The 2025 golf season was a reminder that the momentum in Canadian golf not only continued but accelerated with pace. Driven by wins on and off the course, expanded programming, commercial and philanthropic success, and a passion for the sport that spans coast-to-coast, Canadian golf is in a great place.

Golf holds its place as the number one participation sport in Canada as is evident by another record-breaking year, with 11.2 million scores posted on the Golf Canada App by more than 360,000 Golf Canada members at 1,550 member clubs across the country.

The professional game mirrored the success of recent years as Canadian golf fans were treated to another memorable year. Ask a Canadian golf fan to pick a highlight from 2025 and they would probably say Brooke Henderson’s win at the CPKC Women’s Open. Henderson’s triumph at the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club returned her to the winners’ circle after an incredible performance in front of the home crowd to win her second CPKC Women’s Open title. Henderson’s win further strengthened her position as the most successful Canadian professional golfer in history with her 14th win on the LPGA Tour. She closed the LPGA season with a T7 finish at the CME Group Tour Championship.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C. continued his winning ways on the PGA TOUR, taking the Sony Open in Hawaii in January for his fifth career title on Tour. Taylor has won at least once in three consecutive years and all three via playoff, including the historic 2023 RBC Canadian Open in a thrilling four-hole playoff with Tommy Fleetwood. Taylor also added a T19 finish at the Tour Championship in November.

Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. continues to assert himself as one of the game’s best, earning seven top 10 finishes on the PGA TOUR including a T4 finish at the Tour Championship and his fourth top 10 finish at The Masters. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. added four top 10’s as well as a T5 finish at the PGA Championship in May.

More noise was made by Canadians on the global professional circuits, including 17-year-old Anna Huang of Vancouver, B.C. who turned pro in January and went on to win back-to-back tournaments in September on the Ladies European Tour (LET). The Team Canada member earned her first professional win at the La Sella Open in Spain and followed it up a week later with a win at the Lacoste Ladies Open de France and closes the year ranked no. 114 on the Rolex World Rankings.

Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont. recorded his first professional win at the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic in January and finished the year with four top 10’s on the Korn Ferry Tour. The 24-year-old earned his PGA TOUR card for 2026 by finishing 19th in the Korn Ferry Tour season standings and will be the youngest Canadian on Tour next year.

Joining the Canadian contingent will be A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. Ewart earned medalist honours at PGA TOUR Q-School last Sunday. The Team Canada member was joined by Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. who kept his card by finishing T2. Ewart and Svensson bring the Canadian contingent up to seven members on the PGA TOUR in 2026.

Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S. and Leah John of Vancouver, B.C. earned their first professional wins in 2025, with Creighton winning The Wichita Open in June on the Korn Ferry Tour and John earned her first Epson Tour win at the Four Winds Invitational in August. John earned her 2026 LPGA Tour card finishing T10 at the LPGA Q-Series Final Qualifying Stage. Maude-Aimee LeBlanc also retained her status for 2026, joining Henderson and John as the Canadian contingent on the LPGA Tour next year.

The amateur circuit brought another banner year for Team Canada, led by 15-year-old Team Canada – NextGen member, Aphrodite Deng of Calgary, Alta. In July, Deng won the 76th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship becoming the first Canadian to win the title in tournament history. One month later, Deng followed up her historic performance and captivated the crowds in Mississauga with a T20 finish at the CPKC Women’s Open, earning the Marlene Stewart Streit Low Amateur Award. Deng also won twice on the AJGA taking the Junior Invitational and Mizuho Americas Open and was later named junior player of the year by the AJGA.

Shauna Liu of Maple, Ont. won her second straight Canadian Junior Girls Championship in August and became the ninth multi-time winner and first back-to-back winner since Heather Kuzmich in 1982. Liu added four additional wins in 2025, including the Peloton Glencoe Invitational. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. won the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in July. Both Liu and Xing earned silver medals as part of Team Canada 1’s runner-up finish at the 2025 World Junior Girls Golf Championship in September with Clairey Lin of Langley, B.C. Team Canada 2 represented by Clara Ding of White Rock, B.C., Eileen Park of Red Deer, Alta. and Ruihan Kendria Wang of Vancouver, B.C. finished sixth led by Ding, the individual runner up who also added a 2025 win at the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open.

Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. earned her second collegiate win for the University of Texas at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and competed in her second consecutive Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. won the Chevron Collegiate in her freshman year at Texas A&M University. Team Canada teammates, Tillie Claggett of Calgary, Alta., Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont. and Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver, B.C. were all victorious in 2025 as well.

Austin Krahn of Christina Lakes, B.C. took home gold at the 2025 Canada Summer Games and added two provincial titles this past year while Dawson Lew of Toronto, Ont., a recent addition to the Team Canada program, won the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in August and added four additional wins in 2025.

Some familiar names also added national championships to their trophy cabinets this year. Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. won her third Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. claimed her fourth Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Charles Fitzsimmons of King, Ont. won his third Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. won her fifth straight Canadian All Abilities Championship. The UBC Thunderbirds claimed the men’s and women’s Canadian University/College Championship in convincing fashion once again.

Beyond the professional and amateur ranks, the future of golf in Canada shrines bright. The sport has welcomed a new wave of participants with grass roots programming that has introduced golf to more youth and women annually.

First Tee – Canada posted its highest participation numbers in 2025, with more than 106,000 youth taking part in programs across the country, a 25 per cent increase from last year. Since its inception in 2021, First Tee – Canada has reached over 276,000 young Canadians.

In addition, 481 locations offered programming across schools, community centres and golf facilities, supported by nearly 350 coaches, both increases from last year. First Tee – Canada continues to be a leader in youth programming with a focus on strengthening diversity and equity in the sport. In 2025, 74 per cent of partnered schools and community organizations served underrepresented communities with close to 60 per cent of programs delivered at no cost to participants. Through the efforts of six First Tee chapters nationwide, youth participation is becoming more reflective of Canada’s diversity with 42 per cent of on-course participants identifying as female and 36 per cent as BIPOC. The program’s growth was backed by strong donor support with the Golf Canada Foundation raising more than $10 million for the sport in 2025, including $4.5 million for First Tee – Canada.

First Tee – Canada was also the proud charitable beneficiary of the 2025 RBC Canadian Open and First Tee – Alberta received nearly $200,000 through it’s partnership with the Rogers Charity Classic in 2025. In keeping with golf’s charitable giving, the CPKC Women’s Open continues to leave a meaningful legacy in each host city through its CPKC Has Heart program, this year donating a record $4.5 million for MacKids and Trillium Health Partners, supporting pediatric and cardiac health.

For the first time, the Youth on Course program was available in every province across the country. The program allows Golf Canada members between the ages of 6 to 18 to play subsidized rounds for $5 or less at participating courses during designated times. In 2025, Youth on Course members played nearly 50,000 subsidized rounds across Canada, marking a record high season and a 51 per cent increase over rounds played in the previous year. The program also drove strong engagement, with 4,470 new members joining Golf Canada to access these affordable playing opportunities.

She Plays Golf expanded in 2025 with the addition of a week-long festival in Atlantic Canada in the fall complimenting stops in Vancouver, Calgary and the Greater Toronto Area. The She Plays Golf Championship Series once again aligned with week-long festivals and provided four exemptions into the CPKC Women’s Open.

She Plays Golf featured 24 events across 19 golf facilities and engaged with more than 800 women and girls. Across all festivals, over 700 participants were new to the game and took part in beginner friendly activities led by close to 90 women coaches and volunteers.

Feedback remained overwhelmingly positive, with 97 per cent of participants sharing that the event(s) provided an atmosphere that made them feel comfortable and welcome, and 88 per cent indicating they are very likely to continue participating in golf following their experience.

In addition, 23 girls-only Try Golf clinics were delivered through RBC Community Junior Golf, reaching 275 girls.

