First round action at the CN Future Links Ontario Championship wrapped up today at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club in Dorcester, Ont., with Kevin Gordon and Nicholas Brisebois tied for the early lead in the Junior Boys division. Selena Costabile holds the first round lead in the Junior Girls division.

Whitby, Ont., native Kevin Gordon was in the first group off the tee this morning and he continues to lead the field. He turned in a 2 under par round of 69 and finished strong with four birdies on the back nine for a 32.

Co-leader Nicholas Brisebois from Kanata, Ont., started strong with an eagle on the second hole and added another to his card on the 13th. Standing on the 15th tee, he was 7-under par, but stumbled in the last four holes to conclude the opening day at 69.

Not far behind sitting T5 with a round of even par 71 is Team Canada Development Squad member Trevor Ranton. The Waterloo, Ont., native recently opened Golf Canada’s competitive season with a wire-to-wire win at the 2015 CN Future Links Pacific Championship.

One shot back is fellow Development Squad teammate Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont., who sits T11 going into the second day of play. Rounding out the national team contingent on the Junior Boys side is Étienne Papineau from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., who is T37 after a round of 76.

In the Junior Girls division, Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., ended the day at the top of the leaderboard with an even par 71.  She heads into the weekend in hopes of improving upon her runner-up finish at this event in 2014.

Following close behind in second place with a round of 74 is Alyssa Getty. The Ruthven, Ont., product is the reigning CN Future Links Quebec champion.

Development Squad member Grace St-Germain shot a 6-over-par 77 for sole possession of fourth place. She enters the second round aiming to continue her early season success after taking the CN Future Links Pacific title to complete a Team Canada sweep at the event.

The Junior Boys winner of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship and the following five finishers will earn exemptions into the field at the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, to be contested at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., from August 3-6. On the Junior Girls side, the winner and the first to fifth runners-up will earn direct entry into the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship hosted by Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask., from August 4-7.

The competition at the CN Future Links Ontario Championship continues tomorrow with the Junior Girls beginning their second rounds at 7:30 a.m. EDT; the Junior Boys are set to follow at 9 a.m. EDT.

Additional tournament information and first round results can be found here.

COPETOWN, Ont. —The Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Senior Men’s Champion of Champions took place May 21 at the Beverley Golf & Country Club in Copetown. A total of 70 senior club champions from across the province teed it up to see who would claim the 2015 title. In the end, it was Whitby’s Barry Fairhurst, from Whitevale Golf Club, who took home the honour. 

Fairhurst was the first player to bring his card to the scorers and had to wait to see where his one-over (71) would end up. It look as though it would stand until 2012 winner, Collingwood’s Mike Jackson, turned in a one-over (71) of his own that forced the two back to the first hole for a playoff.

During the playoff, Jackson, from the Georgian Bay Club, put his tee shot in a fairway bunker, while Fairhurst sailed his to within 80 yards of the green. Fairhurst would chip within nine feet and stepped up and drained his birdie putt for the win.

“Hearing who has won this before and knowing how prestigious it is, makes it great honour to be on the trophy. These are the best champions from their golf courses in the province,” said Fairhurst.

Fairhurst went on to talk about the dramatic win and where it ranks for him. “A birdie on the first playoff hole is always a good thing. The worst case, you are probably just going to the next hole. I hit a good drive, chipped it close and sank the putt down the middle. This win is definitely way up there for me.”   

Sharing the bronze medal were Brampton Golf Club and Brampton resident Rick Dodds-Hebron and Welland’s Frank Mattei, from Sparrow Lakes Golf Club. Both players finished the day at three-over (73).

With the win, Fairhurst earned an exemption into the GAO’s 2015 Investors Group Senior Men’s Amateur Championship Aug. 11-13 at Kawartha Golf & Country Club in Peterborough.

For full results click here.

After enjoying exchange rates near or above par for the past decade, travelling golfers of Canada are suddenly faced with as much as a 30 per cent depreciation in their buying power when they head to the U.S. The decline is so swift that the real effects aren’t seen yet in many favourite American golf destinations.

“We’ve not experienced diminished Canadian visitors thus far, but we’ll continue to monitor things as they develop and plan accordingly,” said Sue Kanoho, Kauai Visitors Bureau executive director, home to many acclaimed golf courses, including Poipu Bay, Kauai Lagoons, Wailua, Puakea and Makai.  The reckoning is coming.

