BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – It wasn’t meant to be for Canada’s two remaining competitors at the 116^th playing of the Men’s U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.

Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., came up just short in a comeback bid against Denver, Colo., product Kyler Dunkle, losing by a hole. The 28-year-old journeyman was down 3 holes heading to the 15^th, and managed to cut the deficit to 1 hole with two to play. Rank failed to capitalize on a bogey from Dunkle on the par-4 18^th, matching his score to remain 1 hole back for the loss.

Rank will look to rebound next week as he tries for three consecutive wins at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Golf-Château-Bromont from Aug. 22-26 in Bromont, Que.

Fellow Canadian and Team Canada Amateur Squad member Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., came up just short in a back-and-forth affair with Brad Dalke of Norman, Okla. The pair duelled with nine lead changes in the match, with the nod eventually going to Dalke following back-to-back wins on the final two holes for a 2-up victory.

Hamilton won’t leave with any hardware, but he did manage an eagle on the par-5 2^nd hole today to add to his hole-in-one in yesterday’s Round of 64 match.

Click here for full scoring.

PONOKA, Alta. – Wolf Creek Golf Resort’s Old Course will welcome Canada’s top 25-and-over golfing talents for the 2016 edition of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship. The 46^th playing of the competition will be conducted from August 24 to 26 where winners in four divisions will be crowned.

Competitors over 25 will vie for the Mid-Amateur title, while players over 40 will also be eligible in the Mid-Master competition. Players over 50 will also play for the Senior championship and those 60-and-over will also compete for the Super Senior title over the tournament’s first 36 holes.

Located just north of Red Deer, Alta., the Old Course at Wolf Creek Golf Resort is a Rod Whitman design and was founded in 1984. The course’s natural beauty boasts sprawling fairways mounted across natural hills and dunes, nestled against scenic tree-lined ravines.

“There is a timeless, classic feel to The Wolf,” said General Manager Laura Witvoet. “We couldn’t be happier to share our course with these extremely talented ladies.”

“Wolf Creek Golf Resort is a fantastic setting for this national championship,” added Tournament Director Dan Hyatt. “The Old Course is in great shape and will provide a very good test for our talented field. The organizing committee and the community of Ponoka have done a great job; this tournament will be a wonderful experience for our players.”

Many of the nation’s most accomplished golfers have showcased their skills on the national stage provided by this championship. This year’s competition will see several Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members and a number of former champions compete to once again enter the winner’s circle at this tournament.

Returning to defend a trio of titles will be Terrill Samuel. The Etobicoke, Ont., native finished 3-under 210 at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort in Camlachie, Ont., to claim victories in the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Senior divisions. The Weston Golf & Country Club member, who also captured the 2012 Senior title, will be joined by reigning Super Senior champion Joey Bush of Aurora, Ont.

Mary Ann Hayward will attempt to add another national title to her lengthy list of accolades. The Aurora, Ont., native is a member of both the Ontario and Quebec Golf Halls of Fame, and was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. The 56-year-old’s storied career includes four Amateur championships, three Senior victories, as well as the 2008 Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master titles.

A trio of British Columbians hope to add to their legacies through this championship. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and four-time Senior champion Alison Murdoch of Victoria will play alongside a pair of Port Alberni, B.C., natives in two-time Senior winner Jackie Little, who also captured the inaugural Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master titles in 2007, and five-time Mid-Amateur champion Christina Proteau.

Hélène Chartrand of Pincourt, Que., returns to the championship in which she claimed the 2014 Senior and Mid-Master titles.

An inter-provincial team championship will be conducted in conjunction with the first two rounds of tournament play. Team Ontario enters the competition as defending champions, having claimed a two-stroke victory over Team Alberta last year.

Following the opening two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties from the senior division. In addition, all players eligible for the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions posting 36-hole scores equal to the final qualifier in the senior division will advance to the final two rounds. A minimum of 10 Mid-Amateur and five Mid-Master competitors will make the cut.

The 2016 Canadian Women’s Senior champion will gain an exemption into the 2016 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship to be contested at Wellesley Country Club in Wellesley, Mass., from September 17-22.

Additional information regarding the championship can be found here.

