Sisters Morgane and Kim Metraux, shot 68 and 69, respectively, for a 7-under-par total of 137 to propel Switzerland to a one-stroke lead over the Republic of Korea after the first round of the 27th Women’s World Amateur Team Championships (WWATC).

The team’s score of 137 on the par 72, 6,295-yard/5,752-meter Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club ties for the third-lowest first-round score in championship history.

Starting on the 10th hole, Morgan, 19, finished her round on the outward nine at 5-under-par 31, which included a three-hole stretch in which she recorded two consecutive birdies followed by an eagle. She ended her round with a birdie on the ninth for a 4-under 68.

“I actually had a bad nine to start with a double bogey but I made a 90-foot putt for an eagle on the fifth hole, my 14th,” Metraux said. “I just focused and the score just came. It is always better to just try to enjoy the day. I think I only missed one or two fairways, which is the key here.”

Her older sister Kim, 21, posted four birdies and a bogey for her 3-under 69 and was visibly proud of the team’s accomplishment.

“It’s always good to see your country’s name,” Kim said. “It’s always good at the top of the leaderboard.”

Teammate Azelia Meichtry shot a non-counting 1-over 73 and said: “It’s nice and kind of an unexpected first day but it is well deserved. We all get along together very well.”

The siblings, playing in their second consecutive WWATC, are members of the Florida State University women’s golf team.

The Republic of Korea, which won the Espirito Santo Trophy in 2010 and 2012 and previously in 1996, posted a 6-under 138 on 68 from Hyun Kyung Park and a 70 from Hye Jin Choi, who was the low amateur at the 2016 U.S. Women’s Open, as both players shot 3-under 33 on their inward nine holes.

“I didn’t expect to be tied for the lead on the individual leaderboard, but I am very happy,” said the 16-year-old Park. “I am really willing to make history and win the championship as Korea did in 2010 and 2012 because those players have had great success on the LPGA Tour and I want to follow in their footsteps so that other juniors can look up to me the same way I look up to them.”

“On the front nine all of us were struggling and I really didn’t expect to be in this position but on the back nine all of them got back to their routine,” added Republic of Korea captain Sang-Won Ko. “I’m really proud of them to be one off the lead today.”

The Koreans played on the par 72, 6,167-yard/5,637-meter Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club.

In third position at 142, five strokes behind Switzerland was Japan. Nasa Hatoaka and Hina Arakaki both shot 1-under 71.

“We had a three-day camp in Houston (Texas in the USA) before we got here and we practiced putting and chipping and short game drills,” said Japanese captain Tomoko Sakamoto.  “We had a great camp and they are ready to score well but we have to avoid the hazards so we can score better than today.”

The Canadian trio struggled out of the gate, posting a first round score of 5-over par to sit in a tie for 23^rd, 12 strokes back of the lead. Maddie Szeryk, 20, of Allen, Tex., led the Canucks with a 2-over 74 for a share of 30^th individually. Teammate Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., finished one-stroke higher at 75 (+3) and sits tied for 50^th. The third and non-counting score was registered by St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., product Josée Doyon, who posted a 6-over 78.

In the top 10 team scoring list, The People’s Republic of China was fourth at 1-under 143, followed by Mexico, the host country in fifth at even-par 144. Thailand was sixth at 145. Tied for seventh at 146 were Austria, Chinese Taipei, Ireland and USA.  Australia, Ecuador, England, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and Puerto Rico were tied for 11th at 148.

Conducted every two years, the World Women’s Amateur Team Championship has been staged since 1964, with the winner earning the Espirito Santo Trophy. In 2014, Australia claimed the title by two strokes over the Canadian team of Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.), Augusta James (Bath, Ont.), and Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.).

In 25 appearances at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has earned runner-up honours four times.

The World Amateur Team titles are contested over four days of stroke play. A country may field a team of two or three players. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day total is the team’s score for the championship.

Click here for full results.

