Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the addition of the Canadian Collegiate Invitational women’s tournament that will take place at Beacon Hall Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. from September 21 – 23, 2025.

The tournament will be conducted by Golf Canada and co-hosted by Kent State University and the University of Michigan. The tournament will feature NCAA Division I women’s golf teams along with the winners of the 2025 Canadian University/College Championship.

The inaugural Canadian Collegiate Invitational men’s tournament was conducted this past September at Öviinbyrd Golf Club in MacTier, Ont. and was co-hosted by Kent State and Penn State University.

Kent State is led by head coach Casey VanDamme, who is currently in his fourth season with the Golden Flashes. In his first three seasons at Kent State, the team has won three Mid-American Conference titles, extending the program’s streak to 25 consecutive conference titles.

Michigan is led by head coach Jan Dowling of Bradford, Ont. Dowling is currently in her 12th season as head coach and during her tenure, the Wolverines have won six tournaments and have had 13 medalists. The team won the 2022 Big Ten Conference Championship for the first time in program history and has earned four trips to the NCAA Finals under Dowling’s direction. Dowling won the 2000 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and had a Hall of Fame career playing at Kent State (1998-2002).

Joining the co-hosts from Kent State and Michigan will be Auburn University, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Purdue University, Rutgers University, Texas A&M University, University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia. The 2025 Canadian University/College Women’s Team champions – who will be crowned this spring – will also compete in the inaugural event.

In addition, the selection camp tournament for the Team Canada – NextGen Girls squad will be contested concurrently with the Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational at Beacon Hall Golf Club as Canada’s top junior girls look to qualify for the 2025 Team Canada – NextGen Girls squad. Invitation criteria for the selection camp will be made available in the coming weeks.

“We are thrilled to add a women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational to our Amateur Championship schedule for this season. This tournament will bring together some of the best collegiate women’s golfers and coaches from top programs to compete alongside our national champions,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Director, Amateur Championships and Rules, Golf Canada. “We extend our thanks to the membership and staff of Beacon Hall for hosting the inaugural women’s tournament as well as a special thanks to Jan Dowling at Michigan and Casey VanDamme at Kent State for their efforts as event co-hosts.”

Beacon Hall was the inspiration of Bryan Leggett and Bill Carruthers, and its mission is to deliver a premier standard of excellence across all aspects of its membership experience. The Bob Cupp designed course opened on July 1, 1988, and since 1990 has ranked as one of the top 10 courses in Canada by SCOREGolf Magazine. In addition, Beacon Hall is consistently ranked as one of the top 100 courses outside the US.

Beacon Hall is known for its distinctively different front and back nine. The front nine features strands of pine trees giving a similar feel to courses in the Carolinas and Georgia. The back nine features fescue and waste bunkers, giving a feel of traditional Scottish links style courses.

“We are thrilled to showcase Beacon Hall during the inaugural Women’s Canadian Collegiate Invitational, celebrating the future of amateur golf. This event provides an incredible opportunity to support some of the finest young female golf athletes from Canada, the U.S., and around the world,” said Sean DeSilva, General Manager, Beacon Hall Golf Club. “We are proud to offer these talented players the chance to experience our wonderful golf course and enjoy the same exceptional environment our members do every day. It’s a privilege to give back to the game we love and help foster the growth of amateur and Canadian golf.”

The inaugural championship will be contested over 54 holes in two days, with 36 holes played in the opening round and 18 holes in the final round. The team component will feature five members per team with the top four scores for the round counting towards the overall team score. The individual competition will be stroke-play with the winner receiving an exemption into the 2026 CPKC Women’s Open and the top five receiving exemptions into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

The full 2025 Amateur Championship schedule will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT THE TEAMS…

Kent State Golden Flashes (Co-Host)

The Golden Flashes have earned three top-four finishes in five tournaments during the fall season, including a pair of third-place finishes at the Boilermaker Classic and the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational. Sophomore Veronika Kedronova from Czechia won two individual titles during the fall season at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational and the Red Raider Invitational. Kent State currently has two Canadians on the roster, senior Jennifer Gu of West Vancouver, B.C. and freshman Aryn Matthews of Little Britain, Ont.
Fall Ranking – 57

“Kent State is very proud of its connection and many players from Canada. We are excited to co-host the first women’s college event at Beacon Hall. Golf Canada has produced many incredible golfers, and we are excited to be a part of showcasing a first-class collegiate event!” – Casey VanDamme, Head Coach, Kent State Golden Flashes Women’s Golf Team

Michigan Wolverines (Co-Host)

The Wolverines earned four top-10 finishes during the fall season, including a sixth-place finish at the Mary Fossum Invitational. The Wolverines feature a younger team this season with four freshman, two sophomores and two juniors. Team Canada member, Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.) recently graduated from Michigan having won four individual titles during her collegiate career including the Big Ten Championship Conference title in 2022 and was co-medalist in her Senior year in 2024.

