Gary Jeffrey didn’t play a lot of golf in 2015, but when he teed it up, there was usually a paycheque with his name on it at the end of the day.

The veteran golf professional from Collingwood, Ont., made the most of turning 50 carding three victories and three second place finishes on the way to winning PGA of Ontario Senior Player of the Year honours in 2015.

“If I counted the number of leisure rounds, or practice rounds I played last year it might have been five,” says Jeffrey who is the father of two young boys, Bennett who is four and Callen who is seven. “I would pop over to Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club a day or two before an event and hit some balls on the range and make some putts and I kept lose hitting a few balls at Golf Town, but I also didn’t want to overdo it,” added Jeffrey who battled through some recurring injuries throughout the season.

Jeffrey opened the season playing his first round of the year in his very first senior event at Black Bear Ridge Golf Club. Despite being 1-over after five holes, he carded five birdies and an eagle to win the PGA of Ontario 2015 Senior Spring Open by a single stroke at 3-under par. “That first round really set the tone for the rest of the season and I decided I was going to go out and try to win as many events as possible,” who spent the past three and a half years as a teaching professional at Golf Town in Barrie and is currently looking at new opportunities, after Golf Town axed close to 50 PGA of Canada teaching professionals last November as part of a corporate restructuring.

“I still remember when I was an assistant in my hometown at King’s Forest GC in Hamilton and just out of college looking for my first professional win back in 1989 and in 2015 it felt like I was a rookie again,” says Jeffrey, who has worked at numerous clubs around the province including Hamilton G&CC, Crosswinds G&CC, Cranberry Resort, The Golf Club at Lora Bay, Brooklea G&CC and Owen Sound G&CC.

At the PGA of Ontario Summer Challenge at Lookout Point CC Jeffrey won in a playoff over Keir Smith from The National Golf Club of Canada to secure his second victory of the year and he would go on to finish second at the PGA of Ontario Senior Championship at Flamborough Hills Golf Club behind Ian Doig.

Jeffrey returned to the winner’s circle in the Senior Fall Classic at Peterborough Golf & Country Club where he finished at 2-under for a two-stroke win over David Banks. “I hit the ball really well in Peterborough and had an eagle on 17, which proved to be the turning point,” he says. “Finishing strong seemed to be a big part of the success for the year.”

At the Mr. Lube PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada presented by Adams Golf at Credit Valley Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Jeffrey finished T11 at 1-over for three rounds 71-74-69. “My goal going in was to be in the top-10 in my first national senior championship and I came up a little bit short of that, but I still managed a strong final round to climb back up the leaderboard. Hopefully, I’ll be in contention in 2016.”

Jeffrey also finished T2 in the PGA of Ontario Senior Pro/Junior Pro Championship with Ron Kenesky a familiar partner from Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club and T2 with another senior, Dave Wettlaufer in the PGA Team Championship Qualifier for the Nike Golf PGA Team Championship of Canada at The Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda where they went on to a respectable finish despite a disappointing opening round.

As for the future Jeffrey isn’t sure what’s in store, but that’s nothing new for this pro and many others. One thing that is for sure is that he would like to return to the winner’s circle in 2016. At the very least he will be teeing it up for some family golf with Bennett, Callen and his wife Lauren. “The first words out of Bennett’s mouth when he was one were, “Go golf” and he’d hit a golf ball around the house with a wooden spoon. I’m really looking forward to getting out there with them this summer and having some fun.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Symetra Tour, the Road to the LPGA, in conjunction with The Evian Championship announced today that the top two finishers at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship will earn spots into The Evian Championship, the fifth and final major on the LPGA schedule. This is the first time in history players will earn spots in an LPGA major based off a finish at a Symetra Tour event.

The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship will take place at Battle Creek Country Club in Battle Creek, Michigan the week of July 18-24. The top 156 players will be competing for the winner’s check and the top two finishers will receive entry into The Evian Championship and financial support from Société Générale, one of The Evian Championship’s Major partners, to help them through their season.

“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for a rising star in women’s golf to experience an LPGA major in a setting like Evian-les-Bains, France,” said Chief Business Officer of the Symetra Tour, Mike Nichols. “The vision of the Symetra Tour is to prepare the next generation of LPGA stars and we are grateful to Evian for giving two players this unique chance to experience the LPGA first hand before they are full-time LPGA players.”

In the case of a tie for second at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship, there will be a sudden death playoff for the final exemption into the Evian Championship.

