BARRIE, Ont. – Another season is in the books for the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) as the 2014 campaign came to an end Sept. 15 with the year’s final event – the Women’s Four-Ball Championship. Nineteen teams took to the Highlands Course at Horseshoe Resort and at the end of the day it was the team of Katelyn McMahon and Claire Hernandez who captured the title.

The duo posted a 2-under (69) during the round to finish with a three-shot win. For Hernandez, 17-years-old from Palgrave and the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto, it is her second consecutive title at the event and third overall. The former Team Ontario member captured last year’s event with Kennedy Bodfied and the 2010 championship with Alina Rogers. For McMahon, 17-years-old from Brampton and the Brampton Golf Club, it is her first Women’s Four-Ball title.

Finishing second was the team of Komoka’s Alex Amos and Kingston’s Diana McDonald. McDonald, a member of the GAO’s Ottawa Regional Team, and Amos finished the day one-over (72).

Taking the bronze medal was the Thornhill sister duo of Eunice and Ellice Hong. Ellice, a member of the York Regional Team and Eunice carded a three-over 74.

In fourth was the team of Stouffville’s Ivy Steinberg and Toronto’s Kelly Koselek at five-over (76). rounding out the top five in a tie for fifth was the team of Fort Erie’s Linda Burroughsford and Kitchener’s Denise Schaefer along with London’s Sue Postian and Strathroy’s Jane Hedges-McKinnon who both finished at six-over (77).

As for the net division, it was won by the team of Lynne-Marie Fabris and Marianne Vardon at five-under (66).

For the final leaderboard, click here.

First played in 1953, the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship is contested annually and features two-woman teams competing in a better ball format.

BARRIE, Ont. – Another season is in the books for the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) as the 2014 campaign came to an end Sept. 15 with the year’s final event – the Women’s Four-Ball Championship. Nineteen teams took to the Highlands Course at Horseshoe Resort and at the end of the day it was the team of Katelyn McMahon and Claire Hernandez who captured the title.

The duo posted a 2-under (69) during the round to finish with a three-shot win. For Hernandez, 17-years-old from Palgrave and the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto, it is her second consecutive title at the event and third overall. The former Team Ontario member captured last year’s event with Kennedy Bodfied and the 2010 championship with Alina Rogers. For McMahon, 17-years-old from Brampton and the Brampton Golf Club, it is her first Women’s Four-Ball title.

Finishing second was the team of Komoka’s Alex Amos and Kingston’s Diana McDonald. McDonald, a member of the GAO’s Ottawa Regional Team, and Amos finished the day one-over (72).

Taking the bronze medal was the Thornhill sister duo of Eunice and Ellice Hong. Ellice, a member of the York Regional Team and Eunice carded a three-over 74.

In fourth was the team of Stouffville’s Ivy Steinberg and Toronto’s Kelly Koselek at five-over (76). rounding out the top five in a tie for fifth was the team of Fort Erie’s Linda Burroughsford and Kitchener’s Denise Schaefer along with London’s Sue Postian and Strathroy’s Jane Hedges-McKinnon who both finished at six-over (77).

As for the net division, it was won by the team of Lynne-Marie Fabris and Marianne Vardon at five-under (66).

For the final leaderboard, click here.

First played in 1953, the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship is contested annually and features two-woman teams competing in a better ball format.

LONDON, Ont. – While the stars of PGA TOUR Canada will vie for the championship title and the Top-5 exemption to the Web.com Tour, the real winners of the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial will be the hundreds of children introduced to the game of golf through the event’s community legacy campaign.

In all, 18 schools within the London area will receive the Golf in Schools program in the honour of this week’s season-ending event on the PGA TOUR Canada season at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ont.

Golf Canada along with presenting sponsor Freedom 55 Financial and PGA TOUR Canada announced in June that the Golf in Schools program would serve as the official charity of the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial.

