Golf Canada Hole-In-One Report – Week of July 8, 2024
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.
David Morrow, Riverbend Golf Community, Hole #12
I first put my hands on a golf club at age 11, 73 years ago and have loved the game every since. The people we meet and share time with make it special. So I would like to share a memory of the 12th hole from the fall of 2012 that connects with this year’s hole-in-one.
Playing a foursome match with a tooney on the line, I hit a 6 iron, 165 yards from the gold tee for an amazing hole-in-one. Earlier this year I was shocked to learn of the passing of Randy McCurdy at age 69 from dengue fever while in Asia. Randy was playing with me when I had my hole-in-one. Although I hadn’t seen Randy for a few years my wonderful memories of our playing days welled up on opening day this year as we were approaching the 12th tee. My wife Joan and I were playing with our friends Werner and Diane. I told Werner that I was going to hit a shot from the gold tee in memory of Randy. Rather than the 6 iron from 12 years ago I had to go with my 5 wood. The shot had to go over a large pond in front of the green. I mishit the shot and it went into the water 30 yards short of the green. When I got back to the golf cart at the white tee Werner asked, “did your friend like swimming?” Randy would have loved the humour in that. When we got to the 17th hole the yardage from the white tees was the same 165 yards that I had hit into the water on hole #12. I pulled the same 5 wood. This time it went into the hole for a hole-in-one. What do you think of that Randy!
Yes, so the hole-in-one on #12 was the second hole-in-one this year! From the white tees it was an 8 iron from 125 yards. The good news we were playing a foursome match game. Surprise, we won the hole. The bad news, I needed more holes-in-one because my partner and I lost the match on #18.
I love that you never know which shot you hit is going in and that every hole starts from zero.
Steve Gallacher, Heron Point Golf Links, Hole #13
When I shot it, I thought it rolled off the back but my group standing as the side of the tee said it rolled in!
When we got across the bridge and didn’t see it we thought, “oh boy this might be in” and there it was in the cup! So exciting.
Jonah Sohmer, Rideau View Country Club, Hole #4
I was playing with my uncle on a Wednesday evening. The hole was #4 at Rideau View Golf Club playing around 150 yards. I used an 8 iron!
Willie Bruce, Amherstview Golf Club, Hole #5
It was a back pin and the yardage was 157 yards. I used a Ping G30 7 iron. Playing partners for that day were club members: Tom Murphy, Terry Shea and Ken Roulston. It was early morning and a rare light fog which prevented us from seeing the ball drop in. When I hit it, the guys said it looks really good. Upon arrival at the green, I took out my putter and went looking for the ball behind the green. When I said to Tom, “I can not see my ball,” he replied, “check the hole” and bingo, it was there. Needless to say we all enjoyed a “pop” after the round.
Ruth Chapman, Crown Isle Golf Resort, Hole #4
My hole-in-one was on June 16, 2024, hole #4, 118 yards and used an 8 iron. I was playing with Sue Spate, Rhonda and Eamon Ryan, all members at Crown Isle. This is my fourth hole-in-one, three at Crown Isle on holes #7, #12 and now on #4. First one was at Westwood Plateau.
Luke Carnevale, Inglewood Golf & Curling Club, Hole #7
I was with a few buddies Terry, Gord and John. The hole was 144 yards from the white tees and I used a Taylormade 7 iron and a Titleist golf ball. It landed a few yards short of the green with a red pin location. It bounced once and then rolled in on beautiful Calgary windless evening – which so far this year has been rare. I have been fortunate as this was my fourth ace.
Candace Heinz, Poppy Estate Golf Club, Hole #6
As you know it happened at Poppy Estates on hole #6. It is a 140 yard par 3 and I chose my trusty 7 iron. It was during the Poppy Ladies Tournament during the women’s club. I was grouped with a fabulous group of ladies which included Debora McLellan, Michelle Pringle and our Captain Lynda-Lee Saunier. What was even more exciting that my mother Kathryn Heinz was in the group behind us and saw it as well with her group. It was a very exciting moment with all the share. Once the round was over the club house was filled with excitement too, such a great group of ladies at our course.
William Mitchell, Science Hill Country Club, Hole #12
I was with my friends from left to right Bob Frayne, Jared Frayne, myself and Phil Roth. I used a 22 degree Ping rescue club and the yardage was 169 yards from the blue tees.
Art McKay, Pakenham Highlands Golf Club, Hole #2
My playing partner Reg Gutz and I were on our second hole in the Pakenham Tuesday Morning Senior Men’s League playing the Lake Course. Hole #2 was playing 114 yards against a bit of a headwind. I nailed my 8 iron, landing just short of the pin. I knew it was a good shot, somewhat tight to the white flag stick. The ball was stuck between the pin and lip of the cup with just a portion of the ball visible. At the green, Reg said, “it’s in” and just touched the pin to let the ball drop to the bottom of the cup. I had my first hole-in-one in 2007. The guys are saying I have the same schedule as the cicadas – every 17 years!
Corrina Johnstone, Deer Valley Golf Course, Hole #4
I am a new golfer and only started playing last year. I began taking consistent lessons this spring. My husband and I were golfing in Deer Valley with two friends. Hole #4 is a par 3 over water. This hole has always been a mental game for me, as the water has claimed many of my balls from previous rounds. My husband had found a TP5 ball on the previous hole and gave it to me. I always use the worst balls in my bag when teeing off on hole #4 since I’m sure to lose them in the water. This time I decided to take a chance and use that TP5. It was 102 yards from the pin. I made the perfect swing with my 9 iron. I remember seeing the ball land close to the pin and start rolling. At that moment, it never occurred to me how close the ball was. Then the ball disappeared into the hole. Our whole party erupted with excitement. The adrenaline was so intense I thought I was going to pass out. It was a surreal moment that I will always be thankful for. Although slightly jealous, my husband proudly tells anyone who will listen of his wife’s hole-in-one. Special thanks to the person who lost their TP5 ball on the previous hole, your ball allowed me to make one of my most exciting memories. It now sits on our mantle.
Cheri Janzen, The Okanagen Golf Club, Hole #11
Silver tees. 111 yards. Used a 9 iron. Was playing with Vicki Redding and Sebastian Nyeste. Sebastian was as excited as me, he is a new golfer and this was the first hole-in-one he ever witnessed. My friend Vicki said as soon as the ball was in the air that the golf shot was looking really good. That got all of our attention. We started yelling already as the ball travelled towards the hole. When the ball landed on the green it hit left of the flag on the exact break it needed and went right into the hole; we all saw it perfectly. If I must say it, was a really great shot! It was a great golf day, I managed to get the hole-in-one on #11, a birdie on hole #15 and a par on hole #18.
Gordon He, University Golf Club, Hole #2
I had a hole-in-one at University Golf Club while playing in the BCGA Zone 4 Junior Championship. The second hole was a 170-yard par 3 and 155 yards to the pin (front pin). I hit a light 7 iron. My group and I watched the ball as it flew at the hole. It landed a couple yards short of the hole and then rolled in! I was super excited and happy about my first ever hole-in-one during a tournament! Thanks to the Zone 4 team and Golf Canada for the support.
Peyton Gripper, Jasper Park Golf Club, Hole #15
I was playing with my friend Hayden Kelly. We both work here at the Jasper Park Golf Club. The yardage was 138 and I hit my gap wedge.
Leslie King, St. Andrews Golf and Country Club, Hole #14
My recent hole-in-one on May 21, 2024 was during regular league play at Larters Golf Club with other Ladies League members Sandy Eggertson, Shirley Babaluk and Karen Kearney. On hole #14, 123 yard par 3, I watched the other players hit towards the green against big wind gusts, over a soggy fairway and come up short. So I changed my club decision and grabbed my driver. I hit my ball, saw it land on the green beyond a small rise beside the sand trap and was hoping for a birdie. Karen, who was watching from a different angle said she saw it go into the cup. I walked up to the green with my putter just as Karen pointed down at my ball in the cup. Our foursome was busy keeping pace so there were no photos taken and no major celebrations that day when we finished our round. But it was also my second hole-in-one.
