Delaney Howson of Newmarket, Ont. finished her senior campaign at Murray State University in style capturing the OVC Conference Championship by 14 strokes in Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Howson finished at 4-under 212 after firing rounds of 71-68-73 to set a new OVC scoring record. Her 4-under 68 in the second round was also the lowest score ever recorded at the OVC championship.

“I’m so happy right now, I don’t know what to say,” Howson said on camera following her round. “I wanted this so much for Coach and my team and to be here right now as champions, this is great!”

As a squad the Murray State Racers overcame six-shot deficit in the final round to capture their ninth Ohio Valley Conference Championship. Howson’s birdie putt on the par-3 18^th was critical for the Racers and gave them the outright lead by two shots to secure their automatic spot into the NCAA Regional Championships in May.

In addition to Howson’s seventh win as a Racer, the former Team Canada Development Squad member was also named the OVC player of the year. She became the only Murray State player in history to be named to the first team All-OVC four years in a row.

For complete scoring and results from the OVC Championship click here.

ACTON, Ont. – The PGA of Canada’s Board of Directors has approved a three-year contract extension through 2016 for chief executive officer Gary Bernard. The announcement was made today at the PGA of Canada’s national board meetings in Calgary.

Bernard, 57, has been CEO of the PGA of Canada since 2010.

“On behalf of the National Board of Directors of the PGA of Canada, I am thrilled to announce we have reached an agreement with Gary Bernard to continue in his role as chief executive officer for the next three years,” said PGA of Canada president Gregg Schubert. “Gary became CEO during the global economic downturn but has managed to positively navigate the association by maintaining strong membership numbers, posting positive financial results and by building a young, energetic and passionate team at the national headquarters.”

Bernard has been a PGA of Canada member since 1991, earning his Class “A” status in 1994. In 1995 he became national education learning facilitator with the association. He then became a national education trainer in 2000 and a national education advisor in 2001. From 2004-2009 Bernard was the PGA of Canada’s director of education. He also served as chair of the National Allied Golf Association (NAGA) from 2011-2012.

“I am thrilled to be offered the privilege of representing the PGA of Canada and working on behalf of the membership with an extraordinary team at the national office and a visionary national board of directors,” said Bernard. “As a fellow PGA of Canada member, this opportunity means I can continue to live our mission statement every day and strive towards helping every member live a better life and earn a better living,” he said, adding, “as your CEO I relish the challenge of moving the organization forward in challenging economic times and ensuring our position as a leading PGA both domestically and globally.”

Prior to becoming a PGA of Canada member, Bernard spent eight years as an educator within the New Brunswick public school system. During that time he was named “Young Professional of The Year” by the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (CAPHER). In addition, he served as vice-president, and later president of the Physical Education Teachers Society; representing New Brunswick at the World CAPHER conference in Vancouver in 1986.

The Mirimichi, N.B., native is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick, earning both a Bachelor of Education degree in 1979 and a Masters of Education in 2012.

Bernard and his wife, Nancy, live in Milton, Ont., with their dog Molly.

HOYLAKE, England – There will be a horseshoe grandstand around the 18th green for the first time at a British Open as part of a number of course changes for this year’s tournament at Hoylake.

Organizers say the Royal Liverpool course will be extended by 54 yards compared to 2006 – the last time it held the major – and the green on the first hole has been reshaped and rebunkered to make it the “hardest opening hole on the Open rota.”

Around 200,000 spectators are expected for the tournament, which would be a slight decrease compared to 2006 when 230,000 golf fans watched Tiger Woods win his 11th major title.

Malcolm Booth, communications director for organizer The R&A, says the cauldron feel around the 18th will “provide a unique atmosphere for an Open.”

CARLSBAD, Calif.– adidas Golf  has announced the release of two all-new footwear models featuring proprietary gripmore technology, an innovation in golf footwear cleat design that combines the performance benefits of spiked and spikeless footwear into one revolutionary technology.

The evolution of golf cleats has seen little change in innovation over the course of the last century. From metal spikes to soft spikes and most recently spikeless models, cleat technology has remained stagnant with little advancement. The adidas Golf team set out to change the state of the footwear game, embarking on a mission to reshape the industry to create a groundbreaking category of shoe for all golfers. The result: adicross gripmore and pure 360 gripmore sport.

Unlike traditional spiked golf shoes that require receptacles to house cleats on the sole, gripmore cleats are directly injected onto lightweight mesh matting inclusive of hundreds of microspikes for even more traction and stability. In addition to unbelievable grip, both models are among the most green-friendly the company has ever created.

