MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Laurent Desmarchais and James Song were the biggest movers among the Top 10 over the course of 2018. Desmarchais, who was named to the Golf Canada Development Squad for the upcoming season, gained 1,323 spots in the world rankings over the course of 2018. He vaulted into the Top 10 following his win at the Golf Quebec Junior Provincial Match-Play Championship – one of four victories he collected this past year.

Song, who holds dual citizenship, has gained 1,003 spots in the world rankings and currently holds down the No. 3 amateur ranking in Canada. A freshman at UC Berkeley, he moved into the Top 10 for the first time after a runner-up performance at the Thunderbird International Junior. Song has four top 10 results this year including a ninth place finish at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

Golf Canada National Team member Brendan Macdougall picked up 168 spots over the course of 2018, thanks in large part to a pair of wins at the Big South Championship and the Alberta Match Play Championship.

Charles Corner gained 108 spots over the course of the year after three top 5 performances in his final collegiate season.

Joey Savoie gained 99 places in the world rankings to sit at a career-best No. 57 in the world. The Golf Canada National Team member had seven top 10 results including a pair of wins and he will finish at the No. 1 amateur player in Canada.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Brigitte Thibault made the biggest move among Top 10 players in 2018. Recently named to the Golf Canada National Team, Thibault gained 833 spots in the world rankings and was one of two players who moved into the Top 10 over the course of the year. Back-to-back top 10 finishes elevated her into the Top 20 and a total of seven top 10 results have solidified her spot as the No. 2 amateur in Canada, including a runner-up finish at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.

The only other player to crack the Top 10 over the course of 2018 was Ellie Szeryk. The Golf Canada Development Team member is also the younger sister to Maddie Szeryk, who was formerly the No. 1 ranked amateur in Canada up until her recent graduation and decision to turn pro. Szeryk gained 274 spots in the world rankings on the strength of four top 5 results including a victory at the Ontario Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship.

As mentioned Maddie Szeryk’s move to the pros forced a change atop the amateur rankings, which was aptly filled by Jaclyn Lee. However, it may be a short reign as the Ohio State senior is contemplating a similar move to the pros after earning her LPGA Tour card this fall. The Golf Canada National Team member gained 106 spots to move up to a career-best No. 19 in the world rankings. She has 10 top 10 results in 2018 including two victories and seven other top 5 finishes.

Development Squad member Celeste Dao gained 169 spots in the world rankings in 2018. Dao, who has signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia, has 11 top 10 results including four wins in what was a busy 2018 campaign for the Quebec junior.

Click here for the full World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR)

MEN’S TOP 10

Nick Taylor made the biggest gain among the Top 10 over the last week, picking up 13 places after finishing tied for ninth at the Australian PGA Championship. The result was worth 2.41 world ranking points, giving him three points-paying results in his last four tournaments.

Corey Conners made the biggest move among the Top 10 in 2018, moving up a total of 408 spots in the world rankings to finish as the No. 2 ranked player in Canada. The former Golf Canada National Team player saw his biggest gain come after finishing runner-up at the Sanderson Farms Championship. It was one of only two top 10 results for the PGA rookie this past year.

Adam Svensson made the next biggest gain, picking up a total of 289 spots over the course of 2018. His highlight moment came early in the year, winning the Web.com event in the Bahamas, which moved him back into the Top 10 in the Canadian rankings. It was also one of five top 10 results as the B.C. golfer earned his PGA Tour card for 2019.

Adam Hadwin will finish as the No. 1 ranked player in Canada, having held that position for almost two full years now. The Abbotsford, B.C. golfer reached a career high No. 41 in the world after finishing in a tie for 24th at his first career Masters tournament. He notched five top 10 results in 2018 including a tie for third at the CareerBuilder Challenge.

Of the 35 total Canadians who are recognized by the world rankings, Sukwoan Ko made the biggest gain, picking up 1,271 points over the course of 2018. Playing on the Korean Tour, his victory at the Jeonbuk Open back in July vaulted him into the Top 20 in Canada and he ends the year at No. 12.

Other notable results: No. 6 Austin Connelly finished tied for 34th at the Australian PGA Championship;

Click here for the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).

WOMEN’S TOP 10

The biggest mover among the Top 10 female golfers in Canada goes to a player who has yet to officially turn pro.

