It was recently reported that girls under the age of 18 are the fastest-growing segment of new golfers because, no doubt, of better introductory programs and the emergence of exciting new role models like Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont.

At the age of 20, Henderson already is the winner of four LPGA titles in only her second full season on tour. In those two seasons, golf fans have become familiar with seeing her on TV and in person at tournaments.

But back in 2014, the spectators at the inaugural World Junior Girls Championship at Angus Glen in Markham, Ont., had an inkling of what was to come. In her final event as an amateur, Henderson finished fourth.

“It’s a great tournament, great championship. To be able to compete against the best in the world and to represent Canada is really a dream come true,” said Henderson at a CP Women’s Open press conference in August. “I’ve been able to do that since I started my career. I think the best thing is just to have fun, to enjoy it, to embrace everything and try to use it as a learning experience…”

She is just one of the outstanding players who have competed in this event, co-founded by Golf Canada and Golf Ontario and supported by the R&A and the International Golf Federation to showcase the best young female golfers from around the world. American Angel Yin, now an LPGA standout who was a star at the recent Solheim Cup, is another example.

The fourth annual World Junior Girls Championship takes place Sept. 26-Sept. 29 at Ottawa’s The Marshes Golf Club, which also played host in 2015. Its growth mirrors the reports that more girls are taking up the game.

“It started as a platform for the top girls 18 and under in the world and just keeps building momentum,” says Golf Canada’s Manager of Rules and Competitions Mary Beth McKenna, who is in her third year as the event’s tournament coordinator. “There is some incredible talent and this is a wonderful platform for them to display that talent.”

Twenty teams from around the world will tee it up in the 72-hole tournament in Ottawa. As host country, Canada has two teams. (For full team bios, click here)

Canada One is comprised of Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., Celeste Dao of Notre-Dame Ile Perot, Que., and Ellie Szeryk of London, Ont. Canada Two consists of Alyssa DiMarcantonio of Maple, Ont., Euna Han of Coquitlam, B.C., and Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill.

Ann Carroll is Golf Canada’s women’s national development squad coach and will guide Canada One at the championship. Matt Wilson, Golf Canada’s director of next-generation performance, will coach Canada Two.

“Canada One is our highest-ranked team overall so far and that’s got some exciting potential,” says Carroll. “Canada Two is young. Emily Zhu is only 13, for example. But this is a great opportunity to expose these girls to top-level coaching and competition.”

In addition to the actual tournament, Carroll enjoys the rare opportunity to discuss best practices with the other coaches, about half of whom are also women. “It’s a great trend to see more women coaching internationally. I’m excited about the direction we’re going with girls’ golf in so many ways.”

The on-course competition is the centrepiece of a week-long celebration of the game at The Marshes, with a focus on the development and promotion of junior girls’ golf. The days leading up to the event itself will see a PGA of Canada coaching summit as well as a free junior girls’ skills clinic.

So if you’ve got a young girl in your family who has expressed an interest in golf or you just want to see who might be the next Brooke Henderson or Angel Yin, you should check out the World Junior Girls Championship.

For full details, visit www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

ATLANTA – Kyle Stanley and Jordan Spieth got off to strong starts in the Tour Championship with entirely different goals in mind.

Stanley ran off four straight birdies on the front nine, one of them from 40 feet, and then added two more late in his round on a steamy Thursday afternoon at East Lake for a 6-under 64. In his Tour Championship debut, he had a two-shot lead over a group that included U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka.

Spieth had a 67, and while it was a grind, he had no gripes about that.

He is the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup, and no one from the top five had a lower score. That kept Spieth on track in his bid to join Tiger Woods as the only two-time winners of the $10 million bonus since the FedEx Cup began in 2007.

The top five seeds only have to win the Tour Championship to claim the FedEx Cup, though there have been three occasions where someone else won at East Lake and walked away with golf’s biggest payoff when the leading players faltered.

That explains why Spieth spent more time looking at the leaderboard than he typically does in the opening round.

“I don’t know the scenarios, so it really doesn’t make a difference for me to watch the scoreboard other than to figure out how to get to the leaders,” he said. “It’s a weird scenario teeing off last when it’s the first round and there’s only 30 guys.”

And it didn’t help to see what Stanley was doing.

