The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association has announced the 2014 CCAA Golf All-Canadians.

The student-athletes, who are selected by their conference based on performance and contribution to the sport and their team, were honoured at a banquet during the 2014 PING CCAA Golf National Championships in Quebec City.

Here are the 2014 men’s golf All-Canadians:

Matt HaddadVIU Mariners, PACWEST Haddad won the PACWEST individual title by six strokes. Well-known for his strong putting, Haddad averaged four birdies per round. His average round this season was 72.5, the best in his five-year career at VIU. Haddad, who appeared at the 2010 and 2012 PING CCAA Golf National Championships, has been the Mariners captain the last two seasons.

Connor O’DellUFV Cascades, PACWEST O’Dell placed second overall in the PACWEST individual standings. He was victorious at the Kwantlen Invitational. O’Dell was the highest-ranked performer for the Cascades, who captured their third straight conference championship. In his third year of eligibility, O’Dell was not only UFV’s top golfer but a terrific veteran leader for the No. 1 ranked Cascades.

Justin WoodLethbridge Kodiaks, ACAC Wood captured the individual title at the 2014 ACAC Men’s Golf Championships. He was named the Kodiaks MVP for 2013-14. In his two seasons at Lethbridge, Wood has led the Kodiaks men’s team to back-to-back silver medals at the ACAC Championships. Wood, whose goal is to play college golf in the United States, once scored a hole-in-one on a par 4.

Barrett BellandMacEwan Griffins, ACAC Belland finished second in the ACAC order of merit rankings in 2014. He was the South Regional individual champion with rounds of 75 and 68 and placed fourth at the North Regional. Belland led the Griffins to ACAC Championships in 2013 and 2014. Aside from being a great leader, Belland’s strength is his mental approach to the game.

Michael RizzettoMohawk Mountaineers, OCAA Rizzetto led from start to finish to capture the 2014 OCAA individual gold medal by one stroke with rounds of 71-72-74. He has led the Mountaineers to back-to-back OCAA Division II gold medals. This season, Rizzetto tied for first at the Fanshawe Invitational (lost in a shootout) and finished second at the Niagara Invitational.

Brennan SmithSt. Lawrence Vikings, OCAA Smith placed third at the OCAA Championships with consistent rounds of 74-73-73. He won the St. Lawrence College tri-campus tournament and also had victories in the Kingston City Championship, the Whig Standard Eastern Ontario Championship and the Catarqui Club Championship. Brennan’s work ethic is a great example for his teammates to follow.

David HuxhamJohn Abbott Islanders, RSEQ Huxham, in his second year at John Abbott College, placed in the Top 5 in all four RSEQ tournaments this fall, including a first-place finish. Huxham was named the Islander Athlete of the Week on Sept. 29. His veteran leadership and positive attitude helped guide a young John Abbott team to a third-place overall finish in the RSEQ.

Hugo BernardAndré-Laurendeau Boomerang, RSEQ Bernard led the Boomerang to a 27-stroke victory at the RSEQ Championships. André-Laurendeau was victorious in all four RSEQ events. The well-disciplined Bernard fired rounds of 68 and 69 to capture the provincial individual title as well. He was victorious at the first collegiate tourney (3-under 69) and placed in a tie for first in the second event (2-under 70).

Brett WilsonHolland Hurricanes, ACAA Wilson led the Hurricanes to the ACAA men’s championship title with the second-lowest aggregate score. In three years of varsity golf at Holland, Wilson has appeared at the PING CCAA Golf National Championships every season. The former ACAA individual champion was also a recipient of the National Scholar Award for 2013-14.

Eric LockeHolland Hurricanes, ACAA Locke was the Athlete of the Year at Holland College in 2013-14. He has been a member of the ACAA team champions in all three of his seasons at Holland. Locke also captured the individual championship in 2012 and 2014. He is a natural leader who is a true student of the game. Locke, the Hurricanes captain, received the National Scholar Award in 2013-14.

Here are the 2014 womens’ golf All-Canadians:

Jennifer WoodsUFV Cascades, PACWEST Woods won the PACWEST individual title by 10 strokes. She placed first at the UBC Okanagan tournament with matching rounds of 79 to win by nine shots. Woods is the leader and anchor for the Cascades, who successfully defended their PACWEST title with a 26-shot victory.

