Alena Sharp crowned champion in Kingsville, claims fourth-career ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada title
(Kingsville, ON) – Golf is well known for its adages/figures of speech/euphemisms/cliches – whatever you want to call them.
While some (or many) of them would induce groans from even the most esteemed khaki-bearing New Balance-wearing dads, the phrase about having to keep your foot on the peddle when you have the lead in a golf tournament rings true. That is exactly what Alena Sharp did out of the gate today at the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.
Entering the final round three strokes ahead of Min-G Kim, the now four-time champion made five birdies in her first seven holes to extend her lead to five at Kingsville Golf & Country Club. She never looked back, firing 69 to finish five ahead of runner-up, amateur Laren Zaretsky.
“This is an amazing feeling, coming here and playing Kingsville again after so long and having such a good two days,” said Sharp, who has found her form this year, currently sitting within the top-10 of the Epson Tour’s Player Rankings. “I had a good warmup; I feel like my win a month ago helped me be more relaxed coming into today.”
The win gives her the second-most ORORO PGA Women’s Championship titles in history. Lorie Kane, who the tournament trophy is named after, has won five times.
“Lorie (Kane) was an inspiration to all of us and it’s great to hold a trophy with her name on it,” said Sharp, who shot 66-69 to finish at 9-under par. “I still have a couple more years of playing full on, so if in the future there is an off week and I can make it, I would definitely love to come back and compete in this tournament again.”
Receiving an exemption into the LPGA Tour’s CPKC Women’s Open thanks to the win, Sharp will head to Vancouver August 24-27 following a stretch of four Epson Tour events.
Playing alongside Sharp was Caroline Ciot, the low PGA of Canada professional from 2022. Though a double bogey on the final hole took her out of sole possession of that spot this year, her rounds of 71-74 were good enough to give her co low PGA professional honours alongside Silver Springs Golf & Country Club Class “A” Professional Katy Rutherford.
“I know how hard it can be for PGA of Canada Professionals because a lot of their job (in the summer) is to teach or run a golf club and you rarely get to play, so it was awesome to see so many PGA pros play at a high level,” said Sharp. “It was nice to play with Caroline (Ciot), she has a good game and a great future so it’s great that she can (play and teach) at such a high level.”
Throughout the week, players raved about the course conditioning and how welcoming the golf course staff and members made everyone feel. The volunteers at the event were truly next level.
“Everybody here was so welcoming,” said Sharp, who picked up $7000 with the victory.” A lot of volunteers helped get this tournament off the ground and they were out watching, and it was so delightful. We can’t have tournaments without volunteers, so I’m thankful they showed up and helped Kingsville Golf and Country Club and the PGA of Canada.
“I love coming back home, everyone is so kind, so it was nice to be here,” she said.
ORORO Heated Apparel was a tremendous supporter of the event, giving away heated vests and jackets to top finishers of the championship.
Each day, a hole was deemed the NoSweat Hardest Hole of the Day, with the player who made the low score winning $150 courtesy of NoSweat. The 13th hole was the hardest hole on Wednesday, where three players managed to make birdie: Belinda Lin, Diana McDonald and Casey MacNeil.
After a random draw, Diana McDonald joined Valerie Tanguay as our NoSweat champions of the week.
Huge thank you to PGA of Canada professionals Katy Rutherford and Emma de Groot for being featured on our On The Bag content segments this week.
Photos from the tournament can be found on our Flickr page here.
Content from the event can be found on our Instagram page, here.
Host a Junior Skills Challenge local qualifying event today
Junior Skills Challenge is an online and interactive program that focuses on developing the key golf skills of putting, chipping, and driving. The online leaderboard allows instructors to upload players’ scores so they can track their improvement. Using the data, players are ranked nationally by age group, and by scores on the National Leaderboard. Top competitors nationally are invited to compete in the annual Junior Skills Challenge National Event.
Juniors from across the country are currently competing at local qualifying events to earn invitations to the annual Junior Skills Challenge National Event.
It’s not too late to host a local qualifying event at your facility! The deadline to host an event and enter scores for the 2023 National Leaderboard is Tuesday, July 25th.
Register at no cost and schedule your JSC event
Teeing up for a bright future: First Tee’s impact at the RBC Canadian Open
1,5000 kids. $160,00 raised. Countless Memories.
For Canadian sports fans, it will be hard to forget the moment that Nick Taylor sunk a 72-foot putt to be named the first Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open in nearly 70 years. Similarly, the memories First Tee created for over 1,500 children during tournament week will last a lifetime.
First Tee welcomed First Tee – Ontario participants, local junior golfers, children from the Toronto School Board, BGC Jane and Finch, BGC Peel, Hope 4 U Community Services, and the Elms Community Centre. Children experienced behind-the-scenes tours of tournament grounds exposing them to the endless opportunities in sport aside from playing golf, and fun introductory clinics hosted by First Tee – Ontario coaches. Some even took pros’ first putts during the annual Walk With a Pro activation during Wednesday’s Championship Pro-Am round.
