A two-event week on the PGA Tour represents a huge opportunity for a golfer like David Hearn.

The 44-year-old from Brantford, Ont., is in the field at the Barbasol Championship, the alternate field tournament for the PGA Tour with the higher ranked players at the Genesis Scottish Open. Hearn, who will be playing in the PGA Tour event of the season, said the Barbasol will give him a chance to play more this year or next.

“That’s what these events are all about, the playing opportunities for the players that aren’t in those premier events,” said Hearn, who joined the PGA Tour in 2005 and currently has a veteran’s card. “The point that I’m at in my career right now, these events are very important to me because these are the events that I get in to.

“I’m looking forward to a good week, see what I can do. A lot of young players are here trying to do the same thing.”

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is the highest ranked Canadian at the Barbasol, sitting 111th on the FedEx Cup standings. Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., is 209th. Hearn is unranked and Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is also unranked on the PGA Tour but is 43rd on the European-based DP World Tour where he plays most of the season.

Hearn, who represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has 23 top 10 finishes over his 327 career PGA Tour appearances, said he has seen alternate events like the Barbasol, the Puerto Rico Open and Corales Puntacana Championship launch superstars.

“When I was playing my best golf or the guys that are in the prime of their career at the top, these aren’t events that are on the radar but these events are very important for the PGA Tour,” said Hearn from Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Ky., “I remember Jordan Spieth playing really well in Puerto Rico and Will Zalatoris in Dominican Republic and Tony Finau got his first win in Puerto Rico.

“These opposite field events are very important for players who are trying to break through to get to the next level.”

For Hearn, it’s an opportunity to return to previous heights.

“I’m just looking forward to getting out there and hopefully getting into a good rhythm and seeing what I can do over the course of four rounds,” said Hearn, who has been the first alternate at several events this season. “Hopefully try to build some momentum to start playing better golf week in and week out.

“This is an opportunity to hopefully break some rust off and find a good rhythm in my game and, and try to get playing better rounds and get into more events on the PGA Tour.”

There are three Canadians in the field at the Scottish Open, which serves as a tune-up event for the British Open, the final major of the men’s golf season.

Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., No. 10 on the FedEx Cup standings, will lead the Canadian contingent at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick. Corey Conners (31st) of Listowel, Ont., and Mackenzie Hughes (42nd) of Dundas, Ont., will also be in the field.

Taylor and Conners will also be in next week’s British Open.

KORN FERRY TOUR – Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is ranked third in the second-tier tour’s points list heading into The Ascendant Blue. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (49th), Roger Sloan (100th) of Merritt, B.C., and amateur Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta., will join Silverman in the field at TPC Colorado in Berthoud.

CHAMPIONS TOUR – Calgary’s Stephen Ames is fourth in the Schwab Cup rankings and will tee it up in the Kaulig Companies Championship this week at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. He’ll be joined by Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., who is 33rd in the standings.

PGA TOUR CANADA – Johnny Travale of Stoney Creek, Ont., has officially turned professional, entering the Quebec Open at Golf Chateau-Bromont in Bromont, Que. He was the top-ranked Canadian male in the world amateur golf ranking at No. 146th until this week’s PGA Tour Canada event. Etienne Papineau of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., is still No. 1 on the third-tier tour’s rankings.

LPGA TOUR – World No. 14 Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., tees it up for the Dana Open at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, on Thursday. Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., ranked No. 73, is also in the field.

EPSON TOUR – Hamilton’s Alena Sharp sits eighth on the Epson Tour’s money list after playing in just five events on the second-tier circuit. She’ll play in the inaugural Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship that starts Friday. Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., and Quebec City’s Sarah-Eve Rheaume are also entries at Great River Golf Club in Milford, Conn.

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko, Rising Star Rose Zhang & Canadian Sensation Brooke Henderson Headline Early Commitments to 2023 CPKC Women’s Open

Vancouver, B.C. (July 10, 2023) – Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Golf Canada and the LPGA Tour today announced a new agreement for CPKC to extend its title sponsorship of the CPKC Women’s Open for up to four more years.

