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.

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.

Adam Webb, Woodlands Links Ltd., Hole #15

I hit a 9 iron, 150 yards and hit it three feet beyond the pin and spun it back into the hole. My brother and I erupted once we saw the ball disappear. The whole course heard us.

We proceeded to celebrate the last few holes of our round and I opened a tab at the course to give a few drinks to other patrons. 

Allan Druskin, Three Hills Golf Course, Hole #2

I am 75 years old with an 18 handicap and have been playing golf on and off for 50 years. My friend, Barry (Hoppy) Hopkins and myself were golfing on the afternoon of July 21, 2023, at our home course near Three Hills. Using a 6 iron, I shot the ball over a creek about 160 yards to the green, thought it landed on the green, but lost sight of it in the sun. Upon reaching the green, I couldn’t find it. After searching for it for a couple of minutes my friend suggested I look in the cup. Sure enough, there it was!

Betty Millen, Newlands Golf Club, Hole #10

I was playing with the three members that I play with a few times a week. The hole was 98 yards uphill, and I used my little 9 wood that I have had for 20 years. This is my third on that hole, my second one this year. Unfortunately, I didn’t record the others on the Golf Canada site. I’m pretty proud of myself for a 79-year-old!

Betty Oliver, Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club, Hole #7

I was playing with my sister. Kathy Palombi and two good friends, Barb Bumbacco and Anita Litalien. The yardage was 116 and I used my Cleveland Launcher UHX 8 iron and a yellow Srixon soft feel ball. It was so exciting for all of us to watch it disappear into the hole as it rolled across the green. Hopefully, I’ll experience that moment again with either myself or a golfing buddy.

Bill Raponi, Cranberry Golf Course, Hole #13

What a great day!

Brett Skakun, Lac La Biche Golf and Country Club, Hole #8

I was out for an early morning round with my good friend and fellow Golf Canada member Greg Zevola. It was a 148 yard 9 iron that was on line the entire time it was in the air. Both of us said, “be good” while the ball was up and then silence waiting for it to spin. It spun and went in! We both took a few seconds staring in disbelief making sure it was gone. Then we erupted! I turned and jumped on him while cheering and celebrating! The groups behind us heard, the group ahead came back from the ninth tee to see what was happening and everyone at the clubhouse heard. My wallet’s a little lighter after it but it was the perfect experience celebrating the rest of the day with family and friends. A little fun fact, hole #8 is sponsored by my dad and uncle’s fountain tire shop in Lac La Biche. So, a little bit of family luck there!

Cathy Bildfell, The Okanagan Golf Club, Hole #4

I was playing Senior Ladies night with Vicki Dallon, Kate Dusik and Jan Hecht. My 9 iron was used to hit it 115 yards. My seventh ever ace!

Chris Moote, Oliver’s Nest Golf Club, Hole #3

The hole-in-one was 117 yards and I hit a pitching wedge. I was playing with Steve, Ron and Bill who are good buddies that I do a Myrtle Beach trip with every spring. Memorable for sure but four holes later I hit a 52 degree from 90 yards that also went in for my second eagle of the day!

Chris Patrick, Sirocco Golf Club, Hole #12

I got the hole-in-one using a TaylorMade 6 iron with a Titleist ProV1 and the yardage was 175 yards. It happened to be on the second day of our Club Championships. My playing partners were Ken Hall and Randy Sevienson.

Chris Webster, Wintergreen Golf and Country Club, Hole #7

It was men’s night at Wintergreen Golf and Country Club in Bragg Creek. Nestled in the foothills of Alberta, the par 3 hole #7 from the gold/blue combo plays 163 yards. With an altitude of 4,300 feet an 8 iron was the club of choice. I hit my shot, watched the trajectory, and as it hit the green, turned to my playing partners to boast ‘that line is good’. I entirely missed seeing the ball actually roll in!

Elna de Klerk, Meadow Gardens Golf, Hole #7

I was playing with two friends, Joan Arnold and Susan Balenzano. The yardage was 127 and I used my 7 iron.

Erwin Tapnio, Riveredge Golf Course, Hole #9

Didn’t actually realize it went in until I got to the hole. I was looking all over the surrounding areas and decided to look in the hole and found my ball! Best experience of my life!