First Tee – Canada is funded through generous corporate and individual donors that align with the program’s mission to positively impact the lives of youth through golf. First Tee – Canada was the tournament’s official charitable beneficiary, and through 50/50 ticket sales, 18th Grandstand seating admission sales, and generous corporate donations, over $160,000 was raised.
Interested in becoming a First Tee location or a First Tee coach? Visit firstteecanada.ca to learn more.
NextGen Championship Season continues at Club de golf Venise
140 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes on stunning Lake Magog with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line.
Golf Canada’s 2023 championship season continues this week, at Club de golf Venise, in Magog, Que. with the NextGen Québec Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.
The 54-hole stroke play competition is currently underway with championship rounds beginning on Tuesday, July 4. After the second round on Wednesday July 5th, there will be a cut where half of each division will make it through to Thursday’s final round.
The starting field will feature 140 male and female competitors – 103 Junior Boys and 37 Junior Girls – vying for a spot into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.
The top eight players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 14-17, at North Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. in North Bay, Ont. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.
Established on a location with a stunning view of Lake Magog on one side and Mount Orford on the other, the Club de golf Venise was founded in 1977. Placed between two cities, the course offers two 18-hole courses with one in Sherbrooke and the other in Magog. The Magog course will deliver a test for NextGen competitors, while presenting views of both the clubs remarkable lake fronts.
“As a young woman who just entered the golf industry, hosting the NextGen Championship here at Club de golf Venise means a lot to me,” said Coralie Beaucage, General Manager at Club de golf Venise. “Most importantly, I’m very proud to welcome all of these incredible athletes and very happy for them to experience the beauty of the Magog course.”
We all share a passion for golf, and I can’t wait to see and admire players from all around Canada having fun playing at Club de golf Venise, Beaucage added.” I look forward to hosting many more championships in collaboration with Golf Canada.”
To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Québec Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, click here.
About the NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards
The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2023 national championships. Two additional Fall Series events will be hosted to close the season. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. For more information on the NextGen Québec Championship, click here.
Canada’s Myles Creighton ready for next step at Latinoamerica Tour finale
Myles Creighton is poised to take the next step of his career.
The product of Digby, N.S., is headed into the Bupa Tour Championship on Thursday atop the Totalplay Cup rankings, the points list for the Latinoamerica Tour.
Sitting at 1,094 points, 149 more than American Walker Lee, Creighton is in an ideal position to win the golf circuit’s overall title.
Creighton has already locked up a top-five spot on the tour and therefore has status on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour next year, but to win it all will have even more benefits.
“To finish first would be awesome just in itself,” said Creighton from PGA Riviera Maya in Tulum, Mexico. “To finish first and then to have guaranteed entry into every Korn Ferry event next year is a huge bonus.
“Just to know you can make your schedule and to be able to play every event and not have to worry about it would just be a huge bonus.”
Creighton started the 13-tournament Latinoamerica season strong with a tie for third at the 116 Visa Argentina Open on Dec. 4 and backed that up with another T3 at the Termas de Rio Hondo Invitational on March 19.
His last three events have had particularly strong showings, however, with a tie for seventh at the Colombia Classic on May 28, a victory at the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship on June 4, and a tie for fourth at the Jalisco Open on June 25.
“In years past, I’ve been very consistent as well, I just have never gotten over the hump and gotten a win,” said Creighton, speaking on how just one shot can make the difference to a season. “The week before I won, I think I was 15th on the points list and finished tied for seventh but went to 16th on the points.
“Then the next week, I played very similar, I was just able to add a couple more shots and get the win. I went from moving back a spot to being first on the points list. That’s just how these tours can work.”
If Creighton does win the Latinoamerica Tour, he’ll be the last champion in the circuit’s history. It’s set to merge with the PGA Tour Canada to become the PGA Tour Americas in 2024.
That new third-tier tour will have a total of 16 events, six in Latin America, two in the United States and eight in Canada. It will be a feeder into the Korn Ferry Tour, just like the Latinoamerica Tour and the PGA Tour Canada .
“This is my third season playing down here and I’ve always thought that this tour suited my game,” said Creighton. “It’s a lot of different kinds of conditions and you have to be able to adapt and whatnot.
“It would be cool to be able to (be the final champion) after putting that much time and effort down here. It’d be cool to finish it off.”
PGA TOUR – Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., returns to the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club where he tied for second last year. He’s ranked 120th on the FedEx Cup standings. Adam Svensson (38th) of Surrey, B.C., Adam Hadwin (51st) of Abbotsford, B.C., and Michael Gligic (203rd) of Burlington, Ont., are also in the field.
KORN FERRY TOUR – Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is the lone Canadian entered in the Memorial Health Championship at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill. Silverman is No. 3 on the second-tier tour’s points list after he tied for 11th at last week’s Compliance Solutions Championship.
PGA TOUR CANADA – Etienne Papineau of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., remains the top-ranked player on the PGA Tour Canada heading into this week’s ATB Classic at Northern Bear in Strathcona County, Alta. He’s ranked No. 1 in the Fortinet Cup standings after winning the Royal Beach Victoria Open on June 18 and tying for 37th at last week’s Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open.