In establishing a community legacy for the TOUR Championship, Golf Canada invited area golf clubs throughout London and Southwestern Ontario to participate in a campaign to adopt schools to be a part of the Golf in Schools program. In all, seven golf clubs and groups adopted schools and Golf Canada topped up the donations to bring the program to a total of 18 schools in Southwestern Ontario.

“We’re thrilled with the response we received from area golf clubs and community supporters to get behind the Golf in Schools program,” said Golf Canada’s Chief Championship Officer Bill Paul. “Knowing that hundreds of students in the London area will be introduced to the game of golf in the name of TOUR Championship is a fitting way to celebrate the signature event on PGA TOUR Canada.”

Earlier this week, PGA TOUR Canada players Nate McCoy and John Catlin visited a local area school to present the Golf in Schools equipment package and learning resource to the Grade 7/8 class at St. Marguerite d’Youville. The duo assisted PGA of Canada professional Brian Gallant from Fire Rock Golf Club in delivering a 75 minute Golf in Schools lesson outside in the school yard.

“Freedom 55 Financial is a big supporter of young athletes and helping individuals achieve their goals and dreams,” said Mike Cunneen, Senior Vice-President, Freedom 55 Financial.  “Bringing golf into our schools will not only help expose more children to the sport, but also promotes health and physical well being.”

The following London area golf clubs and community organizations took part in the Golf in Schools adoption program in the name of the TOUR Championship of Canada, presented by Freedom 55 Financial:

• City of London Golf Services, London, Ont. (four elementary schools)
• The Oaks Golf Club, Delaware, Ont. (elementary school)
• West Haven Golf & Country Club, London, Ont. (elementary school)
• Sawmill Creek Golf Resort & Spa, Camlachie, Ont. (elementary school)
• [Craigowan] Oxford Golf & Country Club, Woodstock, Ont. (high school)
• London Hunt & Country Club, London, Ont. (elementary school)
• Sunningdale Golf & Country Club, London, Ont.

Golf in Schools – which is currently offered in more than 2,225 elementary and close to 230 high schools across Canada – provides children with a basic introduction to golf through the Canadian school physical education curriculum. The program, which is endorsed by Physical Health and Education Canada (PHE Canada), is conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada and the provincial golf associations.

More information about the Golf in Schools program including the school adoption program is available by clicking here.

The TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial is the season-ending event on the PGA TOUR Canada schedule. Hosted at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ont., the event includes the top 60 players on the PGA TOUR Canada with the top-five players at the conclusion of the championship earning status on the 2015 Web.com Tour.

Ontario’s Performance Camps powered by Under Armour begin on Saturday, with over 30 of the province’s top juveniles showcasing their talent at Whistle Bear Golf Club, a Junior Golf Development Centre in Cambridge.

The event, now in its third year, consists of a two-day training camp designed to both coach and scout juveniles, an age group in need of guidance leading up to potential years of high performance activity.

In previous years, Golf Canada and Under Armour ran the events in conjunction with the CN Future Links Championships, which restricted coaching efforts prior to the tournament.

Robert Ratcliffe

Robert Ratcliffe, Team Canada’s Lead Development Squad Coach, is running the event again this year but with more of an emphasis on coaching and instruction.

“In the past we gathered a ton of feedback and testing results, but there wasn’t a lot of coaching” said Ratcliffe, who was in China last month to coach Canada at the Summer Youth Olympics. “This year we pushed the camps back to September, out of tournament season, to give more freedom for coaching and instruction.”

Ratcliffe will have support from five PGA of Canada professionals, who will be on hand assisting at the various stations created throughout the camp. Each teaching professional is fully certified under PGA of Canada’s Coach of New Competitor context.

“These camps give us a great opportunity to look ahead and gather some data on younger players,” said Ratcliffe. “We don’t normally get access to the juvenile age group, and these camps really help us discover these players from a national standpoint.”

The Western Camps took place last week at the Golf Canada Calgary Centre, featuring the top talent from British Columbia and Alberta.

KARUIZAWA, Japan – Team Canada made it interesting down the stretch but could not catch the Americans, falling short by two strokes to finish second at 36-under par at the 2014 men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.