Stanley, the No. 22 seed and a long shot for the FedEx Cup, thought East Lake was plenty tough during the practice rounds. He just didn’t make it look that way, stuffing a wedge into 2 feet on No. 3 to start his run of four straight birdies.

He extended his lead by hitting a tee shot over the water to a front pin on the nervy par-3 15th and making his 18-foot birdie, and then holing a 10-foot birdie on the 16th.

“I don’t have too good of a game plan for this golf course seeing it for the first time,” Stanley said. “But I felt like maybe that would be key, just hitting a lot of fairways and giving myself chances on second shots.”

Stanley isn’t too wrapped up about the $10 million bonus, though Bill Haas won it in 2011 as the No. 25 seed.

He was two shots ahead of Koepka – who played bogey-free – Webb Simpson, Paul Casey and Daniel Berger, who made eagle on the final hole.

Spieth was among five players at 67 that included two other top seeds, Justin Thomas (No. 2) and Jon Rahm (No. 5). Rahm made eagle on the par-5 sixth, and he nearly ended his round with another eagle.

For Spieth, it was a struggle.

He spent most of the week trying to eliminate the right side of the golf course and thought he had that ironed out. And then he pulled his opening tee shot Thursday and was happy just to reach the green on East Lake’s toughest hole for par. He hit a sharp draw on the par-3 11th, turning and swinging his club in disgust as it bounded down a hill. He turned to his caddie and said, “We might have to hit a provisional,” fearing the ball would leave the property.

Instead, he took two shots to reach the green, the second a daring flop from the Bermuda rough to a pin that ran away from him. He hit that to 2 feet for bogey.

That was the last of his blunders. He settled in with three straight birdies and a tough par from the bunker on the par-3 ninth, and then couldn’t make a putt. Spieth missed four birdie chances inside 12 feet on the back nine.

“I get done and look back and I’m surprised we’re at 3 under,” he said. “I felt like it was really a grind out there, and it’s just because the first four, five holes of the round, I was all over the place tee-to-green. And then my whole back nine, I had a chance to birdie all but one of the holes and only made one of them.”

The good starts by Spieth, Thomas and Rahm are not helpful for most of the players around them. Koepka is the No. 9 seed, with Casey at No. 10, so they would need the top seeds to stumble over the next three days.

Dustin Johnson, the No. 3 seed, is not out of the picture after his bogey-free round. His problem was that he made only two birdies, the first one on the par-3 11th hole and the other with a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th. He had a 68.

Marc Leishman, at No. 4 coming off his victory in the BMW Championship last week, opened with a 71.

Canada’s Adam Hadwin is the lone Canadian in the field. He also had a 71.

OTTAWA – So there’s good news and there’s bad news, golf fans: the good news is that watching golf can significantly improve your health and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke or diabetes.

The bad news: watching it on TV doesn’t count.

But let’s be honest – if your idea of watching golf involves spending the better part of a weekend couch-bound with a bowl of salty snacks and a high-definition big screen, you already know you’re missing out on the magic of being there to see the game played at the highest level up close.

So, if you were looking for an excuse to head to New Jersey for next week’s biennial Presidents Cup matches, now you have one.

Turns out attending a golf tournament in person can be almost as beneficial to one’s health as playing the game itself, says a new study from the University of Edinburgh, that august Scottish campus just 90 minutes around the Firth of Forth from the cradle of the game in St. Andrews.

The study, billed as the first to assess the physical activity of tournament spectators, found that nearly 83 per cent of participants exceeded the recommended daily step-count levels, taking on average some 11,589 steps over a day spent watching the on-course action in person.

“Walking is one of the best things you can do for your health, adding years to life and increasing health and happiness,” said Dr. Andrew Murray, the researcher from the school’s Physical Activity for Health Research Centre who authored the study.

“These pilot findings show golf spectators can experience physical activity to benefit their health while watching a top-quality sport at close quarters. This could have huge implications on event attendance and encouraging more people to attend a professional event or begin playing the sport.”

With the help of the Golf and Health Project, a grow-the-game initiative spearheaded by the World Golf Federation, Murray gathered his data at Scotland’s Gleneagles resort during the 2014 Ryder Cup, easily one of the most compelling events on the global pro golf calendar.

For the uninitiated, the Ryder Cup and its opposite-year cousin, the Presidents Cup, are three-day team events between 12-player squads that take place every two years, comprising three days of match-play battles that culminate in 12 marquee singles matches on the final day.

