Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont., has captured the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship title at Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club in Vernon, B.C.

The victory marks Hayward’s third Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior title in four years, as she previously won the championship in 2010 and 2011.

“It feels great, it’s always a tough field so a win is never a sure thing.” said Hayward. “You prepare hard and you put a lot of work into getting your game to a level to be in contention to win so it feels very satisfying.”

Hayward’s even par 213 (75-67-71) 54-hole score gave her a five-stroke victory over runner-up Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C. Hayward carded a final round even par 71 on Thursday that was highlighted by three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 11th hole.

“I putted a little more conservatively today because I wasn’t worried about making a charge,” she continued. “I just struck the ball well enough to win.”

Hayward played her final round alongside two fellow former Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Champions in Murdoch and Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C. The pairing had won a combined eight Royale Cup Canadian Senior titles with Hayward winning the ninth on Thursday.

“They are both great champions and we had a lot of fun out there,” Hayward said about her pairing.

Hayward was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Earlier this year she captured her third Investors Group Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur title. With the national win, Hayward earns an exemption into the 2013 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship contested September 21-26 at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.

Murdoch, who earlier this year was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, finished in second place at 5-over 218 (74-72-72) after firing a second consecutive 1-over 72. She also took home the Super Senior division title (60+) after Wednesday’s second round.

Diane Dolan of Gatineau, Que., and Marie-Therese Torti of Candiac, Que., finished in a tie for third at 7-over 220. Dolan (73-75-72) posted a 1-over 72 final round, while Torti (77-72-71) recorded an even par 71 on Thursday. Holly Horwood of Vancouver, B.C., rounded out the top five at 8-over 221 (71-76-74) after carding a 3-over 74 final round.

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont., leads the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship after the second round of action on Wednesday at Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club in Vernon, B.C.

Hayward, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007, soared into the lead after firing a 4-under 67 second round, the best round of the tournament. She now has a four-stroke lead heading into Thursday’s final round at even par 142.

“I hit the ball and putted the ball way better than I did yesterday,” said Hayward following her round. “Throughout the round I made a lot of 10 to 15 footers for birdie.”

Hayward has won the Royale Cup Canadian Senior Women’s Championship twice in her career (2010 and 2011) and earlier this year captured her third Investors Group Ontario Senior Women’s Amateur title.

“It’s a good field, there are a lot of good senior golfers in Canada so it’s never easy to win,” she continued. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Tied for second are two former Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Champions – Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C., and Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C., both sit at 4-over 146 after shooting 1-over 72 second rounds. Little previously won this event in 2008 and 2009, while 2013 Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee Murdoch captured the title in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007.

In fourth place is Holly Horwood of Vancouver, who came into the second round with a two-stroke lead. Horwood carded a 5-over 76  on Wednesday to sit at 5-over 147 after 36 holes of play. Rounding out the top five is Diane Dolan of Gatineau, Que., who sits at 6-over 148 after recording a 4-over 75.

In the Inter-Provincial Team Competition, Team British Columbia came out victorious on Wednesday, winning the title by three-strokes over Team Quebec. The British Columbia contingent of Little, Lynda Palahniuk of Kelowna, B.C., and Karen Pultz of Surrey, B.C., finished at 10-over 294 after carding a combined 5-over 147 final round. Team Quebec finished in second place at 13-over 297 while Team Ontario rounds out the top three at 17-over 301.

Claiming the Super Senior title (60+) was Murdoch who bested Horwood by a single stroke. Palahniuk rounded out the top three at 8-over 15 after shooting 6-over 77 in her second round.

The winner of the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Senior Women’s Championship earns an exemption into the 2013 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship being played September 21-26 at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.

Holly Horwood of Vancouver, B.C., leads the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship after the first round of action on Tuesday at Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club in Vernon, B.C.

“I’m very happy with how I played today,” said Horwood following her round. “I only missed one putt that I should have made and hit a lot of greens.”

