Golf Canada and Golf Town are proud to announce a multi-year extension of their partnership that will see Canada’s largest golf specialty retailer remain an official partner of the CPKC Women’s Open.

This year, Golf Town is excited to build on its existing activations, with the debut of its state-of-the-art Players Tour Truck on-site near the practice area at Earl Grey. The tour truck will provide access to elevated professional fittings and club services and help to consolidate LPGA Tour player equipment needs during tournament week. Click here for more information.

“At Golf Town, from day one, we have been committed to promoting equality in our sport of golf,” said Frederick Lecoq, Chief Marketing Officer at Golf Town. “By introducing our Players Tour Truck at the CPKC Women’s Open, we are taking a significant step in providing female athletes with the expertise and resources to help them perform their best on Canada’s greatest stage.”

As part of the renewed agreement, Golf Town will once again feature the popular Brooke Brigade initiative. Since 2017, the Brooke Brigade initiative has united junior golfers across the country who share a passion for the sport along with supporting Canada’s winningest golfer, Brooke Henderson.

This year at the CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club, two Brooke Brigade viewing zones will be available for junior fans. They will offer front row viewing options on the 10th and 16th greens and provide t-shirts, snacks and drinks for junior participants who come to support Brooke in Calgary.

Golf Town will also return as the presenting sponsor of Autograph Alley, located at the 18th green at Earl Grey, providing a space along the ropes where youth fans can get autographs from their favourite LPGA Tour stars.

“We are excited to welcome the new Players Tour Truck experience to this year’s event and applaud Golf Town’s impactful commitment to deliver a premium player equipment and servicing experience that will be easily accessible for the field of athletes competing for Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.” said Laurence Applebaum, Chief Executive Officer, Golf Canada. “We are also excited that our extended partnership continues to provide more viewing options for junior enthusiasts with the Brooke Brigade areas and Autograph Alley which will continue to bring the world’s best LPGA Tour stars closer to young golf fans at the CPKC Women’s Open.”

In addition, as part of the introduction of the Golf Town Players Tour Truck, any guest to the CPKC Women’s Open can receive a free custom fitting at their local Golf Town by presenting their event ticket.

The 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open takes place July 23-28 at the Earl Grey Golf and Country Club in Calgary, Alta. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.

Vancouver, B.C. – The top junior golfers from across North America will compete at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver B.C. from July 21-25 in the 69th playing of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship presented by BDO.  

Team Canada NextGen member, Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta., comes in as the defending champion, having won last year’s championship by seven shots over Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C. After an opening round 74, the 15-year-old Albertan carded rounds of 74, 71, 69 and 67 for a total score of 3-under 281, enroute to the national title.  

Along with Park competing at Marine Drive are Team Canada members, Shauna Liu (Maple, Ont.), Luna Lu (Burnaby, B.C.), Lindsay McGrath (Oakville, Ont.), Carlee Meilleur (Lansdowne, Ont.), Swetha Sathish (Oakville, Ont.) and Alissa Xu (Richmond Hill, Ont.). 

In total, 147 of Canada’s top golfers from the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) are included in the 152 – player field along with five international competitors. 

“Marine Drive Golf Club has a proven history of hosting world class Amateur Championships. Given their incredibly strong junior program, the club is a perfect host for the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Sam Brown. “I’m excited to see the lasting impact that hosting such a highly regarded Junior Championship will have not only at Marine Drive, but in the Greater Vancouver area as a whole. The competition in junior golf here on the West Coast is palpable and it will be a great opportunity for players from across Canada and the United States to show their own strength in what is shaping up to be an amazing week.” 

Prior to the start of the tournament, a practice round will be held on Sunday, July 21, with championship rounds beginning on Monday, July 22. Following the first two rounds of play, the field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties with the top ten juvenile and ties included in the final two rounds.   

Located in the city of Vancouver, the Marine Drive Golf Club is known for its compelling view of the Fraser River and brilliantly lined fairways, with strategically laid out bunkers. Suitable for players of all golf levels, the course has been respectively rewarded for its competitive atmosphere which is indicative of the high caliber of play.  

“Marine Drive Golf Club have had a long history of hosting Golf Canada events. It is an honour  once again to host a national event that will be a stepping stone for the girls as they gain tournament experience,” said Director of Marine Drive Golf Club Padraic O’Rourke. “Our members and staff always look forward to hosting these great championships. Getting the opportunity to watch the best girls in the country will be a highlight to in our 2024 calendar. Marine Drive Golf Club will strive to leave a memorable impression of what a first class experience looks and feels like.” 

The Championship was first contested in 1955 and operated by the former Canadian Ladies Association (CLGA) until the amalgamation of CLGA and Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) in 2005.  

The Canadian Junior Girls Championship has a long list of distinguished past champions that have etched their name on the Brokenshire Trophy. Past champions include, Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Sandra Post (1964-66), Betty Stanhope (1956), Judy Darling (1957), Gail Harvey Moore (1958-1960) and Gayle Borthwick (1961). In addition, LPGA Tour players, Alena Sharp (1999), Brooke Henderson (2012) and Maddie Szeryk (2013). Stollery Family Team Canada Women’s Head Coach Salimah Mussani (1996) is also a past Canadian Junior Champion. 

An inter-provincial team competition will take place over the first two rounds. Each day, the lowest two of three individuals 18-hole scores will count towards the team total. The lowest aggregate score over rounds one and two determines the inter-provincial team champions, who will claim the Mary Pyke Trophy. 

Last year, Team Ontario, consisting of Shauna Liu (Maple, Ont.), Aryn Matthews (Little Britain, Ont.) and Joline Truong (Mississauga, Ont.) were victorious in defending their team title. Ontario will be looking to make it three straight team titles in Vancouver. 

The 2024 Canadian Junior Girls champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and 2025 U.S. Girls Junior Championship, if eligible. In addition, the winner will receive $1,200 CAD. 
 
Golf Canada recognizes the financial resources required to play in a national championship. Accordingly, Golf Canada is pleased to provide needs-based financial assistance grants to help reduce the cost of competing in both the Canadian Junior Girls Championship and Canadian Junior Boys presented by BDO again this year. Initiated in 2022, the Canadian Junior Financial Assistance Program supports junior golfers and their families with need-based financial aid to help offset expenses associated with traveling and competing in national golf championships and NextGen championships. The program is funded by Golf Canada in partnership with the Canadian Seniors’ Golf Association and the Gary Cowan Heritage Fund.  

