St. Catharines, Ont. – After a competitive 18-holes, Jillian Friyia, Krystal Li, and Michelle Xing have earned direct exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship by finishing atop the leaderboard at the U.S. Junior Girls qualifier at St. Catharines Golf & Country Club in St. Catharines, Ont.

Jordan Hwang, Carl-Hanns Arndt and James McNair have also earned direct exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship after finishing atop of their respective division at St. Catharines Golf & Country Club in St. Catharines, Ont.

While the U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifier went into a playoff to determine the third spot, Friyia and Li tied for first Medalist honours after shooting an even par score of 72 to earn their spots. Michelle Xing emerged from a five-player playoff to secure the final spot in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship to earn her place in the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship

Jordan Hwang finished atop the leaderboard to secure Medalist honours in the U.S. Junior Championship Qualifier. He shot an even par score of 70 to earn his sport in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur tournament.

After a playoff, Carl-Hanns Arndt has secured second place and James McNair has placed third to also earn their sports in the 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur tournament.

The 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior will be taking place at Eisenhower Golf Club, which will be the first-ever USGA championship played on a military base, as the course resides on the property of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado. The tournament will take place from July 15-22 and feature a field of 156 competitors.

The 75th U.S. Junior Amateur will be held at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, South Carolina from July 24-29. The tournament will have a starting field of 264 players competing. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Open and a spot in the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Amateur Championships.

For the full leaderboard click here.

Sundre, Alta. – Kelli Ann Strand secured top spot while Lauren Kim emerged from a playoff to both earn direct exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship through the U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier held at The Sundre Golf Club in Sundre, Alta. on Monday.

Strand, of Challis, Idaho shot a 3-under 69 to earn Medalist honours. Strand recorded three birdies on the front nine to get off to a strong start and held on to take the top spot in Monday’s qualifier. Strand, a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Women’s Golf team, earned second-team All-Big Ten honours and won the Green Wave Classic in her freshman year this past season.

Kim, of Surrey, B.C. outlasted Leah John in a six-hole playoff to secure the second exemption after shooting a 2-under 70. She recorded three straight birdies on 14 through 16 and closed off her round with a pair of pars to get into the playoff. Kim is a member of Golf Canada’s National Team Program and attends the University of Texas. This past weekend, she placed T3 at the 2023 Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational in Calgary.

John will be the first alternate and Tiffany Kong of Vancouver is the second alternate. Monday’s field at The Sundre Golf Club featured 23 golfers from Canada and the United States competing for two direct exemptions. The 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship runs from August 7-13 at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles with a field of 156 competitors.

For the full leaderboard from today’s qualifier click here.

Nipawin, Sask. —Kye Fisher and Cala Korman won their respective divisions to claim the NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards at Evergreen Golf and Curling Club in Nipawin, Sask.

The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the fourth tournament in the NextGen Championship series and featured a starting field of 67 male and female golfers. There was a total of 52 boys and 15 girls competing.

Going into the final round tied for first, Fisher of Leduc, Alb., shot a 5-under 67 in Sunday’s final round to secure first place in NextGen Prairie Championship and a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Fisher and Seth Mottershead-Yee were tied for the lead heading into Sunday at 1-under. On Sunday, Fisher carded six birdies including three straight on holes four through six on his way to a 67 to pull ahead for the win. Mottershead-Yee shot 2-over 74 during the final round on Sunday to finish second in the NextGen Prairie Championship.

“I’m super happy, Golf Canada always hosts great events this was definitely a hump I wanted to get over. I definitely played it a little bit safer on the back nine, I didn’t hit it as close as I hit on the front nine. I knew the course record was in play so I wanted to get that down,” said Fisher.