I got my first on July 31, 2020 at Kingswood Golf and Country Club in LaSalle, Manitoba. Hole #3, a 122 yard par 3. I was using my driver as I needed to get my ball over a pond in front of the green. My golf pals, Betty Wilson and Lynn Crocker Loat and I all stood on the elevated tee box, watched and cheered as my ball cleared the pond, landed on the top of the green, rolled down and dropped into the hole. My brother, Jamie, a lifelong low handicap golfer with two hole-in-one’s, now says he needs to get another hole-in-one as soon as possible to beat his older sister. Our sister Cheryl, who took up golf when she retired and plays socially in Ontario, already got a hole-in-one. The last sibling, Michele, who is turning 70 next month, just took up golf last summer, so now we are all bugging her, as well as my son Everett and son-in-law Marty, to join the family hole-in-one club!
Tom Kingston, The Club at North Halton, Hole #13
Hole #13, 176 yards with a 4 hybrid. Playing with Henry Barber, a 20-year-old in a flighted match play. Two weeks before my 85th birthday. This now makes five hole-in-one’s and I also have a double eagle. That hole-in-one helped me to win the match over a longer and stronger young player. Fairways and greens still counts in this game.
Peter Andrews, Predator Ridge Golf Resort, Hole #6
I’ve only been golfing seriously since 2020 when I bought my first set of clubs and I recognize what a super cool thing it is to get a hole-in-one. Many golfers go their whole life without getting one and I am still in wonder of the whole accomplishment.
I was golfing that week with a group of seven guys on our annual golf trip. This year we played rounds at Predator Ridge (Vernon), Shuswap National (Salmon Arm), Harvest in Kelowna and Hillview (Vernon). That day, my golfing group consisted of myself, Peter Andrews, Mike Forsyth and Phil Denno, the other foursome was one hole ahead of us and was made up of Gerry Rempel, Murray Hedlin, Bill Scott and John Ydenberg.
On Tuesday, June 11th we teed off at 8:30 am into a beautiful warm morning from the blue tee box. On hole #6, the card yardage was 195, but the hole posted 187 yards. I used my Cobra King #4 hybrid and a Callaway Chrome soft ball and it flew straight at the flag, dropped and rolled into the hole. One of my partners said he heard it hit the flag so I thought it would at least be a close putt but was elated to approach the hole and not see my ball at all and hurried over to the flag to confirm my ball was indeed in there!
Danny Cook, Blue Mountain Golf & Country Club, Hole #8
Nothing amazing, other than I took an 8 iron and hit a ball, 143 yards on to a 500 square foot piece of property with a 4.25″ hole and put it in and yet can’t make a 4-foot putt. Haha!
Mark Jones, Island Brae (Club de golf), Hole #2
I was playing with my dad, Steve Jones; my uncle, Jerry Muldoon, and my cousin, Matthew Muldoon. The yardage was 160 and I used a 6 iron.
Eric Chen, Legends on the Niagara, Hole #8
Had a tee time on 9:40 am in a hot and muggy Thursday, June 20, 2024. Paired with Sean who lives nearby as twosome following a foursome in Battlefield course at Legends on the Niagara. Both of us are the full access pass holders, good casual talks during the round.
Hole #8 is a short par 3 over water hazard with back pin location, playing 135 yards from white tee deck. I hit a lazy 8 iron with baby draw to the centre of the green, then the ball rolled towards to the pin and disappeared. I felt a chance in the cup but could be long rolled over. Lucky enough, the ball sat inside the cup. That’s unbelievable of my very first hole-in-one in more than twenty years of golfing.
Scott Fraser, Williams Lake Golf & Tennis Club, Hole #8
It was men’s night and I was playing with the same group of guys that I play with most weeks, John Pickard, Robert Lyons and Scott Mezonic. Anyway, after cruising along even par into hole #7, I took a double bogey and was very mad! I walked to the 8th tee box, threw my ball down and said to myself, “I’m going to ace this hole!” I hit my 8 iron and it felt perfect! It flew approximately 153 yards, landed just shy of the green, took one hop and I said, “get in!” It rolled about 15 feet and plunk. First one at my home course in which I grew up playing and first one in over 38 years! I was extremely elated. I also won low gross that night and bought a few drinks for the men’s club. I think I won long drive too in the Senior’s division, so all in all, it was a perfect night.
Blake Chandler, Chester Golf Club, Hole #16
It was on June 9th at hole #16 of Chester Golf Course 156 yards. The club used was a 3 hybrid. Playing partners were, Holly Chandler, Jo-Ann Ravlo and John Ravlo.
Al Cue, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #4
June 19th, while playing with Ken Volk, Jock Hawkey and Frank Kratzer, I had a hole-in-one on the hole #4 at the Harvest Golf Club, Kelowna. It was 165 yards to the hole, the ball hit the front of the green and rolled toward the middle pin. You could hear the ball hit the pin from the tee box, then it fell into the hole. It is quite a surreal experience and I was happy to share it with my good friends.
Claude Joannette, Club de Golf Miner, Hole #8
At the Club de Golf Miner in Granby, Quebec. Small municipal nine hole golf course, on the Sunday, May 26, 2024. With my son Bruno, my partner Rejean (81) and his friend. The day, at the age of 77 years young, with a 7 wood, nice breeze and sunny, the ball flew in a straight line and my son started to shout, “it is going in and it is in,” What a moment of joy, in all the years that I have been practicing golf. Hole #8, 142 yards long between high level trees and a sand trap along the right side. Now I can relax and say, “I did it.” Boy what a memory, wish everyone to have one and see the feeling inside you. Now the ball and the score card placed in a transparent cube in my office, right in my view!
Peter Whitlock, Eagles Glenn Golf Course, Hole #17
The hole-in-one was a long time in the making. My playing partners were Edwin Callaghan and Reg Boudreau. The hole was playing about 135 yards and I played a 6 iron to make sure I carried the water hazard and bunker in front. A pretty cool moment.
Ron Hudon, Glencairn Golf Course, Hole #12
The hole was 160 yards and I used an 8 iron.
Cuong (Curtis) Ly, Station Creek Golf Club, Hole #17
Carmen Saumure, Equinelle Golf Course, Hole #13
It was Saturday, June 8th and I was playing with our weekend warriors. I was actually having a pretty decent game that day. But just before my hole-in-one, I shot a three over on a par 4! I remember telling my friends I need to erase that bad hole.
Move onto hole #13, a 122-yard par 3, the green slopes to the right. Two of my friends had already hit, I took out my 4 hybrid and hit and I remember thinking just aim a bit left (since I’m a lefty and have tendency to pull right). I felt it was a good shot but thought that it had rolled behind the pin. I said it’s probably lined up and we can’t see it. My friend who is last to hit yells out at me, “great shot!” It’s going for the hole! Then she yells out, “it disappeared!” I was putting away my club so did not actually see it go in. We all ran to go see how close I was only to find it in the hole! Needless to say we all yelled and jumped with excitement!
Within five minutes I must of gotten over a dozen texts congratulating me. I was the talk on the veranda among the warriors that day! Because I had “insurance” everyone on the veranda got a free beverage! Fantastic moment I will never forget.
Steve Kisil, Monterra Golf At Blue Mountain Resort, Hole #2
This was our annual guy’s golf getaway and yes it was so exciting getting a hole-in-one on Montera’s second hole. I used my 9 iron from the grey tees around 129 yards to the pin in the back left corner of the green.
This was actually my third hole-in-one! My first two came two weeks apart about 20 years ago. My buddies in the picture are Chris Belton, me, Peter Lachance and Chris Love.
