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.

Beau Spencer, Beverly Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

I was playing at Beverly Golf & Country Club and I had two members playing at that time, Jeff Dolan and Mark Flippance. It was hole #7, 153 yards to the pin, I used a 7 iron!

It was a cool morning so there weren’t many other around. The pin was front right, tee shot bounced once and rolled five or six feet into the cup! Cheering and high fives followed!

Brian MacPhee, Duncan Meadows Golf Club, Hole #16

Yesterday was our annual Tombstone Challenge for the Duncan Meadows Membership, which also doubles as our Halloween event. Our regular threesome of three retired Royal Canadian Navy Chief Petty Officers, Paul McCoy, Mark Chambers and I played as a threesome for the event. Mark and I decided to get into the Halloween spirit and dressed up as two of the three Hanson Brothers from the classic movie Slap Shot. Mark was Jack Hanson #16 and I was Steve #17. Wigs were worn due to both of us being follicly-challenged.

Hole #16 is short par three that plays slightly downhill. The white tees were up and the pin was on the front of the green. I have been informed by my playing partners that the yardage was 137. I am not a big hitter so it was an 8 iron for me.

The ball (a bright red Titleist which was part of a sleeve of previously used balls provided for tournament participants) flew pretty well off of my 8 iron, especially considering that alcohol had been consumed for 15 prior holes. I did say it was a fun tournament! The ball bounced on the front of the green twice and took the slight bend to the right and disappeared. Nobody was more surprised than I was and everyone participating in the tournament heard the celebration and knew what it meant. It all felt surreal!

Anyway, I thought that hole-in-one insurance was a waste of money for me, but it took a bit of the sting out of bar bill. On another note, don’t get a hole-in-one when the majority of your members are playing in a tournament!

Charles McColgan, Hylands Golf Club – North, Hole #12

I was playing alongside my golf buddies Gavin Liddy and Ted McKay. I had the good fortune of a hole-in-one on the 12th hole of the Hylands Golf Club North course in Ottawa, Ontario. The best part was all of us saw it go in and of course the ensuing celebration! Benefitting from a tailwind that day and a front pin placement, I used a 6 iron from 165 yards.

Colleen Kaspersion, Pine Ridge Golf Club, Hole #16

Great way to end the season. It was our last day before Pine Ridge closed. I was with my friends Colette, Allayne and Anne.

Dale Howard, Two Eagles Golf Course & Academy West Kelowna BC, Hole #10

I was playing on senior men’s day. Interesting format called the three-club challenge (18 holes with three clubs and a putter). My selection was a 3 wood, 6 iron and a wedge. It was witnessed by my playing partners Glen Johnson, Harv Grummett and Neil Crane plus four others standing on the next hole.

I have played golf for 50 years and this was my first hole-in-one. Think it may have had something to do with me wearing my lucky Edmonton Oilers hat.

Dan Turner, Essex Golf & Country Club, Hole #12

I used a 4 iron (since it was cold and into a 2 club wind) to 167 yards. I played with Scott Mallender, Ed Claremont and Gino Morga.

Doug Staines, Fox Meadow Golf Club, Hole #7

It was on the 7^th hole of Fox Meadow in Prince Edward Island. It was playing 122 yards from the white tees. I used a 7 iron and a Titliest Pro V1 ball. I hit it straight at the pin and it bounced first on the fringe then ran up to the pin and in. At first, I wasn’t sure if it was in the hole or if there was a drop in the green and we just didn’t see it. I was playing with my wife and two young lads we were paired up with that were from Charlottetown. I turned to the two lads, and they enthusiastically said, “It’s in, it’s in.” Of course, my wife wasn’t paying attention and missed it. The one lad had already texted a friend of his by the time I turned around to them, who got a hole-in-one two weeks prior on the same hole and he told the lad to welcome me to the club. It was great, but they insisted on buying me a beer as a welcome to P.E.I. and as congratulations.

Gary Rietze, Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, Hole #17

It was on Saturday, October 7^th and I was playing with another member, Mickey Trader, from our “Happy Gang” group. I was not having a very good game that day until I got to the 17^th hole. Our club professional Victor Batiste haedppen to be at that hole doing a contest – pay $5.00 and get three tickets for a draw. We had to beat the pro on the first shot to qualify. The only stipulation was that he had to use the club of my choosing with the exception of a putter. I got up to the tee off spot, the yardage was 107 yards so I chose my pitching wedge. As luck would have it, when I teed off, I hit the green about three or four yards from the hole and nicely rolled in for the ace.

I started playing golf at the age of 53 at the Roberts Creek Golf Course and was thoroughly fascinated with the game. My wife and I moved to Osoyoos in 2014 and I joined the Nk’Mip Desert Canyon Golf Course. I belong to a group of seniors known as the “Happy Gang” who play twice a week. I’m now 81 years of age so this was a very memorable feat for me to accomplish.

Geoff Beecroft, Oshawa Golf & Curling Club, Hole #5

The hole was 165 yards. I hit a hybrid 6 iron and I played with Brian O’Donnell and James McCready.

Henry Friesen, La Broquirie Golf Course, Hole #3

We were playing as a fivesome since there was 13 of us in total playing in an over 55 mini tournament. We started on the third hole and my first swing of the day with a 7 iron from 160 found the bottom of the cup. We weren’t sure if it had gone in since the green slopes away, but it disappeared, so I was hopeful. This was at La Broquirie golf course.

Ian Nicholson, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #4

Last senior men’s tournament of the season was cloudy, chill of fall in the air, brisk breeze, hole #4 at the Harvest Golf Club in Kelowna, B.C. I teed up and hit a solid 8 iron into the wind of a 140 yard par 3. Sure it was going to be long but no, one hop, and rolled right into the hole. My playing group of Greg Cowie and Al Starkoski yelled, “it’s in the hole, you won the $2500!”

James Hamilton, The Pulpit Club – Paintbrush, Hole #13

My playing partner was Robert Rutledge. It was 140 yards uphill from the white tees. I used a 6 iron.

Jayla Kucy, Big Sky Golf Course, Hole #13

It was the first round of our tournament.  I was playing with Abbi Beld and Olivia Chappell and we started on the front 9. After 9 holes, I was playing well (sitting at -1). As we started the back nine, we could see that there were rain showers in the distance making its way down the hills. We finished the 10th hole and noticed the rain showers were getting closer. On hole #13 the rain is pouring, and we have to wait in the rain. Hole #13 is par 3, 152 yards. I took a 7 iron because the rain was coming down and I needed to get the ball to the green. The flag is on the right middle part of the green, with a downhill slope to the flag from behind the flag. After a lengthy wait on the tee box in the pouring rain, I teed off and hit a solid 7 iron shot that tracked over the flag and hit about eight feet directly over the flag on the slope. As it hit the green, it rolled back down the slope and dropped into the cup.

 

My dad was standing by the green and started to jump and cheer that the ball went in. I was so happy! My two brothers have multiple holes-in-one, and I was the only child left in the family with zero. Now I got one, those were my first thoughts!  

Jeff Guilbeault, Kawartha Golf Club, Hole #14

I have been golfing for 40 years and never thought I would get a hole-in-one and then it happened! On October 12, 2023, I was golfing with my regular Blind Partner League colleagues, John Pinnegar and Clete Pineau.  I was teeing off on hole #14 at the Kawartha Golf Club in Peterborough, Ontario. The hole is a par 3, 132 yards and you tee off to an elevated green that severely slopes from back to front, so much so that the pin is always at the back of the green. There was a stiff wind in our face, so I clubbed up to a 5 hybrid and hit a solid tee shot right at the pin. We couldn’t see it land so I thought I would be at the back of the green. As we approached the green, the ball was nowhere to be seen until John looked in the hole and there it was. Lucky for me it was a slow day at the course and the beer tab was not too bad! In addition, I also broke 80 for the first time on my home course shooting 79 thanks in part to the hole-in-one!

Jeremy Coulson, Royal Oaks Golf Club, Hole #6

I was playing with co-workers at Royal Oaks Golf Club. On the 145 yard hole #6 I used a pitching wedge to get a hole-in-one.

Jimmy Leask, Kelowna Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

I got it with three others playing with me. It was towards the end of the round and nearing the end of the day. We had 138 yards to the pin, in which I hit a 9 iron with a slight draw. It hit about two feet below and right of the cup and took one hop and went in the hole! This is my second hole-in-one ever, I had my first one last year so that makes for back-to-back seasons!

Pretty excited as in the past two seasons I’ve gone from a 12.7 handicap down to a 4.7 with a lot of practice and hard work!

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

It was Madawaska #8 and 129 yards. I was using my pitching wedge. It was a magical moment. Thanks to my friend Nick for taking me out on his home course that day!

Kelly Lang, Springbank Links, Hole #5

It was another beautiful September morning at Springbank Links where my wife and I are members. The course is beautiful and in fantastic condition with quick greens and lots of trouble on the front nine with what’s called the Devils Triad, holes five, six and seven are some of the toughest holes to attack at Springbank links.

We are playing the blue tees at 6,400 yards and the fifth hole par 3 is 154 yards with no wind and the sun shining. I hit an 8 iron fairly well just after watching my buddy Tony roll his ball within five feet of the hole and likely the snip for today. My golf ball had the perfect bounce and roll but Tony thought he would help by coaxing it into the hole, all I heard was him saying, “keep going, keep going” until the ball disappeared into the hole.

That’s my third hole-in-one and second on this hole, my first was on the 16^th hole at Springbank Links and also talked into the hole by my buddy Tony. The snips boys were happy to get a free beverage but not so happy on the payout.

Marc Martin, Kingswood Signature Golf Course, Hole #7

I got my first ever hole-in-one this past Thursday at Kingswood Golf Course. The weather was a bit cold, feeling around 11 degrees. My playing partners were Peter Birney, Serge Boucher and Pierre Castonguay. It was hole #7, back pin, playing about 155 yards. I used an 8 iron. It landed about 15 feet before the pin and rolled up nicely until it disappeared into the cup. What a feeling! I think my playing partners were more excited than I was. I knew I hit a good shot, but I never thought it was going in the hole.

Mark Delson, Rocky Crest, Hole #14

I had my first hole-in-one at Rocky Crest on June 1st, 2023. It was a 7 iron to go 145 yards. What a great day!

Mark Raven, Millcroft Golf Club, Hole #17

My third career hole-in-one. It was 172 yards into the breeze, and I used a 6 iron. Played with T.J. Miron and Matt Vance.

Matt Parry, Shaganappi Point Golf Club, Hole #3

It was an 11:51 tee time on Friday, October 20, 2023 at Shaganappi Point in Calgary. I was playing with my good friend Billy Dixon and our round started great. It was about 9 degrees and we were out as a twosome. I was sitting five over after two holes walking on to the tee box of hole #3. My rangefinder said 127 yards adjusted to 124 and there was a slight wind behind us. Since it was a bit cold, I pulled one extra club and decided to hit a smooth 9 iron. I tend to cut my irons a bit so with a front right pin placement I took aim at the center of the green. I put a nice smooth full swing on it, and it immediately looked pretty good. It was right at the center of the green and fading right towards the hole. As soon as it landed it tracked towards the hole. Billy said, “That line looks right on.” I was frozen on the ball rolling towards the hole fully expecting to see it slide past the hole but as it came in line, we watched it drop in the hole. I flung my club to the ground.