Korman, of Killarney, MB, shot a final round 1-under, 71 on Sunday to win the Junior Girls division by three shots over Hallie Crozier of Regina. Korman trailed Addison Kartusch after Friday’s opening round by three shots. She was able to pull within two of Kartusch and one shot behind Crozier heading into Sunday’s final round. “I changed my routine, I was a little too aggressive off the tee, so adjusting that really helped,” said Korman regarding changes following Friday’s opening round. On Sunday, Korman recorded five birdies to pull ahead of Crozie and Kartusch and earn the championship. Korman is excited to win and advance to the Canadian Junior Girls Championship next month.

In the Junior Boys division, the top six 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 six 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.

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.

Papineau’s dominant Sunday leads to first PGA TOUR Canada win

VICTORIA, British Columbia—Canadian Étienne Papineau emerged from the pack to shoot a final-round 6-under 64 on Sunday to decisively win the Royal Beach Victoria Open and claim his first career PGA TOUR Canada victory.

Papineau, one of four tied for the lead after 54 holes, finished at 18-under 262 on the Uplands Golf Club. The victory vaulted Papineau into the early lead of the season-long Fortinet Cup standings.

Papineau won by five strokes over George Kneiser and Chris Korte, who finished tied for second, at 13-under 267, and by six shots over Jared du Toit, Chris Francoeur, Sam Choi and Jason Hong.

“It’s been a crazy week, an amazing week for me,” Papineau said. “I’m extremely excited, extremely pumped, and it’s a good start of the season for sure.”

Papineau, a native of Mercier, Quebec, was the favourite of the gallery all day. He finished with six birdies and no bogeys and matched his first-round 64. He became the first Quebec-born winner on PGA TOUR Canada since 2013.

Papineau took a two-shot lead when he made an eight-foot birdie on the 403-yard par-4 fifth hole to go to 12-under. A near chip-in on the seventh led to another birdie and was followed by birdies at No. 8 and No. 9. That flurry allowed him to make the turn in 30 and expand his lead to four shots. No one got closer than two shots the rest of the afternoon.

“I stuck to my gameplan all week,” Papineau said. “I shot 5-under on the front (nine), and it was a really good start. I had some really good tee shots, really good approach shots. As I said [Saturday], the putter was a little cold, but I said hopefully they will fall tomorrow and that’s what happened on the front nine.”

Papineau instructed his caddie to not let him look at the leaderboard all day, and he didn’t take a peek until the 16th hole. By that time the tournament was his to lose.

“You never know what can happen, but once I got up and down for par on 17, I knew I had a three- or four-shot lead,” Papineau said. “I just said hit it the fairway on 18—or just hit it anywhere on 18—and you should be fine. I looked at the leaderboard again before I putted and saw I was leading by four or five at that point. So, it kind of sunk in and a little bit of tears, I’m not going to lie, after I made my last putt.”

The victory marks a complete comeback from off-season surgery in December. Papineau tried to play again in March but struggled to regain his form. He took a few more weeks off to let his body completely heal and has played well since.

“Now I’m back,” Papineau said. “It’s been an amazing journey so far and hopefully it’s just the start of it.”

Kneiser, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, had a share of the lead after each of the first three rounds, but never got any traction Sunday. He had three bogeys and shot 69.

Korte, of Littleton, Colorado, matched Papineau’s 64 and climbed 12 spots in the standings. An eagle on the 12th hole sparked a second-nine 30.

“The eagle on 12 is really where the back nine got kick-started,” Korte said.

Du Toit, from Calgary, got the Canadian faithful roaring with an early 65. He was 4-under through seven holes when a bogey slowed his progress. He was still able to climb 10 spots and earn his second career top-five PGA TOUR Canada finish.

“I had a great start, which is exactly what you kind of want when you’re four or five back starting the day,” du Toit said. “I cooled off a little bit, and there are a couple holes that I would have like to have been in position to birdie, but I stuck it out and played a real solid round of golf. I’m quite happy with today for sure.”

Francoeur, of Newburyport, Massachusetts, finished strong with four birdies on his final seven holes to shoot 66.

