Guelph, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Following three rounds of play at the 2015 Canadian University/College Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., a great deal remains unclear. The races for individual honours are tied while the top contenders in the team championships are only separated by a handful of shots.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds men’s team kept an impressive field at bay, as several challengers took full advantage of prime conditions to register strong third rounds. The Thunderbirds – who have lead throughout the tournament – again demonstrated their consistent play, shooting a combined three over par on the day.

Peter Crocker, serving as UBC’s acting-coach for the competition, spoke to the focus and mindset of his charges in preparing for the day. “I think at a team level, we were pretty confident that we could play well and be in contention. Our goal after three rounds was to be in the top three and to be in good position on the last day.”

The University of Victoria Vikes kept pace with the leaders and vaulted into second on the strength of a combined two under par performance. The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades registered their best combined score of the tournament to claim sole possession of third after opening the round in a three-way tie for the spot.

Thunderbird Evan Holmes shot a team-low four under par with one eagle and three birdies to climb into a share of the lead in the individual competition at 1-over (70-75-66—211). Also tied with for the lead is Aaron Pauls of the Cascades, who carded a round of 68 – his best day of the competition. The University of Toronto’s Truman Tai went bogey-free to move into solo third.

The day’s stand-out performance belonged to Arthur Heinkelé who flirted with the course record of 62. The native of France registered a tournament -low 6-under-par 64 to jump from a share of 31^st to fourth place. His exceptional round featured the highlight of the day – he holed out from 146 yards to eagle the par-4 10th.

“I made some very good shots, but also some big mistakes,” admitted the Université Laval Rouge et Or student, who totaled seven birdies to accompany his eagle. He remained focused when asked what he needs to do tomorrow. “Just be patient, there’s no reason I cannot make birdies. I still have to play 18 holes and then see whatever happens; I still need to play good golf tomorrow.” Heinkelé sits T4 with defending individual champion Scott Secord who shot a 72 on the day.

In the women’s division, the Université de Montréal Carabins overtook the University of Toronto Varsity Blues after starting the day in second.  The Carabins team captain, Sarah-Andréa Landry, believes she is rounding into form at just the right time to lead her squad. “I’m really motivated and I think I brought this to the girls and helped them stay focused in the moment and take [the round] shot-by-shot.”

The Varsity Blues reversed positions with the Carabins and now sit one shot back of the leaders after a round of 229. Ana Peric of Etobicoke, Ont., shot a women’s side day-low score of two over par in a valiant attempt to keep her Toronto side close to the leaders. Rounding out the top three women’s teams is the University of Victoria who remain within striking distance at four strokes behind Toronto.

Brynn Tomie of the Vikes continued her push up the leaderboard with a score of 75 to bring her three day total to 225. The Bedford, N.S., native shot five over par to move into a share of the lead with Caroline Ciot – who held first place heading into today’s action. This is familiar territory for the two student-athletes – the pair shared third place going into the final day of the 2013 edition of this competition. Holding third is Alexandra Pelletier whose round of 77 was the team-low score for the Université Laval.

The top six women’s teams and the top 10 men’s teams have made the cut and will go on to the tournament’s finale. Players within 15 strokes advance to the final round of competition where team and individual honours will be awarded to the 2015 Canadian University/College champions. Additional information on the tournament can be found here.

BARRIE, Ont. — It was a beautiful day at Horseshoe Resort – Highlands Course as 48 champions, from Ontario golf clubs, teed it up for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Ontario Men’s Champion of Champions.

In what is turning out be a theme with GAO events this season, this championship needed a playoff to determine a winner. Despite many players having difficulty with the course, Oakville’s Mike Kray and Bognor’s Josiah Dixon both managed to finish the round one-under (70).

On the playoff hole, Kray, from the St. Catharines Golf & Country Club found the rough on his tee shot and had tree branches between his ball and the hole. He would get out and on the fairway but was short of the green. He would go on to bogey the hole. As for Dixon, he put his tee shot in the fairway and found the fringe with his approach. The Legacy Ridge Golf Club member, chipped it to within a couple feet and made his par putt for the win.

“It feels good, I really enjoyed the course it was in great shape,” said Dixon. “I had a pretty good day out there, I struck the ball well. I probably should have made a few more putts than I did, but overall it worked out well. I hit fairways and greens. That was what you really had to do out there. I didn’t have to look for the ball except once and even then I was able to make par.”

