Caledon, Ont. – The final field is now set for the 118th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

Nine players earned the final spots in the field of 264 following Friday’s supplemental qualifier at The Pulpit in Caledon, Ont. The national championship is set to begin on Monday, August 7 with the opening two rounds being played on both courses of The Pulpit Club (The Pulpit and The Paintbrush).

There was a four-way tie for first with Isaiah Ellis (Smithville, Ont.), Patrick Deardorff (Clarkston, Mich.), Matthew Bremer (Burlington, Ont.) and Alex Wilson (Orangeville, Ont.) all shooting rounds of 69, good for 2-under. Mike Kray (Oakville, Ont.) shot an even par, 72 while four players shot 1-over, 72 to round out the nine players that secured their spots on Friday.

The 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion receives an exemption into the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. and the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. from August 14-20.

For the full player field competing in the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship Supplemental Qualifier Results

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.

Halifax, N.S. – Lauren Kim shot a final round 2-under 71 on Friday to win the 109th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO at Ashburn Golf Club (New) in Halifax N.S.

Team Canada’s Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. held second place during the first three rounds of the championship and entered Friday’s final round two-strokes behind Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont. Kim recorded five birdies on Friday to finish with rounds of 67, 69, 73, 71 to edge out Rivers by one-stroke to win the national championship.

“I just needed to take down one stroke at a time, its hard to stay focused sometimes with the wind out there but I’m glad I came in strong for the last hole,” said Kim. “It’s crazy because I haven’t won in a few years and to do it on homeland, and one of the biggest championships in Canada, it’s unreal.”

With the win comes an exemption into the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, B.C., from August 22-27 and the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at Bel-Air Country Club, Calif., from August 7-17.

Rivers played an impressive tournament and finished second after shooting 1-over during the final round on Friday. Rivers started off the tournament by firing an opening-round course-record 65 and continued to hold top spot after a second-round 69 on Wednesday.

During the third round, Rivers got off to a fiery start by carding two back-to-back birdies on the par-5 second hole and the par-4 third hole. She encountered a challenging end to the front nine, carding three bogeys in a row but was able to push through till the end to maintain her lead.

In today’s final round Rivers shot a final round of 74 to finish in second place. Sadie Englemann from Austin, Texas, shot an even par, 72 and finished the tournament in third at 5-under.

Kim will also be awarded a cheque of $1,200. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, competed for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Along with Kim, top-10 finishers and ties earned prize money.

For the full leaderboard click here.

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, CPKC, Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear, and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.

This week on Road to the Tour, presented by Hilton, the spotlight is placed on Team Canada coaches and the impact they have on players’ growth. These coaches are committed to the performance of Team Canada athletes and play a key part in the development of all players.

Rest and Relax like a Pro, start planning your next stay with Hilton today.

Halifax, N.S. – Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont., shot 1-over-par 73 at Ashburn Golf Club (new) in Halifax, N.S. on Thursday and will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the 109th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship presented by BDO.

The 18-year-old Rivers—who opened the championship with a course-record 65 followed by a second-round 69—sits at 9-under-par (207) through 54 holes of the prestigious championship. She got off to a good start Thursday with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 second hole and the par-4 third, then struggled with three consecutive bogeys on holes six through eight. Rivers’ back nine included a birdie and a bogey as the Team Canada member looks ahead to Friday’s final round with hopes of going wire-to-wire for her first-ever Canadian Women’s Amateur title.

“I still think that having a good game plan going into the last day is the most important thing,” said Rivers. “The pins are getting more tucked as the day goes on so paying attention to where the pins are and where the flat putt is crucial to have a good score.  I like to play my own game, focus on one shot at a time and not focus where everyone else is in correlation to me but just try to hit a good shot and leave the ball where I want.”

Rivers will need to hold off a hard-charging group of competitors including her teammate on the National Amateur Team, 18-year-old Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., who continues to sit alone in second at 7-under (209) through 54 holes after shooting a third-round 1-over 73.

A trio of Americans—Sadie Englemann (Austin, Tex.), Phoebe Brinker (Wilmington, Del.), and Maisie Filler (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), hold a share of third at 5-under (211), four shots off the lead, while defending champion and Team Canada member Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. sits alone in sixth at 2-under for the championship.

The low round of day belonged to Vanessa Borovilos (Toronto, Ont.) and Antonia Malate (Seaside, Cal.) who shot matching 5-under 68’s to sit T7 and T12 respectively.

The winner of the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open, 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship

For the full leaderboard click here.

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, CPKC, Sport Canada, Levelwear, Titleist, FootJoy and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.