Jaclyn Lee gained a total of 250 places in the world rankings in 2018, moving into the Top 10 after finishing in a tie for 35th at the Meijer LPGA Classic – which was her only LPGA Tour event in 2018. Lee, a member of Golf Canada’s National Team and a senior at Ohio State University, has since gone on to earn an LPGA Tour card for 2019 and will have a decision to make in the new year, about whether or not to turn pro at the season’s first event or wait until later in the year until after she graduates.

Brooke Henderson finishes the year as the No. 1 ranked female in Canada, a position she has held since December 2014. Henderson had two wins, including her impressive performance at the CP Women’s Open, as well as eight other top 10 finishes in 2018. She closed out the year collecting world ranking points in each of her last 14 consecutive tournaments to climb into the Top 10 in the world.

Brittany Marchand made the biggest gain over the course of the past year, picking up 205 spots in the world rankings. The Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member had one top 10 result and one top 20 finish in her rookie LPGA season as well as a third place result on the developmental Symetra Tour. At one point, Marchand collected world ranking points in 10 of 11 LPGA starts.

Anne-Catherine Tanguay gained a total of 60 places in the world rankings in 2018. After a slow start to her rookie LPGA campaign, the Young Pro Squad member found her groove in the middle of the season, earning world ranking points in six of seven events to close out the season.

Click here for the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings.

Golf Ontario (GO) and the Northern Golf Association (NGA) have announced a partnership that will focus on growing the game of golf in Northern Ontario. Both organizations have long been leaders of the game of golf and bringing the two organizations together will ensure stronger collaboration in communicating and promoting the sport of golf in Northern Ontario.

The focus of this partnership will be on 3 areas:

• Membership –all NGA members will now also be Golf Ontario members and receive all of the benefits of Gold Membership
• Grow Golf – both organizations will continue to invest in initiatives (such as Golf in Schools) that are intended to grow the game of golf in Northern Ontario
• Golf Services – stronger collaboration on areas such as course rating, handicapping and competitions.

Currently, the NGA has 27 member clubs (8 of which are currently also members with Golf Ontario). As part of this agreement moving forward, all NGA clubs and members will be able to become members of both organizations with access to all of the great benefits that both organizations offer.

Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario, believes that this new arrangement will benefit both Golf Ontario and all of the members of the NGA. “We are excited to be partnering with the NGA to collaboratively promote and grow the game of golf in Northern Ontario. Golf Ontario membership provides many great benefits such as handicapping, incident coverage, and access to Golf Ontario championships, and having these available to the members of the NGA will help support the
development of golf in Northern Ontario” said Kelly.

Owen Rigg, Director of Northern Golf Association, added his very similar message. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Golf Ontario on the mutually beneficial agreement. Over the next few years we look forward in working with our NGA member Clubs in implementing so many of the wonderful programs that Golf Ontario and Golf Canada have to offer. Northern Golf is back!” Exclaimed Rigg.

Winter Park, Fla. – Global Golf Post today announced its sixth annual All-Amateur teams for men and women.

This annual effort is intended to recognize individual performance during the past 12 months for men and women amateurs, mid-amateurs, and senior amateurs.

All told, 199 players from 24 nations are honoured. And among all those players, two stood out as The Post’s Amateurs of the Year – Matt Parziale, 31, and Jennifer Kupcho, 21.

Nine Canadians were honoured in the 2018 list:

Men’s Mid-Amateur

• Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) – Second team

Women’s Amateur

• Jaclyn Lee (Calgary, Alta.) – Honourable mention

Women’s Mid-Amateur

• Julia Hodgson (Unionville, Ont.) – First team

Women’s Senior

• Mary-Ann Hayward (St. Thomas, Ont.) – First team
• Judith Kyrinis (Thornhill, Ont.) – First team
• Jackie Little (Proctor, B.C.) – First team
• Terrill Samuel (Etobicoke, Ont.) – First team
• Allison Murdoch (Victoria, B.C.) – Second team
• Marie-Thérèse Torti (Candiac, Que.) – Honourable mention

Among the 199 players, there were five golfers to have won Canadian national championships in 2018:

• Zach Bauchou (Forest, Va.) – 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur | Second team
• Joseph Deraney (Lexington, Ky.) – 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur | First team
• Brady Exber (Las Vegas, Nev.) – 2018 Canadian Men’s Senior | First team
• Sue Wooster (Australia) – 2018 Canadian Women’s Mid-Am & Senior | First team
• Atthaya Thirikul (Thailand) – 2018 World Junior Girls Championship medallist – First team
• Yealimi Noh (Concord, Calif.) – 2018 Women’s Amateur Champion – Honourable mention

Click here for the full list.