Fall Ranking – 67

“As a proud Canadian, this is truly an honour for us to bring the University of Michigan Women’s Golf Team across the 49th parallel to compete in the first female collegiate event hosted in Canada! Additionally, to have Beacon Hall as the host golf course will be a tremendous experience for all the players and coaches. Golf Canada has been a proud partner to countless collegiate golfers and coaches, and it’s very exciting to partner up for a prestigious women’s collegiate tournament.” – Jan Dowling, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines Women’s Golf Team

Auburn Tigers

The Tigers had a successful fall season earning one championship, along with three consecutive top-five finishes to close the fall season. Auburn won their first tournament of the year at the Cougar Classic. They followed up with a second-place finish at the Schooner Fall Classic, then a third-place finish at the Illini Women’s Invitational at Medinah and fourth at The Ally. Team Canada member Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. is in her junior year at Auburn and earned a T6 finish at the Cougar Classic followed by a top-20 at the Schooner Fall Classic and a top-25 at The Ally. Cranston was also a member of the 2023-24 Tigers team that was a national quarterfinalist. Teammate Anna Davis of Spring Valley, Calif. is in her sophomore year and earned one individual title (Illini Women’s Invitational at Medinah), two second-place finishes and a third-place finish in four tournaments during the fall season.

Fall Ranking – 20

Central Michigan Chippewas
The Chippewas earned three top-fives during the fall season. They opened the season with a third-place finish at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational, where freshman Ella Zanatta of Hamilton, Ont. finished tied for first individually before losing in a playoff in her first collegiate tournament. Zanatta also added a second-place finish, T9 and 22nd in four tournaments. Two other Canadians are on the roster including graduate student, Hailey Katona of Tilbury, Ont. During the fall season, Katona earned three top five finishes. Alexis McMurray of Oakville, Ont. is in her junior year with the Chippewas.

Fall Ranking – 206

Michigan State Spartans

The Spartans earned three top-fives and a top-10 finish during the fall season. Michigan State opened with a T4 at the Folds of Honor Collegiate along with a pair of second-place finishes at the Mary Fossum Invitational and the Tar Heel Invitational. The Spartans have two Canadians on their roster, Taylor Kehoe from Strathroy, Ont. and sophomore Ella Weber from Burlington, Ont. Kehoe is in her junior year and has earned a top-10, two top-20’s and a top-25 individually this season.

Fall Ranking – 22

Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels won twice during the fall season including back-to-back tournaments at the Mary Fossum Invitational and the Illini Women’s Invitational. The team also added a fourth-place finish at the Landfall Invitational to close the fall campaign. Senior Caitlyn Macnab won individual honours at the Mary Fossum Invitational. Team Canada member, Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont. is currently in her Junior year at Ole Miss. Gal has earned one top-five, one top-10 and two top-20 finishes so far this season.

Fall Ranking – 19

Purdue Boilermakers

The Boilermakers opened the fall season with a successful title defence of the Boilermaker Classic on home soil. They added a T6 finish at the Mary Fossum Invitational and closed the fall season with a second-place finish at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational. Senior Natasha Kiel opened and closed her fall season with individual titles, winning the Boilermaker Classic and finishing as co-medalist at the White Sands Bahamas Invitational. Current Canadian LPGA Tour member Maude-Aimee LeBlanc is an alumna of Purdue.

Fall Ranking – 33

Rutgers Scarlet Knights

The Scarlet Knights opened the fall season with three consecutive top-10 finishes including a tie for fourth at the Cardinal Cup. Rutgers features two Canadians on its roster, sophomore Krystal Li of Richmond Hill, Ont. and freshman Joline Truong of Mississauga, Ont. Truong has enjoyed a successful debut season earning one top-five and a pair of top-10 and top-20 finishes in five tournaments played.

Fall Ranking – 112

Tennessee Volunteers

The Lady Vols finished the fall season with three consecutive top-five finishes. They earned a third-place finish at the Cavalier Regional Preview followed by a fifth-place finish at the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational and a T2 finish at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship.

Fall Ranking – 40

Texas A&M Aggies
The Aggies earned three top-five finishes and closed the fall season with a runner-up finish at the Charles Schwab Women’s Collegiate Challenge. At the same tournament, Aggie sophomore Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio won her first collegiate tournament and Team Canada member, Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. finished tied for second. Borovilos is in her freshman year with the Aggies and also earned a T12 finish in her first collegiate tournament in August 2024 at Pebble Beach.
Fall Ranking – 17

Virginia Cavaliers

The Cavaliers won the Pan-Pacific UGSL Tournament to open their fall season in Mishima, Japan. They also added a second-place finish as the host team at the Cavalier Regional Preview, and a fourth-place finish to close the fall season at the Stanford Intercollegiate. Senior Amanda Sambach won the fifth individual title of her collegiate career at the Pan-Pacific and finished second at the Cavalier Regional Preview.