Canada, which began the day six strokes behind U.S.A., fought back to hold a share of the lead going into the 18^th hole, with Canada’s Corey Conners and America’s Bryson Dechambeau left as the final group.

Both players hit their drives in the fairway on the 443-yard, par-4. DeChambeau played first and hit a 50-degree wedge from 110 yards. Conners’ approach settled 35 feet from the hole on the back collar.

“I didn’t know about the scores and I wasn’t sure if his (score) would be counting or not,” Conners said. “There was never a doubt that he was going to make it. It was a pretty nice looking putt.”

Conners left his birdie attempt short, which set the stage for DeChambeau’s winning birdie.

“I knew where we stood when I was on the 18th tee box and I knew that I needed a birdie on the last,” said DeChambeau, an All-American at Southern Methodist University, “I striped my drive and hit a wedge in there and nailed that nine-footer. I said that I needed to make birdie and I went out and made birdie”.

Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. (69-69-66-65 –269) and Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. (66-69-67-68—270) combined for a final round 11-under 137 on the Iriyama Course. Team Canada teammate Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. (68-67-69-70—274) shot a non-counting final round 70 to round out the trio.

In the end, Canada settles for their fifth silver medal in men’s World Amateur history (’06, ’78, ’64, ‘62), one week after the Canadian women’s squad of Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) and Augusta James (Bath, Ont.) placed second in the Women’s World Amateur Championship.

“We fought back really hard today,” said team captain, Graham Hill. “We knew that we were going to have to play well to have a chance and we played great and brought it right to the last hole. Obviously, it didn’t work out the way that we wanted but we’re really proud of the guys for the way they played and the way they handled themselves. It’s a good finish for us, disappointing not to win but we’re happy with it.”

The United States, which won the Eisenhower Trophy for the 15^th time, took the lead after the third round as DeChampeau, No. 30 in the Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking™, carded a record-setting low score of 61. Teammate Denny McCarthy, No. 14 in the WAGR™, led the Americans individually, finishing fifth at 19-under par.

Sweden was fourth at 538; Argentina was fifth at 539; Australia, England and France were tied for sixth at 540; Scotland was ninth at 542 and Switzerland was 10th at 544. Japan, the host team, finished tied for 29th.

Svensson, 20, finished seventh individually to lead the Canadians. The Barry University sophomore, ranked No. 49 in the WAGR™, finished at 17-under par, six strokes back of medalist Jon Rahm of Spain. Rahm, a student at Arizona State University, broke the individual scoring record with a 23-under 263. The previous mark for low individual score for 72 holes was held by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who shot 269 in 1960.

“We’re pretty disappointed right now but we’re proud,” said Svensson. “The three of us played under par every day so I’m happy about that.”

The World Amateur Team Championship is a biennial international amateur competition conducted by the International Golf Federation (IGF), which comprises 137 national governing bodies in 131 countries. The competition, which is being held for the 26th time, is rotated among three geographic zones: Asia-Pacific, Americas and Europe-Africa.

This year’s event is hosted by the Japan Golf Association. The teams play for the Eisenhower Trophy. The IGF is the international federation for golf for the International Olympic Committee and will conduct the Olympic golf competition in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72-hole) total is the team’s score for the championship.

The 2016 World Amateur Team Championship will be played in Cancun, Mexico.

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CANADIAN INDIVIDUAL SCORES

7. Adam Svensson, Surrey, B.C. (69-69-66-65—269)
T8. Corey Conners, Listowel, Ont. (66-69-67-68—270)
T19. Taylor Pendrith, Richmond Hill, Ont. (68-67-69-70—274)

Click here for team results.
Click here for individual results.

The Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation launched a twitter campaign to raise funds in support of the Golf in Schools program.

Running until September 21, the Foundation will donate $1 for every twitter follower gained at the ‘@Fore_Kids’ twitter handle.

The Graham and Ruby DeLaet Foundation is focused on improving the health and wellness of children and supporting the development of junior golfers at all stages.

