HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Ben Kohles became the first two-time winner of the Korn Ferry Tour season on Sunday when he seized on Ben Silverman’s mistake on the final hole of regulation and beat him with a birdie in the playoff in the HomeTown Lenders Championship.

Kohles, from Texas, who won in Chile at the start of the month, closed with a 3-under 67. It looked like it would come up short until Silverman took double bogey on the 18th hole and to fall into a playoff.

Silverman, from Thornhill, Ont., was also looking for his second win of the year.

Kohles and Silverman now are Nos. 1 and 2 on the points list and assured of finishing in the top 30 to earn PGA Tour cards for next season.

Kohles won for the fourth time on the Korn Ferry Tour. His previous two wins were more than a decade ago.

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.

Alex Matheson, Palmeto Hall Plantation, Hole #6

Hi,

Really appreciate you and the team reaching out, big fan of Golf Canada and the great work you guys do.

We were on a golf trip to Hilton Head, playing with a few buddies. 7 iron from 177 yards that we got to watch go in the whole way. Two hops, a bit of a roll out, hit the pin and dropped. Surreal feeling.

Would like to add my playing partners were Joe Hemingway, Peter Dabic and Jared Lubczuk.

Andrew Bouchat, Belleview Golf Club, Hole #16

1st ever Hole-in-One

– Occurred on April 20, 2023

– Member at Belleview Golf Club – Woodslee, ON

– Witnesses: Claire Primeau Bouchat and Cody McFarlane

– Handicap – 8.3

– Hole 16 – Par 3 – 93 yards – used a Titleist Vokey 50° Gap Wedge

Story:

April 20, 2023, was a cold, windy day. I was playing with my wife and a friend. Came close earlier in the round and my wife Claire (who has 2 holes-in-one) who stated it will happen, eventually, with a smile. Had recently ordered new Titleist Vokey SM9 wedges and other then the practice range, had not hit my 50° wedge many times. The shot on the 16th was two feet left and short of the hole. It bounced and hit the lower part of the flag stick and dropped in the hole. After an immediate fist pump, I yelled “yeah – finally” loud enough that the group behind us and the group on the 17th tee heard me and clapped. Shot 76 and told the Golf Course Manager (Josh) who sent a notification to the Membership via Facebook. This was my very first hole-in-one even though I have been playing for 50 years!

Anul Patel, Woodside Golf Course, Hole #7

Thank you for the opportunity to share the ace with Golf Canada!

I was playing with two Woodside Members (Cal Daling and Ron) as well as another single, Chris Brown. 135 yards into a 1 club wind. Punched 9 iron struck a couple of grooves low on the face. The ball landed at the front of the green, hopped, checked and rolled into the cup! I’m thrilled for my third ace!

Best,

Anul Patel

Brent Glanville, Summerland Golf & Country Club, Hole #4

Greetings,

Playing with friends Dave Bowman of Kelowna B.C. and Harold Schneider visiting from Calgary, AB.

4th hole at Summerland Golf and Country Club plays 133 yards to middle of green over water. Pin was at the back playing 140+ yards. Both friends hit and put their shots onto the green.
I was last to swing and swung an easy eight iron. “Johnny Miller Baby Draw.” The ball landed directly in front of pin and tracked in for the hole-in-one.

All smiles!

Brent Glanville

Brett Bateman, Sandpiper Golf Club, Hole #12

Good morning!

Thank you for the message and the visual to share.

I was playing in week two of the six-week BC Zone 3 Spring Tour with a foursome that included a friend of mine, Max. The yardage was 113 yards and I hit a 52-degree wedge. 

This is actually my second hole-in-one! My first was at the Willows course at Surrey Golf Course in May 2021.

Thanks again.

Brett Bateman 

Chad MacMillan, Paragon Golf & Country Club, Hole #13

Hi,

Thank you for your e-mail! I used a gap wedge from 122 yards. I was playing with Colin Muise and my father, Gerry MacMillan. It was my second career hole-in-one, but my first while playing with my father – to share that moment with him was special.

All the best and thank you once again,

Chad MacMillan 

Darrell Peters, Markland Wood Golf Club, Hole #2

Thank you for your congratulatory email!

I made a hole-in-one at our Club’s opening day! I was playing with friends Richard Innes, Frank Vrabel and Orest Szot.  On hole #2, with my 6th swing of the year (yes, I bogeyed #1 ☹️), I got my hole-in-one. The hole was playing 157 yards to a middle pin. I hit my 7-iron. Two bounces and in! This is my second hole-in-one!

