaw Education Centre, supporting school curriculum and community engagement of students through golf.

For Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson, the Alexander First Nations pilot is an important step and learning opportunity in the continued growth of golf among underrepresented communities across Canada.
“First Nations engagement with golf represents an important growth opportunity for our sport in communities across Canada and we are extremely proud to be conducting this initiative in partnership with Indigenous Northern Affairs of Canada,” said Thompson. “Earlier this year Golf Canada proudly embraced a new policy around Inclusiveness, Accessibility and Diversity. This pilot program supported by INAC is a meaningful application of that policy which we believe has great potential to connect Golf Canada and our partners with more First Nations golfers and make the sport more inclusive.”

Vice Principal Suzzy Park shares her thoughts on the new #FutureLinks First Nations Pilot program ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/Rxklt3qEO3

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) May 9, 2018

In February, the PGA of Canada partnered with Golf Canada to host a Community Golf Coach workshop with eight participants at the education centre in Alexander. Over two days, teachers and community members were trained in golf fundamentals and tactics to help establish a safe, welcoming environment for junior golfers.

“With many people in Alexander golfing regularly and loving the sport, it made sense to partner with the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada to allow for growth of the sport in the community,” said Jody Kootenay, Director of Education with Alexander First Nations. “We have some amazing youth who could very well take their love of golf and make it more competitive. We wanted to allow for the sport to have not only coaches available to the youth, but to start showcasing pathways for the golfer who is just starting out—we wanted to ensure our children had that chance.”

An important feature of the Golf in Schools program is the Life Skills component which focuses on transferrable lessons—both interpersonal and intrapersonal—that can be applied outside the golf space in peer groups, at home, and within the community.

The Intrapersonal Life Skills—perseverance, goal-setting and emotional regulation—are meant to instill focus while the Interpersonal Life Skills—honesty, teamwork and respect—embody a sense of sportspersonship.

The University of Ottawa led the introduction of Life Skills integration with Golf in Schools and have since identified areas where the transfer of Life Skills are made in everyday activity. A student survey was conducted prior to the Alexander First Nations pilot to further the understanding of Life Skills applications in Canadian communities.

“Working with the Alexander First Nations was a meaningful step forward as we look to further expand the reach of golf in Canada,” said Glenn Cundari, Technical Director with the PGA of Canada. “We both learned a lot from each other and had some good laughs along the way.”

More than 50 students at the Kipohtakaw Education Centre are participating in the daily Golf in Schools unit during their Physical Education classes. Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are working to organize a teaching professional to deliver an in-school lesson as part of the Get Linked initiative, ultimately strengthening the golf community in Alexander.

The Golf in Schools program is equipped with a teacher-friendly learning resource to assist in the delivery of lesson plans for six components: Learning Outcomes, Equipment, Warm-Up, Task Development, Closure and Method of Assessment. The kit includes safe, age-appropriate golf equipment for all three tiers of the program: elementary, intermediate and high school.

Along with partners @pgaofcanada & @ottawa.university, we’re proud to launch the #FutureLinks First Nations pilot with Alexander First Nations ⛳️⛳️

A post shared by Golf Canada (@thegolfcanada) on May 9, 2018 at 11:39am PDT

As the Alexander First Nations pilot nears completion, Golf Canada is investigating opportunities to partner with additional First Nations communities to help grow the game. Since the launch of the pilot, nearly a dozen First Nations communities have expressed interest in integrating golf into their community programming.

To learn more about the First Nations golf initiatives or submit an application for consideration, please contact Adam Hunter, Golf Canada’s Manager, Grow the Game at ahunter@golfcanada.ca

ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – Matt Matheson of West Vancouver, B.C., shot 5-under par 65 on Tuesday to earn medallist honours at Ledgeview Golf Club, host of the first of three RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying events.

Matheson started off strong with birdies on holes 5, 9, 10 and 12 before capping off the round with the day’s only eagle, coming on the par-5 18^th.

“I wasn’t hitting it particularly well but it was about minimizing mistakes,” said Matheson, a 24-year-old amateur. “I feel like I did a really good job of that today.”

Matheson was one of seven golfers to advance on Tuesday, earning a spot to compete in the final Qualifying event on July 23 at Heron Points Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Congrats to medallist Matt Matheson of West Vancouver who shot at 65 to win the Regional @RBCCanadianOpen Qualifier! #RBCCO ?? pic.twitter.com/Jhfr54RzkR

— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) May 8, 2018

Khan Lee, of Langley, B.C., fired 3-under par 67 to finish runner-up behind Matheson.

Anton Frondelius of Concord, N.C., finished one stroke behind Lee at 2 under par, while Devin Carrey recorded a 1-under-par 69.

