UXBRIDGE, Ont. — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) has begun its countdown to the 2015 competition season with this week’s release of the 2015 Provincial Championships schedule. Once again, the schedule features some of the best courses in the province that are sure to challenge all competitors.

The season will kick off May 14 with the Men’s Better Ball Championship, hosted annually by Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto.

After the Men’s Better Ball is the first junior event: the Investors Group Junior Spring Classic, May 16-18. The boys return to play Wooden Sticks in Uxbridge, while the girls’ event will be held at Grey Silo Golf Club in Waterloo.

One of the highlights of this year’s schedule will be the Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship, July 7-11 at St. Thomas Golf & Country Club in Union. The 2015 tournament will mark the 100^th anniversary of the event. Following a very successful tournament in 2014, which saw now professional golfer Brooke Henderson capture the crown, the 2015 event should be even more of a celebration of women’s golf in Ontario.

The Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship will be played the following week, July 14-17 at the Peterborough Golf & Country Club. The 2014 Ontario Men’s Amateur Champion, Chris Hemmerich, is also now pursuing a career among the professional ranks, meaning 2015 will crown new men’s and women’s Ontario amateur champions.

New on the schedule for 2015 is the Ontario Pee Wee Championship. This two-round tournament will be open to boys and girls under 13-years old. Puslinch Lake Golf Course in Cambridge will be the host for the inaugural event, July 27-29.

Lastly, the Investors Group Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will team up with the Investors Group Senior Women’s Championship and both will be played July 21-23 at Loyalist Country Club in Bath.

A full schedule and tournament registration information can be found on the GAO’s tournaments site here.

ADELAIDE, Australia – Team Canada’s Women’s Development Squad is geared up to showcase their talent on Monday morning (Australian Daylight Time) when foursome matches begin at The Grange Golf Club for the time-honoured Astor Trophy.

The Astor Trophy, first contested by the Ladies Golf Union in 1957, is contested once every four years between the Commonwealth nations. Participating this year, along with Canada, are teams from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and a combined squad from Great Britain and Ireland.

Each five-member team plays each other once in the morning with foursomes, followed by single matches in the afternoon. Total scores will be calculated following Friday’s final round to determine the winner. A Celebration Dinner will be conducted to close out the ceremony and honour the winner.

Ann Carroll, Canada’s Development Squad coach, leads Grace St. Germain (Ottawa), Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.), Jaclyn Lee (Calgary), Alisha Lau (Richmond, B.C.) and Michelle Kim (Surrey, B.C.) into overseas action for one of their first events as a new team.

Canada has their sights set on their third title in Astor Trophy history—they won previously in 1979 and 1987.

Live scoring is available here.

We are ready to go ! @alishalau13 @gracestgermain @michellekimyr @JaclynLee57 & Naomi Ko #godragons pic.twitter.com/KWkxNN6oil

— ann carroll (@AnnAnncarroll) January 11, 2015

Australia hit back superbly on day one of the Astor Trophy to snare a valuable win against Canada.

The visitors had gone to lunch with a 1.5-0.5 lead over Australia at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, thanks in part to a stunning run by Ottawa’s Grace St-Germain.

The Canadian junior girls champion holed out for eagle on the par-four third hole of the West Course, then backed it up with a hole-in-one on the eighth minutes later.

It gave her and Naomi Ko a 1-up victory over highly rated Australian pair Shelly Shin and Hannah Green in the first foursomes match.

And when Becky Kay and Gennai Goodwin halved their match against Jaclyn Lee and Alisha Lau, the match was in the balance.

But both Green and Shin hit back hard in the afternoon singles matches with incredible birdie barrages for resounding wins.

Green was six under when she beat St-Germain 5-&-3, while Shinn was three under when she dispatched Ko 5-&-4 to give the hosts back the upper hand.

Jaclyn Lee beat Kay 3-&-2 to square the match overall for Canada, but hometown favourite Jenny Lee and Goodwin each stood firm on their closing holes to record 1-up victories.

