A trio of Canadian girls are gearing up to compete in the 2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament week.

Canadians Carlee Meilleur, Mia Wong and Savannah Grewal will be among the 80 qualifiers (40 male, 40 female) vying to be crowned champions of their respective age divisions at the fourth annual national championship.

Carlee Meilleur, from Landsdowne, Ont., will compete in the 7-9 age group. The aspiring LPGA professional won the regional qualifier at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. She credits Brooke Henderson as her hero, and her family’s home on the water made for a compelling story in her feature video.

Markham, Ont. native Mia Wong of the 10-11 age group qualified at the regional qualifier hosted at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., and plays to a 13 Handicap.

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., plays out of Piper’s Heath Golf Club and also punched her ticket to the championship alongside Wong at Baltusrol.

Amongst tens of thousands of entrants in 250 qualifying events, all three girls secured top-three spots at their respective local qualifiers, top-two finishes at their sub-regionals, followed by wins at their regional events.

A joint initiative by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the Masters and the PGA of America, the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship is a free nationwide youth golf development program open to girls and boys aged 7-15 – competing in separate divisions in four age categories – focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf and tapping the creativity and enthusiasm of young golfers.

Coverage of the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel on April 2.

The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— will be contested on July 22 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., the Sunday prior to the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Learn more here.

It may be our nation’s 150th birthday but Canada is providing a gift to you.

Courtesy of Parks Canada, all Canadians — and guests too — are encouraged to enjoy the beautiful and majestic landscapes of our nearly 10,000,000-square-kilometre country.

Any individual, group or family just needs to sign up for a free 2017 Discovery Pass, providing unlimited opportunities to enjoy National Parks, National Historic Sites and National Marine Conservation Areas across the country. (Normally, entry into one of Canada’s National Parks costs anywhere from $8 to $10 per day.) Each pass, which expires Dec. 31, 2017, is valid for everyone arriving in the same vehicle at a national park, or arriving together at a marine conservation area or historic site.

At some locations, the Discovery Pass may not cover separate fees for activities, tours, camping or parking. Green fees fall under that category too, but the experience of golfing in a National Park can be priceless. Courses within National Parks of Canada include the following:

Cape Breton Highlands (Cape Breton Highlands National Park, NS)
Clear Lake Golf Course (Riding Mountain National Park, MB)
Fairmont Banff Springs (Banff National Park, AB)
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (Jasper National Park, AB)
Fundy National Park Golf Course (Fundy National Park, NB)
Gros Morne Golf Course (Gros Morne National Park, NL)
Revelstoke Golf Club (Mount Revelstoke National Park, BC)
Twin Rivers Golf Course (Terra Nova National Park, NL)
Waskesieu Golf Course (Prince Albert National Park, SK)
Waterton Lakes Golf Course (Waterton Lakes National Park, AB)

Several other layouts — though not inside a National Park — are located within minutes by car, including Radium Hot Springs (Kootenay National Park, B.C.), Club de golf St-Ignace (Kouchibouguac National Park, N.B.), Oak Bay G&CC (Georgian Bay Islands National Park, ON), Erie Shores G&CC (Point Pelee National Park, ON), Stanhope G&CC (Prince Edward Island National Park, PEI)and Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course (Thousand Islands National Park, ON).

The inaugural World Masters Golf Championship has been launched with a call to all amateur golfers over 50 years of age to take up this unique opportunity to play on the iconic links of Scotland.

The World Masters Golf Championship provides the opportunity to play competitive golf on outstanding courses in a fun, social environment. The event is open to all golfers with an official handicap who are over 50 years of age as at 17 September, 2017 with Golf Canada members are entitled to a £30 discount off the entry fee.

The Championship will be staged over four days from September 18-21 on some of the best courses in the world. Follow in the footsteps of legends and take your opportunity to play some of the great courses of Scotland, included amongst them Royal Troon, Prestwick and Dundonald.

The World Masters Golf Championship is the brainchild of Hamish Grey (formerly CEO of Scottish Golf) and Andy Salmon (formerly CEO of the Ladies’ Golf Union and Deputy CEO of Scottish Golf), who have over 50 years of experience in sport and golf event management between them.

‘The idea is to stage an annual celebration of golf with a top quality championship for club-level amateur golfers here at the Home of Golf – playing competitive golf in a fun, social environment on some of the world’s leading golf courses,’ said Grey.

The format is individual stableford with prize categories based on handicap and age – along with the overall prize and title of World Masters Golf Champion.  Staged over four days there are two packages on offer –

Flight one:

Play Prestwick, laid out by Old Tom Morris, who was the Club’s Professional, the original home of the Open Championship which has been staged a total of 24 times on the links at Prestwick;

Western Gailes, a stunning links course that has hosted Open qualifying and major amateur events such as the European Team Championships featuring a young Rory McIlroy, amongst others; and

Glasgow Gailes, another classic links that hosts Open Qualifying and many major amateur events – where Colin Montgomerie qualified for the 2016 Open staged at nearby Royal Troon.

Flight two:

Play Dundonald, the links course of Loch Lomond Golf Club, Dundonald hosted the last two editions of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Ladies’ Open and two months prior to the World Masters Golf Championship will host the 2017 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open Championship;

Kilmarnock (Barassie), boasting 27 holes of pure links fun, Kilmarnock (Barassie) has also hosted Open Qualifying as well as numerous Scottish amateur tournaments and the European Youths Team Championship; and

Ayr Belleisle, a James Braid designed gem that in the true traditions of Scottish golf is a public course owned by the local authority.

