Denisa Vodickova ties women’s competitive course record at Brampton Golf Club

Brampton, Ont. –Team Canada 1, Team United States (USA) and South Korea will enter Saturday’s final round all tied for the lead at even par at the eighth annual World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms at the Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont.

Overnight rain brought about more seasonal conditions for Friday’s third round with players battling the wind and cooler temperatures. Friday also saw numerous changes to the team leaderboard throughout the day and as the final putt dropped, three teams find themselves tied for first.

Team Canada 1 was led by the play of Anna Huang of Vancouver who shot a 1-under 70. Huang also finds herself in second place in the individual championship at 3-under for the tournament. Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto shot a 2-over 73 and Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver shot 9-over 80. Team Canada 1 Coach Jeff MacDonald of Chester, N.S. is proud of how his team has battled all week heading into Saturday, “It’s a good spot to be in and when we started the week this is where we wanted to be, and the girls are just really battling. We’ve had a couple tough breaks here and there and a couple things happen out there, but I am really proud of how much they’ve fought each day. It’s really tough out there, it’s really windy and the greens are really tricky, so some things are going to happen that you have to deal with, and they’ve just dealt with it so well to get into the position and give them a chance to win tomorrow.”

Team USA held the lead through the opening two rounds of the world championship but are now tied. Chloe Kovelesky of Boca Raton, Fla. led the way on Friday with a 2-under 69, teammates Mia Hammond of New Albany, Ohio and Molly Brown Davidson of Springville, Ala. both shot rounds of 5-over 76. Coach Mo Martin is looking forward to Saturday’s final round, “Couldn’t ask for a better finale tomorrow on Canadian soil. This is the first unified front for the U.S. Development program, and we’re really excited about. I know all three players are honoured to be the face of that and I think they are carrying that with a lot of pride and a lot of passion.”

Two-time champions, South Korea were led by Hyojin Yang who fired a 1-under 70 on Friday. Teammates, Soomin Oh and Seojin Park both recorded rounds of 1-over 72 to grab a piece of the team lead. Coach Naon Min said she hopes her team enjoys the final round, “I’m really proud of them. It’s their first time in Canada and first time playing for Korea and for that I am really proud of them.”

The three countries take a three-shot lead into Saturday with the Czech Republic in fourth at 3-over and Sweden sits fifth at 5-over.

Team Canada 2 is at 32-over and features 14-year-old Miranda Lu of Vancouver (5-over 76),

16-year-old Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C. (6-over 77) and 14-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (9-over 80).

World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms, team standings:

Click here for the full team competition leaderboard.

In the individual competition, there is a new leader as Denisa Vodickova of the Czech Republic tied the women’s competitive course record at Brampton Golf Club, shooting a 5-under 66 to move to 7-under for the tournament. The record was previously set by Brooke Henderson during the 2014 Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship.

Vodickova had the low round for the second consecutive day and recorded seven birdies in her round. The 18-year-old credited her putting and a change just before the tournament that has helped her this week, “I changed my grip recently and it’s working really well so I think that’s what has helped me the most. My putting was really good and also my irons into the green were great as well.”

Vodickova takes a four-shot lead into Saturday’s final round over Anna Huang. Savannah de Bock of Belgium is in third place at 2-under with Nora Sundberg of Sweden and Soomin Oh of South Korea tied for fourth at even par.

Click here for the third round individual leaderboard.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 66 athletes comprising 22 teams and representing 21 countries competing for the team and individual titles. This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by eight competitors currently ranked inside the World Golf Amateur Rankings (WAGR) top-100 including the tournament’s top-ranked player, Spain’s Rocío Tejedo Mulet (no. 23). Spain and South Korea both feature two players ranked inside the WAGR top-100, with Spain’s Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea (no. 33) and South Korea’s Hyojin Yang (no. 60) and Soomin Oh (no. 67).

Defending champions Spain (2017 & 2022) is tied with South Korea (2015 & 2019) for the most victories in the event’s seven-year history, with two each. Other team winners include the United States (2014), Philippines (2016), and Italy (2018). South Korea and Sweden are tied with the most podium finishes in tournament history with four each. Canada’s best finish in the team competition was third in 2014 and fourth in 2018. A history of past individual and team winners is available here.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to have great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 22 – 28, 2024.

For Saturday’s final round tee times, please click here.

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.

Andre Potvin, Mountain Woods Golf Club, Hole #12

The hole-in-one was made on hole #12 at Mountain Woods Golf Club. The distance was 214 yards and used a #5 fairway metal. My playing partners Garry Miles, Claude Desrochers and Fergus Omond.

Andrew Perugini, Carrying Place Golf and Country Club, Hole #7

I was playing with my good friend and my cousin at Carrying Place on a Sunday afternoon. The hole was playing difficult with a front pin location and a two club wind into us. The hole was zapped at 145 yards, so I took out my 8 iron and hit a high draw over the top of the flagstick. The ball landed three feet behind the hole and spun back into the cup. It was a very cool experience because I was able to see the entire ball flight, where the ball landed and how it tracked back to the hole because of where the flag was located. It was my first hole-in-one and a memory I will never forget.

Ashton Romaniuk, Labroquerie Golf, Hole #5

It was on hole #5, 175 yards to a front pin. I was playing with my co-worker and best buddy, Paison Butler, who advised me a “light” 8 iron would do the trick. I hit the shot and right away thought, “Oh that’s going to be good” so I picked up my tee without even watching the rest of the ball flight. I was then tackled by my buddy screaming, “It went in, it went in!” and then he took off running down the fairway! I couldn’t believe it went in.

