Ten provinces represented in the field as Team Ontario eyes third-consecutive win at Championship’s Inter-Provincial Team event through opening 36 holes 

BATHURST, N.B. – After six entertaining NextGen Championships and various junior tournaments from coast-to-coast, the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO has arrived and is set to run August 12-15 at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B.  

156 of Canada’s top junior golfers will tee off in the 72-hole event and battle for the Silver Cup (awarded annually to the Canadian Junior Boys champion) as well as the top spot in the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship over the event’s first 36 holes. The winner of the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will earn coveted exemptions into both the U.S. Junior Amateur and 121st Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2026.  

“We have a competitive and proven field teeing off at our Canadian Junior Boys Championship this week,” commented Sam Brown, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club is a premier golf facility on our country’s east coast and will offer a unique challenge to Canada’s best young talent. This opportunity is made possible through the skilled staff and volunteers working the event and we are excited for play to get underway.”   

Chase Lassman of Parkland County, Alta. headlines the list of in-season NextGen winners teeing off in New Brunswick this week after claiming a pair of wins in June (NextGen Western and NextGen Prairie) to emphatically punch his ticket into this year’s national championship.  

Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C. (NextGen Pacific), Henry Dao of La Prairie, Que. (NextGen Quebec) and Cole Stewart of Fall River, N.S. (NextGen Atlantic) also joined the winners circle through the NextGen Championship circuit this summer and will each rival Lassman’s ambitions for a third title.  

Brett Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. will also tee off at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club, qualifying through his fourth-place finish at the 2025 British Columbia Junior Championship in July. Brett is the son of Shelly Stouffer, a two-time Canadian Women’s Senior champion and three-time winner of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.  

Additionally, a pair of Team Canada NextGen members will join the hunt for the Silver Cup, including Austin Krahn of Christina Lakes, B.C. and Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alta. Krahn enters his fourth-career Canadian Junior Boys Championship having pocketed a trio of provincial victories in July (British Columbia Junior Championship, British Columbia Amateur and British Columbia Indigenous Championship), while Gillespie looks to avenge his runner-up defeat to NextGen teammate Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. in last year’s event. In addition to claiming last year’s Canadian Junior Boys Championship, Ibit helped Team Ontario clinch their second consecutive Inter-Provincial Team Championship in 2024. 

“The Gowan Brae Golf Club is very pleased to host the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. We look forward to the players and their families enjoying some maritime hospitality this week along with a challenging golf experience at Gowan Brae,”commented Adam Chamberlain, Director of Golf at Gowan Brae.   

Located on the shores of New Brunswick’s Bathurst Harbour, Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club parlays picturesque views with a stiff challenge for golfers of every level. The surrounding water and windy conditions that Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club is known for can be spotted and experienced on 14 different holes throughout the golf course, maintaining the natural test envisioned by renowned Canadian architect C.E (Robbie) Robinson when he designed the property in 1958. 

“The golf course offers great views of the Bathurst Harbour and Bay of Chaleur but the breeze off the water along with quick greens will provide a great test for the players at this national championship. Our members and local community are excited to host this prestigious event,” Chamberlain added.  

Coupled with slick greens and breezy weather, the 6,700-yard property was considered to be one of the most demanding courses in Atlantic Canada following its 18-hole completion in 1962. The 243-yard par-three 17th into prevailing winds and 447-yard par-four 13th featuring sloping fairways in addition to a three-tiered green are among the most vigorous tests one will find on the property and help differentiate Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Canada’s modern golf landscape.  

Since 1938, the Canadian Junior Boys Championship has brought together the top junior talent in the country for four rounds of entertaining competition. Those to have previously claimed the Silver Cup have gone on to serve memorable careers in the game of golf, including Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Doug Silverberg (1950), George Knudson (1955), Gary Cowan (1956) and Doug Roxburgh (1970), as well as current PGA TOUR stars Nick Taylor and Adam Svensson who each won the tournament in 2006 and 2012 respectively.  

The 16-and-under Juvenile Championship has featured in the tournament since 1970, with the winner receiving the Jack Bailey Trophy. Only 11 players have ever claimed both the Juvenile and Junior championship in the same year, with Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. being the last to accomplish the feat in 2023.  

Both Junior and Juvenile championship rounds are played concurrently over 72 holes and are open male amateur golfers that have not reached their 19th and 17th birthday respectively by August 1st. All competing players, no matter their division, must have their Handicap Index below 10 to be eligible to compete in the tournament. Further information on eligibility requirements can be found here.  

The first round of the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will get underway on Tuesday, August 12 and run until a winner is crowned on Friday, August 15. Practice rounds will precede the tournament on Monday, August 11, 2025.  

To view live leaderboards and the up-to-date tee times throughout the tournament, please click here.  