For more information on Golf Canada’s Financial Assistance Grant Program click here. 

For more information on the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship 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, and Levelwear. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/competitions-calendar/. 

Holyrood, Nfld. – Hannah Thomas and Bode Stephen won their respective divisions to claim the NextGen Atlantic Championship, on Thursday at the Wilds Resort in Holyrood, Nfld.  

Trailing by four shots entering the final round, Thomas from Calgary, Alta., produced a remarkable comeback, finishing with a final round 75 to finish atop of the leaderboard to secure the NextGen Atlantic Championship.  

“First off, I think just being able to hit the greens. If I didn’t do that today or any other day than it would have been very difficult. My long irons and drives were good because I kept hitting the ball on the fairway and then also being able to putt well really helped my game,” said Thomas.  

After opening the tournament with an 11-over 83, Thomas maintained her lead carding a 3-over, 75 on Thursday and finished the tournament at 25-over to secure her win by two shots over Ava Gilbart of Toronto, Ont. and Adrianna Salalila of Peterborough, Ont. 

“The beginning wasn’t my best, but I think today I really pushed through, and I was more concentrated than ever. It did take to the last hole, but I am really fortunate and very grateful that I used my focus skills to really push through to get this win,” stated Thomas. 

In the Junior Boys Division, Stephen of Kingston Ont., secured his victory on the first hole of a playoff, tapping in for birdie to edge out Brett Shaw of Stratford, P.E.I.  

Stephen was co-leader following Tuesday’s round and shot a 1-under 71 on Wednesday to take a four-shot lead into the final round. Shaw worked his way into the playoff by firing a 2-under 70 on Thursday, while Stephen recorded at 76 following a double bogey on 18.  

“ It feels really good to get the win. I had a lead coming into today and I am just happy to come and pull it off in the end,” said Stephen. 

Stephen added “I had actually struggled on eighteen all week, that’s the hole I had to go back and play a playoff hole on, and Brett also played really well today. All I was trying to do was focus on one shot at a time and play my game and I ended up hitting four good shots to make a birdie to tap in to make the playoff.” 

In the Junior Girls division, the top six players earned exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 22-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C.  

NextGen Atlantic Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Girls Championship   

In the Junior Boys division, the top six players earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys championship, August 13-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.   

NextGen Atlantic Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Boys Championship  

The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the last tournament in the NextGen Championship series and featured a starting field of 62 male and female competitors. There was a total of 47 Junior Boys and 15 Junior girls competing. 

About the NextGen Championships 

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May-July, six championships will take place across Canada where the regions best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen championships provide junior golfers an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

Canadian superstar Brooke Henderson along with Lydia Ko, Rose Zhang, Lilia Vu and defending champion Megan Khang headline star studded field at 2024 CPKC Women’s Open

CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit to kick off tournament week on Tuesday, July 23

2024 CPKC Women’s Open to benefit
Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation

Calgary, Alta. (July 17, 2024) – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), announced today the final field of competitors set to compete in the historic 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open, July 23-28 at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.

Defending champion Megan Khang leads a stellar field of competitors that includes six of the top 10 and 73 of the top 100 in the 2024 Race to CME Globe season standings. In addition, 23 Olympians will compete for Canada’s National Open Championship in Calgary.

Joining Khang are 13-time LPGA Tour winner and the winningest golfer in Canadian history Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. along with three-time CPKC Women’s Open champion Lydia Ko. Other notables including world no. 2 Lilia Vu, world no. 7 Hannah Green, world no. 9 Rose Zhang, and world no. 12 Minjee Lee. Lexi Thompson will also be competing in her 11^th and final CPKC Women’s Open after announcing she will be retiring from competitive golf at the end of the 2024 season.

Defending champion Megan Khang is among six past CPKC Women’s Open champions competing for Canada’s National Open Championship including Paula Reto (2022), Brooke Henderson (2018), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), Britney Lincicome (2011) and three-time winner Lydia Ko (2015, 2013, 2012) who will be chasing a record fourth CPKC Women’s Open title.

Earl Grey Golf Club will welcome five LPGA Tour in-year winners including Lydia Ko (Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions), Hannah Green (HSBC Women’s World Championship and JM Eagle LA Championship), Baily Tardy (Blue Bay LPGA), Rose Zhang (Cognizant Founders Cup), and Lilia Vu (Meijer LPGA Classic).

Henderson, a CPKC Ambassador who made history at the Wascana Country Club in Regina in 2018 becoming the first Canadian since the late Jocelyne Bourassa, 45 years earlier to win Canada’s National Women’s Open, will lead the 15-player Canadian contingent in Calgary. Joining Henderson are fellow LPGA Tour players Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. and Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont.

In addition, six members of Team Canada earned exemptions through the She Plays Golf Championship Series including, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. and Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. (Peloton Glencoe Invitational), Ellie Szeryk of London, Ont. and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont. (GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open) and Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. (ORORO PGA Women’s Championship). In addition, four Team Canada members have also been given tournament exemptions including Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont., Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C. and Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que.

The 156-player field will be competing at Earl Grey Golf Club for the first time in tournament history. This marks the seventh time the province of Alberta will host the CPKC Women’s Open and first since 2016. The field will be competing for the $2.6 million USD purse with the champion taking home $390,000.

“We are less than a week away and extremely excited to celebrate the 50^th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open at the Earl Grey Golf Club,” said Ryan Paul, CPKC Women’s Open Tournament Director. “Golf fans in Calgary and across the province are in for a very memorable week at an exceptional golf course where the world’s best will compete for our National Women’s Open Championship. The CPKC Women’s Open is one of the signature women’s sporting events in Canada and this year is shaping up to be a special one.”

An additional two exemptions into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open will be announced at a later date, and the final four qualifier spots will be awarded on Monday, July 22 following the Monday Qualifier set for Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.

One of Canada’s premier annual sporting events, the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open returns to Calgary riding momentum from being named the LPGA Tour’s Tournament of the Year back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023. The 2023 tournament also won additional awards for Best Sponsorship Activation and Best Volunteer Appreciation at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver. Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022 and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

Children 12-and-under get free admission all week long. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.

CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF PLAYERS

CPKC HAS HEART CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT ALBERTA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

CPKC will once again leave a meaningful legacy in the host community through its CPKC Has Heart program. The official charitable partner of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open is Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Last year, CPKC raised nearly $3.5 million for children’s heart health with donations of $2.9 million to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation and $580,000 to the Royal Inland Hospital (PIH) Foundation. Since 2014, this tournament, which is the marquee event of the CPKC Has Heart community investment program, has helped raise over $19 million to support cardiac research, equipment and care across North America.

ABOUT ALBERTA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation inspires our community to invest in excellence in child health, research, and family centred care. Through the generosity of donors, the Foundation provides funding for innovative programs, state-of-the-art equipment, advanced medical training and internationally recognized pediatric research. The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation is a founding partner of the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, as well as the primary funder. Donations can be made at cpkcwomensopen.com with all funds raised matched by CPKC. For more information, please visit childrenshospital.ab.ca.

CPKC WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT RETURNS TO KICK OFF TOURNAMENT WEEK

Golf Canada and CPKC will host the seventh annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday, July 23 as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. The CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit is headlined this year by Raven Jemison, President of the Kansas City Current, Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Commissioner of the LPGA and will be hosted by Lindsay Hamilton of TSN. The day will bring together like-minded businesspeople from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment, and philanthropy. For more information, click here.

“THE RINK” FAN EXPERIENCE RETURNS

Fans of all ages will once again be able to experience the week-long celebration of golf highlighted by The Rink on the 17th hole at Earl Grey, and a variety of food and patio experiences at The Fare Way featuring the Keg.

CPKC WOMEN’S OPEN BROADCAST

The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open will feature four days of domestic and international television broadcast coverage including Canadian broadcast partner TSN as well as international coverage on GOLF channel.

KIDS 12-AND-UNDER GET IN FREE

As part of the championship’s commitment to junior golf, admission all week is free for youth aged 12-and-under. General admission tickets provide access to the golf course and enjoy fan activations throughout the property and experience the thrill of major professional golf.

MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE

Experience the CPKC Women’s Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on your iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, leaderboard & pairings, tickets, breaking news, and special events. Plus, use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance your experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.

ABOUT THE CPKC WOMEN’S OPEN 

The stars of the LPGA Tour will challenge for the CPKC Women’s Open from July 23-28, 2024, at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. Through its CPKC Has Heart program, title sponsor CPKC will once again make a substantial donation to the host community of Canada’s National Open Golf Championship by supporting the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open is proudly sponsored by CPKC, BDO, Audi, RBC, theScore, Levelwear, Titleist, FootJoy, Hilton, Sleeman Clear 2.0, Think Turkey, The Keg, Johnsonville, Cayman Islands, Masi, Celebrity Cruises, STALK&BARREL, Matt & Steve’s, Pepsi, Connect Hearing, Waste Management, Rolex and is supported by Calgary Tourism. For information visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com/.

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.

James Giffen, Capilano Golf & Country Club, Hole #11

I was playing with my Dad, Frank Giffen, Charles Chang a very good friend and my coach, Ronnie McCann from Orlando, who had just flown in. It was awesome to have him here as we have been working together for an a while now and we kept on talking about making an hole-in-one.

I hit a 9 iron from 116 yards. It took one bounce and rolled about five feet into the bottom of the hole.
As soon as the ball hit the bottom of the hole, I threw off my hat and started running around the tee box in circles. Once I managed to settle down, it dawned on me what I had just accomplished.

I realized that this was an incredible milestone in my life and I will never forget this moment. I have been playing since I was five years old and this was one of the biggest achievements in my career so far. I was wearing my Whoop on that day and my heart rate went from 88 to 153 beats per minute during this time period.

Bob Hall, Granite Pointe, Hole #4

It was a rare outing because my daughter was back in Nelson on a break from her studies at the University of Victoria. It was a day that my wife and I were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary, so we played an afternoon round before a family dinner with the aforementioned 23 year old daughter and our 25 year old son. All my family loves the sport, so it was a perfect day at Granite Pointe. I had actually been playing rather poorly the week before.

I hover around a five to six index, but wasn’t feeling the game that day. But when I stepped up to the fourth hole which is a slightly elevated green, I pulled out an 8-iron for the 155 yard shot. I struck it well and knew it was good and heading straight for the flag. Because we could not see the putting surface, I was just happy that I’d likely have a birdie putt. When we got up for the green and I didn’t see the ball within 10 feet, I first figured that a gopher must have got it. But then another option occurred to me. When I went to the hole, there was the Titleist!

The family cheered and then we all laughed! That was my fourth hole-in-one in my life, all since 2017. I’m out there a lot, so it seems like math more than anything. This was by far the most memorable one because it was done with my family on a special anniversary day. It was awesome to experience that with them. We all feel fortunate to have our lovely community golf course in such a spectacular mountain location. Every day out there is a gift and a hole-in-one is simply icing on the cake!

Peter Chen, GreenTee Golf Country Club, Hole #8

I was playing with three other Golden Bear teammates of mine in preparation for an upcoming competition on the same course. I wished the hole-in-one had happened during the tournament, but I’ll take it anytime. It was 140 yards into the wind with a 9 iron and it was a one hopper and disappeared. We actually let a twosome play through and they were kind enough to take a group photo for us. 

The hole-in-one was my first and it was 23 years after my wife got hers. I have been waiting for a long time and now I finally have a hole-in-one golf ball right next to hers.

Ken McKenzie, Lora Bay Golf Club, Hole #11

I’ve played golf for close to 60 years and haven’t had an hole-in-one. I’ve holed out several times on par 4’s and have eagled a number of times on par 5’s but this is by far more exciting. I was playing with Dan Kelly and John Strickland. I hit an 8 iron 135 yards and it took one bounce and in. My last goal in golf is shoot my age. One happy relieved golfer.

Aaron Basin, Heron Point Golf Links, Hole #3

It was a great afternoon! I was playing with my son Ryan, and he actually saw it go in! I hit it and thought it was a good shot but, he watched it and said, “dad, I think it went in!” He walked toward the hole and I walked to the back of the green, and heard him scream, “dad it is in the hole!” We then both screamed. I hit an 8 iron with a little wind behind me as the hole was about 145 yards and in the back corner. 

