VINS, Utah — Adam Svensson made a 35-foot eagle putt he thought he had missed and closed with a birdie from the bunker for a career-best 11-under 60, giving him a two-shot lead Thursday in the Black Desert Championship as the PGA Tour returned to Utah for the first time in 61 years.

Black Desert Resort had a gorgeous day to make its debut with a Tom Weiskopf design cut through an ancient field of black lava and surrounded by the red rock mountains some 30 miles from Zion National Park.

Svensson and so many others made short work of the course in ideal scoring conditions.

Henrik Norlander hit all 14 fairways and all 18 greens in posting his career-low of 62. He was joined by Korn Ferry Tour grad Matt McCarty, who had an eagle on the reachable par-4 fifth.

And then Svensson, from Surrey, B.C., came through in the afternoon and made seven birdies through 10 holes before he finished with a flourish. 

The Canadian chose to lay up on the fifth — reachable par 4s are a signature of the late Weiskopf in his golf course designs — and made an 8-footer. Then came his 35-foot eagle on the par-5 seventh to move into the lead.

“I thought it was going to go left and it went right and went in,” Svensson said. “You’ve got to get a little bit lucky here and there. But overall I played very well.”

He saved par from 8 feet on the par-3 eighth and then got up-and-down from a bunker by making a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 ninth.

“It’s just one of those rounds where everything just comes together,” Svensson said.

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It was the second straight week during the FedEx Cup Fall portion of the PGA Tour that a player shot 60. David Skinns missed a 10-foot putt for a chance at 59 in the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Svensson would have needed an eagle on his final hole for a sub-60 round, but found a bunker. He wasn’t even aware a 59 was in play because he thought Black Desert Resort was a par 72.

“I didn’t even think about it, really,” he said.

Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., was tied for 16th after a 5-under 66, Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., was tied for 42nd at 3 under, and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was tied for 62nd after shooting 69.

The opening round could not finish before darkness in southwestern Utah. Among those who didn’t finish was 65-year-old Jay Don Blake, the Utah native and one-time PGA Tour winner given an exemption to play in his 500th career PGA Tour event.

Blake grew up about a half-mile away from the resort when it was just an ancient lava field. He was 3-over par through 15 holes.

Norlander couldn’t have asked for much more. He hit all 14 fairways and every green in posting his best round on the PGA Tour.

“I think everybody out on this tour when they play well, every course is going to be fine for them, and vice versa,” Norlander said. “I really like it here. It’s a fun course, a lot of opportunities, but you’ve got to hit good shots because the greens are somewhat severe, and you’ve got to get it in the right portions to play well.”

McCarty started his year on the Korn Ferry Tour and won three times, earning an instant promotion to the PGA Tour. He had to wait until the FedEx Cup Fall to get started, and this is his second tournament.

Kevin Streelman had a 64, while the group at 65 included Ben Kohles, who had a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, which was playing 130 yards with a front pin and a backstop. Several other players came within inches of an ace.

Others at 65 from the early side of the draw included Houston Open winner Stephen Jaeger and Harry Hall, who won the ISCO Championship in Kentucky. That win didn’t get Hall into the Masters because it was held the same week as the Scottish Open.

The Black Desert Championship comes with a Masters invitation. Most of the focus this time of the year is on finishing in the top 125 to retain a full PGA Tour card for 2025.

The full leaderboard is available here.

The team comprised of PGA of Canada professional Devon Schade and amateurs Ethan Hunter, Kayle Tosh, William Middleton and Tanner Chamberlin, who originally qualified from Larters at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in Manitoba, were dominant the past three days at Cabot Cape Breton, firing net -64.1 (gross rounds of 58-55-56) to win by 4.1 strokes over the team from Niagara National Golf Club at the RBC PGA Scramble National Final.

With the win, the full team wins special Cabot Cape Breton RBC PGA Scramble headcovers produced by Dormie, as well as a trip to the 2025 RBC Canadian Open at TPC Toronto.