Kyrinis tops Nonie Marler in three-hole playoff to win Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master titles; Team British Columbia retains Inter-Provincial Team title in Lachute

LACHUTE, Que. – Judith Kyrinis is a national champion once again, following a three-hole playoff win over Nonie Marler at the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que. on Friday.

Kyrinis, of Thornhill, Ont. tapped in her par putt on the third playoff hole to win the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship for the fourth time. Her previous wins came in 2016, 2019 and 2023. She sits second all-time, just behind Christina Spence Proteau who has six.

“It’s wonderful, you don’t really expect to do some of this stuff but I’m just very thankful for the opportunity and for the people that helped me get here and all the work that Liz and Mark Hoffman do for me and to help me achieve these goals and my family too,” said Kyrinis following the awards ceremony on 18.

Kyrinis opened the day one shot back of Marler, who held the 36-hole lead. The pair found themselves tied after two holes following a bogey from Marler. The co-lead was short lived however as Marler quickly answered with a birdie on the third to regain her lead by one. The biggest swing of the day came at the par-3 5th hole, where Kyrinis carded her lone birdie on the day to drop to even par, while a double bogey from Marler put Kyrinis ahead by two.

Kyrinis said there was “lots of golf left and many opportunities for the longer hitters to take advantage,” so she remained patient.

“I was hitting the ball really well and neither one of us were getting many putts to drop but getting really good looks at it, so I said just stay patient,” she said.

Marler responded with birdie at No. 6 to pull within a stroke of the lead and it would remain that way as both women went on to card five consecutive pars through 11 holes. Marler dropped her third birdie on the day at No. 12 to pull even with Kyrinis. Following consecutive pars, Kyrinis regained her one stroke advantage on No. 15 following a bogey from Marler. That lead was also short lived as Kyrinis dropped a stroke on the very next hole, putting both players at even par with two to play.

The final two holes solved nothing, and a playoff was required. The duo teed off on No. 18 to begin the playoff and both recorded bogey after Marler missed her chance at par. Kyrinis would just miss a birdie opportunity on the second playoff hole (Hole No. 1) to make par and force a return to No. 18 for the third playoff hole.

There Marler would hit her drive out of bounds, having to return to the tee. Kyrinis had a look at birdie from the fringe and left herself with a short par putt, which she sunk to seal the win and her fourth Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title.

“I just wanted to make par, knowing with Nonie unfortunately going O.B. it gave me a little bit of room, but you never know,” she said.

“I knew I had to get my ball into the hole because she could have got it up and down and I could have three-putted. I mean I hit one less going into that green and I still kind of went long. Funny what adrenaline will do for you.

“It feels great, bit of a relief though to finally get it done,” added Kyrinis with a laugh.

Past champions, Marie-Thérèse Torti and Mary Ann Hayward greeted Kyrinis on 18, spraying her with champagne to celebrate their friend’s victory.

Kyrinis finished the tournament at 1-over following rounds of 77-70-73=220. In addition to winning the Mid-Amateur title, Kyrinis also won the Mid-Master title for a record, fourth time.

Kelsey Fuchs of King City, Ont. who held a piece of lead following the opening round fired a 2-under 71 on Friday to finish 3-over and tied for third with Haley Yerxa of Ottawa, Ont. Jordan Matheson of Burnaby, B.C. finished 4-over to round out the top five in the Mid-Amateur division. In the Mid-Master division, Connor Macon of Charlotte, N.C., Suzanne Ricard of Montreal, Que. and Charmaine Hayden of Winnipeg, Man. finished in a three-way tie for third at 9-over.

On Thursday, Team British Columbia (B.C.) retained the Margaret Todd Trophy, winning the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, finishing with a total combined score of 5-over, beating Team Ontario by eight shots. Team B.C. was represented by Nonie Marler of Vancouver, B.C., Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. and Veronica Ivy of Victoria, B.C. Marler shot a 1-under 72, while Ivy shot a 3-over 76 and Choi a 6-over 79 on Thursday. On Wednesday, Marler shot 74, Choi shot 75 and Ivy shot 79. Team Manitoba and Team Quebec tied for third at 19-over. The two lowest scores counted towards the daily team total for the inter-provincial title.

The field of 57 female amateur talents (aged 25-and-over as of August 6, 2025), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less began play on Wednesday. In addition to winning the national championship, Kyrinis will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) in Pebble Beach, Calif. October 4-9, as well as the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at The Toronto Golf Club in Mississauga, Ont. from July 20 – 24 and the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at Burlington Golf & Country Club, in Burlington, Ont. from August 4 – 7.

For the final leaderboard following the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here.

Picture this: on a bright Sunday at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, as the final putt drops and the crowd erupts in applause, RCMP Staff Sergeant Carolyn Shaffner stands tall in her red serge, trophy in hand, ready to honour the champion. This moment, set to take place this August, will be more than ceremonial for Shaffner – it will mark a full-circle return to the game that shaped her, a tribute to the sport that taught her patience, perseverance, and purpose.

