The R&A and the USGA have put together a survey about the World Handicap System (WHS™) and you are invited to participate.

Your honest feedback and insights are invaluable to the ongoing review of the Rules of Handicapping™ and the Course Rating System™, which have accuracy, consistency and equity as core principles – as well as enhancing the enjoyment of the game of golf for everyone. 

This is a global survey, and all individual responses are confidential and anonymous.

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Taylor Pendrith has always been able to find his groove as summer winds down. This year, it’s made him the top Canadian in the PGA Tour’s playoffs.

Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., tied for fifth at the Barracuda Championship on July 21, was solo fifth at the 3M Open on July 28, and most importantly tied for 22nd at last week’s FedEx St. Jude’s Championship, the first round of the top men’s tour’s playoffs. That moved him up to 27th in the FedEx Cup standings and on to this week’s BMW Championship, the playoffs’ second round. 

“I don’t know if the warmer weather allows my body to move better in the past couple years or what,” said Pendrith. “I seem to play well in the summertime. Last week (at TPC Southwind in Memphis) was super hot and I don’t necessarily love those conditions, but I have strung together a bunch of good weeks in a row.”

The St. Jude’s Championship had a 70-player field and the top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings after that event advanced to this week’s tournament at Castle Pines Golf Club in Castle Rock, Colo. 

That included Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., who tied for 50th at 1 under at the St. Jude’s Championship. Conners is now 33rd in the FedEx Cup rankings and Hadwin is 42nd.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford did not move on.

The top 30 players after the BMW Championship will then move on to the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta next week.

“I think this is probably the best putting year that I’ve had in my career,” said Pendrith, who won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on May 5 for his first-ever PGA Tour victory. “I feel really comfortable over every putt and I’ve made quite a lot of crucial putts this season. 

“My iron play has also been really good. Last week my iron play was really strong and so everything’s kind of coming together.”

Pendrith will be paired with Tom Hoge of the United States at Castle Pines on Thursday, Hadwin will be with Australia’s Adam Scott, and Conners will play alongside American J.T. Poston.

The BMW Championship is also the last event where players can earn official world golf ranking points to play in this year’s Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club on Sept. 24-29. Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Mike Weir is the captain of the International Team and Pendrith hopes to play in the biannual event for the second time in a row.

“I don’t think it necessarily adds more pressure, but it’s been on my mind for the last couple months,” said Pendrith, who made his International Team debut with Conners at Quail Hollow in Charlotte in 2022. “I’ve played great leading up to here and I’m hoping to have a really solid week again this week and earn my way on to that team.”

The top six players in the International Team rankings are automatically selected, with Weir filling out the rest of his 12-player roster. Conners is currently seventh on the rankings, Taylor is 11th, Hadwin is 12th, Pendrith is 13th and Hughes is 15th.

Manotick, Ont. – Kyle Gordon and David Lang both sit as the clubhouse leaders at 4-under at the 2024 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. 

The second round was delayed due to unplayable conditions caused by rain that pushed back tee times by an hour and a half or more at Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Manotick, Ont. Most of the players in the afternoon wave were not able to complete their rounds with play being suspended due to unplayable conditions due to the rain at 4:45 p.m. ET. As a result, round two will resume at 7:00 a.m. ET on Thursday with round three tee times to follow.  

David Lang of Toronto, Ont. was one of those not able to finish his second round and is sitting as the co-leader at 4-under through seven holes along with Kyle Gordon.  

Lang got off to a tough start bogeying the first hole of his opening nine after holding the lead in the first round. He finished with six consecutive pars and will resume play on the 17th hole tomorrow morning as he continues his second round. 

Gordon of Whitby, Ont. played in the morning flight and recorded six birdies on Wednesday to jump 10 spots up the leaderboard after shooting a 4-under 66. Coming out of round one Gordon shot an even par 70 and was sitting at T11.  

“Putting was the best part of my game today,” said Gordon. “Didn’t hit it the best today but made a couple good par saves on 12 and 13, then made a 40-foot putt for birdie on 14. The birdie on 14 was a bonus that got me going.” 

