Team Canada is ramping up to send four Development Squad members to Argentina from Mar. 26–29 to compete in the Southern Cross Invitational.

Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.), Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu), Trevor Ranton (Waterloo, Ont.) and A.J. Armstrong (St. Albert, Alta.) will make up the contingent representing Canada at the Nordelta Golf Club in Tigre.

The Canucks will square off against top international squads from Australia, Chile, France, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the host nation in the prestigious 54-hole event. Each country will play four players daily, with the top-three scores from each day being counted towards the team total.

“This will be the first big test for the guys competing as a new team against a strong amateur field,” said Lead Development Squad Coach, Robert Ratcliffe. “The boys have been working hard in the offseason and are excited to put their training to the test.”

Canada’s remaining two Development Squad members remain in action elsewhere around the world this week. Patrick Murphy, a native of Crossfield, Alta., is competing at a Pepsi Tour event this week in Litchfield Park, Ariz. and Tyler Saunders (Sturgeon County, Alta.) just finished wrapping up another collegiate event in his freshman season at Texas State University.

The inaugural Southern Cross began in 1999 between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Since then, the event combined with the Four Nations and Ten Nations Cup to include the larger field it hosts today.

In similar fashion to the men, the Women’s Development Squad competed internationally overseas for the Astor Trophy earlier this year in Australia.

Adam, Taylor, Garrett, Corey and Chris.

These aren’t the names of the members of the newest boy band topping the charts (although it kind of sounds like it could be). No, this band of brothers are recent products of Golf Canada’s national team program (Corey Conners is still a member) that are embarking on the next stage of their respective golf journeys together.

Adam Svensson, the 21-year-old from B.C., announced Tuesday he has turned professional. He’ll concentrate on PGA Tour Canada – and a few events on the Web.com Tour – this year. This comes after Svensson won seven times in NCAA Division II in 2014 for Barry University and he realized he was ready for the professional ranks.

Svensson joins fellow Golf Canada teammates Taylor Pendrith and Chris Hemmerich on the Canadian circuit. Pendrith, known for his long drives and deft touch around the greens will be heading to PGA Tour Canada Q-school in April, while Hemmerich, on the heels of a successful stretch in 2014, has full status on that tour.

Meanwhile, Corey Conners remains an amateur, if only for another month, so then he can participate in The Masters. He earned a spot in that field thanks to his runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur last year.

And then there’s Garrett Rank. Rank, the elder statesman of the group, captured the 2014 Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship and will participate in this year’s RBC Canadian Open. While Rank could have continued playing golf full-time, he shifted gears and concentrated more on being a hockey referee. Most would say this was a good decision: Rank has officiated a handful of NHL games already this season.

It’s no secret Golf Canada can’t teach someone how to hit a 350-yard drive (Pendrith) or win back-to-back NCAA championships (Svensson), but the importance of their time with the program isn’t lost on the young men.

“It’s crazy to think that wherever this group of players go, there’s at least one of us near the top of the leaderboard,” says Hemmerich. “It’s pretty fun. It speaks for itself as far as the kind of program Golf Canada is running.”

Both Svensson and Pendrith are a part of Golf Canada’s new Young Pro Program. While Pendrith explains the program really helped to prepare him to make good decisions and have good habits, Svensson explains it’s a team that will help him out through the first steps of his pro career.

“It’s another support group,” he says. “I’ve known Derek (Ingram, the men’s head coach) for many years and I can call him at any time. Golf Canada has been great to me.”

Not lost on the young men are the changes that lay ahead – not so much from a golf perspective, but from the day-to-day way they must carry themselves.

“The physical side hasn’t changed. Its just golf,” says Pendrith. “But you’re not playing for (amateur) points, you’re playing for dollars. It’s a mental adjustment.”

“It’s totally different now seeing how seriously some people take it. It’s starting to sink in,” continues Hemmerich. “Every shot in pro golf means a couple hundred bucks at this level, a couple thousand bucks at the next level, and a lot more at the level after that. Every shot matters.”

Each man credits their agents for alleviating some of the pressure they’re feeling as young professionals (Conners, too). SportBox, who also manage Graham DeLaet and Mike Weir, represents Svensson. Adam Hadwin’s team at Higher Ground Sports is looking after Hemmerich. Pendrith is represented by agency in the U.S. called Empire Sports Management, and Conners has Chubby Chandler of International Sports Management in his corner.

They are alone on the golf course, but have a number of people encouraging them behind-the-scenes.

“It takes a lot of pressure of me,” Svensson says of his team. “I can call them anytime, and they’re a great bunch of dudes.”

Comments like “great bunch of dudes” and Hemmerich saying he’s “fired up” for the 2015 season quickly remind you that there’s a part of each of these men that still make them kids.