Fall Ranking – 11

Of the many congratulatory messages Nick Taylor received after his fifth PGA Tour win, there was one from Canadian golf legend Mike Weir.

Weir was the Presidents Cup captain who omitted Taylor from the International Team last September, instead picking fellow Canadians Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith to play at Royal Montreal Golf Club.

“There’s certainly no ill will there,” Taylor said in a media conference on Tuesday after winning the Sony Open in dramatic fashion on the weekend. “I’m sure there are people saying things about it, but no. Mike’s always has been great, and it was very nice for him to reach out.”

The 36-year-old Taylor claimed victory on the second event of the season in Waialae, Hawaii on Sunday, winning on the second playoff hole with a birdie against Colombia’s Nico Echavarria.

Taylor drilled home a 60-foot pitch shot for a 72nd-hole eagle to get into a playoff.

A chip-in eagle to tie the lead!@NTaylorGolf59 comes up clutch at the last @SonyOpenHawaii. pic.twitter.com/tNeTa9xQKM

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 13, 2025

“Mike sent me a nice message of congratulations, and we talked a bit about the pitches,” Taylor said.

Taylor didn’t do himself any favours in his bid to make the International team. After he captured the Waste Management Phoenix Open last February, Taylor checked in with only one top-10 result, and that was a tie for 10th with fellow Canadian Adam Hadwin in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event.

But this was the third year in a row the Abbotsford, B.C.-raised golfer has won on the PGA Tour with a playoff. Taylor joins an elite group, as Bubba Watson (2010-12), Ernie Els (2002-04), Phil Mickelson (2000-02) and Tiger Woods (1999-01) are the only others to accomplish the feat.

In his latest three wins, Taylor has demonstrated a flair for the dramatic. Before his clutch chip-in eagle on Sunday, Taylor finished with three birdies in the final four holes and then birdied the first two holes of the playoff to defeat Charley Hoffman on Super Bowl Sunday in Phoenix last year.

The playoff run began with his 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth extra hole of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open to prevail over Tommy Fleetwood.

“For whatever reason, I see the shot I want to hit and trust it,” Taylor said. “It’s something I’m trying to figure out to be more consistent to get in those situations more often and pull off the shots I want to do.”

The Sony Open victory was the first with his parents in attendance and sets up Taylor nicely as he will play two more courses he’s had success on before the Players Championship in March and the Masters in April.

The Phoenix stop is three weeks away, preceded by the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Taylor won at Pebble Beach in 2020.

“There are a lot of golf courses in the next few months that are on top of my favourites’ list,” said Taylor, who will play in this week’s American Express in La Quinta, Calif.

“Hopefully, I keep playing great and the putts keep rolling in to set up the rest of the year. It’s always nice to get off to a good start in a new season, especially this year with the win.”

Taylor hopes to employ last week’s good vibrations as inspiration to play better in the four majors. He’s missed the cut in his past nine major starts, seven in a row dating back to the 2023 U.S. Open.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” he said. “Seven in a row missed isn’t that great.

“A lot has been missing the cut by a shot or two. Two shots can make a big difference in those big events. So yeah, I’m not going to go in thinking too much. I’m trying to get a little bit better and more comfortable in those situations.”

Golf Canada is deeply saddened by the loss of former colleague and recent Board member Teri Yamada of Collingwood, Ont. who passed away peacefully on January 8, 2025, at the age of 66 following a difficult battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).

A personal obituary written by Teri Yamada along with visitation details is available here:

https://www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com/memorials/teri-yamada/5536387/index.php

Golf Canada’s Board of Directors along with staff both current and past extend its sincere condolences to Teri’s partner, Doug Moxon, along with her family and the extensive personal and professional network of friends and golf industry peers who knew and admired her genius, expertise, work ethic, friendship and incredible generosity to charitable causes that meant so much to her. 

One of Canadian golf’s leading voices in agronomy, turfgrass and environmental research, Yamada served the Canadian golf industry for nearly 40 years, including the past 16 years as owner of TY Environmental Strategic Ltd. supporting golf courses’ use of science to minimize their environmental impact. She was a leading voice in the agronomic and business analysis of golf course operations and specialized in government relations, industry communication and interpreting complex scientific information.

Yamada spent 18 years with the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) across several senior leadership roles. She served as the association’s tournament agronomist for National Open and Amateur Championships, working with host clubs and their superintendents to set up and condition golf courses hosting all national championships.

She joined the organization in 1990 as National Director, Greens Section (1990-98), which at the time was Golf Canada’s turfgrass research and consulting division providing the Canadian golf industry with turfgrass information and best practices. In 1993, she authored the Environmental Guidelines for Canadian Golf Courses following an 18-month consultative process with regulators, environmental interest groups and the golf industry leaders.