First, the good news.  The dollar drop is positive for domestic operators, says Gord Schultz, President at Golf Canada’s West Ltd.  “We’re on sale 25 per cent off and we haven’t done a thing to create it,” says Schultz, whose group includes the famed Fairmont Banff Springs, Fairmont Jasper and three excellent Canmore courses.  “If history is any indication, this should have significant impact on our traditional markets in the U.S. Southwest and Pacific Northwest.”

Research agrees with Schultz.  A 2014 study released by the Conference Board of Canada predicting overnight visits in Canada says they will increase by 2.7 per cent in 2015.  “The dollar is down against most major currencies,” Schultz adds.  “Golfers in this country are acutely aware of the differences; our research shows they often make their decisions based on how much their dollar will buy, so it’s good news for Canadian operators like us.”

For American golf travel operators who depend on them, any decline in Canadian visitors is serious.  While precise numbers are hard to obtain, Canadian golf trips to the U.S. number in the many tens of thousands annually.  Many recall that, were it not for Canadian travellers- particularly from western Canada- resorts would have gone out of business during the punishing 2007-08 recession years.

“If it wasn’t for visitors from Alberta and Saskatchewan in those days, the lights might have gone out here,” says David Havens, Director of Golf at Ka’anapali resorts in Maui.  “They saved us in those years.”

Some Canadians already pre-booked for the 2015 winter season at a better rate or hedged against a drop in the dollar, so American destinations are still seeing strong Canadian numbers.  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which sees tens of thousands of Canadians each winter, reports no immediate impact.

“We haven’t seen a decrease in our steady stream of Canadian golfers coming down to escape the cold and play our three courses here in Myrtle Beach,” says Claude Pardue, President and CEO of Mystical Golf.  “Even with the recent decline of the Canadian dollar, we think our stay-and-play packages will still offer great value for golf vacations anywhere in North America.”

Hawaii is a mecca for Canadians, particularly from western Canada.  Sue Kanoho says they’re in wait-and-see mode.  “We’re aware of the [Canadian] exchange rate, as we are for all exchange rates for countries from where we receive a significant number of visitors.”

Mississippi, home to more than 140 golf courses, has six of its casino courses listed among the top 50 in the country by Golfweek magazine.

“The decline of the Canadian dollar, after oil’s collapse, is certainly a subject of concern and empathy for our friends up North,” said Visit Mississippi Golf and Sports Program Manager Janet Leach.  “However, our golf resorts and courses are not reporting a decline thus far, which would be of great relevance given the large number of Canadian golfers and snowbirds who visit us each year.”

In the past golf operators in border U. S. states that receive day trips have offered at-par packages for Canadians.  It’s too early yet to know if they’ll do so again, but Gord Schutlz thinks “they’ll need to compete at the risk of Canadians simply staying home.”

The dollar drop is also affecting other aspects of the industry.  For instance, golf ball reseller Knetgolf, which sources all its used balls in the U.S. for distribution in Canada, was faced with raising prices for Canadian customers or establishing a U.S.- only price.  It chose the latter.  Canadian credit cards will be charged in USD and the exchange rate will be determined at your bank.  Knetgolf said in a letter to customers: “We regret having to do this, however we live in a world marketplace and we must adapt to the economic winds of change.”

Here’s suggesting that they won’t be the only ones in the golf biz dealing with the currency changes.

Canadian and international professionals and amateurs will convene at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alta., from May 25-27 to play the first event of the 14^th Canadian Women’s Tour season.

The Canadian Women’s Tour Alberta competition will include a practice round on May 25 before the 36-hole competition begins on the following day with a purse set at $60,000 with a $10,000 share going to the winner. In addition, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to be played August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.

The Glencoe Golf & Country Club will welcome Canadian Women’s Tour players to its Meadows Course built upon elevated terrain which runs alongside the picturesque Elbow River.

“Golf Canada is proud to begin the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club. It will be an exciting competition with an experienced international field of athletes vying for the opportunity to participate in Canada’s National Women’s Open championship,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Tournament Director for the event.

California native Michelle Piyapattra will be in the field to defend her title obtained on the first stop of the 2014 tour. As an amateur last year, Piyapattra won the Canadian Women’s Tour B.C. event in a playoff at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C. She has since turned professional and is currently in her rookie season on the Symetra Tour.

A number of former Canadian Women’s Tour champions will be joining Piyapattra in the field including Jessica Boris née Shepley who has seen much success on the Tour including two PGA Women’s Championship of Canada titles.

Samantha Richdale and Emily Childs, winners from the 2013 Canadian Women’s Tour season, will also be in the field. Joining their pursuit for victory will be former Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario winners Charlotte Mayorkas (2010) and Kirby Dreher (2008). A total of 11 players will return to their home province in hopes of claiming the first leg of the tour.