But don’t mistake their fun attitudes for lack-of-motivation. Once Conners joins Hemmerich, Pendrith and Svensson later this year as a professional, Canadian golf fans will be treated to seeing this fine crop of players in action.

And, no matter what the future has in store for them, by getting to this point, they’ve already sung the song of success.

TORONTO – For an eight-year-old, Vanessa Borovilos has an impressive collection of trophies and medals, but the one that earned an invite to Augusta National Golf Club and the 2015 Masters is extra special.

The Grade 3 student from Toronto is one of three Canadians, among a total of 80 participants, 40 boys and 40 girls between the ages of seven and 15, who will tee it up in the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship on the Sunday before the Masters at Augusta National.

“It’s pretty amazing to be going to the Masters. We’re flying in an airplane which should be fun and I’m really looking forward to the competition,” says Borovilos, who started working with Coach Doug Lawrie from Focus Golf Group in Burlington, last summer and will play and train out of Trafalgar Golf & Country Club in 2015.

She is proving to be a fierce little competitor as she made it through three stages of qualifying in Michigan to punch her ticket.

“There’s a lot of standing around and waiting for this one, but to be going to Augusta during the Master and staying for a practice round it very cool,” says Borovilos, who started mini-putting at the age of two-and-a-half and had her first set of clubs by the time she was three.

Vanessa will not be the only Canadian competing in the girl’s 7 to 9 age division. Jayla Kucy from Camrose, Alta. won local qualifying in Dupont, Washington, a sub-regional event in Lacey, Washington, and then a regional final in Park City, Utah to qualify for the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. Ryan Blair from Oakbank, Man. also won the regional finals of the boy’s 10 & 11 age bracket in Minneapolis, Minnesota to earn his spot in the championship.

Borovilos won two qualifiers at different courses in Michigan in June and August to advance to the regional final in September at Prestwick Village GC in Highland Michigan. There she won the overall title, with victories in chipping and putting – and she’s working on the driving for the Masters.

“It’s a lot of driving around to get to the different qualifiers. When you’re there, it’s a lot of waiting because they get two drives and you wait for everyone else, next it’s three chips and you wait again and finally they get three putts and that’s it, but for a trip to the Masters and to compete against the best from across the United States, it’s worth it and I think she’s going to have a great time at Augusta,” says her father Dino who will accompany Vanessa along with her mother and brother. There’s also a players’ dinner to attend at Augusta National the evening before the championship.

At only eight years of age, Vanessa is a seasoned competitor and traveller. She started playing the Canadian Junior Golf Association tours at age five against eight and nine-year-old, has played twice at US Kids World Championship including a trip to Pinehurst Resort, she has been to the Callaway World Junior Golf Championship in San Diego where she finished sixth in the six and under division and teed it up at Doral and PGA National as part of the First Tee Program in the United States.

To prepare, Vanessa trains three hours each Saturday with Coach Lawrie including some ping pong to work on her eye-hand coordination. Dad takes his daughter to the Golf Dome three nights a week to practice what they worked on during the coaching session.

“We have made some pretty big changes to her swing over the winter and I’m excited to see how it plays out at Augusta and into the summer,” says Lawrie, who is a Golf Canada CN Future Links Leader Facilitator. “She doesn’t like losing and she has that calmness and confidence around her when she’s competing that you don’t see in every youngster.”

When she grows up, Vanessa would like to be just like American LPGA star Lexi Thompson, who turned pro at the age of 15.

“I would like to jump into that pond, just like Lexi,” Vanessa told her father after watching Thompson win the Kraft-Nabisco Championship in 2014.

Regardless of how she does at Augusta in April, Vanessa has signed up for the 2016 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship.  If she’s successful at the sub-regionals in Buffalo, she’ll advance to the regional final at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania and perhaps a return trip to the Masters in 2016.

Did you Know?

Canada has its own version of the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship that predates the Masters’ adaptation?

To learn more about Canada’s CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge, click here.

TUSCAN, Ariz. – Canada’s Maddie Szeryk is quietly putting together quite the resume in her first season at Texas A&M and as a member of the National Amateur Squad.

On Tuesday, the 18-year-old shot her way up the leaderboard at the Wildcat Invitational at Sewailo Golf Club with a final-round 68, finishing in a tie for fifth place. Szeryk’s five-birdie effort lifted the Texas A&M Aggies to 5^th place team finish.

More importantly, Szeryk’s finish marks the fifth time the dual-citizen has placed inside the top-5 in her freshman season at Texas A&M.

The No. 14 ranked Aggies have now played in eight events this season, meaning that Szeryk is on pace to finish inside the top-5 in over 50% of events played—not a bad stat to have, especially for a freshman.

Szeryk has built up experience internationally as well—she finished T15 this past summer representing Canada at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, Chi.