Will Ghesquire closed out his six years of caddying at Hamilton G&CC (HGCC) in style, winning Caddie of the Year honours at the club’s annual Caddie Banquet earlier this month.

“Caddying at HGCC has been a great experience and I have really enjoyed it,” says Will, who split his time between caddying 98 rounds this year and working in the back shop. “I really like talking with the members and spending time out on the golf course. It’s such an awesome place.”

On good days in the summer, you would find him here at 6 am and carrying for both a morning and afternoon.

The 18-year-old, who l is finishing up at Glendale Secondary School, is planning on returning to HGCC in 2019 to work solely in the back shop. His favourite part of working at HGCC, would have to be golfing here on Mondays, where the nine-handicap played about 20 rounds in 2018.

Caddie Master, Josh Ryglewicz thanked all caddies for their hard work throughout the season with a total of 1,300 caddie rounds for 2018. He also presented awards to individual category winners including: Wyatt Rapson – C Caddie of the Year; Chris Ghesquire – B Caddie of the Year; Nick Kenney – A Caddie of the Year and Lucas Gatto – AA Caddie of the Year.

“There’s no better place to work, it’s a great summer job,” says Lucas Gatto. Caddies at HGCC are paid from $26 to $38 per 18-hole round depending on their category from C to AA.

The Grade 12 Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School student is wrapping up a four-year caddie career this season. Lucas caddied 63 rounds this past season and worked in the back shop for the first time. He’ll return to the back shop in 2019, but his caddying days are done. On the golf course, he’s a six-handicap who had a membership at Flamborough Hills GC this past summer where he played about 25 rounds, plus another 10 rounds here at HGCC.

Both Will, and Lucas have little brothers who are following in their footsteps. Chris Ghesquire concluded his second season at HGCC winning B Caddie of the Year honours after looping 75 rounds in 2018.

“It’s very cool to get the caddie bonus. I worked hard throughout the summer to get more rounds. I wanted to be Caddie of the Year,” the 13-year-old says. At the end of the season caddies with at least 30 rounds in the books earned an $11 bonus per round from the club as a thank-you for their dedication and commitment.

Nicholas Gatto, 13, enjoyed his first-year caddying at HGCC and is looking forward to moving up the caddy ladder after finishing the season as a B Caddie with 41 rounds.

“I went out with my brother for my first caddie round and he showed me the ropes,” says Nicolas, who is playing Minor Bantam A hockey in Ancaster this winter to keep busy.

He was at the club most Wednesdays, Fridays and weekends by 6:30 am throughout the summer. “I just like being out on the golf course, in the good weather with the members. The member events are very cool and lots of fun. The toughest part of the job is the extreme heat in the summer, especially if you’re trying to caddy twice in a day.”

Over the past two seasons Nick Kenney has caddied 120 rounds at HGCC and that went a long way to earning him A Caddie of the Year honours for 2018.

“It’s a cool job. You come in, walk around the golf course for a few hours with a member and get paid for it,” said the second-year caddie. “It feels good to win the award. I’m surprised. It’s not something I was thinking about while I was walking around the golf course this summer. It’s a lot of fun, a great job.”

The 14-year-old Bishop Tonnos student played high school football, is playing single A Major Bantam travel hockey in Ancaster and is enjoying sleeping in for now!

Wyatt Rapson, 12, is saving up his caddy earnings from his first season at HGCC to buy a laptop. The 12-year-old, Dundas Central PS is off to a good start with nearly 50 rounds this season.

“After the first couple of rounds where you learn a lot, it was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I started pulling and then pushing and mixed in a bit of carrying,” Wyatt says.

Along with receiving their bonus cheques and a prime rib dinner at the dapper jacket and tie Caddie Banquet, members donate prizes to a raffle. Everyone one went home with a prize ranging from Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres and Hamilton Tiger Cats tickets to movie and SportChek gift cards.