CHILLIWACK, B.C. – Development Squad member Hannah Lee went the distance on Thursday to record the victory at the B.C. Juvenile Girls’ Championship at the Chilliwack Golf Club.

The Surrey, B.C., product entered the final round of 54-hole tournament tied with 13-year-old Akari Hayashi of Victoria at 3-under par. Lee held a one-stroke advantage through nine holes before eventually pulling away from Hayashi on the par-4 13^th with a four-stroke swing. Lee went on to finish at 5-under for the tournament for a five stroke victory.

It was an extra sweet win for the 16-year-old, who relinquished a 4-shot final-round lead in last year’s event to finish runner-up.

“Last year I was leading going into the final round, so yes, it feels really good to finish this one off and win it,” said Lee.

In the boys’ division, Langley’s Khan Lee came out on top with a score of 5-under par (75-70-66) for a two-stroke victory over runner up Jeevan Sihota of Victoria.

The 2017 British Columbia Golf Juvenile Boys’ & Girls’ Championships will be held at Granite Pointe GC in Nelson.

Click here for full scoring.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A pair of Canadians have advanced through to the Round of 32 on Wednesday at the 116^th playing of the Men’s U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.

Garrett Rank, the reigning Canadian Mid-Amateur champion, continues to perform at a high level despite balancing his time as a full-time NHL referee. The 47^th seeded Elmira, Ont., native defeated American Benjamin Griffin 1up to advance to Thursday’s action. He’ll ride his momentum into play tomorrow against Kyler Dunkle at 9:10 am EDT.

Joining Rank is National Amateur Squad member Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont. Hamilton wowed fans with an ace on the par-3 9^th for a sure win of the hole against opponent John Oda of Honolulu, Hawaii. The 22-year-old Team Canada vet went on to record a 4&2 victory. The University of Houston senior is geared to square off with Norman, Olka. product Brad Dalke at 10:00 am EDT.

What a day! #OnToTheNextOne #holeinone #USAmateur @canadahill65 @oaklandhillscc @USGA @TheGolfCanada pic.twitter.com/DWt3xq3cHr

— Blair Hamilton (@BlairHamilton12) August 17, 2016

Both remaining Canadians will look to accomplish what current Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Corey Conners did in 2014 when he finished runner-up—eventually going on to earn Top Amateur honours at The Masters.

Fellow countrymen Austin James (Bath, Ont.) and Team Canada’s Hugo Bernard (Mont-St-Hilaire, Que.) failed to advance past the opening round of match play.

The 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play, followed by six rounds of match play, concluding with Sunday’s 36-hole championship.

Click here for live scoring.

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brooke Henderson battled inconsistency in her first round at the Olympic Golf Course. Teammate Alena Sharp couldn’t seem to get a putt to drop.

Despite those challenges, the two Canadians managed to hang around the middle of the pack Wednesday on a hot, sunny and windy day at the Rio Games.

Henderson did well to finish at 1-under 70 after a rough start while Sharp bookended her round with birdies for a 72. They showed they have the potential to score well on a wide, hilly course that suits their games.

“The way both of them played, there’s a 65 or a 64 in both of them,” said Canadian coach Tristan Mullally. “That’s what you need to potentially get yourself back into contention.”

Canadian Rd. 1 Rio 2016 Interviews: Brooke Henderson – LISTEN  I  Alena Sharp – LISTEN

Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn opened with a 6-under-par 65 for a one-shot lead on Inbee Park and Seiyoung Kim of South Korea. Nicole Broch Larsen of Denmark was in a group of three players at 67 and American Lexi Thompson was in a four-way tie at 68.

“I wasn’t far off today,” Henderson said. “Just a couple mishit shots, a (bad) bunker lie, but that’s going to happen. You just have to move on, learn from it and make a better shot the next time.”

Henderson bogeyed the second hole and found the sand on No. 4 before settling for double bogey. She rebounded with an eagle on the 493-yard, par-5 fifth and added birdies on two of the next three holes.

“Many a player at three-over par through four holes would not recover from there,” Mullally said. “If anything she uses it as motivation to come back even stronger.

“She had a couple double bogeys today and still shot under par.”