DP WORLD TOUR – Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is in the field at the Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo. That event is being held at The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England. Cockerill is No. 37 on the European-based DP World Tour.
CHAMPIONS TOUR – Calgary’s Stephen Ames is second overall in the Champions Tour’s money list heading into the U.S. Senior Open Championship. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., and Alan McLean of London, Ont., are also in the field. Weir is 32nd in the Schwab Cup rankings and McLean is No. 115.
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada announces the winners of its 15th annual Media Awards
A panel of judges has examined nearly 130 stories, photos, videos, and podcasts to identify the finest content created by members of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) in 2022. There was an astonishing variety of content produced across many platforms in 2022 in the world of Canadian golf journalism. The judges faced a difficult task but managed to identify the cream of the crop in eight categories: Column, Profile, Feature, Travel, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Photography (Action), Photography (Landscape), and Multimedia.
There were some notable highlights from this year’s award, including multiple stories focussing on the ways in which golf is thriving and changing and impacting a wide variety of communities (and vice versa), most notably in our inaugural recognition of work focussing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Highlights of this year’s awards included multiple winners Jason Logan, Chris Fry, Adam Stanley, Lorne Rubenstein, and Guy Nicholson. Score Magazine, with 11 awards, was the most recognized outlet, while The Preferred Lie and ModGolf also took home multiple awards.
The full list of GJAC Award winners is below:
Travel
First place: Guy Nicholson for his story “At Waterton Lakes, the golf is elemental” published in Score Magazine
Second place: Lorne Rubenstein for his story “A can’t miss corner of planet golf” published in Score Magazine
Third place: Jim Deeks for his story “Mr. Deeks Goes to Ireland” published in FairwaysGolf.ca
Profiles
First place: Curtis Gillespie for his story “Bateman’s Breakout Keyed by New Mentality” published in Score Magazine
Second place: Jason Logan for his story “Mackenzie Hughes: Tough Guy”published in Score Magazine
Third place: Tim Baines for his story “Blind Ambition” published in the Ottawa Sun
Photography – Action
First place: Chris Fry for the photo “The Pulpit Club Finds Success” published in the Toronto Star
Second place: The Preferred Lie for the photo “Fore Life” published in The Preferred Lie
Third place: Bernard Brault for the photo “The End for Lori” published by Golf Canada
Photography – Landscape
First place: Chris Fry for the photo “The 1927” published in Match Play Golf.
Second place: Chris Fry for the photo “The home hole at St George’s” published in Score Magazine
Third place: Brian Decker for the photo “18 at Dawn” published in Score Magazine
Multimedia
First Place: Jason Logan, Kody McWilliams, and Casey McWilliams for their production “2022 RBC PGA Scramble Avion Night Golf Challenge” which appeared on ScoreGolf.com
Second Place: The Preferred Lie for their Canadian Classics production “Cherry Hill Club, Walter Travis Weekend” which appeared on the Preferred Lie
Third Place: The Preferred Lie for their Canadian Classics production “St. George’s Golf and Country Club” which appeared on the Preferred Lie.
Features
First place: Jason Logan for his story “Caddying at Cabot” published in Score Magazine
Second place: Adam Stanley for his story “You’re not alone” published by the PGA of Canada
Third place: Adam Stanley for his story “Mike Weir relives 2007 Presidents Cup match against Tiger Woods” published by PGATOUR.com
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
First place: Colin Weston and ModGolf for their podcast “Steve Tooshkenig and Creating a Sustainable Golf Future” which appeared on ModGolf
Second place: Gina Phillips for her story “Smashing all challenges” which was published in Score Magazine
Third place: Colin Weston and ModGolf for their podcast “Eileen Jurczak and Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned” which appeared on ModGolf
Columns
First place: Guy Nicholson for his column “Will golf make good on its pandemic mulligan?” published in the Globe and Mail.
Second place: Jason Logan for his column “Tiger Woods is playing the Masters. You thought he wouldn’t” published in Score Magazine
Third place: Lorne Rubenstein for his column “Feeling grounded at Royal Dornoch” published in Score Magazine
This year’s judges were Jeff Brooke, Harvey Freedenberg, Meggan Gardner, Tim O’Connor, Terry Lenyk, Robert Thompson, Mike Johnny, Norm MacDonald, Chris Gallow, Murray Fraser, Scot Morison, and Sandra Thompson.
Royal Montreal brings together Canadian golf to celebrate 150 years of tradition
Talking about SUCCESS in capital letters is an understatement. Where was it? When was it? It was the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Royal Montreal held on Wednesday and Thursday.
Let’s just say that I have had some experiences with this kind of event. Although generally successful, this week’s event was particularly unique.
Instead of waiting for gifts, it was Royal Montreal, the birthplace of golf in America and a ten-time host of the Canadian Open, that offered its own by inviting visitors from near and far.
In addition to the 18 clubs in Quebec, another 35 clubs from Victoria to Halifax, including Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, and Toronto, belong to the exclusive group of centenarians, including Royal Quebec, where it will be the 150th next summer.