I turned towards Billy absolutely gob smacked to what I’d just seen. I stepped toward him and attempted a hug, but my excitement told me to run around the tee box twice hollering uncontrollably. A minute later once I had regained some type of composure and decompressed myself with a profanity laced hyperactive celebration, Billy took the tee box and proceeded to hit his ball on a very similar line. Billy doesn’t cut the ball like I do so when it hit the upslope mid-green and started to backspin and roll towards the hole for a second we thought we might be on the precipice of something inconceivable. Could it be, back-to-back aces? Billy’s ball was tracking perfectly but unfortunately came up a little over a foot short. Two amazing shots and an amazing moment. I started filming myself on my phone as we left the tee box as I wanted to freeze the moment in time so I could relive it as much as I could stand. As we pulled up in front of the green on the cart, I ran over to the hole giddy with excitement and when I got to the hole and saw the TaylorMade 3 ball in the cup I went bonkers all over again. A neighbouring group heard me screaming in celebration and they asked if I had got a hole-in-one. I couldn’t help but want to share my news with anyone who’d listen. As I walked a few steps back, I turned back to the hole and filmed Billy make a 15” putt for birdie. He gave me a hug and we walked off to the cart.

Megan Moody, Harvest Golf Club, Hole #11

It was a hot day in Kelowna and all of us were struggling a bit in the heat. None of us had played the course before (my partner Peter Lantin and his two cousins, Cliff Fregin and Willis Parnell). Cliff had just moved to Kelowna and the rest of us came to visit and have a fun weekend of golf. It was the 11^th hole. I was the last to hit and everyone else was safely on the green. It was 115 yards par 3, downhill. I hit an 8 iron perfectly, low trajectory and straight, knowing I wanted to hit it short and run it towards the hole. My partner, Peter, who is a part-time sports broadcaster, called it. “Ooh looks good!”, as it hit the green, released towards the hole, and dropped in. We all cheered! Sure glad I got to share the experience with this group, as I feel I was a bit stunned, maybe it was the heat but I’ve never hit a hole-in-one and only now understand how rare it is. I’ve only been playing golf for the last few years as I picked it up during covid times. Of course, I am now fully addicted to the sport!

Funny thing was, I had found the ball a few holes earlier and thought this could be my lucky ball to play on a Kelowna course. It was a Srixon ball that had a custom Ogopogo logo stamped on it.

Michael Waters, Fergus Golf and Country Club, Hole #3

The white tee box was moved forward to accommodate repairs on the normal tee area. One of the guys scoped the yardage at approximately 142. I used a 9 iron with a gentle breeze at our backs. The ball had a high trajectory that landed near the front of the green and released toward the hole and dropped in the hole.

The other golfers who witnessed the hole-in-one were Jason Howson, Jeremy Hamilton and Dave Oxford. Afterwards, Dave Oxford went into the pro shop and informed the counter staff that I had achieved a hole-in-one. They were so nice to me. A picture was taken with me holding a flag with a Fergus logo on the flag, which I have put away as a keepsake. Also, I received a complimentary beer from a sponsoring beer company.

Mike McCaffrey, Conestoga Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

The hole was 110 yards and I used a gap wedge.

I was playing with my friends Derrick MacDonald and Brian Shaw.

Mike Nystedt, Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club, Hole #17

It was hole #17 at the Sault Golf Club, where I’m a long-time member. It was 183 yards to the pin that day, hit 6 iron, ball never left the flag, no one in my group could see it go in but we heard it hit the flag stick. It was exciting to walk up and find it in the hole. I was playing with good friends, Paul Robb, Carl Berkenbosch and David Baldwin.

Murray Markle, Sun City North Golf Course, Hole #3

The pin was set at 142 yards on the day of my hole-in-one achievement. I used a Ping G425 6 iron and a TaylorMade golf ball. The greens were very slow that day due to recent overseeding and the pin was at the back of the green. Normally, my shot would have rolled off the back of the green, but it slowed down enough to roll up and fall in the hole. I wasn’t sure at first, but when we walked up to the green, there it was in the bottom of the cup.  It was men’s day at our club, and I didn’t bother to throw a quarter in the hole-in-one pot so I missed out on collecting the 80 bucks that was in the pot. I was playing with Mike Robert, Dan Schroeder and Tom Bellinger. This was my second ace in my golfing life, the first being six years ago at another sun city course.

Nancy Shaver, Hautes Plaines, Hole #7

My hole-in-one was scored on hole #7 at Club de Golf Hautes Plaines in Gatineau. It’s listed as 125 yards from the red tees, but I think it was playing around 110 that day. I used an 8 iron. My playing partners were Margo Allore, Lori Blencowe and Francie Ducros.

Norma Poel, Settlers Ghost, Hole #16

I was playing Settlers Ghost, and we were on the 16th hole nearing the end. It was a warm day, getting tired and just hoping to be done and on to the patio. In a hurry, I grabbed a 7 iron and thought it was too much club but didn’t go back for another. Stepped up and hit it 108 yards, and we saw it hit and roll right in. My first one, after golfing for 40-plus years. We enjoyed buying the round of drinks for the few folks on the patio and our fellow playing partners.

Paul Senyshyn, Rideau View Country Club, Hole #15

On October 19^th, 2023, I was playing with Ken Kratz, Robert Kucher and Rolf Boehme. The yardage that day was 139 yards, and I used an 8 iron.

Riley McNab, Shannon Lake Golf Club, Hole #4

It was just a normal day, getting out on the course after work. I was playing with two of my co-workers. It was the 4th hole at Shannon Lake golf course. I hit my 7 iron for the 182 yard hole. I lost sight of it immediately cause of the overcast conditions. My one co-worker was convinced it went in the bunker behind the green while my other coworker was persistent that it had gone in the hole. As we walked up to the green, I had high hopes that it was indeed in the hole. I checked the bunker first just to confirm it wasn’t there. I then walked up to the hole and peaked over and saw my ball. I can say for sure that there is no greater feeling than seeing your ball in the cup.

Scott MacKinnon, Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, Hole #4

Was playing 169 or so downhill into a very normal wind against us. I was with my two buddies, Tracy and Dave. I hit a 6 iron, probably one of the best golf shots in my life. The ball went straight as an arrow towards the pin, bounced a few times and rolled in. Was pretty neat.

Shawn Spicer, Serenity Golf Club – Dancing Bull, Hole #5

It was 205 yards with a 7 iron.

Terry Carlisle, Fairview Mountain Golf Club, Hole #7

It was the par 3 7th hole at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, British Columbia. The hole was playing 171 yards from the blue tees I used a 7 iron.

Tess Trojan, Port Royal Plantation Robber’s Row Golf Course, Hole #15

Originally, I selected a pitching wedge but my dad pointed out the pin was at the back of the green. We thought it was tracking but couldn’t tell it was straight into the sun. I was blown away when I saw it in the cup.

Timothy Tan, Caughnawaga Golf Club – Yellow, Hole #6

It was a crisp autumn day. I was playing with my good friends Jean Laflamme, Donna Laflamme and Maria Baptista. The sixth hole is a beautiful par 3 with an island green. The shot was about 110 yards into the wind, with a 9 iron. The ball took a small hop and disappeared into the hole. It’s my second ace, 25 years after the first one. What a great way to finish the season!

Todd Burdon, Eagles Nest Golf Club, Hole #8

It was the most incredible day and a perfect shot!

My playing partner was David Quinn on hole #8 at Eagles Nest. It was 133 yards with a 9 iron.

Wayne London, Miskanaw Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

I was playing with my wife, Theresa Gill, and two other friends Marc and Santeena Hancock. The pin was 149 yards and I canned it with a Ping i525 pitching wedge.

Lauren Kim fires 4-under round to sit three shots back in individual standings

Hyosong Lee, 14, posted a 5-under 67 on Friday to propel the Republic of Korea into a share of the lead with Spain after Round 3 of the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship. The Koreans, who started the day two shots off the lead, and the Spaniards stand at 17-under-par 415, with Thailand one stroke back in solo third.

Lee, the winner of the last two Korean Women’s Amateurs, rode a hot putter with six birdies against one bogey while besting the field with 10 one-putts. Korea, which is seeking its fourth Espirito Santo Trophy in the last seven competitions, added a 71 from Minsol Kim, No. 4 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®, to bring the team’s third round tally to a 6-under 138. Kyorim Seo carded a non-counting 71 as only two of each team’s best three scores count toward the day’s total.

The three co-leaders heading into Friday’s third round struggled to get anything going during their opening nine holes. Australia, Spain and Thailand all made the turn with team scores at even par or 1 under, while Korea emerged as the solo leader with a nine-hole total of 4 under par.

Lopez Ramirez and world No. 2 Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio led a back-nine charge for the Spaniards, combining for three birdies on the final three holes to jump back into a share of the lead. Spain is seeking its first Espirito Santo Trophy since 1992 and first medal since 2012.

Also making a run on the back nine was Thailand. Reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion Eila Galitsky birdied the par-4 17th and par-5 18th to post a 3-under 69 in addition to a 72 from Navaporn Soontreeyapas, who co-leads the individual scoring race.

Chinese Taipei had the lowest team score on Friday and climbed six spots into fourth place (418) on the strength of a 6-under 66 from Huai-Chien Hsu and a 69 from Hsin Chun Liao. Australia, the 36-hole co-leader, dropped into fifth place after an even-par 144, followed by England, who sits in sixth at 12-under 420.

Thailand’s Soontreeyapas shares the individual lead with Chinese Taipei’s Hsu at 10-under 206. They are one stroke ahead of Spain’s Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, Avani Prashanth, of India, and Korea’s Seo.

Canada posted a 2-under 142 to remain in a tie for seventh with New Zealand at 8-under for the tournament. 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. had the low round of the day for Canada firing a 4-under 68 on Friday to move to 7-under for the tournament and now sits T8, just three shots back of Soontreeyapas and Hsu in the individual standings.

Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. shot a 2-over 74 and is now T30 at 1-under. Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the day with a 3-over 75 and is at 8-over after three rounds.

Notable:

• Hyosong Lee, 14, is the third-youngest player in the field this week. Last December, she won the Malaysian Amateur Open.
• Avani Prashanath went 42 consecutive holes without a bogey (or worse) before surrendering her first on the par-3 seventh hole. Prashanath posted her third sub-par round of the competition (68-68-71).
• Francesca Fiorellini, of Italy, posted a bogey-free 7-under 65 to tie the low individual round of the competition and propel the Italians into a tie for 14th heading into the final round.
• No. 1-ranked amateur Ingrid Lindblad, of Sweden, carded a 6-under 66, including an eagle 3 on the par-5 18th to lead the defending champions to a third-round score of 138. The Swedes sit in a tie for 14th place with Italy.
• The United States of America, last year’s silver medal winner, sits in a tie for ninth place at 7-under.
• Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto is a past champion at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. She won the 2021 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific held on the club’s National Course.
• Spain is vying to become the eighth wire-to-wire champion in Espirito Santo Trophy history, and the first since Sweden accomplished the feat in 2008.
• Thailand, competing in its 10th WWATC, is seeking its second medal in team history after winning silver in 2002.
• India (T-9) is in position for its best-ever Espirito Santo finish. Its current best (T-17) came in 2014.

What’s Next:

The final round begins Saturday at 6:30 a.m. local time with a two-tee start on the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The leading teams of the Republic of Korea, Spain and Thailand will occupy the final tee times of 12:06, 12:17 and 12:28 p.m. off the first tee.