MEXICO – The trio of Canadian women are set to make their first appearance at the World Amateur Team Championship when action gets underway tomorrow at the Mayakoba El Cameleon Golf Club and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club.

Representing Canada will be Maddie Szeryk, 20, of Allen, Texas, Josée Doyon, 23, of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., and Naomi Ko, 19, of Victoria. The Canadians will be paired with China and Spain for Wednesday’s first round, with Szeryk starting things off at 8:15 a.m. EST followed by Doyon at 8:25 a.m. EST and Ko at 8:35 a.m. EST.

The Canadian contingent will be under the direction and guidance of Team Canada Head Coach Tristan Mullally—who returns for his third event—alongside non-playing team captain Liz Hoffman.

Conducted every two years, the World Women’s Amateur Team Championship has been staged since 1964, with the winner earning the Espirito Santo Trophy. In 2014, Australia claimed the title by two strokes over the Canadian team of Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.), Augusta James (Bath, Ont.), and Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.).

In 25 appearances at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has earned runner-up honours four times.

The World Amateur Team titles are contested over four days of stroke play. A country may field a team of two or three players. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day total is the team’s score for the championship.

The men’s World Amateur Team Championship will follow the women’s event, running from Sept. 21-24.

Click here for pairings.
Click here for live scoring.

BURLINGTON, Ont. – Laughter and cheer could be heard for miles across Lake Ontario on Monday at the annual Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event at the Burlington Golf & Country Club.

Over 100 ladies were greeted with sunny skies at one of Canada’s many stunning golf courses to celebrate raising more than $270,000 for breast cancer research through individual Golf Fore the Cure events run coast to coast in 2016.

The National Event, running for the thirteenth consecutive year, featured 18-holes of golf packed with raffles, prizing, and games, followed by an awards dinner to thank the many fundraising efforts put forth by Golf Fore the Cure participants across Canada.

“We are very proud of the continued growth of Golf Fore the Cure and what it has accomplished for both women’s golf and breast cancer research,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “The marked success of this program would not be possible without the collective efforts of our many volunteers, our corporate partners, and our presenting partner Subaru—we are thrilled to have such a great team behind Golf Fore the Cure.”

Through 140 events in 2016 and upwards of 10,000 women, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru raised its fundraising total to-date to over $5.7 million—with all proceeds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Québec Breast Cancer Foundation. As the Canadian Cancer Society’s highest fundraising corporate partner, Golf Canada was honoured with the Golden Corporate Achievement Award on Monday night—the society’s highest accolade.

(Susan Drodge and Jeff Thompson)

The awards dinner gave special attention to foursomes from this year’s top-three fundraising teams, listed below:

1. Golf New Brunswick—$27, 795 (top provincial event) (interview with Evanka Osmak)
2. RedTail Landing Golf Club from Nisku, Alta.—$20,427 (interview with Evanka Osmak)
3. Elk Ridge Resort from Waskesiu, Sask.—$17,765 (interview with Evanka Osmak)

Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru was created in 2003 by Golf Canada to drive women’s participation in the game of golf through the use of fun, non-intimidating activities. Through a unique partnership structure with the Canadian Cancer Society (and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation), the program has women across the country participating in golf activities and raising money and awareness for a cause close to Canadian hearts—the fight against breast cancer.

Subaru Canada has been a proud partner of Golf Fore the Cure since 2007. The company’s extended commitment reaffirms their dedication to making a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

To learn how to get involved with Golf Fore the Cure, visit golfcanada.ca/golfforethecure

Photos from Monday’s National Event can be viewed here.

Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., has already had the kind of season that most junior golfers dream of, but later this month she’ll get to experience the proverbial ‘cherry on top’ of a fine year.

The 16-year-old was just recently chosen to represent Canada at the World Junior Girls Championship at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club – her home course.

“Everybody I know at the club is so thrilled,” says Currie. “They’ve been incredibly supportive of me and Team Canada and the whole event in general. Having everybody there is going to be incredible.”