Bolstered by another record-breaking year for scores posted, the Golf Canada App received a major update in 2025. New enhancements included group score posting, making it easier than ever to record scores for your playing partners during group rounds. The introduction of smartwatch support for Android wearables brought on-wrist GPS yardages and digital scoring to a wide range of devices, while upgraded GPS tools now provide precise front, middle and back-of-green distances to support smarter club selection and on-course strategy. The update also introduced a Golf Canada membership referral program and a new achievements system, along with enhanced privacy controls that allow users to choose whether their scores appear in their friends’ feeds.

An exciting new chapter for the RBC Canadian Open was written in June, as TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont. became the 38th course in tournament history to host Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship. Fans were treated to a thrilling finish as New Zealand’s Ryan Fox beat Sam Burns in a four-hole playoff. The 115th playing of the RBC Canadian Open will return to TPC Toronto in 2026.

During tournament week a new initiative, Birdies for Trails was created in collaboration with partners at TPC Toronto and WM. Every birdie at The Rink Hole (no. 14) directly contributed to raise $29,500 for the Credit Valley Conservation Foundation and the development of the Credit Valley Trail, a passageway stretching 100 kilometres in length, linking Orangeville, Ont. with Port Credit (Mississauga), Ont.

Following the tournament, RBC and the PGA TOUR announced a multi-year extension of the bank’s title sponsorship of the RBC Canadian Open. RBC, a long-time supporter of professional and amateur golf in Canada had been the proud title sponsor of the Men’s National Open Championship since 2008.

As the outdoor season drew to a close in most parts of the country, Golf Canada launched a comprehensive off-course golf strategy to enhance the year-long golf experience. Golf has evolved into a 12-month activity, and the strategy is supported by the Just Swing campaign, highlighting the benefits and different forms of off-course golf. The strategy also focuses on Provincial Golf Associations and their partnership with Golf Canada in launching a new facility membership offering, specifically designed for off-course operators to promote their operations to Canada’s largest and most engaged golf audience.

As Canadian golf continues to write exciting new chapters, one will end in early 2026. Glen Abbey Golf Club has been the home of Golf Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame since 1977. In February 2026, Golf Canada will move its operation to the new home for Canadian golf at TPC Toronto.

The new home for Canadian golf will also be home to First Tee – Canada along with a 30,000 square foot 18-hole community putting course that is free and open to the public. For more information on the home for Canadian golf, please click here.

In February, three new members were inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, including accomplished amateur golfer, Richard Scott, former professional golfer Jerry Anderson and renowned course architect Charles Blair Macdonald. Elements of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame are proudly weaved into the main clubhouse, locker rooms and accommodation villas at TPC Toronto. Memorabilia highlighting Canadian golf legends and significant moments in Canadian golf history are also being showcased across the property.

Canadian golf couldn’t happen without the many wonderful people – volunteers, club staff, superintendents, PGA of Canada professionals, operators, media, and other industry stakeholders – whose efforts are paramount to the success of the sport. Closer to home, Golf Canada is proud of its staff for their efforts to advance the sport and who once again earned the organization its Great Places to Work designation.  

With the holiday season upon us and the book on 2025 drawing to a close, one thing is certain, Canadian golf has never been stronger. The momentum continues and it brings the promise of more great moments that lie ahead.

PGA TOUR

A.J. Ewart birdied three of his final six holes to finish atop the leaderboard and become one of five players to secure the PGA Tour cards for next season at the PGA Tour Q-School. The Team Canada member secured membership on the PGA Tour on his first appearance at the final stage. Ewart, who made a hole-in-one in round two to vault him to the top of the leaderboard, had three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour Americas this past year, which secured him a spot in the second qualifying stage. He advanced to the final stage after finishing in a tie for fifth at the event in Arizona. Fellow Canadian Adam Svensson had five birdies and a bogey in the final round to climb 10 places and finish runner-up, retaining his card for another season and improving his status heading into 2026. Svensson finished 167 in the FedEx Cup standings this year and was in danger of losing his status after his exemption for winning the 2022 RSM Classic had expired. Ben Silverman birdied three of his first four holes in the final round to climb seven places and be among the top five to secure a Tour card. In the past, the top five and ties would have been safe, but this year, a hole-by-hole playoff was needed to determine the final recipient. Dylan Wu made a 20-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to claim the final card, leaving Silverman with conditional status and a chance to improve his standing through the first 14 events of the season. The remaining Canadians will have conditional status through the first reshuffle, which will take place after the sixth event of the season, and all have membership on the PGA Tour Americas. …This is the first time since 2014 that Adam Hadwin will not be a full-time member on the PGA Tour.

