Étienne Papineau is one of four players set to represent Canada, joining Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., and Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. for the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

The 27-year-old from St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que. has enjoyed a successful 2023 season earning three professional tournament wins. Included in the three was the PGA TOUR Canada season opening tournament, the Royal Beach Victoria Open in June. Papineau went on to add five top-10 finishes with 16 of 21 tournament cuts made. In addition, he finished the season as the top Canadian on PGA TOUR Canada’s Fortinet Cup standings, placing fourth and earning his 2024 Korn Ferry Tour card.

The games are now well underway with golf set to be contested over 72-holes of individual stroke play beginning on Thursday, November 2 through to Sunday, November 5 at the Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago.

Golf Canada caught up with Papineau to look back on his successful season and his preparations ahead of the Pan Am Games.

Étienne, while the 2023 season was a successful one for you, the off-season involved knee surgery and rehabbing through injuries. Talk about the recovery process and preparing for the season…
Last winter was probably not my best one. I went through one surgery and a couple other injuries, so it was definitely a long winter for me, but you know I went through the motions, went through the process, went through rehab and everything went well in terms of recovery from my injuries. But the hardest part was trusting my body again, which was the hardest part for me mentally, especially for the first couple weeks…just to trust my body, trust my recovery and once I went through that phase of trusting my body again, I was good to go.

You earned your first professional win at the Belleville Classic as part of the Toronto Players Tour in May. What did that mean to you to win your first professional tournament after a long off-season?
It wasn’t a big field, only 30-35 players but just getting a win under my belt before the PGA TOUR Canada season started was really big for me. As I said it was a long winter, took a little bit of time for me to trust my body and I wanted to play as many events as possible before the PGA TOUR Canada season started. Getting that win was really big for me, momentum wise and confidence wise so I was really happy with that, and I was really excited going into the season with that win a couple weeks before the season started on the PGA TOUR Canada.

A couple weeks after your win in Belleville the PGA TOUR Canada season opens with the Royal Beach Victoria Open and you win that tournament as well. What can you say about the win and that stretch between May and June?
It was crazy in the sense that if you told me that two months before that tournament that I was going to win, I would have told you that that was crazy. It was a great feeling to start the season with a win like that. I think that win in Belleville two weeks before and playing in the RBC Canadian Open the week before then gave me a lot of momentum and made me feel extremely ready for the season and I showed up there and played some great golf. It was a crazy week, and I was really excited to get that win and start the season on the right foot. It was definitely a great moment in my young career.

Speaking of the RBC Canadian Open, you made your first appearance in Canada’s National Open and finished 1-over, narrowly missing the cut. What was your experience like at Oakdale Golf & Country Club?
It was definitely a really fun experience for me. I got to play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open the year before in February 2022, so I got a little bit of experience and a taste of how it works and see the best players in the world up close. Playing in the Canadian Open was a really fun experience for me…playing in my home country, I had a lot of family and friends that came to watch me play. As I said, it gave me a lot of momentum for the season. Obviously it’s always great to play in your country’s open and I was really grateful that I got my exemption from Golf Canada…it was awesome.

Fast forward to August and the Coupe Canada in Victoriaville. You earned your third win of the season but I’m sure that one was quite special being in Québec?
It was definitely a tournament that I circled in my calendar when the schedule for PGA TOUR Canada came out, it fit right in the two weeks off we had, so I definitely wanted to play that one. It’s always a fun event, there’s always a lot of people watching, especially the final round and I was in the final group that last day and I had a lot of family and friends that came to watch me get my first professional win in Québec. Celebrating with family and friends was extremely fun. It’s always fun to win a tournament but winning one in Québec, in my home province makes it feel a little bit better.

You finished as the top Canadian in the Fortinet Cup standings and fourth overall, earning your Korn Ferry Tour card for 2024. What can you say about your season on the PGA TOUR Canada…
It’s been a crazy journey so far, hopefully it’s just the beginning. I currently have my Korn Ferry Tour card and I’ll get ready for the next season and get out there and play some good golf and we’ll see what happens. It’s been a crazy last two years, year and a half…as I said, if you would have told me six to seven months ago that I’d have my Korn Ferry Tour card, I don’t think I would have believed you with all the injuries that I went through…but I got through it, I did the work that I had to do and had a great season and here we are now a couple months away from the Korn Ferry Tour season and I’m really excited…hopefully it’s just the beginning.

With the season now over, focuses shifts to the Pan Am Games. What did it mean to you to receive the call that you would be heading to Santiago?
I was really excited. I wasn’t sure at first that I was going to go because there are a lot of other Canadian players in front of me, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to get picked to go. I was definitely going to be ready for it and when I got the call from Golf Canada, I was really pumped, really excited. It’s definitely going to be a fun week with Myles, Selena and Alena. I’ve never experienced something like this…I went to the Canada Summer Games ten years ago but I’m pretty sure it’s a totally different story. It’s definitely going to be awesome, and I’m going to enjoy it and go out there with the goal of getting a medal.

What have your preparations been like since the end of the season and ahead of Santiago?
We finished the PGA TOUR Canada season in the second week of September, so I took a couple weeks off to recovery from the end of the season fatigue, but everything is good. I started up again the first week of October. This month has been a lot of golf and I’ve been in the gym a lot more the past month then the last four or five (months) because I was on the road so much. Being home and spending time with family and friends was great but the last month has been gym and golf focused, so we’re ready to go.

What can you say about the look for Team Canada in Santiago?
We got our uniforms a couple weeks before and they’re great and I think Canada is going to look good in our uniforms. We’ve received some great stuff and I’m excited to wear it and represent Canada.

Finally, you’ve been a member of Team Canada for six years. What does it mean to you to wear the Maple Leaf and represent Canada?
As a kid you always dream to represent your country in your sport, and this is a dream for me to wear the Maple Leaf at the Pan Am Games. It was definitely a goal of mine, and I didn’t think about it until mid-season of PGA TOUR Canada, with that win. I knew maybe I’d be in the selection process at least and when I got the call, I was really pumped, really excited and to go out there and represent my country means a lot to me. I’m going to enjoy the week, enjoy the competition and hopefully bring a medal back home.

Montréal – The Presidents Cup and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) announced that the 2024 Junior Presidents Cup will feature Canada’s Graham DeLaet and the United States’ Charley Hoffman as captains of the International and U.S. Teams, respectively, when the event is contested on the Blue Course at Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac in Montréal, Québec, Canada on Monday, Sept. 23 and Tuesday, Sept. 24. The 2024 Presidents Cup will tee off two days later at The Royal Montréal Golf Club.

The Junior Presidents Cup is a two-day, team match-play competition featuring 24 of the world’s top junior boys 19 years old and younger – 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world, excluding Europe – that takes place just days before the start of the biennial Presidents Cup. The Junior Presidents Cup was developed to give the world’s best non-European juniors a unique playing opportunity to compete in an international team match-play competition and showcase the global reach of junior golf.

“In what has quickly become a beloved tradition of Presidents Cup week, we are honored to once again partner with the AJGA to contest the Junior Presidents Cup and set the stage for what will be another exciting competition at nearby Royal Montréal for the Presidents Cup,” said 2024 Presidents Cup Executive Director Ryan Hart. “As we’ve seen with each playing, the Junior Presidents Cup is a preview of the talent that will one day take the spotlight in the main event, and we’re grateful to the prestigious Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac for opening their doors to this unique competition.”

The teams will compete in six Four-ball and Foursomes matches on Monday, Sept. 23, followed by 12 Singles matches on Tuesday, Sept. 24. 

“Partnering with the Presidents Cup and the PGA TOUR to bring the Junior Presidents Cup to Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac in Montréal, is a remarkable opportunity to showcase these junior golfers to the world,” said AJGA Executive Director Stephen Hamblin. “Having two captains who are so involved with the Presidents Cup as well as AJGA alumni is a dream come true and we are excited for this event to help us further our mission of developing golf’s next generation.”

DeLaet, a proud Canadian who represented his country at the 2013 Presidents Cup, put on a show in front of the crowds at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, earning a 3-1-1 record. He opened with a victory in the first match of the event, partnering with Jason Day to defeat Hunter Mahan and Brandt Snedeker, 1-up, in Four-ball. 

But DeLaet’s indelible moment at the Presidents Cup came on Saturday morning, when he holed a bunker shot at the 18^th hole for birdie to claim a 2-up victory against Jordan Spieth and Steve Stricker. The next day, DeLaet defeated Spieth in Singles, 1-up.

Three years later, DeLaet represented Canada again, this time in golf’s return to the Olympics at the 2016 Games in Rio. 

Off the course, DeLaet and his wife, Ruby, started the Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation to provide support for children and junior golfers in his home province of Saskatchewan. During his own junior golf days, DeLaet played in the 1999 AJGA Lucent Western Canadian Jr.

“It was a total honor to get the call, and I was honestly taken aback at the opportunity, but it’s going to be a lot of fun to see these kids make memories for a lifetime in a city as special as Montréal,” DeLaet said. “A lot of these kids on both teams will end up playing on the PGA TOUR at some point in time, so I’m looking forward to getting them together to have fun and hopefully play their best golf.”

Hoffman, a Rancho Santa Fe, California native, has competed on the PGA TOUR since 2006 and owns four career victories and nine runner-up finishes. Known for his consistency and longevity, Hoffman advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs in 15 consecutive seasons from 2007-2021.

In 2017, Hoffman qualified for the United States Team at the Presidents Cup, where he compiled a 1-2-0 record in his debut at Liberty National Golf Club, highlighted by a dominant 6-and-5 victory in Four-ball over Charl Schwartzel and Anirban Lahiri.

As a junior golfer, Hoffman competed in 13 AJGA events, including a victory at the 1994 PING Phoenix Junior Championship. He also went on to win the California high school state championship in 1994 and 1995, becoming the first two-time winner at the time. 

“My first reaction was complete honor that I was even considered,” Hoffman said. “The relationships that are formed through these AJGA team events are special, and to represent your country on top of that is second to none. This experience will no doubt prepare them for future Presidents Cups, but at the end of the day my job is to make sure they have fun and enjoy the experience.”

Founded in 1917, Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac is considered as one of Canada’s most prestigious clubs, with both of their courses – the Green and Blue – being named among the Top 100 golf courses in Canada. The Junior Presidents Cup will be played on the Blue Course, which was redesigned in 2013 by 2024 International Presidents Cup Captain Mike Weir and Ian Andrew.

“We are very excited to host this event,” said Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac President of the Board, Christian Leblanc. “For us it is very important to help the juniors from Canada see what a great club this is and to help develop junior golf not just in Canada, but around the world. The club and the members are very excited to show what Laval sur-le-Lac is all about.”

The U.S. Team defeated the International Team by a score of 13-11 in the third edition of the Junior Presidents Cup in 2022 at Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a Notah Begay III-led U.S. Team mounted an improbable comeback in Singles against South Africa’s Tim Clark and the International Team.

Le Club Laval-sur-le-Lac

Junior Presidents Cup Eligibility

Teams will consist of the top 24 junior boys from the United States and around the world, excluding Europe, split up into teams of 12. Participants for both teams must be at least 12 years old by the start of the tournament and must have not reached their 19th birthday or have yet graduated high school as of January 1, 2024*.

Additionally, participants must be amateurs who have not yet started college and are not members of a competitive collegiate golf program in order to be eligible to play in the Junior Presidents Cup.

*Players graduating in the final four months (Sept. – Dec.) of the year will be considered part of the following year’s graduating class.

U.S. Team Selection / Eligibility Criteria

• On August 8, 2024, the leading 10 qualified players based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings will be selected along with the 11th player, who will be selected by the U.S. Team Captain.
• The 12th and final spot will be awarded to the leading player based on the Rolex AJGA Rankings as of September 5, 2024, who is not otherwise qualified.
• In the event of a tie, the selection will be decided by the individual ranked highest on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) list at that time.
• For the August 8, 2024, selection date, the 52-week rankings window will include ranked events with an end date of August 8, 2023 – August 5, 2024, while the September 5, 2024, selection date 52-week rankings window will include ranked events with an end date of September 5, 2023 – September 2, 2024.
• Each U.S. Team participant must also be a citizen of the United States and must be a current AJGA member in good standing.