Sharon Zarowny, Quilchena Golf & Country Club, Hole #8
My playing partners that day were Alec Keylock, Mike Matthews and Bert Bonin. The hole was 161 yards but played 170 that day as it was a back pin placement. There was a strong headwind so I used my 4 wood. I struck the ball well and it hit the front of the green and rolled all the way into the bottom of the cup. Pretty cool or what!
Zachary Burlon, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hole #17
Hole #17, 145 yards with an 8 iron. I played with Jonathan Dikih and his friend Anthony. It is kind of a funny story how the round got started. I was supposed to play with a friend and unfortunately at last minute they had to cancel on me, leaving me to play solo. I was actually looking forward to a solo round and didn’t even plan to play all 18 holes! Well, right before I was going to tee off two guys came down to the first tee and said “hey, are you Zach?” We got told to jump in with you since you’re playing alone. They were not familiar with the lay of the land, so as a member at Black Mountain, I was able to give them some pointers along the way.
Nearing the end of the round, we get up to hole #17, I put my ball on the tee and get ready to hit. I took my shot and bounced to the right of the hole. I didn’t see the ball roll across the green so I thought to myself, “Hmm, I must have just gotten caught up just before the green.” Not thinking much of it, I walk up to the green with the guys and I don’t see my ball on the green, nothing on the fringe just short of the green, I walk up to the pin and there it is, my Kirkland ball is in the cup!
I yelled, “I just got a hole-in-one!” Jonathan was right there and started cheering with me. It’s an awesome accomplishment to get a hole-in-one. It’s funny how it happened on a day where my usual crew wasn’t there and I almost didn’t have a witness! My usual group couldn’t believe they missed it! This is only my second year as a member at Black Mountain and now my group and I get to see my name on the plaque in the clubhouse everyday. This is actually my second hole-in-one. First one was at Tower Ranch Golf course in Kelowna, B.C. as well. October 20, 2017 on hole #5. I just found out my name is now on the wall there too.
Gwen Cargill, Castlegar Golf Club, Hole #4
Miracles do happen! It was wet and cold for our Tuesday morning ladies golf club. I didn’t think I would stay but was talked into playing nine holes at least as we were going to celebrate a member’s 70th birthday with cupcakes. The weather improved and we completed 18 holes. I played with Candis Bomak, Verna Chernoff and Marg McKenzie. The yardage on hole #4 from the red tees is listed at 116 yards and it was a red flag. I used a 3 wood. My first thought on seeing I had a close shot was that I hadn’t put in for the KP pot and then Verna said, “it went in.”
Laura Baydala, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club, Hole #13
I was using my new Callaway smoke 9 wood when I hit 148 yards uphill for my hole-in-one. Due to the elevation of the green, we did not see the ball go into the hole. In fact, we thought I had gone over the green and were looking for the ball behind the green. When we could not find it, I asked one of the gals to check the hole and there it was! It was a regular Tuesday woman’s day at Gallagher’s, so after the round all the women who were staying for lunch were treated to a beverage of their choice. We even celebrated with a champagne toast!
Cassandra Dass-Pearce, Nottawasaga Inn Golf Club, Hole #8
I was playing in a foursome with my husband and a couple who also happened to be my next-door neighbours. The club used was a Taylormade M2 #4 hybrid. The yardage was 114.6.
Jo-Anne Belcher, Georgetown Golf Club, Hole #14
It was both shocking and exciting. I didn’t believe it was in the hole because it was hard to see as we have to shoot over a ravine. My ball bounced once and right into the hole. It was 124 yards and I used my 3 wood. I was playing with Deb Pincivero and Kathy Kearney.
Jamie Paradis, Connaught Golf Club, Hole #12
It was a 122 yard hole and I used my 8 iron.
Karen Paul, Vernon Golf & Country Club, Hole #5
We played a nine and dine with some friends and it was on hole #5, Vernon, B.C., Vernon Golf and Country Club 113 yards, with my 5 wood using a Taylormade ball. It was an elevated green so of course we couldn’t see where the ball landed.
Took my shot and moved to the green where we saw only three balls. Thinking my ball had gone off the bank and over the hill, I started to search for it. One of our party said, “look in the hole!” Lo and behold my ball was there! I couldn’t believe it! My second hole-in-one! Just as exciting as my first!
Dale Roberts, Mystic Golf Club, Hole #11
My first hole-in-one was 58 years in the making. I am 66 years old and began playing this game at the age of eight. The hole-in-one happened at Mystic Golf Course on hole #11 from 120 yards using an 8 iron. I was playing with three of my friends. It was a very special moment in my very long golfing life.
Brent Mason, Landings Golf Course, Hole #11
The hole is one of the shortest it came in at 95 yards to pin. Pin was on left side of green about five paces and ten feet from the front. I hit my Mizuno 52° gap wedge with seven bounce with a slight draw that took a big bounce on green then a small with a little check on it and disappeared with no roll. I was there that day with two friends and one single player who joined named Amir. I apologize if that’s not the proper spelling of his name, I have never seen him before but was a great addition to the day.
The friends I was with are also my clients Andrew Laird and Tristan Perry. Andrew is very new to golf and I started using my love for golf and helping people together.
I myself suffer from different mental and physical disabilities and use golf as therapy. Next thing I know I’m helping a whole bunch of people by using golf to cope with life and improve or learn the game. The reason I wanted to let you know all of this is because I think of my hole-in-one as karma for trying to help so many people struggling.
Alastair Ferguson, Amherstview Golf Club, Hole #13
3 wood on 184 yard par 3, hole #13 at Amherstview golf course.
Wayne Livingstone, Collicutt Siding Golf Club, Hole #7
Pat my wife and I were playing with two guys from Calgary. It was on the seventh hole. It was 156 yards with a wind coming cross ways at our backs. I used an eight iron as I didn’t want it to go over the green as it drops off at the back. The flag was in the center. I wanted to hit it short and let it run up to the hole. After it hit the green the guys said I think it went in the hole. I didn’t think it did I thought it was behind the pin I moved to the side of the tee box, that’s when I realized it had gone in. This hole-in-one was my fifth.
Marlene Jolie, Glacier Greens Hole #4
On Wednesday, June 12, 2024 my playing partner Linda Sowerby and I were playing a match against Sue Fulkerth and Lorelei Banford at beautiful Glacier Greens golf course in Comox, B.C. On hole #4 I hit my 6 hybrid approximately 112 yards directly at the flag but we weren’t sure if it went in or rolled by, but it was in the cup!
Todd Downey, Copetown Woods Golf Club, Hole #17
My first ever hole-in-one! This was a 158 yard par 3 with my 7 iron. I was playing with my amazing friends Enes, Dave and Dwayne.
Nancy Dezotell, Murray Municipal Course, Hole #9
I had my first hole-in one on Monday, June 24, 2024 at the Murray Municipal Course in Regina during regular league play, using my Taylormade Driver.
James Meyer, Innerkip Hylands Golf Course, Hole #2
Innerkip Hylands Golf Course. 128 yards into a strong wind. I used a Callaway Rogue 9 iron and a Titliest velocity golf ball. It was almost a year to the day that I got my first one at Dundee Golf and Country Club.
Justine Emond and Henry Dao win NextGen Quebec Championship at Club de golf les Boisés de Joly
Joly, Que. – Justine Emond and Henry Dao have won the NextGen Quebec Championship at Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly in Joly, Que.
The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the fifth tournament in the NextGen championship series and featured a starting field of 153 players (125 junior boys, 28 junior girls). After 36 holes, the field was reduced to the low 57 Junior Boys and 13 Junior Girls, including ties.
In the Junior Girls Division, Justine Emond of St-Jerome, Que. fired a 3-over 74 on Friday to wrap up the tournament at 2-over to claim the championship.
“It means a lot because it’s the last NextGen Tournament I will be able to play since its my last junior year and being able to qualify for the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship is an amazing feeling,” said Emond.
Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver B.C who finished as runner up at 6-over par with Avery Nordman of Ottawa, Ont. finishing in third at 7-over.
In the Junior Boys division, Henry Dao of Laprairie Que. ended the tournament on a high-note, with a 5-under 66 on Friday to secure the championship and finish five shots clear of Antoine Jasmin of Blainville Que. who closed the tournament at 1-under. With consistent play to begin the week, Dao grabbed the co-lead in the second round and held on, finishing 6-under par for the tournament with rounds of 70-71-66.
“I really love this tournament because it brings out all the best junior golfers in Quebec. The reason why I won is my putting was on fire all week. I was making a lot of birdies and that’s why I carded the score I did,” said Dao.
Rounding out the podium were Zach Bourgeois of Ste-Agathe-des-Monts Que. and Milan Abrieu of Bromont Que. who finished tied third at 1-over.
The top eight players, including ties in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 21-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C.
NextGen Quebec Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Girls Championship
| Pos. | Player | Residence | To Par |
| 1 | Justine Emond | St-Jerome, Que. | +2 |
| 2 | Yee (Jenny) Kwon | Vancouver, B.C. | +6 |
| 3 | Avery Nordman | Ottawa, Ont. | +7 |
| 4 | Stephanie Woo | Toronto, Ont. | +17 |
| 5 | Keira Hou | Richmond Hill, Ont. | +18 |
| T6 | Kate Guo | Knowlton, Que. | +20 |
| T6 | Charlotte Boudreau | Verdun, Que. | +20 |
| T6 | Amelia McFarlane | Carleton Place, Ont. | +20 |
In the Junior Boys division, the top eight players earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys championship, August 12-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta.
NextGen Quebec Championship – Advancing to Canadian Junior Boys Championship
| Pos. | Player | Residence | To Par |
| 1 | Henry Dao | Laprairie, Que. | -6 |
| 2 | Antoine Jasmin | Blainville, Que. | -1 |
| T3 | Milan Abrieu | Bromont, Que. | +1 |
| T3 | Zack Bourgeois | Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Que. | +1 |
| 5 | Hogan Blais | Ottawa, Ont. | +2 |
| 6 | Loïc Simard | Saint-Julie, Que. | +3 |
| 7 | Cameron Robitaille | St-Hyacinthe, Que. | +4 |
| T8 | Oskar Ricketts | Pointe-Claire, Que. | +6 |
About the NextGen Championships
The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May-July, six championships will take place across Canada where the regions best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen championships provide junior golfers an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.
Michelle Xing and Katie Cranston earn exemptions into 2024 CPKC Women’s Open from the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship
Xing and Cranston join Team Canada teammates Lauren Kim, Anna Huang, Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers in earning exemptions through
She Plays Golf Championship Series
Caledon, Ont. – Team Canada athletes Michelle Xing (a) and Katie Cranston (a) earned exemptions into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open after finishing atop the leaderboard at the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Heathlands Course) in Caledon, Ont. as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series on Friday.
Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. carded a 1-under 70 on Friday to finish the tournament at 9-under and two shots ahead of Cranston to win the championship, becoming the youngest champion in tournament history. The lead changed hands a couple times through the back nine on Friday, but Xing held strong for her fourth win of the season.
“First day I played well but I left some shots out there and made up for it in the second round and just tried to do what I did the previous day and keep a cool head,” said Xing following her round.
The 15-year-old began the week in a tie for fourth but moved atop the leaderboard following a 7-under 64 on Thursday, where she recorded an eagle and six birdies for the lowest score in her young career. Xing’s solid play on Friday was rewarded with a birdie on the 18th to secure victory and with it her first appearance in the CPKC Women’s Open and on the LPGA Tour.
“It’s really exciting and I look forward to it, it means the world to me, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and now that I got an exemption, I am really looking forward to it,” said Xing.
Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the tournament at 7-under and rebounded from an opening round of 77 to post, a career low 8-under 63 on Thursday and finished with a 5-under 66 on Friday to earn the second exemption spot.
“My start was a little bit shaky, just hard coming off a career low but back nine I really got it going today,” said Cranston who carded four birdies on the back nine Friday. By finishing as runner-up, Cranston has booked her third consecutive appearance into the CPKC Women’s Open.
“It’s an amazing stepping stone to experience the life of a pro golfer for a week and see how they do it,” added Cranston when asked about competing in Calgary later this month.
The ORORO PGA Women’s Championship saw a field of 62 golfers (amateur and professional) with 12 members of the Team Canada program competing in Caledon. The tournament was the third and final stop in the She Plays Golf Championship Series.
Last month, Team Canada athletes Lauren Kim (a) and Anna Huang (a) finished first and second respectively at the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary, Alta., which was the first tournament in the She Plays Golf Championship Series. They were joined by fellow Team Canada athletes Ellie Szeryk and Brooke Rivers who finished atop the leaderboard at the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in qualifying for the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. In addition to winning in Pitt Meadows, Szeryk also finished atop the She Plays Golf Order of Merit for 2024, with Rivers and Xing rounding out the top three.
She Plays Golf is a citywide celebration of women’s golf anchored in each host market by a $60,000 CAD professional golf championship contested over 54-holes for a field of professionals and elite amateurs. The tournaments are played with a cut after 36-holes and each championship sees players compete for WAGR points and two qualifying spots into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open. The She Plays Golf Championship Series marks the rebirth of a professional women’s golf tour in Canada.
Players earned points for their finishes in the She Plays Golf Championship Series towards a series-long standings. The golfer with the most points following the final championship will also earn qualification into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open, if not otherwise qualified and will be supported by Golf Canada’s Q School bursary program if they enter LPGA Q School in the fall.
She Plays Golf Festivals feature inclusive programming for women and girls, addressing gaps in the participation pathway and introducing new women and girls to the game in a safe, fun, and judgment-free environment. Festival activities take place at golf courses across the host city during the same week as the She Plays Golf Championship Series event with activities including introductory “Try Golf” events for women and girls new to golf, professional development for women in coaching, networking socials for women in business and leadership, and more.
For the final standings from the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship, please click here.
For more information on She Plays Golf Festivals and Championship Series, please click here.
The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush ticket ballot is now open
St Andrews, Scotland: The ticket ballot for The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush is now open. Fans can submit ticket applications from today until 3pm BST on Wednesday 31 July 2024, with the results being announced in stages during August and September.
The ballot approach ensures all fans will have a fair opportunity to attend the Championship, which is taking place in Northern Ireland from 13-20 July 2025.
The ticket ballot is available exclusively to members of One Club, the free-to-join digital membership platform, designed to bring golf fans closer to the game. Fans can also upgrade to One Club Advantage, presented by Mastercard, for an enhanced chance of success in the ticket ballot.
Ticket prices for The 153rd Open will start from £100 for an adult on Championship Days and from £25 on Practice Days. The R&A is fully committed to encouraging more children and young adults to attend The Open and free tickets will be available to children through the successful “Kids go Free” programme, while half-price youth tickets are available for 16-24-year-olds. These tickets must also be applied for using the ticket ballot.
A range of premium hospitality experiences are available to purchase now when fans can guarantee their place at the Championship in luxurious surroundings with a fully inclusive dining and drinks package. Premium Experiences are selling fast, with some already sold out. A Ticket Plus option is also available, offering fans an elevated experience in which they can enjoy The Open in a relaxed environment with access to a private bar and gourmet food trucks.
The Open is returning to Royal Portrush for the first time since 2019, when Irishman Shane Lowry lifted the famous Claret Jug to the delight of a jubilant home crowd. Tickets for the 2019 Championship sold out in record-breaking fashion and, at the time, set a record attendance for The Open outside of St Andrews with 237,750 fans attending throughout the week. It generated more than £100 million for the economy of Northern Ireland.