Carolyn LeeOkanagan Heat, PACWEST Lee led a young Heat women’s team to a second-place finish in the PACWEST. Individually, Lee finished second overall in the PACWEST; she was victorious at the Douglas College tournament. Lee, who puts academics ahead of varsity golf as a priority, was rewarded with the Scholar Award in 2013-14.

Lisa ReidLethbridge Kodiaks, ACAC Reid was victorious at the 2014 ACAC Women’s Championship. She also captured three MJT events in 2014. Reid also finished second in Cities. Her goal is to graduate from business with honours and go on to play golf at a college in the United States.

Sydney Johnson-ParkerMacEwan Griffins, ACAC Johnson-Parker finished second in the ACAC order of merit rankings. This is her second CCAA All-Canadian Award. She was also honoured in 2012. Johnson-Parker has been the foundation of the Griffins team which has won ACAC team championships in each of the last four seasons.

Lorelle WeaversNiagara Knights, OCAA Weavers won an individual silver medal at the OCAA Championships. The three-time female Athlete of the Week at Niagara was victorious at the Durham and Fanshawe Invitationals. At Fanshawe, she fired a career-best 70. Weavers finds a great balance between being respectful and encouraging others while still being a determined competitor.

Adrienne D’AlessioHumber Hawks, OCAA D’Alessio has won back-to-back OCAA individual gold medals. At this season’s provincial championships, she led from start to finish and capped off her great performance with a hole-in-one.  D’Alessio, a very humble and thankful athlete, led the Hawks to a third-place showing in the team event.

Noémie OuelletteChamplain St. Lawrence Lions, RSEQ Ouellette finished in the Top 5 in all five RSEQ events. She was victorious in two of the events with rounds of 73 and 74. Ouellette, in her first season at Champlain St. Lawrence, became a well-respected leader on a Lions team that is ranked No. 3 in the CCAA.

Océane JacquesChamplain St. Lawrence Lions, RSEQ Jacques was incredibly consistent in provincial play this fall. In four RSEQ events, she finished second twice and third two times. The Champlain St. Lawrence rookie has great drive and determination.

Jaylene Holmes-TangHolland Hurricanes, ACAA Holmes-Tang’s rookie season at Holland College was one to remember. She captured the ACAA individual championship. In September, she was victorious at all three ACAA events. Holmes-Tang brought a quiet and determined focus to the ACAA golf scene this fall.

For the second straight season, Chris Bertram is the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association’s Coach of the Year in golf.

The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades coach for both men’s and women’s teams received the award at the 2014 PING CCAA Golf National Championships in Quebec City.

“Chris has great vision, dedication and an unwavering love of varsity golf,” said CCAA golf convenor Albert Roche. “He is a class act, illustrating that nice guys can finish first.”

This week, Bertram’s men’s and women’s teams also look to repeat as National Champions after dominating the event in 2013. UFV enters the event with both No. 1 CCAA rankings.

“Chris has been the driving force behind last year’s national successes as a coach at UFV and continues in his leadership role, stepping forward to secure the bid to host golf nationals in 2015,” said Roche.

This season, Bertram guided both the men’s and women’s teams to PACWEST championships for the second straight season. It was the third consecutive provincial gold for the men’s squad. After four tournaments, the Cascades men’s team finished 13 shots clear of Camosun College, while the women’s team placed 26 strokes ahead of UBC Okanagan.

The 2014 season was a busy one for Bertram; he was a member of the coaching staff for Canada’s Women’s contingent at the World University Golf Championships in Switzerland. In addition, he has also served as the interim Athletic Director at UFV. The 2015 season promises to be just as eventful for Bertram as the Cascades host the National Championships.

Bertram has also been voted the top golf coach in the PACWEST in four of the last five years.

OTHER NOMINEES

ACAC: Medicine Hat College’s Trevor Moore guided the men’s and women’s Rattlers to five Top-3 finishes in ACAC play this season. The men’s team’s third-place showing at provincials earned them a berth to the National Championships.