It’s the ultimate test for a true golf fan, with action critical to the outcome taking place throughout all 18 holes. What’s more, there’s no parking one’s backside in a folding chair or grandstand at the 18th green – key matches often end well before the final hole.

And here’s the kicker: The Presidents Cup – complete with Adam Hadwin, Canada’s top golfer and all-around good dude, on the International team – gets underway next week at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J., across the Hudson River from the island of Manhattan.

Hadwin, whose first PGA Tour win came in March at the Valspar Championship, finished in a tie for 13th earlier this month at the Dell Technologies Championship, locking up a spot on the team he’d been coveting from the beginning.

“It never really left my mind this year,” he said of playing in the Presidents Cup.

Liberty National, in case you’re wondering – and by now you should be – is an eight-hour drive from Toronto, and six hours due south of Montreal. Single-day tickets are still available for US$115 each for competition days, and US$50 for practice days. A full week’s pass runs US$500.

There is, of course, one catch.

“Our study shows that the vast majority of spectators did spend at least some time walking the course,” Murray said in an email. “The health benefits would not apply to the small number that sit in one location all the time.”

Murray recommends taking the full measure of the golf course for a better grasp of the tournament’s ebb and flow: “You’ll get health benefits and also see all of the course that the players are up against.”

The Golf and Health Project aims to grow the game by promoting the many virtues of playing and watching what it calls a “holistic” sport – one that can help mitigate countless ills, from diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular problems to depression and self-esteem – and promoting its growth among young people.

It cites one Swedish study that found golfers, particularly those who walk the course, typically live up to five years longer than non-golfers, thanks to the fact that the game can generate sustained levels of moderate physical activity, contrary to its cigars-and-scotch image.

“Regular physical activity is one of the best presents we can give our children, making them on average healthier and happier,” Murray said.

“It’s also a great opportunity for family time and fresh air, which we also know are key determinants of wellness, from a public health perspective.”

Want to support a Canadian event? Tickets for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club are already available. Details available at www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

Related:

Golfers live longer

OTTAWA — A well-accomplished field of competitors will take to The Marshes Golf Club from Sept. 24-29 for the fourth annual World Junior Girls Championship. In total, 60 athletes will represent 19 countries – including two teams from host nation Canada.

“With our partners, we are proud to offer a world-class event for girls of this age group, where there are fewer opportunities for international competitions,” said tournament director Mary Beth McKenna. “These girls are some of the best juniors in the world and we are thrilled to host them in a tournament where they can continue their growth and development.”

This year’s field is highlighted by 11 competitors ranked inside the World Golf Amateur Rankings (WAGR) top 100. Among them are the tournament’s top two ranked players from Sweden: Amanda Linnér (No. 18) and Beatrice Wallin (No. 38). The pair will be joined by teammate Linn Grant (No. 84) — who was a member of the silver (2014) and bronze (2015) World Junior Girls Championship team medal winners. Both Linnér and Grant will make their second appearances at the championship.

In 2017, Linnér captured the ANNIKA Invitational Europe and France International U21 (Esmond Trophy), while also placing second at the ANNIKA Invitational USA. Wallin earned a second place finish at the France International U21 (Esmond Trophy) and Grant picked up wins at the Helen Holm Scottish Open Stroke Play Championship and German Girls Open.

The 2017 installment of the event will see numerous players return as 18 members of the field have played in at least one World Junior Girls Championship, including both the 2016 silver medallist Jennifer Chang (USA) and bronze medallist Caterina Don (Italy), who look to become the first repeat medallists in tournament history.

Led by the 91st ranked Chang, the American team will aim for another strong performance following last year’s third place result. Team USA will also feature 2017 U.S. Girls Champion Erica Shepherd (No. 162) and Gina Kim (No. 75).

While the Italian team does boast the defending individual bronze medallist, it could be another member who steals the show. Alessia Nobilio, who participated in the 2016 World Junior Girls Championship, comes into the tournament as the third-highest ranked player at No. 41 after a 2017 season that saw her win the International Juniors of Belgium and France International  – Cecile de Rothschild Trophy. In addition, she and teammate Caterina Don (No. 127), won the Italian U18 Team Championship. Don also picked up individual honours with a win at the Italian Girls U18 National Championship. The two World Junior Girls Championship veterans will be joined by newcomer Alessandra Fanali, who currently ranks 112th in the WAGR.