Since becoming title sponsor of the CPKC Women’s Open in November of 2013, CPKC has worked closely with Golf Canada to enhance Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship including the overall experience for players and fans. CPKC has also established a meaningful charitable legacy through CPKC Has Heart, which has helped raise more than $17.3M for heart health initiatives in the event’s host communities.

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Golf Canada as title sponsor of the CPKC Women’s Open and proud of the significant contributions this event has made to heart health in communities across Canada,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and Chief Executive Officer. “The success of this tournament and the community benefits it brings have only grown in the last 10 years. We look forward to continuing that success in the years to come.”

In addition to being title sponsor of the CPKC Women’s Open, CPKC is extending its role as a premier partner of Golf Canada’s National Team Program (Team Canada) which supports Canadian emerging golf talents in their path to the LPGA Tour and PGA Tour. CPKC also proudly supports 13-time LPGA Tour winner Brooke Henderson along with Canadian golf legend Lorie Kane as CPKC Ambassadors. CPKC will also continue its support of the CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit as part of its multi-faceted support for Canadian women’s golf. 

As part of CPKC’s title sponsorship extension, the prize purse for the CPKC Women’s Open will increase to $2.5M US, beginning with the 2023 event, August 22-27 at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver.

“CPKC has made an incredible impact in supporting Canadian golf excellence and leaving a meaningful legacy in our host communities, and we are extremely honoured for their continued partnership.” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “CPKC is a major supporter of women’s golf globally, and under the leadership of Keith Creel, their commitment to delivering a world-class experience for players, caddies, fans and charitable beneficiaries, has bolstered the status of Canada’s National Women’s Open to one of the premier events on the LPGA Tour.”

The new agreement keeps CPKC as the title sponsor for the 2025 and 2026 tournaments. The agreement contains an option to maintain the title sponsorship in 2027 and 2028. Additional terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

Early Field Commitments for 2023 CPKC Women’s Open….

Golf Canada and CPKC have also announced that many of the world’s top players have committed to compete in the 49th playing of Canada’s National Open Championship later this summer at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.

The list of early commitments features 9 of the current top-10 players on the 2023 Race to the CME Globe Standings, 9 of the current top-10 on the Rolex Rankings and 20 of the top-25 on the 2023 LPGA Tour Money List. Leading the field is Jin Young Ko, currently ranked no. 1 in the world and no. 3 on the current Race to the CME Globe Standings. The 2019 CPKC Women’s Open champion has won twice this season including the HSBC Women’s World Championship and the Cognizant Founders Cup.

Thirteen-time LPGA Tour winner and the winningest golfer in Canadian history Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., will join Ko in leading a field of early commitments including: Lydia Ko, Minjee Lee, Jennifer Kupcho, In Gee Chun, Danielle Kang, Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda, Megan Khang, Sei Young Kim, Linn Grant, Stacy Lewis, and Paula Creamer.

Defending champion Paula Reto (2022) is among eight past CPKC Women’s Open champions competing for Canada’s National Open Championship including: Jin Young Ko (2019), Brooke Henderson (2018), Sung Hyun Park (2017), Ariya Jutanugarn (2016), Britney Lincicome (2011), Cristie Kerr (2006) and three-time winner Lydia Ko (2015, 2013, 2012) who will be chasing a record fourth CPKC Women’s Open title.

Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club will welcome 14 LPGA Tour in-year winners, including 2023 Major winners: Lilia Vu (The Chevron Championship), Ruoning Yin (KPMG Women’s PGA Championship), Allisen Corpuz  (U.S. Women’s Open). Other in-year winners include Brooke Henderson, Grace Kim Jin Young Ko, Celine Boutier, Hannah Green, Pajaree Anannarukarn, Rose Zhang, Ashleigh Buhai, Patty Tavanatanakit, Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn.