During round two, Gordon’s round got off to an ideal start by carding four birdies on the front nine and continued with two more on the back nine. 

“My game this week has been up and down so far. Hit some good shots on day one, but couldn’t get the putts to drop,” said Gordon. “Day two was kinda the opposite, hit some poor shots but made up for it with the putter. Just trying to take the positives that I haven’t played my best and I’m still in contention heading into the last two days.”  

Gary Pike of Victoria, B.C. sits first in the Mid-Master division by two strokes. Brooks Lancaster of Kaledon, B.C. is currently tied in second place with Adam Condello of Brentwood, Tenn. both are behind Pike sitting at 1-under par through seven holes. The Mid-Master is a separate division for players 40 and older. Pike resumes his second round play tomorrow and currently sits in a tie for third place alongside Jared Coyle of Manotick, Ont. at 3-under in the Mid-Amateur division.  

Team Manitoba continues to own a four-shot advantage in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship over Team Ontario. Allan Mcdonald and Lyle Mackenzie’s even par rounds have contributed to the total team’s continued score of 1-under par. The team component will conclude after tomorrow’s second round play is completed with the winner being awarded the Bruce Forbes Trophy.  

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2024 champion will receive direct exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championships. 

For the current leaderboard from the second round of the 2024 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here. 

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS       

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit https://www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.      

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — The BMW Championship is the last stop before the leading six players get automatic spots in the Presidents Cup next month at Royal Montreal.

Turns out the first FedEx Cup playoff event had a strong effect, too.

Jordan Spieth might have been a long shot to make the U.S. team, but last week sealed it. He finished 26 shots out of the lead, failed to advance and said he would be having surgery on his left wrist. His season is over.

It also was a big blow to Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., who dropped out of the top 50. International captain Mike Weir wants a strong Canadian presence, but none is in the top six and four other Canadians are ahead of Hughes.

Weir gets six captain’s picks after the Tour Championship. Hughes won’t be at East Lake, either. This comes two years after Hughes, renowned for his putting, was curiously left off the International side for the matches at Quail Hollow, where he is a member.

Fellow Canadians Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin of and Taylor Pendrith are all in the field at the BMW Championship.

Conners is currently 7th on the Presidents Cup International Team standings. Hadwin is 12th and Pendrith sits 13th.

Nick Taylor is currently 11th, but did not advance to this week’s BMW Championship.

For the Americans, there figures to be significant turnover from their last team competition at the Ryder Cup.

Three players already are effectively eliminated — Spieth, Rickie Fowler (didn’t qualify for the postseason) and Brooks Koepka (ineligible because he plays for LIV Golf).

The leading five — Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay — were at Marco Simone. Sahith Theegala is holding down the sixth spot over Tony Finau.

Max Homa, who went 4-0 in his Presidents Cup debut at Quail Hollow, finished last in the 70-man field last week. He has not contended since his Sunday chance at the Masters (his lone top 10 was at Wells Fargo, where he finished 13 shots behind). Homa is at No. 9 in the standings.

Right behind is Brian Harman, who has one top 10 in his last 13 starts.

The wild card, again, is Justin Thomas. He is at No. 16 in the standings and he could use a mile-high effort this week. Thomas faced plenty of scrutiny from being picked for the Ryder Cup team without having qualified for the postseason.

U.S. captain Jim Furyk could have some interesting choices, such as 20-year-old Nick Dunlap or 22-year-old Akshay Bhatia, depending on what kind of performances he sees at Castle Pines and then East Lake.

The International team, which has lost nine in a row, is the side that would appear to have some stability. The leading five players were at Quail Hollow and Byeong Hun An played in the 2019 matches. Four others from the ’22 team have done well enough to merit consideration.

Winners out

Winning a PGA Tour event that offers full FedEx Cup points is worth a trip to the Masters and PGA Championship, a start at Kapalua for The Sentry and a two-year exemption. But it doesn’t guarantee the top 50 in the FedEx Cup and the guarantee of playing the eight $20 million signature events the following year.