In 2016, the Philippines captured the title by a nine-stroke margin on the strength of gold medallist Yuka Saso, who was the lone player to finish the tournament under par. This year, the defending champions will be paced by Harmie Nicole Constantino (No. 305), who won the Philippine Amateur Open. She will be joined by teammates Junia Louise Gabasa and Kristine Torrabla.

With all of the returning teams and players, the World Junior Girls Championship is also pleased to welcome two teams that will be making their debut in 2017, Chinese Taipei and Switzerland. Chinese Taipei will send Kuan-Yu Lin (No. 1096), Hui-Wen Chiu (No. 943) and Jo-Hua Hung (No. 379). The Swiss will feature Victoria Monod (No. 612), Elena Moosmann (No. 85) and Chiara Tamburlini (No. 376).

The strong international field will join the six players chosen to represent Canada. Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont.) and Céleste Dao (Notre-Dame Ile Perrot, Que.) will form Canada One, while Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Maple, Ont.), Euna Han (Coquitlam, B.C.) and Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, Ont.) will make up Canada Two.

In addition to the four-round, 72-hole team and individual event, the World Junior Girls Championship will celebrate the game of golf and promote the development of junior girls golf. There will be a PGA of Canada coaching summit and Future Champions Clinic on Sept. 24. The opening ceremonies take place on Sept. 25 before the first round of competition on Sept. 26. Closing ceremonies will take place on Sept. 29 immediately following play.

Admission to the competition is free. Additional information regarding the fourth annual World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the competition’s website.

Golf Town, the official retailer of the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program, has adopted 93 elementary schools in support of the second annual Adopt a School Week.

In total, Golf Town’s donation is valued at over $44,000, a number that further reinforces their commitment to the future of Canadian junior golf since joining as a program sponsor in August. The 93 adoptions were made possible through a fundraising initiative at Golf Town stores across Canada, giving customers the opportunity to donate towards the adoption of a school in their local area.

“To have been able to partner with Golf Canada on an initiative we feel strongly about and then also have success with, is rewarding for us and something we are very proud of. There is a need and desire to grow the game, and we are so thrilled we were able to bring that to life in our stores so we can do our part in inspiring kids to pick up a club and learn about the game we all love,” said Chad McKinnon, President of Golf Town Ltd. “The Golf in Schools initiative allowed us to bring our associates and customers together to make this possible. We sincerely thank our associates and our generous customers for believing in this initiative and making it a success.”

The Kitchener, Ont. and South Edmonton store locations raised the highest totals, each with enough to adopt six schools in their communities.

As of September, there are currently 2,856 schools registered in the elementary program — translating to 28 per cent of total elementary schools in the country.

“Golf Town’s engagement with the Golf in Schools program has been incredible,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “Through the involvement of all of their retail outlets they have been able to provide significant growth for the Golf in Schools program from coast-to-coast. Thanks to their partnership, we are one step closer to having the Golf in Schools program in every school in Canada.”

Following Adopt a School Week, Golf Canada will be announcing all elementary, intermediate and high school adoptions conducted in 2017.

Find out more or adopt a school in your community at golfcanada.ca/adoptaschool

The indomitable spirit will be par for the course at the 2017 Invictus Games.

In the dark of night, at 9:33 p.m. on Oct. 2, 1994, a high-powered sniper bullet was fired from an enemy-held position in the Bosnia and Herzegovina town of Ilijas. It travelled some 800 metres and pierced the armoured vehicle in which Canadian Forces warrant officer Tom Martineau was riding. The bullet ripped through Martineau’s left triceps and ricocheted through his internal organs, splitting his left kidney, detaching his spleen and fracturing his thoracic 12 vertebrae, immediately paralyzing him from the waist down.

“I knew right then and there that this was going to affect my golf swing,” muses the resident of Kingston, Ont., who turns 57 in June.

One of Team Canada’s estimated 12 golf participants at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto this September, Martineau can joke about it now. But the physical injuries for wounded warriors often pale in comparison to the psychological demons that accompany them. Martineau, who fell victim to drugs and alcohol addiction in the aftermath of his injury, contemplated suicide on more than one occasion.