Results from Friday’s third round of the 2023 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

T1     Spain 137-138-140–415
          Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 68-69-70–207
          Julia Lopez Ramirez 69-69-70–208
          Carla Bernat Escuder 70-70-77—217

T1     Republic of Korea 140-137-138–415
          Hyosong Lee 71-70-67–208
          Kyorim Seo 69-67-71–207
          Minsol Kim 73-70-71—214

3      Thailand 141-134-141–416
          Eila Galitsky 72-70-69–211
          Navaporn Soontreeyapas 69-65-72–206
          Suvichaya Vinijchaitham 72-69-75—216

4      Chinese Taipei 144-139-135–418
          Huai-Chien Hsu 72-68-66–206
          Hsin Chun Liao 72-72-69–213
          Ting-Hsuan Huang 76-71-75—222

5      Australia 141-134-144–419
          Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 72-66-71–209
          Justice Bosio 69-68-73–210
          Caitlin Peirce 77-73-74—224

6      England 144-137-139–420
          Lottie Woad 72-70-69–211
          Charlotte Heath 72-76-70–218
          Caley McGinty 77-67-74—218

T7     New Zealand 148-135-141–424
          Fiona Xu 74-67-69–210
          Eunseo Choi 74-68-72–214
          Vivian Lu 74-71-74—219

T7     CANADA 138-144-142–424
          Lauren Kim 69-72-68–209
          Monet Chun 69-72-74–215
          Katie Cranston 74-75-75—224

T9     Germany 140-142-143–425
          Helen Briem 72-69-69–210
          Chiara Horder 69-74-74–217
          Celina Sattelkau 71-73-75—219

T9     Ireland 139-145-141–425
          Aine Donegan 74-70-69–213
          Sara Byrne 68-75-72–215
          Beth Coulter 71-77-74—222

T9     United States of America 142-139-144–425
          Anna Davis 73-68-72–213
          Rachel Kuehn 70-71-72–213
          Megan Schofill 72-73-72—217

T9     India 140-142-143–425
          Avani Prashanth 68-68-71–207
          Mannat Brar 72-74-72–218
          Nishna Patel 75-80-74—229

13     Scotland 141-142-143–426
          Carmen Griffiths 71-70-69–210
          Lorna McClymont 73-73-74–220
          Hannah Darling 70-72-76—218

T14    Sweden 142-147-138–427
          Ingrid Lindblad 71-75-66–212
          Kajsa Arwefjall 71-74-72–217
          Meja Ortengren 71-73-74—218

T14    Italy 143-147-137–427
          Francesca Fiorellini 73-75-65–213
          Natalia Aparicio 70-72-72–214
          Matilde Partele 75-82-72—229

16     Philippines 143-146-140–429
          Rianne Malixi 74-74-69–217
          Junia Louise Gabasa 69-73-71–213
          Grace Pauline Quintanilla 80-73-73—226

17     Hong Kong, China 145-142-143–430
          Arianna Lau 71-71-71–213
          Sophie Han 74-71-72–217
          Hoi Ki Lau 79-74-76—229

18     Norway 143-142-146–431
          Silje Torvund Ohma 73-68-72–213
          Mia Lussand 70-76-74–220
          Anna Krekling 74-74-75—223

19     Mexico 144-145-143–432
          Lauren Olivares 75-73-68–216
          Vania Alicia Simont 71-72-75–218
          Cory Lopez 73-79-77—229

T20    Japan 145-141-147–433
          Mizuki Hashimoto 77-69-73–219
          Mamika Shinchi 68-73-74–215
          Miku Ueta 78-72-78—228

T20    France 146-146-141–433
          Vairana Heck 75-74-70–219
          Adela Cernousek 72-72-71–215
          Louise Uma Landgraf 74-74-74—222

22     Morocco 144-145-145–434
          Sofia Cherif Essakali 70-73-72–215
          Malak Bouraeda 74-77-73–224
          Rim Imni 80-72-75—227

23     Colombia 142-147-147–436
          Cristina Ochoa 71-76-71–218
          María Hoyos 71-75-76–222
          Ana Sofía Murcia 71-72-77—220

T24    Singapore 145-148-144–437
          Inez Ng 72-70-68–210
          Aloysa Atienza 73-82-76–231
          Xingtong Chen 75-78-80—233

T24    Switzerland 144-151-142–437
          Victoria Levy 73-76-70–219
          Yana Beeli 77-75-72–224
          Caroline Sturdza 71-82-73—226

26     South Africa 149-144-146–439
          Caitlyn Macnab 73-71-70–214
          Kajal Mistry 76-74-76–226
          Megan Streicher 76-73-80—229

T27    Netherlands 147-148-145–440
          Rosanna Boere 75-77-71–223
          Anne den Dunnen 72-71-74–217
          Lynn van der Sluijs 77-78-75—230

T27    Finland 148-149-143–440
          Katri Bakker 75-74-69–218
          Henni Mustonen 73-78-74–225
          Emilia Vaisto 75-75-75—225

T27    Czechia 143-148-149–440
          Veronika Kedronova 73-75-73–221
          Patricie Mackova 71-73-76–220
          Denisa Vodickova 72-75-76—223

30     Denmark 151-146-145–442
          Cecilie Leth-Nissen 75-75-72–222
          Natacha Host Husted 78-77-73–228
          Olivia Grønborg 76-71-74—221

31     People’s Republic of China 152-142-149–443
          Zixin Ni 79-78-74–231
          Xinyu Cao 73-69-75–217
          Tong An 80-73-77—230

32     Belgium 144-153-147–444
          Sophie Bert 71-77-73–221
          Savannah De Bock 73-76-74–223
          Celine Manche 73-78-77—228

33     United Arab Emirates 150-153-145–448
          Jamie Camero 78-77-71–226
          Intissar Rich 76-76-74–226
          Lara El Chaib 74-77-75—226

34     Chile 153-161-150–464
          Carolina Alcaino 75-84-73–232
          Michelle Melandri 78-77-77–232
          Amelia Ruiz 78-88-82—248

35     Pakistan 151-156-159–466
          Humna Amjad 73-78-79–230
          Parkha Ijaz 78-78-80–236
          Rimsha Ijaz 84-84-85—253

36     Bolivia 162-164-160–486
          Victoria Suarez 82-81-78–241
          Connie Quiroga 80-86-82–248
          Florencia Cuellar Gutierrez 87-83-82–252

Australia and Thailand posted a pair of 10-under 134’s to surge into a three-way tie with Spain halfway through the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The Aussies and the Thais jumped six spots on the leader board for a share of the top spot at 13-under 275 after Round 2.

The Australian duo of Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and 2023 South Australia Women’s Amateur champion Justice Bosio combined for 10 birdies and no bogeys. Hinson-Tolchard, a senior at Oklahoma State University who won the Big 12 Conference individual title last spring, led the Aussies with a 6-under 66.

Navaporn Soontreeyapas led a late-afternoon charge for Thailand, birdieing four of her final seven holes to post a 7-under 65, the lowest round of the competition thus far. Soontreeyapas, the 2023 Singapore Open Amateur champion, holds a two-shot advantage on the individual leaderboard at 10-under-par 134.

Thailand, which finished tied for 20th a year ago in France, added a bogey-free, 3-under 69 from Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.

Spain’s Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, who holds a World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR® of No. 2, and Julia Ramirez, No. 5 in WAGR®, both posted 69s, while teammate Carla Bernat Escuder added a non-counting 70. Spain, which held the first-round lead by one stroke, is the only team with all three players inside the top 10 of the championship’s individual scoring.

The Republic of Korea remains in solo fourth place at 11-under 277, two shots off the leaders, with England and the United States of America sharing fifth at 7-under 281.  

After starting the day in 17th position, England made the biggest move among the morning wave behind a 5-under 67 from Caley McGinty, a redshirt senior at Ohio State University, and a 2-under 70 from world No. 9 Lottie Woad. After opening with a 77 on Wednesday, McGinty, a member of the last two Great Britain and Ireland Curtis Cup Teams, rattled off six birdies in windy morning conditions, including three of the four par-3s.

The USA added a 4-under 68 from world No. 6 Anna Davis and a 71 from Rachel Kuehn, who is competing in her third WWATC and her second as a member of the USA team following a silver-medal finish last year in France.

Canada, which began the day one stroke off the lead in solo second, posted an even-par 144 to position itself in a tie for seventh with India and Germany.

“They’re doing a great job staying steady and giving themselves opportunities,” said Canadian Captain Salimah Mussani. “That’s kind of our theme for the week is ‘give yourself opportunities.’ There’s 18 a day so take advantage of as many as you can.”

2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. and 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. both recorded rounds of even par 72 to remain at 3-under for the tournament and are both T10 in the individual standings. Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the day with a 3-over 75 and is at 5-over after 36-holes.

Quotable:

Captain Salimah Mussani, Canada: “In the morning, the conditions were a little tougher. It was obviously raining and a lot windier and gusting from different directions, but I think they managed pretty good. A lot of positives going into the weekend. It’s nice that there’s two days left for sure.”

Notable:

• Thailand’s Soontreeyapas (10-under) leads the individual scoring by two strokes over Kyorim Seo, of the Republic of Korea, and Avani Prashanath, of India. Prashanath posted her second straight bogey-free 68 on Thursday. She is the only player in the field yet to make a bogey or worse.
• Eila Galitsky celebrated her 17th birthday on Thursday with a non-counting 2-under 70 for co-leading Thailand. Galitsky won the 2023 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific and competed in three professional majors this year, including a low-amateur (T28) finish in the Chevron Championship in April.
• Grace Pauline Quintanilla made the only eagle on Day 2. Quintanilla made a 3 on the par-5 8th hole en route to a 1-over 73 for the Philippines.
• The United States of America is seeking to win the Espirito Santo and the Eisenhower trophies together in the same year for the eighth time. The U.S. is the only country to accomplish this feat and last did so in 1984. Last week, the American team of Nick Dunlap, David Ford and Gordon Sargent won the men’s championship by 11 strokes.
• The National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club is playing to a yardage of 6,497 yards/5,940 meters this week for the Espirito Santo Trophy, which makes it the longest course in WWATC history. 
• Thursday was the coolest day of the week thus far at Abu Dhabi Golf Club and included the first precipitation. Light to moderate rain trickled in and out of the area throughout the morning with wind gusts up to 26 mph, while temperatures hovered between 25-30 degrees Celsius (77-86 degrees Fahrenheit).
   

What’s Next:

Round 3 begins Friday at 6:30 a.m. local time with a two-tee start on the National Course.

Results from Thursday’s second round of the 2023 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

T1     Thailand 141-134–275
        Suvichaya Vinijchaitham 72-69–141
        Navaporn Soontreeyapas 69-65–134
        Eila Galitsky 72-70—142

T1     Australia 141-134–275
        Justice Bosio 69-68–137
        Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 72-66–138
        Caitlin Peirce 77-73—150

T1     Spain 137-138–275
        Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio 68-69–137
        Carla Bernat Escuder 70-70–140
        Julia Lopez Ramirez 69-69—138

4      Republic of Korea 140-137–277
        Minsol Kim 73-70–143
        Hyosong Lee 71-70–141
        Kyorim Seo 69-67—136

T5     United States of America 142-139–281
        Anna Davis 73-68–141
        Rachel Kuehn 70-71–141
        Megan Schofill 72-73—145

T5     England 144-137–281
        Charlotte Heath 72-76–148
        Caley McGinty 77-67–144
        Lottie Woad 72-70—142

T7     Germany 140-142–282
        Helen Briem 72-69–141
        Chiara Horder 69-74–143
        Celina Sattelkau 71-73—144

T7     India 140-142–282
        Mannat Brar 72-74–146
        Nishna Patel 75-80–155
        Avani Prashanth 68-68—136

T7     CANADA 138-144–282
        Monet Chun 69-72–141
        Katie Cranston 74-75–149
        Lauren Kim 69-72—141

T10    Scotland 141-142–283
        Hannah Darling 70-72–142
        Carmen Griffiths 71-70–141
        Lorna McClymont 73-73—146

T10    New Zealand 148-135–283
        Eunseo Choi 74-68–142
        Vivian Lu 74-71–145
        Fiona Xu 74-67—141

T10    Chinese Taipei 144-139–283
        Hsin Chun Liao 72-72–144
        Huai-Chieu Hsu 72-68–140
        Ting-Hsuan Huang 76-71—147

13     Ireland 139-145–284
        Sara Byrne 68-75–143
        Beth Coulter 71-77–148
        Aine Donegan 74-70—144

14     Norway 143-142–285
        Anna Krekling 74-74–148
        Mia Lussand 70-76–146
        Silje Torvund Ohma 73-68—141

15     Japan 145-141–286
        Mizuki Hashimoto 77-69–146
        Mamika Shinchi 68-73–141
        Miku Ueta 78-72—150

16     Hong Kong, China 145-142–287
        Sophie Han 74-71–145
        Arianna Lau 71-71–142
        Hoi Ki Lau 79-74—153

