Canadian and International amateurs representing 14 countries comprise field competing for Canada’s top men’s amateur prize; British Columbia set to defend Inter-Provincial Team title over first 36 holes

GATINEAU, Que. – A field of 264 players will descend on The Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Rivermead Golf Club in Gatineau, Que. July 26-31 for the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.  

Fifteen of the top 500 amateur golfers listed on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) will tee off at this year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and battle across two historic sites for the top spot of the most prestigious men’s amateur event in the nation. All ten provinces and one territory will be represented at this year’s event, joining a list of 17 States and 13 additional countries Argentina, Australia, England, Finland, France, Hong Kong, China, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Republic of Korea, South Africa, United States, and Venezuela will all be represented by a member in the field.  

Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. (no. 225 WAGR), Ethan Wilson of St. Albert, Alta. (no. 453 WAGR) and Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. (no. 491 WAGR) headline a notable field of Team Canada members competing in Gatineau, with Matthews leading the way as the highest-ranked Canadian in the field.  

The trio will be joined by seven of their teammates on the Team Canada NextGen squad, led by recent B.C. Men’s Amateur and B.C. Junior Boys champion, Austin Krahn (Christina Lake, B.C.) as well as Antoine Jasmin (Blainville, Que.), Braxton Kuntz (Winnipeg, Man.), Charlie Gillespie (Calgary, Alta.), Cooper Humphreys (Vernon, B.C.), Jager Pain (Woodbridge, Ont.), and Matthew Javier (North York, Ont.).  

The Canadian contingent will be rivaled by a competitive batch of international talents led by Japanese duo Taisei Nagasaki of Miyazaki, Japan (no. 73 WAGR) and Kaito Sato of Saitama, Japan (no. 129 WAGR). The two finished second and first respectively in this year’s Japanese Amateur Championship and will be joined by Australian Jye Halls of Mollymook Beach, Australia (no. 580 WAGR) who claimed the Australian Amateur Championship in 2025.  

Ten other international players ranked in the top 500 of WAGR include Alexis Leray of Boulogne-Billancourt, France (no. 135 WAGR), Hector Gonzalez Cramer of Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico (no. 260 WAGR), Easton Johnson of Kansas City, Mo. (no. 318 WAGR), Declan O’Donovan of Sydney, Australia (no. 348 WAGR), Ben Gregg of Dallas, Texas. (no. 373 WAGR), Mao Matsuyama of Aichi, Japan (no. 415 WAGR), Veikka Viskari of Espoo, Finland (no. 482 WAGR), Andrew Riley of Palm Coast, Fla. (no. 490 WAGR) and Seonghyeon An of Seoul, Republic of Korea (no. 497 WAGR). 

In addition to Krahn, the following provincial men’s amateur winners will compete in next week’s national championship including, Luke Cote (Saskatchewan), Brett Jones (Alberta), Émile Lebrun (Quebec), Isaac MacNaughton (Nova Scotia), Evan Nachtigall (Manitoba), Nick Ritchie (New Brunswick), and Eric Zhao (Ontario).  

“We are incredibly proud and excited to begin the 120th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at two historic courses next week in Gatineau,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director, Adam Cinel. “We appreciate the efforts from the staff and membership of both The Royal Ottawa Golf Club and Rivermead Golf Club, who have recruited ample tournament volunteers, and are working tirelessly to deliver a memorable championship for all 264 players competing next week.” 

The Royal Ottawa Golf Club will host all four rounds of the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and add a record tenth Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to its storied 134-year history. The Royal Ottawa Golf Club last hosted the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2016 where Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. won the national championship.  

“When approached by Golf Canada to host this internationally renowned men’s amateur championship, the Board of Directors felt it was in keeping with our storied tradition of support of amateur golf that we accept. But it was with direction that we provide an unrivalled experience for players, volunteers, spectators and officials, regardless of whether they are here for one day, or are competing for the Earl Grey Cup at the final round,” said Greg Richardson, General Manager of the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. 

“As our 10^th time hosting the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, including the first ever such event in 1895, we don’t take lightly the fact that this is a Canadian record for an event that has routinely been hosted by top clubs such as The Royal Montreal Golf Club, Toronto Golf Club and The Hamilton Golf & Country Club. With our partners at Rivermead Golf Club, we look forward to welcoming top amateurs from over 12 countries, several of whom will undoubtedly go on to have successful careers on the PGA Tour,” he added.

Playing as co-hosts to accommodate a larger field at this year’s event, Rivermead Golf Club is also located in Gatineau and just a few hundred metres from the north shore of the Ottawa River. Initially unveiled as a 9-hole course, the property was expanded to 18 holes in 1915 before being completely renovated in 1989 by Ken Skodacek and Ken Venturi to create the course’s current outstanding championship layout. In 2023, the Club completed a five-year course improvement project under the guidance of Jeff Mingay.  

