UBC Okanagan Heat’s Julia Alexander-Carew and UBC Thunderbirds Una Chou share top spot in women’s individual championship 

Kamloops, B.C. – The UBC Thunderbirds got their title defence off on the right track during Tuesday’s opening round at the 2025 Canadian University / College Championship, leading both the men’s and women’s team competition after 18 holes at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. 

UBC’s male and female sides battled windy conditions on Tuesday to build four and eight shot leads respectively over their closest chasers, though several players in the field remain well in contention for an upset, particularly from the male Ontario University Athletics (OUA) contingent.  

A third year for the Queen’s Gaels, Daniel Abraha of Kingston, Ont. paced an OUA-packed leaderboard to open the first round of the Canadian University / College Championship.  

Starting his round on the ninth hole on Tuesday, Abraha played the tougher back nine at one-under par while collecting eight pars to throw his name into contention. He added birdies at Nos. 4, 6 and 8 to steal the clubhouse lead from McMaster Marauders’ fifth-year Nicolas Dessureault of Oakville, Ont. and solidify his place atop the leaderboard entering Wednesday.  

“I was very aware that the course was playing pretty firm out there,” said Abraha following his round on Tuesday. “Not putting yourself short-sighted made it much easier to avoid or limit the amount bogeys you made out there,” he added.  

Dessureault sits in a tie for second place with Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks’ Matthew Whitehead of Cambridge, Ont. The two opened the tournament with rounds of two-under par to track closely with Abraha, while Kai Baerg of Edmonton, Alta, Alex Mauro of Windsor, Ont. and Zachary Burt of Guelph, Ont. sit two back of Tuesday’s leader and in a three-way tie for fourth.  

Defending champion Una Chou of San Diego, Calif. got off to a flying start on Tuesday, carding a trio of birdies through her first five holes to find her familiar footing at the top of the women’s individual leaderboard. A double bogey at the 16th hole bumped her down to a one-under par finish but kept her well in the mix to defend her title throughout the week.  

Julia Alexander-Carew of Oakville, Ont. will enter Wednesday in a deadlock with Chou at one-under par after rallying from a pair of bogeys at the turn with an eagle on the par-5 15th to highlight a strong start from the sophomore representing the UBC Okanagen Heat.  

“I think that eagle on 15 set me up to finish the last three holes pretty strong and gave me some extra-needed confidence,” commented Alexander-Carew following her first round. “Anything can happen in a four-day tournament. I just think continuing to do what I’m doing and be aggressive when I can, but also just playing smart and minimalizing those big numbers,” she added.  

Grace Bell of Calgary, Alta. and Bo Brown of Mississauga, Ont. rounded out the top four spots in the women’s individual championship on Tuesday, helping carve out a nine-shot lead for the UBC Thunderbirds in the women’s team championship. Lauren Nedo of Coquitlam, B.C. and Morgan Best of Pointe Claire, Que. sit in a tie for fifth at three-over par.  

The top three daily scores count towards the women’s team total throughout the week, while the top four daily scores accrued by the male teams count towards their overall total.  

The field will be reduced to the top nine male teams and top six women’s teams – including any squad within 10 shots of the lead – following the conclusion of the third round on June 5. As for the individual competition, players within 10 shots of the leader will make the cut, or any player within the top 10 of the leaderboard.  

To view the full leaderboards from Tuesday’s first-round action, please click here. For Wednesday’s pairings and tee times, please click here.  

Men’s Team Championship – Top-5 

Women’s Team Championship – Top-5 

Men’s Individual Championship – Top-5 

Women’s Individual Championship – Top-5 

Entwistle, Alta. – Yeeun (Jenny) Kwon of Vancouver, B.C. and Chase Lassman of Parkland County, Alta. each claimed the NextGen Western Championship on Sunday at Trestle Creek Golf Resort in Entwistle, Alta.  

Finishing his second round in a tie for eighth place at one-under par, Lassman finished the tournament at even-par and emerged as the winner after a three-player playoff was required as the 36-hole leader, Ryan Badger of Edmonton, Alta. dropped down the leaderboard to bring the rest of his chasers into contention.  