T17    Colombia 142-147–289
        Ana Sofía Murcia 71-72–143
        Cristina Ochoa 71-76–147
        María Hoyos 71-75—146

T17    Mexico 144-145–289
        Lauren Olivares 75-73–148
        Cory Lopez 73-79–152
        Vania Alicia Simont 71-72—143

T17    Morocco 144-145–289
        Rim Imni 80-72–152
        Sofia Cherif Essakali 70-73–143
        Malak Bouraeda 74-77—151

T17    Sweden 142-147–289
        Kajsa Arwefjall 71-74–145
        Meja Ortengren 71-73–144
        Ingrid Lindblad 71-75—146

T17    Philippines 143-146–289
        Junia Louise Gabasa 69-73–142
        Rianne Malixi 74-74–148
        Grace Pauline Quintanilla 80-73—153

22     Italy 143-147–290
        Natalia Aparicio 70-72–142
        Francesca Fiorellini 73-75–148
        Matilde Partele 75-82—157

23     Czechia 143-148–291
        Veronika Kedronova 73-75–148
        Patricie Mackova 71-73–144
        Denisa Vodickova 72-75—147

24     France 146-146–292
        Adela Cernousek 72-72–144
        Vairana Heck 75-74–149
        Louise Uma Landgraf 74-74—148

T25    South Africa 149-144–293
        Megan Streicher 76-73–149
        Kajal Mistry 76-74–150
        Caitlyn Macnab 73-71—144

T25    Singapore 145-148–293
        Aloysa Atienza 73-82–155
        Inez Ng 72-70–142
        Xingtong Chen 75-78—153

27     People’s Republic of China 152-142–294
        Tong An 80-73–153
        Xinyu Cao 73-69–142
        Zixin Ni 79-78—157

T28    Netherlands 147-148–295
        Rosanna Boere 75-77–152
        Anne den Dunnen 72-71–143
        Lynn van der Sluijs 77-78—155

T28    Switzerland 144-151–295
        Caroline Sturdza 71-82–153
        Yana Beeli 77-75–152
        Victoria Levy 73-76—149

T30    Denmark 151-146–297
        Olivia Grønborg 76-71–147
        Natacha Host Husted 78-77–155
        Cecilie Leth-Nissen 75-75—150

T30    Belgium 144-153–297
        Sophie Bert 71-77–148
        Savannah De Bock 73-76–149
        Celine Manche 73-78—151

T30    Finland 148-149–297
        Katri Bakker 75-74–149
        Emilia Vaisto 75-75–150
        Henni Mustonen 73-78—151

33     United Arab Emirates 150-153–303
        Lara El Chaib 74-77–151
        Intissar Rich 76-76–152
        Jamie Camero 78-77—155

34     Pakistan 151-156–307
        Parkha Ijaz 78-78–156
        Humna Amjad 73-78–151
        Rimsha Ijaz 84-84—168

35     Chile 153-161–314
        Carolina Alcaino 75-84–159
        Michelle Melandri 78-77–155
        Amelia Ruiz 78-88—166

36     Bolivia 162-164–326
        Florencia Cuellar G. 87-83–170
        Connie Quiroga 80-86–166
        Victoria Suarez 82-81–163

Canada’s Ellie Szeryk had the golden touch over the weekend, winning four different ways at the Jim West Challenge. Szeryk won her first individual NCAA title on Monday, which in turn helped Southern Methodist University win its first team championship of the fall, just days after the Mustangs also won the tournament’s pro-am. 

Things were going so well for Szeryk and her teammates that they even won the tournament’s karaoke contest.

“It was pretty special. I honestly wasn’t really expecting it this week, so it was a nice surprise,” said Szeryk of her victories on the course. “It was really special that I got to win with my team as well. On our drive back to campus we were all super excited. “It was just really amazing.”

Szeryk, from London, Ont., won by a stroke, finishing at 16-under overall. She played bogey free in her final round including an eagle on No. 5 to finish the day at 9 under. That tied her for the second lowest round in Mustangs history and gave her eight top-10 finishes since she started at SMU in the fall of 2022.

“I think the biggest thing is my putting,” said Szeryk on how she finally came out on top. “This past year I did really well and I had been close a lot of times, but my putting just didn’t really come through.”

“It wasn’t really connecting at the right times or I would have it for the first couple rounds and then that final round, when I really needed it, I was just missing some crucial putts”

The Mustangs went into Monday’s final round tied for first with Houston and Texas State at 15 under. SMU quickly opened up a 10-stroke lead on the day, and eventually finished at 23-under par. The 18-hole score shattered the previous SMU record of -14 set back at The American Championship in April.

Szeryk and her SMU teammates started the Friday-through-Monday event on a winning note when their Shrek-themed routine set to Smash Mouth’s “All-Star,” complete with costumes, won the tournament’s karaoke challenge.

“You have to create this like dance routine, everything and so our team did Shrek and our team ended up winning,” said Szeryk, who dressed as the Gingerbread Man, laughing about the performance. “They have judges and the teams that win get more money toward their programs so we went all out for that.”

Szeryk gained professional experience competing as an amateur at the CPKC Women’s Open at Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in August. She was paired with her older sister Maddie Szeryk, an LPGA Tour regular, at the event.

The younger Szeryk, who also played in the 2018 Canadian Open in Regina, said the exposure to the LPGA Tour helped set up the victory at the Jim West Challenge.

“I took a lot from the Canadian Open and what I’ve learned golf-wise was putting was the biggest thing that hurt me on that golf course,” said Szeryk, who is a political science major. “So just a lot of managing my time and a lot of time sacrifices. 

“Rather than going out with my friends, or staying up late, it’s a lot of like, ‘hey, I need to work on my putting, so I’m going to stay and practice a bit longer.”

LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is the lone Canadian in the field at the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur. She’s 14th on the Race to CME Globe standings heading into the event at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

PRESIDENTS CUP — Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., the captain for the International Team at the 2024 Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club, has elected to have six captain’s picks as opposed to the traditional four. The 12-on-12 event sees the best male golfers from the United States take on the top players from around the world, minus Europe. Six captain’s selections may mean that Weir loads up on Canadian talent. Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., were on last year’s International team, the most Canadians to ever play in a Presidents Cup.

Monet Chun and Lauren Kim are T5 at 3-under and one-shot back of the leaders

Spain, bolstered by two of the top-5 ranked amateurs in the world, holds a one-stroke lead over Canada following Wednesday’s opening round of the 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, No. 2 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®, posted a 4-under-par 68 and 2023 European Ladies’ Amateur champion Julia Lopez Ramirez (No. 5) added a 69 to position Spain at 7-under-par 137, one head of the Canadians and two in front of Ireland.

Fernandez Garcia-Poggio’s round included six birdies against two bogeys. Lopez Ramirez, who was one of two amateurs to make the 36-hole cut in the 2023 AIG Women’s Open, totaled four birdies and a bogey, while teammate Carla Bernat Escuder posted a non-counting 70.

Spain, which finished fifth last year in France after a heartbreaking double-bogey from Fernandez Garcia-Poggio on the 72nd hole to fall out of the lead, is seeking its first WWATC medal since claiming silver in 2008 in Australia.

Canada rode a pair of 3-under 68s in the afternoon from 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont. and 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. to post a 6-under total of 138. Chun, who became the first Canadian to make the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, tallied six birdies and three bogeys. Teammate Katie Cranston of Oakville, Ont. finished the day at 2-over 74.

“There’s a lot of golf to play but a good start is always helpful,” said Chun, a senior at the University of Michigan. “I’m hitting it pretty consistent. Some of the putts went in so that really helped with the birdies, but hopefully tomorrow I’ll make less bogeys and put in a good round.”

Ireland’s Sara Byrne, India’s Avani Prashanth and Japan’s Mamika Shinchi matched Fernandez Garcia-Poggio’s 4-under 68 for the low rounds of the day. Ireland used a combination of Byrne’s 68 and a 71 from Beth Coulter to post a 5-under 139 and hold solo third place.

Germany, India and the Republic of Korea share fourth place at 140, three strokes behind Spain.

Playing in its sixth WWATC, India had its best start in competition history on the strength of Prashanth’s 68 and an even-par 72 from Mannat Brar.

Germany was led by a bogey-free, 3-under 69 from Chiara Horder, the team’s playing captain who is a junior at Texas Tech University, and a 71 from Celina Sattelkau.

The host nation United Arab Emirates, which is competing in its first WWATC, is in 31st place (6-over 150) after the opening round.

Notable:

Defending champion Sweden posted a 2-under 142 and sits tied for 10th. All three Swedes recorded 71’s, including world No. 1 Ingrid Lindblad. Sweden is vying to win consecutive Espirito Santo trophies for the first time in team history.

The United States of America, which finished second a year ago in France, also posted an opening-round total of 142 including a 2-under 70 from Rachel Kuehn.  

Morocco’s Sofia Cherif Essakali, 14, is the youngest player in the field. She recorded a 2-under 70 to position Morocco in a tie for 17th. Last Feburary, she was the only amateur to make the 36-hole cut in the Lalla Meryem Cup, becoming one of the youngest players to achieve that feat in a Ladies European Tour event.

Avani Prashanth’s bogey-free 68 was the lowest round by a player from India in WWATC history.

Sixteen of the 36 teams finished under par on Day 1.

A total of 48 players in the field competed in the 2022 WWATC. Belgium, Chinese Taipei, England, Morocco and New Zealand are fielding the same three players as last year.

Temperatures at Abu Dhabi Golf Club reached 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) with a heat index of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during Round 1.

What’s Next:

Round 2 begins Thursday at 6:30 a.m. with a two-tee start on the National Course.

Results from Wednesday’s first  round of the 2023 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

1      Spain – 137
        Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio – 68
        Julia Lopez Ramirez – 69
        Carla Bernat Escuder – 70

2      Canada – 138
        Monet Chun – 69
        Lauren Kim – 69
        Katie Cranston – 74

3      Ireland – 139
        Sara Byrne – 68
        Beth Coulter – 71
        Aine Donegan – 74

T4    India – 140
        Avani Prashanth – 68
        Mannat Brar – 72
        Nishna Patel – 75

T4    Republic of Korea – 140
        Kyorim Seo – 69
        Hyosong Lee – 71
        Minsol Kim – 73

T4    Germany – 140
        Chiara Horder – 69
        Celina Sattelkau – 71
        Helen Briem – 72

T7    Australia – 141
        Justice Bosio – 69
        Maddison Hinson-Tolchard – 72
        Caitlin Peirce – 77

T7    Scotland – 141
        Hannah Darling – 70
        Carmen Griffiths – 71
        Lorna McClymont – 73

T7    Thailand – 141
        Navaporn Soontreeyapas – 69
        Suvichaya Vinijchaitham – 72
        Eila Galitsky – 72

T10   Sweden – 142
        Kajsa Arwefjall – 71
        Meja Ortengren – 71
        Ingrid Lindblad – 71

T10   United States of America – 142
        Rachel Kuehn – 70
        Megan Schofill – 72
        Anna Davis – 73

T10   Colombia – 142
        Ana Sofía Murcia – 71
        Cristina Ochoa – 71
        María Hoyos – 71

T13   Italy – 143
        Natalia Aparicio – 70
        Francesca Fiorellini – 73
        Matilde Partele – 75

T13   Philippines – 143
        Junia Louise Gabasa – 69
        Rianne Malixi – 74
        Grace Pauline Quintanilla – 80

T13   Czechia – 143
        Patricie Mackova – 71
        Denisa Vodickova – 72
        Veronika Kedronova – 73

T13   Norway – 143
        Mia Lussand – 70
        Silje Torvund Ohma – 73
        Anna Krekling – 74

T17   Belgium – 144
        Sophie Bert – 71
        Savannah De Bock – 73
        Celine Manche – 73