Throughout its history, Rivermead has hosted many championships, including the 1920 Canadian Open, the 1925 Ladies’ Canadian Amateur Championship, the CPGA Championship in 1932 and 1959, and the CN Canadian Women’s Tour in 2005 and 2010. Of special pride to Rivermead members is the link to the RBC Canadian Open through the Rivermead Cup. The Rivermead Cup was awarded to the winner of the RBC Canadian Open until 1935. Since 1936, the Rivermead Cup has been awarded to the low Canadian at the RBC Canadian Open. 

Established in 1895, the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is the third oldest amateur championship in the world. The tournament was first contested as one of the newly formed Royal Canadian Golf Association’s (RCGA), now known as Golf Canada, first orders of business in 1895 at the Ottawa Golf Club. 

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George S. Lyon won the Amateur eight times between 1898 and 1914 and was runner-up two more times. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandy Somerville made it to the match play final ten times between 1924 and 1938, capturing six championships. Other past champions include Canadian Golf Hall of Famers and four-time winners, Nick Weslock (1957, 1963, 1964, 1966) and Doug Roxburgh (1972, 1974, 1982, 1988). Most recently, two-time PGA TOUR winner Mackenzie Hughes claimed the championship in consecutive years (2011, 2012) while 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion and five-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor claimed the 103rd Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2007.  

The winner of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will earn an automatic exemption into the RBC Canadian Open set to return to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) In Caledon, Ont. in 2026 as well as spot in next year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship if eligible.  

Additionally, this year’s amateur champion will lock up a spot in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship, August 11-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. and will be fully exempt from 2026 U.S. Open local qualifying and U.S. Amateur local qualifying.  

The 72-hole stroke-play competition will get underway on Monday, July 28 and wrap up Thursday, July 31. The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will run concurrently through completion of the first 36 holes. Each day, the lowest two of three individual 18-hole scores will count towards the team score for players’ respective provinces. Team British Columbia will aim to keep the Willington Cup (awarded annually to the top province in the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship) in their possession and feature Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C., Dustin Franko of Delta, B.C. and Krahn in their squad. Practice rounds will precede the tournament and take place on both host sites July 26-27.  

For the full list of the field competing in the 120th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, please click here.  

Nine golfers within six shots of co-leaders, setting up exciting
final round on Friday

ROTHESAY, N.B. – Moving Day certainly delivered and then some following the third round of the 111th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO; as Michelle Xing and Eunseo Choi are tied for the lead at 1-under heading into Friday’s final round at The Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, N.B.

While the wind remained a factor, more favourable conditions paved the way for a number of lead changes and scoring opportunities over the course of 18 holes on Thursday in Rothesay.

Xing, of Richmond Hill, Ont. was just two shots back of the lead entering play and was able to respond to any setback she faced, keeping her name atop the lead for most of the day.

After opening with a bogey, she responded with back-to-back birdies followed by a string of pars. Xing dropped another stroke on No. 12 before answering with birdies on 14 and 15 and closed her round with three straight pars on route to a 1-under 71 to sit 1-under.

“I think I was hitting the ball pretty well today, I was making my shorter putts so that was working really well,” said Xing.

Equally as exciting for the Team Canada NextGen member, was that Thursday marked her 17th birthday, “not a bad way to spend my birthday,” said Xing with a smile.

As for how she may celebrate tonight.

“I have a cheesecake in my hotel room and had dinner with friends last night, so in a way we kind of celebrated already so maybe I’ll just have some more cake tonight,” said added with a laugh.

Xing said she plans to stick with what has worked with her for the past couple days from a routine and game plan perspective and will adjust as needed on Friday.

Choi of Auckland, New Zealand got off to a hot start with opening birdies on No. 3 and 4 before dropping back to even par for her round through nine. She ran into trouble again with a bogey on No. 10, but it would be the final blemish on an impressive back nine as Choi birdied four of her final seven holes to fire a 3-under 69 to move atop the leaderboard with Xing. Choi credited her putting and a strong mental game for her round.

“I wasn’t really shaken by anything and just tried to enjoy the game as much as I could – honestly, just tried to lock in as they say and really just enjoy it and I think that’s what went really well today,” she said.

Wind looks to be a factor again on Friday and Choi is prepared for whatever comes her way.

“This course is great, but the wind always makes variables for it. As long as I try to enjoy it, just stay in the moment and don’t think too much about it, just be comfortable in my own situation I think I’ll play well tomorrow.”

Xing and Choi hold a one-shot lead over Kaitlyn Schroeder of Jacksonville, Fla. who shot a 1-over 73 on Thursday to drop to even par for the tournament and is alone in third. Aira Nagasawa of Yamanashi, Japan moved up to fourth following a 1-under 71 to sit at 2-over while Raegan Denton of Fulham Gardens, Australia fired a 3-under 69 to move into fifth place at 3-over.

Team Canada member Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver, B.C. also recorded a 3-under 69 on Thursday to move up and into a tie for sixth at 4-over with fellow Team Canada member, Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta., Molly Smith of Westford, Ma. and Macy Pate of Winston-Salem, N.C. who held the 36-hole lead into Thursday.

Joline Truong of Mississauga, Ont. fired the low round of the day with a 4-under 68 to jump into a tie for tenth with Anna Iwanaga of Hyogo, Japan at 5-over.

