Buenos Aires, Argentina – Team Canada earned a second place finish at the 52nd Copa Juan Carlos Tailhade (Copa Tailhade) at Los Lagartos Country Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sunday.

Canada shot a combined score of 575 over four rounds, finishing four shots behind Colombia (571). Host nation Argentina finished third with a total score of 576.

Canada was represented by Team Canada NextGen members Antoine Jasmin of Blainville, Que. and Braxton Kuntz of Winnipeg, Man. Jasmin finished T5 at 3-over in the individual standings following rounds of 71-73-70-73-287. Kuntz finished T8 at 4-over with rounds of 73-68-72-75-288. Juan Martin Loureiro of Argentina won individual honours, finishing the tournament at 5-under.

Canada has won the Copa Tailhade four times in tournament history, winning titles in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2023. Austin Connelly (Clare, N.S.) and Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.) won in 2014, Eric Banks (Truro, N.S.) and Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.) in 2015, Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Josh Whalen (Napanee, Ont.) in 2017 and Brady McKinlay (Lacombe, Alta.) and Felix Bouchard (Montréal, Que.) in 2023. Since 1996, Australia has won five titles (1998, 1999, 2002, 2007, 2012), in addition to Canada, England and Argentina have also won the tournament four times.

Aaron Cockerill stole the early moments of first round action from the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The Canadian had turned in a 33, but was in danger of letting a strong start slip when he made a double-bogey at the tenth and dropped another shot on the 12th.

But an ace on the 159-yard next saw him return to three under for the day as his nine-iron from the tee landed slightly right of the pin before feeding down to the cup.

Cockerill’s ace meant he had a scorecard containing every number from one to six in his first 13 holes.

Coming into the week lying 47th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in, with the top 50 progressing to next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship, the 32-year-old finished with five consecutive pars to complete an opening 69 in the opening event of the DP World Tour postseason.

Cockerill is the 31st different player to have made a hole-in-one on the DP World Tour on the 2024 Race to Dubai.

Multi-year gift will provide youth across the prairies and First Tee – Canada network with affordable and inclusive access to the game of golf

Oakville, ON (November 7, 2024) – Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation are excited to announce that the Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation Inc. has pledged a major gift of $1M USD over four years to First Tee – Canada that will directly benefit First Tee – Prairies.

The Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation is a private Canadian foundation that was founded in 2005. Since it’s inception the Foundation has made meaningful and lasting contributions to nature conservancy, humanitarian aide (Canadian Red Cross, The Salvation Army, hospitals), youth sports and to other areas in the Saskatoon community.

L. David Dubé is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Concorde Group Corporation and has served on numerous boards across Canada and the United States over the past 30 years. Dubé was appointed to the Order of Canada in December 2020 and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in June 2022.

“On behalf of my wife Heather and I and our Foundation, we are extremely proud to support First Tee – Canada and invest in youth and the positive impact and life-long lessons sports can have on their lives,” said L. David Dubé, president, Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation. “We have been long-time supporters of youth sports and this opportunity with First Tee – Canada was a perfect fit for our Foundation to continue our commitment to sports and youth development. Access to sports can be difficult and we want to ensure whether it’s 1,000 children or just one child that we can help, where help is needed. Golf helps to teach life-long lessons and tests character, and we are happy to invest in meaningful youth development here in the prairies and across our country.”

Heather Ryan added, “Both David and I have led sporting lives. From grade school through Varsity sports, we have both believed in the power of sports to shape the lives of youth and access to sports is essential to delivering those benefits. First Tee – Canada is a perfect fit for us ensure others benefit from sport as we did.”

Golf Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation partnered with First Tee in 2020 to launch First Tee – Canada to provide youth with affordable and inclusive access to the game along with life-enhancing experiences through the game. First Tee – Prairies launched in January 2023 and today, six lead chapters are operating First Tee – Canada programming in every province across the country.

First Tee – Canada programming is delivered in three settings, at golf courses, schools and community centres with unique curriculums and training for each location. This year, First Tee – Prairies delivered programming to over 22,400 participants at seven program locations across Saskatchewan and Manitoba with a team of 10 certified First Tee coaches. Close to 40 per cent of participants identified as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour) and 40 per cent identified as female. In addition, 76 per cent of schools and community centre programming serviced low-income and diverse populations in the provinces. Through the generous support of donors, 100 per cent of the programming was provided at no cost to the participants.