Field of 264 will compete in the prestigious tournament; final spots up for grabs in supplemental qualifier on Friday

Caledon, Ont. – The 118th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO is set to begin on Monday, August 7 with a field of 264 amateur golfers competing over four rounds of competition at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.

This year’s field features a talented field of Canadian players, including the following 2023 Provincial Men’s Amateur Champions: Cooper Humphreys (B.C.), Ethan Wilson (Alberta), Josh Nagy (Saskatchewan), Braxton Kuntz (Manitoba), Cameron Pero (Ontario), James Newton (Quebec), Isaac MacNaughton (Nova Scotia), and Teran Newall (Newfoundland and Labrador). In addition to Charles Fitzsimmons (2021, 2022 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion) and Jean-Philippe Parr (2021, 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Champion). Golfers from all 10 provinces and one territory are represented in the field along with nine additional countries: Australia, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, England, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, United States, and Wales.

The first two rounds of this year’s tournament will be contested on both courses of The Pulpit Club, The Pulpit and The Paintbrush. Following the opening 36-holes of the championship, the field will be reduced to the top 70 players plus ties. Wednesday and Thursday’s rounds will both played on The Pulpit course with an awards ceremony following Thursday’s final round.

“We are excited to get the 118th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship underway next week at two incredible golf courses,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Adam Cinel. “The staff at The Pulpit Club have been working tirelessly in preparation for this prestigious national championship. The championship field is as strong as we’ve seen in recent years, featuring the best amateur players from across Canada, as well as a strong international contingent. The players competing in the tournament will enjoy the unique tests that are presented by The Pulpit and The Paintbrush.”

Prior to the start of the tournament, there will be a supplemental qualifier on Friday at The Pulpit where a field of 113 players will be competing for the final spots in the tournament.

The inventors of the “Trivial Pursuit” board game, Chris Haney and Scott Abbott, created Devil’s Pulpit in 1990 and the name of the course comes from a rock formation seen from the 7th tee. Haney and Abbott constructed another 18-hole course, Devil’s Paintbrush, two years later. In 2020 Longridge Partners Inc. purchased the Devil’s Pulpit Golf Association and in February 2021, the name was changed to The Pulpit Club. The Courses were also re-named from Devil’s Pulpit & Devil’s Paintbrush to The Pulpit and The Paintbrush.

“It’s an honour for The Pulpit Club to be the host venue for the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur. Hosting any national championship is a great responsibility. But the level of support we’ve received from our membership, ownership and surrounding community is a testament to the positive momentum golf is experiencing,” said Rob Roxborough, General Manager, The Pulpit Club. “The Pulpit Club’s championship courses will offer two completely different tests. The Paintbrush is a Scottish links style design, while the Pulpit is more of a traditional parkland course with incredible changes in elevation. The winner will be a player with great imagination, creative shot making abilities, and a strong short game. Wishing each player in the field an enjoyable walk, and good luck.”

Established in 1895, the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is the third oldest amateur championship in the world. The tournament was first contested as one of the newly formed Royal Canadian Golf Association’s (RCGA), now known as Golf Canada, first orders of business in 1895 at the Ottawa Golf Club.

The national championship originally began as a match play competition but changed to stroke play for the 1969 championship. It remained that way through 1994 when it reverted to match play in honour of the RCGA’s and the championship’s centennial in 1995. The championship once again reverted to stroke play in 2008 and in 2010, the tournament changed to a double field format for the first time ever.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer George S. Lyon won the Amateur eight times between 1898 and 1914 and was runner-up two more times. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Sandy Somerville made it to the match play final ten times between 1924 and 1938, capturing six championships. Other past champions include Canadian Golf Hall of Famers and four-time winners, Nick Weslock (1957, 1963, 1964, 1966) and Doug Roxburgh (1972, 1974, 1982, 1988). Most recently, two-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion, Mackenzie Hughes (2011, 2012) and 2023 RBC Canadian Open and three-time PGA TOUR winner Nick Taylor (2007).

Nick Taylor is the only Canadian male golfer to have won the Canadian Junior Boys (2006), Canadian Men’s Amateur (2007) and RBC Canadian Open (2023) titles. Brooke Henderson is the only Canadian female golfer to win the national championship trifecta, having won the Canadian Junior Girls (2012), Canadian Women’s Amateur (2013) and the CPKC Women’s Open (2018).

The new purse payout that was introduced in 2022 will continue at this year’s championship. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Amateur golfers may accept prize money up to a maximum of $1,200 CAD, and payouts will be awarded to the top 10 finishers and ties.