She will look to continue her trend next month when the Aggies head to Oxford, Miss., to tee-it-up at the Rebel Intercollegiate.

Click here for full scoring.

Fun watching @mszeryk over the last couple of days, 68 today & another top 5. Coming along very nicely @TheGolfCanada @aggiewomensgolf

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) March 17, 2015

UXBRIDGE, Ontario – The Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 13^th edition of its online auction is now live at gaoauction.com.

Proceeds from the items sold will go towards the GAO’s junior golf initiatives.

Bidders can bid on tee times at private, semi-private and public courses from around the province. In addition, other great golf prizes including: sports memorabilia, equipment, clothing, and more are up for grabs.

The first week of items will run for 7 days and new items will be updated each Monday. The auctions, hosted through eBay, are open to anyone, with an eBay account.

The auction is made possible by generous donors from across the province, including GAO member courses and partners/sponsors.

LAREDO, Tex. – National Amateur Squad member Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont. won his first collegiate event Saturday afternoon at the Border Olympics, posting a final-round 71 for a one-stroke victory at Laredo Country Club.

The University of Houston junior carded earlier rounds of 67 and 69 to finish just ahead of teammates Matt Scobie (Ajax, Ont.) and Roman Robledo en route to capturing medalist honours.

Even with three Cougars finishing atop the leaderboard, the University of Houston had to settle for a runner-up finish, three strokes behind champion Baylor.

Hamilton and the Cougars will tee-it-up again next week at the Valspar Invitational in Palm City, Fla.

Click here for full scoring.

Blessed and excited to have gotten my first NCAA win this week! Thank you to all my friends and family for their continuos support #blessed

— Blair Hamilton (@BlairHamilton12) March 14, 2015

Victoria, B.C. native and Team Canada Development Team member Naomi Ko was named her home province’s Junior Female Athlete of the Year at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. She won out over cyclist Maggie Coles-Lyster and swimmer Emily Overholt for the honour.

An enthused Ko graciously accepted the award and recognized her loved ones for the important role they have played in her success. “I want to thank my family for always supporting me and giving me unconditional love. I’m really honoured to win this great award.”

Mother Adriana, father Tony and younger brother Ethan beamed with pride as the 17-year-old secondary student was honoured following a successful season on the links. Ko took home the 2014 B.C. Junior Girls’ Amateur Championship and was runner up at the B.C. Juvenile Girls’ tournament. On the national stage, she finished T40 in the Canadian Women’s Amateur, third in the CN Future Links Pacific Championship and topped the field at the CN Future Links Ontario Championship.

“I have been working with (national team coach) Ann Carroll and I am very proud to be a Team Canada member. I’ve had some good results and I think it all started when I made Team Canada,” said Ko. “My goals for this year are to compete in more women’s amateur events, both provincially and nationally.”

David Atkinson, President of British Columbia Golf and Kris Jonasson, Executive Director of the provincial sport organization nominated Ko for the award.

One of Ko’s next challenges will see her head south of the border for the friendly confines of North Carolina State. She joins a program which has shown an impressive pedigree in nurturing Canadian talent. “I know this year’s team has Augusta James and Vivian Tsui on it and I know that Brittany Marchand and Amanda Baker also did well there.”

SUN CITY, Ariz. – Long-standing Team Canada member Brittany Marchand won her first professional event on Wednesday at the sixth Cactus Tour event on the grounds of Sun City Country Club.

Marchand, 22, posted six birdies en route to turning in the day’s low score of 68, good for an 8-under finish and a one-stroke victory over California native Emily Tubert. The victory marks her first professional event win during her five years with Team Canada.

A week prior to the event, the fifth-year chemical engineering major at N.C. State set aside a chunk of her schedule for a training session—which payed off in full.

Women’s Head Coach, Tristan Mullally, shared his excitement with Marchand’s well-deserving win.

“I am very proud of Brittany, she continues to do her own thing while pursuing a dream to become a successful professional. Last week we worked hard technically and I knew she had the potential to go play well—this is a great win for her.”

Marchand was one of 11 amateurs in the field of 60—making for an even more impressive victory.

Other Canadians in the field

• Jessica MacPhee (Langley, B.C.) – T20, +6
• Melissa Mabanta (Langley, B.C.) – T23, +7
• Megan Chapman (Thornbury, Ont.) – T25, +8
• Dani Shap (Mission, B.C.) – 55^th, +29
•  Kimberley Risulmi (a) (Lloydminster, Sask.) – T56, +32

Click here for full scoring.

Amateur @Britt_Marchand -8 (208) comes from behind to defeat @etubert -7 (209) two others at -4 (212) #amsruleEH pic.twitter.com/oeobV5LtEw

— THE CACTUS TOUR (@THECACTUSTOUR) March 12, 2015

Two years ago, junior golfer Dustin Barr began chemotherapy for two tumours, but he continued to practice every day and compete in the sport he loved. His will to win helped him beat cancer.