“I just controlled what I could control and that’s my positivity and mental outlook on everything,” commented Lassman moments after draining a six-foot par putt to win the tournament. “The pressure is what you live for.” 

Kwon – who led the tournament since Friday afternoon – followed up her opening round score of 71 with a 70 on Saturday and 74 on Sunday to soundly take her maiden win in the NextGen Championship series as a wire-to-wire victory.  

Kwon teed off in a trio of NextGen Championships over the last year with her most recent result, a T9 finish at the NextGen Pacific Championship in May, adding to a pair of previous top ten finishes on the circuit.  

Hurdles in the final round ultimately left Kwon winless against the top junior talents in the country, however, pairing her 36-hole success along with a pair of birdies on Nos. eight, 11 and 14 on Sunday allowed her to break through and clinch victory at Trestle Creek Golf Resort.  

“I feel like I improved my game a lot,” commented Kwon following her round. “I just focused on what I needed to do because focusing on the other players wasn’t going to help my round,” she added.  

Kwon entered the final round seven strokes ahead of her nearest competitor and in prime position to take the title. She finished the tournament at one-under par and two strokes ahead of Aleah Shields-Rodipe of Conroe, Texas, with bogeys on her final two holes shrinking her favorable lead. 

Similarly to the Junior Girls division, 36-hole leader, Badger, experienced his multi-shot lead disappear on a course playing nearly three stokes harder than it was on Saturday. Badger entered Sunday’s final round three strokes ahead of Ryan Mosher of Saskatoon, Sask. but endured a tumultuous start to his afternoon with bogeys at the second and fifth holes to relinquish some ground to the field.   

Steadying himself to make the turn at one-over par, Badger unraveled at the 10th hole to begin his plunge into the crowded leaderboard on his heels. Badger played hole nos. 10 through14 at six-over par in a decisive stretch that featured a triple-bogey on the 14th to drop him into a four-way tie for the lead at even par.  

Mosher’s pair of double bogeys at holes 16 and 17 plucked him out of contention to create a three-way tie for the top spot and an eventual playoff on the 16th hole to decide the winner. Badger, Lassman and Lucas Sturgeon of Saskatoon, Sask. each landed their tee shot on the par-three 16th green to open the playoff. The trio failed to make birdie, while Lassman separated himself as the winner with a par putt to claim the title.  

NextGen Western Championship – Advancing to 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship  

*Top 8 plus ties qualify  

NextGen Western Championship – Advancing to 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship  

*Top 8 plus qualify – won in playoff 

The NextGen Championship schedule continues to roll through western Canada with its next stop at The Legends Golf Club in Warman, Sask. for the playing of the NextGen Prairie Championship. The tournament will run June 13 – June 15 with a practice round preceding the action on June 12.  

For the final leaderboards from the NextGen Western Championship, please click here.    

About the NextGen Championships    
The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.    

Since 2024, PING Canada has significantly contributed to First Tee – Canada, helping introduce thousands of children to golf through programs delivered at golf courses, schools, and community organizations nationwide.

Launched in 2021 through a partnership between Golf Canada and First Tee, First Tee – Canada is a youth development program that provides life-enhancing experiences through golf for children from equity-deserving communities. Since its inception, the program has created inclusive and accessible pathways to the sport for more than 170,000 youth from coast to coast.

“PING Canada’s support is making a significant impact on Canadian golf,” said Adam Hunter, Executive Director, First Tee – Canada. “It has enabled us to expand programming into communities where it is needed most, introducing families—who may not have otherwise had the opportunity—to golf and its inherent values. Having an endemic golf brand invest in the future health of the sport in Canada is invaluable. We are immensely grateful.”

Thanks to PING Canada’s philanthropic support, First Tee – Canada has partnered with additional golf facilities, schools, and community organizations, providing the necessary equipment, training, and curriculum to offer the program to participants at no cost.

Participants, many of whom are new to golf, are gaining more than an introduction to the game. They are experiencing opportunities to build friendships and continue to learn life lessons like confidence, integrity and leadership, that extend far beyond the golf course.