Competing alongside these seasoned veterans will be Team Canada member and Kent State University athlete, Jennifer Ha who will be playing in her hometown. Fellow national team members Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., and Orangeville, Ont., native Brittany Marchand will also be competing.

Four members of Canada’s Development Squad will participate in the competition, including local product Jaclyn Lee playing at her home club, Ottawa’s Grace St-Germain and B.C. natives Michelle Kim and Naomi Ko.

The next Canadian Women’s Tour event will be hosted by Brooke and Brittany Henderson’s home club of Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club in Smiths Falls, Ont., from June 15-17. The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada will conclude the 2015 tour at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont., from July 20-22.

The winners of each stop on the Canadian Women’s Tour will join the field at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Also receiving exemptions will be the top two competitors on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit. To be eligible, participants must play in at least two of the three events on the 2015 schedule.

At season’s end, the five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.

Additional information regarding the competition can be found at the tournament’s website here.

The Canadian Turfgrass Research Foundation (CTRF) has announced a total of $114,600 in turf research funding over a three year period to help fund two new projects. This announcement is the result of an eight month process to generate, evaluate and decide on which of 18 project submissions would be funded from 2015 to 2018.

The two new projects hosted by the University of Guelph and the University of Wisconsin include: Determining Soil Potassium Requirements of Sand-Based Putting Greens; and Testing Lower Risk Fungicides Against Turf Disease.

A grant of $9,600 has been allocated to the project, “Determining Soil Potassium Requirements of Sand-Based Putting Greens.” Its goal is to evaluate putting green quality and disease incidence over a wide range of soil test and tissue potassium levels. Coordinated by Dr. Douglas Soldat, the project is scheduled for completion by February 2017.

The second project, “Testing Lower Risk Fungicides Against Turf Diseases” will receive $105,000 over a three year period and will be coordinated by Dr. Thomas Hsiang at the University of Guelph. The project will research how common diseases such as dollar spot, fusarium patch and snow molds can be reduced in lab and field tests, using different application regimes of low risk chemicals. Research will be complete by April 2018.

To learn more about these projects, click here.

For the third time in the tournament’s history, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and the stars of the LPGA Tour will return to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alberta, August 22-28, 2016.

“We are excited to announce the return of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in 2016,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “The venue is outstanding; the city of Calgary is a world-class hosting community; and we are confident that Alberta golf fans will once again rally around the LPGA Tour’s return to Western Canada.”

The championship, which typically draws arguably the strongest field on the LPGA Tour, will once again make a significant charitable contribution to the host community through the CP Has Heart campaign.

“CP and our 2,000 Calgary-based employees and their families are thrilled to bring world-class LPGA Tour golf back to our hometown,” said CP’s VP Corporate Affairs Mark Wallace. “In addition to some great golf, we look forward to working with the tournament as we raise funds for pediatric cardiac care and research at Alberta Children’s Hospital.”

The 44^th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will return to the formidable venue which had previously hosted in 1999 and 2009. The 2009 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship saw Norway’s Suzann Pettersen card a final-round one-under par 70 and tournament-total 269 (15-under) to claim the title. Among those in the five-way tie for second that year was World Golf Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb, who claimed victory in 1999 when Priddis Greens hosted the LPGA Tour for the first time.

“It is an honour to welcome back the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, Calgary and the province of Alberta,” said Rod McBride, President of Priddis Greens. “Hosting the CP Women’s Open provides us with another opportunity to showcase our course as one of the premiere golfing experiences in Canada and to further demonstrate Calgary’s love of the game.”

The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C., will play host to the 2015 edition of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will be contested August 17-23. First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

Athletes from the country’s top university and college golf teams will put their games to the test at Cutten Fields in Guelph, Ont., from May 25-29 for the 13th playing of the Canadian University/ College Championship.

Conducted by Golf Canada, the Championship was created to provide an opportunity for Canada’s best university and college golfers to compete in a national event. This tournament also serves as a qualifier for the 2015 World University Golf Championship. The global competition will be played between July 8-11 in Gwangju, South Korea.

The University of Guelph Gryphons will play host to this year’s event for the first time at their home club of Cutten Fields located in downtown Guelph, Ont. Established in 1931, Cutten Fields is a Stanley Thompson design recognized for its changes in elevation that provide scenic views to golfers. While adding to the course’s natural beauty, the hills and valleys also thoroughly test competitors with uneven lies in the fairways and challenging putts on the contoured greens.