A remarkable success led by Diane Drury, a 17-time club champion, and her team, including Shannon Lee Greenshields, Ed Ricard, and Peter Malo.
“In addition to being where it all started for golf throughout America, Royal Montreal deserves credit for always finding ways to improve,” rightly acknowledges Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada, who was able to witness it firsthand as he made the trip.
A list of personalities as long as a par… 5
In attendance were Louise Patry and David McCarthy, the current presidents of Golf Quebec and Golf Canada, along with their predecessors Jacques Nols, Charlie Beaulieu, Michel Saint-Laurent, Marc Tremblay, and Marcel-Paul Raymond.
Including Golf Quebec Hall of Fame members, Debbie Savoy Morel, Lisa Meldrum, Steve Davies, Rémi Bouchard, Pierre Archambault, Marie-Thérèse Torti and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members, Lorne Rubenstein, Graham Cooke (Golf Quebec Hall of Fame) and Mary Ann Hayward (Golf Quebec Hall of Fame) were present, with personal thanks to the organization.
It was a special moment and a special day celebrating a course that has been instrumental to the growth of golf in Canada for the past 150 years.
Golf Canada Hole-In-One Report – June 23, 2023
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.
Allan Reid, Bootleg Gap Golf, Hole #17
My playing partners were Eric Sundgaard, Leo Jansen and Cal Sawicki. The hole was playing about 120 yards with a slight breeze towards the tee box. I used a 9 iron, and we heard the ball strike the pin but unfortunately, the sun was in our eyes, and we were unable to see what happened to the ball until we got on the green. This is my first hole-in-one in about 49 years of playing golf. It was a great feeling to find the ball in the hole!
Alwyn Rees, Northern Bear Golf Course, Hole #8
It was on hole #8 which is 158 yards. It’s a par 3 and my club of choice was a pitching wedge.
Angela Welch, Woodstock Golf and Country Club, Hole #2
It was 140 yards. I used a 6 hybrid. It was my second hole-in-one!
Brent Kezama, Echo Ridge Golf Club, Hole #5
I was playing in the final men’s night, October 5, 2022, at Echo Ridge Golf Club. It was hole #5 with the back tees and a back right pin. I hit a small draw and watched the ball roll toward the hole and disappear. This green has a sharp drop off at the back. My playing partners said it rolled off the back, but I stated that if it did, it was directly behind the pin. Lo and behold, it was in the cup.
Brian Roberts, Gatineau Golf Club, Hole #16
I was playing a Father’s Day game with three friends, including fellow Golf Canada member Jim Sturrock. Hole #16 at Gatineau GC is 150 yards, and I used an 8 iron for a front pin position. The ball landed just on the green and tracked right into the hole!
Collin Babkirk, Talking Rock Golf Resort, Hole #8
The layout of the hole and pin placement did not allow me or our group to see the ball go in. I knew from the ball flight that it was going to be close, but I had no idea how close. As I approached the green, I did not see my ball so at that time I figured it rolled off the back of the green. At the back of the green there is a sharp drop off that leads to a pond. When I could not see it there I kind of knew that it was in the hole as it would not have reached the pond. So, it was a bit anticlimactic when I finally got to the hole and saw it laying in the cup. I let out a holler and told everyone the news. The group I was with Peter and Brenda Correy and Micheal Sturgeon play every Tuesday and Thursday and it was great sharing it with them. The hole was 181 yards that day. I used my Stealth 5 hybrid.
Craig Tomlinson, McCleery Public Golf Course, Hole #3
The hole-in-one occurred on Father’s Day, June 18th, 2023, on the third hole of McCleery Golf Course in Vancouver. The hole was 166 yards from the tee box to a forward flag that day. As it was an early morning round, I decided on a TaylorMade 4 hybrid. I was playing with seven other golfers that day making up two foursomes. In my group was Tony Tang, Peter Lee and Dick Eng. All these golfers are in a Sunday golf group collectively known as ‘The Golfaholics’. Very recently eight of the members of the Golfaholics (including myself) had returned from a golf trip to St. Andrews in Scotland where we played all the well-known courses that the town has to offer.
Crystal Chen, Mayfair Lakes Country Club, Hole #4
It’s a great experience that I got hole-in-one at hole 4 at Mayfair Lakes Country Club. That day was very windy and 117 yards against the wind. I chose the 7 iron, and I saw the ball was very close to the pin. I just thought it would be a birdie chance. Then, my partner told me the ball jumped into the hole. When I went to the green, I saw my ball in the hole. I was so excited and felt very lucky! It’s my second hole-in-one. My first was in 2019 at Bear Mountain Golf Course.
Daniel Abbott, Watson’s Glen Golf Club, Hole #13
Sunday June 18th, 2023, was a very special day that I’ll never forget. It was Father’s Day. Traditionally, my two older brothers Murray Michael and I, would take my dad out for a round of golf every Father’s Day. My eldest brother Murray was a passionate, avid golfer. Tragically he passed away in 2015. My older brother Michael and I have continued the tradition of golfing with our father every season on Father’s Day.