OCAA: Durham College’s Tyler Martin led the Lords to a third-place finish at the OCAA Championships, one year after the team placed 8^th in Division II. Now, they’re the No. 8 ranked team in the CCAA. In conference play this season, the Lords captured the team title in their own tournament, the DC Open, and placed third at the Fanshawe Invitational.

RSEQ: Benoit Lemieux guided Cégep André-Laurendeau to a sweep of all four events in Quebec in 2014. Lemieux’ team captured the RSEQ title with a 27-stroke victory and they enter the National Championships as the 7th ranked men’s team in the CCAA.

ACAA: Holland Hurricanes coach Blair MacPhail led the men’s team to their ninth straight ACAA Championship. The Canes enter the National Championships as the No. 5 ranked team in the CCAA. MacPhail also guided Eric Locke (men) and Jaylene Holmes-Tang (women) to individual titles.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – The Royal & Ancient Golf Club has appointed business executive Martin Slumbers as its new secretary and the chief executive of its business arm.

Slumbers succeeds Peter Dawson, who is retiring next September after 16 years.

He will start in March as the chief executive designate so he can spend six months working alongside Dawson. The R&A Golf Club govern golf worldwide except in the United States and Mexico, while the R&A is the business that runs the British Open and other championships.

Slumbers, 54, was the chief financial officer in Asia and then Europe for Salomon Brothers International, and most recently was in charge of global business services for Deutsche Bank.

“The R&A is one of the most influential bodies in world sport and I am delighted to be taking up this position,” he said. “Golf has always been close to my heart and I am very much looking forward to living and working in St Andrews. I am honoured to be appointed to lead The R&A and to serve such an historic and prestigious Club.”

One hundred student-athletes will compete in the 2014 PING Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Golf National Championships, which take place October 14-17 at the Club de Golf Lorette in Quebec City. For the second straight year, the tournament will be hosted by Champlain College St. Lawrence.

The CCAA national championship is contested over three rounds. Tournament week also includes a skills competition and the CCAA national championship awards banquet, where the 2014 CCAA All-Canadians and 2014 CCAA Golf Coach of the Year will be announced.

Male and female golfers will compete as individuals and in teams for CCAA trophies and medals. Tournament play will be officiated by Golf Canada.

Here are this year’s participants:

WOMEN’S TEAMS
(As ranked)

1. UFV Cascades, PACWEST
2. St. Clair Saints, OCAA
3. Champlain St. Lawrence Lions, RSEQ
4. Georgian Grizzlies, OCAA
5. Okanagan Heat, PACWEST
6. MacEwan Griffons, ACAC
7. Humber Hawks, OCAA

MEN’S TEAMS
(As ranked)

1. UFV Cascades, PACWEST
2. Humber Hawks, OCAA
3. Georgian Grizzlies, OCAA
4. Camosun Chargers, PACWEST
5. Holland Hurricanes, ACAA
6. MacEwan Griffins, ACAC
7. Cégep André-Laurendeau, RSEQ
8. Durham Lords, OCAA
9. Champlain St.Lawrence Lions, RSEQ
10. Lethbridge Kodiaks, ACAC
11. Seneca Sting, OCAA
12. Medicine Hat Rattlers, ACAC
13. Rebelles de Sorel-Tracy, RSEQ
14. St. Thomas Tommies, ACAA

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITORS
(By conference)

Jaylene Holmes-Tang, Holland Hurricanes, ACAA
David Huxham, John Abbott Islanders, RSEQ
Spencer Dunseith, Fanshawe Falcons, OCAA
Maria Novoa, Seneca Sting, OCAA
Mike Rizzetto, Mohawk Mountaineers, OCAA
Brennan Smith, St. Lawrence Vikings, OCAA
Lorelle Weavers, Niagara Knights, OCAA
Braxton Fox, Augustana Vikings, ACAC
Lisa Reid, Lethbridge Kodiaks, ACAC
Matt Haddad, VIU Mariners, PACWEST
Thomas Rose, KPU Eagles, PACWEST

Keith Bartlett thought there was a day in the future that he’d have to deal with the problems plaguing his course’s greens. He just didn’t know how quickly that day would come.