For Dixon, this was his first GAO championship, a win that he said tops his list. “I haven’t won any GAO events before. I have won a couple Amateur Tour events, but overall this has to be my biggest win.”

Earning the bronze medals were Whitby’s Spencer Dobbs, from the Cherry Downs Golf & Country Club and Wasaga Beach’s Dean Henry, from the Mad River Golf Club. Both Dobbs and Henry finished the round two-over (73).

With his win, Dixon also receives an exemption into the Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship July 14-17 at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club.

Click here for complete tournament results.

Guelph, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The University of Toronto women’s golf team took advantage of pristine early morning conditions Wednesday, combining for a team total of 238 to take the second round lead at the Canadian University/ College Championship being contested at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont.

The Varsity Blues (230-238–468) received strong play from all four members as they snagged a one stroke lead over Université de Montréal Carabins (234-235–469). University of Victoria’s squad had the best showing in day two with a team score of 232, good enough to sit in fourth place, only four shots back.

Leading the charge for the Varsity Blues women was Laura Upenieks, a PHD graduate who shot 78. Sitting at 15 over par, Upenieks is in a four-way tie for seventh place in the individual championship, sharing that spot with her three teammates. The strong consistent play of the four women allowed them to break their first round tie with the defending University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds, who slipped to fourth.

Individually, Caroline Ciot stumbled with a six over par round, but maintained her hold on first place. Advancing up the leaderboard was Brynn Tomie of the University of Victoria Vikes who shot a day low of 72 with four birdies. The Bedford, N.S., native’s strong second day gives her a two-round total of 150 – one shot back of the lead and a share of second with Robyn Campbell, a fifth-year Queen’s University student who matched her opening round 75.

An early evening weather-related delay set back the conclusions of the majority of the men’s groupings. Despite the challenge, UBC (282-296–578) was able to fend off the second-day advance of the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks (291-29–584) who finished their round earlier in the afternoon. The University of Victoria Vikes, the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades and the Varsity Blues are tied for third with a two-round total of 589.

Golden Hawks rookie and former NCAA Division I player, Eric Flockhart of Mississauga, Ont., carded four birdies en route to a 2-under-par 68 to gain sole possession of the lead at even par.  Defending champion Scott Secord had a tough start to the day, but regrouped on the back nine shooting even par and finishing the round with a 73, good for second place.  Two shots back of the lead after shooting a 72 is Victoria, B.C., native Michael Griffin, who plays for his hometown Vikes.

The third round begins tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. with complete results and tee times available here.

BRADENTON, Fla. – Mariah Stackhouse rallied to beat Hayley Davis in 19 holes to give Stanford its first NCAA women’s golf title, 3-2 over Baylor on Wednesday in the match-play final.

Stackhouse, a junior from Riverdale, Georgia, won when Davis’ 3-foot par putt missed to the right on the par-4 10th hole at The Concession Golf Club.

Two holes down after losing the par-4 16th, Stackhouse won the par-5 17th with a two-putt birdie and took the par-4 18th with a 15-foot birdie putt. Davis, a senior from England, birdied the 16th, hitting a 134-yard shot from a muddy lie in the left-side hazard to 8 feet.

Casey Danielson and Shannon Aubert also won matches for Stanford in the event that switched to the match-play format for the team title this year.

After Danielson gave Stanford a 2-1 lead with a 2-up victory over Laura Lonardi, Baylor tied it with Dylan Kim’s 3-and-1 victory over Lauren Kim. Stanford took a 1-0 lead when Aubert beat Lauren Whyte 4 and 3, and Baylor pulled even with Giovana Maymon’s 4-and-3 victory over Quirine Eijkenboom.

The Cardinal beat Arizona and Southern California on Tuesday to reach the final.

On Monday, Alabama’s Emma Talley won the individual title.

For a few years, the golf industry has been focused on ho w to get more young people- especially Millennials-to take up the game.  Another key to the sport’s growth lies in looking ahead to the next generation and spreading the golf gospel to those just getting a foot out of the crib.  After all, smacking the dimples out of little balls and chasing after them is an innate childhood pleasure right there with eating an ice cream cone.