“If and when possible, we believe every child should have the opportunity to play and grow through golf,” said Dave Wilson, General Manager, PING Canada. “It is exciting to be part of something that is helping shape the next generation—on and off the course.”

PING Canada has been a long-time supporter of junior golf and their continued support of First Tee – Canada is growing the game in meaningful ways.

For more information on First Tee – Canada’s efforts across the country, visit firstteecanada.ca.

156 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes in Belleville with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships up for grabs 

The road to the 2025 national junior championships continues with the NextGen Ontario Championship set to kick off on Thursday, May 8 at Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort in Belleville, Ont.  

156 players – 111 boys and 45 girls – will make up the starting field and have the option of participating in a practice round ahead of the tournament on Wednesday, May 7. The 54-hole stroke play event will get started on Thursday and run until Saturday, May 10 – where the field will be reduced to approximately 70 players. The top eight players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, taking place August 12-15, at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B. The top eight players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, August 13-16, at Sainte-Marie Club de golf in Sainte-Marie, Que. If a tie for eighth place in the Junior Boys division occurs, appropriate players will enter a playoff to determine the tournament’s final exemption.  

Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. carded rounds of 67 and 70 through his final 36 holes to clinch last season’s NextGen Ontario Championship at Firerock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont., and will begin his title defence on Thursday as the lone NextGen Team Canada member in the Junior Boys division. Bode Stephen of Kingston, Ont., who took home the NextGen Atlantic Championship last summer in a playoff will also compete in the Junior Boys division. 

Team Canada NextGen member Nobelle Park of Oakville, Ont. highlights the field from the Junior Girls division competing in Belleville. Park enjoyed a successful 2024 campaign, with 10 wins that included the top spot of the podium at the Canadian U15 National Championship last August at the Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont. 

Opening its doors in 2005, Black Bear Ridge Golf Course has hosted professional championships on the PGA Tour Canada and several provincial amateur events including the 101st playing of Golf Ontario’s Men’s Amateur Championship in 2023. Originally envisioned to be the home for his family hunting lodge, builder and designer Brian Magee was encouraged to transform the land’s rolling acreage into a golf hotbed by 18-time major champion and family friend, Jack Nicklaus.  

“Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort is honoured to host the NextGen Ontario Championship as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting junior golf and nurturing the next generation of Canadian talent,” said Cale Flair, Vice President of Black Bear Golf & Resort. “We’re proud to welcome these elite young players to experience everything that makes Black Bear Ridge special—from our championship-calibre layout to the warm, inclusive atmosphere our guests, members, and team help create.” 

Featuring a 628-yard par-5 and a terrain exceeding 5,100 yards in length, Black Bear Ridge demands length from players while rewarding the longest and most patient hitters able to navigate the neighboring bunkers and hazards on selective greens. Combining sport with outdoor recreation and luxury living options, the course provides an exceptional test of golf while serving to restore and inspire its guests on and off the tee box.  

“Our beautiful parkland layout with a tighter tree-lined front nine and more open back nine, with ample elevation changes and challenging water features, demands thoughtful strategy and discipline. Players will need to bring precision off the tee, a sharp short game, and steady composure across all three days to find success here. We’ve seen how Black Bear Ridge shapes strong, competitive golfers—and we’re excited to see who rises to the occasion this week,” added Flair.  

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Ontario Championship, click here  

About the NextGen Championships  

The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2025 national junior championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.  

Ridgeway, Ont. – Matt Scobie of Oshawa, Ont. birdied two of his final three holes at Cherry Hill Club in Ridgeway, Ont. to emphatically secure his spot in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.  

Destined for a playoff between clubhouse leaders Ellis Kinnaird of Carleton Place, Ont. and Brendan Leonard of Cambridge Ont., Scobie flipped the script entirely in his final holes to earn the exemption. 

“It’s really an amazing personal accomplishment,” said Scobie moments after seizing his exemption on the final hole. “It hasn’t set in yet. I’m very proud and very happy to be playing in our country’s Open,” he added. 