Rounding out the seven to advance were a trio of golfers at even par. Nigel Sinnott from Chilliwack, B.C., Kevin Stinson from Mission, B.C., and Keith Martin from Kelowna, B.C., all recorded rounds of 70 to punch their tickets to the final stage.

In total, there are three regional qualifying events, each consisting of 18 holes of stroke play. Provided that there are 100 or more players in the field, the low qualifier receives an exemption directly into the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Otherwise, the top 15 percent of finishers at each qualifier become eligible to compete at the final qualifying event.

A minimum of four players from the 18-hole stroke play Final Qualifier at Heron Point will gain entry into the RBC Canadian Open field.

There are two more regional qualifying events before the final qualifier:

May 17 – Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont.

June 18 – Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Que.

Click here for full scoring.

Additional information regarding Tuesday’s RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier at Ledgeview, can be found here.

ACTON, Ont.—The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy returns to Arizona later this year.

The Gold Course at The Wigwam in Litchfield, Ariz., hosts the national championship Dec. 3-6.

“We’re very excited to be headed back to Arizona and even more excited to be going to the Gold Course at The Wigwam for the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “In the past, we’ve had great successes and full fields in Arizona and we plan on adding a few extra engagement incentives for all those playing this year too.”

Designed by the master designer himself, the Gold Course was created in 1964 to rival another of Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s courses, the famed South Course at Firestone Country Club. At more than 7,430 yards, this long and winding par-72 course will challenge even the finest of golfers, leaving them with club choices that will either reward or reprimand their decisions. The course has previously hosted qualifying tournaments for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, U.S. Open and the U.S. Amateur.

The Wigwam was originally built in 1918 as a gathering place for the Ohio-based executives of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company who discovered the West Valley of Phoenix as a prime location to grow cotton for rubber production. As the retreat grew in popularity, additional accommodations and amenities were added and in 1929 The Wigwam opened as a full-service resort with accommodations for just 24 guests.

In its 100-year history, this Phoenix resort has hosted some of the world’s most recognized public figures and sports legends and maintains a reputation as one of the Southwest’s landmark resort destinations.

“Everyone at Titleist and FootJoy is very proud of our partnership with the PGA of Canada and its members,” said Acushnet Canada president Ted Manning. “Our support of the Head Professional Championship is an extension of that partnership and we are looking forward to a terrific week at the national championship in December.”

In 2017, John Cochrane captured the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy. The 56-year-old posted rounds of 72-69 at the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Fla., bettering Brian Hadley and Jeff Mills by two shots.

This year’s championship will see a few changes—both on and off the golf course. Firstly, the low club professional will be recognized with a separate trophy and monetary bonus. Secondly, all competitors are encouraged to stay at The Wigwam to take full advantage of numerous evening festivities.

In addition to Cochrane, former champions of the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada include Danny King, Adam Chamberlain, Roger Beale, Norm Jarvis, Gar Hamilton, Bob Panasik, Yvan Beauchemin, Graham Gunn, Ken Tarling and Brian Hutton.

The PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Titleist & FootJoy was played in Arizona in 2014 and 2015. Matt Peavoy captured the ’14 event at SunRidge Canyon Golf Club, while Danny King won in ’15 at Verrado Golf Club.

The Inter-Zone Team Championship, which is comprised of four players per zone (and three scores per team counting), is also handed out after 36-holes.

In addition to competing for the overall championship trophy, players in the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada earn much-coveted ranking points with hopes of moving up on the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC. Players who are ranked inside the top 64 following the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada earn exemptions into the following year’s PGA Championship of Canada.

To follow the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada online throughout the week, visit pgaofcanada.com, twitter.com/pgaofcanada, instagram.com/thepgaofcanada and facebook.com/pgaofcanada.

The R&A is currently doing some research to find out about use of the www.randa.org website and what could be done to improve its website in future.

They are asking golfers, from Canada and abroad, to take a few minutes of their time to share their thoughts. It doesn’t matter if you have visited The R&A website in the past or not.

Please bear in mind they are seeking feedback specifically on the www.randa.org website rather than The R&A app, other publications or The Open website.

Please click here to start the survey.

This survey is being administered by SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC. on behalf of The R&A. Any responses you give will be anonymous and confidential and will only be used in aggregate form for research purposes. No personally identifiable information is collected as part of this survey.

TORONTO – Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Taylor Pendrith fired a 3-under-par 69 on Monday to win medallist honours in Canada’s only U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Weston Golf and Country Club.

Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., birdied two of his opening three holes to find some early breathing room on a beautiful spring day at Weston. The 26-year-old went on to card two more birdies on the day to finish with a one-stroke victory, earning one of four spots available into the next stage of qualifying.

“I hit a lot of greens and my speed was good today… I kept it in front of me and if I missed a green I was in a spot that I was able to get up-and-down,” said Pendrith, greenside at No. 18.”