Hong got to within two shots after a two-putt birdie on No. 12, but his charge ended with bogeys on three of the final six holes. The Australian closed with an even-par 70.

Choi, in his professional debut after finishing at Pepperdine University, finished with a disappointing double bogey to shoot 69.

Tied for eighth at 11-under 269 were Cole Bradley of Louisville, Kentucky, and Chase Sienkiewicz of Sacramento, California, who both shot 68, and Hayden Shieh of Fremont, California, who shot 71. Shieh was one of the four leaders entering the final round.

Fortinet Cup Standings

(Through Royal Beach Victoria Open)

Eleven Canadians completed 72 holes, with Étienne Papineau winning the tournament and Jared du Toit earning a top-10 performance (tied for fourth).

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.

Bill Wiseman, Don Valley Golf Course, Hole #5

had my first hole-in-one today which is Wednesday, June 21, 2023. It was on hole #5 at Don Valley Golf Course in Toronto. I used a 6 iron, and it was 163 yards out.

Bob Lalonde, Marvel Rapids Golf Course, Hole #4

I played Marvel Rapids Golf Course in Apsley, Ontario on June 19, 2023. I was with Guy McDougall, John Wilcox and Dave Husband. I holed out on hole #4. It was 124 yards, and I used an 8 iron. Celebrations ensued!

Brad Heykoop, Port Hope Golf and Country Club, Hole #1

I was playing with my good friend Darren White. The distance was 173 yards, and I used my 8 iron!

Chris Stapleton, Yellowknife Golf Club, Hole #11

It was very exciting, it’s my first one. It was a 7 iron from 165 yards over the pond. I was playing with Ryan Moss.

Dave Bowers, Yarmouth Golf and Curling Club, Hole #15

It was a very exciting event for me. My playing partners were Paul Foote, Happy Bourque and Frank Laxton. Hole #15 is 125 yards, and I used an 8 iron. This is my third year as a member and before becoming a member I played in a couple of best ball charity tournaments. My average score has gotten down to the low 90’s. With the hole-in-one I actually broke 90 and got an 88.

Jason Cheng, Don Valley Golf Club, Hole #5

On Monday, June 12^th, I was rewarded with my second hole-in-one. This happened on the 160-yard hole #5 at Don Valley Golf Course. I say “rewarded” because an hour before our 5:50 AM tee time, I sent a screenshot of Environment Canada’s special weather statement to Cameron Tedford hoping that he would be sensible and cancel. Nope! He said, “Since we are up, we should go check it out!” As long as there was no lightning, he was going to play.

Little did we know that it ended up being a record setting rainfall day! It was the most rainfall on that day since 1954. I was in head-to-toe Gore-Tex and double FootJoy rain gloves looking more like a hunter than a golfer. Conditions were miserable to say the least. 

I hit a 7 iron to the front fringe, and we watched it roll and disappear into the cup. What will always stand out in my memory after seeing the ball drop was Cam’s excitement for me and witnessing his first hole-in-one. As we walked up to the hole, I reserved my excitement until I knew for sure the ball was in the hole. Cam couldn’t contain his excitement and was quick to bring out the camera to capture photos and videos of this moment. 

Our threesome (including Phil Bermingham) and apparently, one other single were the only crazy people on the course that morning but it was worth it! Thanks Cam!

Jo-Anne Jobin, Rideau Lakes Golf and Country Club, Hole #8

I was playing Rideau Lakes Golf and Country Club. It was hole #8 from the white tees. The distance was 136 yards, and I used a 6 iron. It was my first and it was so much fun.

Josh Lawlor, Diamondback Golf Club, Hole #3

I was playing Diamondback Golf Club and aced hole #3.

Link Neufeld, Winkler Centennial Golf Course, Hole #8

On June 18th at the Winkler Centennial Golf Course, I made my first hole-in-one! It was hole #8, 196 yards to the pin with a 4 iron. I was golfing with Golf Canada member Stephen Dueck.