Visit TheOpen.com for further information or to enter the ticket ballot.
Consistency key to success for Conners heading to Olympics
Corey Conners has been one of the most consistent Canadians on the PGA TOUR over the past couple of years. It’s that consistency that has earned him a spot on the Canadian Olympic team heading to the upcoming summer Olympics.
Golf Canada recently announced the two spots reserved for the men’s team will go to Conners and 2023 RBC Canadian Open champion, Nick Taylor. On the women’s side, Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp will be representing Canada at the upcoming summer Olympics in Paris, France.
When the decision on the men’s team was announced on June 17th, Taylor was 35th and Conners was 37th on the official World Golf rankings – they were the top two ranked Canadians.
After winning the RBC Canadian Open last June, Taylor carried that momentum towards another victory earlier this year at the TPC Scottsdale in February.
“The opportunity to represent my country at the Olympics has been a huge goal of mine for many years,” Taylor pointed out after the official announcement on June 17th.
“To see the news become official is quite humbling and surreal. I’m excited to get to Paris to compete, proudly wear the Maple Leaf, and soak in what I know will be an incredible experience.”
Joining Taylor at the Paris Olympics on the men’s golf team is Conners – who has been posting some strong results recently also. At the RBC Canadian Open in early June, he finished as the top Canadian in sixth spot.
“Definitely something to be proud of,” said Conners at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club about earning the distinction as the top Canadian. “Obviously disappointing not to win the big trophy but yeah it’s a cool honour (to be top Canadian in the field).”
Conners was again the top Canadian on the leaderboard at the U.S. Open – where he finished in a tie for 9th spot.
“It was a solid week overall. I was certainly motivated to improve on my record at the U.S. Open. I feel like the challenging golf courses set up well for me, and I was comfortable with the course, and I felt good about my game,” said the long-time Canadian National Team member from Listowel, Ont.
“It would have been nice to get a little higher up the leaderboard, but it was a really solid week.”
While his last PGA TOUR victory came back in April of 2023 at the Valero Texas Open, consistency has been a key factor to Conners’ success since then. An example of this remarkable consistency is the fact that he has not missed a cut in over a year – the last time Conners missed a cut was at the 2023 U.S. Open in Los Angeles.
Conners’ consistency combined with his recent top 10 results at the U.S. Open and the Canadian Open allowed him to edge out Adam Hadwin, who was ranked one spot behind at 38th in the world golf rankings when the Olympic team announcement was made.
“Huge honor to represent Canada at the Olympics again. It was a big goal of mine, since playing in Tokyo three years ago, that I really wanted to represent Canada again. I feel for Adam Hadwin, he was playing some really good golf as well and I was able to just sneak by him,” said the 32-year-old Conners at the recent Travellers Championship.
“Really happy and excited to get to go to Paris and it will be a lot of fun playing alongside Nick.
This marks the second time Conners will be representing Canada at the summer Olympics. The long-time Canadian National Team member from Listowel, Ont., will look to build on his strong performance at the Toyko Olympics in 2020 where he finished in 13th spot.
It is interesting to note that the last Canadian to win a medal in golf at the Olympics is George Lyon, who captured a gold medal way back in 1904.
Conners and Taylor – along with Henderson and Sharp – will look put their names into the history books later this summer in Paris, France. The men’s Olympic golf tournament will take place from August 1st to August 4th at Le Golf National. The women’s golf tournament will take place at the same venue from August 7th to August 10th.
Golf Canada Hole-In-One Report – Week of July 1, 2024
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.
Ken Tomalty, Turtle Creek Golf Club, Hole #2
This hole-in-one was a par 3 on the second hole which measured 112 yards. This was done with a pitching wedge and the ball struck the green with one bounce and rolled into the cup. The witness to this was Bob Handley who is a golfing buddy with me at Turtle Creek who is a member also. Quite the excitement.
Thomas Free, Crowsnest Pass Golf & Country Club, Hole #8
I was playing with Julia Free and Sheldon Steiner. The hole was 143 yards and the club was a 7 iron.
Anna Johnstad-Moller, Hope Golf & Country Club, Hole #9
It happened on hole #9, a 103 yard shot. It was witnessed by Ruth Bangay. We played early morning, so not a big celebration as most people were still in bed but it was a great experience.
Mary Rizok, Metcalfe Golf Club, Hole #5
Mikael Arsenault, Dunes (Club de golf Les), Hole #3
I am still very shocked and happy because I never even thought it would happen as I started golfing only last year. For the specifications of the shot it was a 158 yard par 3 and I used a 7 iron. I was playing with Gabriel Parent and Fabrice Gagnon.
Diane McArthur-Rodgers, Thornhill Country Club, Hole #7
Best part was my golf buddy and I could see it land on green and continue to roll and disappear, might have been a few cheers from the tee deck. It was on the Valley course hole #7 and distance was 119 yards. I used a 7 wood and found Callaway ball. My partner was Kim MacBride who got her own hole-in-one on hole #5 at Valley on May 31.
Ken Evanecz, Red Deer Golf and Country Club, Hole #17
My hole-in-one was on hole #17 at Red Deer Golf and Country Club. Nine iron from 152 yards.
Sandy Debolt, Country Hills Golf Club, Hole #6
I was excited to get my third hole-in-one at Country Hills Golf Course in Calgary on Talons hole #6. It was a reasonably nice day, given the cold, rainy and windy spring we have been having. It was a beautiful morning on our regular Tuesday Ladies Day. I was golfing with three great friends: Carol Lamb, Deb Peacock and Lorraine Templeton, all of whom have also been members at Country Hills for many years. I used my 25 degree rescue hybrid and hit an easy shot to a front pin, about 100 yards. The key thing about this shot is that I actually saw it go in! I never saw the first two hole-in-one’s go in. All three hole-in-one’s have been on my home course, Country Hills, Talons (hole #4, hole #14 and now hole #6). Now my goal is to get one on Talons hole #16 and I can call it a “grand slam!”
Glen Dyrda, Westmount Golf & Country Club, Hole #17
Linda Roberts, Red Deer Golf & Country Club
I was playing in a ladies league with three other lady members, Lois McPherson, Sheila Engert and Tina Ladd. I hit a nine iron on this 114 yard hole and in it went!
Gerard Macneil, Mill River Golf Club, Hole #3
Hole #3 at Mill River. 150 yards. 7 iron. With playing partners Ray Cameron and Mike LePage.
Derek Pollard, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #4
I was golfing at the beautiful Harvest Golf Course in Kelowna with my wife Courtney and another friendly older couple we got paired with. Chilly morning, but the sun was out. Playing from the white tees, no judging! Hole #4, 136 yards away with the pin tucked to the right behind an elevated front, I used a full pitching wedge. The line looked great the whole way, but we couldn’t see the hole from the tee box so we had no idea where it ended up. As I am usually long on this hole and I didn’t see my ball on the green when we walked by, I started searching in the rough at the back. The older man then said, “let me just check the cup just in case, it’s in the hole!” First one for me! The rest of the round was a mess, but that’s golf for ya. We celebrated at the turn with a round of drinks and then a few after.
Paul Ives, Glacier Greens Golf Club, Hole #4
I was playing with Richard Kanigan and another nice couple – it was about 135 yards and I used my trusty 7 iron, hit a baby draw, bounced 12 feet in front of hole, and rolled in! My second hole-in-one on that hole, and third overall, the other being on hole #9 at Comox Golf Club.
Mike Rocca, Sarnia Golf & Curling Club, Hole #3
Brian MacLean, Glen Arbour Golf Club, Hole #7
It was my first career hole-in-one. Hole was playing 155 yards. I hit 9 a iron. The ball landed about three feet from the pin and hopped forward to find the hole. Was playing with Jay MacIntyre, Chris Clarke and Jason Shears.
