Momentum continues…2025 Year in Review
The 2025 golf season was a reminder that the momentum in Canadian golf not only continued but accelerated with pace. Driven by wins on and off the course, expanded programming, commercial and philanthropic success, and a passion for the sport that spans coast-to-coast, Canadian golf is in a great place.
Golf holds its place as the number one participation sport in Canada as is evident by another record-breaking year, with 11.2 million scores posted on the Golf Canada App by more than 360,000 Golf Canada members at 1,550 member clubs across the country.

The professional game mirrored the success of recent years as Canadian golf fans were treated to another memorable year. Ask a Canadian golf fan to pick a highlight from 2025 and they would probably say Brooke Henderson’s win at the CPKC Women’s Open. Henderson’s triumph at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club returned her to the winners’ circle after an incredible performance in front of the home crowd to win her second CPKC Women’s Open title. Henderson’s win further strengthened her position as the most successful Canadian professional golfer in history with her 14th win on the LPGA Tour. She closed the LPGA season with a T7 finish at the CME Group Tour Championship.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. continued his winning ways on the PGA TOUR, taking the Sony Open in Hawaii in January for his fifth career title on Tour. Taylor has won at least once in three consecutive years and all three via playoff, including the historic 2023 RBC Canadian Open in a thrilling four-hole playoff with Tommy Fleetwood. Taylor also added a T19 finish at the Tour Championship in November.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. continues to assert himself as one of the game’s best, earning seven top 10 finishes on the PGA TOUR including a T4 finish at the Tour Championship and his fourth top 10 finish at The Masters. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. added four top 10’s as well as a T5 finish at the PGA Championship in May.

More noise was made by Canadians on the global professional circuits, including 17-year-old Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. who turned pro in January and went on to win back-to-back tournaments in September on the Ladies European Tour (LET). The Team Canada member earned her first professional win at the La Sella Open in Spain and followed it up a week later with a win at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France and closes the year ranked no. 114 on the Rolex World Rankings.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont. recorded his first professional win at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in January and finished the year with four top 10’s on the Korn Ferry Tour. The 24-year-old earned his PGA TOUR card for 2026 by finishing 19th in the Korn Ferry Tour season standings and will be the youngest Canadian on Tour next year.
Joining the Canadian contingent will be A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. Ewart earned medalist honours at PGA TOUR Q-School last Sunday. The Team Canada member was joined by Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. who kept his card by finishing T2. Ewart and Svensson bring the Canadian contingent up to seven members on the PGA TOUR in 2026.
Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. and Leah John of Vancouver, B.C. earned their first professional wins in 2025, with Creighton winning The Wichita Open in June on the Korn Ferry Tour and John earned her first Epson Tour win at the Four Winds Invitational in August. John earned her 2026 LPGA Tour card finishing T10 at the LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage. Maude-Aimee LeBlanc also retained her status for 2026, joining Henderson and John as the Canadian contingent on the LPGA Tour next year.

The amateur circuit brought another banner year for Team Canada, led by 15-year-old Team Canada – NextGen member, Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. In July, Deng won the 76th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship becoming the first Canadian to win the title in tournament history. One month later, Deng followed up her historic performance and captivated the crowds in Mississauga with a T20 finish at the CPKC Women’s Open, earning the Marlene Stewart Streit Low Amateur Award. Deng also won twice on the AJGA taking the Junior Invitational and Mizuho Americas Open and was later named junior player of the year by the AJGA.
Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. won her second straight Canadian Junior Girls Championship in August and became the ninth multi-time winner and first back-to-back winner since Heather Kuzmich in 1982. Liu added four additional wins in 2025, including the Peloton Glencoe Invitational. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. won the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in July. Both Liu and Xing earned silver medals as part of Team Canada 1’s runner-up finish at the 2025 World Junior Girls Golf Championship in September with Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. Team Canada 2 represented by Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C., Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C. finished sixth led by Ding, the individual runner up who also added a 2025 win at the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open.
Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. earned her second collegiate win for the University of Texas at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and competed in her second consecutive Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. won the Chevron Collegiate in her freshman year at Texas A&M University. Team Canada teammates, Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta., Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont. and Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver, B.C. were all victorious in 2025 as well.