Earle Keatley, Oshawa Golf & Curling Club, Hole #18

On my 78th birthday I was playing with Steve Poots and Rick Baxter. I commented after a poor front nine that the golf gods were not being very nice on my birthday. Things picked up on the back and got to 18th hole much happier. Yardage was 111. Hit a 9 iron landing just short of hole and rolled in. Both partners were yelling that could go in and it did! The club has hole-in-one insurance so a good celebration on the patio followed. The club now presents you with the flag as a keepsake. This was my third hole-in-one. 

Wayne Hein, Cambridge Golf Club Ltd, Hole #5

Cambridge Golf Club. Hole #5 on May 21, 2024. Used a 9 iron from 140 yards. I was playing with Robert Younger, Peter Bedard and Gary McConnell at the time.

Pino Chiappetta, Cedar Brae Golf Club, Hole #11

With fellow members and more like brothers Nick Caggiano and Frank Ieraci. Awesome moment with awesome company!

Maya J, Whistle Bear Golf Club, Hole #5

The story of me getting a hole-in-one happened on the fifth hole, I was 100 yards out using a pitching wedge. I hit the ball and me and my mom heard a very loud click sound and didn’t see the ball anywhere. I started to record me walking up to the flag so I could catch my reaction and turns out the ball really was in the hole. My dad was playing with a few friends and coincidentally he was on the 12th hole which was beside the fifth hole so he managed to see it and celebrate with us. Later in the round my dad told one of the heads at Whistle Bear that I had gotten a hole-in-one, so he was waiting for me and my mom to finish our round. Once he saw us he handed me a bottle with the flag from the 5th hole and 25 drink tickets to give out. Finally the last thing for me to do was go inside the restaurant and ring a bell that is there to ring if you get a hole-in-one.

Laura Thompson, Sturgeon Valley, Hole #7

Hole #7. 110 yards. Club used was a 6 hybrid. Playing with Kim Elliott who was there for my hole-in-one last year too and two other Sturgeon members, Dale and Tony.

Hugh Scarth, Hampton Golf Club, Hole #4

It was a great feeling and only in my third year of playing golf regularly. I managed it with an 8 iron, Kirkland ball and 112 yards. That is what hole #4 is rated as and the flag was in the middle. I was playing with Adam, Steve and 11-year-old Elliot, people who I had not played with before.

Brent Solonenko, Wildwinds Golf Links Inc., Hole #15

Played with a group of friends. Hole #15. Was playing 127 yards to the flag. 

Craig Cyr, Monterra Golf At Blue Mountain Resort, Hole #6

I was golfing with Stefan Trudeau. It was hole #6, approximately 125 yards and I used a 9 iron.

Damien Heinle, Gage Golf Course, Hole #7

Was playing with a buddy of mine. The course was backed up so the group behind us also witnessed it. Hole #7 at Gage Golf Course. A 160 yard par 3. I used a light 9 iron. Due to the shadows on the green, we were unable to tell if the ball went in or not from the tee box. The group behind us believed the ball rolled off the green but upon pulling up the the green it was clear the ball went in the hole.

Dereck Scanie, Grand Centre Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

It was 158 yards with a pitching wedge.

Roger Taylor, Gander Golf Club, Hole #10

My playing partners were, Neil Best, Paul Hitchcock and Lindsey Fraser. That hole is 177 yards. The pin was in the back so I am guessing close to 180 yards. I used a 4 iron.

Wesley Barrett, Royal Colwood Golf Club, Hole #15

I was 137 yards into a a descent wind and I hit a slight knock down 8 iron. Ball mark was about four feet right of the flag and it must have have spun a bit sideways into the hole. The exciting part was because of the flag being tucked behind a bunker we never saw it go in.

Colin Moore, Belvedere Golf Club, Hole #11

It was my first ever hole-in-one. I was playing with my 15-year-old son, Liam. He beat me on the front nine for his first time ever and then I pulled ahead for keeps with my hole-in-one on hole #11! It was 163 yards to the pin and I hit an 8 iron (there was a helping wind). I didn’t hit it flush and it barely covered the trap, kicked towards the hole and went in. It was awesome to share that moment with my son.

CJ McCardle, Andersons Creek Golf Club, Hole #8

The hole-in-one came on Thursday, June 27^th at hole #8 at Andersons Creek in Stanley Bridge, P.E.I. The yardage was 124 with wind behind blowing the storm clouds in. I hit a 56 degree wedge, and it took one bounce, hit the pin and dropped. My playing partners were Brady van der Velden, Grant Grady and Jarrett Mulligan. We just finished hole #9 before the rain hit so unfortunately we weren’t able to finish 18 holes that day.

Gary Benezra, Meadowbrook Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

Playing partners were Jeremy Faria and Dr. Neil Moss. Hole #3. Blue tees. 148 yards with an 8 iron.

 

Martin Langlois, Wildstone Golf Course, Hole #16

On June 22nd at Wildstone Golf Course in B.C., I had my first hole-in-one from the blue tees, 169 yards playing 172 yards with my 6 iron. The sunset was coming down so we knew it was a nice shot but couldn’t see it getting in the hole. When we got there we couldn’t see my ball so my golf partner Evan Begeman ran to see in the hole and start yelling, “it’s in the hole!” There was another couple playing with us, Dale and Diane if I remember their names correctly.

Greg Kostandoff, Brantford Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

After 35 years of playing golf, I had my first hole-in-one on Thursday, June 27th at Brantford Golf and Country Club. It was on the third hole with a nice 9 iron from around 140 yards. Landed just behind the pin, took one bounce and spun back off a slope into the hole. We all watched it drop! Amazing feeling that I was able to share with my close friends Abe, Chris and Jeff.

David Wilson, Victoria Park East, Hole #4

Hole #4, yardage was 157 and I hit a 9 iron. I was playing with my cousin Craig Martini, friend Chris Bell and Shiek B. I also shot my career low round of 66, and had another eagle on hole #16. It was a memorable Canada Day for me. It was also my third hole-in-one. Got two in 2022 both in October, two weeks apart. I only started golfing in 2019, and have been apart of Golf Canada since 2020. 