Yamada then spent 10 years (1996-2006) as the association’s Managing Director, Golf Programs and Services supporting Golf Canada member club programs and services (handicapping, junior golf, amateur status, heritage, etc.) in addition to turfgrass and environmental research.

From 2005-2008, the role evolved into Managing Director, Communications and Government Relations, serving as a leading government liaison on issues affecting the Canadian golf industry. During this period, she also spent two years (2006-2008) as Executive Director of the RCGA Foundation (now Golf Canada Foundation) and has since supported the Foundation as a generous donor.

Yamada returned to Golf Canada as a volunteer in 2021, serving three years a member of the Governance Committee, two years as a member of the Governors Council (2022-2023) and two years on the HR Committee. In 2023, she joined Golf Canada’s Board of Directors becoming one of the few individuals to have served the association in both a staff and Board of Directors capacity. 

During her accomplished career, Yamada served the Canadian and global golf community in a variety of roles including an invitation to participate in the development of the Environmental Principles for Golf Courses in the United States and was referenced in An Environmental Strategy for Golf in Europe.

She spent 14 years (2009-2023) as Executive Director of the IPM Council of Canada (Integrated Pest Management) which administered the IPM Accreditation program for golf courses, public works (hydro and railway corridors) and specialty turf.

Yamada also served as President, Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System of Canada Inc. (1996-2007); Executive Secretary and past Board member with the Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation (CTRF) (1992 – 2008); was a past Board Member of the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation (2009-2012); member of the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee (2007-2025); was a member of the Strategic Planning Committee and Environmental Programs committee member, Environmental Institute for Golf, Kansas (2003-2007); served as a USGA Turfgrass & Environmental Research Committee member (1996-2004); member and Past Chair of the Ontario Pesticide Advisory Committee (2009-2020); Chair, Scientific Program Committee for 9th International Turfgrass Research Conference (2000-2001); and was an Advisory Committee member with the Selkirk College Golf Management Program – Nelson, BC (1996-2001).

She graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science (Agriculture and Environmental Horticulture).

A passionate golfer and proud member of Mad River Golf Club (as well as the York Downs Golf and Country Club prior), Yamada was a very active volunteer giving back to both clubs across a variety of roles including four years on the Member Board of Directors with Mad River (2019-2023) as well as the Grounds Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, and the Governance and Nominating Committee. She also served four years on the Board of York Downs as well as two years as the club’s Green Committee Chair. 

Yamada was also one of three Canadian women members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland.

A visitation will be held on January 23 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm with tributes taking place at 3:00pm at Fawcett Funeral Home at 82 Pine Street in Collingwood. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

HONOLULU — Nick Taylor never looked more clutch than when he birdied the 18th hole three times in the WM Phoenix Open, first to force a playoff and the last to win it. 

And then he went 23 starts over 11 months without a top 10.

Who can forget that 70-foot eagle putt to win the Canadian Open before a delirious home crowd? During the next seven months and 12 tournaments, he had only one top 10.

The trade-off for the 36-year-old Canadian are the trophies — one in each of the last three years and five overall.

The latest came Sunday when he least expected it. Taylor chipped in from 60 feet for eagle on the last hole, made a 10-foot birdie putt to stay in the game and won it with a perfectly clipped wedge to just inside 3 feet for birdie to beat Nico Echavarria in a playoff.

And no, he wouldn’t trade them.

“I really love the trophies,” Taylor said. “But I would also love to be more consistent.”

Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., plays practice rounds often with another Canadian, Corey Conners, and their history oddly runs deep. Conners played with him in the weekday rounds when Taylor won in Canada and Hawaii, and Taylor played with Conners the opening two rounds when Conners won in Texas.

Conners has been a greater model of consistency, with only one win since 2020.

“I’ve played with Corey a lot in practice rounds and tournaments. He’s somebody I aspire to be with his consistency. He’s phenomenal,” Taylor said. “That being said, I really enjoy being in moments and being able to close the deal and to win tournaments is ultimately what we’re trying to do. Again, yeah, consistency. I would love to get there to his level.”

Last year was particularly discouraging because so much was at stake — battling for a spot in the Olympics, and the Presidents Cup being held at Royal Montreal with Canadian Mike Weir as the International captain.

Taylor looked like a shoo-in when he won the Phoenix Open, only to go into a funk — only one finish in the top 20 (tie for 12th at Bay Hill), missed cuts in all four majors and a disappointing phone call when Weir left him off the team.

He also failed to finish in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup, which would have assured Taylor played in all the $20 million signature events.

“Not making top 50 I knew would make the next year just not where I wanted to be. Not making the Presidents Cup definitely hurt,” Taylor said. “I had more myself to blame. I felt like I put Mike in a tough situation. On top of that, I had to play more in the fall than I had originally planned and be away from family a few times.”