Austin Krahn of Christina Lakes, B.C. took home gold at the 2025 Canada Summer Games and added two provincial titles this past year while Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont., a recent addition to the Team Canada program, won the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in August and added four additional wins in 2025.
Some familiar names also added national championships to their trophy cabinets this year. Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. won her third Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. claimed her fourth Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Charles Fitzsimmons of King, Ont. won his third Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. won her fifth straight Canadian All Abilities Championship. The UBC Thunderbirds claimed the men’s and women’s Canadian University/College Championship in convincing fashion once again.
Beyond the professional and amateur ranks, the future of golf in Canada shrines bright. The sport has welcomed a new wave of participants with grass roots programming that has introduced golf to more youth and women annually.

First Tee – Canada posted its highest participation numbers in 2025, with more than 106,000 youth taking part in programs across the country, a 25 per cent increase from last year. Since its inception in 2021, First Tee – Canada has reached over 276,000 young Canadians.
In addition, 481 locations offered programming across schools, community centres and golf facilities, supported by nearly 350 coaches, both increases from last year. First Tee – Canada continues to be a leader in youth programming with a focus on strengthening diversity and equity in the sport. In 2025, 74 per cent of partnered schools and community organizations served underrepresented communities with close to 60 per cent of programs delivered at no cost to participants. Through the efforts of six First Tee chapters nationwide, youth participation is becoming more reflective of Canada’s diversity with 42 per cent of on-course participants identifying as female and 36 per cent as BIPOC. The program’s growth was backed by strong donor support with the Golf Canada Foundation raising more than $10 million for the sport in 2025, including $4.5 million for First Tee – Canada.
First Tee – Canada was also the proud charitable beneficiary of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and First Tee – Alberta received nearly $200,000 through it’s partnership with the Rogers Charity Classic in 2025. In keeping with golf’s charitable giving, the CPKC Women’s Open continues to leave a meaningful legacy in each host city through its CPKC Has Heart program, this year donating a record $4.5 million for MacKids and Trillium Health Partners, supporting pediatric and cardiac health.
For the first time, the Youth on Course program was available in every province across the country. The program allows Golf Canada members between the ages of 6 to 18 to play subsidized rounds for $5 or less at participating courses during designated times. In 2025, Youth on Course members played nearly 50,000 subsidized rounds across Canada, marking a record high season and a 51 per cent increase over rounds played in the previous year. The program also drove strong engagement, with 4,470 new members joining Golf Canada to access these affordable playing opportunities.

She Plays Golf expanded in 2025 with the addition of a week-long festival in Atlantic Canada in the fall complimenting stops in Vancouver, Calgary and the Greater Toronto Area. The She Plays Golf Championship Series once again aligned with week-long festivals and provided four exemptions into the CPKC Women’s Open.
She Plays Golf featured 24 events across 19 golf facilities and engaged with more than 800 women and girls. Across all festivals, over 700 participants were new to the game and took part in beginner friendly activities led by close to 90 women coaches and volunteers.
Feedback remained overwhelmingly positive, with 97 per cent of participants sharing that the event(s) provided an atmosphere that made them feel comfortable and welcome, and 88 per cent indicating they are very likely to continue participating in golf following their experience.
In addition, 23 girls-only Try Golf clinics were delivered through RBC Community Junior Golf, reaching 275 girls.
Bolstered by another record-breaking year for scores posted, the Golf Canada App received a major update in 2025. New enhancements included group score posting, making it easier than ever to record scores for your playing partners during group rounds. The introduction of smartwatch support for Android wearables brought on-wrist GPS yardages and digital scoring to a wide range of devices, while upgraded GPS tools now provide precise front, middle and back-of-green distances to support smarter club selection and on-course strategy. The update also introduced a Golf Canada membership referral program and a new achievements system, along with enhanced privacy controls that allow users to choose whether their scores appear in their friends’ feeds.
An exciting new chapter for the RBC Canadian Open was written in June, as TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. became the 38th course in tournament history to host Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Fans were treated to a thrilling finish as New Zealand’s Ryan Fox beat Sam Burns in a four-hole playoff. The 115th playing of the RBC Canadian Open will return to TPC Toronto in 2026.