“We are very appreciative of the generous gift from the Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation that will directly have a positive impact on youth not only in the prairies but also across all First Tee chapters in Canada,” said First Tee – Canada Executive Director, Adam Hunter. “Financial support from generous donors allows us to expand program locations and provide them with the proper equipment, train and staff coaches and provide more youth with the opportunity to experience affordable golf programming in their communities.”

The Golf Canada Foundation is a critical partner in the continued growth of First Tee – Canada chapters across the country through the generous support of its donors and fundraising and philanthropic efforts.

“We are incredibly grateful that Heather and David have come forward in such an impactful way to support kids in the Prairies through golf,” said Golf Canada Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Martin Barnard. “They understand how sport can change lives and have been leaders in giving back both locally and nationally for many years. Their support will help us grow donations both in the province and across the country for many years to come.”

The Heather Ryan & L. David Dubé Foundation Inc. joins a strong network of donors across Canada that have generously impacted First Tee – Canada in a meaningful way since First Tee – Canada’s inception in 2020. To learn how to support First Tee – Canada, please email Executive Director Adam Hunter. To find a chapter near you, visit firstteecanada.ca. To learn more about First Tee – Prairies, please visit firstteeprairies.ca.

Aaron Cockerill has been carefully working away at his golf game like a master craftsman, just chipping away with a hammer and chisel.

The result is that he’s in the midst of his best-ever season as a professional golfer and will play in the European-based DP World Tour’s playoffs for the first time ever when the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship tees off on Thursday. 

Reaching that elite tournament has been the product of incremental improvement year-over-year.

“My whole career has been like that, I’ve slowly improved,” said Cockerill in a phone interview from his home in Dubai. “Whether it was an OK year on the Canadian Tour to a better year on the Canadian Tour, to moving over to the Challenge Tour, to getting on to the DP World Tour, and since then every year, I’ve gotten just steadily better. 

“Nothing is really too drastically different, just slowly been chipping away.”

Cockerill, from Stony Mountain, Man., played his first three DP World Tour events in 2019, finishing the year 261st in the Race to Dubai standings. He moved up to 118th in 2020, stepped back to 152nd in 2021, then rose to 107th in 2022, 76th in 2023 and now sits 47th in the rankings.

The top 50 golfers after the HSBC Championship will move on to next week’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

“I have basically two goals every year, and it’s to win and to make the DP World Tour Championship, so I’m very close,” said Cockerill, who recently moved his family to Dubai full time and is just a 55-minute drive from Yas Links where this week’s event will be held. “I’m just looking to have a steady week, play well, and play my way into that one and just see what happens. 

“I’m pretty familiar with the area in the courses, so I feel like I’m I get a little bit of an advantage there, but no expectations. Just try and have some fun and play aggressively and see what happens.”

It will be a tough field at the Abu Dhabi Championship, with some of the PGA Tour’s best players also competing in the DP World Tour event.

Australia’s Min Woo Lee, Ireland’s Shane Lowry, England’s Tommy Fleetwood, and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who won this year’s RBC Canadian Open, will all tee it up.

Most notably, Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, ranked No. 3 on the official world golf rankings and tied for ninth with Lowry on the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings, will play.

McIlroy’s the top player on the DP World Tour’s rankings, despite spending most of the year on the PGA Tour. He can finish a season as the European tour’s top player for the sixth time with a win this week.

He’ll attempt to do so with a new swing after being hunkered down in a studio — first in Florida, then in New York — for three weeks, just hitting balls at a screen with a modified swing.

McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday that he hasn’t liked the shape of his swing for a while, and wanted a more robust one that could hold up in the most pressure-filled moments following a number of missed chances this season.

“The only way I was going to make a change, or at least move in the right direction, with my swing was to lock myself in a studio and not see the ball flight for a bit and just focus entirely on the movement,” McIlroy told reporters Wednesday in Abu Dhabi.

“It’s something,” he added, “just to make my golf swing more efficient, and then if it is more efficient, then it means it’s not going to break down as much under pressure.”

