NEWTON, Kan. – National Amateur Team member Garrett Rank has fallen in the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur Public Links on Thursday, losing his match 3 & 2.

Rank made it interesting down the stretch, pulling to within 1 thru 13 holes, but couldn’t hang on as Bryon Meth of San Diego, Calif. proved to be too much for the 26-year-old.

Rank is playing strong golf of late – he is coming off a second place finish at the prestigious Players Amateur tournament just a week earlier. That finish catapulted the Elmira, Ont. native into the World Amateur Golf Ranking’s (WAGR) top 100, where he currently sits at No. 98. He will look for that number to drop even more after his performance this week in Kansas.

This finish marks the second consecutive strong showing for Rank at the U.S. Amateur Public Links – he earned medalist honours at last year’s event.

Click here for live results

Woodstock, Ont. – A strong contingent of the world’s top female amateur golfers will compete July 21-25 in the 101st playing of the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Craigowan Golf and Country Club in Woodstock, Ont.

The championship will feature 156 of the top Canadian and international female amateurs contending for the Duchess of Connaught Trophy. This year, 13 players ranked inside the top-100 in the world, including No. 2 ranked amateur and defending champion, Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. highlight the strong field.

“We are very excited about this year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship as it features some of the world’s strongest competitors,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna. “The golf course will challenge these players as they vie for the title and those coveted exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and U.S. Women’s Amateur.”

Last year, Team Canada’s Henderson, 16, captured the 2013 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship by six strokes over Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec. Already this season, she has won five amateur titles – the Junior Orange Bowl, South Atlantic Amateur, Scott Robertson Memorial, the Porter Cup and the Ontario Women’s Amateur. In addition, Henderson has excelled on the professional stage, winning the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario stop and finishing T10 at the U.S. Women’s Open and T29 at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Leading into the championship she sits as the highest ranked Canadian in the world on the professional Women’s Rolex Rankings at No. 188.

The strong field heading to Woodstock, Ont. will also include Su-Hyun Oh of Australia, Mexico’s Gabriela Lopez and Annie Park of Levittown, N.Y. who all rank inside the top-12 in the world.

Craigowan Golf and Country Club played host to the 2009 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship where former World. No. 2 ranked amateur Matt Hill took home the prestigious title. This year marks the first time the club has hosted a national amateur championship since the 2005 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

“It’s always an honour to have the opportunity to host a national championship and it has been many years of planning and the members and staff at Craigowan are extremely excited to host such a talented international field of players,” said Adam Hagen, General Manager at Craigowan. “There have been numerous hours of preparation by many dedicated volunteers over the last several months to be ready for this event and there is an amazing buzz around the course and club as well as in the entire community of Woodstock.”

Team Canada’s National and Development squads will also bring their full rosters to the event. Jennifer Ha of Calgary, Augusta James of Bath, Ont. and Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont. are all ranked inside the top-100 in the world and will contend for the title alongside their teammates Henderson and Tanguay. Jaclyn Lee of Calgary, Valerie Tanguay of St-Hyacinthe, Que., Naomi Ko of Victoria, Taylor Kim of Surrey, B.C. and Sabrine Garrison of Calgary will represent Team Canada’s Development Squad.

The Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship also features a Mid-Amateur competition and a Mid-Master competition. The Mid-Amateur Championship will be awarded to the lowest player over 25 years of age while the Mid-Master competition will be open to players over 40 years of age. An inter-provincial team championship will also take place in conjunction with the first two rounds of stroke play; Team British Columbia won the championship in 2013.

Additionally, the 2014 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion earns an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. and the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

Practice rounds will be held Monday, July 21 with championship play following Tuesday, July 22 through Friday, July 25 with 18 holes of stroke play each day. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties. Any tie after 72 holes will result in a hole-by-hole play-off.

Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

Little Rapids, N.L.  – The final CN Future Links event of the 2014 season wrapped up at Humber Valley Resort today, with champions being crowned after 36-holes of play due to the cancellation of the third round because of inclement weather.  Myles Creighton, 18, of Digby, N.S. and Rachel Cormier, 18, of Rothesay, N.B. earned the 2014 CN Future Links Atlantic champion titles in their respective divisions.

Creighton grabbed the lead in the Junior Boys division in Tuesday’s second round, shooting a 1-over 73 to lead by one stroke over the first round leader, 18-year-old Ian Lewis of Fall River, N.S.