David Boddington, Whispering Woods, Hole #6

I was playing with Warren Hynes, Brad Jones and Ronn Reaman. We hit from the whites. 176 yards. Playing 180 yards and I hit my 4 iron in on the fly.

David Stone, Raven Crest, Hole #3

First round of the year. Playing with Malcolm Grist, Jerry Hall and Ed McGonaghy at Ravencrest. Back pin. Ranged at 140 yards against the wind. 7 iron. Jerry and I both hit decent shots but only one wasvisible by the hole. Looked in, and there it was, my third hole-in-one. Great way to start the year.

Ellie Kerr, Morgan Run Resort & Club, Hole #3

Hello to Golf Canada and thank you for your congratulatory e-mail.

I’m a member of Cherry Hill Club in Ontario, Canada. I was golfing with my good friend Tami McClenny at our winter course, Morgan Run Club and Resort, in Rancho Santa Fe, California.  

We were playing the North course as our second nine on Saturday April 8, 2023. The 3rd hole is listed as 97 yards for the red tee, and it was a back pin. I hit a 9 iron to the elevated green and when I walked up and didn’t see my ball on the green, I feared it bounced off the back. When we found it in the hole, we couldn’t believe it. We shouted and jumped up and down and looked around to share the moment but there was no one behind us or in front of us on the course. Some folks walking across the road from the course heard us and we shared the great news with them. It was my first hole-in-one.

My husband and children surprised me by being at the clubhouse when we finished, and we celebrated together.

Here’s to a great season of golf in Canada.

Ellie Kerr

Fred Ollewagen, Deer Creek Golf Club, Hole #7

Greetings, 

I was featured in your October 2022 feature with my first and second holes-in-one in the space of one weekend. 

Only 15 rounds later I’m proud to say I have my third. It was the 7th hole on Diamond at Deer Creek GC. 123 yards. 54-degree wedge.

Jason Jiang, Mayair Lakes, Hole #4

Hi,  

I was playing in the Chinese bald eagle tournament. On hole #4 I had my first official hole-in-one.

Josh King, Osprey Ridge Golf Course, Hole #8

Thanks! This is a nice touch by Golf Canada.

I was playing with Ryan Nowe and Patrick Gillis. Hole #8 at Osprey is 150 yards straight uphill. Ryan and Patrick both hit really good shots and then I hit a 9-iron that never really left the pin and when I got up to the green and only saw two balls I sort of knew mine had to be in the hole and sure enough it was. Lord knows my scorecard needed it as I was playing awful up to that point. It’s my third career hole-in-one and hopefully not my last!

Thanks, 

Josh King CA, CPA

Kay Tsurusaki, Marine Drive Golf Club, Hole #4

Hello, 

Thank you for your message.  Yes, it was very exciting as it was my first hole-in-one! It was at hole #4 and 107 yards. I used 7 iron for the shot. Amazing it went in.

Thank you for sending me the graphics to commemorate this event!

Kay Tsurusaki

Susan Barnes, Creston Golf Club, Hole #6

Hole-in-one at the Creston Golf Club on April 21^st with my girl friends Shirley and Petra. It was 112 yards, and I used a choked down 5 utility. Shirley is my good luck charm as she was with me last year for a hole-in-one (same hole).

Tab Clark, Listowel Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

Thank you for the congrats on the hole-in-one.  I’ve been golfing since I was a teenager, and this is my one.

As per your note below, it occurred on the second hole Listowel Heritage course from the White Tees, roughly 125 yards. 8 iron. The ball landed about one metre from the hole. I bent down to pick up the tee and the guys I was playing with said “it’s in”. Because I was picking up the tee, I did not see the ball go into the cup. I was playing with Wayne Harwood, Andre Paradis and Wayne’s son Gavyn Harwood. It was my first time out for the season during the stretch of nice weather we had in Southern Ontario.  

Best regards,

Tab Clark

Teddi Swalm, Landings Golf Course, Hole #6

Thank you for acknowledging my hole-in-one. I’ve been golfing since I was a kid and finally at 63 got my first hole-in-one. I was golfing with my husband Tim Merrill and friends John Van de Ven and Dave Wein. It was a 100-yard par 3 and I used my Utility Wedge.

Tom Fraser, Yarmouth Golf & Curling Club, Hole #7

I was teeing off on number 7, 100 yards with my pitching wedge and my Titleist 5. I showed the ball to my playing partner Richard because it was a bit warn. Given the cart was a distance away, I decided to just play it. When I hit the ball, we thought it would end up in the bunker but instead it kicked right up to the green and we watched roll right into the hole. Want a moment. 