Brad Henderson, Forest City National Golf Club, Hole #13

I played with Matt McCallum, Adam Fox and Matt Morrison. It was 172 yards and I used an 8 iron.

Cedric Thompson, Arbutus Ridge Golf Club, Hole #8

I used my 8 wood and it was 156 yards playing with Jim Newman and Barry Norminton.

David Beck, Sagebrush Golf Club, Hole #4

Fourth hole at Sagebrush Golf Club on Saturday, September 30th with James Wise and Robert Hunter who was playing with us. The par 3, fourth hole is 165 yards and I was hitting my 7 iron.

David Hinton, Myrtlewood Golf Club, Hole #17

Our group was playing in our biennial “Ryder Cup” event. I was playing for Team Europe. The yardage was 125. I hit a Callaway Big Bertha 9 iron. Playing a yellow Titleist Pro V1.  The ball hit about six inches in front of the hole. One bounce and in. Our Europe Team won the matches that day. Playing with Andrew Ward against Jamie Bridwell and Graham Cross. Only my second hole-in-one (last was 30 years ago). Hopefully I get my next sooner as I am 73 years old.

Derek Hood, Barrie Country Club, Hole #13

On Monday September 25th, while playing with Larry and Mel at the Barrie Country Club. I was fortunate enough to make a hole-in-one on the 142 yard 13th hole using my Ping hybrid.

Elliot Noh, FireRock Golf Club, Hole #3

The hole-in-one took place on September 25th. My tee-time was at 10:10 a.m., with two other gentlemen who I met for the first time. One of their names was Michael, but unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of another person who was his friend. I hit a 6 iron on the 176 yard par 3 from the gold tees.  With some tailwind, the ball landed at the front edge of the green, bounced once and went directly into the hole.

I’ve hit another hole-in-one about two years ago on the eighth hole, so I’ve been having some amazing luck at Fire Rock!

Fay Elsdon, Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course, Hole #12

I was playing with Rita Scott and Yvonne Borrowman. The yardage was 100 with an 8 iron.

Fred Vautour, Pine Needles Golf & Country Club, Hole #15

I played with Jackie Boudreau, Bernie Savoie and Lucille Savoie. The yardage was 104 yards and I used a 9 iron with a Titleist Velocity ball.

Fredrick Courchene, York Lake Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

Unfortunately, I was playing alone. I did use a 9 iron into wind, pin in the front playing about 143 yards. The ball one hopped short of green hit the flag stick and dropped in the cup.

George Kolisnek, Hylands Golf Club, Hole #3

The distance was 167 yards and I used a Callaway Mavrik 4 hybrid club. I was playing with retired military friends with whom I golf two or three days a week.

Gerald Aggus, Hidden Lake Golf Course, Hole #17

I have been playing golf since I was 20 years old on and off until about seven years ago when I semi-retired and I began golfing regularly three times a week. My first hole-in-one occurred on the 17th hole at Hidden Lake in Burlington. The pin was at the back of the green and I was playing with my regular Friday group. We did not see my 5 iron shot roll into the hole but heard the clunk when it hit the pin. What a thrill to experience my first ace after so many years!

Helen Knowlton, Foothills Golf Club, Hole #16

I was golfing with my hubby, Lorne, and my in-laws Bob and Loralee Knowlton at Foothills Golf Club in Phoenix. I was so surprised when it rolled in and my sister-in-law Loralee was more excited than I was. This was my third hole-in-one in less than a year. Then I got super excited as I’m not a serious golfer at all.

Hugh Mitchell, Eagles Glenn Golf Course, Hole #4

On September 6th, I played with Dan Lavoie, Bruno Coté and Alex Sandahl, all from Montreal or the Laurentians. I was playing with 35 other guys on the annual Smitty’s Invitational, an informal group of guys hailing from all provinces from Newfoundland and Labrador to Ontario, plus a couple of guys from B.C. This is the 33rd Invitational and the largest so far. The last couple of “Western” venues were the Royal Laurentian and Niagara. In P.E.I. this year we played Andersons Creek, Glasgow Hills and, of course, Eagles Glenn.

For my hole-in-one it was on the 4th hole at Eagles Glenn. I was playing the green tees at 125 yards and used an 8 iron.

I am a 75-year-old retiree, who took up golf a little over a decade ago and play a couple of times a week. I belong to the Dunany Country Club and play at the Lachute Golf Club.

Jared Bertrim, Winchester Golf Club, Hole #4

On one of the last warm sunny days of the year, I stepped up to the par 4 which was 245 yards uphill. I crushed my driver with a slight fade into the hill that bounced towards the green. After driving up to the green, we struggled to find my ball amongst the leaves and gave up after a couple of minutes. While walking across the green to grab a ball to drop, I noticed my bright red ball in the hole. The last place I’d think to look! I’m grateful to have shared the hole-in-one while playing with my dad, Dean, and our friends Mitch and Jay. We were playing this round with other foursomes in memory of a co-worker and friend, Adam Kelly.

Jesse Stewart, Quilchena Golf and Country Club, Hole #11

I was golfing with my three pals that day, Kevin Stewart, Chris Jung and Jonathan Lee, all Quilchena members. We were on hole #11 and it was a strong head wind that day. 148 yards to the pin but playing more like 165-170. I took my 7 iron and gripped down a little and let it rip. It looked like it landed about a yard short two hops and in. There were a few stripes of shade going across the green so we were not sure until we walked up and found it in the hole, at that point the celebration commenced.