The Evian Championship, which became the fifth LPGA major in 2013, will be contested the week of September 15-18 at Evian Resort Golf Club. The total purse for the event is $3.25 million and the winner will earn $487,500. Last year, Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Lydia Ko won the Evian Championship, becoming the youngest player ever to win an LPGA major championship.  Canada’s Brooke Henderson tied for 25th.

The FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship is a third year event on the Symetra Tour. Past winners include Min Seo Kwak (2014) and Madeleine Sheils (2015).

FJ has unveiled the new VersaLuxe™ footwear category, a line pegged to be versatile and loaded with high-end luxurious materials and details.

VersaLuxe shoes were designed to provide luxurious comfort on and off the golf course by utilizing golf’s finest leathers, stunning details and a fashionable, yet versatile, spikeless outsole.

From the rich, super-soft premium SuppleLuxe™ leather by Pittards® of England and fine-grade stitching to the cork covered fit-bed and suede inner heel pocket, every detail has been meticulously considered in order to deliver a shoe that is the pinnacle of style, comfort and craftsmanship.

“For this assignment, our design team was challenged with creating a shoe that featured the ‘best-of the-best” so a player could experience luxurious looks and feel on and off the golf course,” said Doug Robinson, FJ Vice President of Design and Development Worldwide. “Our inspiration here was that timeless, super soft, supple leather chair that fits you perfectly after years of wear. These shoes were created with a similar commitment to exquisite materials, superb craftsmanship and the highest quality.”

“We want this shoe to be something you look forward to wearing for years as it molds to your foot over time and becomes more comfortable with every wear.”

Some of the line’s features and benefits include:

·        Premium super soft SuppleLuxe waterproof leather by Pittards of England
·        Suede inner-heel pocket, no slip comfort fit
·        Full leather linings for mold-to-feet custom fit
·        Genuine cork-covered soft, ultra-comfortable fit-bed
·        Versatile spikeless outsole
·        New Lane last features a rounded toe character, full fit across the forefoot allows toes to spread and grip.
·        Contrasting and Tonal lace options included
·        2 year waterproof warranty

The line is now available and pricing starts at 220 CAD MSRP.

For more details, visit: www.footjoy.ca.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The PGA of America says it will no longer hold the PGA Grand Slam of Golf for the year’s major champions.

The event began in 1979 and was played continuously from 1986 until last year. It was scheduled to be held at Trump National in Los Angeles, and the PGA of America decided to cancel it because of all the attention on Donald Trump’s remarks about Mexican immigrants when he announced his campaign for president.

The PGA of America says the event no longer fits into the golf landscape because of the PGA Tour’s wraparound season and players involved in more than one tour.

It also says the Grand Slam has struggled to attract fans and media interest.

VALDOSTA, Ga. – Amateur Squad member Hugo Bernard kept up his hot play of late on Tuesday, collecting his second straight Top-5 collegiate finish for Saint Leo at the Southeastern Collegiate.

Bernard, last year’s Canadian Men’s Amateur runner-up, came in at 1-under par (72-71-72) for the tournament to finish tied for fourth. The 21-year-old is making an impact early in his freshman season with the Lions. In three events since joining the squad in February, the Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., product has posted a T20 and fourth place finish to go along with Tuesday’s result.

Overall, Bernard finished two back of co-medalists John Coultas (Valrico, Fla.) of Florida Southern and Mateo Gomez (Colombia) of Lynn University.

Collectively, the Saint Leo Lions slipped one spot in Tuesday’s final at the Kinderlou Forest Golf Club to finish T5. They will tee-it-up next from Mar. 21–22 at the Bobcat Invitational.

Click here for full scoring.

Golf Canada in conjunction with Landmark Sport Group, Inc., announced today the launch of the inaugural RBC Canadian Open 5K.

The five kilometre run or walk along the grounds of 2016 RBC Canadian Open host venue Glen Abbey Golf Club will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2016 beginning at 9:00 am. Open to the general public including golf fans, runners, walkers and recreational enthusiasts of all ages, the RBC Canadian Open 5K will be celebrated as part of the 107^th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Golf Championship.

“We want to celebrate the RBC Canadian Open as a party and launching the RBC Canadian Open 5K has the opportunity to expose the event and Glen Abbey to a potential new audience of running and fitness enthusiasts,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “Health and wellness along with physical fitness align with golf’s impact on a healthy active lifestyle and organizing a run through the golf course brings those elements together. Landmark Sport Group brings tremendous race expertise and we are excited to partner in delivering a truly unique golf and fitness experience leading into the 2016 RBC Canadian Open.”