McIlroy has won twice this year — at the Dubai Desert Classic and the Wells Fargo Championship — and has had four second-place finishes, including recently at the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship on the European tour.

That has left McIlroy frustrated but well clear in the Race to Dubai rankings that determine the year’s best player on the European tour. A win in Abu Dhabi can seal the title and remove some suspense — at least for McIlroy — from Dubai next week.

“If I go out and win this week, obviously you know, it makes it a bit boring next week,” the four-time major champion said. “But I won’t find it boring. It will be lovely.”

For his part, Cockerill welcomes the challenge of having McIlroy and his PGA Tour peers at the DP World Tour’s playoffs.

“Those guys have supported the tour a lot throughout their careers, especially all the U.K. guys, guys originally from Europe, because that’s where they got their start,” said Cockerill, who is 255th on the world rankings. “It’s cool to have them back and it makes the events feel bigger. 

“I think it’s a great thing for our tour, absolutely.”

PGA TOUR — Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., hope to gain ground at the FedExCup Fall Standings at this week’s World Wide Technology Championship. Svensson is ranked 81st and Sloan is 174th. Status on next year’s PGA Tour is at stake for players playing fall ball. Svensson and Sloan are the only Canadians in the field at El Cardonal At Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames can emerge as the overall winner of the Champions Tour this week. He’s ranked No. 3 on the senior circuit heading into the Charles Schwab Cup Championship on Friday and winning the tournament will guarantee him the tour’s overall title. No. 1 Ernie Els and No. 2 Steven Alker could win it all with high finishes as long as the other players ranked in the top six of the money list don’t win the event.

LPGA TOUR — The LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei teed off Wednesday at Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., led a large Canadian contingent into the field. The 15th ranked player in the world was joined by Savannah Grewal (95th) of Mississauga, Ont., Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (121st) and Maude-Aimee Leblanc (143rd) of Sherbrooke, Que.

This summer, nearly 50 golfers raised over $80,000 to provide 10,000 subsidized golf rounds to youth across the country.

The 100 Hole Hike is a challenging opportunity where participants play 100 holes of golf on foot in one day, raising funds for Youth on Course, a program that offers green fees of five dollars or less to Canadians 18 and under.

Golf Canada partnered with Youth on Course in 2019 and has since offered nearly 70,000 subsidized rounds to junior golfers.

Golf Canada members 18 and under receive complimentary Youth on Course memberships to play affordable rounds of golf at participating golf courses across Canada.

“The 100 Hole Hikes are instrumental fundraising events for us,” said Golf Canada’s Manager, Grow the Game, Justin McKenzie. “The support we received was amazing. Through people’s willingness to take on the 100-hole challenge and help fundraise, we can provide more affordable access to the game for juniors across the country.”

Out east, the Atlantic’s 100 Hole Hike had a special participant. Canadian U15 Boys Champion, Carter Lavigne, of Moncton, New Brunswick, helped fundraise and led the group of hikers alongside his father. Lavigne has been an active Youth on Course participant since the program expanded to the Atlantic provinces in 2023.

“It was cool to give back to a program and the game that has done so much for me,” said Lavigne. “I was fortunate to grow up playing golf, so to help give more kids the chance to play and contribute to the growth of the sport across Canada is awesome. I look forward to helping Youth on Course make a positive impact in 2025.”

Golf Canada and Youth on Course also hosted the first Canadian Premier 100 Hole Hike, where individuals who raised a minimum of $10,000 experienced an all-inclusive stay and play at the world-renowned Cabot Cape Breton. The hikers tackled 100 holes on the Nest par-3 course and played a bonus round at the top-ranked Cabot Cliffs 18-hole course.

There are over 100 participating golf courses offering Youth on Course in Canada and plans to grow that number next year with the expansion into Quebec, making the program operational in every province.

“Together, we are helping break down financial barriers to accessing the sport,” said McKenzie. “Thanks to the individuals and communities who support this great cause, Youth on Course will provide deserving youth with opportunities to learn more about golf and build their confidence in the sport. We are excited for the exponential growth of Youth on Course across the country in 2025.”