Hook the young

My toddler’s favourite toy du jour is a Little Tikes golf set that distills the game down to its essentials.  First, you load a chunky plastic all-purpose club with a clear shaft with four coloured balls and depress a trigger to release spheres onto a tee or the ground.  Then, your little one simply tries to knock balls into a moveable flag adorned hole with a ramped lip that works just as well on hardwood and carpet as it does on grass.

My son’s first time playing he proceeded to flub a series of five-foot putts, missing every which way, before he had a brilliant idea.  Smiling, he stealthily grabbed the tee and repositioned it right next to the hole.  Next, he took his stance, pretending to deliberate over the significant putt ahead before bumping a blue ball right into the cup.

“Daddy I did it!”  He squealed while waving his club in the air and running multiple victory laps around the living room.

Who knew a centimeter tap in could elicit such wild-eyed excitement, boost confidence, and give a feller the intoxicating taste of a leader board-topping victory?  Long before one experiences the transcendental beauty of their first monster drive down the fairway or the sheer stroke-saving awesomeness of a chip-in, there is a small short tap that ends with lifted spirits and a rattle in the back of a cup.

Just play: Falling hard for the game

Falling in love with the game is typically a slow seduction.  Casual golfers may flirt with breaking 100 for years before the deed is done; then, suddenly, they find themselves in a committed relationship, going steady with the nearest muni weekly and getting as intimately acquainted with the quirks and nuances of the 14 clubs in their bag as they are with their spouse’s equipment.

One of the oft-cited roadblocks to taking up golf is its relative inaccessibility to newbies.  Unlike soccer or tennis where first timers can immediately hit the field of play running and enjoy moderate success, attempting to play a round of golf without a few trips to the driving range, or a few lessons, is daunting.  Anybody who watched Tiger Woods’ flub filled 82 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open this past February understands golf is a game that can even humble its titans.

In a time when course closures are rising, and more folks are headed for the exits than joining the fray, industry players are realizing that old ways may need a swing adjustment.  Clinging to the refrain from one of Fiddler on the Roof’s catchiest ditties, “Tra-di-tion … Tra-di-tion,” won’t reverse the game’s fortunes.

Golf Sudoku

Matty Du Plessis, a globetrotting home schooled 11-year-old from Quechee, Vt., – a nook of New England reminiscent of many a small town in Southern Ontario- is a breath of fresh air.  On YouTube, Vine, Instagram, and other social media spheres Du Plessis is known as MD_18undapar.  A golf rapper in the mode of Bubba Watson, Du Plessis has a knack for going viral.

“I like Lego and puzzles.  There isn’t a wrong shot so golf is like a 3-D puzzle,” pipes Du Plessis when I reach the precocious golf personality on Facebook chat and ask him about his attraction to the game.  Du Plessis is riveted by the problem-solving aspect of the game: being stuck with a lie right behind a tree and figuring a route out, having to hit over or under branches, or pulling off a mega slice to coax maximum yardage on a sharp dog leg right.

“When it doesn’t come off, sure it blows up your card but hey, you at least tried,” he explains.

For Du Plessis golf means having a great time; his infectious fun-first attitude has earned him thousands of fans.  “Hitting driver, making the ball move, sunset on the range, making the ball skip on a pond, thinking at first there is no way, but then making it happen.  There is just so much,” opines Du Plessis on why he loves to play.

In his popular “Stop, drop and make a 12 Foota” videos he sinks putts about as long as a Fiat 500 on the streets of Vermont, London, Cape Town, and even the center aisle of a Boeing 757.  His antics have caught the attention of a host of top tier media outlets from the U.K.’s Daily Mail to The Golf Channel.  If his handle isn’t a dead giveaway, Du Plessis’ ultimate goal is to shoot eighteen under par and play on the PGA TOUR.

While putting on uneven surfaces in his golf vignettes doesn’t help him read greens any better, holing out under taxing conditions certainly bolsters his confidence.  “If I can make a putt in a parking lot or in London or 30,000 feet above the Atlantic [in the aisle of a plane] with crazy moves, then making a putt from anywhere on a green is possible.”