During tournament week a new initiative, Birdies for Trails was created in collaboration with partners at TPC Toronto and WM. Every birdie at The Rink Hole (no. 14) directly contributed to raise $29,500 for the Credit Valley Conservation Foundation and the development of the Credit Valley Trail, a passageway stretching 100 kilometres in length, linking Orangeville, Ont. with Port Credit (Mississauga), Ont.
Following the tournament, RBC and the PGA TOUR announced a multi-year extension of the bank’s title sponsorship of the RBC Canadian Open. RBC, a long-time supporter of professional and amateur golf in Canada had been the proud title sponsor of the Men’s National Open Championship since 2008.

As the outdoor season drew to a close in most parts of the country, Golf Canada launched a comprehensive off-course golf strategy to enhance the year-long golf experience. Golf has evolved into a 12-month activity, and the strategy is supported by the Just Swing campaign, highlighting the benefits and different forms of off-course golf. The strategy also focuses on Provincial Golf Associations and their partnership with Golf Canada in launching a new facility membership offering, specifically designed for off-course operators to promote their operations to Canada’s largest and most engaged golf audience.
As Canadian golf continues to write exciting new chapters, one will end in early 2026. Glen Abbey Golf Club has been the home of Golf Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame since 1977. In February 2026, Golf Canada will move its operation to the new home for Canadian golf at TPC Toronto.
The new home for Canadian golf will also be home to First Tee – Canada along with a 30,000 square foot 18-hole community putting course that is free and open to the public. For more information on the home for Canadian golf, please click here.
In February, three new members were inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, including accomplished amateur golfer, Richard Scott, former professional golfer Jerry Anderson and renowned course architect Charles Blair Macdonald. Elements of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame are proudly weaved into the main clubhouse, locker rooms and accommodation villas at TPC Toronto. Memorabilia highlighting Canadian golf legends and significant moments in Canadian golf history are also being showcased across the property.
Canadian golf couldn’t happen without the many wonderful people – volunteers, club staff, superintendents, PGA of Canada professionals, operators, media, and other industry stakeholders – whose efforts are paramount to the success of the sport. Closer to home, Golf Canada is proud of its staff for their efforts to advance the sport and who once again earned the organization its Great Places to Work designation.
With the holiday season upon us and the book on 2025 drawing to a close, one thing is certain, Canadian golf has never been stronger. The momentum continues and it brings the promise of more great moments that lie ahead.
Golf Canada’s Weekly Leaderboard powered by Titleist
PGA TOUR
A.J. Ewart birdied three of his final six holes to finish atop the leaderboard and become one of five players to secure the PGA Tour cards for next season at the PGA Tour Q-School. The Team Canada member secured membership on the PGA Tour on his first appearance at the final stage. Ewart, who made a hole-in-one in round two to vault him to the top of the leaderboard, had three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour Americas this past year, which secured him a spot in the second qualifying stage. He advanced to the final stage after finishing in a tie for fifth at the event in Arizona. Fellow Canadian Adam Svensson had five birdies and a bogey in the final round to climb 10 places and finish runner-up, retaining his card for another season and improving his status heading into 2026. Svensson finished 167 in the FedEx Cup standings this year and was in danger of losing his status after his exemption for winning the 2022 RSM Classic had expired. Ben Silverman birdied three of his first four holes in the final round to climb seven places and be among the top five to secure a Tour card. In the past, the top five and ties would have been safe, but this year, a hole-by-hole playoff was needed to determine the final recipient. Dylan Wu made a 20-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to claim the final card, leaving Silverman with conditional status and a chance to improve his standing through the first 14 events of the season. The remaining Canadians will have conditional status through the first reshuffle, which will take place after the sixth event of the season, and all have membership on the PGA Tour Americas. …This is the first time since 2014 that Adam Hadwin will not be a full-time member on the PGA Tour.