Walking off the 15th hole enduring a bogey and in a tie for fourth, Scobie rallied his game, nabbing birdies at the 16th and 18th and impressively making par on the 17th that became the toughest hole on the property throughout Tuesday’s round.  

Both Kinnaird and Leonard wrapped up their rounds with a portion of the clubhouse lead following a round of 70 at 1 p.m. and endured a series of legitimate pushes from the afternoon wave to try and throw a wrench in their plans for a playoff.  

Ryan Skae of Montvale, N.J. was the first member of the afternoon groupings to join the duo on Tuesday, immediately vaulting his name into contention with a trio of birdies through his first five holes to take the first solo lead of the afternoon. His ascension stalled on the 18th green however, making the turn with a bogey that led him to play his front nine at three-over par and finish his round of 72 with the Canadians still leading off the course.  

Grouped alongside Skae, Brody Burgess of Victor N.Y. pounced on his fellow countryman’s inability to tame Cherry Hill Club’s front nine, becoming the next player from the afternoon to jump into contention for the top spot of the qualifier. Burgess birdied the 18th, first and third holes, and looked primed to close out his round with a 69 and be the one to earn a direct exemption to the 2025 RBC Canadian Open. However, consecutive bogeys chased him off the course at holes eight and nine.  

Ultimately, Scobie – who was playing six holes behind the Americans during the afternoon’s constant lead changes on Tuesday – was the one with enough composure to claim the top spot, failing to following the trend that the course set for itself throughout the day and say otherwise.  

“I didn’t really leaderboard watch at all today,” mentioned Scobie. “I just stuck to my own game and worried about what I could control.” 

RBC Canadian Open – Ont. Regional Qualifier Results: 

For the full leaderboard from Monday’s action at Cherry Hill Club, please click here. 

The top 10 per cent of Tuesday’s finishers (excluding Scobie, the low medalist) advanced to the final qualifier ahead of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, set to be contested at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont. on Sunday, June 1.   

All winners (low medalists) at regional qualifying sites surpassing a field size of 120 players are awarded a direct exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and will compete alongside the game’s best at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. from June 4-8.   

Players around the country will have three additional opportunities to punch their ticket into Canada’s Men’s National Open, as well as the Monday Qualifier on June 1, with regional qualifiers continuing on Thursday, May 8 at Squamish Valley Golf Club in Squamish, B.C.  

The final field for June’s Monday Qualifier will be confirmed later in the month, with the final two regional qualifiers being contested at Sundre Golf Club in Sundre, Alta. and Golf Griffon des Sources in Mirabel, Que. on Wednesday, May 21.   

Brampton, Ont. – Team Canada alumnus Cougar Collins of Mono, Ont. took advantage of favourable morning conditions at Monday’s opening Regional Qualifier to book his spot in the 2025 RBC Canadian Open.  

A former member of Team Canada’s Men’s Amateur Squad in 2020 and 2021, Collins carded a 65 at Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont. on Monday to take the clubhouse lead at six-under par. Finishing his round just after 1 p.m. local time, Collins was forced to wait nearly six hours before being declared the event’s official winner, a feat he was more than happy to hold out for with brief periods of rain weaponizing the course shortly before the final group teed off at 2:01 p.m. local time.  

Finishing in a tie for sixth at last year’s Monday Qualifier and unsuccessful in his attempt to earn a place in the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., Collins put any doubts of being in the 2025 field to rest with his prevailing victory Monday.  

He will get set to take on the North course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont., a destination not far from his hometown of Mono, Ont., when action begins on June 4.  

“It’s actually my home course so it’s really freaking cool,” commented an elated Collins following his win. “I’ve wanted to play in the Canadian Open since I started golfing. Obviously, this is like our major championship if you will, for Canada, so I’m pretty pumped to be playing in it.” 

Collins rode a hot start on Monday to perch himself atop the leaderboards, carding birdies at holes one, six, seven and nine to make the turn with a field-best score of 33. He then navigated the first four holes of his back nine at even-par before separating further from the morning wave with consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th to shoot himself up to six-under par.  