The win marks a promising sign for the Team Canada veteran, who’s looking for things to go his way following injury problems his last couple seasons.

“I feel good – it’s really nice to finally hit a ball without pain,” added Pendrith. “I feel almost 100 per cent and my game feels really good, I’m confident for the summer.”

#TeamCanada Young Pro Squad’s @TaylorPendrith is your #USOpen Qualifier medallist with a 3-under-par 69 ??? pic.twitter.com/Rox5MOKDPA

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) May 7, 2018

Trailing Pendrith was co-runner-up Tyson Turchanski, a Calgary, Alta., native and junior at Waterloo University. Turchanski posted a steady 2-under 70, with a total of 14 pars on the day.

“Just kept it really simple out there… swung as easy as I could,” said Turchanski, the lone amateur to advance to sectional qualifying. “The course [Weston] was solid – it sets up nice for my game. Makes you think a little and if you hit in the right spots, you get rewarded.”

Stephane Dubois of Brantford, Ont., punches his ticket for the second consecutive year. His round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 3rd hole, one of two eagles posted on Monday at Weston. Dubois advances with his mother (and caddie) by his side, a relationship which continues to pay dividends.

Rounding out the four men to advance was Nick Kenney of Toronto. Kenney, an assistant PGA of Canada professional at The National, began the day 4 under through five holes, before eventually cooling off on the back nine to close at 1 under for the day.

The four to advance are among 100 that will play in 36-hole sectional qualifying events at 12 locations across the United States on June 4 (except for Japan sectional on May 21).

James Seymour of Aurora, Ont., is the first alternate and Thomas Code, an amateur from Dorchester, Ont. is the second alternate.

Designed by Willie Park, Jr., the storied Weston Golf and Country Club was home to Arnold Palmer’s first PGA TOUR victory – the RBC Canadian Open in 1955.

Click here for full results.

More information on local qualifying can be found here.

THE TOP-4 ADVANCING TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING

1. Taylor Pendrith, Richmond Hill, Ont. | 69 (-3)
T2. Tyson Turchanski (a), Calgary, Alta. | 70 (-2)
T2. Stephane Dubois, Brantdord, Ont. | 70 (-2)
4. Nick Kenney, Toronto, Ont. | 71 (-1)

PARINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE.

FOLLOW SCORING ONLINE AS PLAYERS COMPLETE THEIR ROUNDS BY CLICKING HERE.

RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying gets underway May 8^th at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C., where 39 players will be vying for a spot in the RBC Canadian Open final qualifying event, which takes place July 23th at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.

Players need to finish among the top 15% of the field, including ties, in order to punch their ticket to the final qualifying event.

The 18-hole qualifier at Ledgeview is the first of three regional qualifiers taking place across the country. The second qualifier takes place May 17^th at Blue Springs Golf Club in Acton, Ont., with the third regional qualifier taking place June 18^th at Le Blainvillier in Blainville, Qué.

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

QUICK FACTS

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

The low qualifier receives a direct exemption into the RBC Canadian Open if 100 players or more compete at a regional qualifier. If less than 100 people register for a regional qualifier, the top 15% of the field and ties beyond the low qualifier, advance to final Monday qualifying.

Long-time executive director of Golf Manitoba, Dave Comaskey is moving onto a new chapter in his career.

Originally from the northern community of Thompson, Manitoba, he started his career at the Southwood Golf and Country Club working as an assistant golf professional from 1995 to 1999. Comaskey returned to the University of Manitoba and followed up his Bachelor of Arts degree with a degree in Recreation Studies. He went on to become the assistant executive director at Golf Manitoba under Dave Morison in 2002. After almost 13 years as the executive director, Comaskey said working in golf is a privilege.

“It’s in me, I’ve grown up around golf and loving it. It’s always been my passion, I feel very fortunate to be working in the industry. Golf has always been a major part of my life,” he said.

Comaskey took over for Morison in 2005 when the former executive director retired. The amalgamation of men’s and women’s golf associations was an initiative Comaskey is proud of. He said the 100^th anniversary of golf in the province a couple years ago was another.

“We launched some player development initiatives, a celebratory tournament, some marketing stuff, that was a really neat and challenging year,” Comaskey said.

The development of games programming (Manitoba, Western Canada and Canada Games) is also among Comaskey’s highlights.

He will continue to work in the golf industry. Comaskey is the new golf course operations coordinator for the City of Winnipeg’s Golf Services. The city has three courses that will operate with Comaskey’s management. He said the timing is right for both him and Golf Manitoba.

“It’s a good time for me and Golf Manitoba. It’s healthy for someone else to come in here and bring some new ideas and initiatives,” he said.

Comaskey is looking forward to the new opportunity. He said the choice was a difficult one to make but staying within the sport was important.

“It wasn’t an easy decision by any means to move on to a new opportunity, but it certainly made it easier having it be in golf,” he said.

