NORTHERN IRELAND, U.K. – Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad is ramping up to take on the strong international field at the 112^th Ladies’ British Amateur from Jun. 9–13 at the Portstewart Golf Club.

The format consists of two stroke-play qualifying rounds, followed by sudden-death match-play for the top 64 participants. The 18-hole finale will take place Saturday morning.

All members of Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad will fly the flag at Portstewart. Elizabeth Tong (Thornhill, Ont.) drew the earliest tee-off for the Canucks, slated to kick things off at 1:16 p.m. BST. Maddie Szeryk, a dual-citizen of Canada and the U.S. is next in line, drawing the 2:11 p.m. slot. Team Canada veterans Jennifer Ha (Calgary) and Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) tee-it-up at 2:44 p.m. and 3:06 p.m. respectively.

Marchand, 22, is the only member of the team to have played in the event before—she made it to the round of 32 back in 2012.

The Canadian quartet will have the luck of the Irish on their side, provided by Head Coach and hometown Irish native, Tristan Mullally.

“We’re very excited to be playing in this event—the course is in great shape and although the conditions are unfamiliar to the girls they have prepared very well,” said the PGA of Canada class ‘A’ member. “It’s a special for me being back in my home country, but I’m here to help the girls play the best they can and that’s where our focus is.”

Live scoring will be available here.

CN and Golf Canada announced the continuation of CN’s school adoption program this year in Kamloops as an extension of their dedication to junior golf through the CN Future Links Community Tour.

Close to 50 students from both Sk’elep School of Excellence and Pinantan Lake Elementary celebrated with a CN Future Links Field Trip event on Friday, June 5^th at Mount Paul Golf Course in honour of CN’s recent adoption of 15 local schools in the Kamloops region. Students received lessons in safety, putting, driving and chipping from Head Professional, Danny Latten.

As part of CN’s focus towards safety, each of the 15 adopted schools will receive an all-encompassing rail safety demonstration from CN’s partner, Operation Lifesaver, a national organization dedicated to keeping Canadian kids and the public safe around all rail tracks .

“Junior golf is a perfect fit for our focus on health and safety within our physical education curriculum,” said Denise Harper, Chair of the Board of Education for Kamloops District No. 73. “Our school board is very thankful to have the opportunity to introduce the sport and its life-long lessons to our students for many years to come.”

The celebration at Mount Paul marks 135 schools adopted by CN since 2013, reinforcing their vision of helping communities share in the health and safety values associated with junior golf. The Kamloops region was also the first of three communities visited in 2015 by the CN Future Links Community Tour, a nation-wide event that brings the values of junior golf to regions across Canada.

“CN is proud to extend our support of junior golf to Canadian students through the school adoption program,” said Claude Mongeau, CN President and Chief Executive Officer. “Kamloops is an important operations centre on CN’s network and we are very pleased to share the CN Future Links Community Tour experience with the community.”

The first Community Tour event of 2015 touched down the following day (Jun. 6) in the heart of Kamloops at The Bandshell at Riverside Park, engaging community youth and attendees in various golf activities in addition to rail safety tips from CN Police.

“CN continues to move the needle in terms of initiating creative ways to expose golf to Canada’s youth,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “The Community Tour is a very exciting national initiative for introducing golf in fun, community-based festival environments across the country—an engaging method of taking the sport directly to youth.”

Current CN Future Links programming includes the Learn to Play program as well as mobile clinics, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club, Field Trip and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools.

In 2014, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 455 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge running more than 3,200 juniors through qualifying events. More than 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006, more than 1.2 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

LEWISTON, N.Y. – Ana Paula Valdes, a native of Morelia, Mexico, surged in the final round of play at the Women’s Porter Cup to edge out Canadian Christina Foster of Concord, Ont., for the one-stroke victory on Friday.

Valdes, a Clemson University commit, fired a 6-under 65 for the low-round of the 54-hole event, finishing at 8-under par to end the second-round leading Foster’s bid to keep the title north of the border (Brooke Henderson won in 2014).

The tournament boasted a strong showing of Canadians atop the leaderboard with four Canucks inside the top-10. Trailing runner-up Foster was St-Georges-de-Beauce, Qué., native and Kent State senior, Josée Doyon, who finished in third place at 2-under par.

Next in line were Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) and Jennifer Ha (Calgary)—both members of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad—who finished T4 and sixth, respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 was Development Squad member Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C. The N.C. State commit finished in a tie for seventh at 1-over par for the tournament (71-71-72).