International Team Selection / Eligibility Criteria

• On August 8, 2024, the leading 10 qualified players based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) will be selected along with the 11th player, who will be selected by the International Team Captain.
• The host country is guaranteed at least one spot on the International Team. If no players from the host country are ranked as part of the leading 10 qualified players, the 10th spot will go to the top-ranked qualified player from the host country.
• The 12th and final spot will be awarded to the leading player on the WAGR® list as of September 5, 2024, who is not otherwise qualified.
• In the event of a tie, the selection will be decided by the individual ranked highest on the most recent previous World Amateur Golf Ranking® (WAGR®) revision.
• Each International Team participant must be a citizen of an eligible international Presidents Cup country (excludes European Ryder Cup countries).
• To be eligible to appear on the International Team standings, players MUST have their birthdate on file with WAGR®. Once a WAGR® Ranking is established, submit the WAGR® Player Submission Form.

The 2024 Presidents Cup will be held at The Royal Montréal Golf Club, September 24-29. For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com. 

World No. 4 Minsol Kim’s 4-under 68 and a 71 from Kyrorim Seo led the Republic of Korea to the gold medal in the 30th World Amateur Team Championship Saturday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. It is Korea’s fourth Espirito Santo Trophy victory in the last seven competitions and their fifth all time.

Korea jumped out to a solo lead early in the round and never surrendered it. Kim, who was the runner-up in the 2023 Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific, made back-to-back birdies on the par-5 second and par-4 third holes and again on the eighth and ninth.

Korea’s 72-hole score of 22-under-par 554 was four strokes better than silver-medal winning Chinese Taipei and five better than the bronze medal winners Spain.

Chinese Taipei, which began the day three back from the leaders, leaped into silver position after a birdie-birdie finish from Huai-Chien Hsu, a sophomore at the University of Texas. After missing the green left on the par-4 17th, Hsu chipped in from 18 yards for a three and followed with a 9-footer for birdie on the last hole to post a team score of 558.

This is Chinese Taipei’s first medal in its 16 Women’s World Amateur Team appearances.

Spain, the 54-hole co-leader, could not find its form of earlier in the week and posted a fourth-round 144, which included a 2-under 70 from Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio and a 74 from Carla Bernat Escuder.

The Spaniards managed to get within two shots of Korea with two holes to play but found heartbreak on the 72nd hole for the second year in a row. All three players bogeyed the par-5 18th hole to drop Spain from silver position to bronze at 559.

England had a share of the lead with Korea at one point Saturday afternoon after a batch of birdies from Florida State University teammates Lottie Woad and Charlotte Heath. Woad birdied every par 4 on the front nine to post a 31 at the turn but would cool off on the back nine as England finished with a 4-under 140 to post 560 alongside Thailand, one shot shy of the bronze behind Spain.

Australia and the United States of American finished in a tie for sixth at 561. Megan Schofill led the USA with a bogey-free 5-under 67 and Anna Davis added a 69 as the Americans posted the low-round of the day. Canada was eighth at 564 and New Zealand finished ninth at 565.

Canada finished the tournament at 12-under following a combined 4-under 140 in Saturday’s final round. Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the tournament strong with a 3-under 69 to finish at 5-over following rounds of 74-75-75-69-293. 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur winner, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. closed her tournament with a 1-under 71 to finish T8 in the individual standings at 8-under. Kim posted rounds of 69-72-68-71-280. Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. finished with an even par 71 in the final round to finish at 1-under with rounds of 69-72-74-72-287.

Korea receives custody of the Espirito Santo Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship, which will be held in 2025 at Tenah Merah Country Club’s Tampines Course in Singapore. Members of the winning team receive gold medals; members of the second-place team receive silver medals; and members of the third-place team receive bronze medals.

Although there is no official recognition, Chinese Taipei’s Huai-Chien Hsu was the low individual scorer at 13-under 275.

Notable:

• Korea now has nine medals in their 17 WWATC appearances – five gold, two silver and two bronze. Its previous four gold medals came in 1996, 2010, 2012 and 2016. This is Korea’s seventh consecutive top-10 finish in the Espirito Santo Trophy.
• Spain’s bronze medal gives them six total medals and the first since their silver-medal performance in 2008.
• Minsol Kim tied for 10th in her LPGA Tour debut at the BMW Ladies Championship last October. She was inside the top two after both 18 and 36 holes, and played in the final group in both the second and third rounds.
• Spain’s Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio finished in second place in the individual scoring at 11-under after she tied for seventh in 2022. She is the only player to finish in the top 10 both years.
• Thailand, competing in its 10th WWATC, earned its third top-10 finish and best showing since 2016.
• New Zealand finished in ninth place for its first top-10 showing since 2012 and its fifth top-10 in its 29 appearances.
• India (16th place) registered its best finish in a WWATC after placing T17 in 2014.

What’s Next:

The 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy will be held at Tenah Merah Country Club in Singapore.

Results from Saturday’s final round of the 2023 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

1      Republic of Korea 140-137-138-139–554
        Minsol Kim 73-70-71-68–282
        Kyorim Seo 69-67-71-71–278
        Hyosong Lee 71-70-67-74–282

2      Chinese Taipei 144-139-135-140–558
        Huai-Chien Hsu 72-68-66-69–275
        Ting-Hsuan Huang 76-71-75-71–293
        Hsin Chun Liao 72-72-69-79–292

3      Spain 137-138-140-144–559
        Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 68-69-70-70–277
        Carla Bernat Escuder 70-70-77-74–291
        Julia Lopez Ramirez 69-69-70-76–284

T4     England 144-137-139-140–560
        Lottie Woad 72-70-69-68–279
        Charlotte Heath 72-76-70-72–290
        Caley McGinty 77-67-74-73–291

T4     Thailand 141-134-141-144–560
        Eila Galitsky 72-70-69-70–281
        Suvichaya Vinijchaitham 72-69-75-74–290
        Navaporn Soontreeyapas 69-65-72-75–281

T6     Australia 141-134-144-142–561
        Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 72-66-71-71–280
        Caitlin Peirce 77-73-74-71–295
        Justice Bosio 69-68-73-73–283

T6     United States of America 142-139-144-136–561
        Megan Schofill 72-73-72-67–284
        Anna Davis 73-68-72-69–282
        Rachel Kuehn 70-71-72-71–284

8      CANADA 138-144-142-140–564
        Katie Cranston 74-75-75-69–293
        Lauren Kim 69-72-68-71–280
        Monet Chun 69-72-74-72–287

9      New Zealand 148-135-141-141–565
        Fiona Xu 74-67-69-69–279
        Vivian Lu 74-71-74-72–291
        Eunseo Choi 74-68-72-74–288

10     Italy 143-147-137-141–568
        Francesca Fiorellini 73-75-65-67–280
        Matilde Partele 75-82-72-74–303
        Natalia Aparicio 70-72-72-77–291

T11    Germany 140-142-143-144–569
        Celina Sattelkau 71-73-75-71–290
        Helen Briem 72-69-69-73–283
        Esther Poburski – – – —

T11    Scotland 141-142-143-143–569
        Hannah Darling 70-72-76-71–289
        Carmen Griffiths 71-70-69-72–282
        Lorna McClymont 73-73-74-73–293

T13    Ireland 139-145-141-146–571
        Sara Byrne 68-75-72-73–288
        Beth Coulter 71-77-74-73–295
        Aine Donegan 74-70-69-74–287

T13    Norway 143-142-146-140–571
        Silje Torvund Ohma 73-68-72-70–283
        Mia Lussand 70-76-74-70–290
        Anna Krekling 74-74-75-76–299

T13    Sweden 142-147-138-144–571
        Meja Ortengren 71-73-74-71–289
        Kajsa Arwefjall 71-74-72-76–293

16     India 140-142-143-148–573
        Avani Prashanth 68-68-71-72–279
        Nishna Patel 75-80-74-76–305
        Mannat Brar 72-74-72-85–303

17     France 146-146-141-142–575
        Adela Cernousek 72-72-71-69–284
        Louise Uma Landgraf 74-74-74-73–295
        Vairana Heck 75-74-70-75–294

18     Hong Kong, China 145-142-143-146–576
        Sophie Han 74-71-72-72–289
        Arianna Lau 71-71-71-74–287
        Hoi Ki Lau 79-74-76-77–306

19     Philippines 143-146-140-149–578
        Rianne Malixi 74-74-69-70–287
        Junia Louise Gabasa 69-73-71-79–292
        Grace Pauline Quintanilla 80-73-73-79–305

T20    Singapore 145-148-144-142–579
        Inez Ng 72-70-68-69–279
        Aloysa Atienza 73-82-76-73–304
        Xingtong Chen 75-78-80-79–312

T20    Colombia 142-147-147-143–579
        María Hoyos 71-75-76-70–292
        Cristina Ochoa 71-76-71-73–291
        Ana Sofía Murcia 71-72-77-76–296

T20    Mexico 144-145-143-147–579
        Lauren Olivares 75-73-68-71–287
        Cory Lopez 73-79-77-76–305
        Vania Simont 71-72-75-77–295

T23    Morocco 144-145-145-147–581
        Sofia Cherif Essakali 70-73-72-73–288
        Rim Imni 80-72-75-74–301
        Malak Bouraeda 74-77-73-77–301

T23    Switzerland 144-151-142-144–581
        Caroline Sturdza 71-82-73-71–297
        Yana Beeli 77-75-72-73–297
        Victoria Levy 73-76-70-74–293

25     Finland 148-149-143-142–582
        Katri Bakker 75-74-69-70–288
        Emilia Vaisto 75-75-75-72–297
        Henni Mustonen 73-78-74-72–297

26     Japan 145-141-147-150–583
        Mamika Shinchi 68-73-74-75–290
        Mizuki Hashimoto 77-69-73-75–294
        Miku Ueta 78-72-78-75–303

27     South Africa 149-144-146-145–584
        Megan Streicher 76-73-80-72–301
        Caitlyn Macnab 73-71-70-73–287
        Kajal Mistry 76-74-76-77–303

28     Denmark 151-146-145-143–585
        Natacha Host Husted 78-77-73-71–299
        Olivia Grønborg 76-71-74-72–293
        Cecilie Leth-Nissen 75-75-72-75–297

29     Netherlands 147-148-145-147–587
        Rosanna Boere 75-77-71-73–296
        Anne den Dunnen 72-71-74-74–291
        Lynn van der Sluijs 77-78-75-76–306

T30    Czechia 143-148-149-148–588
        Veronika Kedronova 73-75-73-74–295
        Denisa Vodickova 72-75-76-74–297
        Patricie Mackova 71-73-76-78–298

T30    People’s Republic of China 152-142-149-145–588
        Zixin Ni 79-78-74-72–303
        Xinyu Cao 73-69-75-73–290
        Tong An 80-73-77-78–308

32     Belgium 144-153-147-151–595
        Sophie Bert 71-77-73-75–296
        Savannah De Bock 73-76-74-76–299
        Celine Manche 73-78-77-80–308

33     United Arab Emirates 150-153-145-152–600
        Jamie Camero 78-77-71-73–299
        Lara El Chaib 74-77-75-79–305
        Intissar Rich 76-76-74-79–305

34     Chile 153-161-150-149–613
        Michelle Melandri 78-77-77-72–304
        Carolina Alcaino 75-84-73-77–309
        Amelia Ruiz 78-88-82-77–325

35     Pakistan 151-156-159-162–628
        Humna Amjad 73-78-79-WD–WD
        Parkha Ijaz 78-78-80-79–315
        Rimsha Ijaz 84-84-85-83–336

36     Bolivia 162-164-160-167–653
        Victoria Suarez 82-81-78-82–323
        Florencia Cuellar Gutierrez 87-83-82-85–337
        Connie Quiroga 80-86-82-90–338

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.

Beau Spencer, Beverly Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

I was playing at Beverly Golf & Country Club and I had two members playing at that time, Jeff Dolan and Mark Flippance. It was hole #7, 153 yards to the pin, I used a 7 iron!