Joey Gibbons, Fort Langley Golf Course, Hole #17

My name is Len Gibbons and I am Joey’s husband. This was an amazing accomplishment for her as she is a stroke victim and was advised after her stroke that she would probably not be able to golf again. Joey is a very strong willed person so she would not accept that. Joey never golfed for two years after her stroke but then decided it was time. She has her limitations but still manages. This was her fifth hole-in-one as she had four of them before her stroke. On this occasion Joey and I were just golfing together however her hole-in-one was witnessed by two gentlemen ahead of us. The hole #17 has an elevated tee and on this occasion the middle of the green white flag was directly over a pot bunker that was protecting the green. Joey used a Callaway Rogue 7 wood which flew over the pot bunker bounced once on the green and rolled into the hole without touching the flag. The red forward tees on this date made the hole play 115 yards downhill.

– Len Gibbons, on behalf of Joey

Robert Walsh, GlenDenning Golf Course, Hole #6

On that day I played with my brother Paul Walsh, and two buddies Wayne Fowler and John Wheeler. Hole #6, 158 yards and club was an 8 iron.

Jim Kay, Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy, Hole #10

It occurred on June 20th at Two Eagles Golf Course in West Kelowna, B.C. It was 153 yards and I used a 7-iron. I was golfing with Murray Sadler and two visitors from out of town. 

Rhodri Rees-Jones, University Golf Club, Hole #2

I’ve been having lessons last few years with Aaron Moody from Golftech, North Vancouver and been improving. On this day the sun was out and the course was immaculate. Came to hole #2, a 145 yard par 3 with the pin on the front left and a slight breeze against. I flushed my 7 iron, looked close but couldn’t see over the front of green. Halfway walking up the fairway I started to ponder, “could this really be my first hole-in-one?” Reaching the green not seeing any ball close I walked to the hole and amazingly ball was in the hole. One bounce pitch mark. I played with professor Paul Evans from University of British Columbia and a delightful young couple. 

Brandon Arnett, Cold Lake Golf Club, Hole #11

This is my first hole-in-one. I have hit the pin twice before but luck wasn’t on my side those times. This day was the earliest tee time I’ve ever started on at 6:40 am. I was with my friend, Mike Ansell, who is also a member of Golf Canada. I made the shot with a three quarter swing 9 iron with a slight draw at 141 yards. It landed 10 feet short of the hole, two bounces and it was in. 

Peter Labor, Landings Golf Course, Hole #11

I was playing with my friends Nate, Brooke and Josh. It was hole #11 at The Landings Golf Course. Short par 3, maybe less than 100 yards. I struck my pitching wedge pure and the ball landed about 15 feet away from the hole. The ball then bounced once and in the hole. We all doubted it went in so Josh and Nate rushed to check and they couldn’t believe that the ball was in the hole. I checked for myself and there it was my Kirkland ball staring back at me. Such a surreal moment.

Samuel Stadnyk, Speargrass Golf Course, Hole #11

I was golfing with my brother Josh and a friend Dale Cleghorn. The hole was 160 yards downhill. Decided to hit a pitching wedge and ended up dunking the ball in the hole. I had no idea the ball went in until I walked up to the green and saw the massive divot the ball made on the edge of the hole.

Kevin Woods, Oaks of Cobden Golf Club, Hole #9

Hole #9 on Monday was 138 yards to the pin from the white tees. I used my 48 degree wedge and was playing with Jake Powers and Rebekah Kiezebrink (also Golf Canada members).

Arden Semper, Rattlesnake Point, Hole #13

It was 137 yards to the pin from the blue tees as pinged by one of my playing partners Brad Trussler. I was playing with two friends, Brad, Andrew Savaglio and their neighbour Brett “The Vet” as they called him, I’m really not even sure what his last name is as I had just met him that afternoon. Shot was holed with a Titleist T200, 43 degree pitching wedge using a Taylormade Speedsoft golf ball. I had just started playing that ball that day as I had found one in the woods at a scramble a couple weeks back and liked how it felt off the club. It was actually my second hole-in-one but oddly enough, my first one was recorded at Rattlesnake as well on Sidewinder hole #2 – exactly 52 weeks (to the day) on Thursday June 22, 2023. Now, that’s just crazy! I can’t wait to see which hole it will be on next year?

Dale Kurta, Trestle Creek Golf Resort, Hole #3

We were attending a snowbirds tournament that day organized by Bob Rodda with people attending from Alta., B.C. and the U.S. There were actually two of us that had our first ever hole-in-one’s that day on the same hole. The hole was 117 yards and I hit an 8 iron into the wind over the water on hole #3 at Trestle Creek. I was golfing with my wife Dorothy Kurta, Colleen and Bob Wenger from Cardiff, Alta. and Hazel Watson from Qualicum Beach, B.C. The other individual that had a hole-in-one was Mike Ferris from Edmonton, Alta.

Nola Seaman-Lively, Wintergreen Golf & Country Club, Hole #15

While golfing at Wintergreen Golf Course, I made a hole-in-one on hole #15. Using a pitching wedge on the 120 yard hole, I hit a clean shot. The ball landed about ten feet from the pin, rolled steadily towards the hole, and then dropped in. It felt like destiny as I watched the ball roll in. Witnessing this remarkable feat was my husband, Terry Lively, who shared in the excitement of my first-ever hole-in-one.

Joan Rallison, Sunnydale Golf Course Courtenay, Hole #4

Ladies day, playing with Judy Berkeley, Brenda DeGagne and Becky Kenner. Used a 6 hybrid from 114 yards and hit a yellow Titleist TruFeel #4.

Roman Wojcik, The Track Golf Course, Hole #17

I was golfing with my playing buddies Dale and Ron. We got to hole #17 and it was quite windy. From the black tees it was 148 yards. I hit a 8 iron, it was a good hit going straight at the flag but I couldn’t see the bottom of the hole as it was behind a little rise in front of the green. After we all hit we walk up to the green and I don’t see my ball. It wasn’t short, I look in the bunker just beyond the green and nothing was there. Then Dale walks and says, “let’s check the hole.” He reaches in and pulls out the ball. My first hole-in-one after over 40 years of golfing.

Steve Wilson, Saugeen Golf Club, Hole #5

It took place on Saturday, June 29th on Sunrise hole #5. The club was a 6 iron and distance was 152 yards from the blue tees. My wife Bonnie witnessed this exciting occurrence. We happened to be playing in misty rain. It was the second time I aced this hole. August 25th, 2022 in a four man scramble tourney was the other time. This must be my lucky hole!