In addition to winning the Duchess of Connaught Trophy, the Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open taking place at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20 – 24. The winner will also earn an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, taking place August 4 – 10 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore and an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur, taking place at The Toronto Golf Club, July 20 – 24, 2026.

The final group of Xing, Choi and Schroeder will tee off at 9:42 a.m. ADT on Friday, for all Final Round tee times, please click here. For the individual leaderboard following the third round of the 111th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

Refer your friends to join Golf Canada membership and you could win big. Prizes include a dream golf getaway to Banff, Alta. custom-fitted golf clubs and more! 

Golf Canada is proud to announce the launch of a new membership referral program, giving Golf Canada and provincial association members the chance to win prizes for referring others to become members.

The referral program will be running until September 15, 2025, and allows members to refer as many people as possible to increase their number of entries into an exclusive prize draw. Each member will have access to a referral link that is unique to their account that can be passed along to non-members.  

When non-members join with a new membership through the unique referral link, existing members will be automatically entered into a draw to win exciting golf prizes, including the grand prize – a twosome at Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course in Banff, Alta. featuring flight and two-nights’ accommodation. Other prizes include a full set of custom-fitted Titleist golf clubs and gift cards to Golf Canada’s e-store.  

Members can access and manage their referral links through the Golf Canada App as well as on the web. Desktop users can find their referral link by logging into their account here. On the Golf Canada App, members can access their link through the MORE tab located at the bottom right of their mobile devices, as well as through the PROFILE tab located on the lefthand side of their screen. Once selected through the app and desktop, members will have the choice to copy and share the link with peers as well as access a unique QR Code that can be scanned by players they wish to refer.  

A Golf Canada Membership is a must-have for Canadian golfers, providing easy access to tools and technology to better players’ on-course experience through the Golf Canada App. The Golf Canada app is a free, all-in-one digital tool offering GPS-enabled course maps, detailed score and stat tracking features and access to official Handicap Indexes. Hole-by-hole distance measurements are also available for over 1,500 courses across Canada and compatible with mobile devices, the Apple Watch and Android watches.

Golf Canada members receive a variety of benefits through their annual subscription, including an official Golf Canada handicap index, equipment protection and exclusive stat tracking on the Golf Canada Score Centre along with a #MyGolfYear snapshot that can be shared on social. Online Rules of Golf Training and deals on hotels, car rentals and other offers as well as access to marquee events such as the RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open are also available to Golf Canada members.  

Notably, membership dues are reinvested into Grow the Game programs to help support Canadian youth learn life skills through the game of golf.  

To view and access all the perks of being a Golf Canada member, please click here. The Golf Canada App is the number one golf app in Canada and available for download for both iOS and Android operating systems from both the App Store and Google Play at no cost. 

Macy Pate holds one-shot lead heading into third round;
Michelle Xing two shots back

ROTHESAY, N.B. – After consecutive runner-up finishes the past two years, Team British Columbia (B.C.) has reclaimed the Inter-Provincial Team Championship from Team Ontario in the 111th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

Team B.C. finished with a two-day collective score of 9-over, six shots clear of the two-time defending champions to claim the title for the first time since 2022 on Wednesday at The Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, N.B.

The team was represented by Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver, B.C. and Amy Seung Hyun Lee of Langley, B.C.

“This win means a lot, we all have a lot of B.C. pride and any chance to play for our province is really good and being able to win for our province is a super great accomplishment,” said Arora.

The team mindset was to play smart heading into Wednesday, which has certainly been a requirement at Riverside Country Club over the first two rounds. For Kwon, the team dynamic played a key role in securing the title.

“Our team is very supportive of each other and the team made me feel very welcome and a very positive environment. This team was amazing and worked very well in the tournament,” she said. “Overall, I am proud and happy that I could play on the course with Team B.C.”

Lee, the lone returning player from last year’s team added, “I think it was great, I had really great teammates, and it was nice creating a bond with Team B.C.”

Arora’s back-to-back rounds of 2-over 74 and Kwon’s scores of 73 and 76 counted on both days for Team B.C. The two lowest scores from the three-person team counted towards the combined team total for each round.

Team Ontario finished as runner-up with a combined score of 15-over. Team Alberta and Team Quebec finished in a tie for third at 30-over, with Team Manitoba rounding out the top five at 32-over.

Pate keeps pace

Day two began with warmer temperatures, but the winds picked up as the day progressed, flipping the script on Tuesday’s opening round conditions.

Macy Pate of Winston-Salem, N.C. maintains a one-shot lead following a 2-over 74 to now sit at 2-under for the tournament, ahead of Kaitlyn Schroeder from Jacksonville, Fla. who shot a 1-over 73 to move up one spot on the leaderboard at 1-under.

Pate began play on the back nine, recording a birdie and two bogeys before heading to the challenging front nine, where the winds played havoc for the field. After carding a birdie on the fifth hole, Pate struggled with consecutive bogeys before regaining her lead with a birdie on her final hole of the round.