To learn more about Youth on Course in Canada, how to participate in a 100 Hole Hike, or how to donate, please visit https://www.golfcanada.ca/youthoncourse/ or email yoc@golfcanada.ca.

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.

Bryon Baker, Lacombe Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

What a day it was, this is my first hole-in-one too! I was playing with my buddy Chris Hillier at Lacombe Golf & Country Club. It was on hole #3, 125 yards and I used a 50 degree gap wedge. The cool part about the day is we were videoing our round for my YouTube channel. You can find the video of the hole-in-one here.

Pam Simpson, Country Hills Golf Club, Hole #16

I was playing with my husband, Robert Simpson, and another member of Country Hills, Ava Broderick. It was a short par 3 with a front pin placement, so the hole was probably under 105 yards. I used my 5 hybrid which is more club than most people would use, but The Talons hole #16 has been my nemesis hole this year. Lots of balls in the pond and in the front right bunker. If I got over the pond, the ball would roll down from the edge of the green down into the pond. I had one ball hit a rock on the edge of the pond and take a hard left across the cart path landing in a five inch strip between the cart path and the red line marking the penalty area. I even had one tee shot hit a water pump on the edge of the pond and take a left into the penalty area. Fortunately, our superintendent said I did not damage the pump. Needless to say, making a hole-in-one gave me a great deal of pleasure.

Zack Mulvale, Blue Springs Golf Club, Hole #5

Was on hole #5 which was 154 yards and I used an 8 iron. Was playing with Matt Marineau and a member at Blue Springs Golf Club, his name was Jimmy.

Al Zimmerman, Abercrombie Country Club, Hole #5

Hole #5 was a 135 yard, par 3. I used a Callaway Big Bertha 7 iron and a Callaway yellow Supersoft ball. My playing partners were Clem Benteau, John and Mary Acres.

Barry Spratt, West Haven Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

After 50+ years of attempting to hole out on thousands of par 3’s it finally occurred on hole #6 at the West Haven Golf & Country Club playing with Carl Cammaert, Terry Whalen and Jim Carmichael. A newcomer to the bag, a Wilson Staff D7 28 degree hybrid was used. The Taylormade TP5 ball travelled 173 yards with a soft bounce and rolled 10 feet into the cup. Now working on my second!

Josh Huisman, Cambridge Golf Club, Hole #5

My Father, our friend Andre, and a random Cambridge Golf Club member were playing the white tees at Cambridge Golf Club. On hole #5 we were 147 yards out and I used my nine iron. From the tees I couldn’t see the hole, but I knew my shot would be close. As we walked up, we couldn’t see my ball and began to wonder if I had hit a hole-in-one. Sure enough my ball was in the hole! I also shot my lowest round to date with a 79.

Shawn Kasaboski, Deep River Golf Club, Hole #7

I’ve only ever witnessed one other hole-in-one about four years ago. It is something which was on my bucket list, but never fathomed it would happen. I was playing with my lifelong friend Todd Chaput who has one hole-in-one and another friend I golf with, Eric Senohrabek, who does not have one.

I was first to tee off on our hole #7 from the white tee’s. I took a brand new Titleist Pro V1 out of the sleeve. I always play a 4 iron from this tee block. It was 216 yards on my scope. I got it, we watched it fly over a bunker and then rolled up onto the green and all we saw was it stop. My friend Todd says, “did it go in?” Eric immediately scoped it and he said I see it but it must have stopped directly in front of the hole. I took off with my cart and I was checking with my scope as I drove towards the green. I could see the ball partially and when I got to the green, there was my ball, half way in the hole with the flag stick pinching it up against the inside of the cup.

I collapsed on the green screaming. I looked over at the driving range and there was about six folks hitting balls and they were all staring at me. Some said they thought I had taken a heart attack. Eric and Todd were making their way to the green and I yelled, “it’s in the cup.” Todd yelled back, “don’t touch it, take pictures.” So after several pictures, high fives and fist pumps, my friend said, okay, just touch the flag pole, and “plop.” To hear that sound is something I’m never going to forget. I also had a stroke five years ago at age 50 and had to learn to walk again. I took up golf seriously as it helped my with my balance and stamina. Now I have a story to tell for the remainder of my life.