This was the third annual Women’s Porter Cup, which runs as the sister event to the men’s tournament, taking place at the end of July.

Click here for full scoring.

@portercup @GolfCanada it’s a wrap #greatevent #thankyou pic.twitter.com/17rb3CV7v1

— ann carroll (@AnnAnncarroll) June 5, 2015

Relentless rain in Chase, B.C., on Thursday forced the 2015 British Columbia Golf Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master Championship to be shortened to a 36-hole competition.

After the final round of play at Talking Rock Golf Club was cancelled due to the weather conditions, Jordan Belton was crowned the British Columbia Mid-Amateur Champion and Lance Lundy was awarded the Mid-Master title.

“The course was unplayable. There was excessive water in the fairways,” said Susan White, Senior Manager, Field Operations for British Columbia Golf. “To have played would have not been good for the course or the players.”

White and her tournament team surveyed the course just before 6 a.m. and deemed it unplayable shortly after. The respective leaders were then awarded their provincial titles at a presentation ceremony Thursday morning.

The British Columbia Mid-Amateur is for players aged 25 and older while the Mid-Master is for players aged 40 and older.

The Vancouver Golf Club’s Jordan Belton won the Mid-Amateur title and the Hans Swinton Trophy, with a score of 1-over-par 143. Two strokes behind, in a tie for second place were Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club’s Patrick Weeks and Tobiano Golf Club’s Adam Kernan.

Big Sky Golf’s Lance Lundy won the Mid-Master title, with a winning score of 2-over-par 146 besting Fraser Valley Zone 3’s Mark Heinrich and Point Grey Golf & Country Club’s James Decker by one stroke.

The team comprising of Belton, Weeks and Kernan will represent British Columbia at the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being held Aug. 25-28 at the Abercrombie Golf Club in New Glasgow, N.S.

“It’s not the way you ever want to win, but I’ll take it,” said Belton. “A win’s a win. It feels good.”

Belton, who was playing his second Mid-Amateur after finishing 12th last year, credited his trainer, Nick Mueller of Innovative Fitness for helping him to get into better shape. He joined the Vancouver Golf Club giving him the opportunity to play a lot more golf.

“Nick has really worked with me and in the last year, I’ve been out playing about twice a week,” said Belton, who works in the financial investments industry. “My wife started a home décor business and that’s given me more time to golf. It’s also great that with my work, I have the flexibility to get out and golf with clients and mingle with prospective clients.”

Lance Lundy also had mixed feelings about winning the Mid-Master after the final round cancellation.

“It’s unfortunate we weren’t able to play the final round,” said Lundy. “I knew there was a lot of standing water yesterday and with all the rain that’s come down since, there wasn’t much more the course could take. Nobody likes to win like this, but you take what you’re given. It would have been nice to have the opportunity to make a move toward winning the Mid-Am, but it was fun coming out to play with the guys and give these young guys a run for their money.”

There was also a “Best-Ball Competition” where players may make up their own 2-man teams from the field. This championship is a best-ball conducted over 54-holes but was also shortened due to the weather conditions.

The winners of the Best-Ball Competition were Norm Bradley and Lance Lundy. In second place was the team of Daniel Brown and Bryan Toth and in third place were Tyson Burch and Jay Snyder.

The 2016 British Columbia Golf Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master will be contested at the Nanaimo Golf Club in Naniamo, B.C.

For full results from the 2015 British Columbia Golf Mid-Am and Mid-Master, please click here.

BRADENTON, Fla. – Ben Taylor made a tricky 8-foot par putt on the 18th hole Wednesday to give LSU its first NCAA golf championship in 60 years.

The Tigers beat Southern California 4-1 at The Concession Golf Club for their fifth team title and first since 1955.

“To finally get it done is something very special.” LSU coach Chuck Winstead said. “We played and lost to a very good Alabama team last year that won the national championship. It’s more than golf for them, because I’m proud of them as golfers and as men.”

After Taylor holed the putt for a 1-up victory over Bobby Gojuangco, he dropped his putter and embraced teammates who raced up the fairway to the final green.

“The first (putt) was up the slope and very quick, and I didn’t even get it anywhere near the hole on that putt,” Taylor said. “Then I had an 8-foot putt, down grain and hill. Coach always says to hit the last putt, it’s just one more putt. When I hit it, I knew it was going in the hole without a doubt.”

Taylor, from England, helped Nova Southeastern win the 2012 Division II title before transferring to LSU.

“It was a very special moment to end my college career with a putt to win a national championship,” Taylor said.