Michael Tablit, Copper Point Golf Course, Hole #15

It was a very memorable time for me when I got my first hole-in-one. First of all, the three gentleman that I was playing with was Greg Adams, Lawrie Anderson and Randy Kieper, all of them have a Golf Canada membership. 

It was twelve of us that went on this golf trip in the Kootenays. We played seven courses all over the Kootenays and wouldn’t you know it, I got my first hole-in-one at Copper Point Golf Course. It was about 142-yards, and the pin placement was back right of the green. I was telling my buddy Lawrie about what shot I will pull and told him I’ll use an 8 iron and aim at the flag and spin it back. We were joking about it as it is their signature hole and both Greg Adam and Randy Kieper were close. Then it was my turn to hit so I decided to hit my 8 iron and tee up a little higher. We watched the ball, and it was heading straight to the hole. We saw it hit the back of the green and because of the shadow of the tree and the flag we did not see it go in the hole. Greg said to me, “It will either be very close or in the hole.”. When all of us finished hitting, we started driving to the green and of course with my excitement I was a bit shaky. Closer to the green we only saw two balls, so someone yelled at me to check the hole, so I ran to the hole, and my ball was in the hole. I was so happy and shaky at the same time.

Mike Di Savino, Kedron Dells Golf Course, Hole #12

My buddy hit a 6 iron over the green, so I decided to pull out my 7 iron which I normally hit 170 yards. A nice light swing as I kept my head down and hit it as straight as I’ve ever hit a ball. Because it was so far, we didn’t see it go in. My buddy scoped it with his range finder and told me he couldn’t see it. I said, “Come on there must be a hill on the green and it’s got to be there hopefully for a tap in birdie”. So, my other two buddies hit their tee shots and we started the walk to the green. As we got closer, I noticed there was a small hill on the green so again I assumed it was on it. When we didn’t see it, my buddy yelled to check the cup. I went to the cup and there it is. My buddies came and congratulated me. I took a picture of the ball in the hole and then waited for them to finish the hole. It was so amazing, and I’ll never forget it.

Mike Roberts, Innerkip Highlands Golf Club, Hole #12

I was playing with my brother Jamie Roberts and my friend Dan Dunlop. I hit a 6 iron and the hole was 180 yards.

Peter Atkinson, Camelot Golf and Country Club, Hole #15

I was playing with Rick Hillier, his son Chris Hillier and my son Mitchell Atkinson. It was hole #15 and the yardage was 172. I used a TaylorMade Stealth Rescue #4 and a Vice ball. When I approached the green which is elevated, you cannot see the landing area from the tee box, I thought the ball had gone off the back of the green. I was looking for my ball in the rough when Rick called out my name and pointed to the hole. Life is good, I love golf, especially getting to play with your friends and in this case also our sons.

Rob Duggan, Peterborough Golf and Country Club, Hole #16

This is my first hole-in-one ever! It definitely wasn’t my best round, but I was having a fun day with a fellow member Glen and his guest Andy. We came up to the 16th tee chatting away, stepped up and got a distance from my range finder. It was 142 yards. I grabbed my 8 iron and hit a nice smooth shot straight towards the pin, it landed short and rolled towards the hole. I was happy thinking it was going to be nice and close for maybe a tap in birdie. Then the ball disappeared as it fell in the hole! I think we scared the ladies who were playing the next hole beside us cheering and screaming! We got up to the green and I found my pitch mark about 10 feet from the pin.

Robert Jackson, Eden Golf and Country Club, Hole #11

I was playing with my brother, Stephen Jackson. It was 150 yards uphill with an 8 iron (TaylorMade Stealth).

Roger Anderson, Monthill Golf and Country Club, Hole #3

It was the third hole on the blue course of Monthill. The pin was on the front of the green about 100 yards away. I used a gap wedge, and it landed on the fringe and took a bounce and rolled into the hole. My foursome that day was Della, Bruce and Rick.