Team Canada NextGen member, Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. was one of only two players that shot under par on Wednesday, following a 1-under 71 to move to even par for the tournament to jump up to third. Xing opened with five birdies through her first seven holes.

“I got off to a good start,” said Xing. “Hitting my wedges well and putting the ball well. I didn’t think too much of it because it was the morning and was just trying to have some fun.”

Xing added that her putting has been a strong point over the first two rounds of the championship despite some challenging conditions for the field coupled with stronger winds over the first two days.

“It’s been tough, the pin positions today were really tough, the course has been pretty firm, and the greens have slope, but I think there are still some scoring holes, especially the par fives,” she added.

Angela (Yilin) Liu of Irvine, Calif., Eunseo Choi of Auckland, New Zealand, Anna Iwanaga of Hyogo, Japan and Team Canada member, Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta. are tied for fourth at 2-over. Fellow Team Canada member and 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. is tied for eighth with four others at 3-over.

The field has been reduced to the top 68 and ties (73 players total) advancing to the final 36-holes with a cut line of 15-over.

In addition to winning the Duchess of Connaught Trophy, the Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open taking place at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20 – 24. The winner will also earn an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, taking place August 4 – 10 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore and an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur, taking place at The Toronto Golf Club, July 20 – 24, 2026.

For Thursday’s Third Round tee times, please click here. For the individual and inter-provincial team leaderboards following the second round of the 111th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

A record 118 birdies filled TPC Toronto’s 14th hole at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and helped raise thousands of dollars for the Credit Valley Conservation Foundation (CVCF). 

CALEDON, Ont. – In collaboration with TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley and WM, Golf Canada is proud to announce the Rink Hole successfully raised $29,500 for the CVCF following the debut of its Birdies for Trails initiative at the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.   

Every birdie at the 144-yard par-3 14th hole directly contributed to CVCF and the development of the Credit Valley Trail (CVT), a passageway stretching 100 kilometers in length to link Orangeville, Ont. with Port Credit (Mississauga), Ont. 

“We are happy to see a successful first contribution as part of the Birdies for Trails initiative from the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and want to thank our partners at WM and TPC Toronto for leading the charge on this initiative,” said Brian Newton, Director, Professional Championships Operations, Golf Canada. “We are looking forward to returning to TPC Toronto for the 115th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship and continuing this meaningful initiative at the Rink Hole and hope to see more supporting partners next year.”  

118 birdies were made at The Rink in 2025, the most since the inception of the iconic stadium hole in 2017. Four Canadians, as well as tournament winner Ryan Fox, were among the record set of players to score at the fan-favourite hole, with each birdie contributing $250 to help the CVCF make a significant impact on the local community in Caledon, Ont.  

“From the spotlight being shined on Caledon and the surrounding community to the economic impact of the event, there are so many positives to take from the RBC Canadian Open taking place here. We’re proud to support this critical initiative and the work being done by the CVCF,” said TPC Toronto President Chris Humeniuk. 

“The continued development of the CVT represents a thoughtful investment in both the environment and the well-being of local communities. WM is pleased to support this initiative through Birdies for Trails, helping to advance a shared goal of creating more accessible, sustainable spaces for people to connect with nature,” said Tracy Black, President, WM Canada. 

Since its inception in 1964, the CVCF has more than 60 years of experience protecting and sustaining the health of the watershed that connects its communities. The CVT project is one of many ongoing plans prioritizing the wellbeing of CVC’s communities that aims to promote indigenous culture, national identity and become a dual asset in recreation and tourism for years to come.  

“This contribution is a meaningful step forward in our mission to bring the CVT to life. This support not only helps us build a legacy trail for public use, education, and community connection — it also plays a crucial role in land securement efforts that ensure natural spaces are protected and accessible for generations to come,” said Dayana Gomez, Executive Director of the CVCF. “This generous support brings us one step closer to our $10 million fundraising goal and to realizing a legacy trail that will benefit the entire watershed community — creating meaningful and lasting connections to nature, to one another, and to the land for generations to come.” 

The Rink Hole has become a unique and popular experience over the past seven editions of the RBC Canadian Open, blending the excitement of hockey with the tradition and legacy of golf. Hockey-themed tee markers, enthusiastic engagement from spectators and reciprocated energy from players makes the Rink Hole a memorable golf experience in addition to being a valuable supporter of communal initiative.  

The 2026 RBC Canadian Open will be returning to TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ont. 

When the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club welcomes the best golfers in the world for the CPKC Women’s Open in August – including the game’s No.1-ranked player in Nelly Korda plus past champion and CPKC ambassador Brooke Henderson amongst so many others – it will join a special group of golf clubs in this country that have hosted all of the CPKC Women’s Open, RBC Canadian Open, Canadian Women’s Amateur, and Canadian Men’s Amateur.

But the club, which will, later this summer, become just the eighth course in the country to host the fabulous foursome of events, has had its fair share of magical moments already.

Established in the early 1900s, the course was revised in 1919 by Donald Ross before Stanley Thompson made some more changes in 1927 before hosting the Canadian Open in 1931.