Gordon Gilman, Algonquin Golf Course, Hole #14

It was a great moment on a great course.

Harlen Van Wynsberghe, Century Pines Golf Club, Hole #13

I was playing 18 holes with an ex-billet brother from junior hockey and our friend on a perfect morning at Century Pines. As we watched it fall in the hole, I’ve never been more excited! They all tackled me before it even registered what happened. A round and a morning I will never forget.

John Thomas, Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, Hole #15

My wife and I started playing golf about four years ago, when we moved from North Vancouver to Parksville. We got hooked on golf, so we decided to join Pheasant Glen about a year and a half ago after we looked at other courses. On July 19^th I was playing men’s day with Dan McGuire, Bob Steele and Cary Connell. On hole #15 I was 147 yards out wind blowing towards the tee, and I picked up my 7 iron and hit the ball towards the flag. The ball dropped about four feet from the front of hole and rolled in for a hole-in-one. What a great day.

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

Thanks to my witness Nick, who had taken an extended lunch break to swing the sticks! I used a pitching wedge.

Jon Ginsburg, Twenty Valley Golf and Country Club, Hole #13

It took me 30 years of wondering whether it would ever happen! I used my TaylorMade Stealth driver to hit the ball approximately 125 yards playing from the white/green tee box. I was playing with my regular group who could not believe what they saw, forcing me to buy a round of drinks for them! Thank heavens there were only two of them!

Judy Cross, Princeton Golf Club, Hole #15

This was such a special day. We were playing in the two-day club championship. I was playing with members Barb Jones and Gloria Gagnon. The hole was about 135 yards over a gulley. I was using a 5 wood. Best celebration ever.

Karen Merrylees, Riverbend Golf Community, Hole #12

My husband Bill and I were playing in a couples’ match at our home course at Riverbend Golf Community in London, Ontario. We were all square going into hole #12. It was 104 yards, and I used my 9 iron. I usually go to the left on this hole and when I made my shot, it was going straight to the green, which I was very excited about. My husband was watching and after the shot hit the front of the green, he said, “watch this.” The four us all watched as the ball rolled on the green, turned to the right towards the hole, and we all saw it fall into the hole! It was a magical moment, and one I will never forget as I am sure all golfers that get a hole-in-one will say.

Ken Baker, Surrey Golf Course, Hole #12

Finally, after playing golf for over 50 years, I did it. It happened at the Surrey Golf Course playing with three others from a group of eight that play every Wednesday and Friday. I was not playing up to my handicap level until I reached hole #12, a par 5, which is 500 yards. The next hole was playing 129 yards to a red flag. It has a large pond in front and a sand trap to the left of the front of the green. There was a wind coming in our faces, so I choked up on an 8 iron. The ball hit a mound just right of the trap bounced once hit the pole straight down. Last time I checked, they all count. Honored to join the club.

Kevin Boland, Bally Haly Country Club, Hole #2

My second since I started golfing 16 years ago. The hole was #2 at Bally Haly Country Club South and the yardage was 151. I used a 6 iron. The players with me were my usual group of Don Coady, Andrew Hynes and Damien Dubourdieu.

Larry Taylor, Sirocco Golf Club, Hole #17

I was playing at Sirocco Golf Club on hole #7.  It has an elevated tee box and is 115 yards. I used my gap wedge, hit it high, banked it off the left side hill, it rolled across the green and in. I was playing with my wife, Ellen, and fellow members Louise and Barry. I now have a hole-in-one at each of the three courses where we have been members.

Lin Chen, Angus Glen Golf Club, Hole #17

Thank you for your congratulations! I played with my friend Ivan and my yardage was 110. I used a 6 hybrid. It was July 17th at Angus Glen South Course, on hole #17. When I hit the ball, I couldn’t see my ball from where we were. I couldn’t believe my ball went in and kept asking Ivan where my ball was. As we approached the green, it was in the hole! Immediately I contacted Susan who had invited my family and I to the Chris Li Golf Classic. I said to Susan, “I used the lucky rain check and hit a hole-in-one!” I received congratulations from Mr. Chris Li and friends.

Lincoln Garraway, Caledon Woods Golf Club, Hole #13

Great day!