Thank you.

Tom Fraser

Trevor Coldwell, Paraiso del Mar Golf & Country Club, Hole #6

Thanks for the email. The hole was playing 131 into the wind. I hit a 9 iron. I was playing with my wife, Terri, and our neighbours, Terri and Lisa McCreadie.

A near-win at the ISPS Handa Championship has Canada’s Aaron Cockerill dreaming of the first major of his career.

Cockerill lost to Australia’s Lucas Herbert in a two-hole playoff at PGM Ishioka Golf Club in Omitama, Japan, on Sunday. That second-place finish moved Cockerill up to 25th on the DP World Tour’s points list and within range of a berth at the upcoming British Open.

“If I keep moving up and stay high on the Race to Dubai standings, there’s a chance that I could play in maybe a couple of majors this year, which would be a first for me,” said Cockerill, who is based in Dubai and is a regular on the Europe-based DP World Tour.

Cockerill, who is from Stony Mountain, Man., has until June 28 to qualify himself for the British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on July 16. His clearest route is to be one of the top five players, not already exempt for the Open, within the top 20 of the Race to Dubai Rankings through the BMW International Open in Munich.

Currently sitting 25th on that list has him within an iron’s distance of that goal, especially as several players ahead of him in the DP World Tour rankings – like former British Open champion Rory McIlroy and world No. 1 Jon Rahm – already have spots at the prestigious event based on other qualifications.

Cockerill also moved up to 250th in the men’s world golf rankings, the highest Canadian not on the PGA Tour. Golf Canada recognized him as its player of the week for the strong showing in Japan.

He said it was “pretty cool” to be recognized by the national sport organization.

“I feel like sometimes it’s harder to keep track of golf over on the European Tour with the time zones and everything like that,” said Cockerill from Incheon, South Korea, where he will play in this week’s Korea Championship presented by Genesis. “It’s a little bit of an acknowledgment and some people who may forget about (the tour) will maybe tune in and pay attention to the golf on our tour as well.”

The 31-year-old Cockerill said that his game has been rounding into form this season because he’s more mature and that “all the boring stuff” is adding up.

“I take care of myself, I don’t really go out, I’m not drinking a whole lot,” said Cockerill. “I’m pretty disciplined with my practice. I set up a schedule of what I want to do every single week on tour, and I just tick them off, tick off the boxes and make sure I complete all my drills and games and maintenance things that I need to do throughout the week.”

Coming from a hockey background, Ashton McCulloch found the sport of golf a little bit too slow for his liking when he was first introduced to it. But after picking it back up in his teenage years, the Kingston, Ontario native has since developed a passion for the game and has emerged as one of the most promising amateurs in the country.

“My dad was an avid golfer and he wanted me to get started in the sport at a young age. I was seven when I first started but coming from a hockey background, I found the game a little slow. I stopped playing and didn’t pick it back up until I was 13,” recalls the now 20-year-old.

As a former goaltender, he appreciates how playing that position may be beneficial to his overall approach on the golf course.

“I guess being a goalie you have the mentality of being by yourself and you learn how to bounce back; and that carries over to golf,” McCulloch reasoned.

The second year member of Golf Canada’s National Team Program says his dad, John McCulloch, gave him some great advice which he implements to this day.

“The best advice my dad gave me was the importance of practicing with a purpose. It comes down to how diligent you are when you practice because practice makes permanent.”

Taking his dad’s advice and McCulloch got his first golf membership at the age of 14. After putting in the work in practice to improve his skills, he would enter his first tournament at the club’s annual championship later that year.

“I shot a 79 which was my first time breaking 80. And to do that in my first tournament was pretty awesome,” he pointed out.

After that eye opening result in his first tournament, McCulloch would work even harder to improve all areas of his game. And his disciplined efforts would lead to multiple rewards.

In 2021, he won the Glencoe Invitational and followed that up by winning the British Columbia Men’s Amateur Championship.

National Team men’s head coach, Derek Ingram, speaks highly of McCulloch’s work ethic and dedication to the sport.

“Ashton has a work ethic similar to Corey (Conners) and Mac (Hughes). He works hard on all areas of her game and is smart and committed. Also, similar to those guys, he’s going to a northern school and a school that plays a good schedule,” said Ingram about McCulloch who is currently in his second year at Michigan State University.