Limited to 240 entrants, the top 120 participants after three rounds will qualify to play the nine-time Open Championship venue, Royal Troon, and follow in the footsteps of legends such as 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson. The remaining 120 participants will have the opportunity to play the excellent Glasgow Gailes.

This celebration of golf will be started with a welcome reception on Sunday, September 17 and conclude with a gala dinner on the evening of September 21.

Email members@golfcanada.ca for information on discounts for Golf Canada members.

Canada’s top-ranked male amateur Jared du Toit continued his impressive streak on Monday, nabbing his fourth NCAA top-5 finish in his last five events at the Thunderbird Invitational.

The Kimberley, B.C., product opened an early lead in the 54-hole event with a tournament-low 64 (-7) on Sunday, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 14^th. He went on to card two rounds of 70 (-1) to close the event at 9-under par, four strokes back of medallist Collin Morikawa.

du Toit, the captain of Arizona State, put forward one of many strong efforts by the host Sun Devils, with all five members finishing inside the top-10. The all-aronud team effort led the Sun Devils to a convincing 20-stroke margin—their second victory of the season.

du Toit will lead the Sun Devils into action again from April 8-9 at the Western Intercollegiate in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Click here for full scoring.

Canada’s top-ranked female amateur Maddie Szeryk was dialed in once again on Wednesday, closing a wire-to-wire run at the NCAA’s Dr. Donnis Invitational to post a convincing four-stroke victory in Hawaii.

Szeryk, a third-year member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad, opened the 54-hole event with rounds of 67-71 over 36 holes on Tuesday, giving her the advantage heading into Wednesday’s final. The Texas A&M junior went on to card a 69 (-2), pulling away from the field to finish at 9-under par, recording her second NCAA victory to date—she won the Florida State Match-Up in 2016.

Szeryk’s efforts lifted the Aggies to the team victory at Kanohe Klipper course, finishing with a 15-stroke margin over runner-up Oklahoma State. Her impressive play of late has put her in the spotlight, winning her second consecutive SEC Golfer of the Week honour earlier in March.

@mszeryk with the W & her second @ncaa title. Been trending after two 2nd place finishes #patience ?@TheGolfCanada pic.twitter.com/yj5tGWf57b

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) March 15, 2017

The 20-year-old sits at No. 26 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

Fellow Team Canada teammate Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C. was also in action, posting a 6-over score to finish T26.

Szeryk will look to lead the Aggies in action once again when they tee-it-up from March 31-April 2 at the Clemson Invitational in Sunset, S.C.

Click here for full scoring.

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Golf Canada and adidas Golf today announced an agreement that will see adidas Golf become the official apparel and headwear outfitter for Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

The adidas Golf performance products will be worn by Team Canada athletes, coaches and sport science staff in training as well as during competition at domestic and international golf championships.

“We are honoured to be a part of the Team Canada program—supporting the next generation of elite Canadian golfers,” said Lesley Hawkins, Brand Director for adidas Golf. “A key area of focus for adidas Golf is the growth of the game through the pyramid of influence, and Golf Canada has done a tremendous job connecting with these athletes. We’re very excited to kick off the 2017 season together.”

The partnership marks the second Golf Canada program to be supported by adidas Golf, who are also the official apparel partner of the Golf Fore the Cure program.

“The adidas mark is rooted in elite athlete performance and we are thrilled to have them align their brand with Team Canada as our official apparel outfitter,” said Golf Canada Interim Chief Executive Officer Jeff Thompson. “Performance is the foundation of our partnership and the athletes and coaches are excited to train and compete in adidas Golf’s leading edge competitive apparel.”

LAS VEGAS – National Amateur Squad member Jared du Toit continued his impressive run on Wednesday, finishing in a tie for third at the Southern Highlands Collegiate.

The 21-year-old senior (and captain) at Arizona State closed the event at 5-under par—one stroke off the lead. His final-round scorecard included a hole-in-one on the par-3 2^nd hole, lifting him into contention down the stretch.

du Toit, a Kimberley, B.C., product, is coming off a hot streak which includes a victory, a T1 (playoff loss), T11 and now T3 in his last four collegiate events with the Sun Devils. His efforts helped him earn Pac-12 Golfer of the Month for February; he’ll look to keep rolling when Arizona State plays host of the ASU Thunderbird Invitational from March 18-19.

Click here for full scoring.

LA QUINTA, Calif.  – Kimberley, B.C., product Jared du Toit has been knocking at the door for some time with the Arizona State Sun Devils, before finally breaking through on Wednesday with a victory at the Prestige at PGA WEST.

The Team Canada Amateur Squad member finished the 54-hole event at 9-under par (67-67-70), four strokes clear of runner-up Sam Burns of LSU. The 21-year-old posted 13 birdies en route to the victory—his first with the Sun Devils. The team’s captain came up just shy of earning medallist honours earlier this month, where he finished tied for first after falling in a playoff.

Prior to his time at Arizona State, du Toit collected a pair of first place finishes playing for the Idaho Vandals. He captured a T1 finish in his sophomore season at the Wyoming Southern Dunes before capping off his year in stellar fashion with a victory at the Big Sky Championship.

du Toit will lead the Sun Devils into action next on Feb. 27-28 at the NIT Invitational.

Click here for full scoring.

Got. That. Trophy. (and @Jareddutoit plans to get more)@MattThurmond@vanwilliamsgolf@ASUKarsten@TheGolfCanada @RBCCanadianOpen @AZ_GOLF pic.twitter.com/SLx47bPWdt

— ASUmensgolf (@asumensgolf) February 23, 2017

Finally a victory wearing the Maroon and gold. Thanks to all for the love! #ForksUp https://t.co/Lk2RdAYF85

— Jared du Toit (@Jareddutoit) February 23, 2017