Brandon Pierce got LSU on the board, beating Rico Hoey 2 and 1. Zach Wright extended his record to 5-0, topping Sean Crocker 3 and 2. Eric Ricard beat Jonah Texeira 1 and 2.

Eric Sugimoto accounted for Southern California’s lone point, beating Stewart Jolly 1 and 2.

“I’ll remember this for the rest of my life,” Sugimoto said. “It’s bittersweet college golf ending, and besides not winning it all today, I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Southern California missed a chance for its first team title.

“Second place is way better than third,” Trojans coach Chris Zambri said. “In the end, where we are, that’s how we’re measured, so I’m pretty bummed. You’ve got to play great and survive, so when you get (to the final), you want to get it done. Again, second beats third, fourth, dead last by a mile, yet we still haven’t won a national title and that’s a bummer.”

On Monday, SMU’s Bryson DeChambeau won the individual title.

Golf Canada in partnership with title sponsor CN announced today that the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event will be hosted at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. on Saturday, July 18^th leading into the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

Now in its seventh season, the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event brings together Canada’s 24 top-scoring juniors in a competition that showcases putting, chipping, iron and driving skills on the national stage.

Delivered by Golf Canada in partnership with the PGA of Canada, CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenges are conducted throughout the year by facilities running CN Future Links programming across Canada. Scores from each Junior Skills Challenge are submitted online to a national leaderboard, from which top qualifiers are selected prior to the June 22^nd deadline. Participants from six different age groups will be invited as follows:

• Girls 11 and under (5 players)
• Boys 11 and under (5 players)
• Girls 12 to 14 (4 players)
• Boys 12 to 14 (4 players)
• Girls 15 to 18 (3 players)
• Boys 15 to 18 (3 players)

For Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Jeff Thompson, hosting the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge leading into the RBC Canadian Open will bring a heightened level of excitement for juniors looking to qualify for the National Event.

“CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge is an exciting platform to motivate junior golfers to want to improve both personally and against their peers across four fundamentally important areas of golf skill development,” said Thompson. “We are excited to host the National Event this year on the same grounds as the RBC Canadian Open just days before PGA TOUR stars vie for our National Open title.”

The winners of the CN Future Links Skills Challenge National Event in the boys and girls 15-18 age groups will receive an exemption into their local CN Future Links Championship in 2016. All other attending participants of the CN Future Links Junior Skills National Event will receive prizing courtesy of Titleist Footjoy.

“The CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge is an excellent part of the entire CN Future Links suite of programs, of which PGA of Canada members are proud leaders in the delivery in the program,” said Gary Bernard, PGA of Canada CEO. “The partnership between the PGA of Canada and Golf Canada continues to grow, thus ensuring the continued growth of developing world-class programs for golf in this country.”

To celebrate the event being hosted for the first time leading into the RBC Canadian Open, junior participants will also have the opportunity to test the storied Glen Abbey layout in an exciting match play format on Sunday, July 19^th prior to tournament week. Following that, junior participants will be provided weekly grounds passes and have an opportunity to be involved in Monday’s Pro-Am and secure a spot in Wednesday’s CN Future Links Walk with a Pro event during the Wednesday Pro-Am.

The Junior Skills Challenge is one of many program elements from the CN Future Links family of programming, dedicated to promoting the active, health and safety values of golf.

Current CN Future Links programming includes the Learn to Play program as well as mobile clinics, PGA Jr. League, Girls Club, Field Trip and the CN Future Links Championships. As part of its investment in Canadian junior golf, CN is also a proud supporter of Golf in Schools.

In 2014, CN Future Links junior golf activities were conducted at 455 golf facilities with more than 7,000 juniors registered in the Learn to Play program. In addition, 160 golf facilities took part in the Junior Skills Challenge running more than 3,200 juniors through qualifying events. More than 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 2006, more than 1.2 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

To learn more about how to qualify for the 2015 CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event, click here.

“Initially, we simply wanted to get more women involved in golf. We knew that there was about a 3:1 participation difference in men and women playing the game, and we felt the need to create a platform specifically for women that would be appealing and motivate more of them to play. So out of that, Golf Fore the Cure was born.” – Jeff Thompson, Chief Sport Officer, Golf Canada

That was 12 years ago. In 2006, Golf Canada partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society to support the Society’s fight against breast cancer. Since then, Golf Fore the Cure has become Golf Canada’s signature charity event, raising over $4 million for the Society’s breast cancer research and support programs. From east to west and as far north as the Northwest Territories, thousands of female golfers have been making a huge difference in the lives of Canadians affected by breast cancer, one round at a time.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Golf Canada’s partnership with the Society and, as in previous years, the company expects to see more women participating in the program.