| POS | SCORES | TOTAL | |
| 1 | A.J. Ewart | 66-67-67-66 | -14 |
| T2 | Adam Svensson | 70-64-68-66 | -12 |
| T5 | Ben Silverman | 68-69-65-67 | -11 |
| T62 | Adam Hadwin | 69-72-71-66 | -2 |
| T62 | Drew Nesbitt | 69-72-67-70 | -2 |
| T79 | Roger Sloan | 68-67-74-70 | -1 |
| T92 | Stuart Macdonald | 67-76-69-69 | +1 |
| T124 | Myles Creighton | 71-70-72-72 | +5 |
| 150 | Peyton Callens | 75-69-72-75 | +11 |
NEXT EVENT: Sony Open (Jan 15)
LPGA TOUR
Andrew Novak made three straight birdies on the back nine, and Lauren Coughlin made a birdie putt on the final hole as the duo captured the Grant Thornton Invitational by a record three strokes. Novak and Coughlin, who teamed up for the first time in this modified four-ball event, broke the tournament scoring record at 28-under 188. It is Novak’s second team event win after claiming the Zurich Classic of New Orleans earlier this year. Novak and Coughlin each earned US$500,000 for the win, the largest payoff for Coughlin, who won twice on the LPGA last year. The teams of Nelly Korda / Denny McCarthy and Jennifer Kupcho / Chris Gotterup finished tied for second, with Korda missing a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have given them solo second place. …Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners, playing as a team for the third time in this event, finished in a tie for fifth. They had previously finished second and fourth.
| POS | SCORES | TOTAL | |
| T5 | Brooke Henderson / Corey Conners | 61-67-65 | -23 |
NEXT EVENT: Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (Jan 29)
EUROPEAN TOUR
Jayden Schaper made an eagle on the first playoff hole to defeat Shaun Norris in the weather-shortened Alfred Dunhill Championship. It is Schaper’s first European Tour win. Norris birdied four of his last six holes and appeared on his way to successfully defending the title he won a year ago until Schaper finished with two birdies over his final three holes to force the playoff. Schaper found the fairway bunker with his tee shot on the first extra hole but made a spectacular approach to set up the winning eagle putt. The tournament was reduced to 54 holes after rain left the course unplayable on Saturday.
| POS | SCORES | TOTAL | |
| T78 | Aaron Cockerill | 68-72-75 | +1 |
NEXT EVENT: AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (Dec. 18)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill
LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR
Team Canada member Yeji Kwon was among the qualifiers to advance to the final stage of Ladies European Tour Q-School after finishing a tie for 19th at the qualifying event in Morocco. Ashley Chow failed to advance after finishing in a tie for 32nd at a separate event in Morocco, missing the cut line by four strokes. Maude-Aimee Leblanc and Kwon will be among the 155 players in the final stage, with the top 65 and ties after four days of play advancing to the final round, where the top 20 and ties will earn a card for the 2026 season. Those finishing 21 to 50 will get conditional status.
NEXT EVENT: LET Q-School-Final Stage (Dec. 16)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Yeji Kwon, Maude-Aimee Leblanc
Five Handicapping Terms to Know This Winter
With colder weather well underway and many courses across the country shifting into winter routines, it’s a great time to brush up on a few Handicapping terms. Whether you’re still playing, travelling south for a round or two, or simply preparing for next season, understanding these concepts will help you get the most out of your Handicap Index all year round.
1. Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)
The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) becomes especially relevant during Canadian winter and shoulder seasons. PCC automatically recalibrates Score Differentials on days when course conditions are notably harder or easier than usual. If the scores posted that day show that players, as a group, performed worse than expected, the PCC may adjust by +1, +2, or +3. Conversely, if scoring was better than anticipated, it may adjust by -1.
The best part? PCC is fully automatic. Golfers and clubs don’t need to do anything. The system reviews results at the end of each day, helping to keep your Handicap Index accurate and fair, even with unpredictable conditions.
2. Active Season
Canada’s Active Seasons vary by province. The Active Season is the period during which course conditions are suitable for generating acceptable scores for handicapping purposes. Any score recorded within a specific province during its Active Season will be included in your Handicap Index.
To simplify this process, the Golf Canada Score Centre automatically recognizes the Active Season of the course being played. Golfers simply post their round, and the system handles the rest. For more information on Active Seasons, please click here.
3. Most Likely Score
The most likely score is used when a golfer begins a hole but doesn’t finish it. This is especially common during cold weather rounds when players pick up more often.