A double bogey at the par-3 16th erased all of his momentum on the back nine, however, the scare was only temporary after Collins found redemption on the 17th with an eagle to maintain his distance over his chasers.  

“I was pretty steady all day until I came up onto 16 and hit it in the water,” said Collins. “I was mad, but I got over it pretty quickly and I’m glad I was able to bounce back and make eagle on 17.” 

Several other players from the morning wave capitalized on fair conditions to secure exemption into the final qualifier, including current Team Canada NextGen members, Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. and Antoine Jasmin of Blainville, Que. The two played alongside Collins throughout the day and carded rounds of 68 and 71 respectively.  

“I thought both of them had great games,” praised Collins of his two playing partners, Pain and Jasmin. “I’m sure they’re going to play very well in college,” he added. 

RBC Canadian Open – Ont. Regional Qualifier Results: 

For the full leaderboard from Monday’s action at Brampton Golf Club, please click here.   

The top 10 per cent of Monday’s finishers (excluding Collins, the low medalist) advanced to the final qualifier ahead of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, set to be contested at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont. on Sunday, June 1.  

All winners (low medalists) at regional qualifying sites surpassing a field size of 120 players are awarded a direct exemption into the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and will compete alongside the game’s best at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. from June 4-8.  

Players around the country will have four additional opportunities to punch their ticket into Canada’s Men’s National Open, as well as the Monday Qualifier on June 1, with regional qualifiers continuing on Tuesday, May 6 at Cherry Hill Club in Ridgeway, Ont.  

Squamish Valley Golf Club in Squamish, B.C. will host the following Regional Qualifier on Thursday, May 8 before wrapping up play later in the month with a pair of regional qualifiers contested at Sundre Golf Club in Sundre, Alta. and Golf Griffon des Sources in Mirabel, Que. on Wednesday, May 21.  

Abbotsford B.C. – Yanling (Elaine) Liu of Vancouver, B.C. put the finishing touches on her wire-to-wire victory on Sunday while Maxim McKenzie of Chilliwack, B.C. secured a come-from-behind win to each take the 2025 NextGen Pacific Championship at Ledgeview Golf Club in Abbotsford, B.C.  

Buoyed by a three-under 33 during Friday’s opening nine, Liu didn’t take her foot off the gas over the weekend, firing rounds of 68-69-70 to finish seven strokes better than her closest chaser, Amy Seung Heung Lee of Surrey, B.C.  

“I try my best to just stay in my own bubble and not think about it… I’m really proud of myself for trying to stay in my own bubble and not let other distractions get to me,” said Liu following her final round.  

Liu kept her composure on Sunday to claim an exemption into the 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship set to take place Aug 16-18 at Club de golf Sainte-Marie in Sainte-Marie, Que.  

After posting birdie at the difficult par-3 second, Liu flipped her name into red figures, before dropping back to even-par on her round with bogey at the fifth. The blemish went on to be just one of two mistakes Liu made in her final round on Sunday, playing the next 12 holes at one-under par despite finishing with bogey on 18.  

Liu used the word “meaningful” to describe what Sunday’s victory meant to her. Committed to taking her talents to the university level in a year’s time, Liu has eyes on grabbing more victories as a junior golfer in the near future.  

“Playing events like Golf Canada really affect me,” said Liu. “Ledgeview is a wonderful golf course and when I look back [on today] I won’t have any regrets.”  

The margin of victory was much slimmer in the Junior Boys division however, with McKenzie battling Manpreet Lalh of Nanaimo, B.C. for the title in the final pairing. The two British Columbians took turns with the lead despite Lalh sitting in a tie for first place alongside Team Canada NextGen member Austin Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C. when the day began.  

Starting his final round at even-par and two strokes behind the co-leaders, McKenzie vaulted all the way up the leaderboard with three birdies in his first five holes to lead Lahl by two strokes after the latter stalled out with an early bogey on the fifth hole.  

Meanwhile, Krahn, who also teed off in the final group, was unable to build around the 66 he carded in the second round, following a pair of bogeys on the front nine. The opening allowed Lalh to make a move on the back nine, grabbing a birdie at the 11th to move into solo first before being derailed by bogeys at holes 12 and 14.  