Rising star Rose Zhang, who won in her first professional start at the Mizuho Americas Open last month, will draw one of the largest crowds on course. Zhang turned pro in May after a successful collegiate career and was the no. 1 ranked amateur in the world for a record 141 weeks. Since turning professional, Rose has finished in the Top 10 of all three events she has played including the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship & US Women’s Open.

Henderson, a CPKC Ambassador who made history at the Wascana Country Club in Regina in 2018 becoming the first Canadian since the late Jocelyne Bourassa 45 years earlier to win Canada’s National Women’s Open, will be joined by fellow Canadians Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Maddie Szeryk, Alena Sharp, Sarah-Eve Rheaume, Selena Costabile and Victoria Liu (Shaughnessy member and Glencoe Invitational winner), as well as a collection of talented Canadian athletes expected to receive tournament exemptions in the coming weeks to compete in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

The 156-player field will be competing at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club for the first time in tournament history. This marks the first time the province of British Columbia has hosted the CPKC Women’s Open since 2015. Shaughnessy also becomes the only Canadian golf club to host both the Women’s and Men’s National Open Championships in the last twenty years.

The 2023 edition of the CPKC Women’s Open will be a celebrated return of the LPGA Tour to British Columbia after Shaughnessy way originally tapped to host the 2020 (then 2021) events cancelled due to the pandemic. The Vancouver golf community is ready for the return with a full roster of 1,200 volunteers confirmed for the event, strong advance ticket sales and one of the largest corporate build footprints in event history with a record number of public viewing and hospitality built on nine holes.

“Together with our friends at CPKC, we are very excited to treat golf fans to the much-anticipated return of the CPKC Women’s Open to Vancouver,” said Tournament Director Ryan Paul. “Golf fans in this community have gotten behind our National Open Championship and major professional golf in a significant way and with a strengthening field, engaging fan activities and digital enhancements to the tournament experience, we can’t wait to host a can’t miss summer celebration.”

CPKC HAS HEART CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT BC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION…

CPKC and Golf Canada are proud to support the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation as the primary charitable beneficiary for the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open. Among the charitable engagements tournament week will be the Birdies for Heart hole on no. 16 at Shaughnessy with a $5,000 donation made for every birdie made on the hole during the four rounds of the competition. In addition, CPKC is also proud to support a community beneficiary in Royal Inland Hospital Foundation in support of cardiac care. In nine years of title sponsorship of the CPKC Women’s Open, more than $16 million has been raised to support children’s heart health in the event’s host communities.

CPKC WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SUMMIT RETURNS TO KICK OFF TOURNAMENT WEEK…

Golf Canada and CPKC will host the sixth annual CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit on Tuesday, August 22 at nearby Marine Drive Golf Club as part of the weeklong excitement of the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open. The CPKC Women’s Leadership Summit will bring together like-minded businesspeople from across the country for a day of networking, empowerment, and philanthropy. The Summit will also raise awareness for the CPKC Women’s Open, with attendees receiving access to the tournament during the week and participating in clinics.

“THE RINK” FAN EXPERIENCE RETURNS…

Golf Canada is pleased to announce that the fan-favourite Rink hole spectator experience will return following a successful debut last year in Ottawa. The energetic hockey-themed hole, complete with fan-pounding rink boards, volunteers dressed as referees and a surrounding hospitality experience will be situated on par-3 17th hole at Shaughnessy.

CPKC WOMEN’S OPEN BROADCAST…

The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open will feature four days of domestic and international television broadcast coverage including Canadian broadcast partner TSN as well as international coverage on GOLF channel.

KIDS 12-AND-UNDER GET IN FREE…

Golf Canada and CPKC are committed to offering a fan friendly, family event with the CPKC Women’s Open. To introduce more juniors to the sport, children aged 12-and-under get FREE admission to the CPKC Women’s Open for the entire week.

GOLF CANADA MOBILE APP EXPERIENCE…

Spectators at Shaughnessy will experience the CPKC Women’s Open like never before by downloading the Golf Canada Mobile App on their iOS or Android device. Essential features include a live map, mobile ordering, leaderboard and pairings, tickets, breaking news, and unique events. Golf enthusiasts can also use the Golf Canada Mobile App to enhance their everyday golf experience while playing! Find golf courses, track your game, set up matches against friends, access GPS yardages and more. Click here to download.