Bartlett, superintendent at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto, recognized his club’s problem in the late winter. Core samples of grass from the club’s greens didn’t come to life when grown indoors, and there was a decidedly nasty odor from the grass. It turns out a combination of factors—a lengthy and unseasonably long cold snap, ice and other circumstances—put undue pressure on the short grass that serves as a putting service for thousands of golfers each year. That grass was dead, leading Bartlett and other superintendents from across Ontario to seek out a way to deal with one of the biggest catastrophes to hit golf clubs in the province in decades.

“It was a real mess,” says Bartlett, sitting in a golf cart near the clubhouse at St. George’s in Toronto’s west end. “But it helped us move forward with something I’m not sure we’d ever have gotten done otherwise.”

In the case of St. George’s, the prestigious private club elected to make a bold move, rebuilding all 18 holes on its Stanley Thompson–designed course. But it was only one of numerous clubs in Ontario that faced tough decisions as courses came out of the cold to find their Poa Annua greens—annual bluegrass in colloquial terms—dead and brown. Usually there’s some winterkill, but no one in the industry recalls such a widespread issue in the last 50 years.

The problem captured attention from across Ontario’s media, with print and television broadcasters putting the spotlight on courses with dead grass. The cold didn’t discriminate based on a course’s rating or the fees it charged players. If a course had Poa Annua greens—common at most older facilities—it faced some degree of damage from the winter, often with swaths of dead grass. Newer facilities typically have more resilient bentgrass greens, a more modern grass that isn’t nearly as easily damaged by ice and cold and is more environmentally sustainable, which explains why in some areas of the province one course would have extensively damaged putting surfaces, while a nearby club didn’t have any problems.

At its worst, some of the country’s most venerable clubs like St. George’s or Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont., or London Hunt and Country Club, which hosted this year’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, lost a majority of their putting surfaces.

Owen Russell at Markland Woods, a private club in Toronto, was one of the first to recognize his club’s issue.

“The toughest thing was to admit they were dead,” he says. “You sort of had to come clean, recognize the situation and move ahead with a plan.”

In his situation, 14 of 19 greens (the club has an extra hole) were damaged beyond repair. With the Toronto Star Amateur on the schedule, the club had to react quickly. He was able to find bentgrass sod that was left over from another golf course project and put it down on his greens on April 25. Unlike some other clubs, Markland Woods had the proper soil to support bentgrass. Other clubs weren’t as lucky and had to spend millions stripping the soil from their greens and entirely rebuilding them.

The new greens grew in rapidly and club members were anxious to get out and play. But Russell held them off until he knew the greens could withstand traffic. He opened them on June 6. The club used the change to bentgrass to sell new memberships based on the fact it shouldn’t lose playing days to dead grass in the future, Russell says.

“We turned what could have been a real mess into a positive for the club,” he says.

However, dead grass on golf greens wasn’t limited to private clubs. Ontario’s nasty winter wasn’t discerning when it came to killing Poa. Public golf courses from Mississauga’s famed Lakeview Golf Club to Victoria Park East in Guelph had similar issues without the ability to prop up their finances with annual dues from members.

David DeCorso’s course, Victoria Park East, opened with three complete temporary putting surfaces and nine greens with significant issues. Due to a colder than usual spring, it took until July for the greens to start to return, though DeCorso says they never fully recovered. And the lackluster conditions meant the club couldn’t charge golfers full fare for much of the year, hitting the club’s bottom line as well.

“A lot of golfers didn’t start playing until June anyway because the spring was lousy,” DeCorso says. “And when the greens did come back they were fine, but the worst spots are weak and there are certainly some concerns going into the spring.”

That’s Rhod Trainor’s concern as well. The longtime superintendent at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Trainor’s club didn’t open any of its greens until July.

Hamilton, which has 27 holes covered with Poa, remained shut until July as Trainor attempted to bring the greens back to life through a process of aerating and slit-seeding with bentgrass.

Trainor wasn’t alone. Most Ontario superintendents turned to overseeding with bentgrass to repair the damaged greens. The bentgrass rapidly filled in the dead areas, but didn’t do well in areas where sunlight and airflow is limited by trees. That means most Ontario superintendents are promoting a plan of judicious tree removal, something that’s been very misunderstood despite an educational push by many clubs and the United States Golf Association, one of the sport’s governing bodies.