T17   Mexico – 144
        Vania Alicia Simont – 71
        Cory Lopez – 73
        Lauren Olivares – 75

T17   Morocco – 144
        Sofia Cherif Essakali – 70
        Malak Bouraeda – 74
        Rim Imni – 80

T17   Chinese Taipei – 144
        Hsin Chun Liao – 72
        Huai-Chieu Hsu – 72
        Ting-Hsuan Huang – 76

T17   England – 144
        Lottie Woad – 72
        Charlotte Heath – 72
        Caley McGinty – 77

T17    Switzerland – 144
        Caroline Sturdza – 71
        Victoria Levy – 73
        Yana Beeli – 77

T23    Hong Kong, China – 145
        Arianna Lau – 71
        Sophie Han – 74
        Hoi Ki Lau – 79

T23    Japan – 145
        Mamika Shinchi – 68
        Mizuki Hashimoto – 77
        Miku Ueta – 78

T23    Singapore – 145
        Inez Ng – 72
        Aloysa Atienza – 73
        Xingtong Chen – 75

26     France – 146
        Adela Cernousek – 72
        Louise Uma Landgraf – 74
        Vairana Heck – 75

27     Netherlands – 147
        Anne den Dunnen – 72
        Rosanna Boere – 75
        Lynn van der Sluijs – 77

T28    Finland – 148
        Henni Mustonen – 73
        Katri Bakker – 75
        Emilia Vaisto – 75

T28    New Zealand – 148
        Vivian Lu – 74
        Eunseo Choi – 74
        Fiona Xu – 74

30     South Africa – 149
        Caitlyn Macnab – 73
        Megan Streicher – 76
        Kajal Mistry – 76

31     United Arab Emirates – 150
        Lara El Chaib – 74
        Intissar Rich – 76
        Jamie Camero – 78

T32    Pakistan – 151
        Humna Amjad – 73
        Parkha Ijaz – 78
        Rimsha Ijaz – 84

T32    Denmark – 151
        Cecilie Leth-Nissen – 75
        Olivia Grønborg – 76
        Natacha Host Husted – 78

34     People’s Republic of China – 152
        Xinyu Cao – 73
        Zixin Ni – 79
        Tong An – 80

35     Chile – 153
        Carolina Alcaino – 75
        Amelia Ruiz – 78
        Michelle Melandri – 78

36     Bolivia – 162
        Connie Quiroga – 80
        Victoria Suarez – 82
        Florencia Cuellar Gutierrez – 87

Building off a successful third round, Canada finished the World Amateur Team Championship strong on Saturday, climbing to a T17 finish with a combined team score of 13-under (146-142-136-139-563) in the 36-team field.

Two members of Team Canada earned top-30 finishes in the individual competition amongst a field of 108 golfers. Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta. fired the low round of the day for Canada with a 3-under 69 to finish the tournament T24 at 7-under (72-72-68-69-281). Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. recorded a 2-under 70 on Saturday to finish T30 at 6-under (74-70-68-70-282). Piercen Hunt of Hartland, Wis. closed the tournament with a 5-over 77 to finish at 13-over (80-74-70-77-301).

The United States of America surged to its 16th Eisenhower Trophy win, and its first since 2014, on Saturday in the 33rd World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. David Ford, the No. 5 ranked amateur in the world, posted an 8-under 64, while 2023 U.S. Amateur champion Nick Dunlap contributed a 4-under 68.

On the strength of a red-hot Ford, who was 6-under through his opening six holes, the Americans quickly established an eight-shot cushion midway through the opening nine. Ford rattled off four consecutive birdies followed by an eagle hole-out from 140 yards on the par-4 sixth to kick-start his final round.

Ford’s 64 is the second-lowest individual final round score in World Amateur Team Championship history.

After struggling to get things going early on, Dunlap birdied six of his final 10 holes, leading to his 68, and Gordon Sargent, the low amateur in the 2023 U.S. Open, posted a non-counting 71 for the USA in the fourth round. Dunlap (2), Ford (T-5) and Sargent (T-5), who competed together on last month’s victorious USA Walker Cup team at St Andrews, all finished in the top 5 of the individual scoring.

The USA’s 72-hole hole score of 36-under-par 540 was 11 strokes better than the silver-medal winning Australia and Norway teams. The 11-shot victory was the largest championship margin since Australia’s 19-stroke win in 2016.

Australia used a strong finish by Jack Buchanan (4-under 68), who birdied four of his final five holes, and a counting score from Karl Vilips (2-under 70) to close at 25-under-par 551.

Norway’s silver is its first medal in the country’s 26 Eisenhower appearances. The Norwegians, whose previous best finish was fourth place in 2022, used a 3-under 69 from Herman Sekne and a 2-under 70 from Michael Mjaaseth for a team total of 551.

France finished in fourth place, one stroke behind Australia and Norway at 24-under 552. Italy, the 2022 champions, and New Zealand finished in a tie for fifth place at 553.

The USA receives custody of the Eisenhower Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship, which will be held in 2025 in Singapore. Members of the winning team receive gold medals and members of the two second-place teams receive silver medals.

Although there is no official recognition, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori, the 2023 Western Amateur champion, was the low individual scorer at 16-under 272.

Notable:

• The USA’s 12-under 132 is tied for the second-lowest final-round team score in championship history (since moving from three to two counting scores in 2002). Singapore also carded a 12-under-132 on Saturday.
• In 33 appearances, the Americans have won 28 total medals (16 gold, nine silver and three bronze).
• The USA is one of seven nations to participate in all 33 World Amateur Team Championships since 1958.
• David Ford’s 29 on the front nine tied the second lowest nine-hole score in championship history, which has occurred six other times.  Denny McCarthy shot a 28 on the front nine during the final round of the USA’s Eisenhower Trophy win in 2014.
• Australia now has 14 medals, which remains second all-time behind the United States.
• Norway’s Michael Mjaaseth finished in a tie for eighth place in the individual scoring after he tied for ninth in 2022. He is the only player to finish in the top 10 both years.
• Czechia (T-8th) registered its best finish in a WATC after placing 22nd in 2018. 
• South Africa finished in seventh place for its first top-10 showing since 1998.
• Kazuma Kobori’s 16-under bested Nick Dunlap by one in the individual scoring. Kobori was the 2023 Elite Amateur Series champion. In addition to his Western Amateur victory this summer, Kobori added top-10 finishes in the Southern Amateur and Trans-Mississippi Amateur.
   

What’s Next:

The 30th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy will take place beginning Wednesday at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

The 2025 World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy will be held at Tenah Merah Country Club in Singapore.
 

Results from Saturday’s final round of the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

1      United States of America 135-137-136-132–540
        Nick Dunlap 69-67-69-68–273
        David Ford 68-74-69-64–275
        Gordon Sargent 67-70-67-71—275

T2     Norway 144-134-134-139–551
        Herman Sekne 73-64-68-69–274
        Michael Mjaaseth 71-70-66-70–277
        Mats Ege 75-77-71-70–293
T2     Australia 137-137-139-138–551
        Jeff Guan 68-69-68-72–277
        Karl Vilips 69-68-73-70–280
        Jack Buchanan 76-72-71-68—287

4      France 135-138-139-140–552
        Bastien Amat 68-70-67-69–274
        Hugo Le Goff 67-68-72-71–278
        Paul Beauvy 68-73-74-73—288

T5     New Zealand 139-139-139-136–553
        Kazuma Kobori 70-70-67-65–272
        Sam Jones 69-72-72-71–284
        Jayden Ford 74-69-73-72—288

T5     Italy 142-138-136-137–553
        Pietro Bovari 69-67-69-70–275
        Flavio Michetti 73-73-67-67–280
        Riccardo Fantinelli 74-71-70-71—286

7      South Africa 139-138-138-139–554
        Christo Lamprecht 71-68-68-70–277
        Christiaan Maas 70-70-71-69–280
        Altin van der Merwe 69-71-70-71—281

T8     Czechia 139-135-140-142–556
        Filip Jakubcik 69-67-70-71–277
        Petr Hruby 72-68-70-73–283
        Louis Klein 70-72-73-71—286

T8     Ireland 145-139-138-134–556
        Matthew McClean 72-68-68-69–277
        Alex Maguire 73-73-72-65–283
        Liam Nolan 75-71-70-70—286

10     Netherlands 136-140-139-142–557
        Jack Ingham 70-70-69-73–282
        Benjamin Reuter 66-71-76-71–284
        Lars van der Vight 77-70-70-71—288

T11    Denmark 137-138-143-142–560
        Jacob Olesen 68-71-71-71–281
        Frederik Kjettrup 75-67-72-71–285
        Gustav Frimodt 69-75-72-71—287

T11    Spain 138-140-142-140–560
        José Luis Ballester 69-72-68-69–278
        Luis Masaveu Roncal 69-70-74-71–284
        Angel Ayora 71-70-76-78—295

T11    Mexico 143-133-142-142–560
        Santiago De La Fuente del Valle 71-66-72-71–280
        Omar Morales 72-68-70-71–281
        José Islas Valdespino 75-67-74-75—291

14     Argentina 137-138-146-140–561
        Joaquín Ludueña 70-70-74-67–281
        Vicente Marzilio 69-68-72-75–284
        Segundo Oliva Pinto 68-72-76-73—289

T15    England 137-143-142-140–562
        Tyler Weaver 68-71-70-71–280
        Jack Bigham 72-72-72-69–285
        Barclay Brown 69-73-72-75—289

T15    Germany 141-141-145-135–562
        Jonas Baumgartner 71-70-70-69–280
        Tim Wiedemeyer 70-72-75-68–285
        Tiger Christensen 73-71-76-67—287

T17    Canada 146-142-136-139–563
        Brady McKinlay 72-72-68-69–281
        Ashton McCulloch 74-70-68-70–282
        Piercen Hunt 80-74-70-77—301

T17    Chinese Taipei 143-136-141-143–563
        Chuan-Tai Lin 72-66-72-72–282
        Ching Hung Su 71-70-72-75–288
        Chi Chun Chen 74-77-69-71—291

T17    Wales 142-139-141-141–563
        Tomi Bowen 70-71-70-71–282
        Matt Roberts 75-71-75-70–291
        James Ashfield 72-68-71-80—291

T17    Japan 142-140-141-140–563
        Yuta Sugiura 72-70-71-69–282
        Riura Matsui 75-70-73-71–289
        Minato Oshima 70-70-70-80—290

T21    Scotland 141-140-140-145–566
        Connor Graham 70-71-68-69–278
        Calum Scott 71-69-72-76–288
        Gregor Tait 78-79-72-76—305

T21    Switzerland 142-142-143-139–566
        Max Sturdza 70-68-71-73–282
        Nicola Gerhardsen 74-74-72-70–290
        Marc Keller 72-80-75-69—296

T21    People’s Republic of China 138-135-144-149–566
        Justin Bai 69-68-73-76–286
        Zihang Qiu 69-67-71-83–290
        Ziqin Zhou 76-69-79-73—297

24     Morocco 141-142-143-141–567
        Soufiane Dahmane 69-69-72-75–285
        Hugo Mazen Trometter 72-74-71-70–287
        El Mehdi Fakori 75-73-73-71—292

T25    Colombia 142-139-138-149–568
        Nicolas Quintero 69-69-67-76–281
        Carlos Conde 73-72-71-75–291
        Manuel Merizalde 76-70-73-74—293

T25    Republic of Korea 144-142-135-147–568
        Seonghyeon An 73-70-65-75–283
        Donghyun Moon 71-72-70-72–285
        Sungho Lee 74-72-74-85—305

T27    Sweden 145-141-140-143–569
        Daniel Svard 70-71-73-71–285
        Tobias Jonsson 75-71-69-72–287
        Albert Hansson 79-70-71-73—293

T27    Guatemala 146-143-139-141–569
        Gabriel Palacios 72-70-73-70–285
        Juan Ricardo Davila 74-74-66-73–287
        Alejandro Villavicencio 82-73-73-71—299

T29    Austria 147-144-138-142–571
        Christoph Bleier 73-71-66-67–277
        Fabian Lang 78-73-72-75–298
        Florian Schweighofer 74-77-79-77—307

T29    Singapore 154-142-143-132–571
        Hiroshi Hirahara Tai 79-71-72-65–287
        Ryan Ang 78-71-71-67–287
        Troy Storm 76-78-75-74—303

T31    Finland 149-139-144-141–573
        Elias Haavisto 77-67-71-71–286
        Jesse Saareks 74-72-76-70–292
        Markus Luoma 75-75-73-79—302

T31    Thailand 149-145-141-138–573
        Ashita Piamkulvanich 74-70-70-66–280
        Parin Sarasmut 75-75-71-72–293
        Jiradech Chaowarat 75-77-73-77—302

33     India 150-142-148-142–582
        Yuvraj Singh 74-70-72-71–287
        Shaurya Bhattacharya 76-73-76-71–296
        Rohit Narwal 79-72-76-74—301

34     Zimbabwe 143-147-151-144–585
        Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 70-72-74-78–294
        David Amm 73-76-77-69–295
        Keegan James Shutt 82-75-78-75—310

35     United Arab Emirates 155-153-153-154–615
        Rayan Ahmed 79-79-75-77–310
        Ahmad Skaik 80-74-80-77–311
        Thomas Nesbitt 76-80-78-79—313

36     Guam 169-158-157-161–645
        Markus Nanpei 86-80-74-74–314
        Nalapon Vongjalorn 84-78-83-87–332
        Eugene Park 85-86-85-89–345

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.