ABOUT THE CPKC WOMEN’S OPEN 

The stars of the LPGA Tour will challenge for the CPKC Women’s Open from August 22-27, 2023, at the Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, B.C. Through its CPKC Has Heart program, title sponsor CPKC will once again make a substantial donation to the host community of Canada’s National Open Golf Championship by supporting the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation. The 2023 CPKC Women’s Open is proudly sponsored by CPKC, BDO, Audi, RBC, theScore, Levelwear, Transitions, Titleist, FootJoy, Journie Rewards, Hilton, Sleeman Clear 2.0, Think Turkey, The Keg, Johnsonville, Cayman Islands, Masi, Celebrity Cruises, STALK&BARREL, Matt & Steve’s, Coca-Cola, Rolex and is supported by Sport Hosting Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada.

For information visit www.cpkcwomensopen.com.

ABOUT CPKC

With its global headquarters in Calgary, Alta., Canada, CPKC is the first and only single-line transnational railway linking Canada, the United States and México, with unrivaled access to major ports from Vancouver to Atlantic Canada to the Gulf of México to Lázaro Cárdenas, México. Stretching approximately 20,000 route miles and employing 20,000 railroaders, CPKC provides North American customers unparalleled rail service and network reach to key markets across the continent. CPKC is growing with its customers, offering a suite of freight transportation services, logistics solutions and supply chain expertise. Visit cpkcr.com to learn more about the rail advantages of CPKC.

ABOUT GOLF CANADA 

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing more than 319,000 golfers and 1,435 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

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.

Anthony Wald, Pickering Glen Golf Club, Hole #2

It was hole #2 at Pickering Glen, 162 yards but playing closer to 155 with the slope. I pulled out my 9 iron, which takes me 150-155 yards. The flag was at the front left and protected by the bunker. I aimed towards the center of the green. I hit the shot really well and it landed about two feet from the hole, one bounce past the hole and spun back into the cup! I played with a few gentlemen I had just met at the course, Eddie, Ludwig and Steve.

Barry Stacey, Grande Meadows Golf Club, Hole #3

I have waited almost 30 years to have a hole-in-one at my course. I was playing with friends Joe Drake, Calvin Brenton and Todd Robbins. It happened on the par 3 third hole which was 131 yards, and I used my 8 iron. It landed about five yards from the pin, made one hop and rolled into the hole.

Beth Leroux, Bouctouche Golf Club, Hole #4

After golfing for 35 years, today I made my first hole-in-one at Bouctouche Golf Club. My playing partners were as excited as me! I am a summer resident in Bouctouche and started my golf at this course at age 45 and am now in my 80th year!

Bharat Ramji, National Pines Golf Club, Hole #4

It was a great day.

Bill Hepburn, Beach Grove Golf and Country Club, Hole #12

I was hitting from the white tees and the yardage was 175. I used a rescue club and I played with Mike Cooper, Brad Hotham and Roger Demers.

Blake Wimperis, Mississippi Golf Club, Hole #5

On July 3, 2023, I scored a hole-in-one playing a 9 iron from the white tee area on the 104 yard fifth hole at Mississippi Golf Club. I played with Dave Evans, Garry Patterson and Tom Demarco. The shot was well struck, straight at the flagstick. It landed about six feet short of the hole and apparently went straight in. I say apparently since I have cataracts and did not see the ball go in the hole. I am 73 years old and have been playing since I was 13. This was my first hole-in-one.