Elizabeth Young, The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

I was playing with three others, Judy Forshner who happens to be our Director of Golf at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club, Barb Widdowson and Judy Peacock. I was playing the Slopes/Bridges combination from the gold tees. It was a par 3, measuring on the Bridges course, 78 yards. It was in the back corner. I played a Callaway pitching wedge. I must say it was perfect, landed short and rolled to the hole. This is my fourth hole-in-one. It was a lovely sunny day, I was playing well, being totally inspired by the play of our Director of Golf.

Chantal Balash, Sandpiper Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

I was golfing with my 23-year old-son and we were paired with two men that were regulars on that course. We were playing from the yellow tees. This happened on hole #4, a 130 yard, par 3. I used my 6 hybrid to tee off. We were facing the sun set and I didn’t see it go in. The one gentleman that we were paired with later said he thought he saw it roll in but didn’t say anything because he was unsure. After everyone tee’d off and were on the green, we went to putt. I couldn’t find my ball and the same gentleman walked to the hole and said, “I figured it went in!” Was quite the celebratory moment with high fives all around.

Rick Shrum, Galt Country Club, Hole #8

I joined a twosome from the club, Kevin and Brian were their names I believe. It was on hole #8 at Galt Country Club, a 182 yard, par 3. I used a 6 iron.

Five members of Team Canada NextGen Girls team finish in the top four; Jager Pain finishes T3 in Boys competition

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – Clara Ding defeated Michelle Xing on the second playoff hole to win the 2024 Elite Invitational at Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. on Sunday.

Ding, 13, of White Rock, B.C. fired rounds of 67-72-71-210 to sit at 6-under for the tournament and jumped into a playoff with her Team Canada NextGen teammate Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. who posted rounds of 69-72-69-210. After trading pars on the opening playoff hole, Ding tapped in for par on the second playoff hole to earn her third victory on the year having won the Lake Charles AJGA Jr. and RLX Ralph Lauren Jr. titles this year.

Xing who finished as runner-up was in search of her fifth title of the year. Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. finished in third at 3-under following rounds of 71-70-72-213. Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. and Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. finished tied for fourth at 2-under.

In addition, Team Canada NextGen members Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. finished T7 at 1-under. Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. finished 15th at 4-over, Swetha Sathish of Oakville, Ont. finished T18 at 6-over, Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. finished 23rd at 9-over and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver finished T30 at 14-over.

In the Boys competition, Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. and Austin Krahn of Christina Lake were the lone Team Canada NextGen Boys team members competing. Pain finished the tournament at 3-under to finish T3 following rounds of 70-68-69-207, finishing four back of the winner, while Krahn finished T42 at 11-over.

For the final leaderboards, click here for the Girls Leaderboard and click here for the Boys Leaderboard.

Richard T. Lee finally ended his long and frustrating seven-year wait for a third victory on the Asian Tour today when he recorded a fine four-shot wire-to-wire win at the BNI Indonesian Masters.

After dozens of opportunities to win again following his success at the 2017 Shinhan Donghae Open he was relieved to prevail here at Royale Jakarta Golf Club after firing a closing two-under-par 70 for a four-round total of 23-under.

Chinese-Taipei’s Chang Wei-lun and Phachara Khongwatmai from Thailand secured second place, after both carding 64s.

Zimbabwean Kieran Vincent finished fourth, a shot further back, following a 67.

Richard T. Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

Lee was six in front at the start of day and in cruise control after lying seven ahead at the turn. A one-and-a-half-hour weather delay, which began when he was on hole 10 failed to unsettle him, before an unexpected double-bogey on the 16^th, where he took two to get out of a greenside bunker and missed a six-foot bogey putt, led momentarily to some uncertainty. It meant his lead was cut to four over Chang, who was in the clubhouse, but he steadied the ship with a brave five-foot putt for par on the next hole followed by a par on the last.

“It’s been a while,” said an elated Lee, who turned 33 last Tuesday.

“The last one was 2017 and it was at one of the courses that I like to play on. This is one of the courses that I really like to play as well. I had a good finish here last year and had a good chance to win it. I think I know the course pretty well, and I feel like I can defend my trophy next year.

“I just switched putters, I think, three weeks ago and it’s really working. I mean, it’s built my confidence up a lot, and I think if I just maintain that putting, I think I’ll play pretty well in the next few events.”