First year caddie Andrew Varrasso had his name selected first in the raffle draw. With little hesitation, and the biggest smile you can imagine, the 12-year-old Immaculate Conception Catholic Elementary School student walked up to the table with the prizes and picked the HGCC logoed carry bag. What you need to know about Andrew, is that his father, Paul caddied as HGCC as a youngster and now Andrew is following in dad’s footstep – very cool. You should know that Andrew saved all his money from caddying this summer, except for $40 that he used to purchase an HGCC logoed head cover for his driver. He says it was an awesome summer caddying 36 rounds at HGCC as he moved from a C to a B caddie over time. He squeezed in four nine-hole rounds on the course with that head cover and next year he’ll have the HGCC golf bag to go with it!

“Caddies have been an integral part of the history and traditions of HGCC for more than 100 years and we appreciate your efforts,” said Caddie Liaison, David Gilroy. “You play an important part in a program that makes HGCC unique in Canada. Invite your friends to give it a try next year. Tell them how much fun it is, that it’s a really great experience because we would like to see more of you.”

Will Ghesquire, 2018 Caddie of the Year at HGCC, along with Caddie Master,  Josh Ryglewicz.

HAMILTON – The Hamilton Golf & Country Club (HGCC) Foundation lived up to its vision for a better tomorrow, donating $213,000 to six community charity partners for 2018 earlier this month.

There were beautiful smiles all-around as the six local charity partners gathered with the HGCC Foundation Board and other members to celebrate the spirit of giving and recognize the incredible work these charities perform in Hamilton and surrounding areas.

“Our heartfelt thanks too, goes out to the HGCC Foundation and the members at the club,” says Donna Marcaccio, Executive Director, Rygiel Supports for Community Living. “It is wonderful to see people working together to improve the lives of others. This is such a giving community.”

“On behalf of the McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation and more specifically The Pediatric Palliative Care Project, I would like to thank everyone at HGCC for this incredible donation,” added Dr. David Lysecki, Pediatric Palliative Care Specialist. “We have made great strides in our first two years and I’m excited to announce that we are adding two full-time doctors to the program in 2019.”

In its first year 75 per cent of the young cancer patients died in hospital. This past year the number dropped to 40 per cent as more youngsters died at home or in their community surrounded by loved ones. Dr. Lysecki explained that the program gives families/parents/children more options to consider when a child is dying from a terminal disease.

“The program is really just getting going and HGCC is at the ground floor of starting this,” Dr. Lysecki says, noting the end goal is to develop/build a children’s hospice in Hamilton.

The HGCC Foundation’s six primary (key) charities partners for 2018 included; Ancaster Community Services ($20,000) , Rygiel Supports for Community Living ($40,000), McMaster Children’s Hospital Foundation – The Pediatric Palliative Care Project ($40,000), De Mazenod Door Outreach ($33,000), The Hamilton Community Food Centre, a program of the Neighbour 2 Neighbour Centre ($40,000) and the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton ($40,000).

Funding for the Foundation comes primarily from two charity golf tournaments – The Borthwick Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by Turkstra Lumber and the women’s Golf for a Cause Golf Tournament sponsored by ONE for Freight. Funding for these charity partners traditionally lasts for a three-year period and then different charities are chosen to take their place, although ACS receives an on-going annual donation.

“I’d like to thank the HGCC Foundation for the generous donation to Neighbour to Neighbour’s Hamilton Community Food Centre that operates in the Rolston neighbourhood of Hamilton, an area with high rates of poverty, food insecurity and new immigrant populations,” says Shane Farraway, Communications & Events Coordinator at N2N.

“The $40,000 will go towards the various preventative programs and initiatives we’re are undertaking at the centre including; teaching families how to create inexpensive, fresh and healthy meals; helping end senior isolation and assisting new families in Canada gain a sense of community in new surroundings. We are just getting started building a broader, more inclusive community in Hamilton. So once again thank you. Your support means the world to us as we reach out to others.”

Since making its first disbursements in 2013, the HGCC Foundation has distributed more than $1.3 million to local charities over the past six years. The HGCC Foundation Board of Directors operates at arms length from the club’s Board of Directors. Foundation Board members include; Foundation President; Brian Short, Foundation Vice-President; Al Scott, Pat Collins, Donna Calder-Louth and Chris Bellefeuille, plus HGCC Directors; Scott Shannon, Sean McDonough and Chris Hamel.