The runner-up was the team from Niagara National Golf & Country Club which included PGA of Canada professional Keaton Jones and amateurs Ryan Nagy, Mike Formica, Shane Belanger and Mike Maloney, while the team from Pinegrove Country Club featuring PGA of Canada professional Louis-Alexandre Pitre and amateurs Luc Guevremont, Laurence Guevremont, Amelia Guevremont and Charles Guevremont rounded out the top 3.

For the second-straight day, the roar of a team who made an ace could be heard across the property. Darcy Myers made an ace on the 7^th hole of the Links, joining Jason Sikrtanc who aced the 12^th hole on the Cliffs on Monday.

In total, the 2024 RBC PGA Scramble featured over 12,000 players from across the country looking to earn a spot at Cabot Cape Breton at over 180 local qualifiers hosted by PGA of Canada professionals. The tournament also set a record with over 1,200 women participants.

If you are a PGA of Canada professional interested in hosting a local qualifier next season, email RBC PGA Scramble Manager Wayne MacPhee at Wayne@PGAofCanada.com.

2025 RBC PGA Scramble qualifying information will be available in the coming months.

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.

Dave Champion-Taylor, Windsor Park Golf Course, Hole #6

It was on the sixth hole where the tee box is actually off a mat! I was golfing with two workmates that morning before work. Neil Teitsma and Travis Kondratuk witnessed me hit it pretty thin with my pitching wedge off that carpet. I was using a yellow TaylorMade ball and while it was in the air Neil said, “That’s a good shot!” When it landed it hit pretty hard off the lip of the green moving pretty quick from left to right. When it started rolling we knew it had a chance and sure enough, “plunk!” The hole was playing 137 yards that day and I happened to have forgotten my golf shoes so I was playing in flip flops! I had also decided that day I was only going to use a 5 iron, pitching wedge and a putter which I mostly stuck to besides trying Travis’ new driver a couple of times. In the end, a pretty great day and ended up shooting 77 on this relatively easy and short course. To top it off, that day was my 27th wedding anniversary, what a day! I went in the pro shop at Windsor after the round and told the guys at the counter and they gave me a little bag tag/medal thing to remember the occasion.

Richard Losier, Fox Creek Golf Club, Hole #2

I was playing with two friends Dan Fougère and Michel Allain. The yardage was 150 yards. I used my 8 iron.

Joanne Shinwell, Bear Mountain Golf Course, Hole #14

After over 20 years of golfing I finally got a hole-in-one on hole #14 of Bear Mountain – Valley course. I was with my two golf mates from Cedar Brae Golf Course in Toronto, Katherine Dilk and Elaine Houghton. We played the forward tees and the flag was approximately 70 yards away. I used a sand wedge off the tee. The ball took one bounce over the bunker and in the hole.

Ryan Bennett, Country Hills Golf Club, Hole #10

160 yards. 9 iron. Landed it about five feet behind the hole and rolled it back for the ace. It was my first one so I was ecstatic. You can see the divot in the photo. In the group was Aaron Lane (Country Hills member), Stacey Barnes and Kaila Lewis. Aaron signed the score card and authenticated my hole-in-one.

Doug Bunting, Baxter Creek Golf Club, Hole #4

I was playing with my better ball partner, Steve Van Dyk along with Eric Henderson and his partner Dean Weber. The yardage was 162 uphill into the wind, flushed a nice two yard draw 7 iron and it was tracking the entire way and disappeared into the front of the cup! This is my fourth hole-in-one in my life and the feeling never gets old.

David Ma, Silver Lakes Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

I played with my brother-in-law Ricky Mehra, a friend Vito Sorrento and Peter Sorrento. It was the seventh hole and I lasered the yardage at 157. I used my 7 iron and when I struck it, I initially thought it was going a little right. When I looked up, it was dead straight at the pin. No draw, no fade. It landed about 10 feet short and disappeared into the hole. It was a perfect fall afternoon and this just made my day. We celebrated again at the halfway house with some drinks for my guys.