Jim Cepecauer, Bear Creek Golf Club, Hole #6

On September 30th my wife Joann and I were out late afternoon when I hit a perfect 7 iron! 157 yards to a middle of the green pin. It took two bounces and rolled right in the cup! Two guys ahead on the blocks actually saw it roll in even. Turns out I was paired with him the next day in our final men’s league tourney! It took us a minute to realize that we were both talking about each other the night previous!

John Crosson, Barrie Country Club, Hole #7

It was hole #7 at the Barrie Country Club. This is an uphill par 3 with a green that kind of has three different levels or tiers, and generally slopes to the left. I was playing from the blue tees, about 141 yards out.

I teed up with a 9 iron, hit it to just right of the pin but because of the elevated green I didn’t see where it landed. As our group walked up to the green, I couldn’t see the ball anywhere on the green itself. I figured that it rolled off the left side as they have a tendency to do so. One of the guys I was playing with said, “You should probably check the hole” and sure enough there it was!

Joshua McNair, Bayview Golf and country club, Hole #17

I used a 7 iron to hit it 170 yards.

Lorie Baker, Maple City Country Club, Hole #12

We were on the 12^th hole at our picturesque home club, Maple City Country Club located in Chatham-Kent, Ontario.   The 12^th hole is a short 104 yard par three over water to a green that slopes gently back to front, with the front of the green having considerably more slope towards the impending water. I normally use a 7 iron on this hole, but that day I choose to use my Callaway 6 iron to ensure I would clear the forever heightening reeds and grasses. After striking the ball, I watched it land on the green and run up to the flag pole which was positioned at the back of the green, and then disappear. I assumed that it must have rolled off the back of the green, however my golfing partner, Joan suggested she check the hole first. To our amazement my TaylorMade golf ball was sitting in the bottom of the hole! The best day ever!

Maynard Simpson, Eagles Glenn Golf Course, Hole #17

My playing partners were Linda Spenser and Janet Phillips. The 17th hole at Eagles Glenn was playing 125 yards and I used a 7 iron. I have also had a two on a par 5. The 8th hole at Green Gables Golf Club on the original course layout in 1978.

Mike Appleyard, Links at Crowbush Cove, Hole #17

I was on a trip with friends and colleagues to P.E.I. on June 9th and was playing my typical 90’s golf with the help of a few cold Gahan beers. I approached the 17th hole par 3 elevated green. From the whites, it was a 107 yards to the center with wind swirling at the top of the elevated green. I purchased all new Vokey Wedges this year and have been practicing my 100 yard game extensively. I decided on my 48 wedge off the white tees and gave it go. When we approached the green, we only found three balls and figured I must have gone over the back into the woods. It wasn’t until my buddy Remi Comeau looked into the hole and told me I got an ace. It was the single best golf experience I’ve ever had!

Nicholas Fawcett, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #15

I was playing with Clublink member Justin Lafleur and Liam Eddenden and my cousin, James Kitchen. It was on hole #15 at Greyhawk Talon. The distance was 167 yards I used a 7 iron with a draw over the bunker and it landed about 10 feet short and rolled right in!

Ralph Balila, Victoria Park Valley Golf Club, Hole #2

Golf has been my passion for the last 25 years and I am beyond thrilled. For some reason my swing that day was particularly smooth and relaxed so with my Cleveland Launcher XL 8 iron I hit a nice draw from an elevated tee that landed 10 feet in front of the flag which then rolled in. It was certainly a surreal experience and I’m just glad it happened while playing on our regular Sunday couples golf group.

Raymond Chan, Sleepy Hollow Country Club, Hole #15

Ryan Crowley, Grey Silo Golf Course, Hole #2

Ryan Crowley, Grey Silo Golf Course, Hole #2

It was a 9 iron from 167 yards in our Ontario University Athletics tournament while I was representing Queen’s University!

Ryan McConnell, St. Thomas Golf and Country Club, Hole #4

I was playing with Ryan O’Hara, Matt Duncan and Tim McLaren. We were all guests of Ryan’s. It was also a cool feeling as Tim Moore the head pro has been a family friend since I was a kid.

I had a 9 iron in my hand and ended up switching to an 8 iron. It was 144 yards on the rangefinder, and I landed it about five yards past the hole and it rolled down and in. I had actually hit the shot, and once it landed on the green started to walk back to my bag and one of my playing partners, Tim, had said that it’s still rolling and then he said get your rangefinder’s that might’ve gone in. None of us could exactly tell so we didn’t want to celebrate too much.

Matt started videotaping about halfway to the hole when he realized it was in. I got close to the green and pointed to another ball, which was Ryan’s. To which he said that’s my ball. That’s when it started to sink in that it could possibly be in the hole. Then I walked up and retrieved it. First one ever

Terry Hodgson, Mountain Creek Golf Club, Hole #14

Like most retirees I didn’t take up the game until I left the office life behind. I have played mostly around Southern Ontario, Northern New York, and my favourite, Bermuda. I played the Mid-Ocean with my grandson, what a blast! I scored the hole-in-one on #14 at the Mountain Creek Golf Course, which is just south of Arnprior, Ontario. I play with a couple of buddies that I curl with and one new guy (retired RCMP) who keeps us entertained with his story telling. The hole is 125 yards from the green was 118 from the reds/yellow so I grabbed a 7 iron and teed up one of my special golf balls. I like to play with Callaway Super Soft, yellow balls, they are easier to see from the fairways and greens. When one reaches 80 years of age it is important to have golf balls that are easy to see, that way you don’t lose too many as you wonder around the course. I haven’t been able to repeat that feat, but I keep coming back knowing that if I did it once, I can do it again.