Born and raised in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Carolyn’s journey began on the fairways of Ken-Wo Golf Club. Introduced to the game by her father, she quickly found herself immersed in junior tournaments, eventually earning a spot on the provincial team and competing in national championships across Canada. “Golf taught me how to lead,” she reflects. “Even though it’s an individual sport, representing your province with a team of young women… that builds something deeper. It teaches you how to show up for others.”

But Carolyn’s path wasn’t confined to the course. After university, where she played varsity basketball, she took on a grassroots role as a Future Links coordinator with the Nova Scotia Golf Association. Driving across the province, she introduced golf to children who might never have had access to it otherwise. “It was such an incredible experience,” she says. “These kids didn’t have the resources to join a club or take lessons. Being able to give them a taste of the game that gave me so much was powerful.”

That spirit of service eventually led Carolyn to the RCMP. “I’ve always been proud to be Canadian. I wanted to help people and represent my country in a meaningful way.” From rural Newfoundland to Fort McMurray and now London, Ontario, Shaffner’s career has spanned the country. And through it all, the lessons from golf have stayed with her.

“Golf taught me patience — and I needed that,” she laughs. “Especially in this job. You deal with high-pressure situations, and keeping a cool head is everything. I used to be a bit of a firecracker, but golf helped me manage that aspect of myself. It taught me to lead with calm and confidence.”

As a woman in uniform, Shaffner understands the power of representation, not only in the impact she has on others, but in the inspiration she’s drawn from those who came before her. As a young golfer, she looked up to provincial champions like Leanne Jeffcock, and throughout her RCMP career, she’s been mentored by senior female officers who helped shape her path. Now, she finds herself on the other side of that dynamic. Whether mentoring young officers or teaching firearms training, she’s often reminded of that influence: “I’ve had women come up to me and say, ‘I never thought I could do this until I saw you doing it.’ Sometimes, that’s all it takes — seeing someone who looks like you doing something you never imagined for yourself.”

That’s why her role at the CPKC Women’s Open means so much. “I’ll have to try hard not to fangirl,” she jokes. “These women work so hard. They’re not just athletes — they’re trailblazers. When I was growing up, we didn’t see women’s sports on TV. Now, there’s this momentum, and I’m so proud to have a small part in it.”

Shaffner’s message to young girls watching the tournament is rooted in belief and possibility: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. Believe in yourself. Set no limits. You never know who might be watching, and who you might inspire just by being you.”

From fairways to the force, Carolyn Shaffner’s story is a testament to the transformative power of sport — and a reminder that leadership, like golf, is built one swing, one step, one act of courage at a time.

—

Witness live history this summer as the best female golfers in the world take on the fairways of Mississaugua Golf and Country Club at the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open, August 20–24 in Mississauga, Ont. As part of tournament week, Golf Canada and CPKC will host the eighth annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday, August 19, at Toronto’s Boulevard Club — a powerful gathering of leaders and changemakers celebrating the advancement of women in sport, business, and beyond.

For more information, tickets, volunteer opportunities, and corporate hospitality, visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com.

Kelly Masson and Emma Bittorf round out 2025 All Abilities Championship with wins in Men’s and Women’s Net Stableford divisions respectively 

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. put the finishing touches on her fifth-consecutive wire-to-wire victory at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, on Thursday while Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. fired a 3-under 69 to nab his maiden win at the tournament and cap off a thrilling 54 holes at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C. 

The victories secure both Stasiuk and Williams a spot in the 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open taking place July 6-8 at Woodmont Country Club (South Course) in Rockville, M.D. The event, which the United States Golf Association (USGA) debuted in 2022, will mark the second and third appearance for Williams and Stasiuk respectively, the latter looking to repeat her first place finish in the intellectual impairment category from 2024.  

“It means everything to me to qualify for the USGA Adaptive Open 2026,” said Stasiuk following her round. It’s very competitive event and I am friends with a lot of people there and it feels like home. But I am proud Canadian and love the Golf Canada tournament but I also I love representing Canada on an international level,” she added.  

Stasiuk shot an 11-over 83 in the final round to complete her fifth victory in as many years, firing rounds of 82-86-83=251 to finish 28 strokes ahead of Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta. in the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Championship.  

“Being a five-time champion means a lot to me because I have come a long way in my golf development, I still got work to do to be the best, I try to improve each day, but it’s nice to be rewarded for my hard work, and I look forward to defending my title next year.” 

Williams jumped into the lead three holes into Thursday’s final round and never relinquished his position at the top of the Men’s Gross Stroke Play leaderboard, rolling in birdie putts on Nos. 4, 5, 11 and 15 to seal the deal on his come-from-behind win.  