It was a cool morning so there weren’t many other around. The pin was front right, tee shot bounced once and rolled five or six feet into the cup! Cheering and high fives followed!

Brian MacPhee, Duncan Meadows Golf Club, Hole #16

Yesterday was our annual Tombstone Challenge for the Duncan Meadows Membership, which also doubles as our Halloween event. Our regular threesome of three retired Royal Canadian Navy Chief Petty Officers, Paul McCoy, Mark Chambers and I played as a threesome for the event. Mark and I decided to get into the Halloween spirit and dressed up as two of the three Hanson Brothers from the classic movie Slap Shot. Mark was Jack Hanson #16 and I was Steve #17. Wigs were worn due to both of us being follicly-challenged.

Hole #16 is short par three that plays slightly downhill. The white tees were up and the pin was on the front of the green. I have been informed by my playing partners that the yardage was 137. I am not a big hitter so it was an 8 iron for me.

The ball (a bright red Titleist which was part of a sleeve of previously used balls provided for tournament participants) flew pretty well off of my 8 iron, especially considering that alcohol had been consumed for 15 prior holes. I did say it was a fun tournament! The ball bounced on the front of the green twice and took the slight bend to the right and disappeared. Nobody was more surprised than I was and everyone participating in the tournament heard the celebration and knew what it meant. It all felt surreal!

Anyway, I thought that hole-in-one insurance was a waste of money for me, but it took a bit of the sting out of bar bill. On another note, don’t get a hole-in-one when the majority of your members are playing in a tournament!

Charles McColgan, Hylands Golf Club – North, Hole #12

I was playing alongside my golf buddies Gavin Liddy and Ted McKay. I had the good fortune of a hole-in-one on the 12th hole of the Hylands Golf Club North course in Ottawa, Ontario. The best part was all of us saw it go in and of course the ensuing celebration! Benefitting from a tailwind that day and a front pin placement, I used a 6 iron from 165 yards.

Colleen Kaspersion, Pine Ridge Golf Club, Hole #16

Great way to end the season. It was our last day before Pine Ridge closed. I was with my friends Colette, Allayne and Anne.

Dale Howard, Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy West Kelowna BC, Hole #10

I was playing on senior men’s day. Interesting format called the three-club challenge (18 holes with three clubs and a putter). My selection was a 3 wood, 6 iron and a wedge. It was witnessed by my playing partners Glen Johnson, Harv Grummett and Neil Crane plus four others standing on the next hole.

I have played golf for 50 years and this was my first hole-in-one. Think it may have had something to do with me wearing my lucky Edmonton Oilers hat.

Dan Turner, Essex Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

I used a 4 iron (since it was cold and into a 2 club wind) to 167 yards. I played with Scott Mallender, Ed Claremont and Gino Morga.

Doug Staines, Fox Meadow Golf Club, Hole #7

It was on the 7^th hole of Fox Meadow in Prince Edward Island. It was playing 122 yards from the white tees. I used a 7 iron and a Titliest Pro V1 ball. I hit it straight at the pin and it bounced first on the fringe then ran up to the pin and in. At first, I wasn’t sure if it was in the hole or if there was a drop in the green and we just didn’t see it. I was playing with my wife and two young lads we were paired up with that were from Charlottetown. I turned to the two lads, and they enthusiastically said, “It’s in, it’s in.” Of course, my wife wasn’t paying attention and missed it. The one lad had already texted a friend of his by the time I turned around to them, who got a hole-in-one two weeks prior on the same hole and he told the lad to welcome me to the club. It was great, but they insisted on buying me a beer as a welcome to P.E.I. and as congratulations.

Gary Rietze, Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, Hole #17

It was on Saturday, October 7^th and I was playing with another member, Mickey Trader, from our “Happy Gang” group. I was not having a very good game that day until I got to the 17^th hole. Our club professional Victor Batiste haedppen to be at that hole doing a contest – pay $5.00 and get three tickets for a draw. We had to beat the pro on the first shot to qualify. The only stipulation was that he had to use the club of my choosing with the exception of a putter. I got up to the tee off spot, the yardage was 107 yards so I chose my pitching wedge. As luck would have it, when I teed off, I hit the green about three or four yards from the hole and nicely rolled in for the ace.

I started playing golf at the age of 53 at the Roberts Creek Golf Course and was thoroughly fascinated with the game. My wife and I moved to Osoyoos in 2014 and I joined the Nk’Mip Desert Canyon Golf Course. I belong to a group of seniors known as the “Happy Gang” who play twice a week. I’m now 81 years of age so this was a very memorable feat for me to accomplish.

Geoff Beecroft, Oshawa Golf & Curling Club, Hole #5

The hole was 165 yards. I hit a hybrid 6 iron and I played with Brian O’Donnell and James McCready.

Henry Friesen, La Broquirie Golf Course, Hole #3

We were playing as a fivesome since there was 13 of us in total playing in an over 55 mini tournament. We started on the third hole and my first swing of the day with a 7 iron from 160 found the bottom of the cup. We weren’t sure if it had gone in since the green slopes away, but it disappeared, so I was hopeful. This was at La Broquirie golf course.

Ian Nicholson, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #4

Last senior men’s tournament of the season was cloudy, chill of fall in the air, brisk breeze, hole #4 at the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, B.C. I teed up and hit a solid 8 iron into the wind of a 140 yard par 3. Sure it was going to be long but no, one hop, and rolled right into the hole. My playing group of Greg Cowie and Al Starkoski yelled, “it’s in the hole, you won the $2500!”

James Hamilton, The Pulpit Club – Paintbrush, Hole #13

My playing partner was Robert Rutledge. It was 140 yards uphill from the white tees. I used a 6 iron.

Jayla Kucy, Big Sky Golf Course, Hole #13

It was the first round of our tournament.  I was playing with Abbi Beld and Olivia Chappell and we started on the front 9. After 9 holes, I was playing well (sitting at -1). As we started the back nine, we could see that there were rain showers in the distance making its way down the hills. We finished the 10th hole and noticed the rain showers were getting closer. On hole #13 the rain is pouring, and we have to wait in the rain. Hole #13 is par 3, 152 yards. I took a 7 iron because the rain was coming down and I needed to get the ball to the green. The flag is on the right middle part of the green, with a downhill slope to the flag from behind the flag. After a lengthy wait on the tee box in the pouring rain, I teed off and hit a solid 7 iron shot that tracked over the flag and hit about eight feet directly over the flag on the slope. As it hit the green, it rolled back down the slope and dropped into the cup.

 

My dad was standing by the green and started to jump and cheer that the ball went in. I was so happy! My two brothers have multiple holes-in-one, and I was the only child left in the family with zero. Now I got one, those were my first thoughts!  

Jeff Guilbeault, Kawartha Golf Club, Hole #14

I have been golfing for 40 years and never thought I would get a hole-in-one and then it happened! On October 12, 2023, I was golfing with my regular Blind Partner League colleagues, John Pinnegar and Clete Pineau.  I was teeing off on hole #14 at the Kawartha Golf Club in Peterborough, Ontario. The hole is a par 3, 132 yards and you tee off to an elevated green that severely slopes from back to front, so much so that the pin is always at the back of the green. There was a stiff wind in our face, so I clubbed up to a 5 hybrid and hit a solid tee shot right at the pin. We couldn’t see it land so I thought I would be at the back of the green. As we approached the green, the ball was nowhere to be seen until John looked in the hole and there it was. Lucky for me it was a slow day at the course and the beer tab was not too bad! In addition, I also broke 80 for the first time on my home course shooting 79 thanks in part to the hole-in-one!

Jeremy Coulson, Royal Oaks Golf Club, Hole #6

I was playing with co-workers at Royal Oaks Golf Club. On the 145 yard hole #6 I used a pitching wedge to get a hole-in-one.

Jimmy Leask, Kelowna Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

I got it with three others playing with me. It was towards the end of the round and nearing the end of the day. We had 138 yards to the pin, in which I hit a 9 iron with a slight draw. It hit about two feet below and right of the cup and took one hop and went in the hole! This is my second hole-in-one ever, I had my first one last year so that makes for back-to-back seasons!

Pretty excited as in the past two seasons I’ve gone from a 12.7 handicap down to a 4.7 with a lot of practice and hard work!

Jonathan Bulmer, Madawaska Golf – Twisted Pines, Hole #8

It was Madawaska #8 and 129 yards. I was using my pitching wedge. It was a magical moment. Thanks to my friend Nick for taking me out on his home course that day!

Kelly Lang, Springbank Links, Hole #5

It was another beautiful September morning at Springbank Links where my wife and I are members. The course is beautiful and in fantastic condition with quick greens and lots of trouble on the front nine with what’s called the Devils Triad, holes five, six and seven are some of the toughest holes to attack at Springbank links.

We are playing the blue tees at 6,400 yards and the fifth hole par 3 is 154 yards with no wind and the sun shining. I hit an 8 iron fairly well just after watching my buddy Tony roll his ball within five feet of the hole and likely the snip for today. My golf ball had the perfect bounce and roll but Tony thought he would help by coaxing it into the hole, all I heard was him saying, “keep going, keep going” until the ball disappeared into the hole.

That’s my third hole-in-one and second on this hole, my first was on the 16^th hole at Springbank Links and also talked into the hole by my buddy Tony. The snips boys were happy to get a free beverage but not so happy on the payout.

Marc Martin, Kingswood Signature Golf Course, Hole #7

I got my first ever hole-in-one this past Thursday at Kingswood Golf Course. The weather was a bit cold, feeling around 11 degrees. My playing partners were Peter Birney, Serge Boucher and Pierre Castonguay. It was hole #7, back pin, playing about 155 yards. I used an 8 iron. It landed about 15 feet before the pin and rolled up nicely until it disappeared into the cup. What a feeling! I think my playing partners were more excited than I was. I knew I hit a good shot, but I never thought it was going in the hole.

Mark Delson, Rocky Crest, Hole #14

I had my first hole-in-one at Rocky Crest on June 1st, 2023. It was a 7 iron to go 145 yards. What a great day!

Mark Raven, Millcroft Golf Club, Hole #17

My third career hole-in-one. It was 172 yards into the breeze, and I used a 6 iron. Played with T.J. Miron and Matt Vance.

Matt Parry, Shaganappi Point Golf Club, Hole #3

It was an 11:51 tee time on Friday, October 20, 2023 at Shaganappi Point in Calgary. I was playing with my good friend Billy Dixon and our round started great. It was about 9 degrees and we were out as a twosome. I was sitting five over after two holes walking on to the tee box of hole #3. My rangefinder said 127 yards adjusted to 124 and there was a slight wind behind us. Since it was a bit cold, I pulled one extra club and decided to hit a smooth 9 iron. I tend to cut my irons a bit so with a front right pin placement I took aim at the center of the green. I put a nice smooth full swing on it, and it immediately looked pretty good. It was right at the center of the green and fading right towards the hole. As soon as it landed it tracked towards the hole. Billy said, “That line looks right on.” I was frozen on the ball rolling towards the hole fully expecting to see it slide past the hole but as it came in line, we watched it drop in the hole. I flung my club to the ground.

I turned towards Billy absolutely gob smacked to what I’d just seen. I stepped toward him and attempted a hug, but my excitement told me to run around the tee box twice hollering uncontrollably. A minute later once I had regained some type of composure and decompressed myself with a profanity laced hyperactive celebration, Billy took the tee box and proceeded to hit his ball on a very similar line. Billy doesn’t cut the ball like I do so when it hit the upslope mid-green and started to backspin and roll towards the hole for a second we thought we might be on the precipice of something inconceivable. Could it be, back-to-back aces? Billy’s ball was tracking perfectly but unfortunately came up a little over a foot short. Two amazing shots and an amazing moment. I started filming myself on my phone as we left the tee box as I wanted to freeze the moment in time so I could relive it as much as I could stand. As we pulled up in front of the green on the cart, I ran over to the hole giddy with excitement and when I got to the hole and saw the TaylorMade 3 ball in the cup I went bonkers all over again. A neighbouring group heard me screaming in celebration and they asked if I had got a hole-in-one. I couldn’t help but want to share my news with anyone who’d listen. As I walked a few steps back, I turned back to the hole and filmed Billy make a 15” putt for birdie. He gave me a hug and we walked off to the cart.