Tina Liu, Elbow Harbour Golf Course, Hole #15

I got a hole-in-one on September 22, 2023, in the SHSAA 2023 Provincial Golf Championship. On the 15th hole par 3 in Elbow Harbor golf course.

Todd Markus, Dakota Dunes Golf Links, Hole #17

I was playing with a couple of buddies of mine, Dan Leier and Cam Bristow, when I got my hole-in-one on hole #17 at Dakota Dunes Golf Links in Saskatoon. The hole was playing 174 yards with a slight breeze into us. I used a 7 iron and hit a high draw into the green, landing about six feet from the hole before rolling in.

Tony Gabriel, Gander Golf Club, Hole #4

I played with Sterling Brett, Gerry Parrot and Max Kean. It was 140 yards and a 6 iron.

Valerie LeMessurier, Nanton Golf Club, Hole #8

I golf at the Nanton Golf Club in Nanton, Alberta. On August 15^th 2023 I had a hole-in-one on the par 3, 8^th hole which is 136 yards using a 9 iron. In the same round, I had another hole-in-one on the 17^th hole par 3. That one is 191 yards using a 6 iron. Two holes-in-one in the same round.

Wendy Leach, Bootleg Gap Golf, Hole #12

I used a 4 hybrid. The yardage was 107 yards. I was golfing with Carol Tanner, Lee Morrison and Sharon Sullivan. We are all from Saskatchewan.

Zach Newcombe, Musqueam Golf and Learning Centre, Hole #6

I was playing with my girlfriend, Anna, and we were paired up with a couple of younger guys, Nick and Liam. It was hole #6, which is 122 yards long and the pin was located closer to the front of the green, so it was approximately 118 yards. We were straight downwind, and the wind was blowing fairly strong that day, so I played a 110 yard shot with the pitching wedge. It was struck really well and flew straight at the flag. We saw it land pretty close to pin and it danced around the flagstick with two or three little bounces and just disappeared completely. I was so excited my club just fell out of my hand and I ran over to celebrate with the group. I bought everyone a round of beers at the turn to cheers to the experience. What a great memory.

Brampton, Ont. – Team United States (USA) shot a combined even par round to remain at 3-under to hold a two-shot lead over Team Canada after two rounds at the eighth annual World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms at the Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont.

Tougher conditions on Thursday saw the sunny skies from Wednesday disappear as the wind picked up midway through the round. Team USA were led by Mia Hammond of New Albany, Ohio and Molly Brown Davidson of Springville, Ala. who both shot even par rounds of 71 to keep Team USA at 3-under for the tournament. Teammate Chloe Kovelesky of Boca Raton, Fla. shot a round of 3-over 74. The top two individual scores count towards the combined team score each day.

Davidson began her round on the back nine and rallied after a tough start to record six birdies on the front nine to finish at even par. She credited a well-timed joke from her team captain and improved ball striking to help turn things around on Thursday, “We just kept fighting today. Conditions were not easy, but we just wanted to keep fighting for our team and each other. In my head, I just wanted to keep going and making those putts. I was really motivated to just keep it going,” said Davidson.

Team USA takes a two-shot lead into Friday’s third round over Team Canada 1. Team Canada was led by 14-year-old Anna Huang of Vancouver who shot a 2-under 69 to help move Canada up one spot into second.

“I think we all did really good. We’re just supporting each other and helping each other out on the course. It’s really fun, we’re just trying to keep it together and hope for the best the next two days,” said Huang.

Huang’s teammates on Team Canada 1 include 17-year-old Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto (2-over 73) and 16-year-old Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver (4-over 75).

Team Canada 2 sits at 21-over and features 16-year-old Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C. (3-over 74), 14-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (6-over 77) and 14-year-old Miranda Lu of Vancouver (7-over 78).

World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms, team standings:

Click here for the full team competition leaderboard.

In the individual competition, Hammond maintains a one-shot lead heading into Friday’s third round over Huang and Denisa Vodickova of the Czech Republic. Vodickova fired the low round of the day with a 3-under 68 to put herself in a tie for second with Huang.

Hammond also started her round on the back nine where she was 2-over. After a bogey on the first hole (10th hole), she went on to grab three birdies and finished with four straight pars to maintain her lead after two days.

“It was definitely a rocky start for me. I know I said yesterday my ball striking is a big portion of my game and today it was a little off. I was kind of in-between clubs all day and I seemed to pick the wrong option between the two for the first 11 holes and finally on number 12, I finally hit a shot inside of ten feet and I made the putt and that kind of set the tone for the rest of the round,” said Hammond.

Anastasia Hekkonen of Finland and Soomin Oh of South Korea sit in a tie for fourth place at 1-under and are both two shots back. Savannah de Bock of Belgium is alone in sixth at even par and five golfers find themselves tied for seventh at 1-over including, Matilda Björkman (Sweden), Francesca Fiorellini (Italy), Vanessa Borovilos (Canada 1), Molly Brown Davidson (USA) and Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea (Spain).

Click here for the second round individual leaderboard.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 66 athletes comprising 22 teams and representing 21 countries competing for the team and individual titles. This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by eight competitors currently ranked inside the World Golf Amateur Rankings (WAGR) top-100 including the tournament’s top-ranked player, Spain’s Rocío Tejedo Mulet (no. 23). Spain and South Korea both feature two players ranked inside the WAGR top-100, with Spain’s Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea (no. 33) and South Korea’s Hyojin Yang (no. 60) and Soomin Oh (no. 67).