The other double came on the 12th when she was well wide of the fairway and needed to hit a provisional ball. Henderson hit a 10-foot putt to avoid a rare triple bogey.

“I don’t see double bogeys on my card very often, which is a good thing,” she said. “But unfortunately I had two today.”

The third-ranked Henderson has enjoyed a strong season on the LPGA Tour with a pair of tournament victories, including her first major title at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Her approach shots were a little off Wednesday as she hit only 12 of 18 greens in regulation.

“My putting was probably the best part of my game today,” she said. “I made a couple long ones for birdie, and then inside 10 feet, I was pretty clutch to save pars a couple times when I needed to, save bogey, save double-bogey a couple times.”

It was the opposite for Sharp, the world No. 81, who couldn’t seem to get her putter going.

She double-bogeyed the fifth hole and added a couple bogeys on the back nine before closing with a birdie.

“You saw some of the guys shoot seven under last week,” Sharp said. “I think it’s doable if you hit the right ridges. The way I’m hitting it right now, I can’t sit here and tell you that it’s out of the question for me.

“If I just get my putter hot, I’ll be good.”

Mullally, who split the day walking the 6,245-yard course with both Canadians, agreed with her.

“It’s hard to watch that kind of round, you feel bad for her because she’s played as well if not better than players shooting four or five under par but just doesn’t have the result for it,” he said.

Play continues through Saturday.

CALGARY – Golf Canada, Canadian Pacific (CP) and a host of partners have unveiled a listing of exciting events set to take place during the 2016 CP Women’s Open to be hosted at Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club from August 22 to 28.

The CP Has Heart Activity Zone will encompass several activities for spectators of all ages with funds raised going towards pediatric cardiac care and research at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Throughout tournament week, fans can take part in the free CP Hole-in-One for Heart activity for their shot at great prizes, including a 2016 Jeep Cherokee. Participants who hit the green will have $50 donated on their behalf by CP.

Also housed within the CP Has Heart Activity Zone is the Long Putt Challenge which invites spectators to test their skills on a miniature replica of Priddis Greens’ beautiful 18th hole for a chance at a number of prizes. Funds collected from the $5 activity will be matched by CP.

The 2016 edition of CP Birdies for Heart will see CP donate $5,000 for every birdie made by a player on the 18th hole during tournament play. For $20, spectators can upgrade their tickets to enter the 18th Green CP Fan Zone to cheer on their favourite players. Premium covered seating, player meet-and-greets, giveaways and more await these fans. All funds collected will be matched by CP and donated to the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Sure to be a fan-favourite event, WestJet’s Closest to the Pin Toss offers spectators the chance to win a flight for four. Fans can purchase mini-balls from WestJet volunteers around the course and then participate in a ball toss on the 18th green at the end of each tournament round, with all proceeds benefiting the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Those of legal drinking age are invited to visit the Molson Canadian 67 19th Hole Beer Garden. Fans can take in the sights and sounds from the 44th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Golf Championship from a Muskoka Chair with a Molson Canadian 67 in hand. Spectators are welcome to try the iconic red Molson Canadian 67 “Chip in” fridge to win prizes, before sampling Molson Canadian 67’s newest offering, the Session IPA.

The CP Women’s Open will once again celebrate Canada’s Championship with Red and White Day on Friday, August 26. Players, families and fans are invited to wear their brightest reds and whitest whites to support Canadian golf.

Located in Spectator Village, in partnership with Alberta Golf, the Golf Canada Golf Zone offers free fun activities for the whole family. Fans can pose for a picture with the CP Women’s Open trophy or the 1904 Olympic Trophy, before enjoying a free bag of popcorn and signing-up for a free Golf Canada membership.

The 2016 CP Women’s Open is more than just 72 holes of world-class golf – it is one of Canada’s most historic sporting events with a number of activities for golf and sport enthusiasts both inside and outside the ropes. Spectator Village, with its fan-friendly activities from tournament supporting partners such as AutoCanada, SourPuss Nocturne, TaylorMade, Delta Calgary South, and the Canadian Armed Forces, promises to deliver an exciting experience for fans of all ages.

A full listing of events and activities can be found here.