Nick Taylor (Phoenix Open), Jake Knapp (Mexico Open), Peter Malnati (Valspar Championship), Davis Riley (Colonial) and Jhonattan Vegas (3M Open) did not reach the BMW Championship.

Don’t expect Vegas to lose sleep over it. He was No. 139 in the FedEx Cup and in danger of losing his card when he won in Minnesota.

Manotick, Ont. – David Lang carded a 5-under 65 to lead after the opening round at the 2024 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, held at the Carleton Golf and Yacht Club in Manotick, Ont. 

Lang of Toronto, Ont. made a total of six birdies during round one; the lone blemish for Lang was a bogey on the par-4 15th hole. He holds a one stroke lead over Tyson Ehnes of Winnipeg, Man. who sits second after shooting a 4-under 66 on Tuesday.  

“It was a great day today. I’ve been playing pretty well coming into this week, so I just really wanted to stick to my game plan and everything went very well,” said Lang. “I had a great group and we had a lot of fun out there so we were just sort of keeping things light and wasn’t really trying to think about anything other than the shot at hand.”  

With having won the 2022 Nicola Wealth Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Lang is looking to etch his name on the Presidents Cup for the first time.  

“I had a bit of a game plan coming into today as I played yesterday and it was my first time seeing the golf course and I just really wanted to make sure that I do generally hit it pretty straight and just wanted to pick my spots right where I do hit driver and get aggressive and that’s what I tried to do today and it ended up working out well, so I am going to try and continue that for the next three days,” said Lang.  

With sunny conditions and the course being in spectacular shape Lang shares, “the greens were running awesome today and I mean it’s obviously gotten a lot of water recently, so the greens were quick and I could see the lines well so it helped me make six birdies today. I am going to try and stick to the same game plan I had going into today and try to do the same thing going into the next three days and see what happens at the end of the week.” 

Ehnes carded a total of seven birdies, with three bogeys during his round to hold second place following the opening round.  

Gary Pike of Victoria, B.C., sits third in the Mid-Amateur division and leads the Mid-Master division by one-stroke. The Mid-Master is a separate division for players 40 and older. Pike shot a 2-under 68 carding four birdies during the opening round. Brooks Lancaster of Kaleden, B.C., is currently in second place behind Pike following a 1-under 69. 

Team Manitoba owns a four-shot advantage in the Inter-Provincial Team Championship over Team British Columbia and Team Alberta. Lyle Mackenzie’s 1-under and Drew Jones even par rounds contributed to the total team score of 1-under after round one. 

“My game plan going into today was to hit fairways and greens as it’s a very tight golf course and I think there’s a premium for sacrifice so it’s ok to sacrifice distance off of the tee and just make sure you are on in a good spot on every hole and it seemed to work out for me,” said Manitoba Team Captain Lyle Mackenzie. “I think tomorrow I would like to see a few more putts go in, I got off to a slower start today as I bogeyed holes one and two which wasn’t great as I hit poor drives on both of those holes and didn’t recover so I see what happens when you miss the fairway and I think going into tomorrow’s round, I do all the same things but make sure I hit the fairway on holes one and two and get rolling early. It’s a long tournament and you can’t win it on the first or second day so my goal is to go out tomorrow and do the same things I did today and hopefully make a few more putts and be right there heading into round three.” 

Team British Columbia and Team Alberta are tied for second place with a total score of 3-over. The team component will conclude following tomorrow’s second round with the winner being awarded the Bruce Forbes Trophy.  

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2024 champion will receive direct exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships.  

For the leaderboard following the opening round of the 2024 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here. 

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS      

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit https://www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/.     

MONTREAL – International Team Captain Mike Weir announced Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama as his fifth and final captain’s assistant for the 2024 Presidents Cup, which returns to The Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Sept. 24-29. Maruyama joins fellow captains assistants Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas, who were announced in April. 