James Elding, Edmonton Petroleum Golf & Country Club, Hole #8

I was playing with three other members of the club. The yardage was 172 and I used my 7 iron. I am a left handed golfer. The pin was front right tucked behind a green side bunker. This means I needed to draw the ball left to right to avoid the sand bunker. I had a pure strike high sweeping draw. The ball landed five feet from the hole and rolled in. What was particularly exciting is that I had an albatross the round before, so the hole-in-one was a nice way to cap off the year.

Catherine Chadsey, Princeton Golf Club, Hole #11

I was last up on our group foursome. We play together each Monday and Friday and have, (with the exception of Brian Burkholder, new to our group this season), for the past five years. Hole #11 is a beautiful elevated 139 yard, par 3. Looking down to the green and watching the forward flag to determine what the wind may do, as it always seems to be a factor, I decided to use my 3 wood. My ball carried to about a yard on front of the green and rolled, moving to the right and following the break, fell into the hole. What a thrill and more so as I was playing with the boys, Dale, my husband, Rae Langille and Brian Burkholder all cheered and congratulated me. Lots to talk about in the clubhouse restaurant over pizza and beers when we finished.

Jayson Sunga, Piper’s Heath Golf Club, Hole #16

Shot was 134 yards, front pin and used a pitching wedge. Played with a Piper’s Heath member, Ron Silvano, his wife and another good friend.

The 15th edition of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event wrapped up today in Mississauga after 30 of the top Canadian junior golfers showcased their skills in one of Golf Canada’s signature junior events. The event took place at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club which also played host to the World Junior Girls Golf Championship from September 30 – October 5.

The National Event culminates a year-long program consisting of 92 qualifying events across Canada and 1,600 participants who competed at the local level. 

In partnership with Cobra-Puma Golf and the PGA of Canada, participants went head-to-head in a three-part (putting, chipping, and driving) competition:

Driving: each competitor received three drives with points awarded for distance and aim of the drive.  

Chipping: each competitor received three shots for chipping with points awarded on distance of the chip from the target.

Putting: each competitor received one putt from each distance of 5, 10, and 20 feet with points awarded for holing the putt and proximity to the hole.

The winners for each division of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event received a brand-new putter courtesy of Cobra-Puma Golf.

Below are the winners in each of the age groups: 

Girls 7 to 9:

Four participants competed including Myra Raycroft, Sierra Storey, Brooke Sundquist, and Annabel Zhao.

Zhao of Richmond, B.C. captured the title with a final score of 195 (45 points from driving, 80 points from chipping, 70 points from putting), with the top chipping score across all Girls divisions.

Boys 7 to 9:  

Three participants competed including Albert Cui, Gianni D’Ambrosio, and Owen Durkin.

In his second time qualifying for the National Event, Gianni D’Ambrosio was able to capture the title, with a final score of 170 (60 points from driving, 40 points from chipping, and 70 points from putting).

Girls 10 to 11: 

Four participants competed including Keira Chin, Emily Joy, Soleil Lindholm, and Angela Qi.

It was a close competition, but Lindholm of Toronto, Ont. pulled away with a final score of 180 (75 points from driving, 35 points from chipping, and 70 points from putting).

Boys 10 to 11:

Competing in the division included Nicholas Gallo, Lennon Goyette, Noah Olver, and Benjamin Vandolder.

Goyette of Bathurst, N.B. was a stand-out competitor with an impressive final score of 270 (80 points from driving, 80 points from chipping, and 110 points from putting), and tied Kaitlyn Joy (Girls 12 to 13) with the top putting score of the day across all age divisions.

Girls 12 to 13: 

Four participants competed in the division including Kaitlyn Joy, Riviera Lindholm, Kate Yang, and Shannon Zhang.

Joy of Calgary, Alta. led the division with a notable final score of 255 (90 points from driving, 55 points from chipping, and 110 points from putting), and tied Goyette (Boys 10 to 11) for the top putting score of the day across all age divisions.

Boys 12 to 13: 

Competing in the division included Hunter Burke, Spencer Forsyth, William Henry, and Jagger Shi.