Sherri Nichol, Country Meadows Members Club, Hole #12
I used my Cobra Air x 7 wood. The shot was approximately 140 yards. I was golfing with a good friend Jennifer Lee and her friend Romi. Romi watched my drive and saw it hit the ground and roll into the hole. There was lots of cheering. I really didn’t believe it until I went to the green and found my ball in the hole. Country Meadows was great; they presented me with a trophy and were very excited for me.
Brandon Cole, Kingsville Golf and Country Club, Hole #8
June 9th, Kingsville Golf and Country Club, hole #8, gold tees, 155 yards with a 9 iron. Witnesses were Jeff Cole, Dylan Weston and Griffin Robinson.
Jason Perry, Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club, Hole #15
It was a moment of a lifetime. I was playing with four members. The hole was 119 yards adjusted to 108 yards and the club was a 52 degree wedge!
Neil Gelowitz, Deer Valley Golf Course, Hole #4
The moment was shared with two great friends on hole #4 at Deer Valley, 112 yards. A 52-degree wedge landed a touch past the pin and went in with backspin. A 40-year gap between this and my first ace in my youth. Fantastic memory.
Chris Ramsay, Quilchena Golf & Country Club, Hole #11
It was on hole #11 at Quilchena, my home course. I used a 6 iron from 160 yards (the blue tees at my course). I was playing with fellow Quilchena members Porter Yang and Liquan Tian. This is actually my third hole-in-one. The other two were at the Oaks in Komoka, Ontario. Interestingly, my second and third holes in one were with a 6 iron! Also, fun fact, my first was in April 2018, my second was in May 2019 and my third was in June 2024. My guess is July is next!
Riley Marshall, Gander Golf Club, Hole #4
On Tuesday, June 11 my parents were going to play golf with a group of their co-workers. They had an open spot so invited me to go with them. We were the second of two foursomes to tee off with the group. The foursome consisted of my mom, dad and one of their coworkers. I hadn’t been playing well through the first three holes and when we got to the fourth hole at the Gander Golf Club, a 149-yard par 3, I decided to use my 7 iron off the tee instead of my usual 8 iron. My dad and I are both members of the Gander Golf Club and golf there regularly. This is my fourth year golfing. I was the second one to tee off and I felt like I made good contact. The ball landed in the green and disappeared on the second bounce. Both my mom and dad said they thought it went in and my dad started jumping up and down. The foursome in front of us, more of my parent’s co-workers, having just left the green heard us and also came back to see it. It was my first hole-in-one, having only been golfing for four years but I have been close hitting the flag stick on another hole last year.
Howard Cooper, Whitevale Golf Club, Hole #12
I played with Larry Valianes and Tom Monroe, which was a good thing because they saw the ball go in the hole but I didn’t! It was 157 yards, down hill, right into about a two and a half club wind. I grabbed my 7 iron and said to Larry and Tom, “I’m going to start it on the right edge of the bunker and bring it left to the hole,” and surprisingly that’s exactly what I did. The ball actually damaged the edge of the hole. It took me 65 years, but I finally got my first ace!
Karen Brown, Summerland Golf & Country Club, Hole #14
I’ve been an avid golfer always hoping for a hole-in-one but thinking it will never come, but now I say never say never as it really does happen. We were golfing with my husband Marty and Jill and Danny Lunge. The hole was 151 yards, I used my 5 wood shot short of the flag and my signature happy face ball rolled in!
Alex Woitas, Sandpiper Golf & Country Club, Hole #4
It was my first hole-in-one so I’m very excited! Was a wild round. Hole-in-one on hole #4. Started pouring on us hole #7 and then hailed on us for all of hole #9 and hole #10. Played through rain again until hole #12 and then had sun to finish off the round. I was playing with my girlfriend, Sarah Morin. 160 yards and used an 8 iron.
Marcus Decotiis, Whirlpool Golf Course, Hole #17
I was playing with Tim Dorish and Kyzer Troy Auger who are both members. The hole was playing 137 yards that day. This picture was taken by Tim just a couple of minutes after I made the shot. We had a favourable wind that day on that particular hole and I was not sure if I should hit my pitching wedge or my nine iron. I chose the nine iron and hit it super clean as soon as the ball left the club I said, “oh be the club be the club be the club?” All three of us saw it the whole way. The ball landed about 13 inches in front of the hole took one more small bounce and then in. I started playing golf 42 years ago and this is my first hole-in-one.
Steve McCauley, Cambridge Golf Club Ltd., Hole #15
Daniel Hrabowych, Pine Ridge Golf Club, Hole #16
Pine Ridge Golf Club. Hole #16. 142 yards. Pitching wedge. I was playing with my golf league partner, Josh Loewen and our opponents Ryan Levesque and Chris Dersken.
Edward Kwok, Fairview Mountain Golf Club, Hole #7
I was playing with my son Alex, Darren and Neil. I had 154 yards. I hit my 8 iron to about six feet and it rolled in the hole. It was a great memory for sure.
Jason Yao, The Hamptons Golf Club, Hole #15
I was playing with Sherry Han and 139 yards from the blue tee with a 5 wood.
Peter Dykstra, Coppinwood, Hole #16
Was with my brother-in-law Danny Cioffi. Felt guilty as kids had sports and we were out on the courses. Couldn’t hit a shot on the front nine and then with a little coaching Danny said my alignment is off so once I reset went on a good stretch of par until a triple bogey (fescue got me), par, birdie, par, eagle, bogey and bogey. 53 and 39, the true amateur story. Once the ball went in I said, “I guess this is where I am supposed to be in the world.” Truly a special moment and so glad I was able to share it with Danny. The club I joined this year is exceptional and is making a frame with all the details so I am truly spoiled.
Sarah Hurst, Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #11
The story is that my husband Jim Hurst and I were playing a second round match against Brad and Anita Taylor in Credit Valley’s Weston Cup, the mixed match-play league. It was unseasonably cold that day, Jim and I were not playing well and were down four by the time we reached our signature hole #11. We were starting to count how many more holes were needed to warm up at the 19th hole. It was 126 yards from the yellow tees, over the Credit River and over a bunker to the flag, a nasty pin placement. I used my 9 iron, it landed about five feet in front of the flag, rolled and dropped out of view. Did it go in the hole or roll behind the stick? We weren’t sure but you can tell from the attached photos that we couldn’t have been happier to discover it was a hole-in-one. I’d never come close before. Did we end up winning the match to round out the good news story? Of course not, we rallied a little but Anita and Brad were declared the winners of the match. Oh well, much more to celebrate. This is my 13th season at Credit Valley, our beautiful home away from home.
Ken De Decker, Fox Hollow Golf Course, Hole #13
I was playing with a friend Jeff Syvret. Hit the 7 iron sweet right at the pin, bounced on the green, two hops and rolled in! 37 years of golfing and finally made one. Lots of fun with the guys and learned a new phrase, “holy shot!” Hole #13. 137 yards. 7 iron. TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe.
Tony Paluzzi, Beacon Hall Golf Club, Hole #8
The hole-in-one was on hole #8, approximately 145 yards, using my 8 iron. It was an extra special hole-in-one, given it was on Father’s Day weekend, the first one without my dad, who had passed in November. When it went in, it was like someone had hand placed it in the cup!
Greg Lawlor, Moncton Golf & Country Club, Hole #2
Chris Oliver, Whispering Pines Golf & Country Club Resort, Hole #11
This is my second hole-in-one. However my first hole-in-one was while on vacation so no one saw it other than the caddie I was with. To be fortunate to get a second one with a witness is truly special. I was with my wife Jody and two other members. One of which had gotten a hole-in-one on the very same hole. This particular hole the gold and the blue tee boxes are the same distance but different elevations. So usual I just tee off from the gold so I don’t have to walk down to the lower tee box. However the couple that my wife and I were playing with went to the blue tee box. So I went down to the blue tee box and tee’d off. It was 141 yards and I used a 9 iron. Again to have my wife present made it all the more special.