McKenzie definitively capitalized on his playing partners’ miscues with a timely birdie at the par-4 13th to regain his two-stroke lead. The back nine separated McKenzie from his chasers on Sunday to secure his first win in the NextGen Championship series, playing six of the nine hardest holes on the property at one-under par and taking advantage of the tournament’s most scorable conditions.  

“It means a lot to me,” commented McKenzie on his win Sunday at his home course. “All the hard work I put is paying off so just keep doing what I’m doing. Coming from behind is obviously great,” he added.  

The win is a long time coming for McKenzie at his home NextGen Championship after finishing back-to-back years in the top ten of the leaderboards including a T3 finish in 2024 at Summerland Golf & Country Club in Summerland, B.C. His final round four-under 66 is his best performance at the tournament and grants him automatic exemption into the 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship set to take place Aug 11-15 at Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club in Bathurst, N.B.  

“I knew I was close,” said McKenzie. “Actually, getting it done last year, coming in third, getting the win this week is pretty big in the right direction.”  

NextGen Pacific Championship – Advancing to 2025 Canadian Junior Boys Championship 

*Top 8 qualify 

NextGen Pacific Championship – Advancing to 2025 Canadian Junior Girls Championship 

*Top 8 plus ties qualify 

The circuit continues next week at Black Bear Ridge Golf & Resort in Belleville, Ont. for the playing of the NextGen Ontario Championship. Practice rounds will get underway on Wednesday, May 7, followed by 54-holes of golf set to kick off on Thursday May 8 and wrap up on Saturday, May 10.  

For the final leaderboards from the NextGen Pacific Championship, please click here.  

About the NextGen Championships  
The NextGen Championships are a high-performance junior golf series which totals six competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2024 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.  

Houston, Texas – Golf Canada and the United States Golf Association (USGA) wrapped up their two-day international friendly match play event over the weekend at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas. The U.S. National Junior Team emerged victorious by a 16-8 point total.

Team Canada – NextGen was led by Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont., Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. who all earned three points for the team from their three matches. Antoine Jasmin of Blainville, Que. also earned two points from three matches and Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. won her individual match on Sunday to also earn a point for Team Canada – NextGen.

“We are very proud of our team from their performances on the course and representing Golf Canada off the course as well,” said Darcy Dhillon, Coach, Team Canada – NextGen Boys. “We are very appreciative of our friends at the USGA for hosting us and providing our team the opportunity to play in more competitive events early in the season. This was a great experience for everyone involved and we look forward to more collaborative opportunities in the future.”

The two-day event featured 12 players (six girls and six boys) representing each team in a mixed competition that was World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) sanctioned. The match play format consisted of mixed Foursome team matches and mixed Four-Ball team matches on Saturday with individual single matches to close the event on Sunday.

The Team Canada – NextGen squad featured 10 current members of the High-Performance program. Two additional U17 players were selected on the boys’ side to round out the team. The roster for the event included:

BOYS

Charlie Gillespie – 18, Calgary, Alta.

Antoine Jasmin – 19, Blainville, Que.

Austin Krahn – 17, Christina Lake, B.C.

*Dawson Lew – 15, Toronto, Ont.

Jager Pain – 16, Woodbridge, Ont.

*Alex Zhang – 16, Richmond, B.C.

Coaches: Darcy Dhillon – Calgary, Alta., Dr. Charles Fitsimmons (Mental Performance Coach) – King City, Ont.

*- denotes selected player

GIRLS

Aphrodite Deng – 15, Calgary, Alta.

Clara Ding – 14, White Rock, B.C.

Shauna Liu – 16, Maple, Ont.

Eileen Park – 15, Red Deer, Alta.

Nobelle Park – 15, Oakville, Ont.

Michelle Xing – 16, Richmond Hill, Ont.

Coaches: Jeff MacDonald – Halifax, N.S., Jennifer Ha – Calgary, Alta.

For more information on Team Canada, please click here.