Earlier this summer Currie defended her Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ Golf Championship, becoming just the fifth golfer in history to accomplish that feat. Names like Sandra Post, Alena Sharp, Marlene Stewart Streit, and Brooke Henderson are the others who have pulled that feat.

Currie also captured the 2016 Ontario Juvenile Girls Championship and collected runner-up results at the CN Future Links Pacific Championship and Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Currie began to play at Mississaugua nearly a decade ago and has been climbing the junior ranks since she was a youngster. She was on Team Ontario for two years before being selected to Golf Canada’s Developmental Squad this year.

Nick Starchuk, the Head Teaching Professional at Mississaugua and coach to Currie, says having her in the field has the potential to be ‘huge for the club’ and Currie knows despite the fact the event is being played at her club, she’s going to treat the event like any other.

“You go away to a tournament, and the members ask or they’ll look (the scores) up online and text or email me, but they’ve never seen it for real,” Currie explains. “It’ll be cool for them to enter my little world.”

Currie, who has verbally committed to the College of Charleston in South Carolina, first thought that her high school – which is only 15 minutes away from the course – was going to have some days off to watch her play. That’s not the case, as it’s still early in the school year, but Currie has been told a number of her friends will be coming to watch her anyway.

“I know there’s a big group that wants to. We’ve been joking about it but I don’t know if it’s actually going to happen,” she says with a laugh. “I know the guys that I’m friends with who are members at Mississaugua – the rest of the juniors – they want to take a day or two off to come and watch.”

And although Currie is focused on a good result, there’s part of her that knows just by participating in front of her home club, she has an opportunity to have an impact on the next generation of golfers.

“That’s what’s cool,” states Currie. “Brooke (Henderson) obviously has inspired so many girls, but she’s inspired me too. I remember when she was playing in (the World Junior Girls Championship) at Angus Glen (in 2014). I remember reading and hearing about that. Brooke was only here two years ago, and it’s kind of incredible that I’m here now.”

Currie says there are two girls at Mississaugua who are less than 10 years old who are ‘so good,’ and Currie knows they are looking up to her.

“That’s what I did when I was nine and 10. They’re adorable and they look up to me, I’ve seen it. It’s cool that now, hopefully, I’m inspiring them a little bit,” she explains. “It’s cool to be inspired yourself, and then you hope that you give it back a little bit too.”

And regardless of her finish, she knows it will be nice to have the club behind her.

“To be able to share this experience with everyone who has been incredibly kind as I was growing up – I mean, they saw me on the range when I was a little girl and now I’m 16, doing this,” Currie says. “It’s pretty cool.”

Nike appears set to add another No. 1 golfer to its stable, this time strictly for the apparel.

ESPN is reporting that Jason Day will sign a deal with Nike to wear its clothes, hat and shoes starting next year. Nike announced last month it is getting out of the equipment business. ESPN cited sources as saying that Day would continue using TaylorMade equipment, but not the Adidas apparel or shoes.

Golfweek magazine said another Day sponsor, Concur, is expanding its deal in which the Australian would have the logo on his bag instead of the crest of his shirt. As noted by reporter Bob Weeks, Nike generally does not allow any other logos on its apparel.

What logos will remain on J-Day’s clothing? Nike usually sole one. RBC negotiating a new deal and hopes to stay on collar.

— Bob Weeks (@BobWeeksTSN) September 13, 2016

Nike previously had Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods when they were No. 1, both full-line deals involving apparel and golf clubs.

CALGARY – Many golfers will be heading back to school with a scholarship this year, after Alberta Golf announced the 2016 scholarship recipients.

The successful applicants include past Team Alberta members, past Interprovincial Team members, Alberta Junior Champions, Alberta Amateur Champions, as well as students who simply enjoy the sport.

Alberta Golf’s scholarship program is open to all applicants pursuing their academic interests such that golfing ability is not a requirement. More than 20 of the recipients are past junior players who have competed in Alberta Golf’s provincial championships and several continue to play at a post-secondary level.