This season we played at Watson’s Glen and teed off at 11:20am. We had a perfect sunny day with minimal wind. I was playing from the blue tees and would be the first of our group to tee off every hole. From the blues, the score card said 155 yards. The flag was red and it was near the front of the green. I pulled out my favourite iron, my pitching wedge. I had a brief conversation in my head with my brother Murray. I asked him to help me do something memorable for dad and the group here. I hit a perfect swing and the ball flew high and right at the pin. The ball landed roughly four yards before the pin. One bounce and it rolled directly in the cup! Our fourth golfer Peter (Michael’s best friend) screamed that’s a hole-in-one! Michael and my dad were near the carts at the time and came running over screaming and jumping for joy. The course’s marshal happened to roll up on us as the commotion was taking place. He asked what was going on and we were mid-celebrating yelling hole-in-one! He drove his cart up to the green to confirm. As he approached the hole he looked down and gave us the big thumbs up.
Denise Cadieux, Camelot Golf and Country Club, Hole #11
I was very excited and happy to get my first hole-in-one. It was a very special day since it was my birthday and ladies’ day at Camelot. I used my “heaven” wood which is a 7 wood. The distance was 118 yards and it happened on the 11th hole. I was playing with my three friends Helen, Sandra and Pam.
Donna Butterworth-Popert, Granite Golf Club, Hole #7
I was playing with Granite members – Andrew Popert, Joanne Hart and Ian Morton. The yardage was 110 and I used an 8 iron.The 7th hole has a steep incline from front to back. I decided to take an extra club and lob the ball over the flag and use the slope to bring it back towards the hole. The plan worked as the ball landed about four feet past the pin. Gravity took over and after 20 seconds or so, the ball rolled into the hole. We weren’t sure at first and thought it might have rolled off the front edge of the green, which is visually blocked by a marshy area. We were pretty excited to see the result, a hole-in-one!
Ernie Chefero, Ballantrae Golf Club, Hole #6
This was my first ever hole-in-one! At 62 years old, it was a long time coming. Tim Smith, Brycin Morrison and Colton Wylie were playing alongside me. I used a knockdown 6 iron from 167 yards. It took one hop, hugged the flagpole a disappeared to our disbelief.
Errol Hartley, Glen Eagles Golf Course, Hole #5
It was my very first hole-in-one in over 30 years that I have played golf. I am 83 now. The hole-in-one was on the par 3 5th hole at Glen Eagles which is 110 yards. I used a 9 iron and it went in.
Frank Grigg, Cherry Hill Golf Club, Hole #16
It all started on June 23, 1965, at the Dorval Municipal Golf Club. My friend from school, Rick Martin, had invited me to join the club with him and we went out to play with his dad for the first time, right after school was over. The cost for a full season of golf was $25 and we could play 18 holes a day including weekends after 4pm. The golf course consisted of nine holes left from the Elmridge Club that had left town when taxes got too high. The city preserved the nine holes to protect the neighborhood from some of the noise from the airplanes taking off and landing right next door at the new Dorval International Airport that served all the Montreal area.
Fast forward 57 years and 11 months and 17 days later (but who’s counting?) and I finally got my first hole-in-one at Cherry Hill Golf Club in Ridgeway. I was playing with my spouse, Shirley Tom, and close friends Dave Ruttle and Victoria Matthews. When I hit the shot, it seemed that the ball bounced hard left and ran all the way off the green. Dave disagreed and thought that the ball had disappeared so quickly that it must have gone in the hole. Dave was right and I still have trouble wiping the grin off of my face. The only downside is that it took me exactly 100 strokes to play the other 17 holes. I think the hole-in-one was God’s way of telling me not to give up…yet!
Harold MacKinnon, Cambridge Golf Club, Hole #7
My playing partners were Gary Harney, Dan Steeves and Ralph Geimer.
Harvey Carroll, Wyndance Golf Club, Hole #17
It was on June 4th at Wyndance on the 17th hole. Playing from the blue tees it was 177 yards and I used my 7 iron (Mizuno JPX 923 Forged). I was playing with Steve Rapp, Robert Turnbull (club captain) and Gerard Chiasson.
Jagger Bitz, Dakota Dunes Golf Links, Hole #15
It was pretty exciting for sure! My buddy Dane Giesbrecht was golfing with me! I was playing the gold tees, and it was 152 yards. I used a pitching wedge.
Joe Chiuchiarelli, Hylands Golf Club, Hole #12
The yardage was 172 and the flag was yellow that day. I decided to use 5 wood. I had a hole-in-one back in 2002; Sunday, September 15 at the Champlain Golf Course. The yardage was around 170 and the club was a 5 metal wood. The yardage and 5 metal wood have been my lucky charms! Making a hole-in-one 20 years ago was always something I felt was a major achievement playing golf all these years, but to do it a second time is unbelievable.
John Cerisano, Brampton Golf Club, Hole #13
This was my third hole-in-one which occurred on June 9, 2023, at the 13th hole of Brampton Golf Club. It was 141 yards, and I used an 8 iron. It was truly a special day as it was my first round at Brampton for 2023 and I was playing with my wife Susan Allen and my good friends, Bill Chapman and Christiane Deschenes.