Brian Clarke, Hartlen Point Forces Golf Club, Hole #6

I was playing golf on June 26, 2023, and it was a foggy morning. Our golf course is on the Atlantic Ocean pretty well surrounded by water. It’s called Hartlen Point Golf Club and we have one par 3 on the front nine and three on the back. It is hole #6 which is the par three. I took out my 8 iron. It’s 159 yards to the middle of the green but we couldn’t see the green because it was too foggy. Sometimes when there’s fog you don’t swing as hard, but I hit my 8 iron really nice. It looked like it was going to the middle of the green. My playing partners said it probably was going to the left of the green so as we walked towards the green, I started looking on the left-hand side of the green and we couldn’t find the ball so we started heading back towards the hole. One of my playing partners said your ball is in the hole and I was very excited. That was my second on this course on the 13th hole which is roughly about 185 yards. It is a very special thing. My playing partners, Larry, Graham and Mike, were very happy for me.

Colin King, Deer Valley Golf Course, Hole #11

The hole was 163 yards, uphill into the wind. I hit a perfect 5 iron that drew in from the left towards the back centre pin. It landed about six feet short and rolled in for my first ever ace. I was playing with my regular foursome of Mike Ryan, Greg Ing and Mark Harrison on Senior Men’s Day at Deer Valley.

Darren Oehlerking, Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, Hole #12

I recently made my first hole-in-one on Thursday, July 6, 2023. It was on hole #12 at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club.

David Bruns, Windermere, Hole #5

What an experience!

David DeGagne, Sunnydale Golf Society, Hole #10

The hole-in-one was my first and it occurred on the 10th hole of Sunnydale in Courtenay, B.C. It was witnessed by Robin Ross, Rick Cote and Bill Wilson, all members of Sunnydale. The club was my 52° wedge.

Dawn Bernard, Flamborough Hills Golf Club, Hole #8

On Tuesday June 27th, I made a hole-in-one on hole #8 of the Hills course. It was 153 yards off the tee, and I used a three wood. Although this is my sixth, hole-in-one, it was still a thrill. My playing partners were Marnie Florio and Bud Hollings. Naturally we spent time at the 19th hole celebrating!

Denis Bernardin, Quarry Oaks Golf Course, Hole #15

It was on the 15th hole at Quarry Oaks Golf Course. The distance from the white tees was 172 yards and playing into the wind. I was playing a Srixon golf ball and used a 4 wood. From the tee, the ball went straight towards the flag landing on the green and rolled towards the pin and it suddenly disappeared. So exciting! I was playing with my friend, Chan Kwon Seok, who took a picture after I took the ball from the hole. What a thrill!

Dennis Mchale, Royal Ashburn Golf Club, Hole #7

I was golfing with my wife, Laurel, and our friends, Pauline and Les, at Royal Ashburn Golf Club in Whitby. The 7th hole was 119 yards from the white tees. The green is elevated so you cannot see the hole from the tee box. I hit a draw and it looked really good. When we got the carts up to the green my ball was not there. My buddy Les got to the hole first to check it out and confirm that miracles do happen. My ball was in the hole!

Jasmeet Sandhu, King’s Riding Golf Club, Hole #5

It was an amazing feeling!

Jean Poisson, McCleery Public Golf Course, Hole #16

I played a round at Guildford Country Club in Surrey, B.C. today and had another hole-in-one, on the par 3 16th hole!  So that’s two holes-in-one in consecutive rounds! I should buy a lottery ticket!

Jesse Durward, Greyhawk Golf Club, Hole #12

I was playing with my parents and girlfriend and couldn’t have asked for a better group! It was 164 yards over water. The shot was on a low trajectory, landed a foot on the front of the green and rolled up, curved to the right, and I saw it drop! I thought it may have gone past the pin to the rough and had my mother go check to see. When it wasn’t behind the green, we all went to the hole to make sure it was in. I always tell my girlfriend “It’s not so much what you do, but who you do it with that makes it special.” It was great to have them all there.

Jonathan Barbosa. Canadian Golf and Country Club, Hole #3

Hole #3 was playing 174 yards and I used my 7 iron. It took place during our men’s night! It was my first, but hopefully not last hole-in-one.