“The toughest part for me was hitting it onto the green, because as soon as I’d swing the wind would grab the ball and really affect it,” said Creighton at the Wednesday afternoon award ceremony. “I would have liked to play all three days, but it’s a good feeling to win.”

Creighton finished the tournament with a final score of 4-over 148. Lewis and Tyler Erb, 17, of Toronto finished in a tie for second at 5-over 149 after two rounds of play. Blair Bursey of Gander, N.L. and Andrew Brown of Calgary, Alta., both 17, shot 6-over 150 to follow in a tie for fourth.

Cormier led the Junior Girls division since Monday’s opening round, shooting rounds of 79-80 to finish the championship with a total score of 15-over 159.

“The wind, the bunkers, and the narrow fairways were all challenging this week,” Cormier said of the challenging Humber Valley River Course. “I didn’t pull out the driver a lot; I took irons off the tee sometimes just to keep the ball in play. I just wanted to play it safe instead of trying to go for it and ending up in trouble.”

Following Cormier in second was 15-year-old Laura Jones, of Berry Mills, N.B. Jones finished the championship with 172 for the championship, followed by Claire Konning, 16, of Indian Mountain, N.B. in third.

The top six competitors in the Junior Boys division of each CN Future Links Championship will earn exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, which will be contested July 28 – August 1 on the Legends on the Niagara’s Battlefield course in Niagara Falls, Ont. The Junior Girls champion from each CN Future Links Championship will earn an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship which runs July 28 – August 1 at the Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont.

CN Future Links, Canada’s national junior golf program, is set to host the second of three national stops at the 2014 RBC Canadian Open in Montreal from July 21-27 as part of the interactive, safety-inspired Community Tour.

Together, CN and Golf Canada host the Community Tour events to provide the opportunity for juniors to engage in friendly putting, chipping and driving activities while continuing to practice a safety-first mentality.

The first stop on the Tour took place last month at the Sarnia Kids Fun Fest, in Sarnia, Ont. Attendees included Mike Bradley (mayor of Sarnia), CN and Golf Canada staff, as well as hundreds of local juniors and parents. Among the juniors were students from 15 local schools which CN recently adopted into the Golf in Schools program to coincide with the Community Tour launch.

“The success of the first Community Tour event goes a long way in showing CN’s support and commitment to getting golf into communities and exposed to Canada’s youth,” said Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Officer at Golf Canada. “We are looking forward to extending our shared values once more at next week’s Community Tour stop.”

The CN Future Links Community Tour is also open to adults to test out their skills and earn a chance to win unique prizing courtesy of CN.

Claude Mongeau, President and CEO of CN, is thankful for the opportunities CN Future Links and junior golf have provided.

“Youth golf has provided us a valuable platform to make a significant impact in the communities in which we operate,” he said. “We are pleased to take an active role in helping Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada grow junior golf across the country.”

The third and final stop on tour this season will take place at the Saskatoon Exhibition from Aug 5-10.

Click here to learn more about CN Future Links Community Tour.

Little Rapids, N.L. – CN Future Links Atlantic continued today at Humber Valley Resort in Little Rapids, N.L., and competition remained tough in the second round.

Myles Creighton, 18, of Digby, N.S. grabbed the first place spot from yesterday’s leader, 18-year-old Ian Lewis of Fall River, NS. Creighton shot a 1-over-par 73 today to lead Lewis by one stroke, sitting at a total score of 4-over 148. Lewis now shares second place with Tyler Erb, 17, of Toronto – the pair has shot 5-over-149 over two rounds of play.

18-year-old Rachel Cormier of Rothesay, N.B. continued yesterday’s strong play to retain her lead in the Junior Girls division. Cormier shot an 8-over-par 80 on Tuesday to lead by 13 strokes over Laura Jones, 15, of Berry Mills, N.B. Jones has shot 28-over-172 over two rounds and is followed by 16-year-old Claire Konning of Indian Mountain, N.B. in third with a total score of 30-over-par 174.

The Junior Boys champions of 2014 CN Future Links events earn exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship to be contested July 28 – August 1 at the Legends on the Niagara’s Battlefield Course in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The Junior Girls champion from each 2014 CN Future Links Championship earns an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, which runs July 28 – August 1 at Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont.