The RBC Canadian Open 5K route will start near the first tee of the championship course, ultimately finishing alongside the iconic and picturesque 18^th green at Glen Abbey Golf Club. The event is tailored to both the traditional and non-traditional running audience and will provide all participants with the full runner’s experience of a timed event, participant bibs, shirts and medals for all. Although the event will have a predominant running theme to it, it is also designed to entice and encourage golf fans to participate in an experience to run or walk on a PGA Tour ready championship golf course just days prior to challenging the stars of the PGA Tour.

“As an avid golfer and runner, I was thinking of a way to combine both of these sports into one completely different and unique event. That is where this idea was born,” says Elliott Kerr, President of Landmark Sport Group, Inc. “This exclusive experience will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity for both golf and running enthusiasts to have access like never before to a RBC Canadian Open course. We could not be more excited to bring this event to both the golf and running communities.”

In addition to the already unique and exclusive nature of RBC Canadian Open 5K, participants will also be invited to watch live the third-round coverage of The British Open Championship both on the big screens located along the race-route and within the Molson Canadian 67 Beer Gardens, where all participants can relax and cool down post-race.

Every registered participant in the RBC Canadian Open 5K will also receive a free ‘anyday’ ticket to the 2016 RBC Canadian Open. The RBC Canadian Open 5K will provide runners, golfers, and sport fans an opportunity they will never forget!

Early bird participant registration begins at $60. Enthusiasts interested in registering or finding more information about the RBC Canadian Open 5K including parking or volunteer opportunities can visit www.golfrun.ca.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Arnold Palmer will be on the first tee to help start the Masters this year – but without his golf clubs.

Palmer said Tuesday he has told Augusta National he will not be hitting the ceremonial tee shot to start the Masters this year. Palmer, a four-time Masters champion, has had that role since 2007. Jack Nicklaus joined him in 2010 and Gary Player was added in 2012.

The 86-year-old Palmer is slowing down. He did not have a news conference at his Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Instead, he answered questions that were submitted last week by the golf media.

Palmer says he would love to hit the ceremonial shot forever, but he can’t hit the drive the way he would like.

Despite no LPGA Tour event this past week, Brooke Henderson has achieved another milestone in her young career.

The 18-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont. cracked the top ten in the Rolex Rankings – the weekly tabulation for female professional golfers – for the first time, sitting 10th.

Henderson, who started her year with four top-10 finishes in five events, three on the LPGA Tour and one on the Ladies European Tour, is in Phoenix this week for the JTBC Founders Cup.

The teenage sensation has had a meteoric rise up the Rolex Rankings since her victory last August. She has admitted in past interviews that her goal is to reach no. 1 in the world, but she’ll have to overtake fellow 18-year-old Lydia Ko to do so.

It’ll take Henderson a few more victories before she can eclipse Ko, but recently announced Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee Lorie Kane doesn’t feel like it’ll be too long before she finds the winner’s circle again.

“I just spent some time with her in Australia, and there will be another win coming soon, I don’t doubt it,” Kane told reporters during her Hall-of-Fame announcement conference call.

Henderson’s whirlwind world tour has taken her to both Australia and Singapore – “much different than Smiths Falls,” she admits – in early 2016, but she has also been able to take in the perks of a touring professional (and not something every Canadian teenager gets to do).

The Henderson sisters enjoyed the architecture of downtown Singapore, and both held a baby kangaroo and koala bear while down under.

Two special guests at the Welcome Gala tonight…baby kangaroo and koala!!! pic.twitter.com/rpop0zDRfb

— Brooke Henderson (@BrookeHenderson) February 16, 2016

She also managed to play some pretty good golf – finishing tied for ninth and eighth respectively in the two countries. She also visited Ping’s headquarters early last week to receive a solid-gold putter – a token that each Ping-sponsored player gets after a victory – and spent some time in nearby Phoenix with fellow Canadian Alena Sharp, playing some golf together with sister Brittany.

Today @BrookeHenderson received her gold putter from her victory at the 2015 @PortlandClassic. Congrats, Brooke! pic.twitter.com/8yhKPwP6ez — PING GOLF (@PingTour) March 10, 2016

The reigning Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year is also set to represent Canada at the Olympics this summer, in all likelihood with Sharp as a teammate.