The national championship will also feature an Inter-Provincial Team Championship that will take place over the first 36-holes of the tournament. Team Quebec will be defending their title as nine provinces and one territory will be vying to etch their names into the Willingdon Cup.

The 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion receives an exemption into the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. and the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. from August 14-20.

For the full player field competing in the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.

TORONTO – Nick Taylor was exhausted after his four-round sudden death playoff where he edged out England’s Tommy Fleetwood to win the RBC Canadian Open. After an hours-long marathon of celebrations and media obligations, he was starving so he and his family went to the nearest McDonalds drive-thru.

His phone, plugged in after getting blown up with calls and text messages following the historic victory, started ringing. On the screen was the name Wayne Gretzky.

“Now, I’ve never met Wayne before, so we reversed out of the drive-thru and I chatted with him for two or three minutes,” said Taylor on Monday. “That was really nice, but surreal.

“For someone like that to call, let alone want to reach out and say congrats, that’s really cool.”

That chat with the legendary hockey player while in a fast-food joint’s parking lot is emblematic of Taylor’s new life.

He has quiet moments where he’s just a Mario Kart-loving family man, and then unreal situations where he’s the centre of attention, greeted like a conquering hero after ending a 69-year stretch of futility by Canadian golfers at the men’s national championship.

Taylor was in Toronto on Monday for one of those more surreal days, doing a host of media appearances including being interviewed on Sportsnet ahead of a Blue Jays game. Sitting in the lobby of RBC’s headquarters before a meeting with the executives of one of his biggest sponsors, Taylor gestured to a wraparound screen above the entrance to the bank branch that was showing a video of his climactic 72-foot putt to win the Canadian Open.

“Hey, there I am,” said Taylor with a chuckle.

“It has been cool to be at events with players caddies, everyone in the golf world. coming up to both of us, (caddy Dave Markle) and I, to congratulate us, saying they were watching,” said Taylor. “Countless comments about how it was one of the most exciting things they’d ever seen.

“Even people who aren’t Canadian saying ‘I was in tears,’ like that impact I think is very unique from that standpoint.”

And that experience is something that Taylor is still processing two months later as he balances being the father of two young children and playing in PGA Tour events.

“My perspective of, say, the putt, has changed with seeing the video so many times, my perception is almost now more the video rather than me being in it,” said Taylor, who is from Abbotsford, B.C. “I think being at home has helped that reflection process because golf is funny, you have an amazing moment like that but within three days you’re playing another tournament and you’re trying to put that in the rear-view mirror and focus on the new event.

“But being able to soak it up, be at home a little bit, be with family and friends, has been as part of processing it.”

Taylor is taking a short break from competition after he made his British Open debut. He qualified for the final major of the men’s golf season based on his ranking in the FedEx Cup standings, which got a huge boost from his Canadian Open win.

As a result, he will not play in this week’s Wyndham Championship.

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., is the highest-ranked Canadian in the field, sitting 37th in the FedEx Cup standings. Adam Hadwin (39th) of Abbotsford, Mackenzie Hughes (44th) of Dundas, Ont., Taylor Pendrith (113th) of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Michael Gligic (207th) of Burlington, Ont., comprise the Canadian contingent at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.

KORN FERRY TOUR – Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is third on the Korn Ferry Tour’s points list and has already guaranteed himself a PGA Tour card for next season. He’s in the field at this week’s Utah Championship at Oakridge Country Club in Farmington, Utah, along with Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (56th) and Roger Sloan (92nd) of Merritt, B.C.

PGA TOUR CANADA – Etienne Papineau of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is the top-ranked Canadian on the PGA Tour Canada, sitting third in the points list of the third-tier tour. Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald is right behind him in fifth. Both are in the field at this week’s Windsor Championship at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, Ont.

LPGA TOUR – Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., is the lone Canadian at this week’s Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland. She’s 84th in the Race to CME Globe rankings.

EPSON TOUR – Hamilton’s Alena Sharp is the top-ranked Canadian on the Epson Tour’s money list this week. She sits 12th heading into the French Lick Charity Classic at the Pete Dye Course in French Lick, Ind. Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., is 46th and Quebec City’s Sarah-Eve Rheaume is 142nd.

Halifax, N.S. – Team Ontario has won the inter-provincial team championship after firing a team-total 5-over through 36 holes at the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur championship presented by BDO.