Taylor put in some work in the short off-season — and was eager to start a West Coast that featured some of his favourite courses and three signature events at least staying (barely) in the top 60 in the FedEx Cup.

Now he can bank on a return to the Masters and a spot in all the signature events. 

“To have this good of a start is awesome,” he said.

So was the finish.

Taylor was two shots behind when he missed 4-foot birdie putts on the 15th and 16th holes and figured that was his last chance.

But then he chipped in for eagle, the leaders behind him — Stephan Jaeger and J.J. Spaun — each dropped a shot and failed to birdie the 18th. That left Taylor and Echavarria, a promising Chilean who has been on a tear recently.

Echavarria, who had some clutch moments of his own on the closing four holes, had the upper hand in the playoff until Taylor made a touch pitch up a steep slope and made a 10-foot birdie. Echavarria again had the advantage on the second playoff hole, 40 feet away on the fringe, while Taylor was back in the fairway 46 yards away.

The pitch was perfect by Taylor. The putt by Echavarria came off soft, stopped 7 feet away and he missed the birdie putt.

Taylor’s last three PGA Tour victories were all in a playoff — four extra holes in Canada, two in Phoenix, two in Hawaii.

“I think I enjoy being in those moments. For whatever reason my mind gets clear in those situations of the shot I’m just trying to hit,” he said. “I’ve worked on that the last couple years, why in those situation am I good and the other situations where I’m not consistent if I’m in 30th or something. We’ll work on that. But nice start to the year, obviously.”

HONOLULU — Nick Taylor delivered another theatrical finish Sunday, this time chipping in for eagle on the 18th hole to get into a playoff at the Sony Open and winning with a superb pitch that set up birdie to defeat Nico Echavarria.

Taylor, from Abbotsford, B.C., never looked like a winner at Waialae, especially after missing two short birdie chances down the stretch. That changed all so suddenly when his eagle chip from 60 feet rolled in on the par-5 closing hole for a 5-under 65.

Echavarria joined him with a great bunker shot for a tap-in birdie on the 18th and a 65. They finished at 16-under 264.

Taylor has five PGA Tour titles and won the last three in a playoff. He had to hole a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th to stay alive. Playing the 18th again, Taylor went from a fairway bunker to 46 yards short of the cup. His pitch was close to perfect, landing on the front of the green and rolling with the grain and wind to just inside 3 feet.

Echavarria was just on the collar at the back of the green, but his 40-foot eagle putt came up 7 feet short and he missed the birdie putt.

The victory sends Taylor to the Masters again, a big perk after a dismal end to last season. He had won the Phoenix Open with clutch putts in a playoff last year. His best playoff win was at home in the RBC Canadian Open in 2023 when he made a 70-foot eagle putt.

Stephan Jaeger and J.J. Spaun both left Waialae with plenty of regrets. From the time they made the turn, it looked like a duel between them to decide the winner, and they put on a great show until the final three holes.

Jaeger holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the 14th to catch Spaun, who then followed by making a par putt from just inside 30 feet to stay tied for the lead.

Jaeger didn’t hit a fairway on the back nine except for an iron off the 15th tee, and it finally caught up with him at the end. He hit driver to cut off the dogleg on the 16th but it went so far left that it was never found, presumed to be out-of-bounds.

“The one on 16 I would like to have back. Wrong hole to hit that shot,” Jaeger said.

Jaeger did well to made bogey off a provisional ball to stay only one behind — Spaun missed a 10-foot birdie putt that would have given him a cushion. And then Spaun made bogey from the bunker on the 17th.

All the while, Echavarria and Taylor rallied in improbable ways. Echavarria made a 15-foot par save on the 15th, a 12-foot birdie on the 16th, saved par from a bunker on the 17th and then hit a splendid bunker shot across the 18th birdie to get up-and-down for birdie.

Taylor looked like he had lost his chances by missing a pair of 4-foot birdie putts. He was two behind when he holed his 60-foot chip for eagle on the 18th hole.

Jaeger and Spaun needed birdie on the par-5 closing hole to join the playoff. Jaeger hit 3-wood off the tee and didn’t clear the bunker, and his second shot hit the lip and left him in the rough some 178 yards away. He went over the green and made par for a 67.

Spaun from the 18th fairway missed to the right, the worst place to be because the pin was cut to the right with the wind at his back. He did well to get it to 10 feet, and then missed the birdie putt and shot 68.

On a day when 15 players were separated by three shots at the start, those four were the only ones who seriously threatened at the end.

Hideki Matsuyama, who won with a PGA Tour record 35-under par last week at Kapalua, closed with a 66 and finished at 11 under and tied for 16th in his bid to become only the third player to sweep Hawaii.