Maruyama competed in the Presidents Cup in 1998 and 2000, compiling a 6-2-0 record, including a 5-0-0 performance in the former, when the International Team defeated the U.S. Team in Australia, 20.5-11.5. He is one of only six players in Presidents Cup history to post a 5-0-0 record on the week.

“I am thrilled to announce Shigeki as my fifth captain’s assistant for the 2024 Presidents Cup,” said Weir. “His record in this event speaks for itself, but more importantly, he adds a trusted voice in our team room and is someone who will inspire these 12 players through his unwavering support and dynamic personality.”

Maruyama won three times during his PGA TOUR career, with his last victory coming at the 2003 Wyndham Championship. The 54-year-old posted three top-10 finishes in major championships, including a career-best T4 at the 2004 U.S. Open. Maruyama won 10 times on the Japan Golf Tour and represented Japan in the 2002 World Cup of Golf, partnering with Toshimitsu Izawa to notch a two-shot victory over the United States team of Phil Mickelson and David Toms.

“Representing the International Team in the Presidents Cup as both a player in 1998 and 2000 and later as a captain’s assistant in 2013 was one of the most valuable experiences in my golf career,” said Maruyama. “I am honored that Captain Weir has given me the chance to be part of this special brotherhood once again. I am looking forward to a great week in Montreal and helping to deliver an incredible atmosphere for our players and fans in Canada.”

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.

Evan Brown, Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, Hole #6

It was a 172 yard, par 3, 7 iron to back right pin. The special moment was I was playing with my 12 year old son. It’s my second hole-in-one, the first was 28 years ago!

Jim Laursen, Ardmore Golf Course, Hole #17

I was playing with Pat Davies, Nick Wishlaw and Bill Schuss on our regular dime and quarter match on a Friday. We usually play what we call “short 17” so that we can shoot for “closest to the pin” on the 90 yard hole. One of the boys had put his shot quite close and was crowing about his likely, “big cash win.” I was last to tee off, grabbed a wedge and told them not to count me out just yet. I was the most surprised when my shot took two hops and rolled into the hole. I then pocketed the, “closest to the pin” money but put it towards a cool one for my partners back at the clubhouse.

Wade Jones, Otter Creek Golf Club, Hole #12

I have been playing for about 50 years now and although I have had a number of near misses this is only my second hole-in-one. We had three groups of guys and great weather for our trip to Otter Creek that day. For equipment it was a TaylorMade day as I was playing my SIM2 irons and using a TaylorMade and a Tour Response golf ball. On hole #12, I hit my 6 iron to the pin which was 170 yards on the scope and back left of the green. Unfortunately, as this green is elevated and sloped front to back, we did not get to see it roll into the hole. I knew that I hit a great looking shot but as our group (Steve Killaire, Murray Ball and myself) got onto the green we could see the other balls but not mine until I kidded that it must be in the hole. I took a look and sure enough there it was. It was a great feeling and well worth the bar tab afterwards.

Bill Eggert, Fairview Mountain Golf Club, Hole #15

Pretty amazing for a 34 something handicap! It was hole #15 (in the bowl). 84 yards and I used an approach iron. Hit the green 10 feet in front and rolled right in. I was golfing with Hap May, Ron Fontaine and a friend of theirs whose name I can’t remember. I golf with them once or twice a year when they come up for their holiday. They were long time customers of mine when I owned the winery next door to the golf course, and we have remained friends. 

A much better accomplishment in my books was breaking 100 last Saturday at Nk’mip.

Rob Armitage, Essex Golf & Country Club, Hole #5

I was out on the course with Jeff Miller, Maggie Miller and my wonderful wife, Deb Armitage. Interestingly, the day before, Jeff had come incredibly close to a hole-in-one on the same hole. We were still chuckling about that when I stepped up to take my shot. Playing 163 yards with a helpful wind, I hit an eight iron that sailed perfectly toward the flag. Based on the divot, it landed just six inches in front of the pin and then rolled in. It was an unforgettable moment and a memory I’ll cherish forever.