“I’ve won a lot of tournaments over the years, but none would be considered this high profile, I don’t think I’ve quite let it sink in that I won a national event,” commented an elated Williams following his round on Thursday. His only blemish came at the par-4 18th, solidifying his 54-hole score of 71-70-69=210 to claim Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship.  

Williams’ playing partner, Josh Hunke of New Dundee, Ont., led after each of the tournament’s opening two rounds but was unable to recover from a pair of early bogeys on Thursday to complete the wire-to-wire triumph. Hunke fell into second place following the second bogey of his final round at the par-4 third hole but clawed his way back to even par with birdies at the seventh, 10th and 15th to maintain his runner-up finish and finish two strokes behind Williams at 4-under.  

The two players have a friendly history and currently live just twenty minutes apart from one another in eastern Ontario. Williams praised the ball striking abilities of Hunke following his round and noted how his own ability to strike the ball as well as his hometown mate will have to improve if he wishes to defend his title in 2026.  

“If [Hunke] even putted half decent, he would have won this tournament for fun… I know he’s going to find that putter and it’s going to be a problem,” added Williams.  

In the Men’s Net Stableford division, Kelly Masson of Grande Prairie, Alta. pieced together a strong finish to surge back into contention and retain his 36-hole lead. Randall Mackus of Prince George, B.C. made claiming the Men’s Net Stableford Championship an uphill battle for Masson on Thursday, teeing off earlier in the day and setting the pace with 37 Stableford points to grab the clubhouse lead at 108 total Stableford points.  

After netting 18 Stableford points at the turn, Masson found another gear on the back nine, collecting his tournament best 21 points over the last nine holes to take the lead for good with 112 total Stableford points.   

Bittorf collected 32 Stableford points on Thursday to reel in 36-hole leader, Stasiuk, and successfully defend her 2024 title in the Women’s Net Stableford division. Bittorf trailed Stasiuk by a single stroke heading into Thursday’s round and used a hot start to propel herself into the lead. With 15 points through her first nine holes, Bittorf continued to add to her total, collecting nine Stableford points on holes 10 through 13 before entering the clubhouse with six points through her last three holes. She finished the tournament with 90 total Stableford points and a two-point victory over Stasiuk.  

This year marked the fifth playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship; an event that debuted at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto, Ont. in 2021 and has since run annually to support Golf Canada’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful sport environment throughout the nation’s golf community.  

“It’s just amazing how far the sport has come in the last four or five years to have national sport organizations like Golf Canada and the USGA and even provincial governing bodies and state governing bodies in the U.S. step up and start hosting these high-profile events,” praised Williams. 

The Women’s Gross Stroke Play, Women’s Net Stableford, Men’s Gross Stroke Play and Men’s Net Stableford make up the four different divisions that players compete in each year – regardless of disability – throughout the competition’s 54 holes.     

The stableford scoring format of the Canadian All Abilities Championship awards set points based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. The points are awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points).  

To view the final leaderboard from the fifth playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.   

Nonie Marler holds one shot lead over Judith Kyrinis in Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions into Friday

LACHUTE, Que. – Team British Columbia has retained the Margaret Todd Trophy, winning the Inter-Provincial Team Championship on Thursday at the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.

Team British Columbia (B.C.) finished with a total combined score of 5-over, beating Team Ontario by eight shots. Team B.C. was represented by Nonie Marler of Vancouver, B.C., Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. and Veronica Ivy of Victoria, B.C. Marler shot a 1-under 72, while Ivy shot a 3-over 76 and Choi a 6-over 79 on Thursday. On Wednesday, Marler shot 74, Choi shot 75 and Ivy shot 79. Team Manitoba and Team Quebec tied for third at 19-over. The two lowest scores counted towards the daily team total for the inter-provincial title.

“Always proud to represent the province and we put some good scores up there the last couple days and we all hope to do it again tomorrow too and finish the tournament strong individually as well as collectively. It’s special to be able to represent the province and to go and come out on top,” said Marler, who won her second inter-provincial title with Team B.C. at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Marler credited her ability to hit the majority of fairways and greens helping her to sit as co-leader, while she struggled to see the lines on greens after the opening round. When asked if that improved on Thursday, Marler replied “marginally” with a laugh.

“There were a lot of things out there that I thought would break more than they did and they didn’t and conversely the opposite as well. I think it’s more a pace thing than a line thing now, what I am figuring out for my own game, but game plan is going to stay the same for the final round and just stay patient and hopefully get a few more to drop tomorrow,” she added.

Marler added that taking things one shot at a time and being particular with yardages was a continued approach on Thursday.

The battle for both the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master division championships is shaping up to be an exciting one on Friday as Marler takes a one-shot lead over three-time Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. The two will be playing together in the final group tomorrow.