Golf Canada’s Amaya Athill recognized among the group of
12 distinguished honourees

Golf Canada is pleased to congratulate the group of 12 distinguished recipients recognized with the PGA of Canada’s 2024 National Awards. 

Each year, a National Selection Committee for the PGA of Canada evaluates nominations from golf professionals across Canada.

The 2024 PGA of Canada Award Winners Include:

Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year – Dennis Firth, The Royal Montreal Golf Club

Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year – Ted Stonehouse, Cabot Cape Breton

George Knudson Teacher of the Year – Gord Burns, Gord Burns Golf School

Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year – Matt Seifert, GolfFuture

Ben Kern Coach of the Year – Jean-Francois Richard, Louis Melanson Golf Academy

Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year – Andrew Szewczuk, Banff Springs Golf Club

Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year – Ethan Hunt, Whistle Bear Golf Club

Stan Leonard Class ‘A’ Assistant Professional of the Year – Anne Balser, Oakfield Golf & Country Club

Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year – Amaya Athill, Golf Canada

Tex Noble Professional Development Award – Sean Murray, St. Charles Country Club

Brooke Henderson Female Player of the Year – Casey MacNeil, Timberwolf Golf Academy

Mike Weir Male Player of the Year – Wes Heffernan, Dynamic Motion Golf Performance Centre

For the full list of award descriptions and winners, please click here.

The winners will be celebrated later this month during Canada Night at the PGA Show in Orlando on January 22, 2025.

It’s not often Corey Conners is excited with a PGA Tour result where he finished 11 shots back of the eventual winner. 

But at The Sentry, the Tour’s season-opening event, no one was going to beat Hideki Matsuyama — who set an all-time, 72-hole PGA Tour scoring record at 35-under 257 — and Conners’ tie for fifth still marked his best result since his win at the Valero Texas Open in 2023.

Conners, from Listowel, Ontario, ranked first in putting in Maui, a big improvement in an area he’s worked hard to improve.

Despite the scoreline, Conners couldn’t have been more thrilled with his 2025 opener

“It was nowhere near winning with how Hideki ended up playing — and I saw that up close on Saturday — but I’m still happy with the week. I got off to a solid start, I got myself within striking distance. Hideki ultimately was unreachable but definitely some positives,” Conners said by phone from Honolulu, the site of this week’s event, the Sony Open in Hawaii. 

If there has been one part of Conners’ methodical approach that’s come under scrutiny over the last half-decade, it’s been his effort on the greens.

He ranked 128th on the PGA Tour in putting strokes gained in each of the last two seasons. He moved into the top 50 in the second half of 2024. Last week? He was the best putter on the course.

Conners was happy to watch putts fall early and often. And even the putts he missed had good chances to drop. 

“It’s something I’ve been focusing on in my game the last number of years, really, but definitely the last six months. It’s an area that’s very important for scoring,” Conners said. “I started the week with a lot of freedom and picked up a few thoughts, nothing too technical, over the off-season on the green. A few keys that I leaned on and it paid off.”

Conners entered 2025 as Canada’s top-ranked male golfer and jumped seven spots in the Official World Golf Ranking with his top-five finish at Sunday. He’s now No. 33 in the world. 

As one of the world’s top-ranked golfers, Conners earned spots on both the Canadian Olympic team and the 2024 Presidents Cup team, which was played at Royal Montreal Golf Club with fellow Canadian Mike Weir as captain of the International side. 

With both events now in the rear-view mirror, Conners says it’s time to focus on finding even more success at the biggest tournaments on the PGA Tour.

In 2025, eight Signature Events boast purses of US$20 million or more, in addition to the four major championships. Conners was the only Canadian to achieve a top-10 finish at a major championship in 2024 and believes his next goal is to consistently contend at these top-tier events.”

“Against the top players in the world you see a lot of the same names up there at the top of the leaderboard and I want to throw my name into the mix as much as I can,” Conners said. 

Conners missed out on the Tour Championship season finale last year for the first time in three seasons and is eager to return to the elite 30-person field in August. 

“I had a bit of a slow start last year. Played well in the summer but wanted to get off to a good start and carry that momentum through,” Conners said. “I’ve had a bunch of successful years but there’s room for improvement. There’s another level I can get to and that’s definitely the goal.” 

Conners looks to continue his fine start to the year this week at the Sony Open, where there are six other Canadians in the field. 

Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, of Abbotsford, B.C., and Taylor Pendrith, of Richmond Hill, Ont., make the Hawaiian island hop from Maui to Honolulu while Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Adam Svensson of Surrey. B.C., and Ben Silverman, of Thornhill, Ont. make their 2025 PGA Tour debuts.

Liu starts and ends strong to win by six

Team Canada NextGen member Shauna Liu has started the new year with a win, firing a four-day total of 8-under to win the 61st Junior Orange Bowl International Golf Championship at The Biltmore in Coral Gables, Fla.