The first of two models to feature gripmore technology, the adicross gripmore utilizes 43 gripmore cleats and a total of 243 points of contact for a unique combination of versatility and performance.

Featuring premium sport-styling with modern aesthetics and colors and a premium full grain leather upper, the adicross gripmore line has outstanding comfort and casual crossover appeal that delivers the performance golfers of all types demand.

Justin Rose debuted the adicross gripmore at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March, where he praised the shoe’s crossover performance characteristics.

“I’m always looking for footwear that provides traction without compromising comfort, style or on-course performance,” he said. “With gripmore, I have the versatility of a spikeless shoe combined with the performance of a cleated shoe. It’s the best of both styles.”

With a more athletically-inspired design, the pure 360 gripmore sport features a waterproof mesh upper with climaproof®, 360WRAP technology and a powerband™ chassis for increased stability. Featuring 23 gripmore cleats and a total of 161 contact points, the shoe provides exceptional traction with the combination of comfort, protection and performance.

Available June 1, adicross gripmore will be available in three colorways: aluminum / running white / light scarlet, running white / running white / light scarlet and black/ running white / light scarlet.

Also available June 1, pure 360 gripmore sport will be available in two colorways: black / metallic silver / light scarlet and light onix / running white / light scarlet.

To view the entire adicross gripmore and pure 360 gripmore collections, visit adidasgolf.ca.

DALY CITY, Calif. – A beaming Michelle Wie explained her oversized visor as a necessary new addition after recently discovering wrinkles at age 24, then good-naturedly defended her unique, hunched-over putting stroke because Jack Nicklaus uses it.

Improved sun protection and short game aside, Wie is riding high after a comeback win in her home state of Hawaii last week. Now, she returns to familiar ground in the Bay Area looking to build on her first LPGA Tour victory in nearly four years when she competes in the inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic – just up the freeway from her alma mater, Stanford.

After arriving in town early Monday, Wie took a power nap before visiting the university, where she “wanted to hug every single freshman I saw.” She enjoyed a tour of new athletic facilities and is determined to represent Stanford well in her first visit back to San Francisco since graduating in the spring of 2012.

“I really believe we are a bunch of nerds, but at the same time we’re kinda cool,” Wie cracked Tuesday, referring to Stanford’s Nerd Nation theme. “It’s awesome. I’m so proud I’m a Stanford grad.”

Wie is thankful for all the friends and family who cheered her in Hawaii, and appreciates those who will be here this week ready to root her on again. Even her fellow golfers were quick to offer hugs and congratulations to the former teen phenom who had become starved for a win.

“It was unbelievable. I had so much fun,” Wie said. “I was just overwhelmed with emotion and overwhelmed with the support that I got, and all the love I received afterward.”

Even her competitors say it’s hard to root against Wie, so well-respected and liked on and off the golf course.

“She’s a smart girl. There aren’t very many girls who have completed four solid years at Stanford while playing on the LPGA Tour,” world No. 2 Suzann Pettersen said. “That takes a huge effort. For her to finally be able to concentrate on golf full-time has helped her golf, for sure. If you ask me, Michelle has underachieved. She has every shot in the bag.”

Pettersen herself hopes for a rally of sorts at Lake Merced Golf Club this week.

This marks her first start since she was forced to pull out of last month’s Kia Classic with a back injury and missed the past three events, with a prescription of rest to let herself heal.

“I’m here, which is a good sign. I never would have been here if I wasn’t feeling good,” Pettersen said. “I love the Bay Area. It’s definitely one of my favorite spots in America after New York.”

Pettersen’s pants were muddy after players went through practice rounds on a cool, blustery day not far from the Pacific Ocean.

World No. 1 Inbee Park is thrilled to sample the city’s fine cuisine.

“I love seafood, so everywhere I go here I get to experience seafood,” she said, after already trying the famous clam chowder.

The 24-year-old Wie returns to the Bay Area along with the LPGA, which hasn’t hosted an event in the region since the 2010 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club in suburban Danville.

Organizers and club officials hope the tournament is here to stay at Lake Merced Golf Club, which takes the big stage starting Thursday in the $1.8 million event.

In Kapolei, Hawaii, on Oahu, Wie rallied to beat Angela Stanford by two strokes to capture the LPGA LOTTE Championship. It marked her first win since 2010 and first since graduating from Stanford.