From then until now – nearly 100 years – the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club has seen lots of history. And as it looks ahead to the next century, the club and its members are extremely excited about what’s to come.

Before the first-ever CPKC Women’s Open at Mississaugua here’s a little walk down memory lane at the iconic layout.

1931 – RBC Canadian Open

How about this start as a Canadian Open host venue? Walter Hagen, one of the game’s biggest – and first – global superstars – won in dramatic fashion. Hagen topped Percy Alliss in a playoff. It marked his second win of the season and 38th on the PGA Tour.

1938 – RBC Canadian Open

Another Canadian Open and another playoff – this time won by another giant of the game. Sam Snead took down Harry Cooper (denying him from winning the Canadian Open in back-to-back years).

It was the first of four Canadian Open triumphs for Snead.

1942 – RBC Canadian Open

Two-time major champion Craig Wood (he won both the Masters and the U.S. Open the year prior) won by four shots, finishing at 13-under 275 for the week. At the time, it was the lowest winning score in tournament history.

His 13-under effort would end up being the lowest-ever score at a Canadian Open at Mississaugua.

1951 – RBC Canadian Open

Australian Jim Ferrier became just the third golfer in tournament history to successfully defend his title at the Canadian Open, having won at Royal Montreal in 1950 after a tidy 17-under 271 total and a three-shot win. Ferrier came to Mississaugua and finished at 7 under and topped a pair of golfers by two shots.

Ferrier won 18 times on the PGA Tour including the PGA Championship.

1965 – RBC Canadian Open

The longest time had passed between Canadian Opens at Mississaugua and Gene Littler won – his first PGA Tour title in three years. But it was the man who finished runner up that made headlines as Jack Nicklaus lost by just one to Littler. It was Nicklaus’ first of a record seven runner-up finishes at the Canadian Open.

1974 – RBC Canadian Open

In the last Canadian Open hosted by Mississaugua, it was Bobby Nichols who captured the title after finishing runner up 13 years’ prior. Nichols won by four shots over a pair of golfers.

2006 – Canadian Men’s Amateur

A member of Team Canada at the time, young standout Richard Scott won his third Canadian Amateur title which cemented his status as one of the country’s most dominant amateur golfers. As a very special wink to the setting of his victory, Scott will be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame later this summer at the club.

2016 – World Junior Girls Championship

Mississaugua welcomed 48 girls to its storied layout for the World Junior Girls Championship nine years ago including current top-ranked golfers on the LPGA Tour in Hae-Ran Ryu (South Korea’s top golfer), Maja Stark (winner of this year’s U.S. Women’s Open), Esther Henseleit (Olympic medalist), and winner Yuka Saso.

Saso, who was 15 at the time of her win at Mississaugua, would go on to win the 2021 U.S. Women’s pen just five years later. She has since added another U.S. Women’s Open title to her resume.

The team from the Philippines also won the team competition, of which Saso was a part.

Team British Columbia leads Inter-Provincial Team Championship
by two over defending champions, Team Ontario

ROTHESAY, N.B. – Macy Pate fired a 4-under 68 to take a one-shot lead over Clara Ding following the opening round of the 111th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at The Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, N.B.

Cooler temperatures and strong winds made scoring more challenging early on Tuesday before warmer conditions settled in for the afternoon in Rothesay. Pate of Winston-Salem, N.C. was one of only four players to get into red figures, carding four birdies in a bogey free round. She opened and closed her front nine with three consecutive pars, grabbing birdies on hole Nos. 4 and 6. Making the turn, she continued her run of pars through 13 before recording back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15.

Pate credited her iron play and short game for putting her name atop the leaderboard following round one.

“It feels good to shoot a bogey free round. I played really solid and missed a few greens in the wind but I got up and down nicely and made some solid putts,” said Pate.

She added that patience will be key for her game heading into Wednesday, “the golf course is definitely challenging, so just trying to give yourself opportunities and not let the course get in your head or let anything get away from you.”

Pate recently completed her sophomore season at Wake Forest University, where she earned six top 25 finishes and also competed in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) for the first time this past April.

Ding of White Rock, B.C. also carded four birdies in her round to finish one back of Pate with a 3-under 69 to sit alone in second. The 14-year-old member of Team Canada NextGen was happy with her opening round but knows there is a long way to go this week. Ding and many others were complimentary of the course but found the greens to be a challenge on Tuesday.

“The greens are really tough on this course and putting was really difficult,” said Ding. “There are a lot of big breakers and slope.”

Ding has enjoyed a successful season thus far recording a pair of wins at the Women’s Orlando International Amateur Championship and most recently at the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open where she earned an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open through the She Plays Golf Championship Series.

Kaitlyn Schroeder of Jacksonville, Fla. sits in third following a 2-under 70, while Eunseo Choi of New Zealand is fourth after a 1-under 71. Five players are currently T5 at even par (72) including Team Canada members, Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta. and Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C.