“I had a loaded rifle in my mouth,” he recalls. “For whatever reason, the thought occurred to me: ‘Who will look after my dog?’”

Martineau withdrew his weapon and began the journey back into the light — an arduous road shared by military veterans the world over as they learn to keep those demons at bay and reintegrate into society.

Double amputee Bernie Broad from Team UK is more than a match for most players (photo: Terry D. Cuffel)

For many, sports have provided an opportunity to find renewed focus and purpose. Nowhere is that more evident than the Warrior Games, a U.S.-based multi-sport event originated in 2010 for seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans. The 2013 edition in Colorado was officially opened by Prince Harry, who was a captain and helicopter pilot in the British Army at the time. Inspired by the efforts of participants in the international Paralympics-style event, the prince was motivated to launch an expanded international version in 2014 — the Invictus Games.

Latin for “unconquered,” this year’s Invictus Games will feature 550 competitors from 17 allied nations and will debut golf among its dozen adaptive sports. Five-time Canadian Open host St. George’s Golf and Country Club will provide the venue for the one-day golf competition on September 26 that is expected to field around 60 competitors. Offering free entry for all spectators, the low-net event will employ the points-based Stableford scoring system, including a double-bogey maximum to assist with pace of play. Ground rules will also be implemented to address severe bunkers and other hazards for players with limited mobility.

“When (the Invictus organizers) said they’d like to have the golf event at St. George’s, I thought, ‘Well yeah, who wouldn’t?’ says Jim Clark, chair of the golf competition’s organizing committee. “But after we met with general manager Jason Clarke, the St. George’s board’s vote was a unanimous yes. And then they asked, ‘What else can we do to make it better?’”

Clark, who has served as chairman of the RBC Canadian Open since 2002 and of the 2015 Pan Am Games golf competition, is experiencing a lot of that type of support in preparation for golf’s launch at Invictus.

“We needed 60 volunteers, but were quickly oversubscribed,” he explains. “I’ve never seen anything like it. We’ve had to turn away more than 100 of these amazing, experienced Canadian Open volunteers.”

The royal, red-haired gentleman who will be handing out the medals on the 18th green is also worthy of mention.

“These Games have shone a spotlight on the unconquerable character of servicemen and women, their families and the invictus spirit,” says Prince Harry.

Karyne Gélinas, a 37-year-old Moncton native and Country Meadows GC member, is another Canadian hopeful. She suffered a lower back injury in a 1998 car accident, and after it was re-aggravated, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) captain was forced to retire from her air traffic controller role last fall. Now she’s training 10 to 12 hours weekly to hopefully walk all 18 holes at St. George’s.

“Invictus has given me a new purpose,” notes Gélinas, a multi-sport competitive athlete prior to her injury. “It has been an amazing experience and I’ve met incredible people. But honestly, it will be great to represent our country and wear the Canadian flag again.”

“You’re willing to give your life for each other so there’s a sense of failure when you’re removed from that equation,” adds Martineau, who now helps fellow service vets navigate the road to physical and emotional recovery with the Department of National Defence’s Operational Stress Injury Social Support services. “Some athletes on the team have never re-socialized. They’re being brought together as part of a team again. You cannot measure the positives of these Games that could be life altering.”

Martineau has recovered to the point that he can now stand on his own two feet, play to a 12 handicap and pummel drives nearly 240 yards at his home course — albeit never knowing if his left leg might buckle. It’s a long way from being wheelchair-bound for three years after the shooting.

Martineau, who will also be competing in wheelchair basketball at the Games, espouses the virtues of the Soldier On program — a CAF initiative that helps currently serving veterans and members overcome illness or injury through physical activity — as well as its support for those competing at the Invictus Games.

“But’s not about the medals,” he assures. “It’s the individual journey.”

To find out more information about the event or tickets, visit invictusgames2017.com

This article was originally published in the Summer Issue edition of Golf Canada Magazine. Click here to view the full magazine

RICHMOND, B.C. — Marc-Etienne Bussieres parlayed an incredible final nine holes at Richmond Country Club into a win at the PGA Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.

Bussieres closed with a final-round 6-under-par 66 Thursday, making an eagle and three birdies over the final nine holes to chase down and eventually pass his good friend Sonny Michaud.

Heading into the final round, Michaud held a commanding five-shot lead over the PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player. Bussieres knew, however, a solid round of Wednesday could give him the opportunity to hoist the championship trophy at day’s end.