The talented 20-year-old is grateful that his involvement in the National Team Program has provided him with the opportunity to compete in high profile tournaments that he would not otherwise gain entry into.

“I’m not from British Columbia but being part of Golf Canada’s junior boys program gave me the opportunity to spend a winter training there and gave me the chance to compete the B.C. AM,” he noted.

“My aunt and uncle and cousins live out in B.C. and it was the first time they got to see me playing golf and see me doing what I love. It was a great feeling to win it with them there.”

McCulloch says consistency has been a key to his success on the golf course.

“I don’t do anything spectacular but I also don’t do anything to get myself in trouble. I would say I’m very steady and consistent out there and just try to do what I’m supposed to,” he noted when asked to describe his game.

McCulloch is studying engineering at Michigan State University on a full golf scholarship. The talented Canadian had a stellar rookie season and earned Big 10 Freshman of the Year honours. Currently, in his sophomore year, McCulloch has the goal of playing on the PGA Tour one day.

Ingram sees a lot of potential in the highly touted amateur, and in understanding his tremendous work ethic, the National Team men’s head coach outlines some key areas that McCulloch will have to focus on and work on in order to have the best chance to make his dream a reality.

“Ashton has to get longer and stronger – not unlike just about anyone based on the way the game is going. And he has to tidy up his short game,” Ingram pointed out.

“Then Ashton has to play against the best amateurs in the world and be able to learn, grow and refine his game from those experiences,” he added.

Ingram notes that by being part of the National Team Program, McCulloch will have the resources and support to help him reach his full potential on the golf course.

“Ashton now has a group of team members and alumni to support, lead and push him to see how good he can be,” said Ingram.

“We know the average Canadian playing on the PGA Tour takes over five years to make it onto the Tour. It’s a long process and journey so every player with the ability needs to be in it for the long haul.”

For his part, McCulloch is grateful for all the support he gets through the National Team Program. And he’s prepared to make a commitment to doing everything within his control to be successful.

“The depth of support we get in terms of coaching and resources is just a huge advantage. I have had so much success since being part of Golf Canada and I see so much more to come,” said McCulloch.

“We get so many opportunities that we wouldn’t otherwise get like playing in big tournaments in Canada and around the world. I’m just grateful to be part of the Program and to be able to learn from the experiences, the coaches, and those who have been through the program before,” he continued.

“By being part of the Program, I feel like I’m on the right track. Still, I know there’s a lot of work that is required to reach my goals but I’m committed to putting in the work to reach them.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada will merge into a singular Tour to form PGA TOUR Americas, which will begin play in February 2024, the PGA TOUR has announced.

PGA TOUR Americas will consist of 16 events contested across Latin America, Canada and the United States from February through September. The top 10 finishers on the season-long points list will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the following season.

“As we build on the rich golf history across Latin America and Canada, we are thrilled about PGA TOUR Americas and the role this tour will play in preparing players for the next step in their professional golf journey,” said Alex Baldwin, who oversees PGA TOUR Americas, the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry and PGA TOUR University. “PGA TOUR Americas will be an extremely competitive tour aimed at identifying, developing and transitioning top-performing players to the next level as they ascend through the ranks and strive to reach the highest level of professional golf, the PGA TOUR.”

The PGA TOUR Americas season will begin in February with the Latin America Swing, which will conclude in May. Eligibility for the Latin America Swing will include the top 60 finishers from the final 2022-2023 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Points List and the top 60 finishers from the final 2023 PGA TOUR Canada Points List. PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry will also provide access to the Latin America Swing of PGA TOUR Americas for the winners of a First Stage site, as well as additional finishers beyond the 40th position and ties from Final Stage of 2023 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. Additional access to the Latin America Swing will include the Latinoamérica Dev Series and the highest finisher on the 2023 APGA season-long points list who is a member of the APGA Player Development program.

The top 60 players from the Latin America Swing will continue on to compete in the North America Swing. Additionally, PGA TOUR Americas will host a mid-season Q-School, as well as introduce graduates from PGA TOUR University (finishers 6-20). Full eligibility for PGA TOUR Americas will be announced later this year and will feature similar categories to PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada, including open qualifiers, sponsor exemptions and eligible Korn Ferry Tour members.

As PGA TOUR Americas heads to the North America Swing, members will compete in Canada and the United States from June through September in an effort to finish in the top 10 on the season-long points list and earn Korn Ferry Tour membership – exempt through the third reshuffle – for the following season.