Peter Fitzgerald, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Hole #4
Date May 27, 2024. Real Club De Golf Sotogrande, Spain. Hole #4, 190 yards with a three wood. Playing partners were Susan Fitzgerald, Jim Livermore and Ginny Parks.
Kevin Jones, Sturgeon Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #5
I was playing with Lorne Wight, Hugh Hindle and Daryl Nixon. Yardage 139 yards. Club was a 7 iron.
Randy Franks, Brookfield Golf Club, Hole #1
Golfed with Scot Foster. First swing of the day, easy 7 iron for 141 yard distance. I am a member at Rebel Creek, Golf North.
Dale Ivanchuk, Forest Heights Golf Course, Hole #5
I recently aced a hole at Forest Heights Golf Course. It was on hole #5. 151 yards to the pin and stroked a six iron. Ball did one bounce on to the green, a left to right roll and it found the cup! I was with two long time friends and we shared some high fives!
Gaston Derepentigny, Iroqouis Golf Course, Hole #4
Golfed with Larry, Dale and Jimmy at Iroqouis Golf Course on June 12th. Did the hole-in-one on hole #4 used an easy 7 iron about 143 yards.
Neil Skelding, Lake Joseph Golf Club, Hole #8
I was playing with our Head Pro, Director of Operations and our Men’s Captain. The yardage was 155 and I used a 9 iron.
Rick Kingston, Westmount Golf & Country Club, Hole #6
I was playing with my regular golf group at Westmount Golf & Country Club on Saturday June 1, 2024. As I prepared to hit my 5-wood on the 175 yard hole #6 I mentioned to the guys that I was due since almost exactly three years before that date I had another hole-in-one on that hole. I also shared that, since I hadn’t hit a green in regulation in the round yet, I would settle for just hitting the green. The pin was about half way back on the right and as soon as the ball left my club I said, “well that’s on the green.” As soon as the ball landed we all started calling for it to get in. It just rolled up like a putt and dropped in the middle without even touching the pin. This was my fourth hole-in-one, but definitely my favourite since we had such a good view and we had a chance to “talk it into the hole”.
Beth McDougall, Maplewood Golf and Country Club, Hole #9
Knocked off a bucket list item by getting my first hole-in-one, on a beautiful sunny Monday morning, June 17, 2024. Witnessed by Claudette Landry, Trevor and Joanne Wallace. From the red tee box (120 yards) I hit a beautiful shot to the pin that hit the green and rolled into the cup. I looked at Joanne and said, “I think it went in the hole,” and she said “I think it did too,” then we started screaming. Once it was verified we screamed some more. What a tremendous feat to have a hole-in-one. I am still smiling!
Shane Dyck, Pine Ridge Golf Club, Hole #14
It was a 177-yard par 3 with a 6 iron. I became an adaptive golfer after I was initially paralyzed from below the neck and given a one percent chance to walk again. My whole spine was fused with metal after a 12-hour surgery and doctors said I would be in a power chair for the rest of my life. Needless to say, I am beyond grateful for how the game of golf has helped me throughout my injury, both mentally and physically.
The R&A appoints Mark Darbon as new Chief Executive
Mark Darbon has been appointed Chief Executive of The R&A and Secretary of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.
Darbon will succeed Martin Slumbers in the role leading the governing body and the organisation, which runs The Open and AIG Women’s Open and invests in developing golf around the world in November. He will also become Secretary of the 270 year-old Club which has a global membership of more than 2,400.
A former senior member of the team leading the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012, Mr Darbon is leaving his role as CEO of Northampton Saints, the Premiership Rugby club, to take up the St Andrews-based position.
Darbon (45) led Northampton Saints to their first Premiership title since 2014 last month and implemented a commercial strategy which enabled the rugby union club to bounce back from the pandemic to achieve record revenues in consecutive seasons.
“I am thrilled and honoured to be taking up these positions with The R&A and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and to be moving into golf, a sport I have always loved,” he said. “The R&A is a globally renowned organisation and does so much to ensure that golf prospers from grassroots through to the professional game. I am looking forward to working with a hugely talented team of staff, the Club membership and such an impressive array of partner organisations to achieve even more success in the years to come.”
Darbon started his career as a management consultant at Marakon Associates, before joining Diageo plc where he held a number of strategic and commercial roles, living and working in markets all over the world, including the USA, Russia, China and Australia.
“Golf Canada proudly welcomes Mark Darbon as the new Chief Executive and Secretary of the R&A, said Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada’s CEO. “We look forward to our continued great work between our organizations growing and developing the game of golf.”
Having transitioned into sport event organisation in 2009, Darbon held several senior roles with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and was latterly Head of Olympic Park Operations, overseeing the Olympic Park which housed nine competition venues with 20,000 employees and welcomed 250,000 spectators a day throughout the 2012 games. He went on to serve as an Expert Adviser to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2013 to 2018.
Following London 2012, Darbon was Senior Vice President of Tough Mudder Inc in New York and was involved in planning, promoting and staging mass participation events in North America, Latin America, Europe and Australasia.
Before joining Northampton Saints as CEO in 2017, Darbon served as CEO of Madison Sports Group, a sports events and content company which created an award-winning international series of professional track cycling events and, in doing so, brought a series of new sponsorship arrangements and media rights deals to the sport.
Darbon is a graduate of Worcester College, Oxford University, where he read geography.
As well as being a keen golfer, playing to a Handicap Index of 3.1 as a member of Northamptonshire County Golf Club and Saunton Golf Club, Darbon is a former Under-21 England hockey international and a Full Blue for hockey at Oxford University. He is a non-executive director of England Hockey and Women’s Premiership Rugby.
Darbon is married with two children and plans to move his family to St Andrews when he takes up his new role.
NextGen Quebec Championship set for Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly
Joly, Que. – A field of 156 of Canada’s top junior golfers will compete over 54 holes at an immaculate and strategic layout at Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly in Joly, Que. with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line in the NextGen Quebec Championship, July 2-5.
The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Tuesday, July 2 with championship rounds beginning on Wednesday, July 3. After 36 holes, the field will be reduced to the low 57 Junior Boys and 13 Junior Girls, including ties, for the final round which wraps up on Friday, July 5.
The starting field will feature 127 Junior Boys and 29 Junior Girls – vying for spots into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.
The top eight players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 13-16, at Innisfail Golf Club in Innisfail, Alta. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2024 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 22-25, at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C.
Established as a beautiful 18-hole public course in the greater Quebec City area, the Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly was built in 2011. With a length of 6,662 yards, the course will deliver a test for NextGen competitors, while presenting views of towering trees, sparkling lakes and rolling hills. With its demanding layout and impeccable conditioning, golfers will encounter strategically placed bunkers, and tricky water features, all set against a stunning backdrop of woodlands and wildlife.
“The NextGen tournament represents for us the pride of welcoming the young talents of tomorrow and promoting junior golf in the Quebec City area. We have the ideal facilities and golf course to host this type of event. We will do our best to ensure that all participants have a great experience,” said Director and Professional teacher of Club de golf Les Boisés de Joly, Martin Trudel.
To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Quebec Championship, click here.
About the NextGen Championships
The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.
Szeryk, Rivers qualify for CPKC Women’s Open after turning pro at B.C. Women’s Open
As Ellie Szeryk lined up her final putt to seal the win at the B.C. Women’s Open, she spied longtime friend Brooke Rivers lurking around the green with a bottle of water.
Sure enough, when Szeryk made the putt, the chase was on with Rivers trying to douse her with water.
“I ran as far as I could, but she still got me quite good,” Szeryk said with a laugh. “But it was fun. In golf you usually do that to your really good friends when they win.
“So it was really sweet that she did that. It’s like an unspoken honour.”