Amos Robinson, Oaks Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

It was 194 yards and I hit a 4 iron. I was golfing with my wife.

Andy Brown, Homestead at Wolf Ridge, Hole #11

I am still buzzing after that day. I’ve been golfing for 30 years and that was my first! My partners that day were Elton Neuman and Lloyd Peters, it was a cool Fall day and the 11th was playing 159 yards into the wind. I took a 7 iron and have to admit, I flushed it. The green is tiered so unfortunately, I didn’t see it go in, I thought it had run through the green but Elton said to look in the hole, and there it was! I’m not sure what was more exciting, the hole-in-one or the fact that I was with these two great friends when it happened.

Andrew Bouchat, Belleview Golf Club, Hole #11

September 24, 2023 was a mild fall day with blustery winds. I was playing with two friends and having a decent round. The shot on the 11th hole was slightly left of the pin and based on the ball mark, landed three yards from the hole – bounced once and ran towards the cup and disappeared. The three of us thought it was behind the cup. As I walked off the tee, I could see that there was no ball on the green; raised my arms and said, “It went in.” loud enough, that my wife Claire, who also has two holes-in-one, and was putting on the 10th green, heard the excitement. I shot 76 and told the Golf Course Manager (Josh) who sent a notification to the Membership via Facebook. After 50 years with no aces, I now have two this year!

Arjun Punthambekar, Don Valley Golf Club, Hole #7

I headed to the course as a single and was joined by a twosome and another single. It was an ordinary round until hole #7, a 165 yard par 3, and the pin was placed in the front.

It was an 8 iron that I made good contact and saw it shaping towards the hole and bounce on the green. It looked like it popped into the hole but I couldn’t believe it, and told one of my playing partners that it might be behind the flag.

But he was certain, and sure enough when we went to the green it was in the hole, can’t quite describe the feeling.

Cecil Chung, The Quarry Golf Course, Hole #6

That day, Wednesday, October 11, 2023, my playing partners were Don Descotes and Lewis Murray, who are also members at The Quarry and with whom I golf regularly. It was hole #6 on Slate. It measured 138 yards into a slight breeze and I used a 7 iron.

Cory Reierson, Mount Paul Golf, Hole #5

It was my second-ever ace on a 94-yard hole. I used a 60-degree wedge.

Dennis Small, Peninsula Lakes Golf Club, Hole #8

We were playing the final round of our Men’s League season at Peninsula Lakes Golf Club. The format for the day was a shotgun start with a five-man best ball. My playing partners were David Drosky, Kevin Shaw, Fred Ciszek and Brad Splawinski. We were on the 130 yard par three 8th hole on the Orchard 9. It was late in the afternoon, and we were playing into the sun which made it difficult to see the balls land. When we got to the green the other guys all found their balls but mine was nowhere to be seen. Kevin suggested that maybe it was in the hole. Surprise! That’s where we found it. My very first hole-in-one.

Ernie Lascelles, Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course, Hole #16

My first was 10 years ago in Florida. That time the hole was on the backside of a mound, so we didn’t see it go in. This time was extra special because I was playing with my two sons and a very good friend, and we saw the ball actually go in the hole. According to my son’s rangefinder the flag was 124 yards from the tee, and I used an 8 iron.

Franklin Lee, Wildstone Golf Course, Hole #12

This was my very first hole-in-one. I couldn’t have picked a better time for it to happen. It was during an annual trip with a number of buddies which is named the Fanatic’s Tour. This trip has been going on for 37 years in one form or another and this was the first ace in its history. For the past number of years, the tour has been played for five days in the Kimberley/Cranbrook area and the group has grown in size to 20 to 24 guys from Edmonton, A.B. and Victoria, B.C. This year we had one buddy come in from Ireland to play for the first time. He couldn’t stop talking about the amazing scenery and courses here he’s never experienced anything like it back home.

My hole-in-one was on Thursday. Sept 14^th which was day one of the Ryder Cup. It was on hole #12 at Wildstone in Cranbrook. It’s kind of an island green playing about 120 yards and I used my 9 iron. I hit it clean and saw it hit the green and then it disappeared. I didn’t see it go in, but my buddies Jim, Bill and Boyd all yelled, “It’s in the hole!” It wasn’t until I walked over the bridge onto the green and looked into the hole that I believed it. I can’t describe my feeling as I picked it out. I don’t think my smile left my face for the rest of the trip. All 24 of us plus a few more new friends we met in the clubhouse celebrated with a toast afterwards. It was a good bar tab but well worth it! The group at Wildstone was kind enough to present me with a flag in recognition of the accomplishment and it’s something I’ll treasure forever.

George Stokes, Deerridge Golf, Hole #16

As a member at Deerridge Golf in Kitchener, I aced the 16th hole on Friday and five days later I aced the 4th hole. I finally aced all four par threes at Deerridge which has been done by only one other member. By the way, my ace on Wednesday was my 14th. I am 81 years of age.

Gregg Fabris, Idylwylde Golf & Country Club, Hole #7

Definitively a special moment that I was fortunate enough to share with my Dad, old high school friend and his father. The hole was playing 185 into the wind with a middle pin placement. Hit a 6 iron about four feet short, hopped once and rolled straight in. Great way to end the golf season here in Northern Ontario.

Jeff Derbyshire, Moncton Golf & Country Club, Hole #17

Sunday’s hole-in-one was my single greatest achievement. Hole #17 at Moncton golf course is uphill so we couldn’t see it go in from the tee. I was playing with my friends and colleagues Andrew Jones and Jason Crane. It was 140 yards, cold, breezy, back pin with an 8 iron. Perfection.

Jeff Diduck, Country Hills Golf Club, Hole #10

I had my first career hole-in-one on Thanksgiving; Monday, October 9th, 2023. My group of Scott Secord, Ian Secord and Tyler Foster of Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary had the first tee time on our Ridge course. No frost delay today and it got hot in a hurry. The round didn’t start off very well as I had a double bogey followed by a bogey, so my expectations for the rest of the round were pretty low at that point.

We made our way around the front nine and I was able to keep it somewhat respectable. We had a little game going with Tyler and myself getting beat up pretty good by Ian and Scott. So, Tyler and I had a little pep talk at the halfway house. We knew we needed to get some birdies going if we were going to have any chance. We headed down to the 10^th hole. A par 3 playing 184 yards that day. However, just as we made our way to the tee, the wind started to pick up. I was a little behind getting to the tee as I watched from a distance, Scott and Ian hit their shots onto the green. When I finally pulled my bag up to the tee Tyler was just getting ready to hit. I asked the guys about distance and started doing some quick calculations to figure out what club I was going to hit. 184 yards is a stock 7 iron for me but as I mentioned, the wind was starting to blow. The gusts were pretty strong and I wasn’t confident in a 6 iron being enough club. I grabbed my 5 iron and decided to choke down on it, take some off and keep it down under the wind.

I hit it perfectly! The ball came off the club just as I had hoped and never left the flagstick! As I held my finish, we all watched that ball take one bounce short of the hole and then disappear.

The guys behind me went crazy and it took me a second to actually let myself believe that it went in, as I’ve had years of close calls and disappointments.

It took me about two holes after that ball went in to get my heart rate back to normal. But I was able to follow up the ace with a birdie on the par 5 11th, so that was sweet!

Kathy Foster, Picton Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

It was 116 yards with a 7 wood.

Marva Opperman, Glacier Greens Golf Club, Hole #17

On Thursday, I was playing with my friends, Yvonne Higgs and June Fraser and we were on the 17th hole. My goal was to hit high and hope to place it well on the green. I was using my 5 hybrid. My ball flew high and I watched it land on the green, then roll into the hole, 135 yards, and I couldn’t believe it. I think we were all in disbelief. We had to walk up and check for sure and let it sink in. I think Yvonne was more excited than I, until it sunk in.

Mike Cameron, Avondale Golf Course, Hole #8

I was playing with my brother, John Cameron. Hole #8, from the senior tees is 110 yards, uphill and I used a 9 iron. Besides my brother John, the shot was witnessed by two gentlemen I did not know, who were getting ready to tee off from the white tees on hole #8.

Piercen Hunt, Colombia’s Esteban Restrepo, Hole #4

Piercen Hunt made his first career hole-in-one. Pitching wedge from 134 yards/123 meters on the par 3 fourth hole. It was the first WATC ace since the final round of the 2018 championship (Colombia’s Esteban Restrepo, 7th hole).

Rick Ferguson, Willow Valley Golf Course, Hole #15

This is my fifth hole-in-one. It was 115 yards and I used a pitching wedge.

Ron Kulperger, Oaks of St. George Golf Club, Hole #17

I was playing with my brother Len Kulperger, and fellow members Dan Demurak and Dwayne McDonald. The hole was set up short that day at about 70 yards. I used my sand wedge. My fifth ace, but my first at my home club. A truly tremendous feeling.

Sandra Culp, Nanton Golf Club, Hole #3

I was with two ladies from my ladies’ league, Lee and Charlene. It’s a par 3 and 145 yards. The pin was back and to the left of the center. I used my 5 wood and I hit it long and to the right of the pin, hit the green and it curved down about six feet into the hole.

Scott Warren, Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course, Hole #16

This is my third career hole-in-one. Ironically my first came in June of ’94 also at Cottonwood Coulee in Medicine Hat, Alberta on the 16^th hole. But since that time the 9’s have been reversed and that is now the 7^th hole. On Sunday I aced the 16^th while playing with Dan Pede and Kevin Conrad. It was the first time I played the course in six years and the 16^th usually gives me a lot of problems. On this day things would be different. I struck a 6 hybrid perfectly, the ball hit before the ridge, then trickled over and filtered down to the pin which was in a tough back right location. Right away I thought it had a chance but we couldn’t see it go in because the pin was tucked in behind that ridge. As we walked toward the green the group on the 17^th tee offered congratulations as at least one of them saw it go in from their vantage point. Dan walked toward the hole pointed down then gave me a thumbs up.

My three aces have all been on the 16^th hole. The first was in ’94 as previously mentioned, the second was in August of ’14 on the 16^th at Riverview Golf Club and then the one on Sunday.

Sheldon Kitzul, Prairie Lake Lodge, Hole #6

It was my first ace and was 150 yards with a 9 iron.