Geoff Gulevich, Bear Mountain Golf Course, Hole #4

Saturday, June 22 myself and 11 friends were participating in our fourth annual “Big Honch Invitational” at Bear Mountain, in Victoria B.C. As we got to hole #4 of the Mountain course it was playing 148 yards with about 30 feet of elevation gain, front left pin on a shrub and brush filled valley between the tee box and green. Normally I would hit a smooth and easy 8 iron, only to fly the pin and be able to putt back. There was a heavy head wind so I clubbed up to a 7 iron.

I squared up to the flag and opened the club face a touch to cut the ball right of the pin onto a safe shelf. I had a clean strike and the ball flew to my desired location. It bounced and settled and then it began rolling slowly down left towards the pin. I thought it was going to roll off what appeared to be a false front of the green but rolled directly across and ever so slowly towards the pin and as it should have passed, it dropped. I dropped my club and was met with a roar of cheer, hugs and high fives from my friends. It was perfect, to be able to share that with my crew.

Yar Kolomijchuk, Willow Park Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

I finally made my first hole-in-one at age 54. I was playing with my buddy Rod Pocza. I had a tough front nine and on hole #12 that was playing 189 yards, I hit a 6 iron which was definitely my best shot of the day. I feel relieved that I can finally say I have a hole-in-one.

Kevin Oates, Rivershore Golf Links, Hole #2

Hole #2 at Rivershore Golf Links playing 154 yards with an 8 iron and it took one hop and dropped. Playing with Kamloops Golf and Country Club Member Ken Hartt (University Teammate at TRU in 1994 – 1996), Kamloops Golf and Country Club Member Tim Rodgers and Tobiano Member Paul Manhas. Weather was perfect and course conditions were perfect. Great day by all.

April Walls, Northview Golf & Country Club, Hole #9

I was playing from the white tees, it was about 165 yards. Used my Taylormade rescue hybrid 4 club. I was playing with Taylor Lee, she hosted a tournament for Fidelity. I thought it hit the flag and didn’t know it went in until I got up to the green!

Valerie Dry, Serenity Golf Club, Hole #14

I used an alternate wedge on hole #14, distance was 91 yards. Playing partners were Judy Johnson, Brian Loschuk and Cory Neuman. As a side note this was my 14th hole-in-one which occurred on hole #14.

Dave Lundquist, Shuswap National, Hole #3

It was on hole #3 at Shuswap National. Hole was playing 116 yards downhill. Played my gap wedge and landed 8 inches left of the pin, one hop and spun back right and into the cup!

Todd Ellis, West Hills Golf Course, Hole #5

It was on Wednesday June 26th. I was playing with my good friends Nancy and Steve Gilliland, and my wife Barbara Wishart. It was on hole #5 at West Hills Golf Club. It’s a short par three measuring a mere 105 yards but it is almost all over a pond. The pin was in a difficult front right location, with a cross wind going from right to left. I used a pitching wedge landing the ball about a foot from the hole and watched as it slowly rolled toward the pin and dropped in. Every Sunday my 95 year old mother calls to chat. At some point she gets around to asking whether I played golf that week. As usual she would ask, “did you get a hole-in-one?” I’d always have to say, “no not this week.” She would remind me that my father had one, but not to worry, “you will get one some day.” Well it was nice on this past Sunday that I was able to respond to the question with, “yes I did get a hole-in-one.” Of course my mother congratulated me and then quickly reminded me that I still had a ways to go as my wife Barbara has two hole-in-ones.

Shane Barker, Legacy Ridge Golf Club, Hole #2

This hole-in-one was my fifth one, all at Legacy Ridge, I have now aced all the different par 3 holes. I have the plaques/flags for all the five aces, I have the dates, I have playing partner names, I have the distance and I have even what club that I used. 

August 20th 2004, hole #17
September 28th 2014, hole #14
July 27th 2019, 2019, hole #8
October 14th, 2021, hole #12

I have been thinking about making an ace on hole #2 every time I teed off on that hole for the next two years, five months and 23 days. I even think I could go back through all the golf canada scores over that time frame and figure out how many actual attempts it took at Legacy Ridge (formerly Owen Sound Golf and Country).

I can not tell you how excited I was to score the fifth ace to complete the cycle of all five of the par 3 hole on
May 23rd, 2024, hole #2.

Fun fact, my wife, Deborah Barker, also has two hole-in-one’s, September 23rd, 2020 and June 13th, 2022. It has been a happy household competition about who was going to get the next one.

I have been told by folks in the golf industry that acing all the par 3’s at your home course is unusual, and it has never been done at Legacy Ridge (a Stanley Thompson course over 100 years old). In fact someone did some research and the only close story was about a chap down in the states who aced all four of his courses par 3 holes.

Stouffer completes clean sweep winning Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Inter-Provincial Team titles at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community

Courtenay, B.C. – It was quite the battle during Saturday’s final round between Shelly Stouffer and Catherine Matranga, but in the end, Stouffer pulled ahead to win the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, presented by BDO at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C.

Stouffer and Matranga were tied at 2-over heading to the 17th at Crown Isle, and that is where Stouffer grabbed the lead with a birdie to move ahead of Matranga, who pared. On 18, Stouffer secured the victory in convincing fashion with another birdie to finish the tournament at even par, two shots clear of Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas.

“Yeah, it’s amazing, really happy about it,” said Stouffer with a smile. “I was just keeping track of it, thinking she’ll make that and then she did and now it’s a two-shot game and I had to make some long putts too, some long par saves that I made which was good. I just go through my routine and do the same thing and you lean on your routine and hope that gets you through it and was able to make a birdie-birdie finish,” said Stouffer following her round on Saturday.

“17 is a double fairway where you can go right or left and in the middle is a bunker and group of trees so I am trying to go right and I hit a terrible tee shot that went left and went over the bunker and bounced into the fairway leaving me 85 yards to the hole, I hit that shot pin high to 12 feet and left of the hole and made birdie,” said Stouffer.

On 18, Stouffer hit her drive right down the middle of the fairway, leaving herself 93 yards to the pin. She put her second shot to within five feet of the hole to close with a birdie and the national championship.