Team British Columbia (B.C.) leads the Inter-Provincial Team Championship by two shots over the two-time defending champions, Team Ontario. Team B.C. shot a collective 3-over in Tuesday’s round led by Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver who shot a 1-over 73 and Angela Arora of Surrey who finished at 2-over 74, B.C. is also represented by Amy Seung Hyun Lee of Langley. Team Ontario sits at 5-over with Oakville duo, Lindsay McGrath’s 2-over 74 and Nobelle Park’s 3-over 75 counting on day one. Ontario is also represented by Julia Alexander-Carew, also of Oakville. Park and Alexander-Carew are returning members from last year’s winning team. Team Manitoba sits third at 13-over and Team Alberta is fourth at 14-over. The two lowest scores from the three-person team count towards the combined team total. The Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be awarded tomorrow, following the opening 36-holes of the championship.

Following Wednesday’s second round, the field will be reduced to the top 70 players plus ties.

In addition to winning the Duchess of Connaught Trophy, the Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open taking place at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20 – 24. The winner will also earn an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, taking place August 4 – 10 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore and an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur, taking place at The Toronto Golf Club, July 20 – 24, 2026.

For the individual and inter-provincial team leaderboards following the opening round of the 111th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please 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.

Nick Simard, Upper Unionville Golf Club, Hole #9

What a day that was, not only for the ace but for the personal best at what I consider my home golf club.

Playing 134 yards into a head wind. Hit a 9 iron (Taylormade P7CB) and just about the most obnoxious looking TP5 ball Taylormade has ever made.

Just a clean baby draw right at it, landed close and disappeared. We weren’t sure though one playing partner was really excited.  Low and behold, it was in the cup when we got to the green.

Was playing with my regular weekend group, long time golf friends, Jimmy Zabarelos, Jon Stathopulos and James Keddie.

Andre Brisson, McCall Lake Golf House, Hole #17

Conditions were benign with little wind and bright sun. The nominal distance on the card from the white tees is 160 yards. I was given a 153-yard distance by one of my playing partners. Using my trusty 7 iron, the strike was pure, the ball flight was superb landing 10-20 feet from the hole. The roll-out was straight and into the hole. I could actually hear the clank of the ball on the flag pole, though I expected that the ball likely hit the flag and rolled out beyond the hole. There were three witnesses but the only full name I have is my golf buddy Bruce McAdoo. Of the other two players in our group, one was a part-time Marshal at McCall Lake Golf Club.

Mary Louise Andrea, Seaview Golf and Country Club, Hole #9

Hole #9 at Seaview Golf and Country Club in North Sydney, Nova Scotia is a beautiful yet demanding 144 yard par 3, framed by woods and guarded by bunkers to the right and back left of the green. With my good friend Johanne Currie and fellow player Sandy MacInnis looking on, I watched in amazement as my 5 hybrid tee shot flew straight and true, landing softly before rolling into the hole for an unforgettable ace! A moment I’ll never forget.

Adam Fredericks, The Links of Brunello Golf Course, Hole #10

I made a hole-in-one at The Links of Brunello Golf Course in Halifax on July 2nd, 2025. I used a pitching wedge from 135 yards playing from the white tee’s. It was on the par 3, hole #10 during men’s night and it was a back nine start, so it was my first swing of the day! First and last time in my life I’ll ever be two under during a round of golf. Playing partners were David Woodbury, Michel Woodbury and Curtis MacIsaac.

Ben McCutchen, Cedar Hill Golf Course, Hole #10

My wife and I were enjoying a quiet dinner on a patio in downtown Victoria, making the most of a long summer evening. As the sun dipped lower, we decided to cap off the day with a spontaneous 9-hole round at Cedar Hill Golf Course — the same spot where we’d played the front nine earlier in the week.

We hustled back to the course and reached the tenth tee just in time. I stepped up and did something truly rare for me — I hit a straight drive. But when we walked up, the ball was nowhere to be found — not in the fairway, not on the green.

Puzzled, I asked my wife to check the hole.

And there it was — sitting quietly at the bottom of the cup. A hole-in-one, on a par 4 no less.

Neither of us could believe it. What started as a casual evening round turned into a once-in-a-lifetime moment — one I’ll never forget.

Credit to my wife, a true planner, for saying yes to post-dinner golf with no tee time — and unknowingly scheduling a hole-in-one.

Jayant Kembhavi, Cordova Bay Golf Club, Hole #6

On June 25th, I got another hole-in-one. Hole #17 at Cordova Bay Golf Club, 150 yards over water. Hit a good shot and saw it bounce. Was so relieved it didn’t go in the lake so I started walking away. My mates thought it was a good shot but didn’t see the ball because the view was obstructed by reeds along the water. Then as we started walking to the green, and still couldn’t see the ball, we started speculating, maybe it rolled off the back. Maybe it rolled into the sand trap. Wait, maybe it’s in the hole! Excitement started building and I walked to the hole, and there it was! My second hole-in-one!

Sally Lazaruk, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

Hole #17 tee box is elevated and we hit across a valley onto an elevated green that is slanted towards the ocean and mountains in the background.