In addition to Korn Ferry Tour cards being awarded to the top 10 finishers on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List, there are also numerous performance benefits available on PGA TOUR Americas. Five conditional Korn Ferry Tour cards are available to the top two finishers in the Latin America Swing and the top three performers from the North America Swing, in the event those individuals do not finish in the top 10 on the final PGA TOUR Americas Points List.

Additionally, performance on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List will grant access into 2024 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. The top 10 finishers on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List, the top two finishers in the Latin America Swing and the top three finishers in the North America Swing will earn exemptions to Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

Finishers 11–25 on the PGA TOUR Americas Points List, finishers 3–10 from the Latin America Swing and finishers 4–10 from the North America Swing will earn exemptions to Second Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

All remaining PGA TOUR Americas members will earn exemptions to First Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry.

The 2024 PGA TOUR Americas schedule will be announced in September. Finalized details regarding eligibility – including the priority ranking – as well as purses and points distribution, will be announced closer to the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas season beginning in February 2024.

AVONDALE, La. – Paired together for the first time at the Zurich Classic, Canadians Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin matched the Zurich Classic Foursomes record with a 9-under 63 to narrowly finish runner-up; marking the second runner-up finish of Taylor’s career (2023 WM Phoenix Open) and the fourth for Hadwin (first since the 2019 Fortinet Championship).

Nick Hardy and Davis Riley birdied four of their final six holes to give both players their first PGA TOUR wins.

They began the final round three shots back and closed with a 7-under 65 in alternate-shot play to finish with a tournament-record total of 30-under 258 at TPC Louisiana, eclipsing the 259 posted by 2022 winners Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele. Hardy and Riley were two shots better than Canadians Hadwin and Taylor.

Riley’s previous best finish was a playoff loss to Sam Burns in the 2022 Valspar Championship. Hardy’s best was a tie for fifth at the Sanderson Farms Championship last fall.

Each takes home $1.24 million and earns a two-year exemption for winning the PGA TOUR’s only official team event.

Hadwin and Taylor’s 63 tied the course record in alternate shot that was set in Friday’s second round by Cantlay and Schauffele. The Canadians’ 10th and final birdie of the round on the 13th hole briefly gave them a one-shot lead, and they went to the clubhouse tied for first before the eventual champions birdied twice more.

Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler, who finished each of the first three rounds atop the leaderboard and opened the final round with a one-stroke lead, made their first three bogeys of the tournament – two on their final three holes – and closed with a 1-under 71 to finish third, three shots back.

Cantlay and Schuffele made eight birdies before their second bogey of the day on 18 left them tied for fourth with Matthew NeSmith and Taylor Moore at 26-under.

OMITAMA, Japan – Australian Lucas Herbert outlasted Canada’s Aaron Cockerill to win the Handa Championship on the second extra hole Sunday for his third world tour title.

The pair finished the final round tied on 15-under 265 after Herbert just missed a birdie putt from 20 feet on the 18th for a 67. Cockerill had a chance to take advantage but saw his second shot on the last find a bunker and was lucky to save his par and force the playoff after a closing-round 68.

? Play-off ?@A_Cockerill recovers in superb fashion on 18 to force a play-off with @lhgolf5 ?

Back to 18 we go…#ISPSHandaChampionship pic.twitter.com/9mW3Vw764x

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 23, 2023

After both players made par at the first extra hole, Herbert did well to recover from a wayward tee shot on the second extra to secure his first win since the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open title in 2021.

Cockerill, a 31-year old Manitoba native, was looking for his first victory on the DP World Tour. The runner-up finish ties he best result, as he also finished second at the 2022 Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa.

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A post shared by Aaron Cockerill (@aaroncockerill46)

Scotland’s Calum Hill took sole third place with a 14-under 266 despite shooting a tidy 5-under 65 in the final round.

Canada’s Ben Silverman fired a final round, three-under 68 to tie for third, just one shot out of a sudden death playoff on Sunday at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Lecom Suncoast Classic.

Silverman, who already has a win this season at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic, finished the event at 20-under par.

Wil Bateman tied for 18th at 14-under after a 69 on Sunday, while Roger Sloan finished with a 74 to tie for 36th at 10-under.

When Jason John and Lynn Furlotte told their only child that she could accomplish anything she puts her mind and heart into, they truly meant it – and just as important, she truly believed them. Today their daughter, Leah John, is 22 years old and is among a select group of elite athletes to be part of Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

Besides being regarded as one of the most promising amateur golfers in Canada, John is also an All-American Scholar at the University of Nevada where she is playing for the women’s golf team on a full scholarship.