Heading into second-round action at Ashburn Golf Club (New), the Team Ontario squad of Jasmine Ly of Windsor, Ont., Joline Truong of Mississauga, Ont., and Sydney Naro of Toronto, Ont., held a four-stroke lead over Team British Columbia. Ly and Truong captained the ship for Ontario, firing rounds of 72 and 73, respectively to secure the 36-hole team championship title. Individually, Ly is T11, while Truong is T27 heading into day three.

“I am honoured to represent my province and have had the pleasure of doing it with two amazing golfers,” said Ly.

After a head-to-head battle towards the end, Team British Columbia placed second in the interprovincial competition at 17-over par with Manitoba rounding out the top three at 18-over par.

For the individual competition, Rivers, who fired an opening-round course-record 65, continues to hold top spot after a second-round 69 to sit at 10-under through 36 holes.

Team Canada’s Lauren Kim remains in second place at 8-under, two strokes behind Rivers after firing a 3-under 69 while Maisie Filler from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is third at 6-under after a round of 2-under 70.

The round of the day belonged to Sadie Englemann from Austin, Tex., who shot 30 on the back nine after carding four birdies and an eagle.

Following the conclusion of second-round action, a cut was made with 79 players moving on to play the final 36 holes of the championship. 

The 2023 winner of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open, 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship

For the full leaderboard click here.

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, CPKC, Sport Canada, Levelwear, Titleist, FootJoy and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.

First Tee and Youth on Course work collaboratively to provide a welcoming and accessible junior golf pathway.

Golf participation in Canada is currently at multiyear highs and as the national sport organization, Golf Canada is focused on the long-term future and overall health of our sport. For example, as golf participation thrives today, what long-term investment must be made to ensure the sport will be similarly healthy a generation from now?

Long-term trends indicate that the Canadian population will become increasingly multicultural and multidimensionally diverse than today. To sustain and grow Canadian golf participation going forward, a larger share of golfers will reflect racialized and socioeconomic backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in our sport.

Many golf courses operate highly successful and impactful junior programs across Canada. As a complement to these fundamentally important locally driven efforts, Golf Canada, along with corporate and philanthropic supporters, are making long-term investments that specifically seek to provide affordable and welcoming golf access to Canadian youth from a diversity of backgrounds.

The first primary investment is in First Tee – an internationally renowned program with over 25 years of operation in the United States. First Tee offers junior golf and youth development experiences in three settings: golf facilities, community centres, and schools. The First Tee program provides equipment, turnkey lesson plans, and in-depth instructor training. First Tee is primarily suited for publicly accessible facilities and municipal golf courses – or private courses who welcome non-member juniors for First Tee programming that takes place on driving ranges and putting greens. First Tee has an extensive track record in the United States of welcoming equity-deserving youth into our sport.

First Tee is funded by generous individuals and corporate donors. First Tee programming is offered for free at all schools and community centres. Most participating golf courses are able to offer programming for free, and need-based financial assistance is available to all participants so that cost is never a barrier.

Golf Canada initially partnered with First Tee in 2020 and the program will be operational in every province by the end of 2023, charting a course for community-by-community growth that will be executed over several years.

The second important investment into the sport is Youth on Course – a program that allows junior golfers to play golf on a participating course for a green fee of $5 or less. Junior golfers who are introduced to the sport through First Tee can thus transition onto the golf course at an affordable price.

Youth on Course started in the United States and there are nearly 2,000 participating golf courses across North America. From a Canadian perspective, the program began in Alberta and Ontario in 2019 and expanded to British Columbia and Atlantic Canada this year. Partner courses are provided with a modest subsidy in addition to the $5 green fee collected from the junior golfer. Youth on Course is funded by individual and corporate donors who believe in increasing golf course access for juniors. Host courses also make an important contribution by prioritizing access for juniors, even while incurring an opportunity cost.

What do we believe is the blueprint for supporting an accessible junior golf pathway for Canadian youth from all backgrounds? Engage youth from equity deserving communities at their local schools and community centres through First Tee, transition participants to nearby First Tee golf courses to further their development in golf and finally, provide a low-cost on-course entry point through Youth on Course.

Beyond large-scale exposure to the sport, a segment of these participants will advance on to engage in competitive golf through the Junior Skills Challenge or the multitude of local, provincial, and national junior tournaments.

The impact of junior golf programs always occurs locally, and is often supported by the local club, provincial golf associations, and the efforts of PGA of Canada professionals. Whether at the grassroots level or competitively, junior golf is driven by the energy and professionalism of local coaches and volunteers. Through First Tee and Youth on Course, Golf Canada seeks to complement existing successful junior programs and provide local leaders with additional programming that is designed for the long-term future of Canadian golf.