Defending champions Spain (2017 & 2022) is tied with South Korea (2015 & 2019) for the most victories in the event’s seven-year history, with two each. Other team winners include the United States (2014), Philippines (2016), and Italy (2018). South Korea and Sweden are tied with the most podium finishes in tournament history with four each. Canada’s best finish in the team competition was third in 2014 and fourth in 2018. A history of past individual and team winners is available here.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on to have great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 22 – 28, 2024.

For third round tee times, please click here.

Right up until she was standing on the 18th green, making her final putt of the tournament, Brigitte Thibault didn’t know she was winning the Kathy Whitworth Championship.

The three-stroke win in Trophy Club, Texas, was the first victory of the 24-year-old Thibault’s professional career. Thibault said she had just kept her head down for the third and final round of the Women’s All Pro Tour season finale.

“I had no idea what the leaderboard was. I was just trying to score as best as I could,” said Thibault. “It’s almost like I didn’t want to get ahead of myself and just felt like I just needed to keep pushing.”

Thibault finished the tournament 71-68-68 for a total of 207. The native of Rosemere, Que., came out of the front nine of her third round at 5 under, having three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 seventh hole at the Trophy Club Country Club.

She bogeyed the par-3 No. 13 to arrive at her final round score of 4-under 68 and the win.

“I kept missing great opportunities on the back nine,” said Thibault. “I’d reach a lot of pins and then not make the putts.

“I felt like I was giving it away, but I ended up coming up on top. That was exciting.”

Having won a professional event, Thibault’s next goal is to move up to a higher tier of women’s golf. That means a good showing in Stage II of the LPGA Tour’s qualifying series at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla., Oct. 17 to Oct. 20.

Thibault said she’ll be working with coach Chuck Cook in Austin, Texas, to ready herself for Stage II.

“Just preparation for what the course is asking for,” said Thibault. “Really make sure I’m comfortable with the type of shots that I’m going to need to be hitting. Just a lot of short game, to be honest.”

Winning the Kathy Whitworth Championship has shown Thibault that she can do it.

“My work is paying off and just to see it come to fruition is really exciting,” said Thibault. “But also just confidence in terms of like I’m trying to stay ready for Q-School and just to have competitive reps and to be able to come out on top it’s very encouraging on my end.”

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Caddies are as essential to the fabric of club culture today at Hamilton G&CC as they were more than a century ago when the program began.

Today’s Caddie Program is open to youngsters from 12 to 17 years of age and has been on the upswing after not operating in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extensive golf course renovations.

In 2023, a pool of about 60 youngsters caddied in excess of 1,000 rounds at the club.

There are four levels of caddies C, B, A and AA with promotion based on performance and member input after each round with a caddie evaluation card that is filled out.

Caddie training is provided by the club and several members each spring with additional input from staff throughout the season.

Caddies make between $28 and $40 a round based on their skill level, plus optional member/guest tips.

Caddies are available at the club on weekends in May and June, daily throughout July and August, on weekends in September and October and upon special request from members.

The $8 Caddie Special is paid for by the member for each round including a Halfway House hotdog or sandwich with chips or chocolate bar and a drink.

Learn to golf lessons with Golfer Services Manager and Caddie Master Gary Hay, an Associate Professional and PGA class A professional for 24 years.

Annual Caddie Banquet at the end of each season for caddies who reach a minimum of 40 rounds with an added bonus of $10 per round plus donation from members including sporting tickets, gift cards and Professional Shop credit.

As they mature, top caddies are regularly promoted to the Golfer Services Team including the Back Shop and Practice Tee staff.

Caddies are able to play the Short Course and after successfully completing a playing ability they are able to play the championship courses.

“I believe the Caddie program is best in class due to the members and their continued support for the program. We are fortunate that members are providing caddies the opportunity to learn the game and the strong traditions here at HGCC. Having heard many members tell stories of their caddy days, they speak with a passion and pride that they are now helping these caddie understand and grow into,” says Gary Hay. “We are also fortunate for the young men and women who come out to caddie. With all that is available to them, to choose to caddie and to be with new friends and members has become a primary choice for them. They are very keen young people who are having fun working a caddie.”

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Hamilton Golf and Country Club will host the 2024 RBC Candian Open May 28-June 2. For more information, visit www.rbccanadianopen.com.

Brampton, Ont. – Team United States (USA) sits atop the team leaderboard by one-shot over Team Sweden following the opening round of the 2023 World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms at the Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont.

Mia Hammond of New Albany, Ohio shot a 3-under 68 to take the individual lead and help lead Team USA to a combined 3-under (139) on Wednesday. Chloe Kovelesky of Boca Raton, Fla. shot an even par 71 which included a string of four straight birdies on holes 14 through 17. Molly Brown Davidson of Springville, Ala. shot a 1-over 72 for Team USA. The top two individual scores count towards the combined team score each day.

Team USA Coach Mo Martin was proud of her team following the opening round and their preparation heading into the tournament, “They are so talented and they’re all playing really well. We had a couple really great practice rounds so they’re putting well, hitting it well, had a really good feel for the course. They were really dedicated in their practice rounds, really took it seriously and they wanted to play all 36 holes, I tried to actually take them away from finishing that, but they really wanted to finish. I know Molly got in a day late, so they stuck with her so that cohesion they’ve just melded so quickly and so well, that I think it’s great dynamics and they’re incredibly talented.”

They’re just great people so that’s made me the most proud as a coach that they’re good competitors, they’re kind, they’re cheering for their teammates and they’re happy to be here and also to meet all the other countries, it’s a really special event,” added Martin.

Team Sweden sits in second at 2-under (140), Team Canada 1 and Team England are tied for third at 1-under (141) with Team Belgium rounding out the top five at even par (142).