Trainor, who plans to remove hundreds of trees around the club’s greens to create a better growing environment, says it is something he should have done years ago.

“I’m part of the problem because I didn’t tackle the issue a long time ago,” he says.

Though he recognizes tree removal is a sore spot for many people, Trainor says trees have a place on courses—it is just away from areas where they shade greens.

Trainor says golfers who, at one time, couldn’t understand why greens wouldn’t grow under the canopy of trees, now have a much better sense of the issues facing courses.

“I think the education of members, by people like the [United States Golf Association] has really broadened,” he says. “And I think people have seen the success courses have had following tree removal.”

Bartlett’s overhaul took 58 days. In that time the club rebuilt and seeded all of the new greens. He credits the club’s support for the project to the educational tours he did of the course starting in 2013. During those tours he tried to explain to members the struggles the grass had because of the trees, and the need to move forward with bentgrass. He also articulated the fact that bentgrass needed a sandy, well-drained base, which meant the greens would have to be completely rebuilt.

“The success of the project was based on the fact I’d been educating the members for some time,” he says.

For those who see the overhaul as an unnecessary extravagance, Bartlett says there are huge environmental and financial benefits to using the new grass. Bentgrass takes less water—a key issue facing all clubs—is more disease resistant and requires less fertilizer and pesticides than Poa, he adds.

“Even our operating budget will come down slightly,” he says. “And the experience will be better for every member.”

What about the naysayers who claim Poa will soon take over the club’s new greens? Bartlett scoffs, saying the club has created an appropriate growing environment for bentgrass to flourish.

“I’ll be long gone and retired before anyone has to deal with this again,” Bartlett, 48, says. “We’ve set the club up to be more sustainable. I think in time almost every club will follow.”

A bestselling author of five books, and golf columnist for Global News and Global Golf Post, Robert Thompson has chased a little white ball all over the world. He was commissioned to write this feature for the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association. For more information contact Phil Scully, President of the OGSA, at pscully@granitegolfclub.ca.

DORVAL, Qué. – CN and Golf Canada have announced that CN is adopting 15 local schools from the Montreal region to deliver the game of golf to local students.

More than 60 students from École Marguerite-Bourgeoys in Pointe-Claire, Qué. celebrated with a one-day field trip event on Wednesday October 8^th at Golf Dorval, receiving lessons in putting, chipping and driving from Operations Manager, Jean-Guy Côté. As part of their ongoing commitment to junior golf, CN has adopted more than 100 schools in various markets across the country into the Golf in Schools program since 2013.

“Our school board is very proud to be associated with Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and CN in this wonderful initiative,” said Sandy Farr, Physical Education and Health Consultant for the English Montreal School Board. “In order to graduate life long, active learners, our physical education and health programs must encompass basic developmental skills at the elementary level and expose students to a variety of active living choices, such as golf. In doing so, we hope that many more EMSB students will choose to play golf, both as students and as active adults.”

This marks the third group of schools adopted by CN as part of the CN Future Links Community Tour, which consists of three community festivals each year, intended to share the health and wellness values of golf. Montreal’s tour stop took place earlier this summer during the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. Saskatoon and Sarnia received visits earlier in the year. Each Community Tour event engages community youth and festival attendees in various golf activities as well as rail safety tips from CN Police.

“CN is proud to support the future of the game and the health and well-being of our children by introducing the next generation of golfers to the game,” said Claude Mongeau, CN President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that Golf Canada’s vision to grow the sport aligns well with our corporate values to promote the health and wellness of children in communities across Canada. “Golf and its inherent values are good for our children and we are pleased to be bringing Canada’s national junior golf program to communities across Canada.” CN has been a driving force in Canadian junior golf since becoming title sponsor CN Future Links in 2006.

“Montreal is an important part of CN’s network across Canada as the home of our corporate head offices. Just as CN plays a vital role transporting products to markets, we welcome the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to youth in communities across Canada by helping Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada grow junior golf through the CN Future Links program,” said Mr. Mongeau.