“While the philanthropic focus of the program underpins its success, we haven’t lost sight of the goal of getting more women to play golf,” says Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “In fact, more women playing translates into even more funds generated for breast cancer research, awareness and support. This year, our goal is for 14,000 women to raise $500,000. Ten years championing such a worthy cause is quite remarkable. It also says a lot about the mutuality of the relationship we share with the Canadian Cancer Society. And, of course, the support of Subaru as presenting sponsor of the program cannot be overstated. Subaru is as passionate about health and well-being as both Golf Canada and the Society are. And so seeing an alignment in terms of shared values, they ‘came out swinging’ from the outset.”

Golf Fore the Cure has grown from just over 50 events in 2006 to nearly 180 in 2014. Each year, site coordinators invest many hours in planning, coordinating and hosting local golf events. Eleanor Rudd, of Southside Golf Course in Manitoba, speaks fondly of her experience as a Golf Fore the Cure site coordinator. “It’s fun and inspiring and a wonderful opportunity to do something good for others. You get to reconnect with old friends, meet new ones and have a good time golfing and raising money for a cause that is dear to so many women. It’s a lot of work to plan and run an event but Golf Canada makes it easy by providing all the tools you need to be successful.”

While the women who participate get involved for various reasons, they share a common goal of defeating breast cancer. Their hard work and dedication has had a tremendous impact on the scientific world and on the lives of thousands of Canadian women, their families, friends and caregivers in communities across Canada. Take, for example, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer, which today stands at 88%. This is a significant improvement over survival rates in the 1980s of just over 70%.

While we celebrate this achievement, some types of the disease – such as triple negative breast cancer – remain hard to treat. Dr Shawn Li, of Western University in London, Ontario, is studying ways to overcome chemotherapy resistance in women with triple negative breast cancer. His work, funded by the Society, could lead to better outcomes for these women.

“I’m extremely grateful to the Canadian Cancer Society for funding my research with an Innovation Grant,” says Dr Li. “While, in general, survival rates for breast cancer are high, it’s important to focus on a breast cancer that is more difficult to treat and affects many young women.”

Golf Canada – and all the women who’ve made Golf Fore the Cure the success it is each year – can be proud of their invaluable contribution to the advancements made in breast cancer research.

But the story doesn’t end there. Breast cancer survivors, like Catherine Coulson, can attest to the Society’s community support programs, which provide the help and encouragement needed to cope with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Catherine shared her story at the 2013 Golf Fore the Cure National Event. “My cancer journey started after I found a lump in my breast. This was followed by biopsy, surgery and 6 months of chemotherapy. I was scared. I didn’t know where to turn. When I was in the hospital recovering from my surgery, one of the nurses asked me if I would like a visit from a volunteer from the Canadian Cancer Society. She said they have a program called Reach to Recovery and a volunteer who was a breast cancer survivor would come to visit me if I wanted. I jumped at the opportunity. I couldn’t remember knowing anyone who had ‘survived’ cancer!”

“My Reach to Recovery volunteer came to my home and brought me a care package of a couple of temporary prostheses, a little cushion for under my arm where nodes had been removed and some exercises for me to practise. She told me about her journey and that she was cancer-free for 7 years! Slowly, it dawned on me that I too could be a survivor.”

Programs like the Peer Support Service, Community Services Locator, Cancer Information Service and transportation and wig programs offer physical, psychological and emotional support for people along their cancer journey.

Pamela Fralick, the Society’s President and CEO, captures the essence of the Golf Canada-Canadian Cancer Society partnership.

“We cannot fulfil our mission without funding from supporters like Golf Canada, but our partnership extends far beyond the dollars. It’s about building awareness and empowering Canadian women. It’s about changing lives and attitudes. We are thrilled that Golf Canada came alongside us, and 10 years later the Golf Fore the Cure program is still gaining momentum.”

“It’s a winning strategy for both Golf Canada and the Society – one that we’re extremely proud of and tremendously grateful for. So, thank you Golf Canada for sharing our vision and having the foresight to step forward. Thank you to every site coordinator for their labour of love in dedicating time and effort to host an event. Thanks to every golfer for every round played these 10 years and for mobilizing your network of family, friends and acquaintances to donate to this worthy cause. And, of course, to lead sponsor – Subaru – whose investment in the program each year makes it all possible.”