Liu of Maple, Ont. fired rounds of 64-74-72-66-276 to win by six strokes over Alexa Takai of Honolulu, Hawaii.

Fellow Team Canada NextGen member, Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. finished T14 at 11-over. On the Boys side, Canadians Emile Lebrun (Montreal, Que.) finished T7, Eric Zhao (Toronto, Ont.) finished T11 and Spencer Shropshire (Ramara, Ont.) finished T27.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Ding goes the distance to win by five

Team Canada NextGen member Clara Ding also opened 2025 in the winners’ circle, firing a three-day total of 3-under to win the Women’s Orlando International Amateur 2025 at Mission Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

Ding of White Rock, B.C. fired rounds of 70-68-74-212 to win by five shots over Sofia Cerif Essakali of Morocco. Fellow Team Canada NextGen members, Nobelle Park (Oakville, Ont.) finished T3, Aphrodite Deng (Calgary, Alta.) finished sixth, Vanessa Zhang (Vancouver, B.C.) finished T17 and Swetha Sathish (Oakville, Ont.) finished T38.

Other Canadians to make the cut were, Bridget Wilkie (Toronto, Ont.) who finished T20, Angela Cai (Oakville, Ont.) finished T23 and Luna Lu (Burnaby, B.C.) finished T55.

For the final leaderboard, click here.

Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Joe Kispal, Heritage Palms Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

I have been playing golf for over 40 years and this is my first hole-in-one.

We are Canadian snowbirds who winter at Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida. Heritage Palms has two 18 hole golf courses, Royal and Sabal. I was playing the Royal course with my wife April when I aced hole #3 using an 8 iron measuring 134 yards from the white tees.

We are both members of Golf Canada and our home course is Crowbush Cove. We are truly blessed belonging to beautiful courses on both sides of the border. P.E.I. for the summer months and Fort Myers for the winter months. Retirement plan is working.

Kevin McKee, Ledgeview Golf & Country Club, Hole #14

It was foggy that day and the range finders didn’t work. I was playing with three other members and we all guessed at around 158 yards, it was a blue flag and straight away, I hit my smooth 6 iron and saw one bounce and knew it was close. When we got up to the green, I didn’t see the ball and knew something special might have happened. I walked towards the cup and saw the divot approximately 24 inches before the cup and knew it had to be in. I was playing with Pat Hatchwell, Larry Marsolais and Scott Hurdle.

Chantal Lauzon, University Golf Club, Hole #3

First hole-in-one ever! It happened at University Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C. Winter course, hole #3 shot from the front tees which measured 75 yards to the hole.

Ghislain Auger, Falcon Dunes Golf Course, Hole #17

My playing partners/friends were Keven Phinney from Morinville, A.B., Bob McKay from Clifford, O.N. and Donny McKay from Oliver, B.C. I also won money for participating in the “hole-in-one pot of gold.”

Dan Holland, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Hole #10

I’ve been golfing a long time and have never had one before. On January 4th, 2025 I was golfing with Debb Holland, Vic Lum and Kurt Mar while I aced hole #10 at Gorge Vale in Esquimalt, B.C. Our four ball was the first out and we had just finished the turn shortly before 10 a.m. The pin was back left and measured out at 113 yards. It was overcast and damp from rain the evening before but no wind. I hit with my 9 iron and the ball took one hop about a foot before the hole then in.

Alex Vandenham, Loreto Bay Golf Course, Hole #14

Yes, very exciting. It was with the Wednesday Men’s League playing with Brian Gore, George Wade and Daryl Truman on hole #14 on Club de Golf Loreto here in Baja Sur.

The hole #14 is one of the most beautiful holes on the course. It’s a par 3 and I was playing the white tees, downhill 110 yards to the middle with a red flag, front of the green. That shot is normally an 8 iron for me unless conditions suggest a shorter or longer club. This time I saw no reason to change so it was my 8 iron again. The ball landed just on the front edge of the green, bounced once and then rolled to the hole and dropped. I can still picture it, somebody yelled, “it’s going in” before it dropped. To top the day off, I finally broke 90 that round! One of those rare good walks unspoiled.

Most of the men playing that morning ended up in Señora Delicias which has a lunch special for the golfers so I bought everyone a cerveza or soda water. Fun day!

I want to also give a shoutout to my home club in Canada, Kaslo Golf Club in the Kootenay region of B.C.

For the gear enthusiasts: 

– Driver: Taylormade R580 10.5 degree
– 3 Wood: Nicklaus airMax 35-S 15 degree
– 5 Wood: Infinity Plus M500 21 degree
– Irons: Infinity Plus M500
– Lob wedge: Infinity BWS 60 degree
– Putter: Acushnet Bullseye original
– Playing a Maxfli Elite Tour feel 90

(Yes, I’m a senior golfer)

Ron Frank, Seymour Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

Playing with fellow club members Alan Oishi and William Hung, we were the first group out at 9:00 am on a chilly Saturday morning.