Karen Pywowarczuk, Thornhill Country Club, Hole #4
The Thornhill Club is such a great place that friends, staff and strangers alike were all genuinely happy and made sure to stop by with warm congratulations.
This is a round that almost didn’t happen. It was a bit drizzly, and rain was to come, so we hemmed and hawed about whether or not to go out. But, of course, like true golf women, we did. I was with my regular Sunday morning gang: Judy Manning, Doreen O’Neil and Andrea Aris. We did receive a good bit of rain on the first couple of holes, but things cleared up after that. I believe I was the first to tee off on hole #4. The scorecard had this as a 102-yard hole, but Superintendent extraordinaire Greg McFarlane always finds creative placements for the tee boxes and pins. I’m sure it was closer to 110 yards. It’s a pretty hole; you are hitting over a river on an angle, so you feel like at least 50 yards is water and you don’t want to overshoot the green as trouble lays back there. Nothing but an 8 iron for me since I wanted it to pop onto the green and stick. It was a pretty shot as it broke and went into the hole. It’s always nice to watch it go in.
Keith Hickman, Water Valley Golf & Country Club, Hole #13
On hole #13, which is 178 yards, I used my 4 hybrid to get a hole-in-one!
Linda Pirard, Oakfield Golf and Country Club, Hole #5
I had a hole-in-one on our #5 hole, a yardage of about 100 yards over water. I used my 8 iron, which is already one of my favourite clubs. I was playing with Denise Brown and two of the junior players from our course, who were of course, super excited.
I would also like to share with you a special tradition we have at Oakfield. When a player gets a hole-in-one, they are taken into the bar where we have a bell which we ring and announce our accomplishment. Then, we sign a book that is kept at the bar, and anyone who hears about your accomplishment can sign their name and the next time you order a drink the people who have signed pay for your drink. I think it says a lot about our club!
Margaret Crawley, Lambton Golf and Country Club, Hole #5
I was playing at Lambton GCC as part of our Quad Club Interclub matches. This involved Mississauga GCC, Islington GC, Lambton GCC and Toronto GC. There is a member from each club in each foursome. Each person plays a six hole match against each of the other three players. We were just starting our second set of matches when we arrived at the fifth hole at Lambton. It was a 108-yard par 3. I used my 6 iron. We watched it fade toward the hole and talked it into the hole, watching it roll towards the hole and then disappear! The other ladies in the group had never seen a hole-in-one before, so everyone was very excited. Of course, when we arrived back at the clubhouse and the bar was declared open, all of the other Interclub players were also excited!
That was actually my fourth hole-in-one. Interestingly, three of the shots occurred in match play. Last year, I had one on the third playoff hole of a two-ball match. Needless to say, we won the match!
Mark Attley, Royal County Down Golf Course, Hole #14
I was playing the 14th hole from the green tees on the championship course at Royal County Down. I was accompanied by Brad Boundy, Alistair Varley and Steve Pons (all Golf Canada members) along with our four caddies. The hole is a 195-yard par 3 on the card that plays downhill and was playing about 165 that day. I hit a 6 iron, got a lucky bounce and it went in!
Mark Bertling, Vespra Hills Golf Club, Hole #7
I got a hole-in-one on June 11th. It was at Vespra Hills Golf Club in Springwater. I was playing with three of my regulars, David Grimshaw, Rob Gordon and Mitch Eisen. The 7th hole of the Still Valley nine was set up with the flag in the middle and 117 yards. I hit a pitching wedge which landed a few feet in front of the pin and rolled straight in. I ended up shooting 74 that day.
In 2015, I played in a charity tournament for Junior Diabetes at the Shelburne Golf Club hosted by David Markle. It was the Monday after the Canadian Open that year and Nick Taylor was one of the professionals playing. I had bid on a Sandersons Farm Flag that Nick had signed. After the meal, he was gracious enough to join me in a photo. I have been a fan and have followed him ever since. The reason I will never forget this hole in one is because Nick Taylor and David Markle won the Canadian Open on the same day as my hole-in-one.
Neil Cerio, Guildford Golf and Country Club, Hole #17
On June 10 I was doing alright, a little bit of struggle on the front nine. I was five over and had a few bogies on the back nine. As my group and I walked up to the 17th hole, wind was blowing right to left with the pin on the back of the green, water in front of the tee box. My GPS read the distance as 156 yards to the flag. I was the third person to hit. When it was my turn, I had a 9 iron in my hands. I started my pre-swing routine and set up the ball aiming to the right of the green. The ball landed in front of the pin then one hop and it disappeared. I wasn’t too sure if it went in or rolled past the pin. Unfortunately, none of my group saw it either but I started to get so excited but still unsure. I told the group to walk ahead and check if there was a ball inside the cup and of course told them what ball I was playing. Their eyes lit up and they all gave me a thumbs up and said, “You aced it!” I was full of joy in that moment, one of the greatest feelings I have had on the golf course. That was my first time seeing an actual hole-in-one, and my first hole-in-one! I ended up shooting 79 on the day which was a great considering all the struggles I went through. I always have wished for a hole-in-one since I started playing golf but then it happens when it was least expected.