“We just want to say thank-you. With this new funding we’re going to be able to launch a new and much needed program – Diverse Communities Outreach in north Hamilton. It will focus on building partnerships to under-served communities in our city, including newcomers to Canada, those of diverse communities and/or lower socio-economic groups,” says Aileen Bradshaw, Executive Director for the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton.

“In delivering the program, families living with dementia in the target communities will be better able to prepare for the dementia journey and manage the day-to-day realities this brings.  At a community level, the program will help families better connect with existing community supports which will encourage their participation in their community and reduce the social isolation that often accompanies a family living with dementia,” Bradshaw added.

At Ancaster Community Services, the $20,000 will be directed at youth support. “We have a lot of new faces. There are issues in growing communities. Youth in our community need support. There is poverty in this community,” says Melanie Barlow, Executive Director, ACS. “We’re thankful to all those people who work so hard and give through The Borthwick Tournament. I’d like to express our heart felt gratitude to HGCC members and the HGCC Foundation. We are so grateful for the support and hopefully next year we will have sunny skies for the tournament.”

HGCC member Cathy Sullivan, who volunteers at De Mazenod Door Community Outreach at King Street and Victoria Avenue in downtown, accepted the cheque on behalf of the organization. Her co-chair for Golf for a Cause, Deb Cacioppo, shared a few personal thoughts on being part of a team working for the greater good.

“I would like to begin by thanking all of the Foundation Executive lead by the capable and generous team of friends – Alan Scott and Brian Short. Gentleman, you have been precisely that – Gentlemen leading others towards the common goal of helping those in need by our club.

May history record your generosity of spirit and kindness passed along to those in tremendous need,” Deb says, noting her team was greatly assisted by Lori Serafini, Christine Heagle, Jill Winch and Marg Chapman.

Today, she reflects on the 400-plus street people who depend daily on De Mazenod Door for breakfast and lunch – knowing that many of them suffer from mental illness and have nowhere else to turn at this moment in time in their lives. 365 days of the year, De Mazenod Door is there for them.

“Every guest is treated kindly and respectfully and with dignity. Despite what the volunteers see before them or even what they hear. They feed all races, religions, they feed the young, the old, men, women, addicts, alcoholics, the handicapped and the homeless. They ask for nothing of them, but their first name so that they can say . . . “Have a nice day Mary or Barb.”

Hamilton Golf & Country Club is proud host the 2019 & 2023 RBC Canadian Opens. Click here to learn more about the RBC Canadian Open.

The USGA and The R&A will administer a global ranking for golfers with disabilities, which will help to grow participation and competition around the world and to promote inclusivity within the sport.

The World Ranking for Golfers with Disability will launch on Jan. 1, 2019 and will be administered in tandem with the World Amateur Golf Ranking™ (WAGR™) for both men and women via www.WAGR.com.

The USGA and The R&A will assume responsibility for the ranking following agreement with EDGA, which created the comprehensive and independent Ranking for Golfers with Disability in 2014.

Further information for golfers and tournament organizers wishing to register their details with the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability will be made available later this year.

“One of golf’s best benefits is that it can be played by everyone, and it can be played for a lifetime,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA Senior Managing Director of Championships.

“We are pleased to administer this ranking in partnership with The R&A, as it elevates an important population of the golf community that clearly loves the game and enables a variety of competitive opportunities around the world. Together with the modifications to the Rules of Golf for golfers with disabilities and the USGA’s work to make golf courses more accessible, we are working to create meaningful and lasting change to make golf more welcoming.”

Duncan Weir, Executive Director – Golf Development and Amateur Events at The R&A, said, “There is an accelerating growth in the number of events around the world for golfers with disabilities to compete in so it makes absolute sense that there is a global ranking to provide a robust measurement of an individual’s skill and ability.
“It is another important step towards ensuring that golf is more inclusive of people of all ages and abilities. Along with our colleagues at the USGA we will continue to support EDGA’s drive to grow participation and competition in the sport among all disability groups.”

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA and Director of Education for the PGAs of Europe, said, “This is a crucial step forward for the growth and development of the sport for golfers with disabilities and we believe it will act as a catalyst for encouraging more people into playing golf, both competitively and recreationally, around the world.”

The announcement of the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability coincides with the playing of the Australian All Abilities Championship, which is being organized by Golf Australia and will see 12 golfers compete at The Lakes in Sydney this week alongside the professionals at the Emirates Australian Open.