Beating your elders

When cultivating a golf affinity, long before fixations over equipment and lowering your handicap ever develop, the allure of the game can often stem from a desire to knock balls into holes-at least mine did.  Mini-putt at Meaford’s Memorial Park, a family-oriented campsite on the waters of Georgian Bay was my initiation into the game.  It remains the course I’ve logged my highest round count on.  You always remember the first time you beat your father in a competitive sport where he didn’t let you win.  After a couple summers worth of compiled course knowledge where I memorized hump apexes, optimum ricochet points to navigate dastardly walled in geometry, the pace necessary to jump a water feature, and the ideal spot to aim at the mystery box, so it spits your ball out in a jetstream toward the hole, I did the deed.  A two-stroke victory over my old man that at that time felt like I’d just won the Masters.  Instead of a green jacket my just as sweet reward was a Dairy Queen hot fudge sundae.  In case you’re wondering, Du Plessis celebrated the glorious milestone last fall by posting a pic of his winning scorecard on Instagram with the hashtag: “Beat-Your-Dad-Selfie.”

While the catalyst for golf to escape its current economic plugged lie may be around the corner (the plus 500-year-old sport always finds a way to keep rolling), there’s never been a better time to tap into the game and have a ball.  Whether that’s a toddler developing their hand-eye coordination by putting pine cones at backyard targets, a social media savvy pre-teen with a GoPro getting creative on YouTube or a mini-golf family outing that creates an indelible memory, it’s all a gateway to playing more golf and it bodes well for the game’s future.

Guelph, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Gusty winds proved to be no problem for the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds at the Canadian University/ College Championship at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont. The tournament teed up for the first round on Tuesday with the Thunderbirds men’s team soaring to the top of the leaderboard. UBC’s women’s contingent ended their day tied with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues atop the standings.

The Thunderbirds men’s team shot a combined 2-over-par to gain a slight edge in its quest to avenge last year’s runner-up finish. The Humber College Hawks sit three shots back of the lead while the University of Victoria Vikes round out the top three.

The defending men’s champion, Calgary native Scott Secord, and Humber Hawk Christian McCullough carded 2-under-par 68s to lead the men’s division. Six golfers are locked in third place, two strokes back of the leaders, including a pair of Vikes in Andrew Funk and Michael Griffin.

The reigning champion UBC Thunderbirds women’s team is joined at the top of the leaderboard by the University of Toronto Varsity Blues. UBC is eyeing its 11^th team championship in the 13 years of this competition. The leaders each registered 17 over par team performances and are four strokes clear of the third place Université de Montréal Carabins.

Third-year Carabins player Caroline Ciot has a two-shot lead after opening at 1-over-par 72 on the strength of a trio of birdies. Tied for second at 3 over par are Alexandra Pelletier of Université Laval Rouge et Or and Okotoks, Alta. native Kat Kennedy whose steady play tops the Thunderbirds squad. Playing key roles in the Varsity Blues’ co-leading position were Rylie Wilson and Sarah Dunning who each opened at 76 – good for a share of fifth place.

The second day of competition tees off with the women’s division at 7:30 a.m. while the men start at 8:14 a.m. The 72-hole competition will conclude on Friday where both team and individual titles in the men’s and women’s divisions will be awarded.

For more info regarding the championship event, click here.

OAKVILLE, Ont. – The PGA of Canada, in partnership with Golf Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada, are pleased to introduce the Community Golf Coach supported by CN Future Links program, a community stream context within the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) designed strictly for junior golf volunteers.

The initiative is backed by extensive research into Canada’s volunteer training curriculums for sport across the country. Industry experts implemented the program to address the gap between PGA of Canada professionals and available volunteer support from family and friends.

In most sports, trained volunteers are core leaders in youth sport development and play key roles in running successful junior programming. PGA of Canada’s Technical Director, Glenn Cundari, is excited for the roll-out of the new content and how it can support the efforts of PGA of Canada professionals in communities from coast to coast.

“There are ideal candidates for this program right across the country,” said Cundari. “The fact of the matter is that there just aren’t enough PGA of Canada professionals to successfully engage all the kids who want to play golf, so that’s where the Community Golf Coach comes in. Our plan is to provide these volunteers with proper training and let them facilitate that first step into a lifetime of golf.”

Community Golf Coaches fall into the Community Stream of NCCP, geared towards instruction of juniors in the early development stages of golf’s recently released Long-Term Player Development Guide (LTPD).