Oral Zihove, Sirocco Golf Club, Hole #14
I was playing with my three friends, Scott Dolanz, Jenny Hu and Stan Young. The distance was 148 yards, red flag over the water with a strong left to right wind. Scott hit first and could see the wind take his ball all the way from a good line towards the flag and into the bunker on the right of the green. My 9 iron is my 160-yard club but with that strong wind, I chose that over my normal pitching wedge. It hit the left side of the green, same as Scott, then the wind took it, but it bounced on the green and in. Amazing moment!
Pat Hess, Prescott Golf Club, Hole #9
It was amazing! I used my TaylorMade 5 hybrid for the 122-yard par 3 on hole #9. My playing partners were my husband Richard who saw my ball go in, my son Nicholas and a Prescott golf member.
Gilles Courchesne. They were all as excited as I was, it was fantastic. I’m sure they heard my excitement all over the golf course. I was still smiling on the last hole. My game had not been great to that point, and I told my son I needed to get the ball in the hole to be happy with my front nine.
Patty Case, Mabel Lake Golf and Country Club, Hole #6
I’m so excited and was even more excited when it first happened! I yelled and screamed and jumped up and down!
A group of us ladies have been going to Mabel Lake for a few years now and this was my second year. I missed last year because I got married, another exciting milestone! I was golfing with four of my friends – Clara Koehn, Lori Henderson and Carla Tetreau. We were doing our last nine holes for the week, and I was determined to get my ball on the sixth green. I took my time to line up my shot using my 3 wood and let go a nice looping shot. We watched the ball land on the green then it started rolling. Then we couldn’t see it anymore! Then I started yelling! I think the other ladies did too.
Reece Franczak, Jagare Ridge Golf Club, Hole #4
It was a pretty amazing experience. My co-workers and I all had the day off, so we decided to go for a nice relaxing morning round. The round was going pretty well and once we got up to the fourth hole, I hit my approach wedge into the 131-yard par 3. As soon as the ball got to the top of the arch, I lost it in in the sun and did not see where it landed. Once at the green, I was searching all around for the ball, becoming upset at the idea of dropping it when my friend said it was in the hole. I originally thought he was messing with me, but I saw the ball and started getting extremely hyped up. This hole-in-one helped me shoot one of my lowest rounds of the year and was a great memory I will keep with me. The head pro at the course made me a flag with the date and hole number on it to have another memento to remember the moment.
Robert Campbell, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #7
I played with Alex Chaiban, Jack Kilrea and Matisse Touchard. It was 157 yards, and I used a pitching wedge.
Rod Fredrickson, Cottonwood Golf Course, Hole #5
The hole was #5 and the distance was 128 yards. I used a 9 wood. I played with Walter Kaminski and Gord Bailey. It was my 5th hole-in-one, and I am 79 years old. I’m sad to say I didn’t see it fall but Gord Bailey did and told me.
Ryan Engel, Cottonwood Golf and Country Club, Hole #6
It was my third round of the year on hole #6 at Cottonwood Golf and Country Club. It was 148 yards, and I was using an 8 iron. I couldn’t see it go in because the flag was off to the left side of the green hidden by a small hill after the sand trap. But when we walked up and didn’t see it, we knew it must have gone in the hole. Very exciting!
Ryan Roe, Seymour Golf and Country Club, Hole #8
It was a two-man best ball match against Ray Stewart and Al Cross. My partner was Stu Ilott. I hit a 9 iron on the 170-yard 8th hole and hit it thin and yelled ‘Get lucky’, and it did!
Sela Ogada, Evergreen Golf Course, Hole #8
I checked the yardage with my rangefinder and found out that it was 110 yards, and luckily, I had a club just for that distance. At first, I was planning to club up in case I hit it poorly because even if I clubbed up it would still be on the green. But the front of the green looked a bit dry so I knew if I hit it a little short it would roll up there. I ended up deciding to hit my 110-yard club, but I aimed a little right of the pin because I had been missing it a bit to the left that day. I hit the shot, but it went straight where I was aiming. Then I just bent down to pick my tee up because I knew it was going to be on the green. But when I was picking my tee up, the other people in my group said, ‘get in the hole!’ and I looked at my ball. It was rolling and then I saw it fall into the hole! At first, I was so shocked, I couldn’t believe it. A lot of people that were watching were clapping, congratulating me and giving me high fives. When I got to the green my dad took pictures of me, and I didn’t use that ball for the rest of the round.
Steve Fleming, Pickering Glen Golf Club, Hole #2
I waited 40 years for my first hole-in-one! I play every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with Probus (Professional Business retirement group). We have about 20 golf members and we play various courses in our region. On Wednesday May 31st, we played Pickering Glen. My playing partner and witness was Colin Whitehead. Hole #2 had a back pin measuring 161 yards with my laser. I hit my 6 iron to approximately ten feet and the ball tracked right into the hole. Jumping for joy was an understatement!