That unique combination of high intellect, elite athleticism and talent is fully utilized by the five foot eight inch Canadian as she’s enjoyed notable recent success on the golf course.

John’s recent success on the links includes back to back British Columbia Women’s Amateur titles to go along with her maiden NCAA victory in February of 2022.

Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, young Leah spent time playing a number of sports. She was the type of gifted athlete that would excel at any sport she put her time and energy into. In high school, besides excelling on the golf course, she was also a star on the volleyball courts and the basketball courts.

Then at the age of 15, she made the decision to focus solely on golf.

“I chose golf because I personally felt it was the hardest sport out of all of them. I just found golf to be the most mentally and physically challenging; and I love challenges and being outdoors,” John pointed out.

After dedicating herself fully to the sport of golf, John soon started seeing breakthrough results. In 2018, just after graduating from high school, the then 18-year-old recorded a runner up finish at the B.C. Junior Girls’ Championship.

“I had shot four under the first day and led most of the tournament and ended up coming in second. It gave me a lot of confidence to do that against the best juniors in the province who had a lot more experience than me,’” she recalled.

After taking a gap year to hone her game, the Vancouver native earned a scholarship to the University of Nevada.

“It was a smaller school which was great because I felt that sense of community. They had the coaches, mentors, the resources, and the facilities to help me to develop as a player and a person. The school had all the things I was looking for,” she said.

John’s passion for golf grew during her time at the University of Nevada and that passion comes through in her positive and confident approach on the course.

“I like to have fun. You might see me laughing out there in between shots; but I’m always ready to grind also,” she noted.

That positive and confident mindset has served her well. In the summer of 2021, John recorded the most notable win of her young career when she captured the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship.

Building on the momentum of that big triumph, John would record her first NCAA victory by capturing The Show at Spanish Trail in February of 2022.

“On the third day, the conditions were very windy and I was trying my best to hold on to the lead. I hit some good shots and some not so good shots but found a way to win; and learned a lot about myself during that tournament,” said John of her maiden NCAA victory.

In the summer of 2022, she would defend her title at the British Columbia Women’s Amateur.

While winning in her province in two consecutive years is great, John said it was extra special to be able to share it with her family.

“My dad caddied for me in those two events and they were special wins for us. It brings me a lot of joy to think about that. My parents have always been my biggest supporters and it’s hands down the best time we spent together,” she said.

“Getting those wins in front of family and friends was just amazing and something I will always remember.”

The recent success on the golf course has John eager for more. And she believes her selection into Golf Canada’s National Team Program will give her the opportunity to reach her full potential as a golfer.

“I want to play this sport professionally and I want to be the best player I can be and the objective of the Program is to help us achieve that goal. I’m grateful Golf Canada sees the potential in me,” said John.

National Team women’s head coach, Salimah Mussani, speaks highly about John’s potential and her dedication to being the best version of herself.

“Leah is super powerful. She has the fastest club head speed on our team. She’s also very eager to learn and is very receptive and open to hearing feedback and exploring different things,” Mussani pointed out about the first year National Team member.

“She’s got all the talent and is also very dedicated; has a great work ethic and a great attitude. These are the type of things that could push her to that next level.”

Currently in her fifth year at the University of Nevada, the 22-year-old Canadian has her mind and heart set on playing the sport professionally at the highest level after she graduates.

As she prepares for that exciting journey ahead, she is motivated and inspired to see the success of other Canadians who have been through the National Team Program such as Brooke Henderson, Corey Conners, and Mackenzie, Hughes, just to name a few.

“Everyone has their own paths but if they did it and this is what it looks like then it gives me confidence to know that I’m following in their footsteps by being in this Program,” said John.

“It gives me a lot of trust that I’m doing the right things and gives me motivation to work even harder to achieve my goals.”

Canada’s Aaron Cockerill heads into the final round of the 2023 ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP with a one-shot lead after a terrific start on Saturday.

The 31-year-old Manitoba native began his third-round 64 with a hat-trick of birdies before making four more and a single bogey to reach 13 under par.

But if Cockerill is to secure his maiden DP World Tour title at PGM Ishioka Golf Club on Sunday, he will have to fight off a stellar chasing pack.

Australian Lucas Herbert and Scotland’s David Law were just a shot back on 12 under after posting rounds of 68 and 64 respectively on Moving Day.

Japanese duo Rikuya Hoshino and Takumi Kanaya shared fourth place with Scot Grant Forrest on 11 under, one stroke clear of Jazz Janewattananond and Rafa Cabrera Bello.