NEXT EVENT: Sony Open (Jan 15)

LPGA TOUR

Andrew Novak made three straight birdies on the back nine, and Lauren Coughlin made a birdie putt on the final hole as the duo captured the Grant Thornton Invitational by a record three strokes. Novak and Coughlin, who teamed up for the first time in this modified four-ball event, broke the tournament scoring record at 28-under 188. It is Novak’s second team event win after claiming the Zurich Classic of New Orleans earlier this year. Novak and Coughlin each earned US$500,000 for the win, the largest payoff for Coughlin, who won twice on the LPGA last year. The teams of Nelly Korda / Denny McCarthy and Jennifer Kupcho / Chris Gotterup finished tied for second, with Korda missing a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole that would have given them solo second place. …Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners, playing as a team for the third time in this event, finished in a tie for fifth. They had previously finished second and fourth.

NEXT EVENT: Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions (Jan 29)

EUROPEAN TOUR

Jayden Schaper made an eagle on the first playoff hole to defeat Shaun Norris in the weather-shortened Alfred Dunhill Championship. It is Schaper’s first European Tour win. Norris birdied four of his last six holes and appeared on his way to successfully defending the title he won a year ago until Schaper finished with two birdies over his final three holes to force the playoff. Schaper found the fairway bunker with his tee shot on the first extra hole but made a spectacular approach to set up the winning eagle putt. The tournament was reduced to 54 holes after rain left the course unplayable on Saturday.

NEXT EVENT: AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open (Dec. 18)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill

LADIES EUROPEAN TOUR

Team Canada member Yeji Kwon was among the qualifiers to advance to the final stage of Ladies European Tour Q-School after finishing a tie for 19th at the qualifying event in Morocco. Ashley Chow failed to advance after finishing in a tie for 32nd at a separate event in Morocco, missing the cut line by four strokes. Maude-Aimee Leblanc and Kwon will be among the 155 players in the final stage, with the top 65 and ties after four days of play advancing to the final round, where the top 20 and ties will earn a card for the 2026 season. Those finishing 21 to 50 will get conditional status.

NEXT EVENT: LET Q-School-Final Stage (Dec. 16)
CANADIANS ENTERED: Yeji Kwon, Maude-Aimee Leblanc

The 2026 PGA TOUR Americas schedule will feature a strong Canadian presence, with six tournaments staged coast-to-coast as part of the 15-event season announced by the PGA TOUR.

Running April through October and visiting nine countries, the tour’s third campaign again offers a direct pathway to the Korn Ferry Tour, with the top 10 players on the year-end points list earning membership for 2027. The season will conclude Oct. 15–18 at the PGA Oceans 4 Tour Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Canadian golf fans will see the circuit in full force during a nearly two-month stretch beginning in July, marking the largest national footprint on the schedule.

The Explore NB Open in Fredericton, N.B., opens the Canadian swing from July 9–12 at Mactaquac Golf Course. The tour then moves into Ontario for back-to-back weeks: the Commissionaires Ottawa Open presented by Lépine Apartments at The Marshes Golf Club (July 16–19), followed by the Osprey Valley Open at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s Heathlands course (July 23–26).

Competition returns Aug. 20–23 with the Manitoba Open at Elmhurst Golf & Country Club in Winnipeg, one of the longest-running tournaments in Canadian golf. The western portion of the schedule begins Sept. 10–13 as the Digital Commerce Group Open is played at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria. The Canadian segment wraps up Sept. 17–20 in Edmonton, where Blackhawk Golf Club hosts the ATB Classic presented by Building Trades of Alberta.