“I love Judith, we’ve played a bunch of tournaments together and she caddied for me at the U.S. Mid-Am back in 2021 when we were both down there together. She’s a great friend and playing competitor and I respect her game immensely and I’m really looking forward to playing with her tomorrow, we have a lot of fun playing together,” said Marler.

Kyrinis fired the low round of the day with a bogey free, 3-under 70 on Thursday. Kyrinis said her goal for today was to get back in it and stay close to the leaders. She credited a couple aspects of her game that allowed her to bounce back on Thursday.

“I would say my irons were pretty good today and my pace on the greens was pretty good, I wasn’t struggling too hard on any of the comeback putts.”

Kyrinis added that fairways are indeed tough to hit in Lachute, but she won’t change her approach heading into Friday.

“Same thing that I always try to work on and that’s keep it simple. Fairways and greens. Par is your friend out here and just play my game. These girls can hit it down there pretty good, and I just have to know where my game is and play to my strengths,” she said.

In the Mid-Amateur division, Haley Yerxa of Ottawa, Ont. fired a 1-under 72 to move up into third at 4-over for the tournament. Yerxa, Marler and Kyrinis were the only players in the field that were able to shoot under par on Thursday. Jordan Matheson of Burnaby, B.C. and Kelsey Fuchs on King City, Ont. are tied for fourth at 5-over for the championship.

In the Mid-Master division, Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. and Suzanne Ricard of Montreal, Que. are tied for third at 7-over and Charmaine Hayden of Winnipeg, Man. is fifth at 8-over.

The field of 57 female amateur talents (aged 25-and-over as of August 6, 2025), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less began play on Wednesday. The winner of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) in Pebble Beach, Calif. October 4-9, as well as the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at Burlington Golf & Country Club, in Burlington, Ont. from August 4 – 7, 2026.

For the leaderboard following the second round of the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here.

Kelly Masson and Dustin Boydell share lead in the Men’s Net Stableford Championship, Natasha Stasiuk moves into top spot of Women’s Net Stableford Championship 

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Josh Hunke of New Dundee, Ont. and Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. were able to navigate wet conditions throughout Wednesday’s second round to keep their opening round leads intact at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C. 

Hunke steered around a pair of bogeys on his scorecard with three birdies to shoot a 1-under 71 while Stasiuk added some major insurance over Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta. with a 14-over par performance to get a hand on her fifth-straight title. Both hold outright leads in the Men’s and Women’s Gross Stroke Play division respectively heading into Thursday’s final round. 

A close race for the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship emerged in the early stages of Wednesday’s second round as Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. reeled in birdies at holes two and four to slice his deficit in half and get within a stroke of Hunke.  

Williams – who started two shots back of Hunke on Wednesday – stayed in limbo with his playing partner, remedying a pair of bogeys on his front nine with birdies at Nos. 8 and 12 to shoot a 2-under 70 and enter his final round one stroke off the pace.  

A bogey at the par-3 16th reeled in Hunke from entering the clubhouse with the same two-stroke lead he ended his round with on Tuesday and sets the Ontarian up for a tight race to claim the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship in less than 24 hours.  

“The round was a difficult one with the weather. It was just one of those rounds you needed to be patient, and I was proud of myself that I stayed in it for the most part,” commented Hunke, who teed off at 9:20 a.m. PST and endured wet conditions until the rain exited the Kamloops region at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time.  

“Today was all about trying to keep dry and stay within myself,” continued Hunke. “I was trying to keep it in play and in front of me which I did for the most part. There were a couple of errant shots due to weather but all in all I played within my game plan.”  

Hunke has been surrounded by his family all tournament long and praised his support system for being a major motivational element to help find success in Kamloops. Personally, the week is a special one for the Hunke family, marking the seventh birthday of one of their close family friends that has led Josh to illustrate his ball with seven dots in their honour. He is hopeful that the practice will bring him luck in the form of birdies throughout his final round as he contends for a maiden win at the event.  

“It is really exciting to be in this position. I have worked really hard to hopefully have these types of opportunities… really looking forward to tomorrow,” he added.  

Similarly to Hunke, Kelly Masson of Grande Prairie, Alta. was able to maintain his first round lead in the Net Stableford division on Wednesday, adding 35 Stableford points to get in a two-player tie with Dustin Boydell of Chilliwack, B.C. The two hold a two-point lead over Randall Mackus of Prince George, B.C. and sit at the top of the leaderboard with 73 total Stableford points.  

In the Women’s Net Stableford division, Stasiuk was able to overtake Bittorf for the top spot after picking up 27 Stableford points on Wednesday to get to 59 total points. The four-time Canadian All-Abilities champion enters Thursday’s final round with a one-point lead over Bittorf and a seven-point lead over reining Women’s Net Stableford Champion Tess Trojan of St. Catharines, Ont.  