Burke of Charlottetown, P.E.I. dominated in his division, earning first place with a final score of 245 (75 points from driving, 80 points from chipping, and 90 points from putting).

Girls 14 to 15: 

Tristyn Anderson, Aliyah Hull, Ceilidh Spare, and Addyson Tatlonghari participated in the division.

Hull of Chestermere, Alta. captured the title for the second year in a row, with a score of 200 (30 points from driving, 70 points from chipping, and 100 points from putting).

Boys 14 to 15: 

Three participants competed in the division including Luke Deplaedt, Kai Kriekle, and Tommy Xu.

Kriekle of Regina, Sask. took home the title with a score of 215 (75 points from driving, 50 points from chipping, and 90 points from putting).

On Sunday, October 6, Junior Skills Challenge National Event participants will also play Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, Ont. in an exciting match play format, outfitted by program sponsor COBRA PUMA Golf.

For more information on the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

Soomin Oh shoots four consecutive rounds in the 60’s to win individual competition and an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open

Mississauga, Ont. – The Republic of Korea won the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship for the third time in tournament history, beating Team Canada 1 on a tiebreaker at the Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. on Saturday.

The Republic of Korea (Korea) entered the day two shots back of Team Canada and at one point trailed the defending champions by six shots during the final round. Coming down the stretch Canada had a one-shot lead with three to play. As the final group teed off on no.18 Canada and Korea were tied at 19-under.

Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. hit her second shot just behind the pin leaving a lengthy look at birdie while Soomin Oh from Korea hit her second shot closer than Deng but still faced a difficult putt. Both players went on to record pars keeping the score tied at 19-under. As per tournament tie breaking rules, the decider is the third non-counting score on the day. Sumin Hong’s score of 74 just beat Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. by two.

“I am very very proud of my girls. We had a tough day yesterday and today, but I told them to hang tight and with four holes left I said we start right now, and they did, and they made it, and I am very proud of them,” said Korea Coach Naon Min.

This marked the second consecutive year that Korea and Canada battled right to the very end, with Canada winning by one last year in Brampton, Ont.

“Two of my girls were here last year and last year was the opposite ending so they had that experience and that gave them a stronger mindset so that helped,” added Min.

Korea was led again by Oh, who shot a 3-under 69 on Saturday and Seojin Park who shot a 1-over 73. Canada’s scores on Saturday came from Deng and Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. who both shot even par rounds of 72.

Oh said that the experience from last year helped their team this year and their mindset for the tournament.

“Our team are all friends, and we cheer for each other and that makes me more comfortable, and the result was good.”

The win gives Korea’s it’s third team title, which is the most in the nine-year history of the world championship.

Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald was proud of how his team competed all week and when one player struggled, they bounced back the next day throughout the week.

“They were amazing all week, they played great today, they battled. Team Korea is a real strong team, and we knew that going in and our girls fought really hard and I’m just so happy for them and so proud for them, tough way to finish at the end but still a huge battle,” said MacDonald.

Team Canada 1 earned a podium finish for the second consecutive year and was a completely new team this year. MacDonald said it’s an exciting time in Canada with a lot of strong talent coming through the program.

“It just goes to show you the depth that we have within the program, two of these girls are 14 and one is 15 years old so I think we got a really bright future ahead. There are lots of girls on our NextGen program that are going to step up and do the same thing,” he said.

The United States shot a combined 2-under on Saturday to improve their total score to 9-under and took bronze medalist honours.

Team Canada 2 finished tied for 12th with Italy at 13-over. Team Canada 2 was represented by 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont., 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont.

The following are the final standings following the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

*Team Champions by way of Tie-Break

Click here for the final team leaderboard following the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Soomin Oh took the lead on Thursday and didn’t look back finishing with four consecutive rounds in the 60’s (69-68-68-69-274) to finish the tournament at -14 under.

“I actually started the tournament bogey, bogey on my first two holes but I hung on tight, and I finished strong, so I am very happy,” said Oh through her coach.