“The quality of golf courses, sponsors and community support on PGA TOUR Americas continues to rise,” said Alex Baldwin, president of PGA TOUR Americas and the Korn Ferry Tour, in a statement. “We have 15 great tournaments on our 2026 schedule, and each one provides a chance for the future stars of the PGA TOUR to develop the skills needed to succeed at the next level.”

The season opens April 16–19 with the 71st ECP Brazil Open at the Rio Olympic Golf Course, followed by stops in Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia and the United States before the tour shifts north into Canada.

The top 60 players following the ATB Classic will qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship in the Dominican Republic. Beyond Korn Ferry Tour status for the top 10, all 10 will also earn US$15,000 through the Pathways Player Achievement Grant.

PGA TOUR Americas membership for 2026 will be finalized after Q-School, held in March across five U.S. sites. Eligibility includes tournament winners, returning members, top finishers from the 2025 points list and graduates of PGA TOUR University.

Fall is the last gasp before winter shuts golf down for recreational players, but it’s also when professional players have a chance to move up to the next level of the sport.

Drew Nesbitt was the lone Canadian to make the jump from the third-tier PGA Tour Americas to the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour at last week’s Fortinet Cup Championship. Nesbitt tied for 43rd in the season finale to maintain a top-10 ranking to earn promotion. 

Born in Toronto but playing out of Hockley Valley, Ont., Nesbitt finished the year with three top-five finishes, including a win at the Times Colonist Victoria Open on Sept. 21. 

“The title may say Korn Ferry Tour rookie, but I certainly don’t feel like one in the sense that I have experience at the higher levels,” said Nesbitt on Tuesday. “I have played in PGA Tour events, so I can again draw on those experiences and how to operate my schedule.

“I hold myself to a very high standard in terms of my routines and how I go and operate about my business. I’m proud of that but I can always improve.”

As the leading Canadian in the Fortinet Cup, Nesbitt earned an exemption and will make his fourth appearance at the RBC Canadian Open next year. He will join the Korn Ferry Tour for the first time in 2026, making him one of the older rookies on that tour at the age of 30.

“I’m a little bit older than a few guys, but somebody I’m really fond of is (PGA Tour player) Justin Rose. He’s 45 and he’s playing the best golf of his career,” said Nesbitt. “I think age is just a number. I try not to think of it as how many years I may potentially have left or this and that.

“I just think of it like I’m playing really great quality golf now and I don’t see it slowing down any time soon. I take care of my body, I’m in good shape, I hit it really hard.”

More Canadians might move up to the next tier of golf in the coming weeks.

Vancouver’s Leah John and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont., are both within striking distance of earning an LPGA Tour card this week when they tee it up at the Epson Tour Championship. 

The top 15 players at the end of the second-tier Epson Tour’s season get promoted. John is 20th on the Race for the Card points list and Rivers is 25th.

John said that her goal when she tees it up on Thursday is to be focused on her process and if she earns her way up to the LPGA Tour, that’s just a bonus.

“You know, commitment to shots, commitment to tempo and a positive attitude and taking care of all my controllables as best as I can,” she said on Wednesday after finishing her pro-am rounds. “Those are my big goals. 

“Obviously, winning would change my career but at the end of the day, I just want to enjoy my time out here and see what I can bring out of myself. I’m feeling good, I’m excited. Usually that’s a recipe for some good things.”

John and Rivers will be joined at Indian Wells Golf Resort, Celebrity Course in Indian Wells, Calif., by Monet Chun (61st) of Richmond Hill, Ont., Maddie Szeryk (45th) of London, Ont., Josee Doyon (T101st) of Saint-Georges, Que., Mary Parsons (106th) of Delta, B.C., and Megan Osland (unranked) of Kelowna, B.C.