As the host nation, Canada is fielding two teams in the tournament. Team Canada 1 is comprised of 17-year-old Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto (1-under 70), 14-year-old Anna Huang (E 71) and 16-year-old Vanessa Zhang (1-over 72), both of Vancouver.

Team Canada 2 sits at 12-over (154) and features 14-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. (6-over 77), 16-year-old Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C. (6-over 77) and 14-year-old Miranda Lu of Vancouver (7-over 78).

The following are round-one team results at the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

Click here for the full team competition leaderboard.

In the individual competition, Hammond takes a one-shot lead into Thursday’s second round over Anatasia Hekkonen (Finland), Larissa Carrillo (Mexico) and Savannah de Bock (Belgium) who all shot rounds of 2-under 69. Five golfers sit tied for fifth following rounds of -1 70 including, Nora Sundberg (Sweden), Nellie Ong (England), Matilda Björkman (Sweden), Vanessa Borovilos (Canada 1) and Pella Sol Sigurbrandsdottir (Iceland).

Hammond recorded four birdies in her round with only one bogey on the par five 17th hole. Hammond credited her ball striking for a strong opening round, “It was one of those rounds where everything went well for me. I was a little nervous on the range this morning, I wasn’t hitting it my best but after a couple shots on the course I got my swing back intact and putts started to fall after a few holes, and it was a pretty steady round.”

Click here for the first round individual leaderboard.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 66 athletes comprising 22 teams and representing 21 countries competing for the team and individual titles. This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by eight competitors currently ranked inside the World Golf Amateur Rankings (WAGR) top-100 including the tournament’s top-ranked player, Spain’s Rocío Tejedo Mulet (no. 23). Spain and South Korea both feature two players ranked inside the WAGR top-100, with Spain’s Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea (no. 33) and South Korea’s Hyojin Yang (no. 60) and Soomin Oh (no. 67).

Defending champions Spain (2017 & 2022) is tied with South Korea (2015 & 2019) for the most victories in the event’s seven-year history, with two each. Other team winners include the United States (2014), Philippines (2016), and Italy (2018). South Korea and Sweden are tied with the most podium finishes in tournament history with four each. Canada’s best finish in the team competition was third in 2014 and fourth in 2018. A history of past individual and team winners is available here.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Golf Championship have gone on great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 22 – 28, 2024.

For second round tee times, please click here.

Surrey, B.C. – The NextGen Fall Series West Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards begins this week with a field of 99 amateur golfers set to compete at The Hills at Portal Golf Club in Surrey, B.C.

The starting field will feature – 72 Junior Boys and 27 Junior Girls competing for three spots each into their respective Canadian Junior Championships next summer.

“The NextGen Fall Series West Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards promises to be a great tournament and provides players another opportunity to compete on the national stage in the fall,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director, Daniel Suppa. “Golf Canada is thrilled to welcome the field to The Hills at Portal Golf Club for our final NextGen series event of the season.”

Practice rounds are scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, before the official 54-hole tournament gets underway on October 5. The tournament will conclude on October 7 with an awards ceremony following play.

“On behalf of the entire team at the Hills we are proud and honoured to host this group of talented young golfers. We are excited to watch this next generation of golfers and wish them a very successful week here,” said Mahmood Mawji, General Manager, The Hills at Portal Golf Club. “We have made sure the weather and playing conditions are great. Once again, a big thank you to Golf Canada for allowing us to host this event, hopefully we will be able to do this again in the future.”

The Hills at Portal Golf Club was established in 1928 and was formerly known as Peace Portal. The golf course is regarded as one of the top public courses in the country. The Hills saw a change in ownership in October 2021 with new owners, Joe Haley and Randy Bishop. Since then, the course has undergone numerous changes that have improved playing conditions and have created a more challenging course for players. Off course renovations included a completely renovated clubhouse and restaurant.

This week’s tournament marks the final stop on the NextGen Series schedule for the 2023 season. The NextGen Fall Series West Championship is one of Golf Canada’s eight regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Rosie Bee Kim of Edmonton and Matthew Wilson of Nanaimo, B.C. won their respective divisions in the 2022 NextGen Fall Series West Championship.

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Fall Series West Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, click here.

A birdie on the second playoff hole of last year’s Sanderson Farms Championship put Mackenzie Hughes in a solid position for the rest of the PGA Tour season. 

As much as he’d like to repeat as champion, things have changed in the past 12 months.

Hughes, from Dundas, Ont., still wants to win it for a second consecutive year, but now it’s more about keeping his game in good shape than it is climbing the FedEx Cup standings. The shifting goals are largely because the PGA Tour’s points list resets on New Year’s Day instead of straddling two calendar years as it did last season.

“When I won last year I was the top of the FedEx Cup and I was set up for a great year, right from the get go,” said Hughes, No. 51 on the FedEx Cup standings, on a video call from Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi. “If I’m to win this week it doesn’t necessarily give me a head start on next year’s FedEx Cup. 

“January 1st, everyone’s starting from scratch, starting fresh.”

Instead, Hughes is trying to earn entry into more tournaments this fall and make sure he’s finely tuned for the 2023 golf season, which will have a different format following the PGA Tour’s merger with the Europe-based DP World Tour and Saudi-owned LIV Golf circuit.

He said that the schedule and format changes have impacted the entire field at the Sanderson Farms Championship, including fellow Canadians Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont.

“No one’s looking at it as if you’re getting ahead of the guys that aren’t playing,” said Hughes. “Everyone out here is playing for something a little bit different, whether it’s a guy that’s 150th in the FedEx Cup and is playing for his card, or a guy like me who’s trying to just maintain where he’s at, and hopefully win and play my way into some of those other tournaments.”
Hughes has been clear about his goals for the 2024 season for months now. 