To determine your most likely score, take:
· The strokes you have already taken (including penalties), plus
· The estimated number of extra strokes you would likely require to complete the hole from your current position.
The Rules of Handicapping include recommended guidelines. For example, if you’re within 5 feet, add 1 stroke; if you’re between 5 and 20 feet, add 2 or 3 strokes.
For more details on the most likely score, see Rule 3.3 in the Rules of Handicapping.
4. Scoring Record
A common misconception is that rounds played during your home province’s inactive season shouldn’t be posted because they won’t count toward your Handicap Index. While it’s true that inactive season rounds don’t factor into your Index, you should still post them, especially if you’re travelling somewhere that is in an active season.
So even if your course is open but not in its active season, or you’re playing somewhere that is in their active season, be sure to post all your scores. This helps you maintain a complete scoring record, even if some rounds don’t directly impact your Handicap Index.
5. Simulator Golf
Simulator golf continues to expand across Canada as winter leagues and indoor facilities become more prevalent. While excellent for skill development, competition, and enjoyment, simulator rounds cannot be posted for handicap purposes.
Why not?
· Simulators don’t have official ratings
· Playing conditions are controlled rather than natural
· Although simulators can be highly accurate, it’s tough to replicate variables such as elevation change, firmness, wind, rough length, etc.
Though simulator scores do not count toward your Handicap Index, we strongly encourage golfers to use these facilities during the winter. For more information on the benefits of simulator golf and how to find a facility near you, please visit the homepage for our new Just Swing initiative.
Golf Canada announces strategic partnership with Tourism Calgary
Men’s and Women’s Canadian Amateur Championships to benefit from partnership
OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Tourism Calgary, that will provide support for two prestigious amateur championships over the next two years in the Calgary area.
“On behalf of Golf Canada, we are very appreciative of the support from Tourism Calgary that will help boost two of our most prestigious amateur championships over the next two years,” said Garrett Ball, Chief Operating Officer, Golf Canada. “We look forward to continuing working with the team at Tourism Calgary to develop impactful and meaningful legacy initiatives with the local community that connect our championships to the residents of the area. With the success of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open and Calgary being a great host city, we are excited to bring our men’s and women’s amateur championships to the Blue Sky City.”
The first tournament that will benefit as part of the strategic partnership is the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. The 121st playing of the tournament will be co-hosted by Mickelson National Golf Club and Heritage Pointe Golf Club in Calgary, Alta., July 27-30, 2026. As previously announced, the third oldest amateur championship in the world returns to Alberta for the first time since 2008 when it was held at Paradise Canyon Golf and Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta. This past July, Australia’s Declan O’Donovan claimed the Earl Grey Cup over Team Canada – NextGen member, Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. in a playoff to become the first Australian winner since Gary Simpson in 1993.
The second tournament that will benefit from the partnership will be the 2027 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. The 113th playing of the championship will take place at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club, in Calgary, July 27-30, 2027. Priddis Greens is a three-time host of the CPKC Women’s Open. Australia’s Karrie Webb won in 1999, Norway’s Suzann Pettersen won the 2009 tournament and Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand won the most recent championship held at the course in 2016. The province of Alberta last hosted the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in 2021 at the Edmonton Petroleum Golf and Country Club in Edmonton.
“Tourism Calgary is proud to work with and support Golf Canada in hosting two prestigious amateur championships in 2026 and 2027. We are excited to host these tournaments that will not only showcase elite golf talent but also reinforce Calgary’s strong reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events in Canada,” said Carson Ackroyd, Senior Vice President, Tourism Calgary. “Calgary is a strong supporter of golf in Canada as evident from high participation numbers and fan support of championships in our city. Most recently the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club set a new attendance record for the tournament, and we are incredibly proud of that accomplishment. We look forward to welcoming elite playing fields and their families along with tournament officials to our city and hope they enjoy everything Calgary has to offer.”
The full 2026 championship schedule will be announced in the new year.
End of active posting season: explained
As the leaves turn and golf courses across the country begin preparing for winter, we mark the end of the “active posting season” for many Canadian golfers. Under the Golf Canada Handicapping system, an active season is the period during which scores from rounds played on regional courses may be submitted for a golfer’s Handicap Index® and officially count.