You too can get involved and organize your own Golf Fore the Cure event to support the fight against breast cancer. Contact gftc@golfcanada.ca.

All funds raised through Golf Fore the Cure in Québec are donated to the Québec Breast Cancer Foundation

TORONTO – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Golf Canada have announced the four athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26.

The Canadian athletes nominated by Golf Canada for the Pan Am golf competition – which runs July 16-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. – were determined based on selection criteria and world ranking as of May 15, 2015.

On the women’s side, 17-year-old former world number one amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has accepted selection to the Pan Am golf team and will be joined by four-time LPGA Tour winner Lorie Kane of Charlottetown.

The men’s team will be comprised of 18-year-old Austin Connelly who resides in, Irving Texas, currently the 10th ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings along with reigning Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.

Golf Canada’s National Women’s Team Head Coach Tristan Mullally of Straffan, Ireland along with National Men’s Team Head Coach Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man will serve as coaches for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.

Selection criteria among those considered for the Canadian Pan Am Golf Team was based on competitive standing inside the top-500 on the World Golf Ranking for professional golfers as well as competitive standing inside the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of May 15, 2015. Players that met the selection criteria had until April 28, 2015 to notify Golf Canada of their interest in being considered for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.

The field for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Competition will include 32 women and 32 men competing in a women’s individual, men’s individual and mixed team competition (low female and male score combined).

The Pan Am Games will be a historic event for Canadian golf as the sport will be included for the first time ever as part of the multi-sport Pan Am Games. In 2016, the sport of golf makes its celebrated return to the Olympic sport program for the first time since Canadian George S. Lyon won gold at the 1904 Olympic Games.

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with over 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “Home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.

QUOTES
“Canada is proud to be hosting the first-ever Pan Am Games where golf is on the program. This is a fantastic opportunity for our talented golfers to showcase their ability to the Americas with a home soil advantage. Congratulations to all those who made it onto the team.”
– Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

“I am incredibly excited for our Canadian golfers to be a part of Pan Am Games history. I am totally confident that this group will re-ignite Canadian success in multi-sport games after George Lyon’s gold medal in 1904. Congratulations to all of the golfers named to the team, I can’t wait to see you all tee off.”
– Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“We are very excited about the composition of our team for the Pan Am Games and feel confident that they will be very competitive with the field in this event. Lorie and Brooke representing Canada provide a great combination of both youth and experience while Garrett and Austin are two of the top amateurs in the world and will give Canada a great chance over the four days of competition.”
– Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer

“It’s an honour to be selected to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games. In a short time with the national team program I’ve been able to take advantage of great opportunities and I’m sure that the Pan Am Games will be a special golf experience.”
– Austin Connelly, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete

“I am honoured and extremely excited to be playing for Canada again.I am excited about the quality of schedule I have this year with the Pan Am Games and RBC Canadian Open as well as the other great championships I’ll be competing in this summer.”
– Garrett Rank, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete

“It is an absolute honour to have the opportunity to represent my country and the Canadian Olympic Committee with my selection to play for Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. I have always proudly represented Canada while playing on the LPGA Tour, but wearing the maple leaf in acclaimed international competition is something I am extremely humbled by and excited about.”
– Lorie Kane, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games athlete

“It’s really exciting to have been selected to represent Canada in the first ever Pan Am games golf competition. I’ve had so many great experiences being a part of Golf Canada’s national team program since I was 14, and now in my first year as a pro, it’s a great honour to play for my country at the Pan Am Games.”
– Brooke Henderson, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete

“Canada has a long tradition of excellence in golf, and we are very proud of the team that has been selected to represent our country as this sport makes its Pan Am Games debut this summer. Congratulations to all our golfers; Canadians will be following and encouraging you as you face the best athletes in the Americas at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Good luck!”
– The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

Click here to listen to an interview with Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Development Officer, Jeff Thompson, as he discusses team selection criteria for Canada’s golf contingent for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

The University of ­­­British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds men’s team claimed a wire-to-wire victory Friday at the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., while the Université de Montréal Carabins earned the national title in the women’s division.

UBC avenged last year’s runner-up finish by matching its opening-round score of 282 to secure the school’s fourth Canadian University/ College Championship win since the tournament’s inception in 2003. Team members Trent Abraham, Evan Holmes, Conner Kozak, Scott Secord and Jack Wood finished the tournament at 23-over par with a combined total of 1143.

“One of the most important things (for our team) was on day two – when we had the 50 to 60 km winds – that was very emotionally challenging. The ability for our players to refocus and come out and play really exceptional golf was very important to our team,” said UBC Thunderbirds acting men’s coach Peter Crocker when asked about a pivotal moment during the week.