“With one more round to go I am determined to play my best tomorrow…I am a proud Canadian and I want to show Canada what I can do,” said Stasiuk, who plans on getting a good night’s sleep and some pasta for dinner before heading out to the range early Thursday morning.  

“With all the rain today, it was about tough for me, I don’t play with a glove due to a sensory issue so my goal for the whole round was to keep them dry during the round” added Stasiuk. Her game plan on Wednesday hinged on keeping her golf ball in play and staying out of trouble in which the perimeter of The Dunes at Kamloops can offer.  

The Canadian All Abilities Championship debuted in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto, Ont. and has since run annually while supporting Golf Canada’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful sport environment throughout the nation’s golf community. The Women’s Gross Stroke Play, Women’s Net Stableford, Men’s Gross Stroke Play and Men’s Net Stableford make up the four different divisions that players compete in – regardless of disability – throughout the competition’s 54 holes.    

The stableford scoring format of the Canadian All Abilities Championship awards set points based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. The points will be awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points). The golfers with the highest total of accumulated points over 54-holes will win their respective divisions.  

The gross champions will earn exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open taking place July 6-8 at Woodmont Country Club (South Course) in Rockville, M.D. Last month, Stasiuk and Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. each competed at Woodmont Country Club for the 2025 U.S. Adaptive Open through exemptions from their 2024 titles, finishing first in the intellectual impairment category and second in the men’s upper limb impairment category respectively.   

To view the full leaderboard from Wednesday’s second round at Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.  

Team British Columbia carries five shot lead into Thursday, looking to retain Margaret Todd Trophy; Marler leads Mid-Master division

LACHUTE, Que. – Nonie Marler and Kelsey Fuchs are tied for the lead after carding rounds of 1-over 74 on Wednesday at the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.

Marler of Vancouver, B.C. credited hitting almost every fairway and green during her opening round although she felt she couldn’t see the lines well despite having several attempts at birdie.

Marler was able to grab one on No. 4 before bogeying one hole later to eventually finish her front nine at even par. Another birdie on No. 13 was erased after a double bogey on 14 following a three-putt. Marler rebounded strongly to finish with four consecutive pars to grab a piece of the lead.

“I just tried to keep it to a shot at a time,” said Marler after her opening round. “I just tried to keep it really simple and focus on what was ahead of me and not try to get ahead of myself score wise because you can let it get away from you super quick out there.”

Marler plans to approach Thursday, exactly as she did today knowing there is a lot of golf left to play, “it’s anybody’s tournament, there are a lot of really good golfers that are within a couple shots of the lead.”

Marler has consistently found her name amongst the top of the leaderboard in the previous four years at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. She finished runner-up after losing in a playoff to Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C. in 2021 and has since earned three consecutive top 10 finishes in the national championship.

“I love this event, I think it’s amazing that Golf Canada is really supportive of mid-amateur female golfers and I want to continue to support this,” she said.

“I train and prepare for much of the summer to play in this and the U.S. Mid-Am qualifying, and I know a lot of the players and it’s just nice to come and be able to compete and see my friends every year and hopefully have some fun along the way and do well while doing it,” she added.

In addition to co-leading the Mid-Amateur division, Marler leads the Mid-Master division by three shots over a trio of golfers including three-time Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., Suzanne Ricard of Montreal, Que., and Connor Macon of Charlotte, N.C. at 4-over.

Fuchs of King City, Ont. also carded two birdies on Wednesday and closed her round with a string of five consecutive pars to join Marler atop the leaderboard. Fuchs has enjoyed a successful summer having recently won the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur title in June.

Trailing the duo are Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. who is alone in third at 2-over, Jordan Matheson of Burnaby, B.C. sits fourth at 3-over, while four golfers are tied for fifth at 4-over.

Team British Columbia (B.C.) opened its title defence of the Margaret Todd Trophy by taking a five shot lead into Thursday’s final round of the team championship. Team B.C. sits atop the lead with a collective score of 3-over. Team B.C. is represented by Marler, along with Choi who shot a 2-over 75 and Veronica Ivy of Victoria, B.C. who shot a 6-over 79. Team Quebec and Team Ontario are tied for second at 8-over heading into Thursday. The two lowest scores count towards the daily team total.

The field of 57 female amateur talents (aged 25-and-over as of August 6, 2025), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less began play on Wednesday. The winner of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive exemptions into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) in Pebble Beach, Calif. October 4-9, as well as the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, at Burlington Golf & Country Club, in Burlington, Ont. from August 4 – 7, 2026.

For the leaderboard following the opening round of the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here.