He wants to play for the International team in the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club. It’s not just an opportunity to represent Canada on one of the biggest stages in men’s golf, but a chance to play for golfing legend Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., who is the first Canadian to captain a team at the international event.

“Obviously, my goals are to play for Mike at Royal Montreal and be on that Presidents Cup team and really just kind of get back to playing some good consistent golf,” said Hughes. “I feel like I have a great understanding of what I need to do now. 

“I think that despite what I’ve gone through the last like six months or so I feel like I’ve actually never felt better about what what’s to come. I’m really bullish on my season next year and beyond.”

Carrie Julie knows Sawmill Golf Course won’t be around in 30 years if she and her husband, Jeremy – the owner-operator pair at the course near St. Catharines – don’t put in a grow-the-game effort now.

“That’s simply what it comes down to,” she says.

Sawmill was one of the inaugural winners of Golf Canada’s National Facility Award for Junior Golf in 2022 (awarded “to a facility that provides exceptional access and membership opportunities for junior golfers”) and Julie knows that drumming up even more interest in the game amongst youngsters starts with one thing leading to another – opportunity to access.

National Facility Awards for Junior Golf

There is a myriad of junior programs at Sawmill, she explains, including a golf-and-hockey camp that targets that hockey-playing group if kids and gets them interested in golf (“The retention has been off the charts”) and Try Golf Days, supported by Stephen Ames, that happen on Saturdays. Three hundred and fifty-two kids tried golf this year.

The club also made a pact with its members that the only tournaments it will host are for juniors.

When Julie and Sawmill won the Junior Golf Opportunity Award last year, she said she accepted it on behalf of the 300-or-so members. They step up. They know the importance of this program. She often turns away volunteers for junior tournaments because she has just too much interest.

The club made this choice, and she knows it was the right one.

“We certainly haven’t made the commitment to juniors for pats on the back, but I have to tell you, it was a really nice honour in the inaugural year to win the award,” Julie says. “It really cemented we’re doing the right things for the right reasons.”

Through the start of the COVID-19 pandemic golf saw a boom unlike any other in recent history in Canada. Tiger-Mania couldn’t hold a candle to how many people started to play golf, picked golf up again, or played more golf than they ever had before. It resulted in the popularity of the sport in Canada being as high as it ever had been. A lot of courses, however, needed to make a choice they were never faced with before on junior golf because of the demand for tee times. Could they still give up a tee-time for $20 for a youngster if they had a line of adults waiting to pay $100+ for the same time?

“We’re super empathetic about some of the unintended challenges that a participation spike creates,” Golf Canada chief sport officer Kevin Blue says. “But at the same time, we’re trying to think about the health of our sport over the next 30, 40, or 50 years and clearly junior golf is a part of that.”

Blue has spoken at length about his time growing up as a non-family sponsored junior member at the Bayview Country Club, which, he says, allowed him to develop as a golfer significantly. A non-family sponsored junior program allows junior golfers to play and practice at a private club for a reasonable annual fee without their parents having to join. While many clubs across Canada continue to have programs like this, some have scaled back access for juniors due to increased demand for tee times. Blue suggested that all private clubs in Canada should consider adding a limited number of non-family sponsored juniors – for example, two girls and two boys – to help some tournament-playing youngsters have access to quality facilities.

“They pay a reasonable annual fee for being there […] and the club rallies behind these players,” Blue says. “A casualty (due to golf’s increased popularity through the COVID-19 pandemic) in some instances has been these non-family sponsored junior programs. Or at least shrinking them. We understand the influences involved and why these choices are made. But at the same time, that’s had a direct impact on (junior) opportunities to be able to train and practice and develop.”

(Click image to enlarge)

Nick Taylor, the three-time PGA Tour winner and – of course – the reigning RBC Canadian Open champion, was one of those youngsters able to take advantage of an affordable junior program. Growing up in Abbotsford, B.C. (about an hour outside of Vancouver) Taylor recalls his parents paying about $220 to have full access to the course (minus, he thinks, sometimes on the weekend) where he would be at the course every day from sun up to sun down.  

“It was the greatest babysitter,” Taylor says with a laugh.

Now as a father of two, he reflects on the opportunity afforded to him by this junior-golf program and those are the two key things he hopes other clubs across the country will be able to offer – accessible, affordable golf for kids.

With Taylor’s win at the RBC Canadian Open now four months in the rear-view mirror, he’s been able to reflect on his position in Canadian golf as someone who can inspire the next generation, like Mike Weir did to him after Weir’s 2003 Masters triumph.

Taylor has his own charity golf tournament each year at home in B.C. and this year there was the Nick Taylor Junior Golf Day, with 94 young golfers asking questions and watching Taylor hit balls. Monies from his charity event went right back into the community.

“It’s obviously very important […] to maybe be that person to get some more kids in the game and get them determined to be as best as they can be,” Taylor says.

Taylor had affordable access to a course that was supportive of kids learning the game and becoming the next generation of golfers in this country. Julie, at Sawmill, is committed to having a place like that.

There are plenty of other great examples across the country providing a safe space for kids to learn – and love – golf. But there’s still even more room to grow.

“I often say to my peers, ‘go on and copy and paste our program. It would be an honour,’” Julie says. “It’s who our club is.”

————-

On Oct. 2, 2023, Blue took part in a Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) Virtual Summit with the topic being Courses Supporting Junior Golf.

The series is part of an ongoing GJAC series intended to help membership stay connected, as well as to generate discussion and opportunities around important issues in the game.