Judy Young, Cordova Bay Golf Course, Hole #4

It was very exciting. It is my first hole-in-one. It was 110 yards, and I used my 5 hybrid. I knew the green sloped left to right, so I aimed on the left side of the green. We were able to watch it land on the green and roll left to right into the cup. We all screamed and hugged. The men on the next tee box started clapping and I waved and took a bow.

Lise Mathieu, Osoyoos Golf Club, Hole #7

I was at my home course with two friends with whom I play every Monday. The yardage was approximately 135 yards and there was a side breeze. This was my very first hole-in-one and it was my first game played with my brand-new set of Ping irons.

Marci Perreault, Rideau View Country Club, Hole #6

I used a 7 wood (26 degree) playing from the red tees. It was a back pin at 145 yards.

Murray Cornelius and John Wallace, Beacon Hall Golf Club, Hole #11

Murray Cornelius, Don Horban, John Wallace, and my father, Stephen Boehmer, were playing a round, and on the 11th, Murray hit a beautiful shot off the tee. In the air, my dad said it could be good. It landed and then rolled a few feet into the hole. Murray didn’t believe it, my father climbed the hill and looked with his range finder. He couldn’t see the ball. Meanwhile, John hit. My father had just told Murray that the place to miss was right. They got up to the hole, and Murray was first to the flag. He immediately blurted out that there were two balls in the hole and that the second one had the name “John Wallace” on it. Two hole-in-ones on the same hole, one right after the other. They all went wild. Chances are one in 72,000,000, and it is believed to be the first time this has ever happened at Beacon Hall.

Rob Hewitt, Goose Hummock Golf Resort, Hole #3

What a fantastic experience!

Rob Traynor, The Oaks of St George, Hole #17

We were the first group out on Canada Day and the 17^th hole was 112 yards. I used my sand wedge from 112 yards and it bounced in. I was with Tauseef Malik.

Sandra McLeod, Essex Golf and Country Club, Hole #17

We were playing in the first annual women’s member tournament. My playing partner and I were playing with two other women. It was my first hole which was #17, my first swing of the day! I used my 3 wood, as I am not a long hitter and wanted to get on the green. We watched the ball head straight to green, roll towards the pin and disappear. Because of the shadows in the morning sun, we weren’t sure if it rolled in. We got up to the green and saw the ball in the hole. We all started screaming and hugging each other! I think they could hear us around the course. We called the Pro Shop to let them know and one of the Pros came out and met us on the next hole. It wasn’t long before the news circulated around the course. It was the closest to the pin hole, so I won that!

Shelley Tait, Glendale Golf Club, Hole #4

On June 28^th, I was playing at our home course, Glendale Golf Club, with my Wednesday group, Judy Frisina and Janice Seifried. We were on the 4th hole, which is an elevated tee. Judy said, “Okay Shelley, I expect perfection”, to which I responded, “Expect to be disappointed.”

It was a red flag, 99 yards, and I used my 8 iron. It was one of those smokey days, so I couldn’t see the ball in the air until it was low enough to have trees behind it. The ball hit the green, you can see the ball mark, and I thought that maybe the ball disappeared. We all screamed, but then I wondered if we were reacting too early. Luckily, the screaming was not in vain. It was super exciting, and fortunately I was with experienced hole-in-one players who took a photo and advised me to keep the ball. The rest of the round was an exercise in remaining focused. Such a surreal golfing moment!

Thomas Norris, Glen Arbour Golf Course, Hole #7

I recorded my second hole-in-one at Glen Arbour Golf Course in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia. Hole #7 was playing 135 yards and I used a 7 Iron. It took two bounces and jumped in.

Tim Rosenau, Cabot Cliffs, Hole #12

What an amazing feeling to be rewarded with my first hole-in-one on what the folks at Cabot say is the toughest hole-in-one in Canada. Hole #12 was 168 yards. The flag was front right which meant it was protected by the sand in front. When I hit the shot, I thought that it would be short, due to the high winds. But it dropped perfectly and rolled into the hole. My wife Bev and friends Gerard and Janet Biegel saw it the whole way. What makes this even more special is this trip was a donated trip by Cabot to the Logan Boulet Charity golf tournament in Lethbridge, Alberta. My friend for 50 years, his son was friends and played hockey with Logan Boulet just a couple years before the Humboldt Broncos accident. I’m giving credit to Logan for that shot considering how many lives he has helped in his passing because of organ donation.