In practical terms, this means that for provinces such as Ontario and Quebec, the active posting window typically runs from about April 15 to October 31.
With that window now closing, golfers at clubs across Canada must shift their thinking. Here’s what this seasonal change means—and what to keep in mind as the clubs wind down for winter.
Why an active/inactive season matters:
The rationale behind the delineation is simple: golf courses in the off-months often play under very different conditions—frost-hardened fairways, slower greens, shorter roll-out, tree leaf fall, wet spots—that diverge significantly from the “mid-season” conditions assumed when course ratings and slope ratings were set. Allowing scores from such conditions to count would risk distorting players’ handicap indexes—either inflating or deflating them unfairly.
For that reason, rounds played on courses that are in their inactive season will still be recorded (in many cases) but won’t be included in handicap calculations. This ensures a fairer reflection of a golfer’s ability under more typical playing conditions.
What golfers should do now:
With the active posting season ending in many regions, now’s the time to make sure all your rounds played during the window are posted if you haven’t already. Since every player is responsible for submitting acceptable scores during the active season, missing a late-season round could leave your record incomplete.
If you plan to travel to warmer climates or play somewhere with a year-round active season (for example some clubs in British Columbia or in the southern U.S.), those rounds can still be submitted—provided the host course is in its active season. So even as your home club closes out, your golf doesn’t necessarily have to stop.
What changes for your game and club?
From the club’s side, this time of year often signals the winding-down phase—fewer tournaments, course maintenance ramps up, tees and greens may be adjusted for winter conditions, and the pace of play may shift. For players, the focus may turn from competitive rounds to skillrefinement: indoor putting, swing work, lessons, or planning for next season.
Also, with posted rounds now finalised for the year, your Handicap Index® heading into winter is set. That gives you a baseline to work from for next season. During the “inactive” period you might still play—it’s just that those rounds typically won’t contribute to the index, so they serve more as practice or fun rather than ranking rounds.
Looking ahead to next season
With the active season behind us, it’s a good moment for reflection: review your stats for the year, set goals for next year (e.g., stroke reduction, improved short game, more fairways hit), and perhaps identify indoor or offseason training opportunities. Many clubs open lessons, simulator access or special winter programs precisely because the outdoor competitive calendar is winding down.
In short: the close of the active posting season isn’t the end of your golfseason life—it’s just the signal that for handicapping and official scoretracking purposes, the “clock” has been paused. Use the next months wisely: maintain your swing, play off-course golf, stay “dialled” so when Spring 2026 rolls around—you’re ready to hit the ground running.
South Africa finishes strong to win first Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada T24
SINGAPORE – After a dominant 36-hole performance, South Africa did not look back, finishing eight shots clear of Australia to claim its first ever Eisenhower Trophy at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore on Saturday.
South Africa finished the tournament at 29-under 547 to return to the podium for the first time in over 40 years at the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship. For the fourth straight day, World No. 6 (WAGR) Christian Maas led South Africa and closed the tournament with a 3-under 69 to ensure victory both for his team and individually. Daniel Bennett closed with an even par 72, Charl Barnard finished with a 5-over 77 on Saturday for the champions. South Africa’s previous best finish was a silver medal in 1980 along with two bronze medals in 1970 and 1972.
Maas finished with all four rounds in the 60s (66-66-65-69-266) to finish at 22-under, ten shots clear of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Declan O’Donovan of Australia (12-under). The senior at the University of Texas registered only three bogeys across 72 holes of play in Singapore on his way to the team and individual gold medals. Maas’ score of 266, ties the second lowest individual score in championship history joining Victor Perez (France), Lucas Herbert (Australia) and Alejandro Tosti (Argentina) who recorded the same score in Japan in 2014. That same year, the lowest 72-hole total score of 263 was set by Jon Rahm (Spain).
Australia finished as runner-up at 21-under to earn the silver medal while England also made the podium, finishing 19-under to claim bronze. Mexico (17-under) and France (15-under) rounded out the top five. Canada finished the tournament T24 at 1-over of the 36 countries competing.