Sheldon Warner, King’s Riding Golf Club, Hole #12

It was 147 yards to the flag and I used an 8 iron. I met the three other guys in my group for the first time that day.

Tony Lye, Bally Haly Country Club – North, Hole #2

I was playing with my wife Cindy and two friends, Scott and Bob. I hit a nine iron to 131 yards on hole #2 on the Bally Haly North Course to record my hole-in-one. The wind was blowing a little to the right that day and Bob just hit a nice shot left of the hole. I said to Bob I was going to use his ball as a target. My ball went right over Bob’s and just found its way to nestle in the hole. It was a fantastic experience made that much better to have my wife, Cindy, with me. I believe Scott was more excited when I got mine then he was when he recorded his own a couple years earlier.

Troy Yuzik, Willow Park Golf and Country Club, Hole #6

It was 168 yards with a 7 iron.

Val Mieras, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Hole #10

I was playing with friends and we all saw the ball fly over the pond and roll into the hole. Since we started on the back, this 8 iron was the first shot of the day.

William Sparks, Savannah Golf Links, Hole #3

On September 19, 2023, I enjoyed scoring my very first, hole-in-one at Savannah Golf Links, in Cambridge, Ontario. On the par 3 hole #3, playing 104 yards, I scored the ace with an 8 iron.

On October 3rd (14 days later), playing at Savannah Golf Links, I scored my second ever on the very same hole. On this date the hole was playing 106 yards. 8 iron again.

I have witnesses for both dates. I have trophies now, marking these awesome dates.

Piercen Hunt recorded first career hole-in-one on par-3 fourth hole

Team Canada had a day to remember on Friday, highlighted by Piercen Hunt’s first career hole-in-one on the par-3 fourth hole at the World Amateur Team Championship. Hunt, from Hartland, Wis. hit a pitching wedge from 136 yards to record the ace. It was the first WATC ace since the final round of the 2018 championship, which was recorded by Esteban Restrepo of Colombia. “That’s my first ever hole-in-one. It landed a bit short [of the hole], took a couple hops and went in. It was crazy,” said Hunt. He finished the day with a 2-under 70 to sit at 8-over for the tournament.

Teammates Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. and Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta. both fired rounds of 4-under 68 to move Canada up to 23rd place and combined score of 8-under for the tournament. Both McCulloch and McKinlay are T38 in the individual standings at 4-under for the tournament.

The United States of America, propelled by a 5-under 67 from world No. 2 Gordon Sargent, tallied 14 birdies amongst its three players and strengthened its lead to four stokes after Round 3 of the World Amateur Team Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Sargent, who leads the individual leaderboard at 12-under par, rattled off four birdies in his opening eight holes, highlighted by a 35-foot putt on the par-4 sixth.

The Americans, who are seeking their first Eisenhower Trophy win since 2014, stand at 24-under par at 408 with France and Norway sharing a tie for second at 412. The USA’s Nick Dunlap and David Ford each finished with 3-under 69s, bringing the team’s third round tally to an 8-under 136. Only two of each team’s best three scores count toward the total.

France, with a 5-under 67 from Bastien Amat and a 72 from Hugo Le Goff, lost ground to the Americans while remaining in second place alongside Norway.

Norway, which is eyeing its first medal in team history, climbed nine places on the strength of a 6-under 66 showing from Michael Mjaaseth and a 4-under 68 from Herman Sekne, who is No. 24 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®. The 10-under team total led the field in the third round.

Australia remains in solo fourth place with a three-day total of 413 after a 4-under 68 from Jeffrey Guan and a 71 from Jack Buchanon. 

Czechia holds fifth place at 414, followed by the Netherlands and South Africa tied for sixth. The defending champion Italians are eight strokes off the lead in solo eighth place.

Notable:

• USA is attempting to become the fifth wire-to-wire champion in Eisenhower Trophy history, and the first since 2012. The Americans have done so twice before in 2004 and 2012.
• France is seeking its first Eisenhower medal since winning gold in 2010.
• Gordon Sargent has posted rounds of 67-70-67 to lead the individual scoring by one over six players.
• Canada’s Piercen Hunt made a hole-in-one on the par-3 4th hole (136 yards/124 meters) with a pitching wedge. It was the first hole-in-one in Eisenhower Trophy competition since Colombia’s Esteban Restrepo aced the 7th hole at Carton House Golf Club in Ireland in 2018.
• The Republic of Korea tied Norway for the largest leaderboard move on Friday, climbing nine spots into a tie for 16th place based on a 9-under 135 team score led by Seonghyeon An‘s 7-under 65.
• Czechia is in position for its best-ever Eisenhower finish. The Czech’s current best (22nd place) came in 2018.
• South Africa, which jumped four spots into a tie for sixth after Round 3, is seeking its first top-10 finish since 1998.
• Temperatures at Abu Dhabi Golf Club peaked at 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) with a heat index of 42 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit) during the third round.
   

What’s Next:

The final round begins Saturday at 6:30 a.m. local time with a two-tee start on the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The leading teams of USA, France and Norway will occupy the final tee times of 12:06, 12:17 and 12:28 p.m. off the 1st tee.

Results from Friday’s third round of the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 

1      United States of America, USA 135-137-136–408
          Nick Dunlap 69-67-69–205
          Gordon Sargent 67-70-67–204
          David Ford 68-74-69—211

T2     France, FRA 135-138-139–412
          Hugo Le Goff 67-68-72–207
          Bastien Amat 68-70-67–205
          Paul Beauvy 68-73-74—215

T2     Norway, NOR 144-134-134–412
          Herman Sekne 73-64-68–205
          Michael Mjaaseth 71-70-66–207
          Mats Ege 75-77-71–223

4      Australia, AUS 137-137-139–413
          Karl Vilips 69-68-73–210
          Jeff Guan 68-69-68–205
          Jack Buchanan 76-72-71—219

5      Czechia, CZE 139-135-140–414
          Filip Jakubcik 69-67-70–206
          Petr Hruby 72-68-70–210
          Louis Klein 70-72-73—215

T6     Netherlands, NED 136-140-139–415
          Jack Ingham 70-70-69–209
          Lars van der Vight 77-70-70–217
          Benjamin Reuter 66-71-76—213

T6     South Africa, RSA 139-138-138–415
          Christo Lamprecht 71-68-68–207
          Christiaan Maas 70-70-71–211
          Altin van der Merwe 69-71-70—210

8      Italy, ITA 142-138-136–416
          Pietro Bovari 69-67-69–205
          Riccardo Fantinelli 74-71-70–215
          Flavio Michetti 73-73-67—213

T9     New Zealand, NZL 139-139-139–417
          Jayden Ford 74-69-73–216
          Kazuma Kobori 70-70-67–207
          Sam Jones 69-72-72—213

T9     People’s Republic of China, CHN 138-135-144–417
          Zihang Qiu 69-67-71–207
          Justin Bai 69-68-73–210
          Ziqin Zhou 76-69-79—224

T11    Denmark, DEN 137-138-143–418
          Frederik Kjettrup 75-67-72–214
          Jacob Olesen 68-71-71–210
          Gustav Frimodt 69-75-72—216

T11    Mexico, MEX 143-133-142–418
          Santiago De La Fuente del Valle 71-66-72–209
          José Islas Valdespino 75-67-74–216
          Omar Morales 72-68-70—210

13     Colombia, COL 142-139-138–419
          Nicolas Quintero 69-69-67–205
          Manuel Merizalde 76-70-73–219
          Carlos Conde 73-72-71—216

T14    Chinese Taipei, TPE 143-136-141–420
          Chuan-Tai Lin 72-66-72–210
          Ching Hung Su 71-70-72–213
          Chi Chun Chen 74-77-69—220

T14    Spain, ESP 138-140-142–420
          Luis Masaveu Roncal 69-70-74–213
          Angel Ayora 71-70-76–217
          José Luis Ballester 69-72-68—209

T16    Republic of Korea, KOR 144-142-135–421
          Seonghyeon An 73-70-65–208
          Donghyun Moon 71-72-70–213
          Sungho Lee 74-72-74—220

T16    Argentina, ARG 137-138-146–421
          Vicente Marzilio 69-68-72–209
          Joaquín Ludueña 70-70-74–214
          Segundo Oliva Pinto 68-72-76—216

T16    Scotland, SCO 141-140-140–421
          Calum Scott 71-69-72–212
          Connor Graham 70-71-68–209
          Gregor Tait 78-79-72—229

T19    Wales, WAL 142-139-141–422
          James Ashfield 72-68-71–211
          Tomi Bowen 70-71-70–211
          Matt Roberts 75-71-75—221

T19    Ireland, IRL 145-139-138–422
          Matthew McClean 72-68-68–208
          Liam Nolan 75-71-70–216
          Alex Maguire 73-73-72—218

T19    England, ENG 137-143-142–422
          Tyler Weaver 68-71-70–209
          Jack Bigham 72-72-72–216
          Barclay Brown 69-73-72—214

22     Japan, JPN 142-140-141–423
          Minato Oshima 70-70-70–210
          Yuta Sugiura 72-70-71–213
          Riura Matsui 75-70-73—218

23     Canada, CAN 146-142-136–424
          Ashton McCulloch 74-70-68–212
          Brady McKinlay 72-72-68–212
          Piercen Hunt 80-74-70—224

T24    Morocco, MAR 141-142-143–426
          Soufiane Dahmane 69-69-72–210
          El Mehdi Fakori 75-73-73–221
          Hugo Mazen Trometter 72-74-71—217

T24    Sweden, SWE 145-141-140–426
          Albert Hansson 79-70-71–220
          Daniel Svard 70-71-73–214
          Tobias Jonsson 75-71-69—215

T26    Germany, GER 141-141-145–427
          Jonas Baumgartner 71-70-70–211
          Tiger Christensen 73-71-76–220
          Tim Wiedemeyer 70-72-75—217

T26    Switzerland, SUI 142-142-143–427
          Max Sturdza 70-68-71–209
          Nicola Gerhardsen 74-74-72–220
          Marc Keller 72-80-75—227

28     Guatemala, GUA 146-143-139–428
          Gabriel Palacios 72-70-73–215
          Alejandro Villavicencio 82-73-73–228
          Juan Ricardo Davila 74-74-66—214

29     Austria, AUT 147-144-138–429
          Christoph Bleier 73-71-66–210
          Fabian Lang 78-73-72–223
          Florian Schweighofer 74-77-79—230

30     Finland, FIN 149-139-144–432
          Elias Haavisto 77-67-71–215
          Jesse Saareks 74-72-76–222
          Markus Luoma 75-75-73—223

31     Thailand, THA 149-145-141–435
          Ashita Piamkulvanich 74-70-70–214
          Parin Sarasmut 75-75-71–221
          Jiradech Chaowarat 75-77-73—225

32     Singapore, SIN 154-142-143–439
          Ryan Ang 78-71-71–220
          Hiroshi Hirahara Tai 79-71-72–222
          Troy Storm 76-78-75—229

33     India, IND 150-142-148–440
          Yuvraj Singh 74-70-72–216
          Rohit Narwal 79-72-76–227
          Shaurya Bhattacharya 76-73-76—225

34     Zimbabwe, ZIM 143-147-151–441
          Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 70-72-74–216
          Keegan James Shutt 82-75-78–235
          David Amm 73-76-77—226

35     United Arab Emirates, UAE 155-153-153–461
          Ahmad Skaik 80-74-80–234
          Rayan Ahmed 79-79-75–233
          Thomas Nesbitt 76-80-78—234

36     Guam, GUM 169-158-157–484
          Nalapon Vongjalorn 84-78-83–245
          Markus Nanpei 86-80-74–240
          Eugene Park 85-86-85–256

The United States of America’s Nick Dunlap, who is No. 4 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking®/WAGR®, tallied seven birdies en route to a 5-under 67 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club to position the Americans one stroke clear of France and the People’s Republic of China through the second round of the 33rd World Amateur Team Championship.