This marks the second Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title for Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. who was triumphant in 2022 in Manitoba, prior to the Women’s Mid-Amateur becoming a standalone event last year.

Stouffer finished with rounds of 75-68-73-216 and also claimed the Mid-Master title by nine shots over Taya Battistella of Bellingham, Wash. She was also part of Team British Columbia, who earned the Margaret Todd Trophy as Inter-Provincial Team champions on Friday. Team British Columbia finished with a combined score of 8-over, to beat Alberta by ten shots. In addition to Stouffer, the host province was represented by Jamie Oleksiew of Vancouver, B.C. and Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C.

Stouffer enjoyed the week at Crown Isle, “it was awesome, the course was great and before this year I hadn’t played it in probably 25 years but I knew the tournament was here so I came up and played five times beforehand, so I got to see the golf course a number of times which was great.”

With her victory, Stouffer has earned exemptions into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, taking place from September 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass., as well as an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

In addition to winning all three trophies at Crown Isle, Stouffer has also won the B.C. Women’s Mid-Master Championship and the B.C. Women’s Senior Championship this season. Saturday was extra special as her son, Brett caddied the final nine holes for her. Following the trophy presentation, Stouffer reflected on her season to date.

“It’s going well so far,” she said with a laugh. “I am liking the way the direction is going. My son is playing golf too and it’s been hard to organize because he was over at Ledgeview this week playing in the B.C. Amateur so that’s why he was here for the last nine holes and finished caddying for me. It’s been a good ride so far and I’m just going to try to keep going.”

For the final standings from the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, click here.

Shelly Stouffer leads both the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master
divisions following play on Friday

Courtenay, B.C. – The Margaret Todd Trophy won’t have to travel far, as the host province, Team British Columbia have claimed the team championship beating out Team Alberta at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, presented by BDO at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C.

Team British Columbia finished with a combined score of 8-over, to beat Alberta by ten shots in the 36-hole event. The host province was represented by Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C., Jamie Oleksiew of Vancouver, B.C. and Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C.

On Friday, Stouffer led the charge firing a 4-under 68, while Oleksiew recorded a 7-over 79 to have their scores count toward the team total. The two lowest scores from the three team members are recorded towards the team’s combined score for the day.

“It’s nice to finish on top, it doesn’t feel good to come in second and we came in second both at the Mid-Am and the Senior last year, so I am pretty happy to get back to winning and with a different team. It’s always fun to win the gold for sure,” said Stouffer on her team’s win on Friday.

Along with firing the low round of the day, Stouffer has found herself back in familiar territory as she now sits atop the leaderboard in both the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions. Stouffer is currently at 1-under for the tournament and holds a three-shot lead on round one leader Catherine Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas, heading into the final round at Crown Isle.

Stouffer credited her strong round to hitting 16 greens coupled with strong putting on Friday.

“My putting and distance control was really good, so I didn’t really have a lot of stressful pars. I made one key sand save on number six and had to make a 12-footer there and that kept me going because I had just birdied five and was nice to not have a birdie then a bogey right after, so it was awesome to make that putt,” added Stouffer.

Stouffer noted that one of the two holes that she three-putted on Thursday happened to be the 6th after finding a bunker. She went on to double bogey the hole in the opening round but made up for it with par on Friday. The back nine is where Stouffer really took charge, birding three of her final four holes to record a 68.

“I just kept hitting greens and two-putting and getting close to birdies and I thought I’m going to make one here or there. I made a long one on 15 and then about a 15-footer on 16 and then I made a 30-footer on 18, so I rolled in some long ones at the end,” said Stouffer.

Stouffer admitted that she didn’t do any scoreboard watching on Friday, and that the course felt a bit shorter during her round although some pin placements made for some trickier shot making. This is familiar territory for Stouffer, who won the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Inter-Provincial Team Championship in 2022, she will rely on that experience heading into tomorrow’s final round.

“All the experiences you go through definitely help to prepare for any tournament. The more tournament experience you have the better and also being able to know how to win is a definite plus.

“So, I will just do the same thing as I have the past two days. Just keeping in the present and just be calm and hit fairways and greens that’s all I’m going to try to do and make some putts like I did today,” she added following her round on Friday.

In addition, Stouffer also holds a five-shot lead in the Mid-Master division over Taya Battistella of Bellingham, Wash. Battistella also sits alone in third in the Mid- Amateur division.

The tournament began with a field of 64 golfers (aged 25-and-over as of July 11, 2024), with a handicap index of 12.0. The individual winner of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, taking place from September 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass. In addition, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

For leaderboard following Friday’s second round at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, click here.

Holyrood, Nfld. – The 2024 NextGen Championship season reaches its final stop at The Wilds Resort in Holyrood, Nfld. with the NextGen Atlantic Championship, July 15-18. 

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Monday, July 15, and championship rounds begin on Tuesday, July 16. With a field of fewer than 80 players, the Junior Boys and Junior Girls divisions will play on without a cut line after 36 holes. All competitors will have a chance to make their mark on the championship, with the entire field advancing to the final day of play, which concludes on Thursday, July 18. 

The starting field will feature 62 male and female competitors – 47 Junior Boys and 15 Junior Girls – vying for exemptions into their respective Canadian Junior Championships later this summer.  

The top six players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemption into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, August 13-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta. The top six players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, July 22-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver. 

The Wilds Resort opened in 1998 and is designed by Robert Heaslip. The Wilds Resort features serene creeks, captivating sky views and an environmentally friendly connection with nature. This golf course’s hilly terrain and rolling fairways will challenge NextGen competitors to think critically, demanding a high level of accuracy and testing variety of shot selection.   

“As one of the premier resorts in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is an honour to host the NextGen Atlantic Championship here at The Wilds Resort. We believe competition brings out the best in individuals and provides an opportunity for growth and self-improvement,” states Kelly Finlay, General Manager at The Wilds Resort. “We take pride in supporting and helping to facilitate Golf Canada’s goal of encouraging our youth in being the best they can be and to have fun while doing it. We look forward to welcoming our athletes and their families to The Wilds Resort. We are excited to showcase our beautiful resort and province.” 

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Atlantic Championship, click here. 