We arrive at the challenging par 3, hole #8 at 10:30 am and we’re looking at a middle pin, the green is a little uphill and we’re facing a cool breeze. I often grumble that this tough hole is no one’s favourite.
With the temperature at only around 50 degrees Celsius, the ball is flying reluctantly, which calls for an extra club.

I choose six iron and I hit what seems like my best strike ever and deliver a towering three foot draw right at the pin. My playing partners provided enthusiastic approval of the ball flight as it seems to stay up forever before landing eight inches in front of the hole before it disappears. My first ever hole-in-one and now my favourite hole!

Thanks to both Alan and Will for great support and celebration, and photography by Will.

Jerry Laboret, rayhawk Golf Club (Talon), Hole #17

The yardage for my hole-in-one was about eighty yards onto an island green, I used an eight iron. I golfed with my wife, Jenny who parred the hole and two very good friends from our home course, Harry & Lucy English, which both birdied the hole, it was a very good hole. It was even more special when I made the hole-in-one on an island green.

Adam Johns, Crandon Park Golf Course, Hole #8

I got a hole-in-one on January 16th. 130 yards out from an uphill mound style green. 9-iron, one hop and in. Playing with my buddy Nick to celebrate my 30th birthday and got my first hole-in-one on my actual birthday, bought everyone in the clubhouse drinks of course.

Dom Lafontaine, Rancho Manana Golf Club, Hole #14

It was at Rancho Mañana Golf Club in Arizona. I was playing with my brother, and we were having a great time on the course. On hole #14, the pin was a white flag at 148 yards, tucked on the left with a greenside bunker. I knew I didn’t have much room to work with.

I took my Callaway AI Smoke A-Wedge and swung. The shot felt great and honestly, I couldn’t see the ball land because the bunker lip was higher than the green. For a second, I thought I rolled off the green! While looking at my brother, questioning where it was, we started filming on the way to the green. Walking up to the green, we did not have a view of the ball, so I got closer and closer until I saw my Pro V1x right in the hole. Still can’t believe it happened, what an electric feeling it was.

John Lund, Uplands Golf Club, Hole #9

Wednesday, January 21 was a fun day for me and my golf mates at Uplands Golf Club after I got my totally unexpected hole-in-one.

Uplands Golf Club’s ninth hole is a 172 yard uphill shot. Probably the most difficult par 3 on the course with the least hole-in-one’s. I chose a four wood on this day and it worked. I didn’t see it go in but it was certainly headed in the right direction. My pals Ernie Behm and Dwayne Leskewitch both commented the same. Upon arriving on the green Ernie looked in the hole and said, “yep, it’s in here!”

As I’m now 79 years of age I notice that gravity seems to be getting stronger thus making distances longer every added year. However, I am determined to keep playing three days a week. I feel like I’ve chosen the right golf course here at Uplands as it is perfect for those of us who love to walk in the outdoors with friends. The course itself is fairly flat, except for hole #9 and hole #18. It is a friendly community-oriented club filled with lots of social activities. I love it here!

My favourite social gathering was celebrating my hole-in-one of course. It was a ton of fun to buy drinks for my fellow members. Thank you Uplands for our hole-in-one insurance policy.

Keep swinging golfers! if you haven’t had a hole-in-one yet, your turn is coming.

George Fukushima, El Tigre Golf Course, Hole #6

I was golfing with two gentlemen that I only met that day, Kurt a member at the club and Monico from California. Hole #6 is an island green that was playing 112 yards and I used a pitching wedge. The ball landed nine inches to the left of the hole and one hopped in.

As 2024 draws to a close, Golf Canada reflects on the stories that captivated our readers throughout the year. Here are the top 10 most-read articles that highlighted significant moments and achievements in Canadian golf:

1. Final Field released for the 2024 RBC Canadian Open

2. Pendrith, Conners, Hughes named to International Team for upcoming Presidents Cup

3. Golf Canada announces professional athletes named to 2024 Team Canada

4. Golf Canada releases 2024 championship schedule

5. Golf Canada announces amateur athletes named to 2025 Team Canada

6. LaunchPad Golf expands across Canada with six new locations

7. Built For This: TPC Toronto to host RBC Canadian Open in 2025

8. Canada’s Nick Taylor wins Phoenix Open on second playoff hole

9. Two women golfers announced to Canadian Olympic Team for Paris 2024

10. Mississaugua Golf and Country Club to host 2025 CPKC Women’s Open

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our readers and the incredible Golf Canada community. Thank you for your passion, engagement, and unwavering support throughout the year. Your love for the game inspires everything we do, and we’re honoured to share these stories with you.

Here’s to another year of unforgettable moments on the course and beyond. Thank you for being an essential part of the Golf Canada family—see you in 2025!