The long-term result will be a sport that continues to be the most played of any sport in the country, and one more closely aligned with the diversity strengths of multi-cultural Canada.

HALIFAX, N.S. – Sunny weather conditions made for an exceptional start at Ashburn Golf Club (New Course) as the opening round of the 109th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship presented by BDO kicked off Tuesday morning. The leaderboard fluctuated throughout the day, but Team Canada’s Brooke Rivers shot a 7-under 65 during the opening round to break the Ashburn Women’s competitive course record, to place herself atop the leaderboard.

The 18-year-old from Brampton, Ont., carded a total of seven birdies, four on the front and three on the back. On the front she birded the par-5 second hole, par-4 fourth hole, and back-to-back on the par-4 sixth hole and the par-4 seventh hole. On the back, she again went back-to-back with birdies on the par-4 eleventh hole and par-5 twelfth hole and added another on the par-4 fifteenth hole to finish her impressive round.

“I think the most important thing for today was my game plan. Making sure that I knew where to leave the ball in order to have the appropriate putt and giving myself the easiest chance to make birdie,” said Rivers. “It’s a four-day event, there’s lots of golf to play but the first day just shows that I had the right plan going into the round and that I can continue that plan with hitting my targets and shots.”

Team Canada’s Lauren Kim carded a total of five birdies firing a 5-under 67 to sit in second place after the opening round.

“I just came back from the U.S girls’ championship and played pretty well, so I wasn’t coming into today with many expectations. It’s a new course and tournament so its good to come into it with an empty mind and no expectations,” said Kim. “Coming into today I was hoping to shoot even par since I know this is a pretty difficult course, the greens are pretty tricky so during the round I wasn’t thinking about much. “I think I need to go into tomorrow with the same mindset, no expectations.”

Maisie Filler of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., shot 4-under 68 carding a total of four birdies to sit in third place heading into round two of the 109^th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

Five other Canadians ended round one inside the top-10, including defending champion and Team Canada member Monet Chun who is currently in a three-way tie for fourth after shooting 2-under 70 during the first round. Chun finished round one with a total of two birdies, both on the back nine.

The highlight of the day – and quite possibly the tournament – belonged to Chloe Wills from Kyle, Sask., and Team Canada member, Angela Arora from Surrey, B.C. Wills shot a six iron into the 161-yard par-3 fourteenth hole and Arora fired a hybrid into the 198-yard par-3 eighth hole to watch their balls drop for a hole-in-one.

Team Ontario, consisting of Jasmine Ly of Windsor, Ont., Joline Truong of Mississauga, Ont., and Sydney Naro of Toronto, Ont., lead the Inter-Provincial team competition at 4-over. Team British Columbia, looking to defend their title are four strokes back of Ontario, and sit 8-over after the first round.

The 2023 champion of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open and the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

For the full leaderboard click here.

GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, CPKC, Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.

Celine Boutier carded a final round of 3-under 68 to win the Amundi Evian Championship by six shots for her first major title Sunday.

Brooke Henderson of Canada, finished 8 under after a final-round 70, finishing second.

The 25-year-old Henderson of Smiths Fall, Ont., was the defending champion after going 17 under for the tournament in 2022.

Henderson made three birdies and had two bogeys Sunday en route to her runner-up finish, which was the best result by a defending Amundi Evian champion since it became a major.

“It feels great to be back in contention on the final groups in the weekend on a major championship,” Henderson said. “That’s all you can really ask for.”

“I feel like things are really coming together. It’s been a little bit of up-and-down year so it’s really nice to finish strong this week.”

Henderson also tied the lowest nine-hole score in women’s major history during the third round. She carded six birdies through the opening nine holes on route to a score of 29.

The 29-year-old Boutier finished at 14-under 270 overall. She is the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.

“It has been my biggest dream since I started watching golf,” Boutier said. “This tournament has always been very special to me, even just watching as a teenager and just to be able to hold this trophy is pretty unbelievable.”

Boutier took a four-shot lead into the final round and eased any worries she may have had with two birdies to start and another on the fifth hole.

“That was pretty unexpected,” Boutier said. “I definitely felt like I handled the first few holes really well. I had a good opportunity on one and the putt on two was definitely a bonus.”

Boutier had a total of four birdies in the final round and a bogey on the par-4 13th.

Five players – Norway’s Celine Borge (68), Mexican Gaby Lopez (68), South Korea’s Kim A-lim (69) and Japan’s Yuka Saso (70) and Nasa Hataoka (72) – were joint third at 7 under.