Szeryk beat Rivers by four strokes at Pitt Meadows Golf Club on Sunday in their professional debuts. Both golfers also earned berths at the CPKC Women’s Open, July 25-28 at Calgary’s Earl Grey Golf Club.
“It was just really nice to be able to have followed through on something that I had been thinking about,” said Szeryk. “It’s not always easy to golf. It’s just three rounds and you have no idea what the course is like and how it’s going to play.”
Earning their way into the national women’s championship, rather than relying on a sponsor’s exemption, was a relief to both players.
“I knew that there’d be a good opportunity for that,” said Szeryk, from London, Ont. “It’s been on my mind the last couple of months, like since I signed up.
“I knew I needed to make sure I had my game right so I could take advantage of it because I knew that they weren’t going to be a lot of sponsored exemptions for this Canadian Open.”
Rivers agreed.
“It does feel really good to earn the exemption spot on my own through good play,” said Rivers, from Brampton, Ont. “It also feels a little more rewarding while being there because you feel like you had done everything in order to put yourself there.”
Rivers added with a laugh: “It’s a little bit easier when booking travel that you don’t have to do it the week before.”
Both Szeryk and Rivers turned pro after the conclusion of the NCAA golf season. They’re both spending time with family and practising before the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada tees off at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont., on July 2.
“I’m really excited to turn pro, and it’s something that I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” said Rivers, who played one season at Wake Forest University. “It’s something I’ve been working toward my whole life.
“I just felt that I was in a position where I was ready to turn pro and I was ready to start competing.”
Golf Canada announced the early commitments to the 50th playing of the Women’s Open on Monday, with eight of the current top-10 and 83 of the top-100 players on the Race to the CME Globe Standings entered in the national women’s championship.
The 156-player field will be competing at Earl Grey Golf Club for the first time in tournament history. It will be the seventh time that Alberta hosts the Women’s Open and first time since 2016.
LPGA TOUR — Hamilton’s Alena Sharp is in the Dow Championship three days after making Canada’s Olympic golf team for a third time. Maddie Szeryk, Ellie’s older sister, just missed out on beating Sharp to the Olympics by 1.41 points in the women’s world golf rankings. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., No. 14 in the world, is also in the field at the Midland Country Club in Midland, Mich. They will be joined by Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., and amateur Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto.
EPSON TOUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is the top-ranked Canadian playing in the Dream First Bank Charity Classic. She’s 120th on the second-tier Epson Tour’s points list. She’ll be joined at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kan., by Vancouver’s Leah John (160th), as well as Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., and Kate Johnston of Ayr, Ont., who are unranked.
PGA TOUR — Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is the top ranked Canadian at No. 30 on the FedEx Cup standings. He will be in the field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, where he finished tied for second in 2022. Adam Svensson (76th) of Surrey, B.C., Ben Silverman (113th) of Thornhill, Ont., and Roger Sloan (194th) of Merritt, B.C., are also in the field.
KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is No. 23 on the Tour’s points list heading into the Memorial Health Championship. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (33rd), Etienne Papineau (50th) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sudarshan Yellamaraju (100th) of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared du Toit (118th) of Kimberley, B.C., are also in the field at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill.
CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames leads the Canadian contingent into the U.S. Senior Open Championship. He’s No. 1 on the Charles Schwab Cup money list with two victories so far this year. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., is 25th on the list and also in the field at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I. David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont., is also playing the event.
AMERICAS TOUR — Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., remains the atop the points list of the third-tier Americas Tour heading into this week’s ATB Classic. He’s one of 18 Canadians playing Northern Bear Golf Club in Strathcona County, Alta.
50th edition of CPKC Women’s Open to put on historic show from Calgary
CALGARY – The CPKC Women’s Open has been given the LPGA Tour’s top award the last two seasons. Being named ‘Tournament of the Year’ is something that encompasses so much – from ticketing to marketing to fan experience and more.
And now Canada’s National Open is back to try to do it all again.
“Golf fans in Calgary are in for a very memorable week at a beautiful golf course where the world’s best will compete for our National Open Championship,” Tournament Director Ryan Paul said. “The CPKC Women’s Open is one of the top three women’s sporting events in Canada and this year is shaping up to be a special one.”
This year’s CPKC Women’s Open marks the 50th playing of the storied event, which last year’s winner Megan Khang says feels like the sixth major on the LPGA Tour.
There are plenty of notable highlights for this year. Firstly – and perhaps most importantly – the tournament has set an ambitious fundraising goal of $2.75 million, the highest number in recent history. Since 2014, the tournament (which is the marquee event for the CPKC Has Heart community investment program) has helped to raise over $19 million for cardiac research, equipment, and care across North America.
The fan experience is set to be the biggest and most impressive, too. Paul says the build-out on site at first-time venue Earl Grey Golf Club will be 95,000 square feet – far and away the most of any event on the LPGA Tour.
The impressive effort from the entire CPKC Women’s Open management team means there is plenty of momentum behind doing things bigger and better. There’s been lots of good recognition for their work – not only is it the two-time Tournament of the Year on the LPGA Tour, but also the back-to-back winner of Best Sponsor Activation and it won Best Charity & Community Engagement in 2022.
The support from Earl Grey, just minutes from downtown Calgary, has also been overwhelmingly positive.
The targeted number of volunteers (which was 1,200 for 2024) was hit all the way back in March – and the event was named ‘Best Volunteer Program’ by the LPGA Tour in 2023. The support of the Calgary community, too, has been incredible. Ticket sales to this point in 2024 up 30 percent as compared to this point a year ago. This is the first time the tournament has returned to Calgary since 2016, with Priddis Golf and Country Club playing host that year along with 1999 and 2009.
Speaking of fans – ‘The Rink,’ the incredibly popular viewing experience, will make its return to the CPKC Women’s Open at the par-3 17th hole at Earl Grey.
Khang, who broke through for her first LPGA Tour title a year ago at Shaughnessy, recalled with a smile a nice moment with the crowds late in her day that is the exact one-of-a-kind interaction attendees get with LPGA Tour athletes.
“I walked off the green on 16 and I looked at the leaderboard and I was like, of course it’s (former world No. 1) Jin Young Ko (making a charge). I was so concerned about Sei Young Kim in my group but of course Jin Young was right there. I’m looking at the guys all around the boards and I’m like, ‘I need me a drink too guys,’” she said with a laugh.
For all the awards and fan opportunities and exciting new things to see and do, there’s no event without players – and the CPKC Women’s Open once again will boast almost all the world’s best.
Early commitments include eight of the top 10 in this year’s Race to CME Globe standings plus 83 of the top 100. There will be nine in-season winners and upwards of 30 Olympians.
The star of the show will of course be Canada’s own Brooke Henderson. Henderson won this championship in 2018 and it’s not lost on her how special, or important, that win has been on her resume.
“It’s a huge highlight of my career being able to win this event back in 2018,” said Henderson. “I’ve always dreamt of winning this event. It’s always played an important role in my life.”
Henderson will once again lead a hearty Canadian contingent at the CPKC Women’s Open which also includes fellow three-time Olympian Alena Sharp. Sharp finished fourth when the CPKC Women’s Open was last in Calgary, her best career LPGA Tour result.
“It’s good vibes only there,” Sharp said.
Ah, yes – good vibes.
If you ask Henderson about what she’s hoping for the most come July, it’s a lot of that exact thing. For the fans, for herself, for the community, and for charity.
“It’s so exciting to be able to be home and compete on home soil and to have the love and support of all the fans and everyone that comes out to watch, it’s pretty incredible,” said Henderson. “It’s kind of hard to put into words how grateful I am to everyone when they come out year after year and as we move across the country the crowds are always still huge and so much fun to be able to play in front of.
“I just hope I can put on a good show and give them something to cheer about.”
And if the current momentum of the CPKC Women’s Open is any indication, winning another set of big-time year-end awards may be something to cheer about, too.