Susan Brooks, Fort William Country Club, Hole #14
This was my second hole-in-one. The first came in 2000, so it’s been a while. This was hole #14 at Fort William Country Club, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, so that makes it extra special. Hole #14 is right at the base of a mountain, and it was a beautiful day, but the wind was gusting. The hole was 123 yards, and I had a 7 iron in my hand, but at the last second, I switched to my 6 iron, due to the wind. I was with my regular foursome, which included Kim Paterson, Gay Becotte and Laurie Ryan-Cooper.
Ted Van Welter, Cowichan Golf and Country Club, Hole #8
What a great experience at Cowichan Golf and Country Club!
Tim Stewart, Lookout Point Country Club, Hole #8
The 8th hole at Lookout Point on June 10, 2023, was around 145 yards, 45 feet uphill to a blind green. It played into a stiff wind, and I used a 7 wood. I was playing with Gino “Bubba” Paolone, Carl Inacio and Bob Podio. When I hit the tee shot, I thought it was a little right, but the others thought it would be close to going in. Upon getting to the green I did not see the ball and went to the back of the green to see if the ball had gone into the rough over the green as that is what often happens often on this hole. Bob Podio went and investigated the hole and sure enough the ball had gone in. It was my sixth hole-in-one at Lookout Point and eighth overall. The other two were at the Cornwall Golf Club. What was even more special is that I now have aced all the par 3’s at Lookout Point.
Trevor Warke, Ardmore Golf Course, Hole #14
What a great feeling!
Canada finishes strong at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup
Toyota, Japan – The Team Canada Boys team finished as runners-up and the Girls team placed fifth in the 2023 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup at the Ishino Course, Chukyo Golf Club in Toyota, Japan.
The boys team entered the tournament as defending champions and despite a strong effort through all three rounds, the team came up just short of Team Japan. Japan finished the boys team event at a combined 34-under par, while Canada finished the tournament at 30-under par. Germany placed third after finishing at 20-under par. The boys team consisted of: Alex Zhang, Ethan Wilson, Cooper Humphreys and Eric Zhao. Individually, Wilson finished T5 at 9-under, Zhang finished T7 at 8-under, Humphreys finished T10 at 6-under and Zhao finished 23 at 2-over par.
The girls team finished in fifth and closed the tournament with a combined score of 9-under par. Japan completed the team double winning the girls division as well, finishing with a total score of 34-under. The United States, Korea Republic and, New Zealand rounded out the top four. The girls team featured: Vanessa Borovilos who finished T9 at 8-under, Yeji Kwon who finished 19 at 6-over par and Michelle Liu who finished T21 at 8-over.
For the full results from each round click here.
Foresight Sports makes its leading launch monitor technology available to aspiring junior players
Golf’s leading performance analysis company’s new UpNext™ Player Development Program connects up-and-coming players with their professional-grade launch monitor technology.
Foresight Sports, the leading developer of professional-grade launch monitors, has officially launched its UpNext™ Player Development Program. Designed specifically for top junior golfers, the UpNext™ Program connects the game’s best up-and-coming players with Foresight Sports’ industry-leading launch monitor technology at greatly reduced costs.
According to Foresight Sports’ Director of Sales, Rick Cuellar, UpNext™ will be a groundbreaking program focused on making the company’s Tour-dominating technology more affordable for aspiring junior players and their parents.
“Players of every age that are passionate about performance know just how critical it is to understand the data aspect of their game. Through the UpNext™ Program, we’re finally able to make the technology this next generation of talented players needs more affordable. That by itself is a game-changer for the parents, the Junior Tours, and the players themselves that are looking to achieve success.”
To maximize the impact of its UpNext™ Player Development Program globally, and specifically within the Canadian region, Foresight Sports and Foresight Sports Canada have allocated a significant number of both its bestselling GC3 and Tour-dominating GCQuad launch monitors exclusively for the program, and will offer both at up to fifty percent off normal pricing. Qualifying program participants will receive the game-changing technology, as well as other exclusive benefits, in exchange for engaging in social media conversations about their game development.
Aaron Hardy, President of Foresight Sports Canada confirmed that UpNext™ are currently open for applications within the Canadian region. “We are hugely excited to be launching the UpNext™ Program to the huge numbers of talented and passionate junior players across our territory. Through this program we are excited to support the next generation of elite players, both amateur and aspiring professionals, to take their games to the next level with Foresight’s tour-proven launch monitors. With a limited number of GC3 and GCQuad units allocated for 2023, we welcome early applications from those interested in participating.”
Junior players interested in the UpNext™ Player Development Program can apply online at: https://lp.foresightsports.ca/upnext/
PGA of Canada members working with junior golfers are also invited to share the UpNext™ concept and information with their customers, teams, and players, ensuring they have the opportunity to apply for the 2023 program.
For more information on Foresight Sports’ game-changing launch monitors, golf simulators and performance and entertainment software, visit the company’s website at shop.foresightsports.ca