Oh finished eight shots ahead of Aphrodite Deng to earn an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. August 19 – 24, 2025. It will be the second appearance on the LPGA Tour in her young career having played the 2023 BMW Ladies Championship which is co-sanctioned by the LPGA of Korea Tour and the LPGA Tour.

Coach Min was very proud of Oh’s performance throughout the week, “Beautiful play. This year she’s been playing good and ranks number one in Korea. The first time I saw her was a year ago, but she’s been growing up and I’m expecting more for her future now,” said Min.

When asked if Oh could become one of the next great Korean women’s golfers, she did not hesitate.

“Yes, I am 100 per cent sure,” she said.

Deng finished second at 6-under following rounds of 67-75-68-72-282. Arianna Lau of Hong Kong, China finished third at 4-under with rounds of 70-70-72-72-284.

Click here for the final individual leaderboard following the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

This year marked the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 72 athletes comprising 24 teams and representing 23 countries competing for the team and individual titles.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea won both the 2015 team and individual championship at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and has earned several top five finishes on the LPGA Tour.

The 2025 World Junior Girls Golf Championship will be played at St. Catharines Golf and Country Club, in St. Catharines, Ont., September 15 – 20. The 2026 tournament will be held at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club in Gatineau, Que., September 28 – October 3, 2026.

Soomin Oh maintains individual lead following a second consecutive
68 on Friday

Mississauga, Ont. – The defending champions have taken the lead after 54 holes, as Team Canada 1 has pulled ahead of the Republic of Korea at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

Moving day lived up to its name as Team Canada 1 started the day four shots behind the Republic of Korea (Korea), but now leads by two with 18 holes remaining. Canada shot a collective 11-under to move to 19-under overall, with Korea shooting 5-under today to now sit at 17-under.

Canada was led by Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. who fired a 7-under 65 and Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. who shot a 4-under 68 to put Canada ahead by two.

Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald complimented his team’s strong start and just how much all three players have played well together.

“This whole week has been such a team effort, Clairey was so good yesterday to get us in this position today, so it’s great, every day it’s been a different combination of players counting. In an event like this if you can just get all three players going then that’s huge and I know tomorrow I got three players ready to go and they’re going to play great,” said MacDonald.

Liu recorded three birdies and two eagles to sit at 7-under on the day through nine. She said that she was able to hit fairways and greens where she wanted to and made some putts. Liu’s first eagle came on the 6th hole.

“I hit the drive close to the water. I had a little bit shorter than 190 in and had a hybrid in my hand and it’s a club I’m more confident in, so I was able to take a whack at the ball and it ended up pretty ok,” Liu said with a laugh. Pretty ok indeed as she sank an eight-foot putt for eagle. On the ninth hole, Liu drained a 35-footer for her second eagle.

Liu complemented her teammates for their togetherness over the first three days.

“I think we’re doing really well. We’re all working really well together. For example, on the first day, I didn’t play well but my teammates did, and they had my back, yesterday Aphrodite didn’t but we had her back and today Clairey didn’t but we had her back, so I feel that we’re working really well as a team and helping each other,” said Liu.

MacDonald added, “We start at zero tomorrow the most important part of this event is the team event and even if you have a tough day, you regroup and rebound and contribute tomorrow and any one of them can do it so they’re feeding off each other, they’re supporting each other and that’s the beauty of the event really.”

Another team that charged up the leaderboard on Friday was the United States who shot a collective 10-under to sit at 7-under for the tournament and moved up into third. Scarlett Schremmer from Birmingham, Ala. shot a 6-under 66 and Nikki Oh of Torrance, Calif. added a 4-under 68 to help the Americans gain ground on moving day. Coach Chris Zambri was happy his team was able to grab birdies on some non-par 5’s on the front.

“It was also good that we got through the first three or four holes without any bogeys from them because those are also tough holes to start with, so it was a great start to the round. They both played well on the back, Nikki ran into some trouble on 16 and 17 but both birded 18 which was awesome, so it was a good day and nice to feel like we’re in the mix a little bit,” he said.

Mexico sits alone in fourth at even par with Hong Kong, China in fifth at 1-over.