Emma Bittorf and Kelly Masson lead Women’s and Men’s Net Stableford divisions to open fifth playing of Canadian All-Abilities Championship 

KAMLOOPS, B.C. Josh Hunke of New Dundee, Ont. parlayed four birdies with a 3-under 69 while Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. fired a 10-over 82 on Tuesday to each claim the top spot of the Men’s and Women’s Gross Stroke Play division respectively, capping off an exciting opening round to the Canadian All-Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C. 

It is the fifth time in as many years that Stasiuk enters the second round with a lead in the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Championship, gaining the bulk of her ground on Tuesday by playing holes No. 6 through 15 at 2-over par. The response was a timely one for Stasiuk and a stretch she later claimed to be integral to her round after falling into a tie for the lead through five with her closest chaser Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta.  

“That stretch was very important to me because I blew up two holes in the start of my round, so I needed to play really good golf so I could have a good lead in the first day,” commented Stasiuk following her round on Tuesday. “I need to play like that for the next two rounds for me to feel confident in my game and have a chance to win my title again,” she added.  

Stasiuk will embark on claiming her fifth-consecutive Canadian All-Abilities Championship title buoyed by a strong finish that featured her second birdie of the afternoon at the par-4 14th. Regardless of how her tournament shakes out through the remaining 36 holes however, Stasiuk was pleased to see more female participation at the Canadian All-Abilities Championship in 2025, with the field as big as it ever has been in Kamloops.  

“Even though I am leading, golf is crazy game and anything can happen. But it’s great to see more women in it so there is more competition which is nice to see adaptive golf growing for women,” she added.  

Though trailing Stasiuk by five strokes in the Women’s Gross Play Championship, Bittorf was able to ride a hot start to her opening round to grab the outright lead in the Women’s Net Stableford division. Her ability to score points on six of her opening 12 holes paved the way to a four-point lead over Stasiuk and get herself in a prime position to defend her Women’s Stableford Championship title from 2024.  

In the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship, several contenders emerged to battle reigning champion Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. for his title including Hunke, who rolled in two birdies on his way out to build a three-stroke gap over the 2024 champion.  

Hunke responded to his only blemish of the day, a bogey on the par-4 first hole, immediately with birdies on Nos. 2 and 6 to get into red figures. Locked in a three-way tie at the top with Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. and American Zachary Larose of Denver, N.C. at 1-under, Hunke broke through with a clean back nine, highlighted by a pair of birdies to compliment a total of 13 successful par putts on the day to carry a two-stroke lead into Wednesday’s second round.  

In the Men’s Net Stableford division, Hunke trails leader Kelly Masson of Grande Prairie, Alta. by three points as part of a four-player tie for third place at 35 points. Fourteen players, including Hunke sit within five points of the lead, making for an entertaining competition running concurrently with the Gross Stroke Play Championship over the remaining 36 holes.  

This year marks the fifth playing of the Canadian All-Abilities Championship, with the annual competition supporting Golf Canada’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful sport environment throughout the nation’s golf community. The Women’s Gross Stroke Play, Women’s Net Stableford, Men’s Gross Stroke Play and Men’s Net Stableford make up the four different divisions that players compete in – regardless of disability – throughout the competition’s 54 holes.   

The stableford scoring format of the Canadian All Abilities Championship awards set points based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. The points will be awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points). The golfers with the highest total of accumulated points over 54-holes will win their respective divisions. 

The gross champions will earn exemptions into the 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open taking place July 6-8 at Woodmont Country Club (South Course) in Rockville, M.D. Last month, Stasiuk and Willis each competed at Woodmont Country Club for the 2025 U.S. Adaptive Open through exemptions from their 2024 titles, finishing first in the intellectual impairment category and second in the men’s upper limb impairment category respectively.  

To view the full leaderboard from Tuesday’s busy opener to the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, and second-round tee times, please click here. 

British Columbia looks to defend 2024 Inter-Provincial title through opening 36 holes of competition 

LACHUTE, Que. – The 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, is set to get underway Wednesday, August 6 at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.  

58 of the best female amateur talents above the age of 25 will tee off in their respective divisions on Wednesday, with the mid-amateur (players aged 25-and-over as of August 6) and mid-master (players aged 40-and-over as of August 6) competitions both running concurrently through the completion of 54 holes.  

A trio of previous winners headline the field competing in Lachute, Que. including 2010 champion and Quebec Golf Hall of Famer Marie-Thérèse Torti of Candiac, Que. who will be playing the event in her home province for the first time in four years.  

Torti will be joined by Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and 2008 champion Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont., as well as three-time champion Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. Kyrinis joins the field after missing last year’s event to compete overseas at the R&A’s Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, and has since claimed a record seventh Ontario Senior Women’s Championship title to add to her impressive list of accomplishments in the game of golf. 

Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. claimed her third title in four years at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C. The 54-year-old edged out 39-year-old Catherine Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas by a pair of strokes to move within three wins of the national championship record (six) set by Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C. 