AROUND THE TOURS

PGA TOUR — Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., leads the Canadian contingent into this week’s Sanderson Farms Championship. He won the event back in 2022 and is currently ranked 60th in the FedEx Cup’s fall standings. Adam Hadwin (139th) of Abbotsford, B.C., Adam Svensson (162nd) of Surrey, B.C., and Ben Silverman (163rd) of Thornhill, Ont., are also in the field at the Country Club of Jackson in Jackson, Miss.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., is the top Canadian on the Korn Ferry Tour headed into this week’s Compliance Solutions Championship. He’s 18th on the second-tier tour’s points list heading into the penultimate event of the season. He’ll be joined at The Patriot Golf Club in Owasso, Okla., by Myles Creighton (30th) of Digby, N.S., Vancouver’s Stuart MacDonald (46th), Matthew Anderson (66th) of Mississauga, and Etienne Papineau (121st) of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames and Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., are the only Canadians that will tee it up at Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS on Friday. Ames is 39th on the Schwab Cup points list and Weir is 69th.

LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was in one of the featured groups when the LOTTE Championship presented by Hoakalei teed off on Wednesday afternoon. She played with returning champion A Lim Kim of South Korea and 2002 winner Hyo Joo Kim, also of South Korea. Henderson is the only two-time champion in the event’s history, having emerged victorious in 2018 and 2019. Henderson is 28th in the Race to CME Globe standings with seven events left on the LPGA Tour calendar. Savannah Grewal (142nd) of Mississauga, Ont., Maude-Aimee Leblanc (144th) of Sherbrooke, Que., and Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (151st), are also in the field at Hoakalei Country Club at ‘Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii.

VICTORIA, B.C. — Drew Nesbitt delivered a career-defining performance Sunday at Uplands Golf Club, rallying to defeat fellow Canadian A.J. Ewart in a playoff and capture the 2025 Times Colonist Victoria Open presented by Andrew Sheret Limited.

Nesbitt erased a four-shot deficit with a 5-under 65 in windy conditions, pulling level with Ewart at 20-under 260 after regulation play. The 30-year-old from Horseshoe Valley, Ont., sealed the victory on the third extra hole, draining a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-3 ninth.

“I’ve been out here a little longer than some other guys, but I’ve dug deep internally and really tried to show myself that I can do this, that I’m able to play to my potential,” said Nesbitt, reflecting on a victory that underscores years of persistence on the professional circuit.

The win vaulted Nesbitt to No. 7 in the Fortinet Cup standings, setting up a pivotal week at the season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, B.C. The top 10 players in the standings will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for 2026.

“Job’s not done,” said Nesbitt, who had his father, Dave, on the bag this week. “Just because you’re in a position to earn Korn Ferry Tour membership doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed. This tour is strong, there are good players, and anything can happen. My goal is to go out next week, play the best I can, and let the results take care of themselves.”

Nesbitt’s victory is his first in 21 PGA TOUR Americas career starts. He becomes the first Canadian to win this season and the fourth across the Tour’s two-year history, joining Matthew Anderson, Stuart MacDonald and A.J. Ewart as national champions.

It continues a strong campaign that already includes three top-10 finishes in nine starts — highlighted by a solo third at the Explore NB Open and a T4 at the ECP Brazil Open. A long-time professional, Nesbitt has never played a Korn Ferry Tour event. His lone previous PGA TOUR-sanctioned win came at the 2019 Mexico Open on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, where he also carded the Tour’s first-ever 59 in 2018.

He has also appeared six times on the PGA TOUR, including three RBC Canadian Open starts. His most memorable moment came at the 2019 Honda Classic, where he famously saved par from the water with his pants rolled up and shirt off, making the cut on the number.

Ewart, who began Sunday with a four-stroke cushion, settled for a runner-up finish after being denied a second career PGA TOUR Americas title. The 25-year-old from Coquitlam, B.C., still moved up to No. 12 in the Fortinet Cup standings, just outside the top 10.