Telesa Brown, Heritage Pointe Golf Club, Hole #14

It was hole #5 on the Heritage nine. I was golfing with my husband. The hole was 85 yards and I used my pitching wedge.

Paul Callanan, Brampton Golf Club Limited, Hole #3

I hit an 8 iron, because the wind was coming toward us and because the greens were a little soft due to the rain and aeration about a week before. I was playing with Bob Bates, Frank Dykstra and Gordon Drakes in a weekly tournament of about 40 guys at Brampton Golf Club that we call “Friboyz.”

Ron Spence, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hole #4

The weather was a perfect Okanagan morning, sunny, clear, calm and +24 degrees celsius. I was playing with my buddies Roy Millar, Shawn Flett and Carl Lawrence. Hole #4 is a 155 yard elevated tee about 150 feet above the hole. The pin was at the back of the green past a ridge. I had the honors and Roy said, “if we land on the right side at the top of the ridge the ball should roll right into the cup.” Roy has a rangefinder and with slope correction the distance was 144 yards.

I teed up a Titleist one ball and with my 35 year old Ping Persimmon 5 wood, (I also have driver, 3, and 7 Persimmons), hit a high easy shot that hit the top of the ridge, bounced once and rolled about 35 feet into the hole, amazing feeling. It’s my first hole-in-one in 60 years of golfing. I have hit the pin at the Brandon Golf and Country Club with a brand new Mercury Cougar as a prize. Another time I rolled right around the hole at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf course with a price of a trip for four to St. Andrews Golf Club in Scotland. My only other near hole-in-one was leaving the ball on the lip at Kelowna Springs Golf course with a $20,000 cash prize. This day was not during a tournament but I will treasure the moment for life and the folks at Black Mountain Golf Course were great.

RESORT VILLAGE OF ELK RIDGE, Saskatchewan – Team Canada member A.J. Ewart claimed his first professional victory at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open presented by Lake Country Co-op and moved into the No. 14 position of the Fortinet Cup. John Keefer captured his fourth runner-up finish alongside Grant Booth and Brendon Doyle. Six players tied for fifth.

Ewart made his fifth start of the PGA TOUR Americas season this week and gained entry into the field via sponsor exemption. The 25-year-old began and ended the tournament at the top of the leaderboard after finalizing Thursday’s first round in solo possession of the lead. Through 36 holes, Ewart shared the lead with three other players and reclaimed the individual lead by one stroke after Saturday’s third round. At one point Sunday afternoon, with four holes remaining, Ewart was part of a four-way tie for the lead. A birdie on No. 16 boosted Ewart back to the top, and with late bogeys from playing partners Chuan-Tai Lin and Bryce Lewis, Ewart claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole.

With his victory, Ewart became a fully exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas for the rest of the 2024 season and through the Latin America Swing of 2025. From relying on sponsor exemptions to get into events to now having a place to play until next season, Ewart relays, “It’s really special just having some job security, right, and knowing where you’re going to be and plan ahead. The last month and a half or two months have been kind of chaotic, I didn’t know where I was going to be or what I was going to be doing, just playing everywhere and whatnot. Now it’s nice to know exactly what’s going to happen.”

Not only did a victory secure Ewart exempt membership, but it moved him 155 spots up the Fortinet Cup to No. 14 in the points list. Given that Ewart is safely inside the top 120 of the Fortinet Cup, he is expected to play in the next two full-field events, as well as the limited-field, season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship. The top 10 players in the Fortinet Cup following the conclusion of the Fortinet Cup Championship will earn Korn Ferry Tour cards for the 2025 season.

“Yeah, obviously it’s special, right,” said Ewart on the opportunity to content for a Korn Ferry Tour card. “That’s what we want to be. We want to keep moving on up and eventually make our way to the PGA TOUR. To have a chance for a Korn Ferry Tour card is everything that I could wish for. I’m thankful to be in this position and looking to make the most of the opportunity.”