Tom Hagan, Flamborough Hills Golf Club, Hole #2

It was our second 18 that day in pouring rain. The plan was to play maybe six holes then go in and have some beers and food. That changed on the second hole. From 113 yards it was a back pin in rain, and I hit a pitching wedge. The ball landed behind the hole and rolled back in for the ace. I finished the round and shot 67. Three years earlier, on the same hole #2 on the Lakes course I had another ace!

With the support of Team Canada’s newest partner, Hilton, we are excited to share a glimpse into the life of some of Canada’s top amateur golfers through a new series, Road to the Tour, Presented by Hilton.

Tune in each week for a new video to discover how Team Canada athletes work towards their ultimate goal, making it to the professional tours.

This week: we take you inside an annual event, Team Canada Media Day. Every spring Golf Canada tees up its upcoming season on this special day to introduce Team Canada to the country.

Stay tuned next week’s Road to the Tour, presented by Hilton where we check out Team Canada and Hilton at the historic 2023 RBC Canadian Open.

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

Magog, Que —Henry Dao and Léonie Tavares won their respective divisions to claim the NextGen Quebec Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards at the Club de golf Venise in Magog, Que.

The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the fifth tournament in the NextGen Championships and featured a starting field of 140 male and female golfers.

Dao from Laprairie, Que., shot a final round 73 to finish atop of the leaderboard after maintaining the lead throughout the tournament to secure the NextGen Quebec Championship and a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

“First off, I always drive well so that really helped me. I always had inside foot wedges to attack the pin and I did that well and sunk my putts. I needed to putt well and that’s been my weakness, but it has been better this week which really helped me.” Said Dao.

After opening the tournament with 4-under, 68, Dao maintained his lead shooting a 5-under, 67 on Wednesday and finished the tournament at 8-under to secure his win. “This is really a confidence booster, I’ve kind of been in the slumps and not playing my best but I’ve been working with my new coach and it’s been working really well. This is a really good result for me and my family who encourage me,” Dao added.

Tavares from St-Jerome, Que., finished round three shooting a 4-under 68 to hold off Carlee Meilleur to secure her win by one stroke.

Tavares opened the final round tied for fourth and made her way back up the leaderboard to make a come back to earn the NextGen Quebec Championship. “This means a lot to me because I worked a lot for this tournament. This weekend was really tough for me because I worked a lot of hours and I wanted to have a great tournament and play under par and it worked and I’m very happy,” Tavares said.

Tavares added “I’m going to work on my short game so my putting can be more precise and my irons are going to be better. I practiced this morning and it was great, so was my third round.”

In the Junior Boys division, the top eight players 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 in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.

The next stop in NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards will be at the Avondale Golf Club in Charlottetown, P.E.I., for the NextGen Atlantic Championship from July 17-20. For the full results of the NextGen Quebec Championship 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.

Monet Chun knows she’s good. This week, she’ll get to see just how good.

The product of Richmond Hill, Ont., is one of four Canadians who will tee off at the U.S. Women’s Open, the third major of the women’s golf season. World No. 11 Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is the top-ranked Canadian in the field, with Chun, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., and Celeste Dao from Notre-Dame-de-l’Ile-Perrot, Que., all amateurs.

“It’s just an amazing opportunity, really,” said Chun after finishing practice at storied Pebble Beach Golf Links, which hosts the event this year. “I get a chance to see where I’m at.

“Obviously, I would love to turn pro but that won’t be until after I graduate school. So just a good test.”

All three Canadian amateurs are on the golf teams of NCAA schools. Chun plays for Michigan, Kim attends the University of Texas and Dao is at Georgia.