Megan Moody, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #11

It was a hot day in Kelowna and all of us were struggling a bit in the heat. None of us had played the course before (my partner Peter Lantin and his two cousins, Cliff Fregin and Willis Parnell). Cliff had just moved to Kelowna and the rest of us came to visit and have a fun weekend of golf. It was the 11^th hole. I was the last to hit and everyone else was safely on the green. It was 115 yards par 3, downhill. I hit an 8 iron perfectly, low trajectory and straight, knowing I wanted to hit it short and run it towards the hole. My partner, Peter, who is a part-time sports broadcaster, called it. “Ooh looks good!”, as it hit the green, released towards the hole, and dropped in. We all cheered! Sure glad I got to share the experience with this group, as I feel I was a bit stunned, maybe it was the heat but I’ve never hit a hole-in-one and only now understand how rare it is. I’ve only been playing golf for the last few years as I picked it up during covid times. Of course, I am now fully addicted to the sport!

Funny thing was, I had found the ball a few holes earlier and thought this could be my lucky ball to play on a Kelowna course. It was a Srixon ball that had a custom Ogopogo logo stamped on it.

Michael Waters, Fergus Golf and Country Club, Hole #3

The white tee box was moved forward to accommodate repairs on the normal tee area. One of the guys scoped the yardage at approximately 142. I used a 9 iron with a gentle breeze at our backs. The ball had a high trajectory that landed near the front of the green and released toward the hole and dropped in the hole.

The other golfers who witnessed the hole-in-one were Jason Howson, Jeremy Hamilton and Dave Oxford. Afterwards, Dave Oxford went into the pro shop and informed the counter staff that I had achieved a hole-in-one. They were so nice to me. A picture was taken with me holding a flag with a Fergus logo on the flag, which I have put away as a keepsake. Also, I received a complimentary beer from a sponsoring beer company.

Mike McCaffrey, Conestoga Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

The hole was 110 yards and I used a gap wedge.

I was playing with my friends Derrick MacDonald and Brian Shaw.

Mike Nystedt, Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club, Hole #17

It was hole #17 at the Sault Golf Club, where I’m a long-time member. It was 183 yards to the pin that day, hit 6 iron, ball never left the flag, no one in my group could see it go in but we heard it hit the flag stick. It was exciting to walk up and find it in the hole. I was playing with good friends, Paul Robb, Carl Berkenbosch and David Baldwin.

Murray Markle, Sun City North Golf Course, Hole #3

The pin was set at 142 yards on the day of my hole-in-one achievement. I used a Ping G425 6 iron and a TaylorMade golf ball. The greens were very slow that day due to recent overseeding and the pin was at the back of the green. Normally, my shot would have rolled off the back of the green, but it slowed down enough to roll up and fall in the hole. I wasn’t sure at first, but when we walked up to the green, there it was in the bottom of the cup.  It was men’s day at our club, and I didn’t bother to throw a quarter in the hole-in-one pot so I missed out on collecting the 80 bucks that was in the pot. I was playing with Mike Robert, Dan Schroeder and Tom Bellinger. This was my second ace in my golfing life, the first being six years ago at another sun city course.

Nancy Shaver, Hautes Plaines, Hole #7

My hole-in-one was scored on hole #7 at Club de Golf Hautes Plaines in Gatineau. It’s listed as 125 yards from the red tees, but I think it was playing around 110 that day. I used an 8 iron. My playing partners were Margo Allore, Lori Blencowe and Francie Ducros.

Norma Poel, Settlers Ghost, Hole #16

I was playing Settlers Ghost, and we were on the 16th hole nearing the end. It was a warm day, getting tired and just hoping to be done and on to the patio. In a hurry, I grabbed a 7 iron and thought it was too much club but didn’t go back for another. Stepped up and hit it 108 yards, and we saw it hit and roll right in. My first one, after golfing for 40-plus years. We enjoyed buying the round of drinks for the few folks on the patio and our fellow playing partners.

Paul Senyshyn, Rideau View Country Club, Hole #15

On October 19^th, 2023, I was playing with Ken Kratz, Robert Kucher and Rolf Boehme. The yardage that day was 139 yards, and I used an 8 iron.

Riley McNab, Shannon Lake Golf Club, Hole #4

It was just a normal day, getting out on the course after work. I was playing with two of my co-workers. It was the 4th hole at Shannon Lake golf course. I hit my 7 iron for the 182 yard hole. I lost sight of it immediately cause of the overcast conditions. My one co-worker was convinced it went in the bunker behind the green while my other coworker was persistent that it had gone in the hole. As we walked up to the green, I had high hopes that it was indeed in the hole. I checked the bunker first just to confirm it wasn’t there. I then walked up to the hole and peaked over and saw my ball. I can say for sure that there is no greater feeling than seeing your ball in the cup.

Scott MacKinnon, Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, Hole #4

Was playing 169 or so downhill into a very normal wind against us. I was with my two buddies, Tracy and Dave. I hit a 6 iron, probably one of the best golf shots in my life. The ball went straight as an arrow towards the pin, bounced a few times and rolled in. Was pretty neat.

Shawn Spicer, Serenity Golf Club – Dancing Bull, Hole #5

It was 205 yards with a 7 iron.

Terry Carlisle, Fairview Mountain Golf Club, Hole #7

It was the par 3 7th hole at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, British Columbia. The hole was playing 171 yards from the blue tees I used a 7 iron.

Tess Trojan, Port Royal Plantation Robber’s Row Golf Course, Hole #15

Originally, I selected a pitching wedge but my dad pointed out the pin was at the back of the green. We thought it was tracking but couldn’t tell it was straight into the sun. I was blown away when I saw it in the cup.

Timothy Tan, Caughnawaga Golf Club – Yellow, Hole #6

It was a crisp autumn day. I was playing with my good friends Jean Laflamme, Donna Laflamme and Maria Baptista. The sixth hole is a beautiful par 3 with an island green. The shot was about 110 yards into the wind, with a 9 iron. The ball took a small hop and disappeared into the hole. It’s my second ace, 25 years after the first one. What a great way to finish the season!

Todd Burdon, Eagles Nest Golf Club, Hole #8

It was the most incredible day and a perfect shot!

My playing partner was David Quinn on hole #8 at Eagles Nest. It was 133 yards with a 9 iron.

Wayne London, Miskanaw Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

I was playing with my wife, Theresa Gill, and two other friends Marc and Santeena Hancock. The pin was 149 yards and I canned it with a Ping i525 pitching wedge.

Lauren Kim fires 4-under round to sit three shots back in individual standings

Hyosong Lee, 14, posted a 5-under 67 on Friday to propel the Republic of Korea into a share of the lead with Spain after Round 3 of the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship. The Koreans, who started the day two shots off the lead, and the Spaniards stand at 17-under-par 415, with Thailand one stroke back in solo third.

Lee, the winner of the last two Korean Women’s Amateurs, rode a hot putter with six birdies against one bogey while besting the field with 10 one-putts. Korea, which is seeking its fourth Espirito Santo Trophy in the last seven competitions, added a 71 from Minsol Kim, No. 4 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®, to bring the team’s third round tally to a 6-under 138. Kyorim Seo carded a non-counting 71 as only two of each team’s best three scores count toward the day’s total.

The three co-leaders heading into Friday’s third round struggled to get anything going during their opening nine holes. Australia, Spain and Thailand all made the turn with team scores at even par or 1 under, while Korea emerged as the solo leader with a nine-hole total of 4 under par.

Lopez Ramirez and world No. 2 Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio led a back-nine charge for the Spaniards, combining for three birdies on the final three holes to jump back into a share of the lead. Spain is seeking its first Espirito Santo Trophy since 1992 and first medal since 2012.

Also making a run on the back nine was Thailand. Reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Eila Galitsky birdied the par-4 17th and par-5 18th to post a 3-under 69 in addition to a 72 from Navaporn Soontreeyapas, who co-leads the individual scoring race.

Chinese Taipei had the lowest team score on Friday and climbed six spots into fourth place (418) on the strength of a 6-under 66 from Huai-Chien Hsu and a 69 from Hsin Chun Liao. Australia, the 36-hole co-leader, dropped into fifth place after an even-par 144, followed by England, who sits in sixth at 12-under 420.

Thailand’s Soontreeyapas shares the individual lead with Chinese Taipei’s Hsu at 10-under 206. They are one stroke ahead of Spain’s Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, Avani Prashanth, of India, and Korea’s Seo.

Canada posted a 2-under 142 to remain in a tie for seventh with New Zealand at 8-under for the tournament. 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. had the low round of the day for Canada firing a 4-under 68 on Friday to move to 7-under for the tournament and now sits T8, just three shots back of Soontreeyapas and Hsu in the individual standings.

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. shot a 2-over 74 and is now T30 at 1-under. Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the day with a 3-over 75 and is at 8-over after three rounds.

Notable:

• Hyosong Lee, 14, is the third-youngest player in the field this week. Last December, she won the Malaysian Amateur Open.
• Avani Prashanath went 42 consecutive holes without a bogey (or worse) before surrendering her first on the par-3 seventh hole. Prashanath posted her third sub-par round of the competition (68-68-71).
• Francesca Fiorellini, of Italy, posted a bogey-free 7-under 65 to tie the low individual round of the competition and propel the Italians into a tie for 14th heading into the final round.
• No. 1-ranked amateur Ingrid Lindblad, of Sweden, carded a 6-under 66, including an eagle 3 on the par-5 18th to lead the defending champions to a third-round score of 138. The Swedes sit in a tie for 14th place with Italy.
• The United States of America, last year’s silver medal winner, sits in a tie for ninth place at 7-under.
• Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto is a past champion at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. She won the 2021 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific held on the club’s National Course.
• Spain is vying to become the eighth wire-to-wire champion in Espirito Santo Trophy history, and the first since Sweden accomplished the feat in 2008.
• Thailand, competing in its 10th WWATC, is seeking its second medal in team history after winning silver in 2002.
• India (T-9) is in position for its best-ever Espirito Santo finish. Its current best (T-17) came in 2014.

What’s Next:

The final round begins Saturday at 6:30 a.m. local time with a two-tee start on the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The leading teams of the Republic of Korea, Spain and Thailand will occupy the final tee times of 12:06, 12:17 and 12:28 p.m. off the first tee.