Elsewhere, Costa Rica’s Paul Chaplet recorded a career-best solo third at 17-under, while Florida’s Brett Roberts finished solo fourth, improving from No. 60 to No. 39 in the standings.

Fortinet Cup leader Michael Brennan added another top-10 with a T5 finish at 16-under. Already a three-time winner this season, Brennan has clinched his Korn Ferry Tour card for next year.

A.J. Ewart understands that golf is not a game that you could perfect, but it’s a game where you could learn and work hard to make continual improvements. Having that mindset has helped the talented young golfer achieve an impressive list of accomplishments as an amateur – and now, he is focused on translating that success onto the professional ranks.

Reflecting on his journey in golf, the soon to be 26-year-old is grateful to his father, Brad Ewart, for introducing him to the sport during his early childhood years and teaching him the fundamentals.

“My dad had me swinging the golf club as soon as I could walk.  He was a pro golfer and was also a golf instructor – so I guess you could say I was born into it. It’s always something I’ve been around,” the Golf Canada National Team member recalled.

“My earliest memory was playing in a tournament at the age of five or six and I remembered that I really enjoyed playing outdoors.”

Young A.J. found his passion in golf and worked hard to better his game.

“It’s like anything you do, if you want to get good at it, you have to give it a lot of time. But putting in that work was always something I enjoyed.  It didn’t seem like work because I always enjoyed the process of getting better,” he noted.

“Obviously, golf isn’t a game you could perfect but you want to get as good at it as possible.”

Ewart would enjoy success as a junior golfer but says he first realized he might be able to play the sport at a high level after being selected to Golf Canada’s amateur squad back in 2017.

“Golf Canada provides us with so many resources and tools that we are fortunate to have.

I credit Golf Canada for a lot of my success,” he pointed out.

Ewart also credits his time at Barry University in Miami, Florida for a big part of his development as a golfer.  During his time at Barry, the Canadian National Team member won a school record 14 times.  And in 2022, he earned the Jack Nicklaus award as the number one golfer in NCAA Division II.

“Barry University has a good program and it worked for other guys so I went out for a visit and talked to the coach there and was thankful that I did – and I think everything happens for a reason,” said Ewart, who graduated with a major in communications and a minor in sports management.

“My collegiate coach instilled a strong work ethic; and the warm weather meant we were able to compete year round,” he added about his time at Barry University.

“Winning a regional championship was cool. We never won a national championship but had a couple of good runs.”

Another notable accomplishment came at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2021 where he recorded a runner up finish to champion, Max Sekulic.

“It was definitely a bright spot in my amateur career. It’s always cool to compete for your national title.  I was competing against a couple of my good friends down the stretch so was a lot of fun,” Ewart noted.

Someone very familiar with Ewart’s game is Team Canada Assistant Coach, Louis Melanson.

“A.J. is eager to learn and works very hard. He’s also a very intelligent and mature young man and applies that to his advantage on the golf course,” said Melanson.

“A.J. won’t out drive you but he’s very consistent. He doesn’t quit. He’s good at adapting and finding his own way and does his best to get the job done.  He plays a similar style to Nick Taylor.”

Melanson adds that the five foot 11 inch Ewart is a student of the game and has the right attitude and all the skills to succeed as a professional. He notes that Ewart has already won twice as a professional in 2024 – at the Sandpiper Open and at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open.

“Winning last year was huge for A.J. as it gave him the confidence that he could win as a professional.  And now it’s just about playing in more tournaments, learning and gaining that experience.”

Ewart also acknowledged the significance of his wins as a professional last year.

“It meant a lot and it gave me confidence in knowing that when I play my best golf, I’m just as good as anybody.”

With the goal of playing on the PGA Tour one day, the talented young golfer says it gives him added confidence to see the success of so many Canadian players who have gone through the program.

“Seeing so many Canadians having success on the PGA Tour proves that the program works,” said Ewart.

“Obviously, we want to be where those guys are one day and it gives us motivation to continue to work hard to get to that point.”