Over the weekend, the 19-year-old native of Thunder Bay, Ont. won his first junior tournament in Florida against a field of the top young players from around the world.

Barr went wire-to-wire in shooting consecutive scores of 71 to win the Boys 15-19 division of the Future Collegians World Tour event at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla.; he was two strokes clear of Marcos Montenegro of Argentina. Following the victory, Golfweek magazine recognized Barr as Junior Boys Player of the Week.

“I’ve worked really hard to get where I am right now. This means a lot,” said Barr, whose dreams of a NCAA college scholarship and playing on the PGA Tour never wavered even after the two cancerous tumors were found – one in his pancreas and another on his hip – in March 2013.

At the time, doctors said Barr required surgery to remove a part of his pancreas, as well as, a hip replacement. Barr underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy over the course of the next five months, but his Thunder Bay coach Dustin Wilson said Barr “played golf everyday and you’d never know he had cancer.”

After a golf trip to Scotland with Wilson that included his “wish” round at The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland arranged by the Children’s Wish Foundation, Barr continued chemotherapy; he competed through exhaustion and loss of hair from his treatments. After returning to Canada, Barr underwent 16 hours of surgery, after which the doctors declared the tumors dead and his hip saved. He immediately began a physiotherapy program to rebuild his strength.

This past January, Barr was strong enough to enroll at Core Golf Academy in Orlando. He is now working hard on his game with coach Nick Duffy, competing and hoping to catch the eye of an NCAA college coach.

In Thunder Bay, his mother Leanne said the family was overjoyed at Barr’s progress. “We have cleared the avalanche and now just have to get to the top of that mountain.”

Jeff Hay, Core’s Director of Golf, said Barr’s victory has thrilled everyone connected with the academy and demonstrated the young man’s grit and determination.

“It’s tremendous how Dustin has overcome such odds and continued to pursue his dream,” Hay said. “Because of his illness, he really hasn’t played many tournaments against top competition, which makes his win all the more incredible.

“With this victory and beating cancer, I think it sets Dustin up to attract attention from some college coaches. Wouldn’t any coach want a fighter like this guy?”

The stage has been set for the world’s top female junior golfers to put their talent and skill on display at the second annual World Junior Girls Championship.  The Marshes Golf Club in the nation’s capital is set to host the event from September 20-25 as the world’s premier 18-and-underplayers descend upon Ottawa to compete in both team and individual competition.

“We are thrilled to announce The Marshes Golf Club as hosts of this year’s World Junior Girls Championship. The challenging course and the scenic backdrop of Ottawa will showcase the game’s proud tradition in Canada,” said Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna.

Situated among wetlands and forests with the Gatineau Hills in the distance, The Marshes is a prime example of the craft and care that Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Sr. put into their course designs. The venerable club has been home to several local and provincial amateur competitions and has hosted five PGA of Canada Senior Championships, most recently in 2009.

Conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario and supported by the International Golf Federation, the 2015 edition of the World Junior Girls Championship will bring together 48of the top 18-and-under female golfers from 15countries. As hosts of the event, Canada will once again feature two contingents vying for the competition’s top prize.

When asked about having the championship in Ontario again, Golf Association of Ontario’s Executive Director Steve Carroll spoke to the tournament’s ability to grow the game. “It is an honour to host this event in our province for a second consecutive year and we greatly appreciate the support of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the Ottawa Valley Golf Association for this world class championship. It provides us the opportunity to not only develop our athletes on home soil, but to also showcase our great sport and display the amazing golf skills of these incredible athletes.”

The inaugural tournament held last year at Markham, Ont.’s Angus Glen Golf Club saw Team USA claim team honours while Beverly Hills, Calif. native Mika Liu finished atop the leaderboard. Team Sweden took home silver while Canada One comprised of Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C. and Grace St-Germain of Ottawa captured bronze. Canada Two, made up of Calgary native Jaclyn Lee, Thornhill, Ont.’s Selena Costabile and Richmond, B.C.’s Alisha Lau finished the tournament in 13^th place.

In addition to the 72-hole team and individual competitions, the World Junior Golf Championship will be a celebration of the sport with a specific focus on developing the game. Before the tournament gets underway, Golf Canada will host a Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) coaching summit and a girls skill development clinic.

“As much as this Championship is about competition, it also serves to strengthen the game and increase the profile of golf in Canada,” said Scott Simmons, CEO of Golf Canada.

The competition’s first round will begin on Tuesday, September 22; the tournament’s closing ceremonies will wrap-up the event on Friday, September 25 with one team and one player being crowned world champions.