“Volunteer support at the junior level is more often than not linked with successful, engaging junior programs,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “Our goal for this program is to strengthen support for PGA of Canada professionals in maintaining the focus towards creating a fun, welcoming atmosphere for youth—a key principle in long-term player development.”

Coaches will participate in a two-day workshop before gaining trained status within the NCCP. Each workshop encompasses everything from safety to basic instruction, including both in-class and outdoor components. Once training is complete, Community Golf Coaches will be equipped with the skills to deliver the full CN Future Links suite of junior golf programs.

“Supporting our employees’ volunteer work is a keystone of CN’s community outreach initiatives and thus this Community Golf Coach program is fully aligned with our core values of civic engagement and volunteerism,” said Claude Mongeau, CN President and Chief Executive Officer.

Workshops are open to junior coordinators, teachers, parents and anyone golf enthusiasts with a passion for the sport. Registration cost is $300, which includes lunch both days.

Workshops

• Jun 6–7, Nova Scotia, Oakfield Country Club
• Jun 6–7, Alberta, Golf Canada Calgary Centre
• Jun 13–14, Newfoundland, Clovelly Golf Club
• Jul 5–6, Québec, Le Boise

Click here to register.

Last year alone, 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 while more than 56,000 youngsters participated in more than 1,200 mobile golf clinics across the country. Since 1996, more than 1 million children have been introduced to golf through the CN Future Links program.

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) —Golf Canada and Hudson’s Bay today announced a new multi-year partnership that will see Hudson’s Bay become a proud partner as the exclusive official outfitter for Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

As part of the three-year agreement, Hudson’s Bay has developed a new line of men’s and ladies golf apparel under the Hudson’s Bay brand that will be worn by Team Canada athletes as well as coaches and sport science staff in all games and competitions through 2017.

In addition, Hudson’s Bay becomes the exclusive headwear and apparel licensee for Golf Canada’s Team Canada mark. The line of high performance golf apparel will be available for purchase in many of Hudson’s Bay retail locations across Canada as well as online at www.thebay.com.

“Hudson’s Bay’s is committed to supporting Canadian athletes and we are proud to launch this new partnership as the exclusive official outfitter for Golf Canada’s National Team Program,” says Liz Rodbell, President, Hudson’s Bay.

“Hudson’s Bay has a long history of supporting Canada’s Olympic team and we are thrilled to have such an iconic Canadian brand aligned with Golf Canada and our national team program,” said Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer Gavin Roth. “Hudson’s Bay recognizes that this is one of the most exciting periods in Canadian golf, and their support through national retail and media channels leading up to and through the Pan Am and Olympic Games will help propel our tremendous young golfers to even greater heights.”

Team Canada athletes will be wearing the official Hudson’s Bay apparel in all golf competitions and events starting in the spring of 2015.

The Pan Am games in Toronto this summer will mark the first time the apparel is worn in a major multinational/multi-sport games. Hudson’s Bay will also outfit Team Canada athletes at other major domestic and international championships including the RBC Canadian Open, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Canadian National Amateur Championships, World Amateur Team Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A portion of proceeds from every sale in Hudson’s Bay stores and on-line will go directly towards supporting Team Canada golfers and high performance programming.

The Team Canada golf line of apparel will appear in Hudson’s Bay stores in time for Father’s Day 2015. Merchandise will also be available for purchase onsite during the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Click here for a link to Golf Canada merchandise available through Hudson’s Bay online collection.

Sunny skies and warm temperatures provided ideal conditions for the final day of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club in Dorchester, Ont. Jack Simpson and Alyssa Getty fought until the very end to claim victory in their home province.

Entering the final round of play, Aurora, Ont., native Jack Simpson and Unionville, Ont., product Maxwell Sear were four shots back of leader Nicholas Brisebois of Ottawa. The two Ontarians spent the round trying to best one another, but neither could pull away. When it seemed Simpson had victory within reach, Sear birdied the final hole to send the competition to a playoff.

Jack Simpson however, would not be denied, chipping-in for eagle on the first extra hole to claim the title of 2015 CN Future Links Ontario champion. When asked about the victory, he credited a calm demeanor as the key to his success. “I knew if I just stayed patient and in the moment, birdies would fall and I would be able to post a good score,” said Simpson, who notched four birdies on the day.