Lori Graves, Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course, Hole #2

The yardage was 105 and I used a 7 iron. I played with my Saturday group of Judy and Cindy plus a gentleman joined us named Matt.

Marc Donnelly, Champêtre (Club de Golf), Hole #4

I played with Olivier Frenette, Mark Mirza and Paul Poliquin. We arrived at the fourth hole, and I was the last to tee off. The hole location was in the back of the green on the left side, behind the bunker. It was playing at 148 yards. I moved over to the right side of the tee box and was deciding between a 9 iron or an 8. I went with the 8 iron. I hit the shot with a slight draw. We all saw it heading towards the hole. It carried the bunker and landed three feet in front of the hole.

My playing partners all said that that was going to be very close. No one could see the result because the hole was hidden by the bunker.

We all walked up to the green and we saw the ball mark, but no ball. We looked in the hole, and there it was, my Titleist 4 resting at the bottom of the cup.

Mike Mills, Northumberland Golf Club, Hole #8

I was playing with Rick and Ken from Toronto, and Mario from Hamilton. I had not played with any of them before. I used a 4 hybrid. The yardage was around 138 in a light wind.

Niels van Oyen, The Paintbrush, Hole #4

I was lucky enough to get my first hole-in-one on Friday, July 21st at The Paintbrush in Caledon, Ontario. For those of you who know the course, it is quite a challenging track and I had never seriously considered the possibility of recording an ace on any of its challenging par threes. I play to a 15 handicap and play 30-40 rounds a year, so my chances for an ace in my lifetime didn’t seem great.

The big moment happened on #4, playing 152 yards and into the wind. I pulled a 7 iron and my ball landed about 15 feet short of the hole. You can’t see much of the putting surface, so when we got to the green and didn’t see my ball, one of my playing partners started to get excited and ran up to the hole. When he threw his hat on the ground, I knew something big must have happened. The rest, as they say, is history.

We celebrated the feat with some single malt scotch (we were on a links course, after all) and lots of laughs for the remaining 14 holes.

Nikki Otterbein, Legacy Ridge Golf Club, Hole #8

It was certainly great fun for me. We were playing the fusion tees which is the white tees on hole #8 and the pin was at the back. The yardage was 121 and I hit my 5 hybrid. I knew I had hit it well and was afraid it would go over the back of the green but luckily the hole got in the way! I was playing with my daughter Karen and her friend Michelle. For no good reason I was wearing mainly pink on Saturday and Karen was calling me Barbie (the movie opened on Saturday) but after the 8th hole she began to call me Brooke (Henderson) instead! She did remember to take a photo of me taking my pink ball out of the hole. 

Paul Jeppesen, Flambourough Hills Golf Club, Hole #11

The hole-in-one occurred at the Flamborough Hills Golf Club in the late afternoon of July 19th, 2023. Flamborough Hills has 27 holes and on this day the 11th hole was the second of the Lakes nine. It is a 127-yard hole on the card but played a bit longer with the hole on the back shelf of a two-tiered green with a bit of a back stop. I played a pitching wedge which landed about three feet short and right of the pin. It bounced behind the pin and came back into the hole from behind. The moment was shared with Howard Hollingham, James Davidson and Nico Bopp. This happens to be my fourth hole-in-one. People have asked me how I do it and I always tell them that it’s hereditary. My mother had seven, my father had two and my uncle has four. I am on a mission to catch my mother’s total and the odds are improving!

Peggy Blacklock, Olds Golf Club, Hole #7

I was golfing with my friends in the Olds Ladies Golf tournament. It was 110 yards to the hole, and I used my Callaway 11 wood. Another woman got an ace that day too! Ironically, I had just met her that morning through a mutual friend. We laughed that we were wearing the same shirt. By the of the day, we had both gotten a hole-in-one. 

Ron Worden, Black Mountain Golf Club, Hole #4

It was great!

Ryan Mckean, Oak Island Golf Course, Hole #12

I was playing in the 2023 Golf Manitoba Men’s Amateur Provincial Championship. My other two competitors were Ben Bandura and Jackson Delaurier.

For the tournament, the organizers swapped the front nine and back nine so on the tournament scorecard it says hole #3, but it was hole #12 at Oak Island. The tees were moved up to 135 yards for the final round and I used a pitching wedge.