Sharp and Henderson are expected to participate in the closing ceremonies before flying directly to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, the first of two back-to-back LPGA events on Canadian soil this summer.

Henderson sits 8th on the LPGA’s money list so far through 2016, earning just over US$207,000.

She spent two months as the world’s no.1-ranked amateur before turning professional at the end of 2014.

Here are the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings as of March 14, 2016.

UXBRIDGE — In preparation for the spring launch of the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) new Strategic Plan, significant upgrades to the existing Operational Committees have been announced. Many committees will be eliminated and replaced with Golf Advisory Teams (GAT) that will help review the tactics outlined in the new strategic plan.

“Our goal is to align our feedback and advisory mechanism with our new strategic direction in an effort to build the sport together,” said Mike Kelly, GAO Executive Director. “We want to focus our volunteers’ time and support towards answering the question ‘how are we doing?’ and then integrate all feedback and recommendations to ensure our implementation plan is effective.”

The new GAT model will aim to support the GAO’s new Strategic Plan. The GATs will help to accomplish the goal of becoming  the Best Provincial Sport Organization in Canada; innovate golf by providing industry leading services; drive more people to play the sport and encourage more children to get into the game; support golf clubs/facilities and all people involved in the game by aligning golf organizations, creating positive partnerships and ensuring that golf remains the most popular sport in Ontario.

The GAT’s input on the strategic plan comes at a vital time for the golf industry as it prepares for the return of the sport at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The GAO recognizes how important it will be to capitalize on the exposure of the sport and to channel that exposure into more people playing the game.

In 2016, there will be six GATs:

• Golf Communities – local collaboration with all golf industry stakeholders to build the sport together;
• Golf Services – designing, marketing and delivering services and benefits for facilities and golfers at all levels;
• Next GEN – initiatives to build a stronger and larger base of junior golfers in Ontario;
• Communication – how to effectively deliver relevant information to the right people, at the right time;
• Championships – Ensure the delivery of world class Championship events;
• Course Rating and Handicapping – effective course rating and handicapping services to our members;

Remaining intact are a trio of committees. The Hall of Fame, Scholarship and Team Selection committees will continue to operate in their current structure.

“Ultimately, the goal of restructuring our Operational Committees is to optimize support for our staff in the operation of our golf business as we further the objectives of the Government of Ontario’s Sport Plan,” added Kelly.

The GAO is currently seeking enthusiastic and motivated individuals from the Industry for its 2016 GATs. For more information on the specific GATs or to volunteer click here.

VICTORIA – Three members of Golf Canada’s Development Squad shone through dark clouds and falling rain at the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) Junior at Cordova Bay to capture their respective divisions. Despite strong winds which gusted to 50km, Charles-Éric Bélanger, Grace St-Germain and Hannah Lee emerged victorious at the two-day event held at Cordova Bay Golf Course. The tournament marked the second event of the season on the CJGA national schedule.

Charles-Éric Bélanger of Québec, claimed the Junior Boys (U19) Division with a second straight 2-over 73 performance. The 16-year-old began the day in fifth, trailing fellow Development Squad member A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., by three strokes. Ewart succumbed to the difficult conditions, finishing in fourth at 9-over 150. Aurora, Ont., native Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson shot 5-over 76 on the day to claim second. Fellow Ontarian Tony Gil of Vaughan – the final male member of the Squad at the event – finished fifth at a combined 7-over 152.

Orleans, Ont., native and Development Squad member Grace St-Germain secured a four-stroke victory atop the Junior Girls (U19) Division with a second-round 8-over 80. The 17-year-old held off Megan Ratcliffe of Bowser, B.C., who notched three birdies on the day en route to a 4-over 76 to match St-Germain’s opening round.

Hannah Lee of Surrey, B.C., did not relinquish her first-round lead and earned a six-stroke victory in the Juvenile Girls (U17) Division following rounds of 75-76–151. Lee, 16, led the Development Squad contingent to a sweep atop the division. Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., finished 13-over 157 to claim runner-up, while British Columbians Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Kathrine Chan (Richmond) were T3, one-stroke back of Currie.

Complete results from the CJGA Junior at Cordova Bay are available here.

Here’s the winners @CJGA @TheGolfCanada @lee_hannahh @gracestgermain @chloe_currie27 #toughconditions pic.twitter.com/sfLGavxSNf

— ann carroll (@AnnAnncarroll) March 14, 2016