Canada was represented by Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. who finished T46 at 3-over (74-73-72-72), Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. who finished T65 at 6-over (70-76-73-75) and Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., T81 at 10-over (75-70-80-73).
Joining Maas and O’Donovan on the podium was Adam Bresnu (Morocco) and Oscar Couilleau (France) who finished T3 at 10-under.
The 2027 World Amateur Team Championships will be hosted by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco.
For the final team and individual leaderboards following the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, please click here.
South Africa takes commanding lead into final round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada T22
Justin Matthews was the low Canadian on Friday with an even par 72
SINGAPORE – One day after soaring atop the leaderboard, South Africa strengthened its lead with a combined score of 12-under on Friday to enter the final round with an 11-shot lead at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.
South Africa is in search of its first Eisenhower Trophy and returning to the podium at the championship for the first time since earning silver in 1980. Christian Maas (no. 6 WAGR) led his country on Friday with a 7-under 65, for his second bogey free round of the championship. Teammate Daniel Bennett added an impressive 5-under 67 to put the leaders at 26-under, 11 shots clear of Australia and Mexico who are tied for second at 15-under. England sit in fourth at 12-under with France in fifth at 11-under. Canada is T22 with Wales and hosts, Singapore at even par of the 36 countries competing.
On Friday, Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. was the low Canadian, shooting an even par 72. Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont.’s 1-over 73 also counted towards the team total. Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. finished with an 8-over 80. Matthews and McCulloch are both sitting T48 at 3-over and Ibit is T85 at 9-over of the 108-players competing individually.
Following a third consecutive round in the 60s, Maas has opened a 10-shot lead in the individual competition heading into Saturday’s final round. The University of Texas senior grabbed four birdies on the front and added three on the back to record the second lowest round of the day. Michael Mjaaseth (Norway) and 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur winner, Declan O’Donovan (Australia) are tied for second at 9-under. Oscar Couilleau (France) is fourth at 8-under and Adam Bresnu (Morocco) is tied for fifth with Maas’ teammate, Bennett at 7-under. Eduardo Derbez of Mexico recorded the low round of the day on Friday with an 8-under 64. Derbez tallied six consecutive birdies on holes Nos. 3 through 8 and closed his round with an eagle on the par 5 18th to move up to T9 at 5-under.
The final round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Saturday and 7:15 p.m. EST Friday. Ibit will be the first Canadian on the course, teeing off at 7:48 a.m., followed by Matthews at 7:59 a.m. and McCulloch at 8:10 a.m. local time.
For team and individual leaderboards following the third round, please click here.
South Africa takes lead after red hot second round at the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada T18
Isaiah Ibit was the low Canadian on Thursday with a 2-under 70
SINGAPORE – South Africa soared to the top of the leaderboard following a collective round of 9-under on Thursday to take a five shot lead into the third round at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.
For the second straight day, South Africa was led by University of Texas senior, Christian Maas who post his second consecutive round of 6-under 66. Maas (no. 6 WAGR) not only ensured South Africa moved to the top of the leaderboard but also opened a four-shot lead for himself in the individual competition. After a bogey on No. 2, Maas responded with three straight birdies on Nos. 4 through 6 and went on to add four more on the day to move ahead of opening round leader Hiroshi Tai of Singapore. Daniel Bennett fired a 3-under 69 to help push South Africa atop the leaderboard; Charl Barnard’s 4-over 76 did not count towards the team total on Thursday.
Three teams trail the leaders by five shots including Australia, France and England (-9 under). First round leaders, Mexico are tied for fifth with Denmark at 8-under. Canada shot a collective score of 1-under on Thursday after an even par opening round and sits T18 with Scotland of the 36 countries competing in Singapore.
Canada was led by Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. who shot a bogey free 2-under 70 on Thursday. Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. closed with a 1-over 73 and Ashton McCulloch with a 4-over 76.
Individually, opening round leader, Tai shot a 1-under 71 to move to 8-under and is now solo second and four shots back of Maas. Oscar Couilleau (France) and Rintaro Nakano (Japan) are tied for third at 7-under. Filip Fahlberg Johnsson (Sweden) and Oscar Holm Bredkjaer (Denmark) are tied for fifth at 6-under. Ibit sits T39 at 1-over, McCulloch is T49 at 2-over and Matthews is T57 at 3-over of the 108 players competing.