Team Canada currently sits tied for 27th at even par 288. Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. lead the way for Canada on Thursday by firing a 2-under 70 to sit at even par for the tournament. Brady McKinlay of Lacombe, Alta. recorded an even par 72 for the second straight day. Their scores counted towards the combined team score to help move Canada from 2-over to even par after two rounds. Teammate Piercen Hunt of Hartland, Wis. finished with a 2-over 74 and is now at 10-over for the tournament.

USA also used a 2-under 70 from world No. 2 Gordon Sargent, who officially earned PGA Tour membership on Wednesday via PGA Tour University Accelerated, for a two-day total of 16-under 272. After a slow team start, Dunlap and Sargent combined for five birdies during a four-hole stretch at the conclusion of their first nine.

France, which held a share of the lead at the start of the day, was led by 15-year-old Hugo Le Goff’s 4-under 68 and a 2-under 70 from 2023 U.S. Open qualifier Bastien Amat. Hugo, a 2023 R&A Boys’ Amateur semifinalist, had an eagle and three birdies through his first seven holes.

The People’s Republic of China, which finished in a tie for 31st last year in France, moved up six places on the leader board on the strength of a 5-under 67 from Zihang Qiu and a 4-under 68 from Justin Bai, who has committed to play at the University of Washington in 2024.

Australia remains two strokes behind the USA in a tie for fourth place with Czechia on the strength of another steady day from two-time Australian Junior Amateur champion Jeffrey Guan and Stanford University senior Karl Vilips. Guan and Vilips, who qualified for the 2023 U.S. Open, traded a pair of 67s and 68s during the first two rounds to lead the Aussies to a 14-under total of 270.

Frederik Kjettrup rebounded from an opening-round 75 with a 5-under 67 on Thursday to position Demark in a tie for sixth alongside Argentina at 275. Jacob Skov Olesen added a 71 for Denmark.

Completing the top 10 are Mexico and The Netherlands with team totals of 12-under 276. 

Notable: 

France’s Le Goff (9-under 135) leads the individual leaderboard by one stroke over Czechia’s Filip Jakubcik, Italy’s Pietro Bovari, the People’s Republic of China’s Zihang Qiu and the USA’s Nick Dunlap.

Bovari made two eagles during his second-round 5-under 67 for the defending champion Italian team, which sits in a tie for 15th place. Italy is attempting to become the first team to win consecutive WATC titles since the USA did so in 2012 and 2014.

Mexico and Norway made the largest moves of the day, both climbing 13 places. Mexico jumped into a tie for eighth, while Norway moved into a tie for 11th thanks to an 8-under 64 from Herman Sekne that included nine birdies. Sekne’s 64 is the lowest round of the championship thus far.

Australia, the People’s Republic of China and the USA are the only countries with two players in the top 10 of the individual leader board.

With his U.S. Amateur win in August, Nick Dunlap joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur. 

What’s Next: 

Round 3 begins Friday at 6:30 a.m. local time with a two-tee start on the National Course at Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

Results from Thursday’s second round of the 2023 World Amateur Team Championships, played at par-72 Abu Dhabi Golf Club (National Course), in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

1      United States of America 135-137–272
        Nick Dunlap 69-67–136
        Gordon Sargent 67-70–137
        David Ford 68-74—142

T2    People’s Republic of China 138-135–273
        Zihang Qiu 69-67–136
        Justin Bai 69-68–137
        Ziqin Zhou 76-69—145

T2    France 135-138–273
        Hugo Le Goff 67-68–135
        Bastien Amat 68-70–138
        Paul Beauvy 68-73—141

T4    Czechia 139-135–274
        Filip Jakubcik 69-67–136
        Petr Hruby 72-68–140
        Louis Klein 70-72—142

T4    Australia 137-137–274
        Karl Vilips 69-68–137
        Jeff Guan 68-69–137
        Jack Buchanan 76-72—148

T6    Argentina 137-138–275
        Vicente Marzilio 69-68–137
        Joaquín Ludueña 70-70–140
        Segundo Oliva Pinto 68-72—140

T6    Denmark 137-138–275
        Frederik Kjettrup 75-67–142
        Jacob Olesen 68-71–139
        Gustav Frimodt 69-75—144

T8    Mexico 143-133–276
        Santiago De La Fuente del Valle 71-66–137
        José Islas Valdespino 75-67–142
        Omar Morales 72-68—140

T8    Netherlands 136-140–276
        Jack Ingham 70-70–140
        Lars van der Vight 77-70–147
        Benjamin Reuter 66-71—137

10    South Africa 139-138–277
        Christo Lamprecht 71-68–139
        Christiaan Maas 70-70–140
        Altin van der Merwe 69-71—140

T11  New Zealand 139-139–278
        Jayden Ford 74-69–143
        Kazuma Kobori 70-70–140
        Sam Jones 69-72—141

T11  Spain 138-140–278
        Luis Masaveu Roncal 69-70–139
        Angel Ayora 71-70–141
        José Luis Ballester 69-72—141

T11  Norway 144-134–278
        Herman Sekne 73-64–137
        Michael Mjaaseth 71-70–141
        Mats Ege 75-77—152

14    Chinese Taipei 143-136–279
        Chuan-Tai Lin 72-66–138
        Ching Hung Su 71-70–141
        Chi Chun Chen 74-77—151

T15  England 137-143–280
        Tyler Weaver 68-71–139
        Jack Bigham 72-72–144
        Barclay Brown 69-73—142

T15  Italy 142-138–280
        Pietro Bovari 69-67–136
        Riccardo Fantinelli 74-71–145
        Flavio Michetti 73-73—146

T17  Colombia 142-139–281
        Nicolas Quintero 69-69–138
        Manuel Merizalde 76-70–146
        Carlos Conde 73-72—145

T17  Scotland 141-140–281
        Calum Scott 71-69–140
        Connor Graham 70-71–141
        Gregor Tait 78-79—157

T17  Wales 142-139–281
        James Ashfield 72-68–140
        Tomi Bowen 70-71–141
        Matt Roberts 75-71—146

T20  Japan 142-140–282
        Minato Oshima 70-70–140
        Yuta Sugiura 72-70–142
        Riura Matsui 75-70—145

T20  Germany 141-141–282
        Jonas Baumgartner 71-70–141
        Tiger Christensen 73-71–144
        Tim Wiedemeyer 70-72—142

22    Morocco 141-142–283
        Soufiane Dahmane 69-69–138
        El Mehdi Fakori 75-73–148
        Hugo Mazen Trometter 72-74—146

T23  Ireland 145-139–284
        Matthew McClean 72-68–140
        Liam Nolan 75-71–146
        Alex Maguire 73-73—146

T23  Switzerland 142-142–284
        Max Sturdza 70-68–138
        Nicola Gerhardsen 74-74–148
        Marc Keller 72-80—152

T25  Sweden 145-141–286
        Albert Hansson 79-70–149
        Daniel Svard 70-71–141
        Tobias Jonsson 75-71—146

T25  Republic of Korea 144-142–286
        Seonghyeon An 73-70–143
        Donghyun Moon 71-72–143
        Sungho Lee 74-72—146

T27  Finland 149-139–288
        Elias Haavisto 77-67–144
        Jesse Saareks 74-72–146
        Markus Luoma 75-75—150

T27  Canada 146-142–288
        Ashton McCulloch 74-70–144
        Brady McKinlay 72-72–144
        Piercen Hunt 80-74—154

29    Guatemala 146-143–289
        Gabriel Palacios 72-70–142
        Alejandro Villavicencio 82-73–155
        Juan Ricardo Davila 74-74—148

30    Zimbabwe 143-147–290
        Tafadzwa Nyamukondiwa 70-72–142
        Keegan James Shutt 82-75–157
        David Amm 73-76—149

31    Austria 147-144–291
        Christoph Bleier 73-71–144
        Fabian Lang 78-73–151
        Florian Schweighofer 74-77—151

32    India 150-142–292
        Yuvraj Singh 74-70–144
        Rohit Narwal 79-72–151
        Shaurya Bhattacharya 76-73—149

33    Thailand 149-145–294
        Ashita Piamkulvanich 74-70–144
        Parin Sarasmut 75-75–150
        Jiradech Chaowarat 75-77—152

34    Singapore 154-142–296
        Ryan Ang 78-71–149
        Hiroshi Hirahara Tai 79-71–150
        Troy Storm 76-78—154

35    United Arab Emirates 155-153–308
        Ahmad Skaik 80-74–154
        Rayan Ahmed 79-79–158
        Thomas Nesbitt 76-80—156

36    Guam 169-158–327
        Nalapon Vongjalorn 84-78–162
        Markus Nanpei 86-80–166
        Eugene Park 85-86–171

Canadians Adam Hadwin and Taylor Pendrith both finished near the top of the leaderboard at the Shriners Children’s Open and are resting this week as they consider what to do next.

Hadwin finished second at TPC Summerlin on Sunday, one shot behind eventual winner Tom Kim of South Korea. Pendrith was in a group tied for third, a shot back of his fellow Canadian. 

“It was a good week. I didn’t know what to expect coming in,” said Hadwin, who had last played in a PGA Tour event on Aug. 20 at the BMW Championship. “I hadn’t played since the playoff event in Chicago, about seven weeks ago, so it was nice to play. 

“I was really ready to compete. I was missing the competition of things.”

Pendrith hadn’t played for a month, missing the cut at the Fortinet Championship in mid-September. The native of Richmond Hill, Ont., returned to Canada to see family before heading to Las Vegas for the Shriners Children’s Open.

“Kind of a blur, but I took the red eye home Sunday night from Vegas and got here about noon on Monday,” said Pendrith from his residence in Florida. “It’s nice to be home. We haven’t been here in probably five weeks.”

Hadwin and Pendrith’s stop-and-start schedule is partly thanks to the PGA Tour’s new calendar, as the top men’s golf tour in the world transitions to a regular season that starts in January instead of straddling two years.

Hadwin, who is from Abbotsford, B.C., said that because he’s 45th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, he might not play again in 2023.

“I’m going to probably speak with some of those statisticians and analysts and see whether or not I may be able to maintain my top 50 ranking without playing,” said Hadwin, who wants to finish the year within the top 50 to qualify for the 2024 Masters. “I know that sometimes, depending on how the points shake out, you’re better off not playing than playing.”

Hadwin said that he would consider his options and possibly play in one of November’s tournaments. Pendrith, on the other hand, said he intends to keep playing, likely at the World Wide Technology Championship in Los Cabos, Mexico, on Nov. 2, Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Nov. 9, and the RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Ga., on Nov. 16.

“A win now has the same perks as a win in the regular season. I can still play my way into the elevated events at the start of the year with some good finishes in the next three weeks,” said Pendrith, who earned a PGA Tour card for next season with his tie for third on Sunday. “There’s still lots to play for. 

“I feel like my game’s good right now and my body feels good. Why not play is kind of what I’m thinking.”

Regardless of whether or not they play in November, both Canadians are looking forward to a six-week break through December and into January. They said they want to spend time with their young families.

“I do like the idea of having three, four months to work on a few things, maybe add a few pounds, work on getting faster and stronger and all those sorts of things without having golf matter,” said Hadwin, who will also participate in some fundraising events for the Hadwin Family Foundation during his break. “It’s nice to be able to work without chasing FedEx points or wanting to get the year off started on a good note.”

Pendrith said he’s eager to spend time in his new house in Florida. He has also got into the wine business, launching the Taylor Pendrith Wine Collection through Pillitteri Estates in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

“I’ve liked wine for a number of years and we thought it’d be a cool thing to get this going,” said Pendrith. “I was there two weeks ago to taste it for the first time, which was really cool. Got a tour of the whole place and saw where the wine was made and it’s pretty neat.

“I think it’s great that it’s a Canadian winery, and they’ve won tons of awards for their wines.”