Prior to this season, the Coquitlam native entered into his first year as a professional after graduating from a four-year collegiate career at Barry University. He accounted for 14 collegiate victories, breaking the previous record held by PGA TOUR player Adam Svensson. Upon graduation, Ewart qualified for PGA TOUR Canada, but on the outcome of only three made cuts, finished No. 89 in the Fortinet Cup and lost status.

Moving into his second season as a professional in 2024, Ewart appeared in three other events (prior to the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open) on the basis of sponsor exemptions, as well as a fourth event due to his season-best and top-25 finish at the Explore NB Open (T25/-14). With Sunday’s victory, Ewart will round out the rest of the season as a fully exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas, and is expected to be in the field at next week’s CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open.

Waiting about 10 minutes to find out he won the 2024 Rogers Charity Classic didn’t bother Ken Tanigawa one bit.

After all, Tanigawa hadn’t experienced victory on the PGA Tour Champions circuit since winning the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in June 2019.

“It has not sunk in, but it feels amazing,” said the 56-year-old American golfer, who was born in Japan but currently resides in Scottsdale, Ariz. 

“Every year that goes by, you’re not getting younger. You kind of wonder, sure, if you’ll ever win. You sprinkle hope out there. You hope you can and you keep working at your game.”

A day after tying the course record at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club, Tanigawa had eight birdies during a round of 6-under 64 on Sunday to finish atop the leaderboard at 17 under.

“I played an amazing round yesterday, but you just let it go,” said Tanigawa, who won US$360,000. “You’re starting all over from scratch again today.

“I didn’t think about it or carry on. Expectations to shoot low weren’t there — not to play good nor bad. Just go out and you do your best from the first shot on and see what you can shoot.”

Tanigawa had already finished his round when he found out his final score of 193 was good enough to beat second-place finisher Richard Green by two strokes.

“I was told that Richard bogeyed 17, so he needed to eagle 18 and I knew it was hard to get home in two,” Tanigawa said. “You never know. Weird things happen in this game, so it was nice that it was over.”

Tied at 16 under with Green through 16 holes, Tanigawa birdied the par-4, 17th hole. Playing in the last group, Green bogeyed the hole and then only managed to par No. 18 to finish alone in second place at 15 under.

“It’s just a shame that things just at the end there didn’t really fall my way,” said Green, who finished second for the third time this season. “I thought they were going my way there a little bit through the middle of the round, and probably my start today (with a bogey on the first hole) didn’t really help me very much.

“It’s nice to be competing and contending for golf tournaments. It’s fun. I enjoy being out there contending week in, week out, and I’ll keep rattling the cage.”

Darren Clarke and Jason Caron finished in a tie for third at 14 under, while Mario Tiziani was alone in fifth at 13 under.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Stephen Ames and Mike Weir both shot rounds of 3-under 67 on Sunday.

Ames, a former Calgary resident, finished as the top Canadian at 10 under in a six-way tie for 10th place.

“It wasn’t the greatest ball striking, but I got it around,” Ames said. “I was able to capitalize on holes that I hit some good shots on and made birdies with it.

“Overall it was a bit up and down, but I think it was good that I was handling the bad shots and moving forward and not worrying about too much.”

Currently sitting second in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup money behind Ernie Els, who also finished at 10 under in Calgary, Ames received a nice ovation from the crowd when he walked up to the 18th green before tapping in his par putt.

“Every time I come back here I get that, so it’s wonderful,” Ames said. “No matter where I finish, you get that reward, which is nice. I think all our Canadian fellows get that.”

Weir finished the tournament in an eight-way tie for 20th at 8 under.

“Overall, I felt like I played pretty good so hopefully that will be momentum (for) next week,” said Weir, who will tee it up at The Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Mich., from next Thursday to Sunday.

“It’s phenomenal here at this event. This is one of the premium events on the PGA Tour Champions. The fan support is incredible for myself, Stephen and all the other Canadians, so it’s a great place to play.”