Team Canada 2 is currently tied for 13th with Belgium at 8-over. Team Canada 2 is represented by 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. (1-over 73) and 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (4-over 76) and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (6-over 78).

The following are the standings following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

Click here for the team leaderboard following the third round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Soomin Oh of Korea maintains her lead following a second consecutive round of 4-under 68 to move to 11-under for the tournament and holds a five-shot lead over Aphrodite Deng. Oh recorded four birdies in a bogey free round on Friday.

Five are tied for third with Alexis Lamadrid of Mexico, Arianna Lau of Hong Kong, China, Shauna Liu, Seojin Park of Korea and Scarlett Schremmer all at 4-under.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga from August 19 – 24, 2025.

Players, coaches and staff wore black ribbons on Friday in honour of the President of the Italian Golf Federation, Franco Chimenti who passed away on Thursday at the age of 85. Chimenti led the Italian Golf Federation for 22 years.

Teams Canada 1, Korea and the United States will play together during the final round. For final round tee times and groupings, please click here.

Click here for the individual leaderboard following the third round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

Soomin Oh takes individual lead by two after shooting 68 on Thursday

Mississauga, Ont. – The Republic of Korea maintains the team lead following two rounds at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

The Republic of Korea (Korea) were led by Soomin Oh who shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to move to 7-under following 36 holes and now leads the individual championship. Seojin Park shot a 2-under 70 to have her score count toward the team total. Park carded four birdies on her first nine, then ran into some trouble with four consecutive bogeys on her second nine before finishing with a birdie and an eagle on her last two holes. Teammate Sumin Hong shot a 1-over 73 on Thursday. The two lowest scores count towards the team’s combined score for the day. Korea combined to shoot 6-under to move to 12-under for the tournament and take a four-shot lead over Team Canada 1 heading into Friday’s third round.

“They played well but the only thing I didn’t like was in the middle of the round the wind picked up and they struggled but still they finished strong, and I tried to encourage them today,” said Korea Coach Naon Min. “Two more days, this is not the end. I will tell them to keep their focus individually and then the results will come.”

Defending champions, Team Canada 1 hold their place alone in second at 8-under. Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. fired a 3-under 69 to help lead her team on Thursday. Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. finished with an even par 72 to give Canada a 3-under combined round on the day. Teammate Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. shot a 3-over 75.

“They battled really hard, Clairey played really well, got off to a really good start and that was promising, the first six or seven holes there wasn’t much wind, so it was kind of gettable, but the Korean team was making a lot of birdies, so I knew we had to keep pace,” said Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald.

MacDonald added that moving from the valley to head back up top meant the players faced a tough test with swirling winds on the top five holes, as Canada 1 began their round on the back nine.

“It’s a good start, we’re in a good position, Korea finished strong to get four ahead, but anything can happen, it can switch so quickly. I remember last year going back and forth so just reminding them of that and just keep battling the whole time,” said MacDonald.

Hong Kong, China has moved into third at 4-under, Sweden sits in fourth at 3-under with Mexico and Italy tied for fifth at even par.

Team Canada 2 is currently tied for 10th with Chinese Taipei and the United States at 3-over. Team Canada 2 was led by 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. on Thursday (1-under 71) 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (2-over 74) and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (11-over 83).

The following are the standings following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

Click here for the team leaderboard following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Oh recorded two eagles and four birdies on her way to a 4-under 68 on Thursday. Oh is now at 7-under for the tournament and leads Ebba Lundqvist of Sweden by two. Lundqvist shot a 3-under 69 to move into second.

“Today I managed the par fives very well and hit tee shots very well and hit the greens with good positioning today,” said Oh through her coach.

Alexis Lamadrid of Mexico and Arianna Lau of Hong Kong, China are tied for third at 4-under. Clairey Lin and Seojin Park are tied for fifth at 3-under.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga from August 19 – 24, 2025.

Click here for the individual leaderboard following the second round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 72 athletes comprising 24 teams and representing 23 countries competing for the team and individual titles.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea won both the 2015 team and individual championship at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and has earned several top five finishes on the LPGA Tour.