TORONTO – On Tuesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee launched their new series of Canadian Olympic School Program resources for the 2018-19 school year.

Titled the “Pursue” series, the new resources are a multimedia experience, featuring video interviews from eleven athletes who competed at PyeongChang 2018 in addition to classroom activities focused on reading and writing. The modules, entitled “The Dream”, “The Journey”, “The Performance”, “The Joy”, and “The Passion” use athlete experiences to promote the Olympic values of Excellence, Respect, and Friendship. The five new resources join the over 100 free resources available to educators, athletes, coaches, and community groups at olympic.ca/education.

Founded in 1987, in advance of the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games, the Canadian Olympic School Program is one of the enduring legacies of the Calgary Olympic Games. In over 30 years since its launch, the school program has been used in thousands of classrooms nationwide. With resources developed by teachers, for teachers, the program encourages physical activity and healthy lifestyle, helps to promote safer and more inclusive sport environments, and inspires the application of Olympic values.

“For over thirty years the Canadian Olympic School Program has helped bring lessons from the Olympic Movement into classrooms across our country,” said Tricia Smith, president of COC. “This new selection of pedagogical resources will build on that tradition and help inspire students to learn from and live by the Olympic values demonstrated by our Canadian athletes.”

The golf competitions at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will be held at the Kasumigaseki Country Club with the men’s competition beginning on July 30 and the women’s on Aug. 5.

TORONTO – Sporting Life Inc. and Golf Town Limited  have announced they will merge to become Sporting Life Group Limited (“SLG”).

Sporting Life is a premium sports and lifestyle retailer that provides an assortment of high-end sport and lifestyle brands coupled with a focus on premium customer service. It currently has 11 locations operating in Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, following the recent opening of a 27, 500 square foot store last week. In 2019, it will open another flagship store in the new “Amazing Brentwood” Mall in Vancouver.

Golf Town is the largest retailer for golf apparel and equipment in Canada, with a national footprint of 47 stores. Golf Town has been incredibly successful since its acquisition by Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”) (TSX: FFH and FFH.U) and certain funds managed by Signature Global Asset Management, a division of CI Investments Inc., in 2016.

Fairfax, and founders David Russell and Patti Russell, were the owners of Sporting Life and both continue to be invested in Sporting Life Group.

The merger will see the two brands continue to maintain their brand identities and operate separately, but they will jointly invest in key people, technology and supply chain to enhance future profitable growth and synergies.

“Sporting Life experiences its strongest sales in the winter months, while Golf Town experiences its strongest sales in the summer months,” said David Russell, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sporting Life. “We believe this to be a natural ‘hedge’ allowing both companies strong profitable performance throughout the year.”

“Enhancing our people, technology and supply chain while obtaining synergies will allow for a streamlined, profitable roll out of our expansion plans. We intend to add stores in B.C beyond Brentwood, more in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, and to enter Manitoba,” added Russell.

Golf Town continues to invest in its brand and network of stores with a next generation store concept launching in March 2019 in Richmond, B.C.

“Since the acquisition of Golf Town in 2016, we have invested in Canada on people, technology and our stores,” said Chad McKinnon, President of Golf Town. “This merger will accelerate that investment and open up new opportunities for our brand and our people, while maintaining the separate identity and teams of both brands.”

On the final day of competition at the 2018 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Golf National Championships, hosted by Medicine Hat College (MHC), four national champions were crowned.

The Red Deer College (RDC) Queens were the first Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) school to win a golf national championship.

“To take home gold at a national championship is incredible, not only for RDC but for Alberta golf,” says Scott Bergdahl, head coach for RDC Queens. “We have put a lot of resources into developing both the men and ladies teams in the last few years. So to be rewarded like this, in such a short period of time, is really outstanding. I think it’s really going to benefit the team and the program moving forward.”

On the men’s side the 2019 CCAA Golf National Championship Hosts, Cégep André-Laurendeau, secured a nine-stroke victory to raise a championship banner.

Individually, Emily Romancew from the John Abbott Islanders and Laurent Desmarchais from André-Laurendeau won their respective individual titles.

“Winning a national award and being able to say we have a national title for John Abbott is amazing. I think I played really well and I’m really satisfied with my overall week,” says Romancew.