Alan McLean of London, Ont., carded an even-par round of 70 on Sunday to finish one shot back of Weir in a tie for 28th spot.

Gordon Burns of Ajax, Ont., carded a 2-under round of 68 on Sunday to finish the event in a tie for 73rd at 4 over, while Calgary’s Steve Blake shot 79 and finished well back of the leaders at 22 over.

Ibit was seven shots back of the leader after second round;
Spencer Shropshire tops Juvenile division;
Team Ontario wins Inter-Provincial Team Championship

Innisfail, Alta. – The saying it’s not over until it’s over certainly applied this week as Isaiah Ibit fired a final round of 6-under 66 to come from two shots back to win the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta on Friday.

“It’s really nice and it’s kind of bittersweet because it’s my last junior tournament as my junior career is over but it’s pretty surreal, it hasn’t really sunk in yet as of right now. I’m just worried about getting to school first,” said Ibit following his round.

His 66 propelled him to a final score of 16-under, five shots clear of Charlie Gillespie of Calgary, Alta, posting rounds of 67-72-67-66-272.

Ibit of Orleans, Ont. entered the day at 10-under, trailing Spencer Shropshire of Ramara, Ont. who held the lead following rounds two and three. On Friday, Shropshire opened with a bogey to pull Ibit to within one. They would both go on to birdie the second and fourth holes, keeping Shropshire ahead by one through six. Ibit grabbed a share of the lead with his third birdie of the day at no. 7 putting both competitors at 13-under.  

“I was one back and I knew Spencer was going to be really solid and he wasn’t going to come back to me so I figured I needed to make some good birdies and capitalize and when he ended up missing that short putt for bogey I knew that I had the lead and from there I knew that I couldn’t give it up and just kind of build on it,” added Ibit.

It was on the eighth hole where the Team Canada NextGen member grabbed the solo lead and he did not relinquish it following a double bogey from Shropshire, Ibit went two ahead.

He opened his back nine with four consecutive pars followed by back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 before adding another for good measure on 18 to finish at 16-under. Through the week Ibit found success on no. 18 going birdie-eagle-eagle-birdie over four rounds.

After Wednesday’s second round and a second consecutive inter-provincial team title, Ibit found himself seven shots back of the lead and responded with a solid round on Thursday.

“After we won the inter-provincial cup title for Ontario, I knew that Thursday would have to be a pretty big moving day especially considering I was seven back, so I knew I had a lot of ground to make up and thankfully I played a really good round that day,” said Ibit of his 5-under 67 on Thursday.

Ibit who joined Golf Canada’s Team Canada NextGen program ahead of this season was complimentary of the staff who have helped him get here.

“Team Canada has been great and really helping me develop as a player both physically, golf wise and mentally it’s been great to work with the coaches and everyone at Golf Canada just really willing to help me get better,” he said.

Ibit’s junior career has now come to a close as he will be heading to Kent State University, where he will compete as a member of the Golden Flashes similar to Canadian PGA TOUR winners, Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith.

“This summer has gone by really fast. Didn’t seem long ago where I was playing in March as there was still snow on the ground up here, so it’s gone by pretty fast but it’s nice to end off the season with this,” he reflected.

Shropshire finished with a 3-over 75 to finish the tournament at 9-under and win the Juvenile division for players 17-and-under. Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. and Eddie Gu of Aurora, Ont. finished at 7-under to tie for second in the Juvenile division.

On Tuesday, Team Ontario successfully defended their title as the Inter-Provincial Team champions, finishing with a combined score of 10-under to beat Team British Columbia by two. Along with Ibit and Pain, Team Ontario was represented by Gabriel Mainella of Markham, Ont. Team B.C. finished at 8-under and were represented by Austin Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C., Ryan Vest of Vernon, B.C. and Manpreet Lalh of Nanaimo, B.C. Team Alberta rounded out the top three finishing at 5-under.

In addition to his national championship, Ibit has also earned an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2025 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

For the final standings at the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.