In addition to the match play competition, there was joint team dinner following practice rounds on Friday and a closing awards ceremony following play on Sunday.

For the full results from the international friendly, please click here.

Oakville, ON – Golf Canada and the United States Golf Association (USGA) announced today that the Team Canada – NextGen program and the U.S. National Junior Team will compete in a two-day international friendly match play event, April 12-13 at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.

The event will feature 12 players (six girls and six boys) representing each team in a mixed competition that will be World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) sanctioned. The match play format will be as follows:

Saturday, April 12: Foursome Team matches (a.m.) and Four-Ball Team matches (p.m.)

Sunday, April 13: Individual Single matches

“We are excited for our young Canadian athletes to participate in this match play event and give these talented aspiring players another opportunity to compete internationally. We have seen great success with our NextGen players over the past couple years, especially at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship and these matches provide great experience to continue to learn and grow,” said Jeff MacDonald, head coach of the Team Canada – NextGen Girls team. “We also want to extend our thanks to the USGA, as these unique matches help to strengthen an already strong relationship between our two national golf federations.”

The Team Canada – NextGen squad will feature 10 current members of the High-Performance program. Two additional U17 players were selected on the boys’ side to round out the team. The roster for the event will include:

BOYS

Charlie Gillespie – 18, Calgary, Alta.

Antoine Jasmin – 19, Blainville, Que.

Austin Krahn – 17, Christina Lake, B.C.

*Dawson Lew – 15, Toronto, Ont.

Jager Pain – 16, Woodbridge, Ont.

*Alex Zhang – 16, Richmond, B.C.

Coaches: Darcy Dhillon – Calgary, Alta., Dr. Charles Fitsimmons (Mental Performance Coach) – King City, Ont.

*- denotes selected player

GIRLS

Aphrodite Deng – 15, Calgary, Alta.

Clara Ding – 14, White Rock, B.C.

Shauna Liu – 16, Maple, Ont.

Eileen Park – 15, Red Deer, Alta.

Nobelle Park – 15, Oakville, Ont.

Michelle Xing – 16, Richmond Hill, Ont.

Coaches: Jeff MacDonald – Halifax, N.S., Jennifer Ha – Calgary, Alta.

For more information on Team Canada, please click here.

Team USA will be comprised of:

BOYS
Ronin Banerjee – 16, Irvine, Calif.

Luke Colton – 17, Frisco, Texas

Phillip Dunham – 17, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Trevor Gutschewski – 17, Omaha, Neb.

Will Hartman – 18, Marvin, N.C.

Tyler Mawhinney – 17, Fleming Island, Fla. (2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion)

GIRLS

Shyla Brown – 16, McKinney, Texas

Ryleigh Knaub – 18, DeBary, Fla.

Jude Lee – 17, Walnut, Calif.

Nikki Oh – 17, Torrance, Calif.

Scarlett Schremmer – 18, Birmingham, Ala.

Amelie Zalsman – 16, St. Petersburg, Fla.

For more information of the U.S. roster, please click here.

“Team match play has long been an important part of international competition and introducing our nation’s top junior talent to these formats, competitive situations and championship level courses early in their development is crucial to building confidence and preparing them for success on the game’s biggest stages,” said Chris Zambri, head coach of the U.S. National Teams. “We’re thankful to partner with Golf Canada on this initiative in support of friendly competition and development for all of our athletes.”

Champions Golf Club was founded in 1957 by World Golf Hall of Fame members and past Masters champions, Jack Burke Jr. and Jimmy Demaret. The Cypress Creek course opened in 1959 and five years later the Jackrabbit course was built. Champions Golf Club has hosted numerous events including the Ryder Cup (1967), U.S. Open (1969), U.S. Amateur (1993), The TOUR Championship (1990, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003) and the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open.

In addition to the match play competition, there will be a joint team dinner following practice rounds on Friday, April 11 and a closing awards ceremony following play on Sunday, April 13.

Canada well represented at Masters Tournament, Augusta National Women’s Amateur and
Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals

As the calendar turns to April, golf fans worldwide focus their attention on Augusta, Ga. to celebrate a tradition unlike any other and watch in anticipation as to who will be next to don the iconic green jacket.