The final round of CN Future Links Atlantic begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. UTC. For complete scoring and information, click here.

Little Rapids, N.L. (Golf Canada) – The final CN Future Links championship of 2014 kicked off Monday at Humber Valley Resort in Little Rapids, N.L. Ian Lewis, 18, of Fall River, N.S. and Rachel Cormier, 18, of Rothesay, N.B. took the opening round lead in their respective divisions.

Lewis shot a first round 1-under-par 71 and sits a stroke ahead of Tyler Erb and Bobby Dunphy, who hold a share of second place. Erb, 17, of Toronto and Dunphy, 17, of Antigonish, NS. carded even-par rounds of 72, while Owen Patterson, 17, of Bedford, N.S. and Nathan Peters, 17, of St. John’s, N.L. sit in a tie for fourth after firing matching opening rounds of 1-over-73.

In the Junior Girls Division, Cormier leads by three strokes after a 7-over-par 79. Cormier is followed by Laura Jones, 15, of Berry Mills, N.B. who is second after a 10-over-82, while Charlottetown’s Bailey Carr, 17, sits third after an opening 11-over-par 83.

The Junior Boys champions will earn an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship to be contested July 28 – August 1 at the Legends on the Niagara’s Battlefield Course in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The Junior Girls champion earns an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, which runs July 28 – August 1 at Thornhill Golf and Country Club in Thornhill, Ont.

CN Future Links Atlantic’s second round begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. UTC. For complete scoring and information, click here.

GC:       What prompted Humber Valley Resort to host the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship?
HO:    With a recommendation from Greg Hillier of Golf NL, we felt it was a great opportunity to welcome youth from the Atlantic Provinces to our golf facility. We’re excited for them to see the beauty of the course and the region.

GC:    What preparations have went into hosting this championship?
HO:    Our management, staff, and course crew have been busy preparing the course and clubhouse to welcome the athletes and their parents to the resort. It’s been a great experience working with Golf NL and Golf Canada to make the event come together.

GC:    What can players expect when they arrive at your club?
HO:    Humber Valley is a scenic course that is both forgiving and challenging to all skill levels. They can expect some holes that will seem short and simple while others will test their ability to read and play the course.

GC:     What do you think will challenge competitors the most?
HO:    The elevation changes on the course will be a challenge for some golfers and the greens are very large. The golfers will need a day to get used to the overall feel of the course layout and how to play it to their advantage.

GC:     Are there any significant holes or sections of the golf course that should provide excitement for the tournament?
HO:    Our signature Hole #10 is beautiful par 5, it’s a real treat but it’s also very deceiving for even the best golfers. Hole #5 on the beach is one of my favorite holes as it’s a little shorter and very picturesque.

GC:    What does hosting an event like this do for your local community?
HO:     The tournament will be great for tourism in the region and it’s an opportunity to showcase Humber Valley, Western Newfoundland, and it’s true beauty.  

GC:    What sets your club apart from others in the area, in terms of both the course and/or its membership?
HO:    The course was designed by the one and only Doug Carrick, he really showcased all areas of the landscape. The mountain, lake and river views from most holes are incomparable to any course in Newfoundland. The resorts luxury chalets built around the course also add to the overall golf resort experience.

GC:    What does your club do to encourage and engage your junior membership each season?
HO:    We currently have a very small junior membership, since some younger athletes find the course very challenging. We’re working to increase interest and there are hopes in the future to complete a driving range and offer more programs to engage local juniors.

GC:      Why is hosting this championship important to the club?
HO:    It’s great exposure and it’s an important part of staying active with the golf membership in Canada. The future of golf lies in the athletes who compete in these tournaments and we want them to enjoy their golf experience here at Humber Valley.

GC:     What is your club looking forward to the most in hosting this championship?
HO:    We’re looking forward to welcoming both the athletes and their parents, who may not have normally traveled to Newfoundland if it hadn’t been for this event. We’re also looking forward to working with Golf Canada to put on a professional tournament. Our members have shown a great interest in volunteering and that’s a great feeling to know your local golfers are there to support these events. Overall we hope all athletes enjoy their rounds, form friendships with fellow competitors, and play the best they can.

Starting times, live scoring, and more information regarding the CN Future Links Atlantic Championship can be found online here.

BLUFFTON, S.C.  – Garrett Rank, a member of the National Amateur team, relinquished a six stroke lead on Sunday to slip into a runner-up finish at the prestigious Players Amateur held at Berkeley Hall Club.