In the other match contested on the opening day of the five-day event, New Zealand recorded an impressive win against the fancied Great Britain and Ireland team.

The Kiwis were one down after the morning foursomes, but Alanna Campbell stood tall on the last hole in the last match to win 2-up and ensure a remarkable 4-3 win for her country.

Only Bronte Law for the GB&I team could muster a full point in the afternoon, dominated by the New Zealanders under threatening skies.

South Africa had the first-round bye, but will begin its campaign against the GB&I team in the morning, while today’s winning teams will do battle to determine the early leader.

Canada has the day two bye.

FAR HILLS, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced Barbara Nicklaus as its recipient of the 2015 Bob Jones Award.

Presented annually since 1955, the Bob Jones Award is the USGA’s highest honor. It recognizes an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character and respect for the game exhibited by Jones, winner of nine USGA championships.

Often referred to as the “First Lady of Golf,” Mrs. Nicklaus has skillfully used her influence as wife of 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus for nearly 55 years to generate attention for youth-related charitable causes and volunteerism.

“Barbara’s generosity of spirit and deep respect for the game have touched the lives of countless families throughout the world,” said USGA President Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. “Her dedication to support players and spouses, and advocacy for multiple causes, are worthy of our highest honor. She has been the rock for arguably one of the game’s greatest champions, while raising a family and devoting her heart and soul into what she believes in. We are proud to bestow this award upon her to recognize her lasting contribution to the game.”

Their desire to encourage youth participation in golf led to the formation of the Barbara and Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Endowment Fund, which supports junior golf programs at the local, state and national level for children who otherwise might not be introduced to the game.

Mrs. Nicklaus currently serves as the chairman of the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, whose mission is to provide charitable support for activities that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders. The foundation, which also supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed at pediatric health care and health-related services, has raised more than $32 million since its inception in 2004.

In 2010, the foundation became the lead charity of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, a PGA Tour event founded by the Nicklauses in 1976, with the intention of giving back to local charities as one of the Tournament’s primary objectives. To date the event has generated more than $23.5 million in donations to Central Ohio charities, including more than $13 million to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Mrs. Nicklaus’ involvement as co-chairperson for the charity that organizes The Honda Classic on the PGA Tour has also benefited the foundation. Funds generated through the event in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., have been instrumental in opening the Nicklaus Outpatient Center in partnership with Miami Children’s Hospital, which is designed to meet the healthcare needs of children and adolescents from birth through age 21.

“Wow! What a truly humbling honour!” she said when informed of the award. “The USGA has been a part of our lives since Jack and I were teenagers, and we have always respected and appreciated their contributions and impact on the great game of golf. To receive this honour from them, one that bears the name of a man who had such a deep impact on our family, is one of the most meaningful recognitions I have been blessed to receive.

“Golf has not only given us an incredible life, it has provided us a vehicle and a means to make a difference in the lives of young boys and girls, and the families who love them. I don’t think our life’s work could ever compare to or repay what the game has given to us. I thank the USGA, the caretakers of this wonderful game, for this extremely kind gesture and honor.”

Mrs. Nicklaus joins a list of winners that includes champions such as her husband, Jack (1975), Francis Ouimet (1955), Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1957), Arnold Palmer (1971), Ben Hogan (1976), Annika Sorenstam (2012) and Payne Stewart (2014), as well as those who have contributed to the fabric of the game in other meaningful ways, including Richard S. Tufts (1967), Joseph C. Dey Jr. (1977), Bing Crosby and Bob Hope (1978), P.J. Boatwright Jr. (1993) and President George H.W. Bush (2008). Mr. and Mrs. Nicklaus are the first married couple to receive the accolade.

The devoted mother of Jack II, Steve, Nan, Gary and Michael, and grandmother of 22, Mrs. Nicklaus continues to work for the causes she holds dear.

The Bob Jones Award will be presented at a ceremony during the week of the 115th U.S. Open Championship, which takes place June 15-21, 2015 at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.