Teams Korea, Canada 1 and Hong Kong, China will play together during Friday’s third round. For round tee times and groupings, please click here.

Canadian Aphrodite Deng holds individual lead following a 5-under 67
on Wednesday

Mississauga, Ont. – The Republic of Korea sits atop the team leaderboard by one-shot over Team Canada 1 following the opening round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

Sumin Hong and Soomin Oh both shot rounds of 3-under 69 to help lead the Republic of Korea (Korea) on Wednesday. Hong recorded four birdies before bogeying the 18th. Oh began her round with back-to-back bogeys but went on to record five birdies to help contribute to the team lead. Teammate Seojin Park shot a 1-under 71. The top two individual scores count towards the combined team score each day.

“They played well today but the start of the round wasn’t as good but they finished strong so that was a good part of today,” said Republic of Korea Coach Naon Min.

“I told them not to think about the team but just think about their individual play and it will finish well for everybody,” said Min following the first round.

Defending champions, Team Canada 1 are one shot back of Korea. Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. shot a 5-under 67 to help lead her team and the individual standings. Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. shot an even par 72 and Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. shot a 3-over 75 on Wednesday.

“They got off to a really good start today, we were cruising early which was nice to see, lots of putts going in and it was awesome because they were sticking to the game plan just hitting to the right spot,” said Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald.

“It’s always nice in these events when all three players are playing well so it gives you more chances or opportunities and they did that today and it was fun to watch,” added MacDonald.

Belgium sits in third at 3-under with a trio of teams including Sweden, Colombia and Hong Kong, China tied for fourth at even par. Iceland and Italy are tied for seventh at 1-over with seven teams tied for ninth at 2-over, including Team Canada 2.

Team Canada 2 is comprised of 14-year-old Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. (Even par 72), 15-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (2-over 74) and 17-year-old Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (4-over 76).

The following are the opening round standings at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship:

Click here for the team leaderboard following the opening round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

In the individual competition, Deng of Team Canada 1 leads by one shot over Sixtine De Cordes of Belgium. Deng’s 5-under 67 on Wednesday was highlighted by seven birdies in her round, including five on the front nine.

“I was just trying to play it safe and miss in the right spots,” said Deng. “I was able to hit my shots really close and make the putts today.”

De Cordes is alone in second at 4-under with Oh and Hong of Korea tied for third at 3-under. Arianna Lau (Hong Kong, China), Paris Appendino (Italy), Ebba Lundqvist (Sweden), Lu Valero (Colombia) and Alexis Lamadrid (Mexico) all tied for fifth at 2-under.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga from August 19 – 24, 2025.

Click here for the individual leaderboard following the opening round of the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 72 athletes comprising 24 teams and representing 23 countries competing for the team and individual titles.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to great success on the LPGA Tour. Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA Tour winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark and Linn Grant of Sweden. Hye-Jin Choi from the Republic of Korea won both the 2015 team and individual championship at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and has earned several top five finishes on the LPGA Tour.

For second round tee times, please click here.

Edmonton’s Wil Bateman has learned to ride the waves of being a professional golfer in his second season on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Bateman is one of three Canadians competing in this week’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship, the finale of the second-tier circuit’s season. He’s 54th on the tour’s points list with a card for next year all but assured.

He said that’s in large part to his steady approach to golf, seeing the larger picture of his career.

“I’m just trying to stay positive throughout the weeks and throughout the year,” said Bateman. “Just conserving my energy, especially in those really long stretches, I think I’ve done really good job at that.

“Just mentally staying positive and realizing that there’s still lots of opportunity in front of me. Obviously you want to get a tour card, you want to be on the PGA Tour, but everybody’s path is different.”

Bateman was the overall winner of the PGA Tour Canada — now PGA Tour Americas — in 2022, winning two events after making all 10 cuts on the third-tier circuit. That moved him up to the Korn Ferry Tour, where he finished 68th overall last year.

This year, Bateman’s more balanced approach, including taking some events off, has paid off.

Bateman tied for 62nd at this year’s RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club on June 2, his only PGA Tour event of the year. 

He made 12 of 20 cuts on the Korn Ferry Tour, with one runner-up, two top 10s and five top 25s. His best stretch was six consecutive cuts made — five on the Korn Ferry Tour and the Canadian Open result — from the Club Car Championship on April 7 to the Compliance Solutions Championship on June 23.

“I feel like the game’s close and I’m there. It’s just a matter of a little bit of momentum going my way and then putting it together for four rounds,” said Bateman. “Some of those tournaments where I’m making the cut five straight weeks and not having a top 25. 

“You’re playing good golf, and you’re super close, you’re just kind of not putting it all together.”

Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is the top-ranked Canadian on the Korn Ferry Tour at No. 41 on the points list. He’ll join Bateman and Etienne Papineau (No. 65) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., at French Lick Golf Resort’s Pete Dye Course in French Lick, Ind., for the championship tournament.

Bateman, in good shape to return to the Korn Ferry Tour next year, will continue his steady approach at this week’s event.

“I knew coming into this week that I have to finish first or second to get a PGA Tour card,” he said. “I don’t really have much to lose, because I’m going to definitely finish inside the top 60, so I’ll be able to have another opportunity to get my PGA Tour card at Q-School final stage if I don’t finish first or second this week.”

PGA TOUR — Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., returns to play just four days after competing in the elite Presidents Cup. He’s one of three Canadians in the field at this weeks Sanderson Farms Championship, which he won in 2022. Hughes is 51st in the FedEx Cup Fall standings. He’ll be joined at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss., by Adam Svensson (73rd) of Surrey, B.C., and Roger Sloan (168th) of Merritt, B.C.

DP WORLD TOUR — Toronto’s Richard T. Lee is the only Canadian in the field at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the storied Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. He’s unranked on the European-based DP World Tour, having played most of his golf on the Asian Tour this season. He’s 12th on the Asian Tour’s order of merit.

EPSON TOUR — Vancouver’s Leah John is the top-ranked Canadian heading into this week’s Epson Tour Championship in Indian Wells, Calif. She’s 55th on the second-tier women’s circuit. She’ll be joined at Indian Wells Golf Resort — Players Course by Maddie Szeryk (83rd) of London, Ont., and Brigitte Thibault (119th) of Rosemere, Que.

Mississauga, Ont. – The 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event will take place on Saturday, October 5 at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ont.

A total of 31 golfers from four age groups will compete in the 15^th edition of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, which brings together the top-scoring juniors from coast-to-coast.

The participating junior golfers will compete in a three-part skills challenge (putting, chipping and driving) with one overall winner per age group and gender.

Golf Canada, in partnership with COBRA and PUMA Golf, along with the PGA of Canada will host the 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event. The event is the culmination of more than 1,600 Junior Skills Challenge participants who competed at 92 qualifying events held across Canada. The field is comprised of 31 golfers from across Canada, all selected from the top of the Junior Skills Challenge National Leaderboard. 

Format

Driving: Each competitor receives three drives. Points are awarded and dependent on distance and aim of the drive. The drive must come to rest within the 30-yard width to qualify for points. The number of points is dependent on the distances completed.

Chipping: Each competitor receives three shots. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the chip from the target.

Putting: Each competitor receives one putt each from each distance of 5, 10 and 20 feet. Points are awarded for holing the putt and for proximity to the hole.

The winners of the Junior Skills Challenge National Event will receive prizing courtesy of program partner, COBRA PUMA Golf. On Sunday, October 6, Junior Skills Challenge National Event participants will also have the opportunity to play Lionhead Golf Club in Brampton, Ontario in an exciting match play format, outfitted by program sponsor COBRA PUMA Golf.

For more information on the Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

Participants

Girls 7 to 9

Girls 10 to 11

Girls 12 to 13

Girls 14 to 15

Boys 7 to 9

Boys 10 to 11

Boys 12 to 13

Boys 14 to 15