Golf in Schools was developed in 2009 by Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada in partnership with Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada. Since its inception, the program has been delivered to over 2,500 elementary and high schools across Canada.

“It is fantastic to receive support from Graham and his foundation for this great cause,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “Having Canada’s no. 1 golfer support the future of golf in Canada really says a lot.”

The Golf in Schools program consists of safety-approved golf equipment, along with a relevant teaching resource for teachers to deliver the lesson plans to students.

Click here to follow @Fore_Kids.
Click here to learn more about Golf in Schools.

KARUIZAWA, Japan – Team Canada’s trio combined for an 9-under 133 on the Oshitate Course to sit in a tie for third after 54-holes at the World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.

Overall, the Canadian contingent sits at 25-under par, tied for third with Spain, three strokes behind second place Sweden, and six back of the leading Americans.

U.S.A made a surge up the leaderboard thanks to Bryson DeChambeau’s record-setting 61. DeChambeau closed out his round with six consecutive birdies to lift the Americans into sole possession of first place.

The Canadians were led by Adam Svensson, a 20-year-old Surrey, B.C. native. Svensson, entering his junior year at Barry University, carded a 5-under 66 that was highlighted by a string of four birdies over six holes on the back nine. He currently shares a tie for 17^th on the individual leaderboard.

The other Canadian score counting for the day was posted by Listowel, Ont. native Corey Conners. This year’s U.S. Amateur runner-up recorded a 4-under 67, with an eagle on the par-5 15^th. The 22-year-old Kent State graduate leads the Canadians individually at 12-under par in a tie for 8^th.

Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. shot a non-counting 69 as the team’s highest score for the day. He shares a tie for 17^th with Svensson and three others.

The Canadians will look to make a run at the lead in tomorrow’s final round on the Iriyama Course. They tee-off starting at 11:35 a.m. (JST), grouped with Sweden and the U.S.

Click here for team scoring.
Click here for individual scoring.

ST. THOMAS, Ont. — As the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) season comes to an end, the final senior men’s event took place Sept. 11 at the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. There were 55 teams of senior men, 55-years-old and over, that took to the course in damp, fall-like conditions for the Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship.

With many great teams taking part, it was assured there would be many great scores. By the end of the day there were 16 total teams under par. No team scored better than that of Collingwood’s Michael Jackson and Welland’s Sandy Billyard, who posted the low round at 7-under (65). The difference for the duo came on the ninth hole when Billyard, from Hunters Pointe Golf Course, hit a hole-in-one on the par three.

“It really seemed to get us going,” said Jackson. “Up until then we had made eight straight pars. Sandy played a great round of golf today.”

The ace galvanized the team as they went on to play the back nine 5-under and finished the day 7-under (65).

“Number 9 was the nicest shot I hit all day!” said Billyard. “It was a four-iron, 180 yards up hill. It landed just in the right spot and rolled in like a putt. Mike made a clutch birdie on 17 and that was the winner for us.”

It is the first time that either Jackson, Georgian Bay Club, or Billyard have won the Senior Men’s Better Ball title.

“The win means a lot to me because I haven’t won a provincial event since 1973,” added Billyard. “I’m thrilled. For Mike, it is just another notch in his belt.”

“It is always nice to win a tournament but it was especially nice to win with Sandy. We didn’t make a bogey all day and just played a solid game,” added Jackson.

Finishing second was a team from host St. Thomas Golf & Country Club – Stephen Brodie and John Scott. The two used their hometown knowledge of the course to their advantage finishing 6-under (66).

Rounding out the top five was a tie for third between three teams. Richard Evoy (Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club) & Tom Hossfeld (Hylands Golf Club), Ian Montgomery (Weston Golf & Country Club) & Richard Lockwood (London Hunt and Country Club) and Kerry Short & Les Westlake (St. Catharines Golf and Country Club) all ended the day at 3-under (69).

For the final leaderboard, click here.

A strong contingent of Canadian and international players are set to compete at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship from September 15-19 at Barrie Country Club in Barrie, Ont.