I was playing in our Saturday Business Women’s Golf League with Nancy Campbell, Suzanne Anton and Rosalie McRae.

I felt good when I hit the ball and saw it land near the left edge of the green and go right, then I lost sight of it and viewed only half of the yellow flag stick. Rosalie said she thought it probably went over the green.

Susanne, who chipped over the green could not see another ball there. I usually hit mid green with that club so as I walked across the green I got a feeling to check the hole, and there it was! I was shocked and Suzanne and Nancy hollered and cheered as Rosalie ran to get her camera.

I made the hole-in-one on our ladies’ 127 yard, hole #17 with my Callaway 7 wood and Callaway ball. Lucky number seven!

My brother Bill Lazaruk, said I must be playing well, but I said I may have hit the ball but a golf angel guided it across the valley onto the green and god put it in the hole for me! It certainly took the three of us to do it.

When I informed the pro shop, Kevin Leslie, an Assistant Golf Professional, said he was not surprised as about a month ago he saw my ball hit the pin and roll six inches away.

Often when I play this hole, I think of my cousin Dennis Ewasiuk who made a hole-in-one on hole #17 on men’s opening day and won $25,000.

I won $175 and our Shaughnessy Women’s Golf Captain, Kathy Forrest, said she thinks this is the first hole-in-one for our Saturday Business Women’s League, so I’m buying drinks for the wind-up.

This was my second hole-in-one as my first was 21 years ago at Blackhawk Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta, on hole #8 with my 8 iron and Nike ball. Lucky number eight! Since then, my nephew Shawn Lazaruk became a member of Blackhawk Golf Club and made a hole-in-one on the same hole #8.

Kendal Stacesmith, Prince Rupert Golf Course, Hole #4 (Twice)

Within three weeks apart, on the same hole #4 and used the same club, 7 iron. Pin placement on both was roughly the same as well. Couldn’t see it go in from tee box, just a matter of walking up to the pin and wondering where your ball is.

Pam Yakabuskie, Deep River Golf Club, Hole #16

I was playing with three of my friends at Deep River Golf Club, the yardage was 115 and I hit a 9 iron. Once it left my club face, flew through the air, landed on the green and started rolling towards the pin, I was satisfied I would have a birdie putt and turned to start putting my club away, and then my friend excitedly said, “you just made a hole in one!” I hadn’t even watched it going the hole. Consider it a lesson learned for next time.

Golf thrives on fairness, integrity, and inclusivity—values that are upheld by the Rules of Handicapping, a key component of the World Handicap System (WHS). These rules ensure handicaps are calculated and maintained accurately, allowing players of all skill levels to compete equitably and enjoy the game.  They rely on everyone (Handicap Committees, golfers, club staff and event organizers) to play their role and ensure the integrity of the World Handicap System.

To ensure proper understanding & knowledge, the certification program is designed to educate individuals on how handicaps work and the role everyone plays in maintaining them. This includes topics such as:

• What a Handicap Index is and how it ensures equitable play
• The role of the Handicap Committee, golf club staff and golfers in upholding the Rules of Handicapping
• Acceptability of scores for handicap purposes
• Properly adjusting hole scores (when needed)
• What to do if you have a question or concern about your Handicap Index or a fellow golfers’

Completing the Rules of Handicapping certification is critical for Handicap Committee members, players and club officials who want to ensure the game remains fair and transparent.  Certified individuals are better equipped to manage their own handicaps and support best practices at their clubs.

Moreover, the certification strengthens the governance and integrity of the game. Handicap Committees rely on certified individuals to enforce correct procedures, review anomalies, and maintain the integrity of handicap records. Without proper understanding of the rules, inconsistencies and misunderstandings can undermine confidence in the system.

Benefits for Club Officials (Handicap Committee, Club Staff, Event/League organizers)

• Accurate Handicap Oversight through properly trained Handicap Committee members.
• Equitable Competition across all club events with accurate and validated Handicap Indexes.
• Greater Credibility and Trust among members through transparent score management.
• Improved Customer Service with informed staff and volunteers ready to support players and resolve issues.
• Support for Inclusive Play by promoting a system that adjusts for skill level, gender, age, and ability.
• Enhanced Club Reputation for upholding the values of the game.
• Compliance with Golf Canada’s handicap system policies and governance requirements.

Benefits for Golfers

• Understanding How Your Handicap Works—know exactly how your Index is calculated and updated.
• Confidence in Competition with assurance that everyone is playing by the same standards.
• Equitable Play regardless of skill level, thanks to adjustments made through the system.
• Improved Score Management through accurate and timely posting of rounds.
• Contribution to a Fair Golfing Community by being informed, responsible, and participating in Peer Review.

To complete the Rules of Handicapping certification, please watch the online seminar and complete the certification quiz –free and available at your convenience!  For more information about the Rules of Handicapping, please visit our website at www.golfcanada.ca/handicapping.

Field of 156 will compete in the prestigious tournament; nine provinces represented; Inter-Provincial Team Championship to be contested over first 36 holes

ROTHESAY, N.B. – The 111th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO is set to be contested July 22 – 25 with a field of 156 amateur golfers competing over four rounds at The Riverside Country Club in Rothesay, N.B.