Chun qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open as the runner-up to last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Kim earned her berth at a qualifier at Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C., on May 15, and Dao did likewise at the Duxbury Yacht club in Duxbury, Mass., on June 7.

“I think we’re all pretty excited about it and really good opportunities for all three of us,” said Chun. “I think we just want to play the best we can out here.

“I think it shows that we’re heading in the right direction, that what we’re doing is helping a lot.”

Chun is currently ranked 95th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking, having won the Lady Buckeye Invitational this year and the 2022 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. That makes her the highest-ranked Canadian on the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. Kim is 121st overall and Dao is 1,081st.

Chun said she just wants to focus on her game at the U.S. Open instead of setting any kind of targets for the week.

“I think once I get caught up in score, it’s just going to be a lot in my head,” she said. “So right now, I’m just playing to the best of my abilities and see where my game is at this point and try to make a goal set on that.”

Henderson qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open as the reigning Evian Championship winner, but also would have made it to Pebble Beach based on four other qualifications.

She tied for 15th at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on June 25, six shots back of China’s Ruoning Yin. The Women’s PGA Championship was the second major of the season and the most recent event on the LPGA Tour’s calendar.

PGA TOUR _ RBC Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is No. 10 on the FedEx Cup standings heading into this week’s John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. Adam Hadwin (35th), who is also from Abbotsford, joins him in the field with Adam Svensson (37th) of Surrey, B.C., and Michael Gligic (207th) of Burlington, Ont.

DP WORLD TOUR _ Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is in the field at Made in Himmerland at HimmerLand, Farso, Denmark. The only Canadian on the European-based DP World Tour, Cockerill is ranked 40th on the Race to Dubai standings.

BDO’s multi-year enhanced commitment to Canadian golf will impact Golf Canada’s entire operation with touchpoints in professional and amateur championships, sport programming, volunteerism, and philanthropy

Building off a successful first year as the Official Business and Professional Services sponsor of Golf Canada, BDO Canada LLP (BDO) is leaning into golf in an incredibly meaningful way, agreeing to a new multi-year enhanced commitment as Golf Canada’s first-ever Elite-Level Sponsor.

Through their Elite sponsorship, BDO will continue to serve as presenting sponsor of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Championships. With their enhanced commitment to the sport, BDO will extend their impact across Golf Canada’s entire operation with touchpoints in sport programming, professional championships, volunteerism, and philanthropy. The extent of BDO’s Elite sponsorship will include:

• Title sponsorship of Golf Canada’s volunteer program at both National Open Championships (RBC Canadian Open and CPKC Women’s Open) as well as Canada’s National Amateur Championships
• Expanded hospitality investment at the National Open Championships
• Canada’s first ever international Trustee-level investment into the First Tee – Canada program
• Naming rights of the newly established National Golf League (commencing at the NGL Regional Playoffs in the fall of 2023)

For BDO, enhancing their involvement with the National Sport Organization to engage with Canada’s considerable golf audience reflects a firm-wide commitment through sport to give back to communities served across the country.

“We are thrilled to announce our expanded relationship with Golf Canada, a remarkable connection that embodies our shared dedication to community, progress, and growth. As the proud, and first-ever, Elite Level Sponsor, we join forces with esteemed Canadian brands, collectively dedicated to elevating the sport of golf to new horizons. This event heralds an exciting chapter, where the love for golf thrives and new possibilities unfold,” said Bruno Suppa, CEO of BDO Canada LLP.

In commenting on the new agreement, Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum remarked, “BDO has shown the ability to help transform businesses across Canada to help them achieve new heights. We could not be more excited that through this elevated sponsorship, BDO will power Golf Canada to achieve greater success, enhance our sport and volunteer programming, and create a community impact for youth through their involvement with First Tee – Canada.”

(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 13^th 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.

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 25^th.

Register at no cost and schedule your JSC event

https://juniorskillschallenge.ca/?utm_source=Golf+Canada&utm_campaign=e2355013f1-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_4_12_2022_10_42_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1f484250bc-e2355013f1-

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, 18^th 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.