Ron Mitten, Galt Country Club, Hole #16

It was a 142-yard shot with a light 8 iron. I was golfing with another member and his guests. I was originally supposed to be out of town, but my daughter was due with our fifth grandchild, so we cancelled the trip at the last minute, and I figured why not try and find a game. It was my first ace!

Savio Dias, Glasgow Hills Resort, Hole #7

I was on my own as I live in Glasgow Hills and decided to play the front nine. It was 145 yards, and I used a 4 hybrid.

Shabina Bholim, Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club, Hole #12

It was just amazing to watch with great friends! I knew roughly the white pin is around 115 yards with the wind and just hit it and it was in the air, bounced right in the hole. Fantastic moment!

Simon Richard, Royal Oaks Golf Club, Hole #8

This is my first hole-in-one, and I made it on #8 at the Royal Oaks Golf Club from 135 yards with a pitching wedge. I was playing with my friends Gabriel, Jean-Luc and my father, Marc. I was hitting first off the tee, and we proceeded to celebrate for at least a few minutes. After all the excitement, my dad Marc (who was hitting last), proceeded to hit the pin and dropped down to about an inch and proceeded to roll a few inches away. Almost going in on the same hole! His is the ball that you see by the hole in the picture. I managed to hold it together and shot a 71 that day.

Steve Shaw, Brookfield Golf Club, Hole #1

I was playing my Saturday morning game with my buddies. In our group there was Dan Cain, Steve Hay and Dave Hett. Unfortunately, we did not see it go in the hole because the green is slightly below the fairway, and the hole was at the front center. Another group was in front of us on the next tee, and two of them walked on our green after I finished hitting. They walked to the hole and signaled that the ball was in the hole. They watched it drop! It was at the blue course at Brookfield. The first hole was 135 yards that day and I used a 7 iron.

Tracy MacDonald, Countryview Golf Club, Hole #8

I got my hole-in-one at Countryview Golf Club with Renee Williams. It was about 110 yards, and I used an 8 iron. It was very exciting watching it head straight to the flag, land on the green and then watching it roll closer and drop.

Troy Avis, Broadmoor Public, Hole #11

I was playing in a Broadmoor Men’s club tournament. The hole was 189 yards with a front left pin. I hit a 6 iron with a slight cut. Unfortunately, I could not see it go in the hole as there is a mound in front of the green. I was playing with Chris Krogen, Bob Richardson and Grant Weissbach.

Tyler Barker, Island Brae, Hole #6

I was playing men’s night with Jake Shields and Jayden Reid. The hole was a 145-yard par 3 and I used a pitching wedge. I had no idea the ball went in at first since you can’t see the hole from the tee blocks only the top of the flag. Then, as I approached the green, I wasn’t happy since I expected my ball to have been on the green and it was nowhere in sight. Of course, I had to look in the hole just in case and there was my ball sitting in the cup.

Vic Rosser, King’s Forest Golf Club, Hole #14

It was playing 130 yards and I hit a 9 iron.

Victor Warren, Elmira Golf Club, Hole #14

I was on the 14^th hole at Elmira Golf Club. It was a 130-yard par 3. I hit an 8 iron from a new set of Wilson’s. I was playing with Bill, Barney and George, all members of Elmira.

Wayne Delbridge, Bighorn Golf and Country Club, Hole #17

I was playing with three members on June 1^st. I stepped up to tee off and hit my ball into the bush. I decided to tee off again and aced the hole for par. This was on the 17^th hole par 3 at Bighorn Golf & Country Club. Ten days later on June 11^th, I was playing with Dean Bachand, Kirk Galbraith and a green fee player. We reached the 17^th hole again. This time when I stepped up to hit, I managed to ace it for real. The shot was 100 yards with a pitching wedge. I guess practice makes perfect.

67 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes at one of Saskatchewan’s most attractive layouts, with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line.

Golf Canada’s 2023 championship season continues on Thursday, June 15 at Evergreen Golf Club, in Nipawin, Saskatchewan with the NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Thursday, June 15 and championship rounds beginning on Friday, June 16. There will be no cuts in this NextGen Championship.  