Results from Friday’s third round of the 2023 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

T1     Spain 137-138-140–415
          Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 68-69-70–207
          Julia Lopez Ramirez 69-69-70–208
          Carla Bernat Escuder 70-70-77—217

T1     Republic of Korea 140-137-138–415
          Hyosong Lee 71-70-67–208
          Kyorim Seo 69-67-71–207
          Minsol Kim 73-70-71—214

3      Thailand 141-134-141–416
          Eila Galitsky 72-70-69–211
          Navaporn Soontreeyapas 69-65-72–206
          Suvichaya Vinijchaitham 72-69-75—216

4      Chinese Taipei 144-139-135–418
          Huai-Chien Hsu 72-68-66–206
          Hsin Chun Liao 72-72-69–213
          Ting-Hsuan Huang 76-71-75—222

5      Australia 141-134-144–419
          Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 72-66-71–209
          Justice Bosio 69-68-73–210
          Caitlin Peirce 77-73-74—224

6      England 144-137-139–420
          Lottie Woad 72-70-69–211
          Charlotte Heath 72-76-70–218
          Caley McGinty 77-67-74—218

T7     New Zealand 148-135-141–424
          Fiona Xu 74-67-69–210
          Eunseo Choi 74-68-72–214
          Vivian Lu 74-71-74—219

T7     CANADA 138-144-142–424
          Lauren Kim 69-72-68–209
          Monet Chun 69-72-74–215
          Katie Cranston 74-75-75—224

T9     Germany 140-142-143–425
          Helen Briem 72-69-69–210
          Chiara Horder 69-74-74–217
          Celina Sattelkau 71-73-75—219

T9     Ireland 139-145-141–425
          Aine Donegan 74-70-69–213
          Sara Byrne 68-75-72–215
          Beth Coulter 71-77-74—222

T9     United States of America 142-139-144–425
          Anna Davis 73-68-72–213
          Rachel Kuehn 70-71-72–213
          Megan Schofill 72-73-72—217

T9     India 140-142-143–425
          Avani Prashanth 68-68-71–207
          Mannat Brar 72-74-72–218
          Nishna Patel 75-80-74—229

13     Scotland 141-142-143–426
          Carmen Griffiths 71-70-69–210
          Lorna McClymont 73-73-74–220
          Hannah Darling 70-72-76—218

T14    Sweden 142-147-138–427
          Ingrid Lindblad 71-75-66–212
          Kajsa Arwefjall 71-74-72–217
          Meja Ortengren 71-73-74—218

T14    Italy 143-147-137–427
          Francesca Fiorellini 73-75-65–213
          Natalia Aparicio 70-72-72–214
          Matilde Partele 75-82-72—229

16     Philippines 143-146-140–429
          Rianne Malixi 74-74-69–217
          Junia Louise Gabasa 69-73-71–213
          Grace Pauline Quintanilla 80-73-73—226

17     Hong Kong, China 145-142-143–430
          Arianna Lau 71-71-71–213
          Sophie Han 74-71-72–217
          Hoi Ki Lau 79-74-76—229

18     Norway 143-142-146–431
          Silje Torvund Ohma 73-68-72–213
          Mia Lussand 70-76-74–220
          Anna Krekling 74-74-75—223

19     Mexico 144-145-143–432
          Lauren Olivares 75-73-68–216
          Vania Alicia Simont 71-72-75–218
          Cory Lopez 73-79-77—229

T20    Japan 145-141-147–433
          Mizuki Hashimoto 77-69-73–219
          Mamika Shinchi 68-73-74–215
          Miku Ueta 78-72-78—228

T20    France 146-146-141–433
          Vairana Heck 75-74-70–219
          Adela Cernousek 72-72-71–215
          Louise Uma Landgraf 74-74-74—222

22     Morocco 144-145-145–434
          Sofia Cherif Essakali 70-73-72–215
          Malak Bouraeda 74-77-73–224
          Rim Imni 80-72-75—227

23     Colombia 142-147-147–436
          Cristina Ochoa 71-76-71–218
          María Hoyos 71-75-76–222
          Ana Sofía Murcia 71-72-77—220

T24    Singapore 145-148-144–437
          Inez Ng 72-70-68–210
          Aloysa Atienza 73-82-76–231
          Xingtong Chen 75-78-80—233

T24    Switzerland 144-151-142–437
          Victoria Levy 73-76-70–219
          Yana Beeli 77-75-72–224
          Caroline Sturdza 71-82-73—226

26     South Africa 149-144-146–439
          Caitlyn Macnab 73-71-70–214
          Kajal Mistry 76-74-76–226
          Megan Streicher 76-73-80—229

T27    Netherlands 147-148-145–440
          Rosanna Boere 75-77-71–223
          Anne den Dunnen 72-71-74–217
          Lynn van der Sluijs 77-78-75—230

T27    Finland 148-149-143–440
          Katri Bakker 75-74-69–218
          Henni Mustonen 73-78-74–225
          Emilia Vaisto 75-75-75—225

T27    Czechia 143-148-149–440
          Veronika Kedronova 73-75-73–221
          Patricie Mackova 71-73-76–220
          Denisa Vodickova 72-75-76—223

30     Denmark 151-146-145–442
          Cecilie Leth-Nissen 75-75-72–222
          Natacha Host Husted 78-77-73–228
          Olivia Grønborg 76-71-74—221

31     People’s Republic of China 152-142-149–443
          Zixin Ni 79-78-74–231
          Xinyu Cao 73-69-75–217
          Tong An 80-73-77—230

32     Belgium 144-153-147–444
          Sophie Bert 71-77-73–221
          Savannah De Bock 73-76-74–223
          Celine Manche 73-78-77—228

33     United Arab Emirates 150-153-145–448
          Jamie Camero 78-77-71–226
          Intissar Rich 76-76-74–226
          Lara El Chaib 74-77-75—226

34     Chile 153-161-150–464
          Carolina Alcaino 75-84-73–232
          Michelle Melandri 78-77-77–232
          Amelia Ruiz 78-88-82—248

35     Pakistan 151-156-159–466
          Humna Amjad 73-78-79–230
          Parkha Ijaz 78-78-80–236
          Rimsha Ijaz 84-84-85—253

36     Bolivia 162-164-160–486
          Victoria Suarez 82-81-78–241
          Connie Quiroga 80-86-82–248
          Florencia Cuellar Gutierrez 87-83-82–252

Australia and Thailand posted a pair of 10-under 134’s to surge into a three-way tie with Spain halfway through the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The Aussies and the Thais jumped six spots on the leader board for a share of the top spot at 13-under 275 after Round 2.

The Australian duo of Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and 2023 South Australia Women’s Amateur champion Justice Bosio combined for 10 birdies and no bogeys. Hinson-Tolchard, a senior at Oklahoma State University who won the Big 12 Conference individual title last spring, led the Aussies with a 6-under 66.

Navaporn Soontreeyapas led a late-afternoon charge for Thailand, birdieing four of her final seven holes to post a 7-under 65, the lowest round of the competition thus far. Soontreeyapas, the 2023 Singapore Open Amateur champion, holds a two-shot advantage on the individual leaderboard at 10-under-par 134.

Thailand, which finished tied for 20th a year ago in France, added a bogey-free, 3-under 69 from Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.

Spain’s Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, who holds a World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR® of No. 2, and Julia Ramirez, No. 5 in WAGR®, both posted 69s, while teammate Carla Bernat Escuder added a non-counting 70. Spain, which held the first-round lead by one stroke, is the only team with all three players inside the top 10 of the championship’s individual scoring.

The Republic of Korea remains in solo fourth place at 11-under 277, two shots off the leaders, with England and the United States of America sharing fifth at 7-under 281.  

After starting the day in 17th position, England made the biggest move among the morning wave behind a 5-under 67 from Caley McGinty, a redshirt senior at Ohio State University, and a 2-under 70 from world No. 9 Lottie Woad. After opening with a 77 on Wednesday, McGinty, a member of the last two Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Teams, rattled off six birdies in windy morning conditions, including three of the four par-3s.

The USA added a 4-under 68 from world No. 6 Anna Davis and a 71 from Rachel Kuehn, who is competing in her third WWATC and her second as a member of the USA team following a silver-medal finish last year in France.

Canada, which began the day one stroke off the lead in solo second, posted an even-par 144 to position itself in a tie for seventh with India and Germany.

“They’re doing a great job staying steady and giving themselves opportunities,” said Canadian Captain Salimah Mussani. “That’s kind of our theme for the week is ‘give yourself opportunities.’ There’s 18 a day so take advantage of as many as you can.”

2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. and 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. both recorded rounds of even par 72 to remain at 3-under for the tournament and are both T10 in the individual standings. Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the day with a 3-over 75 and is at 5-over after 36-holes.

Quotable:

Captain Salimah Mussani, Canada: “In the morning, the conditions were a little tougher. It was obviously raining and a lot windier and gusting from different directions, but I think they managed pretty good. A lot of positives going into the weekend. It’s nice that there’s two days left for sure.”

Notable:

• Thailand’s Soontreeyapas (10-under) leads the individual scoring by two strokes over Kyorim Seo, of the Republic of Korea, and Avani Prashanath, of India. Prashanath posted her second straight bogey-free 68 on Thursday. She is the only player in the field yet to make a bogey or worse.
• Eila Galitsky celebrated her 17th birthday on Thursday with a non-counting 2-under 70 for co-leading Thailand. Galitsky won the 2023 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific and competed in three professional majors this year, including a low-amateur (T28) finish in the Chevron Championship in April.
• Grace Pauline Quintanilla made the only eagle on Day 2. Quintanilla made a 3 on the par-5 8th hole en route to a 1-over 73 for the Philippines.
• The United States of America is seeking to win the Espirito Santo and the Eisenhower trophies together in the same year for the eighth time. The U.S. is the only country to accomplish this feat and last did so in 1984. Last week, the American team of Nick Dunlap, David Ford and Gordon Sargent won the men’s championship by 11 strokes.
• The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club is playing to a yardage of 6,497 yards/5,940 meters this week for the Espirito Santo Trophy, which makes it the longest course in WWATC history. 
• Thursday was the coolest day of the week thus far at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and included the first precipitation. Light to moderate rain trickled in and out of the area throughout the morning with wind gusts up to 26 mph, while temperatures hovered between 25-30 degrees Celsius (77-86 degrees Fahrenheit).
   

What’s Next:

Round 3 begins Friday at 6:30 a.m. local time with a two-tee start on the National Course.

Results from Thursday’s second round of the 2023 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

T1     Thailand 141-134–275
        Suvichaya Vinijchaitham 72-69–141
        Navaporn Soontreeyapas 69-65–134
        Eila Galitsky 72-70—142

T1     Australia 141-134–275
        Justice Bosio 69-68–137
        Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 72-66–138
        Caitlin Peirce 77-73—150

T1     Spain 137-138–275
        Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 68-69–137
        Carla Bernat Escuder 70-70–140
        Julia Lopez Ramirez 69-69—138

4      Republic of Korea 140-137–277
        Minsol Kim 73-70–143
        Hyosong Lee 71-70–141
        Kyorim Seo 69-67—136

T5     United States of America 142-139–281
        Anna Davis 73-68–141
        Rachel Kuehn 70-71–141
        Megan Schofill 72-73—145

T5     England 144-137–281
        Charlotte Heath 72-76–148
        Caley McGinty 77-67–144
        Lottie Woad 72-70—142

T7     Germany 140-142–282
        Helen Briem 72-69–141
        Chiara Horder 69-74–143
        Celina Sattelkau 71-73—144

T7     India 140-142–282
        Mannat Brar 72-74–146
        Nishna Patel 75-80–155
        Avani Prashanth 68-68—136

T7     CANADA 138-144–282
        Monet Chun 69-72–141
        Katie Cranston 74-75–149
        Lauren Kim 69-72—141

T10    Scotland 141-142–283
        Hannah Darling 70-72–142
        Carmen Griffiths 71-70–141
        Lorna McClymont 73-73—146

T10    New Zealand 148-135–283
        Eunseo Choi 74-68–142
        Vivian Lu 74-71–145
        Fiona Xu 74-67—141

T10    Chinese Taipei 144-139–283
        Hsin Chun Liao 72-72–144
        Huai-Chieu Hsu 72-68–140
        Ting-Hsuan Huang 76-71—147

13     Ireland 139-145–284
        Sara Byrne 68-75–143
        Beth Coulter 71-77–148
        Aine Donegan 74-70—144

14     Norway 143-142–285
        Anna Krekling 74-74–148
        Mia Lussand 70-76–146
        Silje Torvund Ohma 73-68—141

15     Japan 145-141–286
        Mizuki Hashimoto 77-69–146
        Mamika Shinchi 68-73–141
        Miku Ueta 78-72—150

16     Hong Kong, China 145-142–287
        Sophie Han 74-71–145
        Arianna Lau 71-71–142
        Hoi Ki Lau 79-74—153

T17    Colombia 142-147–289
        Ana Sofía Murcia 71-72–143
        Cristina Ochoa 71-76–147
        María Hoyos 71-75—146

T17    Mexico 144-145–289
        Lauren Olivares 75-73–148
        Cory Lopez 73-79–152
        Vania Alicia Simont 71-72—143

T17    Morocco 144-145–289
        Rim Imni 80-72–152
        Sofia Cherif Essakali 70-73–143
        Malak Bouraeda 74-77—151

T17    Sweden 142-147–289
        Kajsa Arwefjall 71-74–145
        Meja Ortengren 71-73–144
        Ingrid Lindblad 71-75—146