Sandy Rathgeber, Chilliwack Golf Course, Hole #4

As I have only been playing golf for five years, I had never anticipated getting a hole-in-one. Surprisingly this was my second one this month! The first was on a local par 3 course so it wasn’t entered into my Golf Canada app. The one I got on July 23^rd was at Chilliwack Golf Club where I was playing with my husband, Wade and two nice fellows from Kamloops, Glen and Koji. It was the fourth hole which was a 118-yard par 3. I hit a solid 7 iron straight at the pin, the ball landed at the front of the green and rolled to the back pin location. We could all see that it had a chance to go in and luckily it did. It was hard to believe it had happened again so quickly after my first one but there it was sitting patiently at the bottom of the hole waiting for me to bring it back out into the sunlight.

Sean Bolley, The Legends Golf Club, Hole #14

My hole-in-one was on hole #14 at The Legends golf course in Warman. I was playing from the blues that day and the yardage was 128 so I used my 9 iron. I was playing with my girlfriend Allison, and we got paired up with another couple, JR and Michelle.

Shari Molchan, Mount Breton Golf Course, Hole #3

I’ve been golfing for 22 years! It was on hole #3 at Mount Breton Golf Course in Chemainus B.C. My Garmin watch said 114 yards to the pin. I knew the hole played a little uphill, so I used my 7 iron and a nice easy swing.

I was last on the tee box and so the others were standing to the right so they couldn’t see the ball finish because of the bunker. But then it disappeared, and I thought it went off the back. We looked for my ball behind the green and it was not there then one of the gals looked in the cup and there it was!

My home course is Cottonwood Golf Course, and we were doing our ‘away’ game at Mount Breton. I was golfing with my teammate (Cottonwood member) Cheri Holder.

Sharlene Coates, Rideau Lakes Golf and Country Club, Hole #17

On July 18th, 2023, I was blessed with a hole-in-one on hole #17 at Rideau Lakes Golf and Country Club. This hole is a steep drop down to the Upper Rideau Lake. I used my 5 wood to drop it left of the green as it runs quickly to the right and was awe struck to watch it roll slowly into the hole. This took place during our regular Tuesday Ladies League, so I had a large group of witnesses waiting to play the hole.

Sharon Creelman, Cabot Cliffs, Hole #6

It was hole #6 at Cabot Cliffs. The hole was 130 yards. I used a 9 iron. I was playing with Elizabeth Czenczek and Judy McCrae. My first and hopefully not last hole-in-one and such a memorable course! The course celebrated me very well. With a flag, signed by the golf pro at the course and a hole-in-one hat.

Sharon Gu, Gull Lake View Golf Club, Hole #15

What a great moment!

Stephanie Simpson, The Hamptons Golf Club, Hole #9

It was 110 yards and I used a 9 iron.

Yuhao Shen, Bethesda Grange/Rolling Hills, Hole #5

I am nearly 11 years old. I started golf during the pandemic and have been playing for three years. I love golf because it puts up a challenge and I like challenges. Also, because golf courses are good places to make new friends. I just made a hole-in-one, which makes me love golf even more. Rolling Hills is my home course. I’d like to play as many courses as possible. But other courses are very expensive. When I grow up, I hope to be a professional golfer.

Halifax, N.S. – The 109th installment of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, gets underway next week at Ashburn Golf Club (New) in Halifax, N.S.

The championship, which was first contested in 1901, is one of the longest standing amateur golf events in the world. The inaugural tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal, Que., featured only three players and over a century later, 156 players will look to etch their name onto the Duchess of Connaught Gold Cup in 2023.

“Golf Canada is extremely excited to bring the storied Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship to Halifax and welcome a premiere field of Canadian and International talent,” said Golf Canada tournament director Mary Beth McKenna. “The 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship will be a memorable event for all players, officials, club staff and volunteers involved, and we are grateful to our hosts, Ashburn Golf Club, for all their efforts. We know the players will enjoy this incredible course and the club’s Atlantic hospitality.”  

Practice rounds are scheduled for Monday July 31, before the official 72-hole stroke play competition begins on August 1. Play is scheduled to wrap up on August 4, followed by an awards ceremony and champions reception. The field will be cut to the low 70 players (including ties) after 36 holes.