This year’s field features a number of top amateur golfers from around the world including ten of the current top 100 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), 25 of the top 250 and 41 players within the top 500 on WAGR. Golfers from nine provinces are represented in the field along with eight additional countries: Australia, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United States.

The field is led by two Team Canada members in the WAGR top 100 including, 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. (no. 18 WAGR) and Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. (no. 49 WAGR).

Fellow Team Canada members that recently earned exemptions into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open through the She Plays Golf Championship Series will also be in Rothesay including, the reigning Canadian Junior Girls champion, Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. (no. 109 WAGR), Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. (no. 132 WAGR), Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta. (no. 174 WAGR) and Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C. (no. 197 WAGR).

Nine additional members of the Team Canada program are also in the field including, Nicole Gal (Oakville, Ont.), Clairey Lin (Langley, B.C.), Eileen Park (Red Deer, Alta.), Nobelle Park (Oakville, Ont.), Swetha Sathish (Oakville, Ont.), Ruihan Kendria Wang (Vancouver, B.C.), Michelle Xing (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Vanessa Zhang (Vancouver, B.C.) and 2021 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, Lauren Zaretsky (Thornhill, Ont.).

Anna Iwanaga of Hyogo, Japan (no. 33 WAGR) tops the list of eight international players in the top 100 on WAGR that will compete. Joining Iwanaga are fellow Japanese amateurs, Mamika Shinchi of Kanagawa (no. 48 WAGR), Yurina Hiroyoshi of Fukuoka (no. 61 WAGR) and Aira Nagasawa of Yamanashi (no. 63 WAGR). Australians Jazy Roberts of West Bendigo (no. 85 WAGR) and Raegan Denton of Fulham Gardens (no. 93 WAGR) are joined by Macy Pate of Winston Salem, N.C. (no. 55 WAGR) and Eunseo Choi of Auckland, New Zealand (no. 82 WAGR) to headline a strong field.

The following 2025 Provincial Women’s Amateur champions will also be competing in the field: Abbey Baker (Nova Scotia), Taylor Cormier (Newfoundland and Labrador), Addison Kartusch (Manitoba), Anne-Léa Lavoie (Quebec), Amy Lee (British Columbia), Lindsay McGrath (Ontario), Callie Taylor (New Brunswick) and Jacquelyn Taylor (Prince Edward Island).

“We are excited to get the 111th playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship underway at the beautiful Riverside Country Club,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Madeline MacMillan. “We have a very strong field set to compete and the players are in for a great experience and test at Riverside. We’d like to thank the staff and volunteers for being welcoming and for their continued efforts in delivering an exceptional experience for our prestigious national championship.”

Established in 1897, The Riverside Country Club is a private championship golf course designed by the legendary Donald Ross. Nestled on the picturesque banks of the Kennebecasis River in Rothesay, New Brunswick, the 18-hole course offers a challenging and memorable golfing experience for players of all skill levels. At The Riverside Country Club, tradition meets modernity, offering a sanctuary for golf enthusiasts and a vibrant community for its members.

“Since being announced as the host club for the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, we have been incredibly excited and proud to welcome an elite field of female amateur golfers from around the world to Riverside,” said Jason Porter, General Manager, The Riverside Country Club. “Our membership and our team have been working tirelessly, and we are committed to providing an exceptional experience for all participants at our beautiful course and facilities. We remain steadfast in our belief that this championship will inspire the next generation of golfers and further promote the growth of women’s golf in our community.”

The championship, which was first contested in 1901, is one of the longest standing amateur golf events in the world. The inaugural tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que., featured only three players and over a century later, 156 players compete for the honour of etching their name onto the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup.

Along with the championship’s storied history comes a coveted roster of competitors including Marlene Stewart Streit, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, who sits atop the class with 11 victories, and five runner-up finishes at the national event. The tournament has proven to be a launch pad for some of golf’s brightest young stars including Ariya Jutanugarn (2012), Brooke Henderson (2013), Hye-Jin Choi (2016), Jennifer Kupcho (2017) and Yealimi Noh (2018) are previous winners who now compete on the LPGA Tour.

The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will run concurrently over the first 36-holes of the tournament. Team Ontario will be looking to win their third consecutive team title. Last year, Shauna Liu (Maple, Ont.), Nobelle Park (Oakville, Ont.) and Julia Alexander-Carew (Oakville, Ont.) successfully defended the team title for their province beating Team Alberta and Team British Columbia by three shots. Championship week begins with practice rounds on Monday, July 21 with tournament play beginning on Tuesday, July 22. Following the opening 36-holes of the championship, the field will be reduced to the top 70 players plus ties.

The 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open taking place at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20 – 24. The winner will also earn an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, taking place August 4 – 10 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore. In addition, the champion will earn an exemption into the 2026 Canadian Women’s Amateur, taking place at The Toronto Golf Club, July 20 – 24, 2026.

For the full player field competing in the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.