“With conditions being a little windier and firmer today, I knew it wouldn’t be easy out there, so if I put together a really good round I could still catch Sonny,” said Bussieres. “I made that eagle on No. 10 and that gave me a little fire and after the birdie on 15 I just had a feeling I had it because I was just hitting it so well.”

For what seemed like miles and miles worth of made putts over the first two days for Michaud, his wand went cold Wednesday in Richmond en route to a final round even par 72.

“It’s tough trying to win wire-to-wire because if you’re behind there’s no pressure, you just play golf,” admitted Michaud. “I don’t feel like I lost this championship, rather Marc actually won it. But I do wish I was holding the trophy right now and there’s a sour taste in my mouth.”

Playing in his first career PGA of Canada national championship, Cory Renfrew finished alone in the third spot, three shots back at -12. Also playing in his first national championship as a PGA of Canada member, Dillon Bastel locked up the fourth spot at -11.

Pierre-Alexandre Bedard, Nate Ollis and two-time PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Mike Belbin rounded out the top five at 10-under-par.

For the full-time PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf leaderboard, click here.

With the win in Richmond, Bussieres solidified his place atop the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC.

“I’ve been calculating the rankings points and I knew that if I played well this week it would pretty much secure my spot for next year’s RBC Canadian Open,” said Bussieres. “Now with this win, it’s going to be hard for anyone to catch me at the top, so I can start preparing now. I definitely want to put on a good show and represent the PGA of Canada well.”

Originally launched in 2011, the PGA of Canada Player Rankings presented by RBC and has received much praise over the past six years.

Players ranked inside the top 64 earn invites to the PGA Championship of Canada. The player who is ranked No. 1 at the conclusion of the championship earns an exemption into the RBC Canadian Open.

The Mike Weir Player of the Year Award is also based on points earned throughout the calendar year. Players gain these points based on performance at national and zone tournaments.

Bussieres earned the Mike Weir Player of the Year Award honours in 2016 after capturing the PGA Championship of Canada at Victoria Golf Club.

The Quebec squad (Bussieres, Bedard, Michaud and Jean-Philip Cornellier) won the 36-hole Inter-Zone competition Tuesday (which is compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds) by an astounding 28 shots.

The next PGA of Canada national championship takes place Oct. 12-14 at Cabot Links for the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada.

In celebration of the second annual Adopt a School Week, Acura has extended their commitment to Canadian junior golf by adopting 10 schools into the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program.

“We understand the importance of early education and exposure to sport, that’s why Acura is delighted to support various youth initiatives across Canada. Offering schools the opportunity and resources to teach young students the game through the Golf in Schools program will help to grow the love of golf from the ground up,” said Gary Gill, Senior Manager, Acura Sales and Marketing.

In total, Acura has adopted six high schools and four intermediate schools from the communities of their zone offices.

“Having Acura step up to adopt intermediate and high schools is significant,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “These two tiers of the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program are relatively new and thus we don’t have the same level of awareness about these programs. Being able to offer the program to 10 schools will go a long way in allowing students to experience our great sport while learning valuable life skills.”

Through their continued support, Acura will be providing communities across Canada with the entire program kit, which features safe, age-appropriate equipment along with a teacher-friendly learning resource to assist in the delivery of the curriculum.

“The intermediate and high school programs are slightly more expensive due to the type of equipment that is provided to schools so having adoptions specifically targeted at these schools is very meaningful,” added Thompson.

From Sept. 18-22, Golf Canada will be celebrating all those who donate towards a Golf in Schools kit this year during Adopt a School Week. Learn how you can help by visiting

golfcanada.ca/adoptaschool

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – The Symetra Tour, the official qualifying Tour for the LPGA, will broadcast the final-round of the Symetra Tour Championship on Sunday, October 8 to a worldwide audience on Facebook Live. The broadcast will originate on the LPGA Tour’s Facebook page.

The broadcast will begin at 1:00 p.m. and run through the conclusion of the tournament and the card ceremony, where ten players will become LPGA members.

The Symetra Tour Championship, which will be contested at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, is the final event of the 2017 season. Following the conclusion of play, the top ten on the Volvik Race for the Card money list will receive their LPGA Tour cards for 2018.