About the NextGen Championships 

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemption into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

Shelly Stouffer leads Mid-Master division and Team British Columbia lead
Inter-Provincial team championship following Thursday

Courtenay, B.C. – Catherine Matranga fired a 1-under 71 on Thursday to take the lead following the opening round of the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, presented by BDO at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community (Crown Isle) in Courtenay, B.C.

Matranga of Fort Worth, Texas was the only player to shoot under par at Crown Isle on Thursday. She began her round with nine consecutive pars to start, followed by back-to-back birdies to open the back nine. Matranga said her solid round was due to playing simple golf on Thursday.

“I got off to a pretty good start, felt like I was hitting my irons well, drove the ball well and just felt very comfortable out there today.

“Gave myself a lot of good looks for birdie but made easy pars to start off the round and continued that through the back nine and just overall felt really comfortable and kept it simple today,” said Matranga following her round.

Matranga also credited her consistent play and ability to recover well. She highlighted two shots on the front nine which allowed her to save pars after finding trouble. First from the bunker on three and then putting a wedge shot close on the seventh hole.

Matranga holds a three-shot lead in the mid-amateur division over Jamie Oleksiew of Vancouver, B.C. and is ahead by four shots over 2022 champion, Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. Matranga said she intends to stick to her game plan on Friday.

“Being committed to each shot. I have a plan and just making sure I am picking good targets and being committed to everything and each decision I make out there and see what happens in the end,” added Matranga.

Stouffer leads the Women’s Mid-Master division by one shot over Taya Battistella of Bellingham, Wash. Stouffer shot a 3-over 75 on Thursday. Tina Papatolis of Issaquah, Wash. And Marie-Thérèse Torti of Candiac, Que. are tied for third at 6-over, three back of Stouffer. The Women’s Mid-Master Championship is contested concurrently with the Mid-Amateur Championship for players aged 40-and-over as of July 11, 2024.

In the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, Team British Columbia sits atop the leaderboard after shooting a combined 5-over to lead by seven shots over Team Ontario and Team Alberta who are both 12-over. Team British Columbia consists of Stouffer and Oleksiew along with Aram Choi of Surrey, B.C. The two lowest scores from the three team members count towards the team’s combined score for the day. The inter-provincial competition is contested over the first 36-holes of the tournament.

The field consisting of 64 golfers (aged 25-and-over as of July 11, 2024), with a handicap index of 12.0 or less began play on Thursday. The individual winner of the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, taking place from September 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass. In addition, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

For leaderboard following Thursday’s opening round at the 2024 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, click here.

Brooke Henderson is geared up for the most important four weeks of her year.

The winningest professional golfer in Canadian history will tee it up in the featured group of the Amundi Evian Championship on Thursday, the fourth major of the women’s season. She’ll then play in the CPKC Women’s Open — the Canadian national championship — at Calgary’s Earl Grey Golf Club before heading back to France for the Paris Olympics, all in the span of a month.

“It’s definitely a huge stretch, so it would be a great time for the game to really show up and be in a good spot,” said Henderson, who last played at the Dow Championship where she tied for eighth with partner Lexi Thompson of the United States. “I feel like it’s definitely trending in the right direction.

“It was a lot of fun playing with Lexi a couple weeks ago, and she is playing so well and has a lot of confidence right now. I was trying to feed off that and add some of that to my game as well.”

She’ll be playing alongside reigning champion Celine Boutier of France and 2021 winner Minjee Lee of Australia in the tournament’s first and second rounds on Thursday and Friday. Henderson won the fourth major of the season in 2022 and was runner-up to Boutier last year.

“I think it’s going to be really fun for all of us in the group to feed off (French fans cheering for Boutier) and be in a really amazing atmosphere,” said Henderson. “The show that she put on last year was incredible. Nobody was going to catch her. I tried, but I couldn’t keep up.

“She’s been playing some great golf and as everyone knows she’s a great person as well, so I’m looking forward to seeing how she does here this week.”

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., is the other Canadian in the field at the Evian. The LPGA Tour rookie said “it still feels surreal” that she’s playing in her third major after turning professional in November.

“It’s still crazy to me that you know, I’m out on tour now and I get to play in major championships that I grew up watching on TV,” said Grewal.

“I remember watching Celine Boutier win this tournament last year and now I’m here, playing the holes that I watched on TV. 

“Every major I can check off it’s just another unreal opportunity to get to go do what I love.”

Both Henderson and Grewal remarked on the unique Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, just by the Swiss border in the Alps.

“This course being built on a mountain, a slope, it’s very challenging,” said Henderson. “You never have a flat lie. You’re always compensating for something and always having to think your way around, which I think is really cool and very unique to this area.”

Grewal agreed.

“I’ve definitely noticed that there’s a lot more side slope lies in the fairway than what I’m used to,” said Grewal, after spending the day in Switzerland. “Even hilly courses that are in the mountains in North America, they tend to be more so hilly in the sense of up and down. 

“Whereas here, everything’s leaning toward one side. The front nine, I think everything’s kind of leaning left to right and then you have the back nine, where everything’s right to left.”

EPSON TOUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is the lone Canadian in the field at the Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship. She’s 128th on the Race for the Card points list. The tournament at the Great River Golf Club in Milford, Conn., begins Friday.

PGA TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., the only Canadian player on the European-base DP World Tour, will make a rare PGA Tour appearance at this week’s Genesis Scottish Open. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is the highest-ranked Canadian in the lead-up event to the British Open. He’s 33rd on the FedEx Cup standings. Corey Conners (35th) of Listowel, Ont., Nick Taylor (43rd) of Abbotsford, and Mackenzie Hughes (51st) of Dundas, Ont., are also in the field.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is No. 23 on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour’s points list heading into this week’s The Ascendant. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (35th), Etienne Papineau (53rd) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sudarshan Yellamaraju (106th) of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared du Toit (122nd) of Kimberley, B.C., are also in the field at TPC Colorado in Berthoud, Colo.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames is still No. 1 overall on the Champions Tour. He hopes to build his lead on the senior tour at this week’s Kaulig Companies Championship starting Friday. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., is No. 25 on the Schwab Cup points list heading into play at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio.

PGA TOUR AMERICAS — Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., is second on the third-tier tour’s points list heading into the Explore NB Open. There are 18 Canadians in the field at Mactaquac Golf Course in Fredericton, N.B.