T17    Philippines 143-146–289
        Junia Louise Gabasa 69-73–142
        Rianne Malixi 74-74–148
        Grace Pauline Quintanilla 80-73—153

22     Italy 143-147–290
        Natalia Aparicio 70-72–142
        Francesca Fiorellini 73-75–148
        Matilde Partele 75-82—157

23     Czechia 143-148–291
        Veronika Kedronova 73-75–148
        Patricie Mackova 71-73–144
        Denisa Vodickova 72-75—147

24     France 146-146–292
        Adela Cernousek 72-72–144
        Vairana Heck 75-74–149
        Louise Uma Landgraf 74-74—148

T25    South Africa 149-144–293
        Megan Streicher 76-73–149
        Kajal Mistry 76-74–150
        Caitlyn Macnab 73-71—144

T25    Singapore 145-148–293
        Aloysa Atienza 73-82–155
        Inez Ng 72-70–142
        Xingtong Chen 75-78—153

27     People’s Republic of China 152-142–294
        Tong An 80-73–153
        Xinyu Cao 73-69–142
        Zixin Ni 79-78—157

T28    Netherlands 147-148–295
        Rosanna Boere 75-77–152
        Anne den Dunnen 72-71–143
        Lynn van der Sluijs 77-78—155

T28    Switzerland 144-151–295
        Caroline Sturdza 71-82–153
        Yana Beeli 77-75–152
        Victoria Levy 73-76—149

T30    Denmark 151-146–297
        Olivia Grønborg 76-71–147
        Natacha Host Husted 78-77–155
        Cecilie Leth-Nissen 75-75—150

T30    Belgium 144-153–297
        Sophie Bert 71-77–148
        Savannah De Bock 73-76–149
        Celine Manche 73-78—151

T30    Finland 148-149–297
        Katri Bakker 75-74–149
        Emilia Vaisto 75-75–150
        Henni Mustonen 73-78—151

33     United Arab Emirates 150-153–303
        Lara El Chaib 74-77–151
        Intissar Rich 76-76–152
        Jamie Camero 78-77—155

34     Pakistan 151-156–307
        Parkha Ijaz 78-78–156
        Humna Amjad 73-78–151
        Rimsha Ijaz 84-84—168

35     Chile 153-161–314
        Carolina Alcaino 75-84–159
        Michelle Melandri 78-77–155
        Amelia Ruiz 78-88—166

36     Bolivia 162-164–326
        Florencia Cuellar G. 87-83–170
        Connie Quiroga 80-86–166
        Victoria Suarez 82-81–163

Canada’s Ellie Szeryk had the golden touch over the weekend, winning four different ways at the Jim West Challenge. Szeryk won her first individual NCAA title on Monday, which in turn helped Southern Methodist University win its first team championship of the fall, just days after the Mustangs also won the tournament’s pro-am. 

Things were going so well for Szeryk and her teammates that they even won the tournament’s karaoke contest.

“It was pretty special. I honestly wasn’t really expecting it this week, so it was a nice surprise,” said Szeryk of her victories on the course. “It was really special that I got to win with my team as well. On our drive back to campus we were all super excited. “It was just really amazing.”

Szeryk, from London, Ont., won by a stroke, finishing at 16-under overall. She played bogey free in her final round including an eagle on No. 5 to finish the day at 9 under. That tied her for the second lowest round in Mustangs history and gave her eight top-10 finishes since she started at SMU in the fall of 2022.

“I think the biggest thing is my putting,” said Szeryk on how she finally came out on top. “This past year I did really well and I had been close a lot of times, but my putting just didn’t really come through.”

“It wasn’t really connecting at the right times or I would have it for the first couple rounds and then that final round, when I really needed it, I was just missing some crucial putts”

The Mustangs went into Monday’s final round tied for first with Houston and Texas State at 15 under. SMU quickly opened up a 10-stroke lead on the day, and eventually finished at 23-under par. The 18-hole score shattered the previous SMU record of -14 set back at The American Championship in April.

Szeryk and her SMU teammates started the Friday-through-Monday event on a winning note when their Shrek-themed routine set to Smash Mouth’s “All-Star,” complete with costumes, won the tournament’s karaoke challenge.

“You have to create this like dance routine, everything and so our team did Shrek and our team ended up winning,” said Szeryk, who dressed as the Gingerbread Man, laughing about the performance. “They have judges and the teams that win get more money toward their programs so we went all out for that.”

Szeryk gained professional experience competing as an amateur at the CPKC Women’s Open at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in August. She was paired with her older sister Maddie Szeryk, an LPGA Tour regular, at the event.

The younger Szeryk, who also played in the 2018 Canadian Open in Regina, said the exposure to the LPGA Tour helped set up the victory at the Jim West Challenge.

“I took a lot from the Canadian Open and what I’ve learned golf-wise was putting was the biggest thing that hurt me on that golf course,” said Szeryk, who is a political science major. “So just a lot of managing my time and a lot of time sacrifices. 

“Rather than going out with my friends, or staying up late, it’s a lot of like, ‘hey, I need to work on my putting, so I’m going to stay and practice a bit longer.”

LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is the lone Canadian in the field at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur. She’s 14th on the Race to CME Globe standings heading into the event at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

PRESIDENTS CUP — Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., the captain for the International Team at the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club, has elected to have six captain’s picks as opposed to the traditional four. The 12-on-12 event sees the best male golfers from the United States take on the top players from around the world, minus Europe. Six captain’s selections may mean that Weir loads up on Canadian talent. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., were on last year’s International team, the most Canadians to ever play in a Presidents Cup.

Monet Chun and Lauren Kim are T5 at 3-under and one-shot back of the leaders

Spain, bolstered by two of the top-5 ranked amateurs in the world, holds a one-stroke lead over Canada following Wednesday’s opening round of the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®, posted a 4-under-par 68 and 2023 European Ladies’ Amateur champion Julia Lopez Ramirez (No. 5) added a 69 to position Spain at 7-under-par 137, one head of the Canadians and two in front of Ireland.

Fernandez Garcia-Poggio’s round included six birdies against two bogeys. Lopez Ramirez, who was one of two amateurs to make the 36-hole cut in the 2023 AIG Women’s Open, totaled four birdies and a bogey, while teammate Carla Bernat Escuder posted a non-counting 70.

Spain, which finished fifth last year in France after a heartbreaking double-bogey from Fernandez Garcia-Poggio on the 72nd hole to fall out of the lead, is seeking its first WWATC medal since claiming silver in 2008 in Australia.

Canada rode a pair of 3-under 68s in the afternoon from 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. and 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. to post a 6-under total of 138. Chun, who became the first Canadian to make the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, tallied six birdies and three bogeys. Teammate Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the day at 2-over 74.

“There’s a lot of golf to play but a good start is always helpful,” said Chun, a senior at the University of Michigan. “I’m hitting it pretty consistent. Some of the putts went in so that really helped with the birdies, but hopefully tomorrow I’ll make less bogeys and put in a good round.”

Ireland’s Sara Byrne, India’s Avani Prashanth and Japan’s Mamika Shinchi matched Fernandez Garcia-Poggio’s 4-under 68 for the low rounds of the day. Ireland used a combination of Byrne’s 68 and a 71 from Beth Coulter to post a 5-under 139 and hold solo third place.

Germany, India and the Republic of Korea share fourth place at 140, three strokes behind Spain.

Playing in its sixth WWATC, India had its best start in competition history on the strength of Prashanth’s 68 and an even-par 72 from Mannat Brar.

Germany was led by a bogey-free, 3-under 69 from Chiara Horder, the team’s playing captain who is a junior at Texas Tech University, and a 71 from Celina Sattelkau.

The host nation United Arab Emirates, which is competing in its first WWATC, is in 31st place (6-over 150) after the opening round.

Notable:

Defending champion Sweden posted a 2-under 142 and sits tied for 10th. All three Swedes recorded 71’s, including world No. 1 Ingrid Lindblad. Sweden is vying to win consecutive Espirito Santo trophies for the first time in team history.

The United States of America, which finished second a year ago in France, also posted an opening-round total of 142 including a 2-under 70 from Rachel Kuehn.  

Morocco’s Sofia Cherif Essakali, 14, is the youngest player in the field. She recorded a 2-under 70 to position Morocco in a tie for 17th. Last Feburary, she was the only amateur to make the 36-hole cut in the Lalla Meryem Cup, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve that feat in a Ladies European Tour event.

Avani Prashanth’s bogey-free 68 was the lowest round by a player from India in WWATC history.

Sixteen of the 36 teams finished under par on Day 1.

A total of 48 players in the field competed in the 2022 WWATC. Belgium, Chinese Taipei, England, Morocco and New Zealand are fielding the same three players as last year.

Temperatures at Abu Dhabi Golf Club reached 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) with a heat index of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during Round 1.

What’s Next:

Round 2 begins Thursday at 6:30 a.m. with a two-tee start on the National Course.

Results from Wednesday’s first  round of the 2023 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

1      Spain – 137
        Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio – 68
        Julia Lopez Ramirez – 69
        Carla Bernat Escuder – 70

2      Canada – 138
        Monet Chun – 69
        Lauren Kim – 69
        Katie Cranston – 74

3      Ireland – 139
        Sara Byrne – 68
        Beth Coulter – 71
        Aine Donegan – 74

T4    India – 140
        Avani Prashanth – 68
        Mannat Brar – 72
        Nishna Patel – 75

T4    Republic of Korea – 140
        Kyorim Seo – 69
        Hyosong Lee – 71
        Minsol Kim – 73

T4    Germany – 140
        Chiara Horder – 69
        Celina Sattelkau – 71
        Helen Briem – 72

T7    Australia – 141
        Justice Bosio – 69
        Maddison Hinson-Tolchard – 72
        Caitlin Peirce – 77

T7    Scotland – 141
        Hannah Darling – 70
        Carmen Griffiths – 71
        Lorna McClymont – 73

T7    Thailand – 141
        Navaporn Soontreeyapas – 69
        Suvichaya Vinijchaitham – 72
        Eila Galitsky – 72

T10   Sweden – 142
        Kajsa Arwefjall – 71
        Meja Ortengren – 71
        Ingrid Lindblad – 71

T10   United States of America – 142
        Rachel Kuehn – 70
        Megan Schofill – 72
        Anna Davis – 73

T10   Colombia – 142
        Ana Sofía Murcia – 71
        Cristina Ochoa – 71
        María Hoyos – 71

T13   Italy – 143
        Natalia Aparicio – 70
        Francesca Fiorellini – 73
        Matilde Partele – 75

T13   Philippines – 143
        Junia Louise Gabasa – 69
        Rianne Malixi – 74
        Grace Pauline Quintanilla – 80

T13   Czechia – 143
        Patricie Mackova – 71
        Denisa Vodickova – 72
        Veronika Kedronova – 73

T13   Norway – 143
        Mia Lussand – 70
        Silje Torvund Ohma – 73
        Anna Krekling – 74

T17   Belgium – 144
        Sophie Bert – 71
        Savannah De Bock – 73
        Celine Manche – 73

T17   Mexico – 144
        Vania Alicia Simont – 71
        Cory Lopez – 73
        Lauren Olivares – 75

T17   Morocco – 144
        Sofia Cherif Essakali – 70
        Malak Bouraeda – 74
        Rim Imni – 80

T17   Chinese Taipei – 144
        Hsin Chun Liao – 72
        Huai-Chieu Hsu – 72
        Ting-Hsuan Huang – 76

T17   England – 144
        Lottie Woad – 72
        Charlotte Heath – 72
        Caley McGinty – 77

T17    Switzerland – 144
        Caroline Sturdza – 71
        Victoria Levy – 73
        Yana Beeli – 77

T23    Hong Kong, China – 145
        Arianna Lau – 71
        Sophie Han – 74
        Hoi Ki Lau – 79

T23    Japan – 145
        Mamika Shinchi – 68
        Mizuki Hashimoto – 77
        Miku Ueta – 78

T23    Singapore – 145
        Inez Ng – 72
        Aloysa Atienza – 73
        Xingtong Chen – 75

26     France – 146
        Adela Cernousek – 72
        Louise Uma Landgraf – 74
        Vairana Heck – 75

27     Netherlands – 147
        Anne den Dunnen – 72
        Rosanna Boere – 75
        Lynn van der Sluijs – 77

T28    Finland – 148
        Henni Mustonen – 73
        Katri Bakker – 75
        Emilia Vaisto – 75

T28    New Zealand – 148
        Vivian Lu – 74
        Eunseo Choi – 74
        Fiona Xu – 74

30     South Africa – 149
        Caitlyn Macnab – 73
        Megan Streicher – 76
        Kajal Mistry – 76

31     United Arab Emirates – 150
        Lara El Chaib – 74
        Intissar Rich – 76
        Jamie Camero – 78

T32    Pakistan – 151
        Humna Amjad – 73
        Parkha Ijaz – 78
        Rimsha Ijaz – 84

T32    Denmark – 151
        Cecilie Leth-Nissen – 75
        Olivia Grønborg – 76
        Natacha Host Husted – 78

34     People’s Republic of China – 152
        Xinyu Cao – 73
        Zixin Ni – 79
        Tong An – 80

35     Chile – 153
        Carolina Alcaino – 75
        Amelia Ruiz – 78
        Michelle Melandri – 78

36     Bolivia – 162
        Connie Quiroga – 80
        Victoria Suarez – 82
        Florencia Cuellar Gutierrez – 87

Building off a successful third round, Canada finished the World Amateur Team Championship strong on Saturday, climbing to a T17 finish with a combined team score of 13-under (146-142-136-139-563) in the 36-team field.