The victory continued a brilliant run of form as he tied for second in last week’s International Series Thailand, finished joint ninth in the Black Mountain Championship, and came home in equal 10^th at the Yeangder TPC.

Richard T. Lee. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He was also third in the GS Caltex Maekyung Open in May and has eight top 15 finishes in 11 starts this season.

He added: “I did feel pressure. I haven’t been in last group for a while and playing with two-time US Masters Bubba Watson also added to it. When I doubled 16 I told myself to pull things together and finish well.”

It is Lee’s first victory on The International Series, as this week’s event is the seventh of 10^th stops on the Series – the multi-million-dollar tournaments that earns The International Series Rankings winner a place on the ensuing season’s LIV Golf League.

Lee is now very much in contention to achieve that after moving to second place on both The International Series Rankings and the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

American John Catlin, who closed with a 69 here and tied for sixth, leads both rankings.

For Lee it is all a lifetime away for a player who played in the 2007 US Open as a 16-year-old, shot an opening round 79, was forced to withdraw due to a wrist injury, and turned professional straight after that week. It wasn’t until 2013 that he surfaced on the Asian Tour, finishing second at Qualifying School, before winning for the first time at the following year’s Solaire Open in the Philippines.

Chang Wei-lun. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

He becomes the fourth player to win from start to finish this season. Catlin was the first at the Saudi Open presented by PIF, before Thailand’s Suteepat Prateeptienchai did so at the Yeangder TPC and his countryman Rattanon Wannasrichan at the SJM Macao Open, later in the year.

For Lee’s Malaysian caddie Eddy the victory meant a double celebration as his brother Agus was on the bag for Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po when he claimed last weekend’s International Series Thailand.

Chang and Phachara both enjoyed far away their best performances of the season. For Chang it is particularly important as he was 97^th on the Asian Tour Merit list.

“I did better than I expected,” said Chang, who moved up into 27^th on the Merit list.

“My goal was to finish inside top-10, top-five would be a bonus but now I should be inside top-three! Wasn’t even thinking of catching Richard as I know he has a good game and is leading by so much. Very happy with the way I played. To be honest, the pressure of keeping my card coming into this week was quite big as I don’t have many events left to play. But I told myself to stay focused and keep working hard. I’m glad it paid off. Seeing Lee Chieh-po win last week was a huge motivation as well.”

Said Phachara: “You know, starting on 11 under today and then I just went to play, made a lot of birdies, and made a lot of long putts. Now my golf is coming back to basics.”

The Asian Tour heads to the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open the week after next, where Suteepat will attempt to defend his title. The US$400,000 event tees off at Taifong Golf Club on November 17.

Four more events remain on the Asian Tour this season, and three on The International Series. The PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers is the final event of the year.

Yeji Kwon’s life is unusual, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The 18-year-old Kwon has spent the past five months on the road with her parents, playing golf on the Women’s All Pro Tour, sharpening her skills to become Canada’s next top player. That hard work paid off last week as she was the top Canadian at the qualifying stage of the LPGA Tour’s Q-Series, tying for 10th to advance to the final level.

“Definitely different from regular teenagers who go to school every day,” said Kwon on Wednesday from her home in Port Coquitlam, B.C. “I’m definitely missing out on that side but I’ve gotten used to it, and honestly, I love this life. 

“I travel with my parents everywhere, we take the van, and I’ve had a lot of fun this summer. It’s been busy, it’s been very busy, but I’ve been enjoying every single moment of it.”

The qualifying stage at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla., was certainly a highlight.

Kwon had a rough start to the four-round tourney on Oct. 22, shooting a 2-over 74 on the club’s Panther Course. But she bounced back the second day, reeling off five consecutive birdies to finish the day with an 8-under 64 card on the Bobcat Course.

“Going into the first round, I was definitely a little bit more nervous. I had a lot more thoughts going on,” said Kwon, noting she was more comfortable in the second round. “I was a lot more confident. I wasn’t thinking a lot. 

“I wasn’t hitting the ball really, really great, but my putting was amazing. I was making everything from almost everywhere, and made almost every par save.”