TORONTO – The Golf Journalists Association of Canada [GJAC] has announced Adam Hadwin, Alena Sharp, Corey Conners and Brooke Henderson are the 2014 Players of the Year as voted by GJAC members across the country.

“We at GJAC are delighted to honour this remarkable foursome, and the runners up who in other years could have won handily,” said Hal Quinn, GJAC President. “The skill levels and accomplishments of the winners and all the nominees heralds a new and very promising era in Canadian golf.”

Adam Hadwin was named the Male Professional of the Year in a tight vote with Graham DeLaet and Nick Taylor. Hadwin won twice on the Web.com Tour, finished first on the Tour’s money list, and earned full status for the PGA Tour in 2014-15. He already has one top-10 finish this season. DeLaet, who earned over $2.6 million on the PGA Tour in 2014, is Canada’s highest-ranked pro golfer, while Taylor became the first Canadian in five years to win on the PGA Tour.

Alena Sharp was named the Female Professional of the Year for the second time in the past four years. Sharp had two top-20 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2014 and was Canada’s highest-ranked female professional golfer, prior to Brooke Henderson turning professional in December.

Henderson was voted Female Amateur of the Year for the third year in a row. The 17-year-old vaulted to the top of the world amateur rankings with six tournament wins in 2014. Henderson was runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, and was low amateur with a T-10 finish in the U.S. Women’s Open.

Corey Conners is another repeat winner as Male Amateur of the Year for the second year in a row. Conners, a member of Canada’s national team, finished second at the U.S. Amateur earning a chance to participate in the 2015 Masters Tournament and the U.S. Open. Conners won three NCAA Division I individual titles in his graduating year from Kent St. University, and is Canada’s highest-ranked male amateur golfer.

RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) has announced its 2015 national tournament schedule. Heading into their 23^rd year of operation, the CJGA will once again provide opportunities for junior golfers aged 5-19 right across Canada with 91 domestic events on the national schedule.

The CJGA Junior Tour (boys and girls aged 11-19) will have 59 events across Canada to participate in while the CJGA Linkster Tour (boys and girls aged 5-13) will have 36 events in four different provinces. New to the program in 2015 will be the addition of the Girls 14 & under division on the CJGA Junior Tour after completing a successful pilot in British Columbia in 2014.

There will be a number of events CJGA members can participate in throughout the season, including the Nike Golf Junior Series, an eight event series which will span the entire country, culminating in the Nike Golf Junior Championship, a winners-only event.

CJGA members also have the opportunity to qualify for a number of national and international events. On a national scope, the CJGA will have three major national events, CJGA PING Canadian Junior Match Play Championship, CJGA Mizuno National Golf Championship, and Nike Golf Junior Championship. Juniors will again have the opportunity to qualify for the Junior Canada Cup, a Ryder-Cup style event that is incorporated in the GOLFest Nova Scotia event schedule.

One special highlight on the CJGA Junior Tour will be the Cabot Links Junior Open to be held at the world renowned course Cabot Links in Cape Breton, NS. Juniors from across Canada will have the opportunity to participate in this open event and play Canada’s only authentic links course.

CJGA members will also be eligible for unmatched international competition in 2015 including Junior World Golf Championships (San Diego, CA), Euro Junior Golf Cup (St. Andrew’s Scotland), North America Cup (Ontario, Canada), LCS Nations Cup (San Diego, CA), (Veritas World Junior (Los Angeles, CA), Canadian International Junior Challenge (Ontario, Canada), and the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championship (China) just to name a few.

“We continue to build the programming and event schedules across the country with the support of our members and sponsors,” said John Lawrence, Director of Tour Operations at the CJGA.  “Junior golfers in this country will have no shortage of opportunity for tournament competition this coming season and we’re excited about the prospects of another successful season both domestically and on the international stage.”

The CJGA will continue it’s partnership with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to conduct the co-sanctioned AJGA/CJGA Junior Championship in August. The event in 2015 will move to Horseshoe Resort (Highlands Course) in August.

“We are pleased the relationship with our American counterparts continues to grow as we can provide our members the opportunity to compete in an AJGA event on home soil and continue to earn valuable stars through our domestic events towards additional AJGA competitions” said Lawrence.