Current CN Future Links programming includes the ‘Learn to Play’ program as well as mobile clinics, the Junior Skills Challenge, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools. New programming as part of the investment in youth golf will include CN Future Links School Adoption Program and CN Future Links Field Trip Program.

Last year alone, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 431 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge while more than 67,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,800 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006 more than 1 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

For Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons, CN’s commitment to junior golf reinforces the shared values of health, wellness and safety to junior enthusiasts across Canada.

“I can’t say enough what it means to Canadian golf that CN has aligned their brand and their corporate values with Canada’s national junior golf program,” said Simmons. “Together with CN as well as our partners at the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations, the CN Future Links program is introducing children in communities across Canada to a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.

DORVAL, Qué. – CN and Golf Canada have announced that CN is adopting 15 local schools from the Montreal region to deliver the game of golf to local students.

More than 60 students from École Marguerite-Bourgeoys in Pointe-Claire, Qué. celebrated with a one-day field trip event on Wednesday October 8^th at Golf Dorval, receiving lessons in putting, chipping and driving from Operations Manager, Jean-Guy Côté. As part of their ongoing commitment to junior golf, CN has adopted more than 100 schools in various markets across the country into the Golf in Schools program since 2013.

“Our school board is very proud to be associated with Golf Canada, the PGA of Canada and CN in this wonderful initiative,” said Sandy Farr, Physical Education and Health Consultant for the English Montreal School Board. “In order to graduate life long, active learners, our physical education and health programs must encompass basic developmental skills at the elementary level and expose students to a variety of active living choices, such as golf. In doing so, we hope that many more EMSB students will choose to play golf, both as students and as active adults.”

This marks the third group of schools adopted by CN as part of the CN Future Links Community Tour, which consists of three community festivals each year, intended to share the health and wellness values of golf. Montreal’s tour stop took place earlier this summer during the 2014 RBC Canadian Open at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. Saskatoon and Sarnia received visits earlier in the year. Each Community Tour event engages community youth and festival attendees in various golf activities as well as rail safety tips from CN Police.

“CN is proud to support the future of the game and the health and well-being of our children by introducing the next generation of golfers to the game,” said Claude Mongeau, CN President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe that Golf Canada’s vision to grow the sport aligns well with our corporate values to promote the health and wellness of children in communities across Canada. “Golf and its inherent values are good for our children and we are pleased to be bringing Canada’s national junior golf program to communities across Canada.” CN has been a driving force in Canadian junior golf since becoming title sponsor CN Future Links in 2006.

“Montreal is an important part of CN’s network across Canada as the home of our corporate head offices. Just as CN plays a vital role transporting products to markets, we welcome the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to youth in communities across Canada by helping Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada grow junior golf through the CN Future Links program,” said Mr. Mongeau.

Current CN Future Links programming includes the ‘Learn to Play’ program as well as mobile clinics, the Junior Skills Challenge, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools. New programming as part of the investment in youth golf will include CN Future Links School Adoption Program and CN Future Links Field Trip Program.

Last year alone, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 431 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge while more than 67,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,800 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006 more than 1 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

For Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons, CN’s commitment to junior golf reinforces the shared values of health, wellness and safety to junior enthusiasts across Canada.

“I can’t say enough what it means to Canadian golf that CN has aligned their brand and their corporate values with Canada’s national junior golf program,” said Simmons. “Together with CN as well as our partners at the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations, the CN Future Links program is introducing children in communities across Canada to a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Team Canada’s Adam Svensson showed no signs of rust out of the gate, winning the Guy Harvey Invitational by three strokes on Tuesday with a score of 9-under par.

Svensson, a junior at Barry University, took the outright lead with a remarkable 8-under par 64 during Monday’s second round. That was the low-round for the tournament and the key reason Svensson was able to capture individual honours in his first tournament as a junior at Barry.

With the win, Svensson continues his impressive streak of collegiate victories that includes seven titles from the 2013-14 season. The National Amateur Squad member carries the momentum of winning last year’s Jack Nicklaus award, given to the top player in NCAA Div I, II and III.