Though Stouffer will not be competing in 2025, her win last year helped Team British Columbia claim the Margaret Todd Trophy (awarded annually to the province with the lowest score after 36 holes. Team B.C. bested Team Alberta by 10 strokes to soundly take the 36-hole event in their home province last year.  

“We are thrilled to be in Quebec this week for the 18th playing of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship,” commented Golf Canada Tournament Director Madeline MacMillan. “This is the third year in which the tournament will be held independently from other national championships on our calendar, and we are looking forward to an exceptional week of golf on a historic course alongside supportive staff and volunteers at Lachute (Club de golf).”  

With over a century’s worth of history and a pair of championship-caliber golf courses nestled in its 500-acre property, Lachute (Club de golf) stands definitively as a premier golf facility in the nation. Founded in 1923, the course’s original 18-hole design was crafted and completed through the work of renowned Canadian architect Stanley Thompson in 1949. A dozen years later and with inspiration from Thompson, Lachute native Howard Watson designed the property’s second course, stretching over 7,000 yards and providing another stout test for golfers of all levels. Watson was inducted to the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame as a builder in 2021.  

“The Lachute Golf Club, it’s members and the entire community is very eager to host the 2025 Women’s Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship,” said Benjamin Painchaud, General Manager of the course. “In 2024, Golf Quebec made it an absolute priority to promote and develop women’s golf. The Lachute Golf Club has followed suit in 2025 by donating funds to this cause, hosting women’s junior events and the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship. The entire community here in Lachute is looking forward to meeting the athletes and ensuring a quality Championship experience,” he added.  

Lachute (Club de golf) has hosted numerous major golf tournaments throughout its history, including the 1977 Peter Jackson Classic (now known as the CPKC Women’s Open) won by World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Rankin of St. Louis, Mo. In addition to the LPGA TOUR great, the course’s greens have also been graced by the presence of other legends in the game, including Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Nick Price among the many to tee off at one of Quebec’s finest golf locations.  

Female golfers (aged 25-and-over as of August 6, 2025), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less are eligible to compete in the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in Lachute, Que. A pair of notable exemptions are up for grabs for the winner, including entry into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship set to descend on Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Dunes Course) in Pebble Beach, Calif. October 4-9, as well as a spot in the field for the 2026 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship to be held at Burlington Golf & Country Club, in Burlington, Ont. from August 4 – 7, 2026.  

To view the full field, tee times and more information on the 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, please click here. Practice rounds for the tournament will take place on Tuesday, August 5 at Lachute (Club de golf) in Lachute, Que.  

Epson Tour sophomore Leah John drained her final putt on the 18th green at South Bend Country Club to claim the first professional victory of her career. John started the week with a new personal best, posting a 9-under bogey-free 63 on Friday, making the celebratory moment even more meaningful.

Despite having a three-shot lead heading into Championship Sunday, the Canadian felt some nerves after bogeying the first hole. The 25-year-old carded four birdies on the day to hold her 36-hole lead and finish the tournament with a total of 9-under par.

“I was super excited to play with Melanie (Green) and Leo today, so I was just looking forward to the day and learning from her and her experiences, and just prioritizing joy, sticking to my game plan, and just seeing where the day takes me,” said John. “I was ready for anything that came.”

The University of Nevada graduate settled in quickly, making three birdies in a row on holes five, six, and seven, posting a 1-under 36 on her opening nine. The nerves got the best of John as she made a bogey and double-bogey to start out her back nine, but dug deep to find a birdie on 16  in her final stretch to post a 2-over 74.

Melanie Green and Jennifer Chang started the day just three shots back of John, ultimately finishing in a share of second place. Green, the winner of the Island Resort Championship presented by Delta County Chamber, put an eagle and one birdie on her card during the round but posted an even par 72 and was unable to secure her second victory.

Chang couldn’t get things to fall her way on Sunday, carding an even par 72 and a combined 8-under for the tournament. Despite not being in the final pairing, the 25-year-old made two birdies, posting an even par front side. The University of Southern California alumna, found a birdie and a bogey on her finishing nine to secure her runner-up finish.

John, a first-time Epson Tour champion, jumped 77 spots in the Race for the Card standings after receiving 500 points from her win at the Four Winds Invitational. This is John’s highest rank of the 2025 season, number 22, putting the Canadian in a good spot to climb her way into the top 15 with five tournaments remaining.

“It’s super special,” John said of the win. “I said earlier that I love golf because of the game, but I think I love it more because of the people in it. It’s just nice to have a day like this, to represent all the hard work and the communities that have helped me along the way.”

As the final week of the Northeast stretch comes to a close, the Epson Tour will enjoy a well-deserved week off before traveling to Pendleton, Oregon, for the fourth playing of the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic at Wildhorse Golf Course from August 15-17.