CJGA members will see an increase in the number of AJGA (PBE) Performance Star and Golfweek ranked events in 2015. All CJGA events will continue to be ranked on Junior Golf Scoreboard, as well as Golf Canada’s CN Future Links Order of Merit points, along with various provincial association merit points. Final event ranking & exemptions will be updated in the New Year.

Click here to view the 2015 schedule.

Jack Nicklaus and Keegan Bradley are among seven judges for the fifth annual “Best Pee-Wee Golf Swing in the World” contest, in which parents can post to YouTube the swing of children 8 or under.

The deadline for submitting videos is Jan. 9.

Brendon Elliott, a PGA professional and founder of Little Linkster’s, LLC and Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, is leading the panel of judges that also includes Frank Nobilo, former PGA of America president Allen Wronowski and swing instructor Chuck Evans.

“In our first two years, we were very excited to have such a successful launch of what we wanted to continue to grow into an annual showcase of what very young golfers are capable of doing,” Elliott said. “After last year, we knew we had something special, as almost 200 entries poured in from over 14 countries from around the world.”

Parents can upload a video not longer than 60 seconds to You Tube, and then share the link to the contest entry form on www.LittleLinksters.com. Prizes are awarded for kids under 3, and age groups 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8.

Last year, North York, Ont.’s Nathan Yoo took home finished runner-up in the age 7-8 category. His submission is below.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Team Canada Development Squad member Tony Gil finished with a final-round, 2-under 69 Tuesday to finish alone in fourth place at the 2014 Jr. Orange Bowl.

Overall, the Vaughan, Ont., native finished at 3-under par (72-66-74-69) through four rounds of play at the Biltmore Golf Course. The 16-year-old flew up the leaderboard after Sunday’s second round, which was highlighted by a 5-under performance on the front nine.

Gil, who represented Canada at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China earlier this year, is verbally committed to attend the University of Houston in 2016.

On the girls side, Canada’s Grace St-Germain finished 15th. The 16-year-old Ottawa native came through with a promising finish in her first tournament as a member of Team Canada’s Development Squad after being named to the team last month.

St-Germain, a former Canadian Junior Girls Champion, continues to build on a strong foundation and will look to take her momentum into the new year along with Gil. Her friend, Canadian sensation Brooke Henderson, took home the trophy for the girls a year earlier.

Click here for boys scoring.

Click here for girls scoring.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla.—Team Canada’s Adam Svensson finished one-stroke back of champion Gabriel Lench to capture runner-up honours at the South Beach International Amateur Monday.

Svensson, a Surrey, B.C. native, carded 21 birdies through four days of play en route to finishing at 10-under par (68-67-70-68–273). All rounds were played at the Miami Beach Golf Club—except for the second round—which was played at Normandy Shore Golf Club.

Svensson traded shots back-and-forth with Lench in a nail-biting affair that came down to the final holes. Despite birdying No. 18, the 20-year-old couldn’t catch the leading American. Lench, a native of Lake Mary, Fla., secured the win with a bogey-free final round 67. The American also won the Florida Amateur Championship earlier in the year, and will surely improve upon his No. 399 standing in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

Now in his junior year at Barry University, Svensson continues to build his stellar resume. He is coming off a NCAA win earlier in the year (Guy Harvey Invitational) prior to the strong finish at South Beach. The year earlier, Svensson captured seven NCAA events on his way to winning the Jack Nicklaus award, given to the most outstanding golfer in NCAA Division I, II and III.

Fellow Team Canada teammate Corey Conners was also in action at South Beach. The 22-year-old Listowel, Ont. native finished tied for 12th at 1-under par (69-71-72-70–282). Development Squad member Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont. came in at 1-over par to finish T27.

In addition to Team Canada’s athletes, Francis Berthiaume of Valleyfield, Que. tied for 24th at even-par, while Francis Elliott Whitley of Hamilton, Ont. finished tied for 71st at 9-over par.

Click here for full results.