“As the home of the University of Guelph Gryphons, Cutten Fields is honoured to be hosting this championship,” commented Steve Bryant, Director of Golf for Cutten Fields. “Our membership is extremely proud to share the history and legacy of Cutten with the Canadian golf community. We are thrilled at the opportunity to showcase our course to the best university and college students in the country.”

The 72-hole stroke play competition will feature 20 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams from universities and colleges across the country. These athletes will be competing for both team and individual honours. Following the third round, the field will be reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams; in addition, any individuals within 15 shots of the lead will move on to the final round.

“The Canadian University/ College Championship is a great stage to display the talented athletes playing collegiate golf in Canada,” said Tournament Director Russell MacKay. “These student athletes will proudly represent themselves and their schools as they battle for the right of representing their country in South Korea this summer.”

The University of Manitoba Bisons men’s team is looking to defend its national title. In 2014, the Bisons won by 12 strokes on home soil at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg, Man. Returning players from the winning squad include Charlie Boyechko, Brodie Gobin and Scott Mazur.

In individual play, University of British Columbia Thunderbird Scott Secord went wire-to-wire to claim victory. He will be in the field this year to defend his title and assist his teammates in their quest to improve upon their runner-up finish from 2014.

His fellow Thunderbirds on the women’s side have their sights set on defending their 2014 win. Winnie Hyun and Kat Kennedy will return for the Thunderbirds in an attempt to capture the university’s 11th national women’s title in this competition.

Megan Woodland – now graduated after having completed her studies at the University of Victoria – won the 2014 women’s individual title.

The following teams will be competing in the 2015 Canadian University/ College Championship. Additional information on the tournament and full team rosters are available here.

Men’s Teams:
University of Manitoba Bisons
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Calgary Dinos
University of Alberta Golden Bears
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Ottawa Gee Gee’s
Brock University Badgers
Western University Mustangs
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks
Queen’s University Gaels
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
Humber College Hawks
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Université de Montréal Carabins
Concordia University Stingers
École de technologie supérieure Piranhas
University of Guelph Gryphons
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks

Women’s Teams:
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Alberta Pandas
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Waterloo Warriors
Western University Mustangs
Queen’s University Gaels
McMaster Marauders
Université de Montréal Carabins
Université Laval Rouge et Or
St. Clair College Saints
University of Guelph Gryphons

Canadian Amateur Christina Foster of Concord, Ont., has qualified for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open hosted at the Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pa., July 9-12.

The 19-year-old stamped her ticket to the major championship with a two-round score of 145 at her sectional qualifier on Monday held at the Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Ill. Foster’s score gave her a one shot edge as she beat out the competition to claim one of two spots.

The golfer’s best finish came at the GAO – Women’s Match Play Championship, when she was runner up to Robyn Doig.

Foster joins fellow Canadian Brooke Henderson, as the only Canucks in the field to date. There are sectional qualifiers running until June 15^th.

LUBBOCK, Tex. – Team Canada’s Blair Hamilton notched his second collegiate victory of the season Saturday, posting a total score of 8-under par to share co-medalist honours at the NCAA’s Lubbock Regional.

The 21-year-old junior was making his collegiate postseason debut for the University of Houston, becoming the first Cougar in NCAA Regional history to card three consecutive rounds in the 60s (68-69-68).

As the lone Cougar yet to finish the final round, Hamilton birdied the 17^th at the Rawls Course to pull into a tie with Purdue, eventually forcing a playoff. Houston would go on to win the first playoff hole to earn the fifth and final spot in the NCAA Championship—making it the first time Houston had qualified in back-to-back years since 2000-01.

Hamilton, a Burlington, Ont., native, will look to continue his success at the NCAA Championships from May 29–June 3 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.

Click here for full scores.

Click here to view participants competing in 2015 NCAA Div I Championship.

PORTLAND, Ore. – The 12-person team representing the Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) took a slim lead into the second day’s play and held on to win the 10th PNGA Cup.

The Ryder Cup-style matches were held at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore., and featured 48 of the finest amateur golfers representing the Washington, Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia golf associations.

After the first day’s play in the four-ball and foursome matches, Team WSGA held a half point lead over Team OGA, while Team B.C. Golf trailed by four points and Team IGA by five and a half.

In the singles matches today, Team WSGA extended their lead by winning seven points on the day.

Finishing second overall was Team OGA, two points back. Team B.C. Golf had been bidding to win their third consecutive PNGA Cup, but came up four points short. In fourth place was Team IGA, with seven and a half points.

This is the second time Team WSGA has won this championship, having previously won it in 2008.

Full results available here.