Two members of Team Canada earned top-30 finishes in the individual competition amongst a field of 108 golfers. Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta. fired the low round of the day for Canada with a 3-under 69 to finish the tournament T24 at 7-under (72-72-68-69-281). Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. recorded a 2-under 70 on Saturday to finish T30 at 6-under (74-70-68-70-282). Piercen Hunt of Hartland, Wis. closed the tournament with a 5-over 77 to finish at 13-over (80-74-70-77-301).

The United States of America surged to its 16th Eisenhower Trophy win, and its first since 2014, on Saturday in the 33rd World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. David Ford, the No. 5 ranked amateur in the world, posted an 8-under 64, while 2023 U.S. Amateur champion Nick Dunlap contributed a 4-under 68.

On the strength of a red-hot Ford, who was 6-under through his opening six holes, the Americans quickly established an eight-shot cushion midway through the opening nine. Ford rattled off four consecutive birdies followed by an eagle hole-out from 140 yards on the par-4 sixth to kick-start his final round.

Ford’s 64 is the second-lowest individual final round score in World Amateur Team Championship history.

After struggling to get things going early on, Dunlap birdied six of his final 10 holes, leading to his 68, and Gordon Sargent, the low amateur in the 2023 U.S. Open, posted a non-counting 71 for the USA in the fourth round. Dunlap (2), Ford (T-5) and Sargent (T-5), who competed together on last month’s victorious USA Walker Cup team at St Andrews, all finished in the top 5 of the individual scoring.

The USA’s 72-hole hole score of 36-under-par 540 was 11 strokes better than the silver-medal winning Australia and Norway teams. The 11-shot victory was the largest championship margin since Australia’s 19-stroke win in 2016.

Australia used a strong finish by Jack Buchanan (4-under 68), who birdied four of his final five holes, and a counting score from Karl Vilips (2-under 70) to close at 25-under-par 551.

Norway’s silver is its first medal in the country’s 26 Eisenhower appearances. The Norwegians, whose previous best finish was fourth place in 2022, used a 3-under 69 from Herman Sekne and a 2-under 70 from Michael Mjaaseth for a team total of 551.

France finished in fourth place, one stroke behind Australia and Norway at 24-under 552. Italy, the 2022 champions, and New Zealand finished in a tie for fifth place at 553.

The USA receives custody of the Eisenhower Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship, which will be held in 2025 in Singapore. Members of the winning team receive gold medals and members of the two second-place teams receive silver medals.

Although there is no official recognition, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori, the 2023 Western Amateur champion, was the low individual scorer at 16-under 272.

Notable:

• The USA’s 12-under 132 is tied for the second-lowest final-round team score in championship history (since moving from three to two counting scores in 2002). Singapore also carded a 12-under-132 on Saturday.
• In 33 appearances, the Americans have won 28 total medals (16 gold, nine silver and three bronze).
• The USA is one of seven nations to participate in all 33 World Amateur Team Championships since 1958.
• David Ford’s 29 on the front nine tied the second lowest nine-hole score in championship history, which has occurred six other times.  Denny McCarthy shot a 28 on the front nine during the final round of the USA’s Eisenhower Trophy win in 2014.
• Australia now has 14 medals, which remains second all-time behind the United States.
• Norway’s Michael Mjaaseth finished in a tie for eighth place in the individual scoring after he tied for ninth in 2022. He is the only player to finish in the top 10 both years.
• Czechia (T-8th) registered its best finish in a WATC after placing 22nd in 2018. 
• South Africa finished in seventh place for its first top-10 showing since 1998.
• Kazuma Kobori’s 16-under bested Nick Dunlap by one in the individual scoring. Kobori was the 2023 Elite Amateur Series champion. In addition to his Western Amateur victory this summer, Kobori added top-10 finishes in the Southern Amateur and Trans-Mississippi Amateur.
   

What’s Next:

The 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy will take place beginning Wednesday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The 2025 World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy will be held at Tenah Merah Country Club in Singapore.
 

Results from Saturday’s final round of the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

1      United States of America 135-137-136-132–540
        Nick Dunlap 69-67-69-68–273
        David Ford 68-74-69-64–275
        Gordon Sargent 67-70-67-71—275

T2     Norway 144-134-134-139–551
        Herman Sekne 73-64-68-69–274
        Michael Mjaaseth 71-70-66-70–277
        Mats Ege 75-77-71-70–293
T2     Australia 137-137-139-138–551
        Jeff Guan 68-69-68-72–277
        Karl Vilips 69-68-73-70–280
        Jack Buchanan 76-72-71-68—287

4      France 135-138-139-140–552
        Bastien Amat 68-70-67-69–274
        Hugo Le Goff 67-68-72-71–278
        Paul Beauvy 68-73-74-73—288

T5     New Zealand 139-139-139-136–553
        Kazuma Kobori 70-70-67-65–272
        Sam Jones 69-72-72-71–284
        Jayden Ford 74-69-73-72—288

T5     Italy 142-138-136-137–553
        Pietro Bovari 69-67-69-70–275
        Flavio Michetti 73-73-67-67–280
        Riccardo Fantinelli 74-71-70-71—286

7      South Africa 139-138-138-139–554
        Christo Lamprecht 71-68-68-70–277
        Christiaan Maas 70-70-71-69–280
        Altin van der Merwe 69-71-70-71—281

T8     Czechia 139-135-140-142–556
        Filip Jakubcik 69-67-70-71–277
        Petr Hruby 72-68-70-73–283
        Louis Klein 70-72-73-71—286

T8     Ireland 145-139-138-134–556
        Matthew McClean 72-68-68-69–277
        Alex Maguire 73-73-72-65–283
        Liam Nolan 75-71-70-70—286

10     Netherlands 136-140-139-142–557
        Jack Ingham 70-70-69-73–282
        Benjamin Reuter 66-71-76-71–284
        Lars van der Vight 77-70-70-71—288

T11    Denmark 137-138-143-142–560
        Jacob Olesen 68-71-71-71–281
        Frederik Kjettrup 75-67-72-71–285
        Gustav Frimodt 69-75-72-71—287

T11    Spain 138-140-142-140–560
        José Luis Ballester 69-72-68-69–278
        Luis Masaveu Roncal 69-70-74-71–284
        Angel Ayora 71-70-76-78—295

T11    Mexico 143-133-142-142–560
        Santiago De La Fuente del Valle 71-66-72-71–280
        Omar Morales 72-68-70-71–281
        José Islas Valdespino 75-67-74-75—291

14     Argentina 137-138-146-140–561
        Joaquín Ludueña 70-70-74-67–281
        Vicente Marzilio 69-68-72-75–284
        Segundo Oliva Pinto 68-72-76-73—289

T15    England 137-143-142-140–562
        Tyler Weaver 68-71-70-71–280
        Jack Bigham 72-72-72-69–285
        Barclay Brown 69-73-72-75—289

T15    Germany 141-141-145-135–562
        Jonas Baumgartner 71-70-70-69–280
        Tim Wiedemeyer 70-72-75-68–285
        Tiger Christensen 73-71-76-67—287

T17    Canada 146-142-136-139–563
        Brady McKinlay 72-72-68-69–281
        Ashton McCulloch 74-70-68-70–282
        Piercen Hunt 80-74-70-77—301

T17    Chinese Taipei 143-136-141-143–563
        Chuan-Tai Lin 72-66-72-72–282
        Ching Hung Su 71-70-72-75–288
        Chi Chun Chen 74-77-69-71—291

T17    Wales 142-139-141-141–563
        Tomi Bowen 70-71-70-71–282
        Matt Roberts 75-71-75-70–291
        James Ashfield 72-68-71-80—291

T17    Japan 142-140-141-140–563
        Yuta Sugiura 72-70-71-69–282
        Riura Matsui 75-70-73-71–289
        Minato Oshima 70-70-70-80—290

T21    Scotland 141-140-140-145–566
        Connor Graham 70-71-68-69–278
        Calum Scott 71-69-72-76–288
        Gregor Tait 78-79-72-76—305

T21    Switzerland 142-142-143-139–566
        Max Sturdza 70-68-71-73–282
        Nicola Gerhardsen 74-74-72-70–290
        Marc Keller 72-80-75-69—296

T21    People’s Republic of China 138-135-144-149–566
        Justin Bai 69-68-73-76–286
        Zihang Qiu 69-67-71-83–290
        Ziqin Zhou 76-69-79-73—297

24     Morocco 141-142-143-141–567
        Soufiane Dahmane 69-69-72-75–285
        Hugo Mazen Trometter 72-74-71-70–287
        El Mehdi Fakori 75-73-73-71—292

T25    Colombia 142-139-138-149–568
        Nicolas Quintero 69-69-67-76–281
        Carlos Conde 73-72-71-75–291
        Manuel Merizalde 76-70-73-74—293

T25    Republic of Korea 144-142-135-147–568
        Seonghyeon An 73-70-65-75–283
        Donghyun Moon 71-72-70-72–285
        Sungho Lee 74-72-74-85—305

T27    Sweden 145-141-140-143–569
        Daniel Svard 70-71-73-71–285
        Tobias Jonsson 75-71-69-72–287
        Albert Hansson 79-70-71-73—293

T27    Guatemala 146-143-139-141–569
        Gabriel Palacios 72-70-73-70–285
        Juan Ricardo Davila 74-74-66-73–287
        Alejandro Villavicencio 82-73-73-71—299

T29    Austria 147-144-138-142–571
        Christoph Bleier 73-71-66-67–277
        Fabian Lang 78-73-72-75–298
        Florian Schweighofer 74-77-79-77—307

T29    Singapore 154-142-143-132–571
        Hiroshi Hirahara Tai 79-71-72-65–287
        Ryan Ang 78-71-71-67–287
        Troy Storm 76-78-75-74—303

T31    Finland 149-139-144-141–573
        Elias Haavisto 77-67-71-71–286
        Jesse Saareks 74-72-76-70–292
        Markus Luoma 75-75-73-79—302

T31    Thailand 149-145-141-138–573
        Ashita Piamkulvanich 74-70-70-66–280
        Parin Sarasmut 75-75-71-72–293
        Jiradech Chaowarat 75-77-73-77—302

33     India 150-142-148-142–582
        Yuvraj Singh 74-70-72-71–287
        Shaurya Bhattacharya 76-73-76-71–296
        Rohit Narwal 79-72-76-74—301

34     Zimbabwe 143-147-151-144–585
        Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 70-72-74-78–294
        David Amm 73-76-77-69–295
        Keegan James Shutt 82-75-78-75—310

35     United Arab Emirates 155-153-153-154–615
        Rayan Ahmed 79-79-75-77–310
        Ahmad Skaik 80-74-80-77–311
        Thomas Nesbitt 76-80-78-79—313

36     Guam 169-158-157-161–645
        Markus Nanpei 86-80-74-74–314
        Nalapon Vongjalorn 84-78-83-87–332
        Eugene Park 85-86-85-89–345

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.