The board will begin their search for Comaskey’s replacement this week. His last day will be May 11.

COURTENAY, B.C. —Amateur Jake Shuman claimed medalist honours at the fifth and final Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tournament at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community, shooting a final-round 68 to edge fellow American Brinson Paolini. William Griffin finished third.

Shuman was under-par in each of his four rounds, playing the par-5s in 13-under, birdieing all eight in the final two rounds.

The Duke senior birdied his first hole of the final round before giving one back on the third. The product of Needham, Massachusetts, quickly bounced back, making birdie at the fifth and sixth before making his final bogey of the tournament, on the seventh.

From there on in, Shuman played marvelous golf, sandwiching a birdie on 13 between circles on his scorecard at Nos. 10 and 15, closing the day with three pars for the victory.

“If that’s not the best tournament I’ve ever played, it’s one of the best,” said Shuman, following his round.

Putting heat on Shuman down the stretch was Paolini, another Duke alum. After making nine pars on the front nine, Paolini birdied 10 and then made three in a row from the 15th to the 17th to get within one shot of Shuman.

Paolini had a 20-foot look for birdie on the 18th that narrowly slid by the hole as he settled for the runner-up position.

Griffin pieced together three of the best rounds of the tournament, highlighted by his second-round 65, including an ace that gave him the lead going into the third round.

Griffin battled back Friday from his third-round 73, capping a bogey-free 66 with a 15-foot birdie putt on 18.

Amateur Grant Hirschman, a senior at the University of Oklahoma, finished fourth, and fellow amateur Chandler Blanchet, who tied for fifth alongside Nicholas Pandelena, won a playoff to receive status through the first eight events. Pandelena receives status through the first four events.

Canadian Riley Wheeldon paced the Canadian contingent in the field, closing at 11 under par to finish with a share of seventh place. Growing up in Comox, B.C., Wheeldon has played a number of rounds at Crown Isle, with Friday’s round one of his more important ones. A winner on the Mackenzie Tour in 2013, Wheeldon shot his second 67 of the week to jump 13 spots. Wheeldon will be exempt for the first eight events, subject to the second reshuffle.

Four other Canadians finished between 17th and 40th to earn conditional status for the 2018 campaign:

• Brett Hogan (a) | Calgary
• Jake Duvall (a) | Victoria, B.C.
• Bret Thompson | Winnipeg, Man.
• Devin Carrey | Burnaby, B.C.

Click here for full scoring.

Parings are available online here.

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

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PORTLAND, Ore. – Ending his career as arguably the most dominant player in conference history, Simon Fraser senior Chris Crisologo is once again the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, headlining four selections to the 2017-18 GNAC Men’s Golf All-Conference Team.

Crisologo, now a three-time GNAC Player of the Year, is the first four-time First Team All-GNAC men’s golf selection. The senior was named the GNAC Player of the Week on four occasions this season and leads the conference with a 70.6 stroke average. He had seven top-five finishes, which includes a tie for fifth at the GNAC Championships and a first-place finish in October’s Concordia Invitational. Crisologo will also make his fourth appearance at the NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional next week in Amarillo, Texas.

The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member is also the Clan’s first-ever NCAA first-team All-American selection (2017).

In his first full season at the helm, Simon Fraser head coach Matthew Steinbach was chosen by his peers as the GNAC Coach of the Year. Steinbach led the Clan to its first conference championship since the 2015 campaign after guiding SFU to a nine-stroke victory at the GNAC Championships.

Crisologo is the only repeat selection to the First Team. Joining him on the First Team are Clan senior Craig Titterington, sophomore Sy Lovan and sophomore Scott Kerr.

Crisologo’s efforts also earned him a selection as a semifinalists for the 2018 Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award.  Nicklaus Award recipients will be announced May 31 with the honour presented by Jack Nicklaus at a ceremony during the final round of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

In addition to receiving the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year Award, the five recipients will compete in the Barbasol Shootout for an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s Barbasol Championship, held July 16-22, at the Champions at Keene Trace in Lexington, Ky. The Barbasol Shootout will be held Saturday, June 2 at the storied Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio – the same club where Jack Nicklaus first learned the game of golf as a young boy.

Earning his first all-conference selection, Titterington helped Simon Fraser earn its second GNAC title after leading the team with a 4-under 209 to finish in second place at the GNAC Championships. Titterington is also fourth on the team with a 75.2 stroke average.

Lovan and Kerr have played instrumental roles in the Clan’s successful season. The duo finished in fourth and tied for fifth at the conference championships and are among GNAC leaders in stroke average. Kerr is second on the team with four top-10 finishes and was the individual medalist in September’s Western Washington Invitational after shooting a 10-under par 206.

Simon Fraser and Western Washington will participate in next week’s NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships.