Jordan Spieth normally doesn’t concern himself with the cut line in the middle of a round.

Unless the Dallas native is in danger of staying home on consecutive weekends in what amount to his hometown events.

Spieth recovered from a bad start by going 5 under over his final 13 holes at the Colonial on Friday, and his 2-under 68 put the defending champion at 2-under 138, four shots behind second-round leaders Webb Simpson, Kevin Kisner, Danny Lee and Scott Piercy.

“When your back’s against the wall and you feel the nerves kick up because you’ve got to do something, and you’re not going to be able to play both weekends in town,” said Spieth , coming off missed cuts in The Players Championship and AT&T Byron Nelson. “That would have been really, really tough for me to swallow if I missed the cut. And it was in my head.”

Lee birdied the last hole for a 64, the low round of the tournament on a hot and windy day. Kisner also had a birdie on his final hole, the ninth, for a second straight 67. Simpson, the 2012 U.S. Open champion, and Piercy each shot 66 to join the group at 6-under 134.

The side door is open for @dannygolf72.

Four-way tie at the top. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/42kpddNka6

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 26, 2017

Spieth said the key to the recovery was a short bogey putt at 14, his fifth hole, that dropped him to 3 over after he opened with a par 70. The 23-year-old broke from his recent routine by seeking caddy Michael Greller’s input on the 4-footer.

“He said, ‘Hit this one with confidence and walk it in,”’ Spieth said about his third bogey in the first five holes. “I stepped and walked it in. I think it was kind of shocking because it was a bogey putt to go 3 over. No one really walks those in. But it was exactly what I needed.”

Spieth immediately followed with a 35-foot birdie putt at No. 15, then had four birdies in the first five holes of Colonial’s front nine. That included two birdies on the “Horrible Horseshoe” of holes 3-5.

The 2015 Masters and U.S. Open champion had no bogeys over the final 13 holes after seven bogeys and a double bogey among his first 23, which offset six birdies in his opening round.

“I played one through five in 4 under. I don’t think I’ve ever done 2 under on those holes,” Spieth said. “I felt really good about the way that we played those last 14 holes, about as solid as the entire year.”

Masters champion Sergio Garcia (66) and fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm (69), who played in the same group, were at 5 under along with England’s Paul Casey (66) and Sean O’Hair (68).

The Spaniards are both in position to strike heading into the weekend. pic.twitter.com/DYfzAfBz2s

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 26, 2017

Phil Mickelson didn’t have a birdie while shooting a 75 that left him at 2 over, three shots clear of the cut in his first Colonial since the two-time champ missed the cut in 2010.

Simpson made a 7-footer at the par-3 16th, then put his approach at 17 just inside 3 feet for a birdie that tied Casey. Third at Colonial last year, Simpson had missed the cut at Colonial his only two other times in 2009-10.

A four-time PGA Tour winner with his most recent victory in 2014, Simpson skipped last week’s Nelson and hasn’t played both Dallas-Fort Worth events since 2010.

“I didn’t play well at Byron my first couple of years, so I just decided to stay out of Texas,” Simpson joked.

Kisner made a 14-foot birdie on his final hole, the ninth, to join Simpson. Moments later, Lee rolled one in from 27 feet at the 18th. Piercy had a shot at the outright lead at the ninth, missing from 24 feet.

A silky roll from @k_kisner ties the lead. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/2oNs7IMgSN

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 26, 2017

Casey’s best Colonial finish was fifth in his debut in 2009, the same year of his only PGA Tour win in Houston. The 14-time international winner had three birdies and a bogey over his first four holes before settling in with two birdies over the final 14 while generally staying out of trouble.

The highlight for Casey was a 25-foot par save at the par-4 fifth, his 14th hole.

“It’s been tricky with the wind,” Casey said. “I’ve handled it so far, so I would actually like it to stay tricky if it can. And I handle the heat well. So I am saying probably the more difficult it is, the better it is for me.”

Garcia had six birdies, while Rahm didn’t get his first until 17 while finishing with two straight.

Si Woo Kim, playing for the first time since winning The Players Championship two weeks ago, had an 8 on the par-4 ninth after his pitch from greenside bunker went dead right off his club and rolled into the water.

Kim had to go across the pond for his drop and hit another ball in the water, then tossed his club in as well after finally reaching the green on the next shot. He made a 15-footer for quadruple bogey, and finished with a 73 to miss the cut at 5 over.

There are three Canadians T45, Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, both natives of Abbotsford B.C and Brantford Ontario’s David Hearn.

For the full leaderboard click here.

Jeevan Sihota tops the Boys Division at the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship after the opening round on Thursday, while Ellie Szeryk and Celeste Dao share the lead in the Girls Division at Brockville Country Club, in Brockville, Ont.

Sihota, a 13-year-old from Victoria, B.C., continued his stellar play after winning the Pacific Championship earlier in May. He recorded a bogey on his opening hole, but recovered and birdied three of the next four holes enroute to a 2-under-par 69.

“I got off to a pretty good start and played steady through,” he said, after his low-score of the day. “I hit a lot of greens, thought I could have holed a few more putts but overall it was good.”

Sitting two shots back of Sihota is a three-way tie for second place. Christopher Vandette (Beaconsfield, Que.), Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ont), and Eric Byun (Richmond Hill, Ont.) all shot an even-par 71.

In the Girls Division, Szeryk and Dao both shot a 1-over-par 72 in their opening rounds to put them at the top of the leaderboard up by two strokes.

Szeryk, from London, Ont., got off to a fast start with three birdies in her first seven holes, but slowed down after she made the turn to the back nine and recorded bogeys on holes 10, 12 and 16.
Dao played a steadier round. The 16-year-old headed to the final two holes 2 over par for the round. She made a clutch birdie on the par 3 before finishing with a par on 18 to move her into a tie with Szeryk.

“I hit pretty good wedges and made some 10 to 12 footers, so that helps,” said Szeryk, after her round on Thursday. “I was just trying to figure out how the course would play with the wet conditions and see how long the ball would travel in the rough and everything.

“I’m just going to try to shoot even or under par tomorrow. There’s a lot of really good players here, so I’m just going to have to chill out and see how it goes.”

Defending champion Isabella Portokalis got off to a rough start on the rain-filled day. Three bogeys in her first six holes resulted in her 4-over-par 75, good enough for T7.

Team Canada Development Squad members Monet Chun and Chloe Currie both cracked the top 10. Chun, from Richmond Hill, Ont., sits just two strokes back of Szeryk and Dao in a four-way tie for third. Currie got off to a slow start and was 3-over after the first two holes. Two more bogeys on the front nine saw her drop down the leaderboard, but, after she managed to play the back nine just one-over, the Mississauga, Ont., native managed to hang on to 10th place after her 6-over-par 77.

The top six finishers in the boy’s division will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club in Kingston, Ont. A tie for the sixth position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play on Sunday. The top six in the girl’s division (including ties) will earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.

Having played numerous sports during his childhood years, Stuart Macdonald would eventually find his true passion in the game of golf.

“Growing up, I started out playing baseball, soccer, tennis, badminton, squash and basically all the racquet sports,” recalled the Vancouver native.

However, ever since his mother, Susan, introduced him to golf, he has not looked back.

“My mom was the one who got me started in golf as she was a member at the Point Grey Golf & Country Club. Golf was the last sport that I picked up; but it was the one that I stuck with,” pointed out Macdonald, a second-year member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad.

“I would’ve been around 12 years old when I stopped playing other sports and fully dedicated myself to golf. I just really enjoyed it and wanted to go to the golf course everyday to get better.”

Macdonald still remembers a defining victory as a teenager that opened his eyes to his potential in the sport.

“When I was 15 or 16, I won the Vancouver Open and having my name on that trophy along with names like Nick Taylor and Eugene Wong and Adam Svensson was really cool,” he recalled.

“That victory gave me the motivation to keep on playing; and it made me really strive to reach the same level as those guys.”

Macdonald says the quest for excellence on the golf course has required plenty of discipline along the way.

“You definitely had to sacrifice a part of your social life. When I was growing up – from the sixth grade until the twelfth grade – I would always turn down parties or hanging out with friends in order to work on my golf game.”

Another sacrifice made by Macdonald involved moving away from family and friends; and relocating to Florida in order to train in favourable climate conditions year round.

As he explains, the decision to relocate to Florida worked out for the best.

“I went to a school in Florida my last two years of high school and my coach there happened to know the coach at Purdue at the time; and I was able to get a walk on spot on the team. And eventually after about half a year, I earned a spot in the lineup,” he pointed out.

Macdonald—who graduated in December of 2016—recorded seven top ten finishes during his collegiate career, including a fourth place tie at the Boilermaker Invitational in his sophomore year.

Another notable highlight came in his junior year when he was named Big Ten Golfer of the Week after recording a 10th place finish at the Puerto Rico Classic.

Macdonald’s success as a Boilermaker would earn him spot on the Canadian National Amateur Squad in 2015.  Currently in his third year as part of the national team, Macdonald says he’s extremely grateful to be part of the program.

“Everyone from the coaches to the physiotherapist, sports psychologist and nutritionist that they have on staff does an unbelievable job. Being on the team has opened so many doors for me and has allowed me to play in a lot of tournaments that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to play in,” he said.

“Those experiences have definitely been important for me to get to where I am today,” added Macdonald, who describes his game as “not long or flashy, but consistent in all aspects.”

According to national team head coach, Derek Ingram, the Vancouver golfer has made great strides.

“Stu has progressed really well.  His habits now are first class and he’s getting better and better.  He’s super coachable and a smart kid and a great teammate,” said Ingram.

Macdonald’s recent success is proving that he is a talented young golfer on the rise.

In March, the 22-year-old finished in a tie for ninth spot at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying School, and in the process, secured status for the upcoming season.

And just last month, his consistent all around game allowed him to capture the Peruvian International Amateur Championship.

“I would say that I haven’t had a lot of success at the amateur level. I’ve played well but I haven’t had many big wins and to win this event gives me a lot of confidence and obviously my family and friends were really happy for me,” said Macdonald about his recent triumph in Peru, where he won both the individual and team event.

Ingram commends Macdonald on his breakthrough victory in Peru; and predicts a bright future ahead for the young Vancouver golfer.

“Huge win for Stu; it’s his biggest so far. It’s great for his confidence and he’s starting to realize how good he is,” said Ingram.

“If he continues to play his game, he will have many more chances to win.”

Looking ahead, the ambitious 22-year-old has his sights set on competing and winning at the highest level.

“In five years, I see myself on the PGA TOUR. I know life of a pro golfer doesn’t always go as expected; but my goal in five years is to be one of the top Canadians out there and just living the dream,” he said. “I really believe I can play at that level.”

For now, the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada rookie is focused on his upcoming pro debut on June 1^st.

And it’s only fitting that will take place where it all began more than a decade ago – at the Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver where he was first introduced to the sport by his mother.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to playing at my home course and getting my pro career started there,” said Macdonald.

“It’s where I first learned to play and where I grew my passion for the game – so it’s really sort of fitting to make my pro debut there in front of family and friends.”

GUELPH – Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., has announced Jeff Mingay has signed on as a consulting architect.

Mingay will review the course and work the club’s superintendent, Bill Green, as well as its Course and Grounds committee to create a long range master plan. There is currently no timeline or plans to make any major changes to the golf course.

The course and grounds committee set out to develop a long range master plan that encompasses all aspects of golf including, playability, safety, agronomics, financial and environmental sustainability. Requests for proposal were sent to five Canadian architects, all specializing in restorations and educated on the architectural design and philosophies of Stanley Thompson.

Since establishing Mingay Golf Course Design (MGCD) in 2009, Mingay has worked on golf course design and construction projects throughout Canada and the United States. He worked with fellow Canadian golf architect Rod Whitman for nearly a decade and assisted with the design and construction of Edmonton’s Blackhawk Golf Club, Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club in Merritt, B.C., and Cape Breton’s Cabot Links. He currently serves on the board of directors with the Stanley Thompson Society.

Cutten Fields has a long history of hosting Golf Canada championships. In 2015, the club hosted the Canadian University / College Championships and later this summer it will host the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Wei-Ling Hsu holed out a 7-iron for an eagle on the very first hole she played, setting the tone for a terrific start.

At the end of the day, the unheralded golfer from Taiwan was tied atop the leaderboard with one of the LPGA Tour’s most successful players.

Hsu shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday and shared the lead with Stacy Lewis after the first round of the LPGA Volvik Championship. Hsu eagled two of her first five holes and was 6 under after six. She and Lewis finished a stroke ahead of 18-year-old Nelly Korda.

"I have a very tough year last year," Hsu said. "I just want to improve more. This year I’m able to see my shot going to the hole, going to making the green in regulation more."

Hsu has only one top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour, and that came in her rookie year of 2015. She finished tied for 43rd last week in the Kingsmill Championship after missing the cut in the previous four events.

Lewis, meanwhile, is a former world No. 1 with 11 LPGA victories — although she’s winless in 72 events since June 2014. She has 12 second-place finishes since her last win.

Lewis birdied three of her first four holes and reached 15 greens in regulation on the 6,734-yard course at Travis Pointe Country Club. She eagled the par-5 14th and capped her round with a small fist pump after a birdie on 18.

"I looked up at the leaderboard and saw I was tied for the lead, so I kind of just wanted to get out there ahead," Lewis said. "It’s always nice to see yourself atop the leaderboard."

Lewis was a shot ahead of Korda when she finished, but Hsu later caught up at 7 under.

Hsu began her round on No. 10, and she holed out from 155 yards for an eagle on the 394-yard par 4.

"I don’t see very well. I just hear my mom and gallery on the side," she said. "My caddie just tells me, ‘Oh, you got it in. You got eagle."’

Korda, a rookie who has joined sister Jessica on the tour, hit only eight of 14 fairways, but she was able to scramble her way to a 34 on the front nine before birdieing four of the first five holes on the back.

"It was a slow start and I saved a couple of long par putts," she said. "Just getting those, making those two pars and just getting my round rolling really helped."

Korda finished her round with a par on the par-5 18th — after hitting her second shot out of the dirt in a hazard.

"I didn’t even know if I could chip it out, and my caddie was like, ‘Oh, maybe you should drop,"’ she said. "I was like, ‘No, I’m going to hit this.’ So I hit it out and then I had 200 into the green and I hit a 4-rescue. It was a good par."

It rained a good deal Wednesday, and although the weather wasn’t too much of an issue Thursday, the course was still quite wet. Lewis said hitting greens was especially crucial.

"They’re pretty small to begin with, and then with the weather, there’s spots around the greens that were pretty wet, kind of muddy almost," she said. "You had some weird lies. So I think today I hit a ton of greens. I only think I had to chip once or twice."

Brittany Lincicome, Ilhee Lee, Sung Hyun Park, Suzann Pettersen and Sarah Jane Smith all shot 67. Lexi Thompson, coming off her first victory of the season last week, finished at even par. So did Ariya Jutanugarn, the defending champion, and So Yeon Ryu.

Ryu is trying to extend a streak of 11 top-10 finishes in a row.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Jon Rahm was at Colonial during tournament week each of the past two years to accept the Ben Hogan Award that goes to the nation’s top college golfer. This time, he’s playing in the PGA Tour event at Hogan’s Alley and among the leaders.

With his 4-under 66 on Thursday, Rahm was a stroke behind first-round leaders Kelly Kraft, Derek Fathauer and PGA Tour rookie J.T. Poston.

That also put Rahm ahead of two-time Colonial champs Phil Mickelson and Zach Johnson after both birdied their last three holes for 67s. He also led 2016 winner Jordan Spieth, whose even-par round included six birdies.

"The last two times I was here, all I recorded was super happy and positive memories," Rahm said. "It’s just the vibe that I have around this place is so positive, especially with Sergio (Garcia) winning and with the Ben Hogan history that I’m related to now."

The 22-year-old Rahm, the winner at Torrey Pines in January, had only one bogey while playing with Masters champion Garcia, the fellow Spaniard who won in his first Colonial appearance in 2001.

Kraft and Graeme McDowell, tied with Rahm for fourth, had the only bogey-free rounds. Only 33 of the 121 players finished the first round under par.

Scott Brown had the other 66, and had the outright lead at 6 under before a double bogey at No. 18.

Spieth, coming off missed cuts the past two weeks, was tied for 34th his six birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. He was even par after birdies on his last two holes.

"It’s a great finish. Kept me in the tournament," Spieth said. "If I was a couple over, you know, in the back of my mind I would be wondering about the cut line."

After two bogeys on the first four holes, Spieth made 4-foot birdie putt at the 466-yard No. 5 hole, and made a 10-foot birdie at the 168-yard, par-3 13th.

In between those birdies at two of Colonial’s toughest holes, Spieth made a nearly 40-foot putt to save par after a wayward drive at No. 9. His drive at the 10th went into a concrete culvert for another bogey, and he missed the fairway right again at the 622-yard 11th, only to get back in the fairway and go on to a 2-foot birdie.

"Hit some very solid shots. With gusty winds, it’s not going to end up where you think it’s going to a lot of the time," Spieth said. "I felt like I missed some fairways by 1-5 yards today. That made a complete difference in the way the hole played."

Before his birdie-birdie finish, Spieth had double bogey at the 429-yard 15th, when he blasted from a fairway bunker through the green and into the water, and made bogey at the par-3 16th.

Mickelson, back at Hogan’s Alley for the first time since 2010, made an 8-foot putt at the 435-yard 7th hole, then hit his tee shot inside 2 feet of the cup at the par-3 8th. His 33-footer at No. 9 came after playing partner Matt Kuchar had just missed a slightly longer putt on the same line on their finishing hole.

When changes were made to the course after his 2008 victory, Mickelson missed the cut in 2010 with a chance to become the world’s No. 1 player. He later indicated that Colonial no longer suited his game.

"Nothing real specific," he said, when asked what changed his mind. "It’s been a while and I needed to … I felt it was in my best interest to get in contention and try to play more events and try to get the scores, results out of it."

Rahm was at Arizona State when he became the first two-time winner of the Hogan Award. His first competitive round at Colonial came a day after Arizona State’s women rallied to win their eighth NCAA championship, and first since 2009.

"To see them win in the fashion they did, it was amazing," said Rahm, who practiced with that team while in school. "The coolest thing is that’s the closest I’ll ever be to experiencing something like that and I’m happy for them. … To be honest, that energy and positivity probably helped me today."

Canada’s top student-athlete golfers will descend on Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club in Barrie, Ont., from May 29 – June 1 for the 2017 Canadian University/College Championships.

2017 marks the 15th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best college and university golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.

The Georgian College Grizzlies will host the event this year on the windswept fairways of Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club.

Designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert, the course is known for its combination of classic and links style features in addition to its grassy hollows and signature fescue.

“We are thrilled to welcome the best Canadian student golfers to Tangle Creek. We’re looking forward to a competitive championship, and showcasing our beautiful course,” said host club tournament chair Mackenzie Cuthbert.

Golf Canada prides itself on conducting a top-notch tournament that is the highest level of national competition for college and university golfers in the country.

“The Canadian University/College Championship provides a unique opportunity for the best student-athlete golfers in Canada to compete for a national championship. Golf Canada is proud to conduct this event to showcase the talent from universities and colleges across the country,” added tournament director, Mary Beth McKenna.

In 2016, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds swept the championship, winning all four events. It was the first time in the tournament’s history that a school has won the men’s and women’s team and individual events in the same year.

Calgary’s Scott Secord went wire-to-wire to win the men’s division by four strokes at 11-under par and Kat Kennedy of Okotoks, Alta., claimed victory on the women’s side by four shots at 12-over par.

UBC returns to the tournament having won 11 women’s and five men’s titles—including three of the last four.

Georgian College will look to draw upon the magic of the University of Manitoba Bisons—the last host club to win a team title—when they captured the men’s division championship in 2014 at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg.

The 72-hole stroke play competition will feature 19 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams from across the country vying for the national championship titles.

Following the third round, the field will be reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams, in addition to any individuals within 15 shots of the lead. Additional information regarding the 2017 championship, can be found here.

FAST FACTS

UBC is the defending champion on both the men’s and women’s side.

Scott Secord, of Calgary, Alta., is the defending men’s medallist.

Kat Kennedy of Okotos Alta., is the defending women’s medallist.

UBC has won the most women’s titles with 11 and the most men’s championships with 5.

The individual men’s and women’s champions receive exemptions into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, respectively.

The top three individual men and top three individual women earn the right to represent Canada at the 2017 Summer Universiade Games in Taipei City, Taiwan, from Aug. 19-30.

For pairings and additional information, click here.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club was designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert.

6,307 yards, CR/Slope: 69.7/131.

Course record of 64 was set in 2011 by Keir Smith.

In 2016, Tangle Creek hosted Golf Ontario’s Junior Boys Match-Play and the PGA of Canada’s Seniors Championship.

In 2003 Golf Digest named Tangle Creek the Best New Golf Course in Canada.

MEN’S TEAMS
Brock University Badgers
Concordia University Stingers
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Les Patriotes de l’UQTR
Queen’s University Gaels
Universitie du Montreal Carabins
Universitie Laval Rouge et Or
University of Alberta Golden Bears
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Guelph Gryphons
Universit of Manitoba Bisons
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs
University of Windsor Lancers
Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks

WOMEN’S TEAMS
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Queen’s University Gaels
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Universitié du Montreal Carabins
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs

To view the full list of teams and other information, click here.

Team Canada National Squad member, Jared du Toit calls the feeling bittersweet. He is excited about what lies ahead, but also a bit sad about what he is leaving behind.

Du Toit, Canada’s top-ranked amateur golfer, is playing his final collegiate event for his Arizona State University Sun Devils this weekend and acknowledged in a telephone interview that he has been doing a lot of thinking in recent days.

The Kimberley, B.C., native finds himself reflecting on all the good times he has had at Arizona State and before that, the University of Idaho, where his collegiate golf journey began four years ago. But he is also feeling excited about the future and beginning the professional golf career he has long dreamed of.

“It is definitely pretty bittersweet,” du Toit said from suburban Chicago, where he and his Sun Devil teammates will tee it up in Friday’s first round of the NCAA Championships. “It’s kind of crazy. I’ve just been sitting here in my hotel room kind of thinking about things. I’ve been joking with the guys, saying ‘boys this is the last time I’m taking a plane with you to an event,’ just having some laughs. Right now it seems pretty bitter, but I am moving on to bigger and better things down the road and that will be pretty cool as well.

“It has been an awesome experience. I’ve met so many great people and I’ve been thinking about all the places we got to visit — from Hawaii, to Florida, New York, northern California. I have been very fortunate and have met some awesome people along the way.”

Du Toit, currently ranked 15th in the world amateur golf rankings, hopes he and his teammates can end the year on a high note with a big finish at the NCAA tourney. They qualified for the championships by finishing fifth at their regional tourney earlier this month in Austin, Tex. “We’re pretty excited about this week,” he said. “We’ve been playing well and are looking forward to going out on a high note.”

Du Toit, who won the 2015 B.C. Amateur Championship at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, finished tied for 10th spot at his regional tourney and feels his game is coming around. Earlier this spring he won a tournament at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., and lost in a playoff in another.

“I have had some ups and downs this season,” he said. “I kind of got hot there early in the spring and then didn’t play well the last couple of events. I kept it together at regionals and for the past three events things have felt better and better, so I’m really excited about where things are now and how they’re looking heading into the summer as well.”

The NCAA Championships feature 72 holes of stroke play, with the 30-team field being cut to 15 teams for Monday’s final round of stroke play. The top eight teams then advance to match play, which concludes with the championship final on Wednesday (May 31). The goal for the Sun Devils is to get to the match play round.

“That has been the goal the entire year for the team,” du Toit said. “We had a team meeting at the start of the year and coach (Matt Thurmond) laid out some of the goals he expected and the ones we should expect and getting to match play is the goal for every team. We have a good chance. We have shown some good stuff this year, maybe haven’t been as consistent as we would have liked, but we definitely have the potential to have a good run this week and get into the match play.”

As pumped as he is to play in the NCAA Championships, du Toit can’t help but think of what comes next. He confirmed he will turn pro almost immediately after the NCAAs and hopes to play the Victoria and Kelowna stops next month on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit.

“I am very optimistic about Victoria and Kelowna,” he said. “Nothing is finalized yet, but I am hoping to play those.”

To view the leaderboard for the NCAA Division I Championships, click here.

This Sunday, May 28, is Get Out and Golf Day in Canada, in support of the ParticipACTION 150 Playlist, where Canadians are being asked to participate in 150 activities through the year to celebrate our country’s 150^th birthday. There will be a number of fun golf activities taking place at facilities across the country. (A list can be found here)

But even if there isn’t an organized event in your area, get out and show support for the game—and the nation!—we love.

As if you need more justification for playing golf, or maybe to persuade some non-golfing friends to join you, here are some reasons to celebrate Get Out and Golf Day this Sunday.

In fact, you can argue that the game reflects many of the values that are distinctly Canadian.

Golf is inclusive. The game does not discriminate by race, colour, religion, gender, age, physical size or ability. Heck, even golf balls are all different colours.

Golf is democratic. We take pride in our democratic model of government. Golf is the most democratic of sports, thanks to the handicap system. In no other sport can players of differing skill levels compete on an equal basis.

Golf is honest. It’s been said that golf doesn’t build character, it reveals it. In most cases, there are no referees or officials present when you play. You break a rule, you call the penalty on yourself. That takes courage and integrity, more Canadian traits.

Golf has rules. In daily life, the rule of law is important to Canadians. Order is something we respect. Similarly, the rules of golf impress upon players the importance of equity, fairness, etiquette, safety, consideration of others and more.

Golf is tough. Canadians aren’t afraid of work. Unless you win the lottery, nothing good happens without effort. It’s the same for golf. If you want to improve, you have to put the time in.

Golf is fun. If you don’t believe me, look at the facts. Our country has the highest per-capita participation rate in golf worldwide. We’re not a nation of masochists, so the only explanation for this phenomenon is that the game must be fun.

Golf is solitary. Whether you’re playing alone or with others, golf offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Canadian nature as well as to get away from the pressures we all experience in our daily lives. The benefits of this “mindfulness” have been compared to a form of meditation.

Golf is social. Canadians like to party. From Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, golf clubhouses may reflect regional cuisines, music and other attributes, but they all share one thing—Canadian camaraderie and good humour.

Golf is family. The fabric of family is vital to Canadians and golf strengthens that fabric. It’s not unusual to see three and, sometimes, four generations playing together. It’s called “the game for a lifetime” for a reason.

Just a few off the top of my head. I’ll be playing on Get Out and Golf Day this Sunday. Will you?

Editor’s Note: Get Out and Golf Day is in support of the ParticipACTION 150 Playlist, where Canadians are being asked to participate in 150 activities throughout 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Visit participaction.com/150 for more details about the ParticipACTION 150 Play List. Get Out and Golf Day is proudly supported by golf industry partners including the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada (NGCOA), PGA of Canada, Canadian Society of Club Managers, Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and Golf Canada in addition to Canada’s 10 provincial golf associations.

Golf Canada’s second junior golf championship of 2017 is set to take place from May 26-28 as the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship gets underway at Brockville Country Club in Brockville, Ont.

With support from Golf Ontario, the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship is the second of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on May 25 before the tournament gets underway with round one on May 26.

Founded in 1914, Brockville Country Club will be hosting its first ever Future Links Championship. Just three years removed from celebrating its 100th year, the course features various elevation changes and tricky greens located at the end of tree-lined fairways.

“Golf Canada is very pleased to present the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura championship in Brockville,” said Akash Patel, the Tournament Director. “The six regional Championships are fantastic events for Canada’s premier junior golfers to showcase their skills. We look forward for this strong field of juniors attempting to navigate the tricky course at Brockville Country Club.”

The field will consist of 87 junior golfers in the Junior Boys Division with the top six earning exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in Kingston, Ont. A tie for the sixth position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.

The Junior Girls Division will consist of 33 golfers with the top six (including ties) earning an exemption into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on Aug. 1-4 at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.

Prior to the championship on Thursday, May 25, Golf Canada and Special Olympics Canada will hold the second of two regional competitions in support of Special Olympics golf. The first event was held at Chilliwack Golf Club before the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship. A field of 18 local athletes will compete over nine holes. Following the event, PGA of Canada professionals will conduct a clinic for Special Olympics coaches and athletes with a focus on improving skills and leadership within the sport.

Four additional Future Links, driven by Acura Championships will span the country this summer.

June 1-4 – Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec – Sherbrooke, Que. – Club de golf Milby.

July 3-6 – Future Links, driven by Acura Prairie – Estevan, Sask. – TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club.

July 10-13 – Future Links, driven by Acura Western – Fernie, B.C. – Fernie Golf & Country Club.

July 17-20 – Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic – Church Point, N.S. – Clare Golf & County Club.

The 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship took place on May 12-14. Full results can be found here.

Additional information regarding the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship, including participants, start times and up-to-date results can be found here.

NOTABLES

Isabella Portokalis of London, Ont.
The 15-year-old comes in as the event’s defending champion. She would go on to place T11 at the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. Through eight events in 2016, she was ranked No. 8 in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit.

Jeevan Sihota of Victoria, B.C.
The 13-year-old is coming off a victory at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship, where he was the youngest golfer in the field. His victory placed him seventh in the 2017 Future Links, driven by Acura junior boys Order of Merit. He finished in T8 at his only other counting event this year: the CJGA Humber College PGM Western Championship.

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont.
Team Canada Development Squad member who is ranked No. 1 in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit. In the Pacific Championship earlier in May, Chun finished T7, one shot back of qualifying for the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The 16-year-old won both the 2016 Golf Quebec Junior Spring Open and the 2016 Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec Championship. She is coming off a win at the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, in Stouffville on May 20-22.

Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont.
The Team Canada Development Squad member finished 11th at this event last year, but had already qualified for the 2016 Canadian Junior Girls Championship (solo second) after she finished second at the 2016 Pacific Championship. She currently sits in 10th in the Future Links, driven by Acura junior girls Order of Merit.

Tyler Nagano of Toronto, Ont.
At the same event in 2016, the 18-year-old finished two strokes back of the leader and placed in solo-second, his best finish of the year.

Sarah Cushing of Brockville, Ont.
The 17-year-old will be playing on her home course at Brockville Country Club. Her highest finish in 2016 was a solo third at the CJGA Golfweek Canadian Jr Invitational.

Remi Chartier of Beaconsfield, Que.
The 16-year-old finished third, one stroke back of Nagano, at the same event last season, to qualify for the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which he finished T30. In May, he finished in solo-second at the CJGA Quebec Junior Open.

Kelvin Lim of Thornhill, Ont.
The 15-year-old finished in seventh in the 2016 Future Links, driven by Acura junior boys Order of Merit. He is coming off a win at the Investors Group Junior Boys’ Spring Classic at Wooden Sticks Golf Club on May 20-22 and a T7 finish at the AJGA Rome Junior Classic on April 23.

FAST FACTS

In 2017, Golf Canada is conducting its six regional Future Links, driven by Acura championships in conjunction with the Provincial Associations.

Top six finishers in the Boys Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Top six finishers (including ties) in the Girls Division earn exemptions into the 2017 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Defending champion Isabella Portokalis started her final 2016 round three shots back before rallying to earn her victory.

Brandon Lacasse won the junior boys tournament in 2016, his final year of eligibility into the event.

Friday’s pairings.

More information on the event can be found here.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Established in 1914.

The clubhouse was destroyed by a fire in 1937 and rebuilt the following year.