She then had a 3-under third round and a 1-under fourth round to finish 10-under overall. That put her four shots back of co-winners Mimi Rhodes of England and French amateur Adela Cernousek.

“Yeji came in very prepared, had spent lots of time playing the courses and getting used to them leading up to the event,” said Salimah Mussani, Golf Canada’s women’s head coach, who was in attendance at Plantation. “She has always been a very composed golfer, from watching over the last couple years.

“She carries herself with a high sense of confidence, and complements that with a strong work ethic.”

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., and Josee Doyon of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., tied for 31st at 4-under overall. All four Canadians will play in the LPGA Tour’s Q-Series final stage on Dec. 5-9 at Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Ala.

“It’s super cool, because obviously, all these girls I look up to and you’re going to advance the final stage along with them,” said Kwon. “It means a lot.

“I’m not really gonna think much about it, though, just play my own game.”

Mussani said she has high hopes for Kwon, who is a member of Golf Canada’s 2024 NextGen girls team.

“To continue to grow, continue to develop her skills and learn more about herself,” said Mussani in text messages to The Canadian Press. “She is still quite young, so I hope she finds time to enjoy her youth as well, while also following her dreams and working towards her goals.”

Golf Canada is committed to ensuring that golf reflects the strengths of Canada’s diversity. First Tee – Ontario continues to strengthen its allyship and existing bonds with Indigenous communities across the province to collaboratively provide meaningful experiences to Indigenous youth through golf.

To date, First Tee – Ontario has partnered with seven Indigenous schools and community centres across the province, including Akwasasne Mohawk School, Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre, Six Nations of the Grand River Community (Dajoh Facility), Hamilton Regional Indian Centre, Anishnabeg Outreach Centre, Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre, and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.

In addition, four partnered golf courses, including Roseland Golf Club, MontHill Golf and Country Club, Archies Family Golf Centre, and Briar Fox Golf Club are serving Indigenous youth through on-course programming.

“Having the First Tee program at MontHill Golf and Country Club provides youth on Six Nations of the Grand River with opportunities to learn the game of golf,” said First Tee – Ontario Coach, Melanie Burgess. “Being Indigenous owned, we take pride in reducing the barriers to participation in this sport.”

First Tee – Ontario builds out community “hubs” made up of partnered community centres or organizations, schools and nearby golf courses.

The intention is to first introduce children to golf through no-cost events or programming at partnered community centres and schools, then transition them to affordable on-course programming at nearby golf courses.

Thanks to the support of RBC and corporate donors, more than half of the First Tee – Ontario golf course locations serving Indigenous communities offer programming at no cost.

“Parents don’t need to worry about the financial commitment of typical junior golf programs or purchasing equipment,” said Program Coordinator, First Tee – Ontario, Kyarra Hasmatali. “The kids can show up as they are, with no experience, and have fun. Whether they have never held a golf club or are familiar with the sport, First Tee welcomes everyone.”

First Tee – Ontario has also received generous support from Indigenous Sport and Wellness Ontario (IWSO) through hosting Try Golf events and advocating for First Tee within their network. The ISWO’s efforts have helped build awareness and connections, onboard more program locations, and reach more Indigenous youth.

First Tee – Ontario programming primarily serves youth ages seven to 13 – a key stage in development, and programming is unique in the way it incorporates a curriculum that helps progress both golf skills and life skills simultaneously.

While participants learn how to swing a golf club and practice distance control, they are also learning about goal setting and how to be the most confident version of themselves.

“Improving golf skills is just one aspect of our program. The real goal is to build confidence and connections,” said First Tee – Ontario Coach, Steve Pronger. “As kids develop their golf skills on the course, they also gain self-assurance, learn to connect with others, and grow more comfortable with who they are each week.”

Looking ahead, First Tee – Ontario is excited to strengthen existing relationships and create new connections with Indigenous communities across the province.

First Tee – Ontario aims to expand programming in 2025 to include ages 14 to 16, providing additional opportunities for adolescents to discover and develop through the game of golf.

The reach of First Tee – Ontario across the province, and within Indigenous communities, is made possible by a generous network of supporters who believe and share the mission of championing youth and growing the game of golf.

To get involved in your community, or to donate to First Tee – Ontario visit https://firstteeontario.ca/giving/.