Free Admission for Juniors and First Responders…

Golf Canada and CP are proud to offer free admission to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to any spectator aged 17-and-under. The free junior pass is available here. Parents of juniors can take advantage of discounted tickets by using the promotional code JUNIOR and clicking here.

As a small token of appreciation for all the valued work they do in the communities they serve, we’ve also extended a complimentary invitation to the CP Women’s Open to all Southern Alberta First Responders and their families.

Tickets…

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

The men’s Olympic Golf podium this past Sunday exuded experience and longevity with the likes of PGA TOUR veterans Justin Rose (gold), Henrik Stenson (silver) and Matt Kuchar (bronze).

The average age of the trio is 38 years old with Rose the youngest (36) and Stenson the oldest (40). Chances are the three women standing on the podium come Saturday will be a representation of youthful exuberance and a snapshot of the future of golf.

Almost every trend in women’s golf in recent years has pointed to the fearless crop of youngsters who have taken the game by storm.  And, it looks like the youth movement has made its way to the Reserva de Marapendi golf course this week in Barra da Tijuca.

The top three ranked players in the world are no older than 20 years old: No. 1 Lydia Ko (19), No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn (20) and Canada’s own Brooke Henderson (18) and are all front runners this week in Rio. In the latest world rankings, seven of the top-10 players are 24 years old or younger.

Through the first 22 events on the LPGA Tour, 20 of them were won by players 23 years old or younger, while three teenagers have broken into the winners circle (Ko, Henderson and Minjee Lee).

India’s Aditi Ashok, a rookie on the Ladies European Tour, is the youngest in the field and will be 18 years, 4 months, 19 days on day one of competition. The average age of the 60 female players is 26.97 years old. Four players are under the age of 20 and only two are over the age of 40.

Also in contrast to the men, the ladies will have three amateur competitors this week versus none last week. Leona Maguire of Ireland, Albane Valenzuela of Switzerland and Tiffany Chan of Hong Kong will try to upstage the world’s best on the world’s biggest stage.

Catriona Matthew is the oldest player in the Rio 2016 field at 46 years old.

NUMBERS TO KNOW:

• 3 – Amateurs (Leona Maguire, Albane Valenzuela, Tiffany Chan)
• 26.97 – Average age of the 60 Olympians in the field
• 46 – Catriona Matthew is the oldest player at 46 years old
• 18 – Aditi Ashok is the youngest player at 18 years old

PLAYERS BY AGE:

• 4 – <20
• 20 – 20-25
• 20 – 26-30
• 10 – 30-35
• 4 – 36-40
• 2 – 40+

Hugo Bernard added to an impressive campaign this summer with a two-stroke victory at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship hosted at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. Take a look at the Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., product’s equipment in the “what’s in the bag” segment below:

BROMONT, Que. – The 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship will be contested at Golf Château-Bromont from August 23 to 26. The nation’s top amateur golfers aged 25-and-over will vie for the title and an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

The Howard Watson and Graham Cooke designed par-72 course boasts a challenging layout with a breathtaking view of Mount Brome.

“Our course was designed by the first Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion and a true legend in our sport. We could not be more honoured to host this tournament,” said Host Club Tournament Chair Martin Ducharme.

Cooke of Hudson, Que., captured the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title seven times between 1987 and 2002. He is among a group of five other players who have captured this championship on multiple occasions, including 2014 and 2015 winner Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.

“The Mid-Am is such a great opportunity for Canadian amateurs to find success and experience on a national stage and we are excited to bring this talented field to Bromont,” said Tournament Director Justine Decock. “The course is beautiful and in great condition to draw out some exciting competition.”

A total of 38 players on the World Amateur Golf Rankings will be in attendance, led by World No. 118 Rank. The two-time champion claimed a seven-stroke victory at this national event in 2015 at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, N.S., and is coming off a T77 performance at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open and a T9 showing at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The 28-year-old will be joined by three returning champions from the past five years.

Woodbridge, Ont., native Dave Bunker claimed three consecutive Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur titles from 2008-10, and claimed runner-up honours in 2015. The 51-year-old will also look to defend his 2015 Mid-Masters title in the competition’s 50-and-over division.