Collectively, Svensson led the No. 1 ranked Buccaneers to a convincing 19-stroke victory over runner-up Nova Southeastern University. Svensson and the Bucs will tee-it-up again Octover 20 at the Otter Invitational in Seaside, Calif.

Click here for full results.

Federal Way, Wash. – Melanie Grant of Kelowna, B.C. won the 28^th Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s Amateur, while Sue Hubbard of Kent, Wash. took the title in the 3^rd Pacific Northwest Super Senior Women’s Amateur. Both championships were held concurrently at Fairwood Golf & Country Club in Renton, Wash., and were conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Grant’s final round 2-over par 73 was the championship’s low round and vaulted her into first place for a two-shot victory over second-place finisher Gretchen Klein of Hoquiam, Wash. Grant had shot an 82 in the first round.

“Basically, what did it for me was my putting, my short game,” Hubbard said. “I made some good up-and-downs. I also drove the ball pretty steady.” Hubbard has never won a championship of this calibre before. “I’ve played in several events, the Alberta Seniors, the Canadian Seniors, so I’m fortunate to have that experience. It’s been a good year.”

Hubbard’s win was highlighted by a hole-in-one on the par-3 12^th hole in yesterday’s opening round of the championship. Her husband had passed away just five weeks ago, and she used his 3-wood on the par-3. The hole is uphill so nobody saw the ball go in the hole, and after she hit her tee shot she stopped to use the restroom before heading to the green. When she got to the green, her playing partners said they couldn’t find her ball, so she started looking behind the green, but then they told her to look in the hole for her ball.

“They had already seen the ball was in the hole, and were kidding me,” said Hubbard. “When I saw the ball in the hole I told myself that I did this for my husband.”

PNGAHall of Famer Ann Swanson of Bellevue, Wash. finished in second place, one shot behind Hubbard.

Complete final results can be found here.

The Pacific Northwest Senior Women’s and Super Senior Women’s Amateur are two of 16 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors, and seniors conducted annually throughout the Northwest by the PNGA.

UXBRIDGE, Ont. — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), Golf Canada and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are proud to announce the implementation of a new junior golf initiative: the NXTee youth (U13) golf x-perience.

The NXTee pilot program has been created to increase the development and engagement of junior golfers, aged 8-13 in the York Region, by providing them with an opportunity to continue to practice and increase their skills throughout the winter. The program prepares participants for the golf season in a fun and friendly environment.

“We want to be able to look at the NXTee x-perience as being able to inspire and enhance the development of kids at the club level,” said Doug Lawrie, NXTee Lead Coach. “We need to have that junior coach and leader at the club to inspire kids to learn and show them how simple it is to learn the game of golf. I think this program will help create structure to get everyone on the same page.”

A key strategy for the program aims to educate parents and increase awareness about junior golf pathways and the necessary next steps for their junior golfer.

“The GAO is truly excited to launch this important project as we work to strengthen our support for communities, families and clubs across Ontario,” added Mike Kelly, Managing Director, Sport. “NXTee is focused on enhancing engagement for parents and kids in the sport of golf while making new friends and having fun.”

The program includes: two outdoor skills challenges, one in the fall followed by another in the spring; two indoor training sessions during the winter; two parent education seminars; and proper rules and etiquette training.

“The GAO NXTee x-perience has been designed using scientific principles of long-term athlete development (LTAD),” said Dr. Peter Davis, GAO LTAD Consultant. “It is designed to help children improve their skills and enjoy their golf game using age-appropriate coaching and also for parents to understand how their children can best enjoy and develop their golf game through appropriate support.”

Locations for the Skills Challenges will be at Cardinal Golf Club (King), Copper Creek Golf Club (Kleinburg), Bushwood Golf Club (Markham), Lakeridge Links Golf Club (Whitby) and St. Andrews Valley Golf Club (Aurora) and will take place October 18-19. Each club will host a three-hour skills challenge on both days. The second skills challenge will take place in April 2015.

After the skills challenges, participants will sign up for winter training sessions. The winter training sessions will be held at The Golf Lab, in Vaughan.

During the winter training sessions, parent education seminars will also take place. The seminars are designed to offer parents insight and knowledge into the world of junior golf, competitive or recreational pathways, long-term player development and strategies to improve their child’s golf development.