Horwood carded an opening round even-par 71 on Tuesday to take a two-stroke lead heading into the second round.

“Tomorrow I just need to keep it straight and I should be fine,” she continued.

Diane Dolan of Gatineau, Que., Lynda Palahniuk of Kelowna, B.C., and Lisa Smego of Olympia, Wash., are tied for second after firing 2-over 73 in their first rounds.

Two former Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Champions are tied for fifth, as 2013 Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C., and Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C., both posted 3-over 74’s in the opening round.

In the Inter-provincial Team competition, Team British Columbia has a 3-stroke lead over Team Quebec heading into the final round of play with a team score of 5-over 147. Team British Columbia consists of Lynda Palahniuk of Kelowna, B.C., Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C., and Karen Pultz of Surrey, B.C. Team Quebec follows in second place at 8-over 150 while Team Ontario rounds out the top three at 12-over 154.

Horwood also leads the Super Senior competition (60+) by two strokes over Palahniuk, with Murdoch following in third. Ginny Marshall of Waterloo, Ont., is in fourth place at 5-over 76, while Jewell Malick of Rockwall, Tex., Joey Bush of Aurora, Ont., and Diane Williams of Calgary, Alta., are tied for fifth at 9-over 80.

The winner of the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Senior Women’s Championship earns an exemption into the 2013 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship being played September 21-26 at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.

Many of North America’s elite senior women amateurs are ready to compete for the Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship which takes place Aug. 20-22 at Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club, in Vernon, B.C.

The field of 107 players competes for the Ada Mackenzie Trophy over three rounds of stroke play. Simultaneously, the first two rounds of the championship feature an inter-provincial team competition and a Super-Senior championship, which is open to players 60 years of age and older.

“We are thrilled that Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club will have the opportunity to host this national championship,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Golf Canada Tournament Director. “The strong field that we have in attendance this year is sure to be treated to a beautiful golf course and a wonderful championship. We could not ask for a better conclusion to the 2013 Royale Cup events.”

Headlining the field will be 2013 Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductee Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C. Murdoch will attempt to take home a record fifth Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship title in her home province. Murdoch has also had success in international competition winning both the British and Irish Senior events.

This year’s field also consists of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and two-time Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont. Hayward, who was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007, won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011. Her illustrious career includes four Canadian Amateur Championships, five Ontario Amateur Championships, six Quebec Amateur Championships and an extraordinary 12 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur titles.

Also in the field is two-time Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C. who won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009. Previously this season, Little won her second Alberta Senior Ladies Championship title.

In addition to competing for the Ada Mackenzie Trophy, competitors vie for the Royale Cup Champions Trophy. This commemorative trophy honours each of the three women’s Canadian amateur champions (junior, amateur and senior) crowned each season by Golf Canada. The Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion, Team Canada National Squad member Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., and the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Champion, Maddie Szeryk of Allen, Texas, had their names etched on the trophy earlier this season.

The winner of the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship also earns an exemption into the 2013 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship being played September 21-26 at CordeValle Golf Club in San Martin, Calif.

The inter-provincial team championship features three-member teams competing in conjunction with the first two rounds of stroke play. Each day, the best two of three scores will count towards the two day team total. This year, Team Ontario looks to defend their title as provincial champions with Hayward, Andrea Blackwell of Kingston, Ont., and Ivy Steinberg of Stouffville, Ont.

Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured many of the country’s top senior golfers. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Murdoch, Hayward, Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor and Margaret Todd all own senior titles.

The Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship is contested over three rounds of stroke play (54-holes). The field is open to players who have reached the age of 50 by the date of the first round, Aug. 20, 2013.

Practice rounds will be held Monday, Aug. 19. Championship play will be conducted Tuesday, Aug. 20 through Thursday, Aug. 22 with 18 holes of stroke play each day. Any tie after 54 holes will result in a hole-by-hole playoff.

A complete list of competitors, starting times and full post-round results for the 2013 Royale Cup Canadian Women’s Senior Championship can be found here.