Rob Couture of Dallas, Texas emerged victorious in 2011 at Coppingwood Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ont., before collecting Top-5 finishes in each of the three following years.

Victoria’s Kevin Carrigan will compete in the national championship in which he claimed victory in 2012 at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf & Country Club. The 30-year-old successfully defended the title in 2013 and will look to improve upon a T9 result from 2015.

Returning alongside Rank and Bunker are Michel Landry of Saint John, N.B., Michael Rutgers from Windsor, Ont., and Winnipeg’s Justin McDonald to form the Top-5 from 2015.

Golf Château-Bromont members Anthony Marandola of Bromont, Que., and Anthony Jacques of Granby, Que., will represent the host club. 2016 Quebec Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Sébastien Levasseur will also be in attendance. The product of Nicolet, Que., is eighth on the Quebec order of Merit and the highest-ranked local in the field.

Team Ontario will attempt to defend its title in the inter-provincial team competition which will take place over the first 36-holes of the championship. The 50-and-over Mid-Masters division will be contested concurrently with the tournament.

In addition to the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the 2016 champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Additional information about the tournament, including the full field and tee-times is available here.

CALGARY – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) announced today the field of competitors set to challenge for the 2016 CP Women’s Open taking place August 22–28.

The 156 player field competing at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club will feature the entire top 10, 46 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 on the LPGA Tour’s Official Money List.

The field also includes 34 Olympians, fresh off their experience in Rio, where women are competing in Olympic golf competition for the first time since 1900.

World No. 1 and three-time champion Lydia Ko will look to defend her CP Women’s Open title against a stellar field of the LPGA’s best, including world No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and Canada’s own Brooke Henderson, who is currently ranked No 3. in the world.

LPGA stars Stacy Lewis, Suzann Pettersen, Anna Nordqvist, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Karrie Webb, Morgan Pressel, Ai Miyazato, Azahara Munoz, Brittany Lincicome, Shanshan Feng, Na Yeon Choi, Sandra Gal, Charley Hull and Jessica Korda will all challenge the world’s top-3 in Calgary.

“We are thrilled to welcome the world’s best to Calgary for the 2016 CP Women’s Open,” said Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “In addition to welcoming a stellar field, together with our proud partners at CP, we look forward to raising significant charitable dollars in the community through the CP Has Heart campaign supporting a very important cause.”

The Alberta Children’s Hospital is the official charity beneficiary of the 2016 CP Women’s Open. All funds raised through the tournament will support pediatric cardiac care and research at the Hospital.

The field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse as the championship returns to Priddis Greens for the first time since 2009, when Norway’s Suzann Pettersen earned her second-ever LPGA Tour victory. The 2016 winner’s share is $337,500.

“The CP Women’s Open is not only set to feature arguably the strongest field on the LPGA Tour, but also the very best rising talents in Canadian and international golf,” added McLaughlin. “Golf fans are sure to be treated to an unbelievable showcase of world-class golf.”

Brooke Henderson, a three-time LPGA winner, will be joined by a strong group of Canadian talent. Among those players are fellow Olympian Alena Sharp of Hamilton, 2016 Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee Lorie Kane, Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que.

Last week, Golf Canada and CP announced that two Calgary natives, Team Canada Amateur Squad member Jaclyn Lee and newly-turned pro Jennifer Ha, would be receiving exemptions into the field.

In all, 16 Canadians are set to compete at the 2016 CP Women’s Open.
On Monday, August 22, the LPGA Tour will conduct an 18-hole stroke play qualifier at the Hamptons Golf Club in Calgary to determine the final four exemptions directly into the 2016 CP Women’s Open.

A full field list of players confirmed to compete in the 2016 CP Women’s Open is available by clicking here.

Free Admission for Juniors and First Responders…

Golf Canada and CP are proud to offer free admission to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to any spectator aged 17-and-under. Parents of juniors can take advantage of discounted tickets by using the promotional code JUNIOR and clicking here.

As a small token of appreciation for all the valued work they do in the communities they serve, we’ve also extended a complimentary invitation to the CP Women’s Open to all Southern Alberta First Responders and their families.

Tickets…

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.