Scholarship applications are evaluated by a committee of volunteers based on the criteria of financial need, grade point average and volunteer experience. The funds for the scholarships are generated through a yearly casino, the generosity of patrons and from various donors and foundations.

The 2016 scholarship recipients are:
Lindsay Almberg, Barrett Belland, Katie Benoit, Quinn Ceplis, Andrew Chelack, Celine Copeland, Courtney Dickson, Claire Emery, Jolene Freerksen, Kevin Gfrerer, Heather Gisi, Patrick Gobran, Andrew Harrison, Bria Jansen, Conaire Kehoe, Peter Keith, Kat Kennedy, Alissa Kuhn, Julie Kuhn, Brendan Kuny, Carolyn Lee, Daria Leidenius, Shaye Leidenius, Erin Martens, Kate Martens, Scott McNichol, Melanie Murchison, Brandon Murphy, Hamzah Naeem, Nathan Nobert, Jack Pengelly, Allan Pruss, Michael Pruss, Dalton Ronan, Elliot Saive, Tyler Saunders, Luke Scanlon, Amanda Sha, Tyler Vandermeer, Mackenzie Walker, Sydney Weber, Rachel Wiebe and Jack Wood.

The application process for the 2017 academic year starts January 1, with a deadline of July 15, 2017. For more information on the application process, click here.

Individual and corporate donations are greatly appreciated. Each donation is eligible to receive a tax receipt. To donate online at any time, click here.

The Freedom 55 Financial Championship is the final of 12 events on the 2016 schedule, with three events in as many weeks to close out the race to finish in The Five and earn status on the Web.com Tour for 2016. The top 60 players on the Order of Merit through the Niagara Championship make the field and retain exempt status on the Mackenzie Tour for the 2017 season.

The event returns to the Stanley Thompson-designed Highland Country Club for the second year, where in 2015 Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Jason Millard defeated defending champion Ryan Williams of Vancouver in a playoff to move from 30^th on the Order of Merit into fifth, earning status on the Web.com Tour for this season.

Final stop in the race for The Five

This week’s by Freedom 55 Financial Championship is the final chance for players to earn status on the Web.com Tour for next season. Below is a breakdown of the Web.com Tour status available by position on the 2015 Order of Merit.

McCarthy secures exempt Web.com Tour status

Thanks to an unprecedented season of four wins and $156,783 in earnings, Syracuse, New York’s Dan McCarthy has removed all suspense from the chase for the top spot on the Order of Merit. With a $77,508 lead over No. 2 Brock Mackenzie heading into this week, the 31-year old is mathematically guaranteed to finish No. 1 on the season-long money list, earning fully exempt status on the Web.com Tour for 2017.

About Dan McCarthy:

Full name: Daniel Thomas McCarthy
Height/Weight: 6’0”/200 lbs.
Hometown: Syracuse, New York
Residence: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Birthdate: July 30, 1985
Education: Le Moyne College (2007, Marketing)
Mackenzie Tour wins: 2016 Freedom 55 Financial Open, 2016 GolfBC Championship, 2016 Players Cup, 2016 Cape Breton Open
Records set in 2016: Most wins in a season (4), Highest single-season earnings ($156,783), Largest margin of victory (7 strokes, GolfBC Championship/Players Cup), Low 72-hole score (259, GolfBC Championship/Players Cup)
Mackenzie Tour leader in the following statistical categories: Eagles (11), Scoring Average (68.06), Top 10 finishes (7), Birdie Average (4.81), Par-4 Scoring Average (3.89).

McCarthy leads the way in the current top five heading into this week:

Wise looking to hold on to ‘bubble’ position

2016 NCAA Champion Aaron Wise comes into the Freedom 55 Financial Championship on the verge of finishing in The Five and earning Web.com Tour status, currently holding the coveted fifth spot. The Lake Elsinore, California native became the youngest winner of the PGA TOUR era on the Mackenzie Tour earlier this year when he captured the Syncrude Oil Country Championship presented by AECON at 20 years, 1 month and 10 days old, and in six starts has yet to finish outside the top-15.