Rank separated himself from the field on Friday’s second round, firing a remarkable bogey-free, 10-under 62 to set a course (and personal) record. The Waterloo University graduate then went on to card rounds of 70 and 75 to close out the tournament, finishing at 10-under par.

The Elmira Ont. native builds on an already impressive season that features a tie for 7th at the Dixie Amateur and a tie for third at the Monroe Invitational Championship.

Rank lost the lead to Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, who earns the exemption to play in next year’s RBC Heritage, a PGA Tour event. The 26-year-old Rank is set to be in Kansas on Monday to play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links event.

Rank will surely boost his current World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) of No. 135 after his strong play this week. The same can be said for Team Canada teammate, Adam Svensson.

Svensson, a Surrey, B.C. native, closed out with a 1-under 71 to finish inside the top-10, in a tie for 8th. The 20-year-old Barry University sophomore continues to have a memorable season, winning seven NCAA events and capturing the Jack Nicklaus award, given to the top golfer in NCAA Div I, II and III golf.

Click here for full results from the Player Amateur Championship.

Last year’s runner-up is now a champion. Tyler Saunders capped off a consistent tournament,turning a 1-stroke deficit into a 2-stoke victory and earning his first ever Alberta Junior Boys Championship Friday at Bearspaw Golf Club in Calgary.

“I played solid golf, and putted really well,” said the newly crowned champion. “You can really be comfortable out there when you’re making putts and not hitting any real bad shots.”

Despite an early bogey on the 2nd hole, Saunders did not falter the rest of the round, as he birdied both 6 and 8 building a 4-stroke lead heading to the 18th hole.

“The course was perfect and the greens were running nice and quick,” he added. “It was fair and helped me play consistently.”

Saunders, joined by Andrew Harrison of Camrose, Alta., and Jack Wood of Banff, Alta. will form the Alberta Junior Boys Interprovincial Team that will compete in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in Niagara Falls, Ont., July 29 to August 1.

Harrison began the day in the lead, but struggled throughout his round, until birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 put some pressure on Saunders.

Calgary’s Scott Walker, 16, won the Juvenile Championship by 6-strokes after shooting a final round 75.

Click here for full scores.

RICHMOND, British Columbia –  Taylor Kim of Surrey, B.C. finished at 10-under par to win the 111th British Columbia Golf Women’s Amateur at Kamloops Golf and Country Club on Friday.

Kim shot 2-under 71 Friday to finish out a week of exceptional play, winning her first title at a British Columbia Golf Championship. The Team Canada member was already 2-under at the turn and only bogeyed once on number 15 that proved to be just a slight speed bump on the way to the title.

“I thought simple. Just hit the fairways and hit the green and two putt or if I get close just one putt it,” she said. “I came into trouble on number 15 a par-3 and bogeyed it but I knew I was still leading then I had a birdie opportunity on number 18 but I thought ‘just make par, don’t do anything stupid’ and it worked out.”

After recording the lowest score of the tournament during the opening-round of the championship, a 6-under 67, Kim struggled slightly the following round with tough wind conditions. She proved her adaptability the following round when she shot 70 (-3) to reclaim the lead.

“There was no wind today, it was a perfect and I knew it was going to be my day it felt just like the first day,” said the 19-year-old.

“I was a little nervous going into the round because it was my first opportunity to win this event and I’m just really excited to win” she explained. “I felt like I played really great, I used the advantage of the par-5’s again and it worked out.”

A Ram Choi finished two-strokes back of Kim, finishing second at 8-under. Choi briefly co-led at the midway mark of the tournament after finishing 3-under in back-to-back rounds. Choi shot 3-under for the final round to finish at 8-under.

Alisha Lau played an incredible four rounds of golf to finish third at 6-under. The 14-year-old from Richmond, B.C.’s 3-under-par 70 on Friday was good enough to earn her a top three finish and the final spot on Team British Columbia which will represent the province at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship July 22-25 at Craigowan Golf & Country Club in Woodstock, Ont.

The 2014 B.C. Junior Girl’s Champion, Naomi Ko, finished fourth at a 4-under 288. She was followed by Michelle Kim of Surrey, B.C. and Christina Proteau of Port Alberni at 289. Proteau won the Mid-Amateur title.

Click here for full results.