The University of Victoria Vikes finished runner-up, 12 shots back with a team total of 1155. Climbing the leaderboard on the final day was the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, who finished the competition with a combined total of 1166.

UBC Thunderbird Evan Holmes posted a 1-under par final round 69 for a four day total of even-par 280 to be crowned the 2015 Canadian University/ College Men’s individual winner.

“My short game was pretty good all week and that carried on to today,” Holmes said of his victory-clinching round.  “I hit a lot of green-side shots well after some not so good shots.”

The Calgary, Alta., native’s solid short game was on full display when he stuck his approach shot on No. 18 to within a foot. “It was pretty nice just walking up to the green knowing that I kind of had it won.”

Queen’s University Gael Russell Bowie made a charge with four straight birdies from holes 12 to 15 to finish runner-up, two shots back at 2 over 282. Aaron Pauls of the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades finished third at 3 over 283.

The Université de Montréal Carabins women’s team entered the day with a one-shot lead over the University of Victoria Vikes; they managed to seal the win after a final round of 228 gave them a team-total 924. Team members Julie Brossoit, Caroline Ciot, Veronique Fortin-Latreille and Sarah-Andréa Landry captured the school’s second national collegiate championship.

“I’m really proud of my team, they worked hard all winter,” said Nicolas Quirion, the Université de Montréal Carabins women’s coach. “It’s like a family, they count on each other and it’s really fun to coach a team like that.”

The University of Victoria Vikes women’s team secured a second place finish just 3-shots back of the champions on the strength of a solid team effort. The Vikes shot their lowest team score of the tournament (227) to finish at 927. The defending UBC Thunderbirds carded a team total 12-over par 225 during the final round to finish 3^rd at 928.

Fifth-year senior Brynn Tomie of the Victoria Vikes shot a 4-over par 75 to edge out Caroline Ciot of the Montréal Carabins for the win.

“It was a total grind today,” said Tomie who finished with a four-day total of 300. “Caroline played amazing. We were back-and-forth all day. It was so fun to play with her, and things just kind of fell for me.”

Standing on the 18^th tee, the pair were knotted, but Tomie would go on to make par on the final hole to claim the championship. “We were both pretty aware of where we were and we both knew what the putt on the last hole meant,” smiled a beaming Brynn once the victory had sunk in.

Rounding out the top three was Alexandra Pelletier of the Université Laval Rouge et Or, who carded a round of 4-over 75 to finish at 304.

Conducted by Golf Canada, the Canadian University/ College Championship recognizes the exceptional talents of student-athletes from across the country. The 2016 edition of the event will be hosted by Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C.

Additional information regarding the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship can be found here.

TORONTO – Former University of Toronto Varsity Blues athletic director and current member of Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, Liz Hoffman, received the Thomas R. Loudon award as part of the 2015 U of T Sports Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday night (May 28) at the new Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

The Loudon award is presented to a person associated with the University of Toronto for outstanding services in the advancement of athletics. Hoffman retired from U of T in 2010 after 39 years of outstanding service, leadership and mentorship of University of Toronto athletics.

Hoffman has been a driving force behind the growth of intercollegiate competition in Canada. She has paved the way in many areas of university sport – as an athlete, as a coach, an instructor and as an administrator. As the director of athletics, she served on the board of directors of Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) during three different decades (1982-86, 1993-97, 2003-07), including being its president (1995-97), and has been a U of T delegate to Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its predecessors since 1977, including terms as president (1980-84) and past president (2003-07).  She built a tremendous coaching team at U of T, where under her leadership the Varsity Blues claimed 17 national titles and 126 provincial team championships.

The award was presented to Hoffman by U of T’s dean of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto.  Jacobs saluted Hoffman’s decades of service and the lasting impact her initiatives made on sport at U of T.

“Under Liz’s watch, University of Toronto developed gender and sport equity policies that were firsts in interuniversity sport in Canada,” Jacobs told the crowd. “Her initiatives shaped the co-curricular athletics and recreation experiences of countless—literally thousands of—U of T students on all three campuses.”

Hoffman received a standing ovation from the crowd as she came to the mic. For Hoffman, the honour was very much a family affair—literally, with her husband Rick and sons Mark and Matt at her side—and metaphorically, returning “home” to her Blues stomping groups.

“We will always be part of the Varsity Blues family,” she said. “I thank you for this honour; I will always treasure it; we will always treasure it.”