A field of 156 players from Canada and the United States will vie for the coveted exemption into next year’s 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club.

Kevin Carrigan, the reigning two-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion, is set to defend his title at Barrie after a record setting performance in Edmonton last year. Carrigan finished the championship at 20-under 264 to win by 11 strokes over Team Canada’s Garrett Rank and Ontario’s Michael Rutgers at Blackhawk Golf Club. 

“We have an extremely strong field again this year and it should make for a very exciting championship,” said Tournament Director Cam Crawford. “Barrie Country Club will surely test the top international and Canadian talent as they vie for that coveted exemption into Canada’s National Open Championship.”

Set to contend against Carrigan for the Mid-Amateur title will be Team Canada’s Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., who enters the event as the highest ranked player in the field at No. 95 in the World Amateur Rankings. The 27-year-old recently finished tied for sixth at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and also tied for second at the prestigious 2014 Players Amateur Championship.

Other notable contenders include three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion Dave Bunker and Rob Couture of Dallas, Texas. Bunker recently finished tied for 18th at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, while Couture captured the Mid-Amateur title in 2011.

In the Inter-Provincial Team competition, the Team Ontario contingent of Bunker, Dean Henry and Michael Farrugia will look to defend last season’s eight-stroke victory over Team Nova Scotia. The team competition takes place over the first 36 holes of play, with the low two of three scores counting towards the final two-day team total for the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy. Additionally, the Men’s Mid-Master (40+) competition runs concurrently over the 72-hole championship.

Barrie Country Club has played host to multiple amateur and professional events over the years.  Highlights include the Ontario Open (1975), Ontario Ladies Amateur (1976, 1989), Ontario Men’s Amateur (1985), and the PGA of Ontario Championship for ten consecutive years (2003-2012).  Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Stewart-Streit, Moe Norman and Bob Panasik have all won events played at Barrie Country Club.

“Everyone at Barrie Country Club is excited and we’re ready for the championship to get started. Our outstanding golf course has challenged our members along with the top amateur and professional players for many years,” said Bill Wogden, Head Professional.  “Now that we’re in our 101st year operating in the Barrie community, the quality and conditioning of our course and the amenities of our club have never been better. We’re looking forward to welcoming the competitors and encourage spectators to come out and enjoy amateur golf at its finest.”

Championship play will be conducted Tuesday, September 16 to Friday, September 19, with 18 holes of stroke play each day. The event will be contested over 72 holes with the field being reduced to the low-70 golfers and ties after the second round.

More information on the championship can be found here.

KARUIZAWA, Japan – Canada combined for a 6-under 136 in Thursday’s second round to slip to fifth place (-16) at the men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Karuizawa 72 Golf East.

The Canadians held the lead at 19-under par through 15 holes but lost four strokes in the last three holes to sit alone in fifth. Sweden, Switzerland and the U.S. share a tie for second, while Argentina holds the outright lead at 18-under.

“Both days, we gave a few shots back on the way in,” said Canadian captain Graham Hill. “It’s something we will talk about tonight. There are lots of low scores and it’s a bunched up leaderboard. While it’s not exactly what we wanted, 6-under is still a good score and we are still right there.”

The Canadian trio was led by Richmond Hill, Ont. native and Team Canada member, Taylor Pendrith. The 23-year-old carded seven birdies on the day en route to a 4-under 67 on the Oshitate Course. His teammate, and Co-Mid-American Conference player of the year, Corey Conners, carded a 2-under 69. The Listowel, Ont. native sits at 8-under in a tie for 12^th with Pendrith on the individual leaderboard.

Adam Svensson, a native of Surrey, B.C., matched Conners with a 69 as the team’s second lowest counting score for the day. The 2014 Jack Nicklaus award winner sits at 5-under individually (69-69).

The Canadian contingent is back on the Iriyama Course for Friday’s third round. They will tee-off starting at 11:05 a.m. (JST), grouped with Sweden and Spain.

Click here for team scoring.
Click here for individual scoring.