Also highlighting this week’s 144-player field on the 6,507-yard course are Stacy Lewis, Karrie Webb, Anna Nordqvist, 16-year-old Lydia Ko, and local fan favorites Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Juli Inkster. The Swinging Skirts is the first LPGA event in the United States led by a Taiwanese organization.

Many players came from the windy conditions in Hawaii to more of the same.

“I have layers for every condition,” Pettersen said with a grin.

Wie certainly knows what it can be like.

“I really feel like the Bay Area is my second hometown,” she said.

Golf Canada is deeply saddened by the passing of Ken Duggan, an important member of the Canadian golf community who passed away peacefully April 17, 2014 at the age of 78 after a brief fight with pulmonary fibrosis.

In addition to being a great family man – devoted husband, father and grandfather -Ken was an integral asset to Canadian golf.

Ken got his golf career started at Scarboro Golf Club in 1954 and later was an assistant professional of the London Hunt and Country Club for five years. He was head golf professional at Cedar Brae Golf Club (1961-1969) and Markland Wood Golf Course (1969-1993).

He is a past director of the PGA of Canada and was president in 1968, earning him a lifelong membership with the association. He was also director of the Golf Canada Foundation for five years.

His greatest love was as a teacher of the game, having coached countless golfers, including club members, collegiate student athletes and PGA Tour players.

Ken was selected by Golf Canada – then called the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) – to form the RCGA Player Development Program. In 1996 and 1997, he was head coach and director of Development Camps, and twice travelled to Japan with the junior teams.

As a player,  Duggan won 65 professional tournaments and played in the Canadian Open on 12 occasions.

After retirement, Ken continued to be active as a teacher of the game and took an interest in golf course design, including Loyalist Estates Golf Course and as part of the Markland Wood Long Range Planning Committee.

A reception to celebrate Ken’s life will be held Saturday April 26, between 1 and 4 pm at Markland Wood Golf Course (245 Markland Drive, Etobicoke).

Donations may be made in Ken’s memory to:

The Golf Canada Foundation
1333 Dorval Dr., Suite #1
Oakville, Ontario
L6M 4X7
1-800-263-0009
golfcanadafoundation.com

Tiger Woods is hosting another tournament, this one for recreational golfers on courses that include Merion and Congressional, and a gem north of Boston that a century ago was reputed to be the toughest U.S. Open course.

The Tiger Woods Foundation, which has seven learning centers and funds the Earl Woods Scholarship Program, has been raising money primarily through five events. There’s the Tiger Jam in Las Vegas (a charity concert and poker night) and the Tiger Woods Invitational (a private tournament for donors at Pebble Beach). The foundation also benefits from the Quicken Loans National and Deutsche Bank Championship on the PGA Tour, and his 18-man World Challenge in December.

The latest venture is called the Tiger Woods Charity Playoffs. It’s an amateur golf series that stretches over five months on eight golf courses, and it rewards the best players and fundraisers with a final event in Orlando, Fla., at the end of the year.

“My foundation provides really awesome experiences, and this event allows all golfers to play cool courses for charity,” Woods said in an email through his foundation.

Two-person teams can select a regional qualifying tournament with a registration fee ($500 per player on most courses), a $1,000 charity pledge and a goal of fundraising. The teams with the low net and gross score from each site, along with any team that raises $10,000 or more, qualify for the Charity Playoff Finals on Dec. 1-2. All money is in U.S funds.

Finalists gets two days of golf, two nights in the Four Seasons Resort at Walt Disney World Resort, a private exhibition with Woods and clubhouse credentials to the World Challenge. The team that raises the most money will get pro-am spots in the three PGA Tour-sanctioned events for 2015.

The first event is May 27 at Cascata in Las Vegas. Other courses are Congressional, Merion, Trump National in New Jersey, Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, Calif., Innisbrook in Florida and Myopia Hunt north of Boston.

Most of the courses are private, including Myopia Hunt outside Boston, which hosted the U.S. Open four times between 1898 and 1908 and produced three of the highest winning scores in U.S. Open history.

The series was officially announced three weeks ago, and 31 donors already have signed up for Merion, where the U.S. Open was played last year for the fifth time.

“We wanted to reach out to a new audience, amateur players, who can play these great courses and raise money for charities,” Foundation spokeswoman Emily Taylor said.

Players can sign up here.