This is the second time ever that the Tour has broadcast live golf on Facebook Live. The final-round of the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic to open the season was also broadcast on Facebook Live. Between the two Facebook feeds, there were more than 60,000 views.

“Facebook is a great platform for the Symetra Tour because it allows us to showcase our global talent to people in the United States and around the world,” said Chief Business Officer Mike Nichols. “Our first Facebook Live attempt was a success and a good launching point, but we’ve really invested in this second attempt and believe that people will really enjoy this. Figuring out how to do this more frequently in 2018 is a priority.”

The broadcast will cover holes 14 through 18 on Sunday, October 8 with a full scale production truck and crew on site.

The broadcast will be produced by Ohlmeyer Kusserow Group, which is led by Executive Producer/Managing Editor Chris Ohlmeyer, who has over 25 years experience in the television industry. Ohlmeyer produced all of ESPN’s LPGA coverage from 1998-2009 and also produced the Ricoh Women’s British Open from 2006-2013. Furthermore, he produced the Kraft Nabisco Championship, now the ANA Inspiration, from 2006-2010.

The all-female announce team will be led by LPGA.com Managing Editor Amy Rogers, who hosted the first broadcast. Prior to joining the LPGA, Rogers was a reporter at WESH in Orlando. She also was a host and feature reporter of the Emmy Award winning show “ONE” on WUCF-TV in Orlando. She began her broadcast career as a sports anchor and reporter at WRNN/Fios 1 in New York City. Two-time LPGA winner Gail Graham, who freelances for Golf Channel, will serve as the analyst. Graham served as the on-course reporter at numerous LPGA events in 2017 and also both played and was the on-course reporter at the Senior LPGA Championship. Graham has also spent time around the Symetra Tour while playing in the joint Symetra Tour/Legends Tour events over the years. She also serves as a mentor to Symetra Tour professional Megan Osland.

“I am excited to be part of the broadcast team for the Symetra Tour Championship,” said Graham. “The event is the culmination of an exciting year and with ten LPGA cards on the line, I am sure we will see some great play. The Symetra Tour has produced some of the LPGA’s young stars and as a former LPGA player, I think it is great that the broadcast of this event will give fans the chance to meet the next stars before they reach the LPGA.”

The Symetra Tour will likely add a third member of the broadcast team at a later date.

Even though Sonny Michaud had to work a little harder Tuesday at Richmond Country Club than he did the day the before, his second-round result at the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf was more of the same.

The 28-year-old from Club de Golf La Tempete in Quebec shot a second-round 5-under-par 67, bringing his two-day total to -14. He has opened up a three-shot lead over his good friend and fellow Quebecer, Pierre-Alexandre Bedard.

“It was a bit of a roller coaster today,” Michaud said about his second-round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys. “I right away started with two birdies and then immediately made two bogeys right after that. But during the middle of the round, I had a nice little birdie stretch and that helped me out.”

Michaud and Bedard will be joined in Thursday’s final threesome by their Quebec teammate Marc-Etienne Bussieres, the PGA of Canada’s No. 1-ranked player, who sits at 9-under for the championship.

Two-time PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada winner Mike Belbin is six shots back at 8-under-par, with Victoria’s Eric Wang seven-shots back at 7-under-par. Cory Renfrew, Dillon Bastel and last year’s champion Dustin Risdon are at 6-under-par, T6.

For the full leaderboard and Wednesday’s third round tee times, click here

The Quebec squad (Bussieres, Bedard, Michaud and Jean-Philip Cornellier) won the 36-hole Inter-Zone competition Tuesday (which is compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds) by an astounding 28 shots.

Both Michaud and Bedard said they were looking forward to playing together in the final group Thursday in Richmond.

“It’s going to be our first final pairing tomorrow and I can’t wait for it,” Michaud said. “Of course I’m going to try and win, and he’ll try and beat me as well, but in the end I just want one of us to win.”

Not only are Michaud and Bedard roommates this week in Richmond, they’re also full-time roomies back in Quebec City.

“We’ll both want to win that’s for sure,” Bedard admitted. “But whoever makes the most birdies tomorrow will end up winning.”

The 54-hole national championship takes place through Wednesday at the A.V. Macan-designed Richmond Country Club. Set within the greenbelt of the agricultural land reserve, the venue is known for its tree-lined fairways, well-positioned bunkers, and raised, undulating greens.