Canada will be well represented at the 89th Masters Tournament with four Canadians currently set to compete including past Masters champion, Mike Weir (Bright’s Grove, Ont.), Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and 2023 RBC Canadian Open winner, Nick Taylor (Abbotsford, B.C.).

Weir will be competing in his 26th Masters Tournament. His iconic win in 2003 was secured on the first playoff hole at Augusta National Golf Club to beat Len Mattiace and become the first Canadian Masters champion and the first Canadian male golfer to win a major.

Conners, who will be competing in his eighth Masters Tournament including 2015 as an amateur, had three consecutive top 10 finishes between 2020 and 2022, with his best finish, T6 coming in 2022. Taylor will be making his third appearance at the Masters, his best finish was T29 in 2020, while Pendrith will be making his Masters debut.

Also returning to Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta National) is Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club’s superintendent, Eric Ruhs, who has been volunteering with the Augusta National Agronomy department since 2014. Ruhs has been the superintendent at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club since 1987 and was honoured as the 2023 Superintendent of the Year by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.

Lauren Kim set to compete in second consecutive Augusta National Women’s Amateur

Before the Masters Tournament kicks off, Augusta National will host the sixth annual Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA), from April 2-5.

Team Canada member, Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. will be competing at her second consecutive ANWA, looking to build on last year’s T14 finish. Kim is currently a sophomore at the University of Texas where she has enjoyed a great deal of success throughout her season. She claimed her second collegiate title at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and has three additional third place finishes along with a top-five and a top-six.

The ANWA features a field of 72 amateurs competing over 54 holes of stroke play with a cut following 36 holes. The opening rounds will be contested at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. on Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3. The top 30 players and ties will advance to the final round at Augusta National on Saturday, April 5. The entire field will play a practice round there one day prior on Friday.

The first two rounds of the ANWA will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET. NBC will air the final round on April 5 from Noon – 3:00 p.m. ET.

For more information on the ANWA including the full field, click here.

Three Canadians set to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals in Augusta

Following the ANWA, the 11th annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals will be contested on Sunday, April 6 at Augusta National.

Three Canadians will be among the 80 qualified junior golfers that have earned invitations to compete in Augusta. They are:

Allen Kong from Vancouver, B.C. who will be competing in the Boys 7-9 division. Kong earned his spot through a regional qualifying event at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wa., where he gained 133 points, fourth highest in his division among other national final competitors.

Jenny Guo of Langley, B.C. will be competing in the Girls 12-13 division. Guo recorded 143 points at her regional qualifying event at Chambers Bay, where her total was the second highest among other national finalists in the division. Guo also finished second at the inaugural Canadian U15 Championship last August at the Elmira Golf Club in Elmira, Ont.

Riviera Lindholm of Toronto, Ont. will also be competing in the Girls 12-13 Division. Lindholm earned her qualification at a regional event at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa. where she totaled 150 points, the highest total among national finalists in her division. Last season, Lindholm earned a T4 finish at the Canadian U15 Championship and placed second at the 2024 Junior Skills Challenge National Event in the Girls 12-13 division.

Canadians have enjoyed past success at the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, with three current Team Canada members having previously won their respective divisions. LPGA Tour member Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont. won the Girls 14-15 division in 2017. Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. won the Girls 10-11 division in 2018 and Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont. won the Girls 14-15 division in 2019. Fellow Canadian Alexis Card of Cambridge, Ont. won the Girls 7-9 division in 2021.

Drive, Chip and Putt is conducted in partnership with the USGA, the Masters Tournament and the PGA of America and is a free youth golf development program. The competition tests the skills of the game, measuring accuracy in driving, chipping and putting. Each competitor is scored on a 30-point system – the player with the best drive is awarded 10 points, the closest cumulative chips, 10 points and the player with nearest cumulative putts, another 10 points. The player with the highest total combined score will be named the winner from each age and gender division.

For more information on the 2025 national finalists and regional qualifying results, please click here. For more information on Drive, Chip and Putt, please click here