Any player currently 32^nd or better on the Order of Merit has the mathematical possibility of moving inside The Five with a win this week. Below are the top 32 and their minimum required finish to surpass Wise in fifth place.

Cornelson comes back strong in 2016
Following a season where he finished 94^th on the Order of Merit, Langley, B.C.’s Adam Cornelson has produced a career season in 2016, with a win at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist and five top-25 finishes. The 28-year old holds the fourth spot on the Order of Merit, in position to earn the Dan Halldorson Trophy as Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year along with a $25,000 prize.

Currently, five Canadian players are in contention for the award. Below are the 11 players and their minimum required finish to surpass current top Canadian Adam Cornelson.

Canadians in the Field: 12

Adam Cornelson – Langley, B.C.
Austin Connelly – Church Point, N.S.
Michael Gligic – Burlington, Ont.
Ryan Williams – Vancouver, B.C.
Max Gilbert – St. Georges, Qc.
Seann Harlingten – West Vancouver, B.C.
Brad Clapp – Chilliwack, B.C.
Wil Bateman – Edmonton, Alta.
James Love – Calgary, Alta.
Cory Renfrew – Victoria, B.C.
Sebastian Szirmak – Toronto, Ont.
Aaron Cockerill – Stonewall, Man.

(Listowel, Ont.’s Corey Conners qualified at No. 19 on the Order of Merit, but is opting to play the remainder of the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica season)
Notes on the field

• Countries represented: United States (39), Canada (12), England (2), France (1), French Polynesia (1), Zimbabwe (1), Germany (1).
• 30 players who earned status at Qualifying Schools this Spring (8 USA East No. 1/Reunion, 9 USA East No. 2/PGA Village, 5 California, 8 British Columbia).
• 23 players who had never held status on the Mackenzie Tour prior to 2016.
• Nine players who turned professional after completing their NCAA seasons this past spring: Taylor Moore/Arkansas, Aaron Wise/Oregon, Max Rottluff/Arizona State, Carter Jenkins/North Carolina, Will Starke/South Carolina, Paul Barjon/Texas Christian, Jonathan Garrick/UCLA, Hank Lebioda/Florida State, Sean Kelly/South Carolina.

Thornbury, ONT. – Ontario’s Blue Mountain region will host this week’s PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf.

The 54-hole national championship takes place Sept. 13-15 at The Golf Club at Lora Bay and features a field loaded with talent.

“The PGA of Canada is very excited about visiting the Blue Mountains region of Ontario and the magnificent Golf Club at Lora Bay this week,” said PGA of Canada president Steve Wood. “The PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf annually features some of the best players in our association and this year might be our best field ever.”

For first and second round tee times, click here.

Nestled in the Blue Mountains, the Golf Club at Lora Bay offers a playable round of golf that pays tribute to historic rural Ontario.  The dramatic course design was dictated by the dynamic forested shoreline of the brilliant Georgian Bay.

“We are thrilled to host the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf,” said Lora Bay’s head golf professional Nate Clingersmith. “There’s nothing quite like the Blue Mountains and Lora Bay in the fall.”

Co-designed by the former No. 1-ranked golfer in the world Tom Lehman and famed architect Thomas McBroom, the golf course has received numerous accolades over the years.

Celebrating its’ 10th anniversary, Lora Bay has hosted a number of impressive events over the years, including the 2007 World Skins Game and the Web.Com’s Wayne Gretzky Classic from 2008-2010.

There will also be a 36-hole Inter-Zone competition compiled of four players on each team representing their respective PGA Zone and is contested over the first two rounds.

Admittance to the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada is free and spectators are encouraged to attend during championship play.