Taylor said the foundation did not set a goal for how much money to raise. Proceeds are to benefit the Tiger Woods Learning Centers – the main one in Anaheim, Calif., one in Florida, two in Philadelphia and three in the Washington, D.C., area – and the Earl Woods Scholarship Program. Some of the money will be split among the foundation and charities designated by regional tournaments, particularly if they don’t have a learning center.

NOTE: In order to participate in the Tiger Woods Charity Playoffs you must have a valid Handicap Factor. Learn more about becoming a Golf Canada member and getting a Golf Canada Handicap Factor here.

Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? It may seem like a strange question but it is one that I have asked many members of Team Canada. In my opinion, golf – more than any other sport – reflects life. It has many highs and lows and your reaction to important situations has consequences down the road. Most golfers let their results control their attitudes. Play well and all is great; play poorly and their attitude stinks.

Go into any clubhouse after a round and you will listen to whole conversations about poor shots, three putts and balls never to be seen again. Does anyone benefit from this negativity, either on or off the course?

The 50% Rule

50% of your playing partners don’t care that you shot 80 and the other 50% wish you had shot 81.

While factors like the weather, course conditions and other players’ results are out of your control when playing golf, you are in charge of your reaction to every stroke. The most important part of any shot may be the first few seconds after impact. What you do during this time can either create great memories or initiate a chain of events that will prevent you from playing your best. The moments after each shot provide feedback that you can either celebrate or use for adjustment. If you are a thermometer you react to and display change in your environment. Based on the result of a shot your temperature (attitude) could change drastically. If you are a thermostat you remain in control and can set your optimum temperature, no matter the result.

Skill Drill

It’s all about control

Controlling your attitude is a skill, and like any skill you can master it if you follow the correct steps.

Go to a pitching green with two balls for each target. Pick a definite landing point and trajectory, go through your full routine and execute your first shot.

Pay attention to the result. Did you make the desired contact? Did the ball land in the correct area? Did it behave on the surface as expected? Where did it finish?

Using these criteria you can make adjustments for the second shot. The idea is to gain feedback from the result rather than react to it emotionally.

With your second ball try to implement the changes required to achieve your intended result. This could mean changing the club you used, moving the landing point or using a technical cue to improve contact. Remember the goal is to gain feedback and implement change.

After the second ball, go through the same process again. Analyze the result post-shot, but this time simulate any changes necessary without hitting another ball. Contemplate the change required and move on, just as you would on the golf course.

If you executed the shot as planned you should celebrate; a positive result needs reinforcement in order to be remembered. Create a small personal celebration for successful shots and do this every single time the shot matches your intention.

In life and golf you will always make mistakes; in both cases you should strive to learn from them and move on. Are you a thermometer or a thermostat?

This article first appeared in the April 2014 edition of Golf Canada magazine.

ST ANDREWS, Scotland – Peter Dawson will retire next year as chief executive of The R&A after 16 years with the governing body in charge of the Rules of Golf and organizing the British Open.

The R&A says Tuesday that Dawson will step down in September 2015. He will also be also leaving his role as secretary of Royal and Ancient Golf Club, the 2,400-member club whose headquarters overlook the Old Course at St. Andrews.

In a statement, the R&A hailed the “continuing commercial success” of the British Open under Dawson since he joined the organization in 1999. He was also a key figure in securing golf’s return to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

The R&A says Dawson’s successor is expected to be made “in sufficient time to allow for an appropriate handover period in 2015.”

The recruitment of a successor will be handled by international executive search firm Spencer Stuart and the position will begin being advertised this weekend.

COLOMBUS, Ohio – Team Canada’s Jennifer Ha captured medalist honours at the Buckeye Invitational on Sunday with a one-stroke victory over Kelly Grassel of Michigan State.

Ha, a junior at Kent State, grabbed a share of the lead with Kent State teammate and fellow Canadian Josée Doyon of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Qué., following Friday’s opening round.

Ha maintained her advantage by shooting a 3-over 75 Saturday. On Sunday, the Calgary native slammed the door on the competition by firing a final round 71, her best score for the tournament. She finished with a 2-over par 218.

Doyon faltered down the stretch, falling to a tie for 10^th place after going 79-77 to close out the tournament.

Collectively, the Kent State Golden Flashes lost their second round lead to the Ohio State Buckeyes, who closed with final round of 291, the lowest score for any team through three days of competition. The Golden Flashes finished in a tie for second with Michigan State, eight strokes back of the host Buckeyes.

Kent State will look to build off this performance as they head into the Mid-American Conference Championship this upcoming Friday.

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