Amos Robinson, Oaks Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

It was 194 yards and I hit a 4 iron. I was golfing with my wife.

Andy Brown, Homestead at Wolf Ridge, Hole #11

I am still buzzing after that day. I’ve been golfing for 30 years and that was my first! My partners that day were Elton Neuman and Lloyd Peters, it was a cool Fall day and the 11th was playing 159 yards into the wind. I took a 7 iron and have to admit, I flushed it. The green is tiered so unfortunately, I didn’t see it go in, I thought it had run through the green but Elton said to look in the hole, and there it was! I’m not sure what was more exciting, the hole-in-one or the fact that I was with these two great friends when it happened.

Andrew Bouchat, Belleview Golf Club, Hole #11

September 24, 2023 was a mild fall day with blustery winds. I was playing with two friends and having a decent round. The shot on the 11th hole was slightly left of the pin and based on the ball mark, landed three yards from the hole – bounced once and ran towards the cup and disappeared. The three of us thought it was behind the cup. As I walked off the tee, I could see that there was no ball on the green; raised my arms and said, “It went in.” loud enough, that my wife Claire, who also has two holes-in-one, and was putting on the 10th green, heard the excitement. I shot 76 and told the Golf Course Manager (Josh) who sent a notification to the Membership via Facebook. After 50 years with no aces, I now have two this year!

Arjun Punthambekar, Don Valley Golf Club, Hole #7

I headed to the course as a single and was joined by a twosome and another single. It was an ordinary round until hole #7, a 165 yard par 3, and the pin was placed in the front.

It was an 8 iron that I made good contact and saw it shaping towards the hole and bounce on the green. It looked like it popped into the hole but I couldn’t believe it, and told one of my playing partners that it might be behind the flag.

But he was certain, and sure enough when we went to the green it was in the hole, can’t quite describe the feeling.

Cecil Chung, The Quarry Golf Course, Hole #6

That day, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, my playing partners were Don Descotes and Lewis Murray, who are also members at The Quarry and with whom I golf regularly. It was hole #6 on Slate. It measured 138 yards into a slight breeze and I used a 7 iron.

Cory Reierson, Mount Paul Golf, Hole #5

It was my second-ever ace on a 94-yard hole. I used a 60-degree wedge.

Dennis Small, Peninsula Lakes Golf Club, Hole #8

We were playing the final round of our Men’s League season at Peninsula Lakes Golf Club. The format for the day was a shotgun start with a five-man best ball. My playing partners were David Drosky, Kevin Shaw, Fred Ciszek and Brad Splawinski. We were on the 130 yard par three 8th hole on the Orchard 9. It was late in the afternoon, and we were playing into the sun which made it difficult to see the balls land. When we got to the green the other guys all found their balls but mine was nowhere to be seen. Kevin suggested that maybe it was in the hole. Surprise! That’s where we found it. My very first hole-in-one.

Ernie Lascelles, Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course, Hole #16

My first was 10 years ago in Florida. That time the hole was on the backside of a mound, so we didn’t see it go in. This time was extra special because I was playing with my two sons and a very good friend, and we saw the ball actually go in the hole. According to my son’s rangefinder the flag was 124 yards from the tee, and I used an 8 iron.

Franklin Lee, Wildstone Golf Course, Hole #12

This was my very first hole-in-one. I couldn’t have picked a better time for it to happen. It was during an annual trip with a number of buddies which is named the Fanatic’s Tour. This trip has been going on for 37 years in one form or another and this was the first ace in its history. For the past number of years, the tour has been played for five days in the Kimberley/Cranbrook area and the group has grown in size to 20 to 24 guys from Edmonton, A.B. and Victoria, B.C. This year we had one buddy come in from Ireland to play for the first time. He couldn’t stop talking about the amazing scenery and courses here he’s never experienced anything like it back home.

My hole-in-one was on Thursday. Sept 14^th which was day one of the Ryder Cup. It was on hole #12 at Wildstone in Cranbrook. It’s kind of an island green playing about 120 yards and I used my 9 iron. I hit it clean and saw it hit the green and then it disappeared. I didn’t see it go in, but my buddies Jim, Bill and Boyd all yelled, “It’s in the hole!” It wasn’t until I walked over the bridge onto the green and looked into the hole that I believed it. I can’t describe my feeling as I picked it out. I don’t think my smile left my face for the rest of the trip. All 24 of us plus a few more new friends we met in the clubhouse celebrated with a toast afterwards. It was a good bar tab but well worth it! The group at Wildstone was kind enough to present me with a flag in recognition of the accomplishment and it’s something I’ll treasure forever.

George Stokes, Deerridge Golf, Hole #16

As a member at Deerridge Golf in Kitchener, I aced the 16th hole on Friday and five days later I aced the 4th hole. I finally aced all four par threes at Deerridge which has been done by only one other member. By the way, my ace on Wednesday was my 14th. I am 81 years of age.

Gregg Fabris, Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

Definitively a special moment that I was fortunate enough to share with my Dad, old high school friend and his father. The hole was playing 185 into the wind with a middle pin placement. Hit a 6 iron about four feet short, hopped once and rolled straight in. Great way to end the golf season here in Northern Ontario.

Jeff Derbyshire, Moncton Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

Sunday’s hole-in-one was my single greatest achievement. Hole #17 at Moncton golf course is uphill so we couldn’t see it go in from the tee. I was playing with my friends and colleagues Andrew Jones and Jason Crane. It was 140 yards, cold, breezy, back pin with an 8 iron. Perfection.

Jeff Diduck, Country Hills Golf Club, Hole #10

I had my first career hole-in-one on Thanksgiving; Monday, October 9th, 2023. My group of Scott Secord, Ian Secord and Tyler Foster of Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary had the first tee time on our Ridge course. No frost delay today and it got hot in a hurry. The round didn’t start off very well as I had a double bogey followed by a bogey, so my expectations for the rest of the round were pretty low at that point.

We made our way around the front nine and I was able to keep it somewhat respectable. We had a little game going with Tyler and myself getting beat up pretty good by Ian and Scott. So, Tyler and I had a little pep talk at the halfway house. We knew we needed to get some birdies going if we were going to have any chance. We headed down to the 10^th hole. A par 3 playing 184 yards that day. However, just as we made our way to the tee, the wind started to pick up. I was a little behind getting to the tee as I watched from a distance, Scott and Ian hit their shots onto the green. When I finally pulled my bag up to the tee Tyler was just getting ready to hit. I asked the guys about distance and started doing some quick calculations to figure out what club I was going to hit. 184 yards is a stock 7 iron for me but as I mentioned, the wind was starting to blow. The gusts were pretty strong and I wasn’t confident in a 6 iron being enough club. I grabbed my 5 iron and decided to choke down on it, take some off and keep it down under the wind.

I hit it perfectly! The ball came off the club just as I had hoped and never left the flagstick! As I held my finish, we all watched that ball take one bounce short of the hole and then disappear.

The guys behind me went crazy and it took me a second to actually let myself believe that it went in, as I’ve had years of close calls and disappointments.

It took me about two holes after that ball went in to get my heart rate back to normal. But I was able to follow up the ace with a birdie on the par 5 11th, so that was sweet!

Kathy Foster, Picton Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

It was 116 yards with a 7 wood.

Marva Opperman, Glacier Greens Golf Club, Hole #17

On Thursday, I was playing with my friends, Yvonne Higgs and June Fraser and we were on the 17th hole. My goal was to hit high and hope to place it well on the green. I was using my 5 hybrid. My ball flew high and I watched it land on the green, then roll into the hole, 135 yards, and I couldn’t believe it. I think we were all in disbelief. We had to walk up and check for sure and let it sink in. I think Yvonne was more excited than I, until it sunk in.

Mike Cameron, Avondale Golf Course, Hole #8

I was playing with my brother, John Cameron. Hole #8, from the senior tees is 110 yards, uphill and I used a 9 iron. Besides my brother John, the shot was witnessed by two gentlemen I did not know, who were getting ready to tee off from the white tees on hole #8.

Piercen Hunt, Colombia’s Esteban Restrepo, Hole #4

Piercen Hunt made his first career hole-in-one. Pitching wedge from 134 yards/123 meters on the par 3 fourth hole. It was the first WATC ace since the final round of the 2018 championship (Colombia’s Esteban Restrepo, 7th hole).

Rick Ferguson, Willow Valley Golf Course, Hole #15

This is my fifth hole-in-one. It was 115 yards and I used a pitching wedge.

Ron Kulperger, Oaks of St. George Golf Club, Hole #17

I was playing with my brother Len Kulperger, and fellow members Dan Demurak and Dwayne McDonald. The hole was set up short that day at about 70 yards. I used my sand wedge. My fifth ace, but my first at my home club. A truly tremendous feeling.

Sandra Culp, Nanton Golf Club, Hole #3

I was with two ladies from my ladies’ league, Lee and Charlene. It’s a par 3 and 145 yards. The pin was back and to the left of the center. I used my 5 wood and I hit it long and to the right of the pin, hit the green and it curved down about six feet into the hole.

Scott Warren, Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course, Hole #16

This is my third career hole-in-one. Ironically my first came in June of ’94 also at Cottonwood Coulee in Medicine Hat, Alberta on the 16^th hole. But since that time the 9’s have been reversed and that is now the 7^th hole. On Sunday I aced the 16^th while playing with Dan Pede and Kevin Conrad. It was the first time I played the course in six years and the 16^th usually gives me a lot of problems. On this day things would be different. I struck a 6 hybrid perfectly, the ball hit before the ridge, then trickled over and filtered down to the pin which was in a tough back right location. Right away I thought it had a chance but we couldn’t see it go in because the pin was tucked in behind that ridge. As we walked toward the green the group on the 17^th tee offered congratulations as at least one of them saw it go in from their vantage point. Dan walked toward the hole pointed down then gave me a thumbs up.

My three aces have all been on the 16^th hole. The first was in ’94 as previously mentioned, the second was in August of ’14 on the 16^th at Riverview Golf Club and then the one on Sunday.

Sheldon Kitzul, Prairie Lake Lodge, Hole #6

It was my first ace and was 150 yards with a 9 iron.

Sheldon Warner, King’s Riding Golf Club, Hole #12

It was 147 yards to the flag and I used an 8 iron. I met the three other guys in my group for the first time that day.

Tony Lye, Bally Haly Country Club – North, Hole #2

I was playing with my wife Cindy and two friends, Scott and Bob. I hit a nine iron to 131 yards on hole #2 on the Bally Haly North Course to record my hole-in-one. The wind was blowing a little to the right that day and Bob just hit a nice shot left of the hole. I said to Bob I was going to use his ball as a target. My ball went right over Bob’s and just found its way to nestle in the hole. It was a fantastic experience made that much better to have my wife, Cindy, with me. I believe Scott was more excited when I got mine then he was when he recorded his own a couple years earlier.

Troy Yuzik, Willow Park Golf and Country Club, Hole #6

It was 168 yards with a 7 iron.

Val Mieras, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Hole #10

I was playing with friends and we all saw the ball fly over the pond and roll into the hole. Since we started on the back, this 8 iron was the first shot of the day.

William Sparks, Savannah Golf Links, Hole #3

On September 19, 2023, I enjoyed scoring my very first, hole-in-one at Savannah Golf Links, in Cambridge, Ontario. On the par 3 hole #3, playing 104 yards, I scored the ace with an 8 iron.

On October 3rd (14 days later), playing at Savannah Golf Links, I scored my second ever on the very same hole. On this date the hole was playing 106 yards. 8 iron again.

I have witnesses for both dates. I have trophies now, marking these awesome dates.