Play was suspended for over an hour on Thursday due to dangerous weather in the area. The third round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Friday and 7:15 p.m. EST Thursday. With teeing off at Matthews at 8:21 a.m., McCulloch at 8:32 a.m. and Ibit at 8:43 a.m. local time.
For team and individual leaderboards following the second round, please click here.
Mexico opens 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship with lead, Canada seven back
Ashton McCulloch was the low Canadian on Wednesday with a 2-under 70
SINGAPORE – Mexico holds a two-shot lead over South Africa following the opening round of the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.
Mexico was led by Carlos Astiazaran who carded five birdies on his way to a 4-under 68. Eduardo Derbez added a 3-under 69 to give Mexico a combined score of 7-under. Gerardo Gomez’s 1-over 73 did not count to the team total on Wednesday. Right behind the leaders is South Africa who shot a collective 5-under, led by Christian Maas’ 6-under 66. Maas currently is one shot back in the individual standings. France is alone in third at 4-under, while host nation, Singapore is in a four-way tie for fourth with Australia, Sweden and Czechia at 3-under. Canada sits T13 with New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, Denmark and Spain at even par of the 36 countries competing for the Eisenhower Trophy.
Canada was led by Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. who shot a bogey free 2-under 70 on Wednesday. Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. closed with a 2-over 74 and Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. finished with a 3-over 75.
Hiroshi Tai of Singapore fired the low round of the day with a 7-under 65 to take the 18-hole lead in the individual competition by one over Maas. Tai carded eight birdies on his round including three straight on Nos. 16 through 18. Behind Tai and Maas is Astiazaran who is solo third. Derbez is in a four-way tie for fourth with Timotej Formanek (Czechia), Filip Fahlberg Johnsson (Sweden) and Michael Mjaaseth (Norway) at 3-under. McCulloch is tied for eight with six others, including 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Declan O’Donovan (Australia) at 2-under in the 108-player field.
The second round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Thursday and 7:15 p.m. EST Wednesday. Ibit will tee off at 8:21 a.m., Matthews at 8:32 a.m. and McCulloch at 8:43 a.m. local time.
For team and individual leaderboards following the opening round, please click here.
United States comes from behind to win the 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship
Canada finishes 10th; All three team members finish inside top 40 individually
SINGAPORE – The United States of America shot a collective 5-under on Saturday to win on a tiebreaker and claim the Espirito Santo Trophy at the 31st Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.
The U.S. was led by Megha Ganne, the fifth ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), who shot a bogey free 4-under 68. Farah O’Keefe (no. 7 WAGR) and Catherine Park (no. 11 WAGR) both added rounds of 1-under 71 to move the Americans to 18-under, tied with the Republic of Korea and Spain. The U.S. won the tiebreaker as it had the lowest non-counting score from the team’s third player. The two lowest scores count towards the team total each day. The win gives the U.S. its 15th gold medal at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship and its first since 2018.
Spain made the largest charge in the final round, shooting a collective 6-under thanks to a pair of 3-under 69s from Paula Martin Sampedro and Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea. The 54-hole leaders, Republic of Korea shot a team score of 2-under on Saturday to move to 18-under. England and the People’s Republic of China finished T4 at 16-under.
Canada finished the championship in 10th at 7-under among the 36 countries competing as all three players finished with even par 72s on Saturday. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. finished as the low Canadian at 3-under, good for T18 individually. The 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion posted rounds of 72-73-68-72-285. Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. finished T29 at 1-under following rounds of 73-70-72-72-287 and Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. shot 70-76-72-72-290 to finish the championship in 38th at 2-over in the 108-player field.
Individually, Ying Xu of the People’s Republic of China fired a 5-under 67 on Saturday to win the individual championship by four shots of Rianne Mikhaela Malixi (Philippines), Sampedro (Spain) and Soomin Oh (Republic of Korea). Six golfers finished tied for fifth at 7-under.
For both the final team and individual leaderboard, please click here.
The Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will also be contested in Singapore from October 8-11, for the final field that will compete for the Eisenhower Trophy, click here.