Finishing in third place was Quebec City’s Charles-Eric Belanger who carded a final round of 67. Team Canada Development Squad member and Vaughan Ont., product Tony Gil shot a round of 70 to get to 1-under par for the tournament and claim solo fourth place.

National Squad teammate Étienne Papineau finished at 5-under par 66. The St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., native was T5 with seven birdies on the day, including a string of three on holes 12 to 14. Rounding out the Development Squad on the Junior Boys side was Trevor Ranton of Waterloo, Ont., who posted a round of 74 to finish T12.

In the Junior Girls division, Alyssa Getty shot her lowest round of the competition – an even par 71 – to win the CN Future Links Ontario Championship by two strokes over Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont. The battle came down to the final hole where Getty notched her third final-round birdie to secure the victory.

“It was back and forth,” Getty said of her round with Costabile. “It was always very close between us in score and that kept it really interesting. It was a fun day of good competition.” Getty adds this year’s CN Future Links Ontario title to a 2015 resume that already includes a victory at the recent Golf Association of Ontario Junior Girls Spring Classic.

Off to a strong early season start, the Ruthven, Ont., native has high hopes for her last season of junior golf. “I want to keep playing well, and see how well I can shoot. I’m happy with my start and excited to see just how well I can play.”

Climbing up the leaderboard to a third place finish was National Team Development Squad member Grace St-Germain. The Ottawa native’s final round of 70 was her best of the tournament.

Jack Simpson and the five runners-ups from the CN Future Links Ontario Championship have earned exemptions into the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The tournament will be contested August 3-6 at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.

The 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will take place August 4-7 at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask. With today’s victory, Alyssa Getty and the second to sixth place finishers have earned entry into the competition. This sextet has also gained exemptions into a future Canadian Women’s Tour event.

The CN Future Links Championships are a series of six tournaments presented by Golf Canada in partnership with CN in support of golf at the junior level. Team Canada Development Squad members Trevor Ranton and Grace St-Germain were the 2015 series’ first winners, claiming victory at the Pacific edition of the competitions. The next event in the series is the CN Future Links Prairie Championship from June 11-14, hosted by Cooke Municipal Golf Course in Prince Albert, Sask.

Full results from the 2015 CN Future Links Ontario Championship are available here.

Chilly overnight temperatures delayed starting times this morning at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club for the second round of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship in Dorchester, Ont. Alyssa Getty and Nicholas Brisebois did not let the later start slow their paces as both matched their first round tallies to claim the lead.

Alyssa Getty shot a 3-over-par 74 to climb into first place in the Junior Girls division. The Ruthven, Ont., native took advantage of the par fives today, birdieing both the 2nd and 14th holes. Her identical first and second rounds have her at 6-over par. Opening round leader Selena Costabile remains within striking distance, back by just a single shot. After a tough start on the front nine, the Thornhill Ont., product settled down to shoot even par on the back nine to finish with a round of 78.

Four shots back is Team Canada Development Squad member Grace St-Germain. The Ottawa native sits in a three-way tie for third place with Annika Haynes of Oakville, Ont., and Hannah Lee of Surrey, B.C.

With back-to-back rounds of 69, Nicholas Brisebois finds himself in sole possession of the lead in the Junior Boys division. A trio of birdies down the stretch has the Ottawa native at 4-under par for the tournament – two shots clear of L’Île-Perrot, Que., native Sun Kim. Brendan Seys carded an even par round to finish alone in third.

The battle for fourth features seven players, including Tony Gil from Vaughan, Ont., who notched six birdies en route to a 1-under-par 70. He currently sits at even par for the tournament alongside Development Squad teammate Trevor Ranton of Waterloo, Ont. Fellow National Squad member Étienne Papineau from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., completed the round at even par to move into a share of 22^nd place.

From August 3-6, the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will be hosted by Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que. Earning entry into this competition will be the top six finishers in the Junior Boys division of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship.

The 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be played August 4-7 at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask., with the top six finishers from the CN Future Links Ontario Championship earning exemptions into the event. In addition, each of the six CN Future Links Champions from this season will receive an exemption into a 2016 Canadian Women’s Tour event.

The final round of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship will begin tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. EDT with the final group on the tee at 12:50 p.m. EDT.

Full second round results and final day pairings are available here.