Panelists for this Summit included Blue, as well as Nick Taylor, 2023 RBC Canadian Open Champion and Carrie Julie, Owner/Operator, Sawmill Golf Club. The Summit was moderated by Dan Pino, Golf Canada’s Senior Director of Communications. You can watch it below.

Sixty-six players from twenty-one countries will compete in the eighth playing of the prestigious world championship

Brampton, Ont. – Canada will once again host a global showcase of the world’s best junior golfers as the eighth edition of the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms will be contested October 2-7, 2023, at the Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 66 athletes comprising 22 teams and representing 21 countries – including two teams from host nation Canada – competing for the team and individual titles.

“Together with our partners at Golf Ontario and Sargent Farms, Golf Canada is extremely proud to host the eighth edition of this prestigious international championship at Brampton Golf Club,” said Dan Hyatt, Golf Canada Tournament Director. “This championship has become a world-class showcase featuring some of the most promising young athletes from around the world. It is an honour to welcome these talented juniors to Canada—many whom we know will go on to great success in the professional game.”

“Golf Ontario is excited to partner in bringing the World Junior Girls Championship to Brampton and there is great excitement in welcoming this outstanding group of athletes from around the world,” said Golf Ontario CEO Kyle McFarlane. “Brampton Golf Club has proven itself time and again to be a world-class host and a championship-worthy venue that will be ready to challenge the world’s best junior golfers. We look forward to seeing the Brampton golfing community rally around this wonderful event.”

Canada’s lead coach will be Jeff MacDonald of Chester, N.S. who is currently the Assistant Coach of the Team Canada – NextGen Squad. MacDonald is a three-time PGA of Atlantic Canada Coach of the Year recipient. Supporting MacDonald will be Ann Carroll of Mississauga, Ont. who is currently the Head Teaching Pro at Lambton Golf Club. Carroll was a member of the national team coaching staff from 2012-2017 and now runs the Ann Carroll Golf Academy which supports competitive junior golfers.

As the host country, Canada will field two teams competing for the championship.

Team Canada 1 will feature 17-year-old Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto along with 14-year-old Anna Huang and 16-year-old Vanessa Zhang, both of Vancouver. Borovilos, who earned a direct exemption and is currently ranked no. 210 in the (World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), finished fourth in the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship presented by BDO and competed at the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open. Huang and Zhang earned their spots in a 54-hole qualifying tournament during the NextGen Selection Camp earlier this month at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont. Huang was part of Team Canada 2 at the 2022 World Junior Girls Championship and Zhang is currently ranked no. 293 in the WAGR.

Team Canada 2 will feature 14-year-old Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. who earned a direct exemption onto the team and is currently ranked no. 369 in the WAGR. Park won the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship presented by BDO in July. Park’s teammates will be 16-year-old Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C. and 14-year-old Miranda Lu of Vancouver. Luna finished as runner-up in the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship and qualified for the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open through the final Monday Qualifier. Miranda won the UHY Albany Junior tournament in August. Both Luna and Miranda Lu earned their spots through the same qualifying tournament as Huang and Zhang.

This year’s field for the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms is highlighted by eight competitors currently ranked inside the World Golf Amateur Rankings (WAGR) top-100 including the tournament’s top-ranked player, Spain’s Rocío Tejedo Mulet (no. 23). Spain and South Korea both feature two players ranked inside the WAGR top-100, with Spain’s Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea (no. 33) and South Korea’s Hyojin Yang (no. 60) and Soomin Oh (no. 67). Belgium’s Savannah de Bock (no.40) returns this year after finishing T5 in the individual championship in 2022. For the final field of all teams and competitors, please click here.

Defending champions Spain (2017 & 2022) is tied with South Korea (2015 & 2019) for the most victories in the event’s seven-year history, with two each. Other team winners include the United States (2014), Philippines (2016), and Italy (2018). South Korea and Sweden are tied with the most podium finishes in tournament history with four each. Canada’s best finish in the team competition was third in 2014 and fourth in 2018. A history of past individual and team winners is available here.

Several players who have competed in the World Junior Girls Championship have gone on great success on the LPGA Tour, led by Canadian Brooke Henderson, a 13-time LPGA winner and Canada’s winningest professional golfer, who finished fourth in the individual competition at the inaugural championship hosted in 2014.

Other notable competitors who went on to become LPGA Tour winners include Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand who won back-to-back World Junior titles in 2018 and 2019 as well as Yuka Saso of the Philippines who won the 2016 World Junior title. The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open winner, Megan Khang of the United States competed in the inaugural tournament in 2014. Other former World Junior competitors who have gone on to win on the LPGA Tour include Hannah Green of Australia and Maja Stark of Sweden.

The prestigious Brampton Golf Club is the gracious host for the 2023 championship. Brampton has hosted a number of high profile provincial and national championships, most recently the 2014 Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship. Brampton Golf Club was also most recently named the Club Management Association of Canada (CMAC) Club of the Year in 2023 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021.

The individual champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open being held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary from July 22 – 28, 2024.

The following is a list of competing countries in the eighth annual World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms:

Austria

Belgium

Canada (2)

Chinese Taipei

Colombia

Czech Republic

Denmark

England

Finland

Germany

Iceland

Italy

Mexico

Peru

Poland

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

United States

Wales

Practice rounds for the 72-hole competition will take place October 2-3 with the first round of play set for Wednesday, October 4. The tournament’s closing ceremony will immediately follow the conclusion of play on Saturday, October 7. Admission to the competition is free. For more information on the tournament, please click here.