The women’s team event was dominated by the ACAC.

RDC pulled away from the field with a four-day total of 625 to claim a gold medal. The MHC Rattlers fired a four-day total of 641 to earn the silver medal and the bronze medal went to the University of British Columbia (UBC) Okanagan Heat who had a four-day score of 666.

On the men’s side, the Boomerang d’André-Laurendeau had a dominating performance on their way to a national title. Their four-day total of 1138 was 14 under par and placed them nine strokes ahead of silver medalists Humber College who had a four-day total of 1147. The bronze medal went to the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades who tied with Champlain St. Lawrence but won the bronze on a count back. Both teams closed with four-day scores of 1171.

Thank you to @MHC_Rattlers @MHCollege @hpdesertblume and @TheGolfCanada for an incredible 2018 CCAA Golf National Championship Presented by @PingTour.

Final Round Recap available here: https://t.co/pMoj7IXS3a pic.twitter.com/W0XWwBUURr

— CCAA ?? ACSC (@CCAAsportsACSC) October 20, 2018

Romancew, led the women’s individual race from wire to wire. Her final total of 298 left her six strokes ahead of runner-up Shaye Leidenius from RDC. Alyssa Stoddart from the Fanshawe Falcons shot a four-day total of 305 to claim the bronze medal.

In men’s individual action, Laurent Desmarchais from André-Laurendeau shot an amazing 13 under par over four days to win gold. Cobber Watt had a solid week and earned the silver medal with a total eight under par 280. Desmarchais’ teammate Olivier Ménard took home the bronze with a four-day score of seven under par 281.

Tournament all-stars were also awarded. Winners for the women included Romancew, Leidenius and Stoddart. The men were represented by: Desmarchais, Menard and Philip Isabelle from Cégep André-Laurendeau, along with Watt from Humber College and Daniel Campbell from UFV.

Exemplary leadership awards, given out to the athletes who uphold the highest integrity of the game, and who show leadership and fair play both on and off the course, were given to Nicole Schultz of the Rattlers and Brad Byers from the Fanshawe Falcons.

On the last day of competition, the male athlete of the day was Kyle Claggett from the Cascades. Clagget was personable and polite throughout the week and always had a smile on his face.

The female athlete of the day was Stoddart. She was a strong competitor all week and her third round 69 was the tournament low on the ladies side. She was always friendly and supported her teammates and the other golfers throughout the week.

Our final team of the day was awarded to the UBC Okanagan Heat for their friendly and positive attitude. They battled hard each day and were rewarded with a bronze medal.

Men’s Team Results
Women’s Team Results
Men’s Individuals Results
Women’s Individuals Results

The world’s best junior golfers faced off this week at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games contested at Buenos Aires’ Hurlingham Golf Club.

In the women’s individual competition, Grace Kim of Australia won the gold medal, topping the 32-player field at 1 over par (211). Italy’s Alessia Nobilio, who was part of the gold medal winning team at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship this past September in Ottawa, took home silver with a total score of 214 (+4). Nobilio, Emma Spitz of Austria and Yuka Saso of the Philippines squared off in an extra hole playoff with Nobilio making birdie and Spitz getting par to claim the bronze medal.

Canada’s Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Qué. — who entered the final round with share of 7^th position — finished the tournament in a tie for 13^th with rounds of 75-72-76 (223).

On the men’s side, Australia’s Karl Vilips topped the field of 32 to win the gold medal with a total score of 4 under 206 (69-68-69), besting American Akshay Bhatia by two strokes. Bhatia was awarded the silver medal with a total score of 208 (69-69-70) while the bronze medal was won by the Netherlands’ Jerry Ji who scored 211 (+1) for the tourney.

William Duquette of Laval, Qué., finished the competition in 28^th spot with rounds of 80-79-82 for a total score of 241 (+31).

The Youth Olympic Games golf competition resumes Oct. 14-15 with the mixed team tournament, which will see the Québec duo of Dao and Duquette team up to represent the maple leaf.

Golf Canada’s Director of Next Generation and Women’s Junior Squad coach Matt Wilson is accompanying Team Canada in Buenos Aires.

As well, Golf Canada’s Mary-Beth McKenna, who is assistant tournament director for the RBC Canadian Open, is working as a rules official for the Youth Olympic Games golf competition.

Click here for the full results.