The starting field will feature 67 male and female competitors – 52 Junior Boys and 15 Junior Girls – vying for spots into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The top six 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 six 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.

Evergreen Golf Course is located in the heart of Nipawin, known as Saskatchewan’s vacation capital. Surrounded by two spectacular lakes where the prairies meet the boreal forest, Nipawin is renowned for its exceptional outdoor recreation offering world class golf, superb fishing, camping and boating opportunities.

“Having the opportunity to host a Golf Canada event is an honour that not many facilities get. It is a chance for us to showcase the high-quality golf course we have. Our course management team, staff and members put a lot of effort into providing a first-class golf experience and this is a way to share with guests from across Canada,” said Derrick Tallon, Head Pro at Evergreen Golf Course. “It is our goal to have the golfers and visitors to the Evergreen Golf Course share a positive story with their friends and encourage more visitors to our golf course.”

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Prairie 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 Prairie Championship, click here.

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.

For 100 years, FootJoy has been synonymous with golf-specific design and performance innovation.  The brand was born from a company-wide naming competition in 1923, where an associate in the Brockton, MA stitching room submitted a name for a new line of shoes the company was developing – FOOTJOY.

The brand continues to lead and innovate in golf wearables and will celebrate 100 years in the making with the Centennial Premiere Series Wilcox. This shoe is FJ’s take on an unmatched legacy of performance innovation and style.

The exclusive footwear design features an iconic red, white and blue colourway, highlighted in spectacular fashion at the 1973 U.S. Open Championship.  The shoe is packaged with a 100-Year Medallion that commemorates FJ’s history of innovation and leadership, supercharged for today’s player with the very popular VersaTrax+ outsole,  with multiple traction elements that create a system that delivers excellent performance on any surface.  

FootJoy will be providing a select number of Tour players with the Centennial Premiere Series Wilcox footwear at the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club, including Justin Thomas, Max Homa, Cameron Young, Adam Scott and many more. 

The Centennial Premiere Series Wilcox shoe has been designed to artfully combine vintage vibes with a modern twist. The shoe is crafted with great attention to detail, featuring carefully chosen premium uppers, such as patent leather, that possess a timeless and visually appealing look. Additionally, the eyelets and ornaments are adorned with striking gold finishes, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication, ensuring these shoes are a desirable addition to any golfer’s footwear collection.

Pricing:

Limited Edition Premiere Series Centennial Wilcox: $349.99 CAD

The Centennial Premiere Series Wilcox is available beginning Thursday, June 15, 2023, while supplies last. Learn more at www.footjoy.ca.

Athabasca, Alb. — After the final round on Sunday, Jaiden Koonar and Anne-Sophie Bourgault won their respective divisions to claim the NextGen Western Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards at Athabasca Golf Club in Athabasca, Alb.

The 54-hole stroke play competition marked the third tournament in the NextGen Championship series and featured a starting field of 112 male and female golfers. There were a total of 78 boys and 34 girls competing.

Konnar of Calgary, shot a 2-under 70 in Sunday’s final round to hold off Christian Flick by one shot to secure the NextGen Western Championship and a spot in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Koonar and Flick were tied for the lead heading into Sunday at 1-under. Kooner shot an even par 72, while Flick shot a 2-under 70 on Saturday. On Sunday, Kooner would pull ahead after recording four birdies on his way to shooting a 2-under 70 to finish the final round on Sunday atop the leaderboard.

Bourgault of Gatineau, Que. was co-leader after Friday but fired a 1-under 71 on Saturday to take the solo lead heading into the final round. On Sunday, she finished strong with birdies on 14 and 16 to shoot a final round of 1-over 74 to secure the NextGen Western Championship by six shots over Eileen Park.

In the Junior Boys division, the top six 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.

In the Junior Boys division, the top six 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 six 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.

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.