CARMEL, Ind. – Dustin Johnson knows as well as anyone that no matter how good he is and how well he plays, something can always go wrong in golf.

Just not this week at the BMW Championship.

Not this year, really.

An awesome talent, Johnson is starting to pile up the victories to prove it. He ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch to regain control Sunday, left Paul Casey feeling helpless by matching his eagle putt late in the round and sailed home to a 5-under 67 for a three-shot victory at Crooked Stick.

“Ran into a buzz saw,” Casey said after a 67 to finish runner-up in a FedEx Cup playoff event for the second straight week. “That was something special the last two days, and I did everything I could. So I’m holding my head up very high.”

Johnson, though, it at another level right now.

Known for so many years as the guy who couldn’t catch a break in the biggest events, he won for the third time in eight starts dating to his first major at the U.S. Open. And this might have been his most complete performance. Powerful off the tee, relentless with the putter, dialed with his wedges, there was no stopping him.

“I’ve got a lot of confidence in every part of my game,” Johnson said.

He just doesn’t have much to say about it, mainly because he doesn’t need to.

Casey’s last hope came on the par-5 15th when he rolled in a 25-foot eagle putt to get within one shot. That lasted as long as it took Johnson to line up his 18-foot eagle putt and pour it in to restore his three-shot margin.

He finished at 23-under 265 and went over $9 million in earnings for the year, along with taking the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup to the finale in two weeks at East Lake for the Tour Championship.

The consolation for Casey, along with $1,836,000 for his two runner-up finishes, was the No. 5 seed at the Tour Championship in two weeks. That means he only has to win at East Lake to capture the $10 million bonus.

Rickie Fowler won’t have any chance at all.

Fowler, who started the week at No. 22 in the FedEx Cup , closed with a 71 and finished 59th at Crooked Stick. He was bumped out of the top 10 by the smallest margin in the 10-year history of the FedEx Cup – 0.57 points behind Charl Schwartzel, who closed with a 64.

The timing is particularly bad for Fowler because Davis Love III makes three of his captain’s picks for the Ryder Cup on Monday, with another one right after the Tour Championship. Fowler won’t have another chance to audition, though he might get picked on Monday, anyway.

Asked if he had done enough to be picked, Fowler said, “I would like to think so.”

“I’ve done basically everything I can do as far as schedule and playing,” said Fowler, who left the Olympics to play the following week on the PGA Tour. “It would have been nice to play better to make the pick a lot easier on him. But whether he has his mind made up or is still thinking, that’s up to him.”

Fowler’s hopes came down to J.B. Holmes in a finish that had nothing to do with the trophy. Fowler would have made it to the Tour Championship if Holmes made either a birdie or a bogey. Holmes would have been eliminated with a bogey.

He drilled it down the middle of the fairway, hit the green, lagged a 40-foot putt to 4 feet and made it for par for a 74.

“I envisioned it being a little bit better than that going into the day, but that’s how it is,” Holmes said. “You don’t always have your best game, and I was able to finish it off and get in the Tour Championship.”

Holmes tied for fourth, key for him because the big hitter from Kentucky also needs a captain’s pick to play in the Ryder Cup. Holmes finished at No. 10 in the Ryder Cup standings, one spot ahead of Fowler. David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., shot a 71 to finish the event tied for 32nd at 5-under 283.

“I feel like I played well enough to get that shot,” Holmes said. “We’ll see.”

Roberto Castro holed out for eagle from the seventh fairway on his way to a 67 to finish alone in third, sending the Georgia Tech grad and Atlanta resident home to play in the Tour Championship for the second time.

All this activity was far more compelling than the actual tournament, for Johnson never looked as though he was going to lose – no matter how well Casey played. Casey is playing some of his best golf in seven years, and he now has a clear shot at the $10 million bonus at East Lake.

Maybe.

“If I don’t run into Dustin in two weeks,” he said, “I got a great chance to maybe win the FedEx Cup.”