The tournament will welcome the return of 40 international players 21 from the United States, nine from Australia, three from Chinese Taipei, and representation from England, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand are slated to tee up at Ashburn Golf Club this week.

Also being reintroduced this year is the Inter-Provincial team competition. The Inter-Provincial Championship will be played in conjunction with the first 36 holes of the competition with three-player teams vying for the team title. Team British Columbia – composed of Yan Jun (Victoria) Liu, Leah John, and Ha Young Chang are the reigning champions from 2022.

The 156 player field features 10 members of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad led by defending champion Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, Ont.) along with teammates Angela Arora (Surrey, B.C.), Brook Rivers (Brampton, Ont.), Céleste Dao (Notre-Dame-De-l’île-Perrot, Que.), Katie Cranston (Oakville, Ont.), Lauren Kim (Surry, B.C.), Lauren Zaretsky (Thornhill, Ont.), Leah John (Vancouver, B.C.), Michelle Liu (Vancouver, B.C.), and Nicole Gal (Oakville, Ont.).

The NextGen Squad will also be well-represented with 10 members of the junior team slated to compete: Alissa Xu (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Anna Huang (Coto De Caza, Calif.), Carlee Meilleur (Lansdowne, Ont.), Lindsay McGrath (Oakville, Ont.), Luna Lu (Burnaby, B.C.), Martina Yu (Coquitlam, B.C.), Michelle Xing (Richmond Hill, Ont.), Vanessa Borovilos (Etobicoke, Ont.), Vanessa Zhang (Vancouver, B.C.) and Yeji Kwon (Port Coquitlam, B.C.).

West Vancouver’s Jenny Guo is the youngest player in the field at the age of 11 and there are five members of Ashburn Golf Club teeing it up this week: Abbey Baker, Annika Parkash, Haley Baker, Lori Diturbide and Brittany Anderson.

The 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 Amateur Women’s 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.

Ashburn Golf Club is one of the most esteemed clubs in Canada and has played a significant role in Halifax for almost a century. Designed by legendary architect Stanley Thompson, the development of the new course at Ashburn commenced in 1965. Land near Kinsac Lake in Windsor Junction was identified and acquired, spanning an impressive 600 acres. To lead the project, the club turned to the expertise of Geoffrey Cornish, a distinguished member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and renowned golf designer who had previously worked alongside Thompson. New Ashburn rapidly became recognized as one of the finest courses in Eastern Canada.

“New Ashburn has a long history of hosting world-class events, and our team is excited and ready to showcase our golf course and facilities to some of the best female golfers in the world,” said Gordie Smith, General Manager at Ashburn Golf Club. “With over 100 volunteers in place, our membership has fully committed to ensuring that the event is spectacular. The whole club has stepped up in preparation and we can’t wait to welcome everyone to the East Coast to get this incredible championship started.”

The Championship was first contested in 1901 and operated by the former Canadian Ladies Association (CLGA) until the amalgamation of CLGA and Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) in 2005.

The Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship was last played in 2022 at Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener, Ont. Team Canada National Squad member Monet Chun was crowned champion after firing 5-under to win the national championship by two shots over Alissa Xu.

With Lauren Zaretsky’s win in 2021 and Chun’s win in 2022, the competitors became the first Canadian duo to win back-to-back since Brooke Henderson and Augusta James captured the national title in 2013 and 2014.

Along with the championship’s storied history comes a coveted roster of competitors including Marlene Stewart Streit, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, who sits atop the class with 11 victories and five runner-up finishes at the national event. The tournament has proven to be a launch pad for some of golf’s brightest young stars—Ariya Jutanugarn (2012), Brooke Henderson (2013), Hye-Jin Choi (2016), Jennifer Kupcho (2017) and Yealimi Noh (2018) are previous winners who now compete on the LPGA Tour.

The 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion will receive an exemption into the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open, 2023 U.S Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

More information about the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship can be found 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.

This week on Road to the Tour, presented by Hilton, we take you inside the Glencoe Invitational, located in Calgary. Originally established in 1992, the Glencoe Invitational has grown into a staple event for Golf Canada athletes.

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