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR announced the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas schedule, which features 16 tournaments contested across eight countries, beginning in March and culminating in September at the Fortinet Cup Championship, where Korn Ferry Tour membership will be awarded to the top 10 finishers on the season-long Fortinet Cup standings.

For the second consecutive season, the top 10 players in the final Fortinet Cup standings will earn Korn Ferry Tour membership for the 2026 season. A $225,000 USD purse will be contested for at each of the 16 events, totaling a $3.6 million USD pot for the season. Additionally, a $100,000 bonus pool will be shared among the top 10 players, with $25,000 awarded to the points leader, courtesy of Fortinet.

“On the heels of the success of the inaugural PGA TOUR Americas season, we are thrilled to continue building on that momentum in 2025,” said Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin, who oversees PGA TOUR Pathways, which includes the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Americas, PGA TOUR University and PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry. “We have added some exceptional golf courses to the 2025 schedule, and we remain confident PGA TOUR Americas will identify and prepare golf’s emerging stars as players continue on their journey to the Korn Ferry Tour and ultimately the PGA TOUR.”

The 2025 PGA TOUR Americas schedule features two segments – the Latin America Swing (Segment I) and the North America Swing (Segment II). The Latin America Swing includes six events in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico and Colombia, while the North America Swing is comprised of 10 events – nine in Canada and one in the United States – and culminates with the Fortinet Cup Championship at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, British Columbia.

“We are delighted to continue our partnership with PGA TOUR Americas as the season long cup sponsor, culminating in the Fortinet Cup Championship,” said Marc Asturias, Vice President of Marketing and Field CISO for Government at Fortinet for Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada. “This year, we are excited to expand the Tour to include Cordoba, Argentina, and Mexico City, Mexico and to host the season finale in the greater Vancouver area, home to one of our major research and development centers. With over 24 years of leadership in the cybersecurity industry, Fortinet remains committed to bringing together our partners, customers, and communities to celebrate emerging golf talent, share the latest technology trends, and support local communities across the Americas.”

PGA TOUR Americas membership is comprised of players from the PGA TOUR Americas 2024 season and participants in the 2024 Final Stage of PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry, as well as players from PGA TOUR Americas Q-School (to be contested between the two segments in 2025) and players finishing No. 11-25 in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2025.

The PGA TOUR Americas season begins March 27-30 with the 93 Abierto del Centro Cordoba, held at Cordoba Golf Club in Argentina. After a one-year hiatus, PGA TOUR Americas will return to Argentina for the ninth edition of the Abierto del Centro (2013-19, 2022). Notable past champions of the event include PGA TOUR members Alejandro Tosti (2022), Tom Whitney (2019), and Cristobal Del Solar (2018).

Immediately following the season opener in Argentina, the Tour will return to the Rio Olympic Golf Course for the 70th Brazil Open (April 3-6). Recognized globally for hosting the 2016 Olympic Golf Competition, the Rio Olympic Golf Course will begin the first year of a three-year agreement which sees the Tour return to the famed course through at least 2027.

After a two-week break, the season resumes with the KIA Open (April 24-27) at Quito Tenis y Golf Club in Quito, Ecuador. As the only tournament to earn multiple awards in the 2024 season, the KIA Open was recognized for Best Tournament Brand Identity and Best Tournament Awareness.

The following week, the Tour will travel to Los Inkas Golf Club in Lima, Peru for the Diners Club Peru Open (May 1-4), which was named the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas Tournament of the Year. The Diners Club Peru Open enters its 12th year as a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event.

The three-week trip concludes with the Bupa Championship (May 8-11) at Club de Golf Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico. While the 2024 Bupa Championship was contested at Tulum Country Club, now host of the Korn Ferry Tour’s PGA Riviera Maya Championship, the 2025 Bupa Championship will see the Tour return to Club de Golf Mexico for the first time since 2013.

A one-week break in the schedule leads into the Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship (May 22-25) at El Rincon Golf Club in Bogota, Colombia. The Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship marks the conclusion of the Latin America Swing, with the top 60 players in the Fortinet Cup retaining membership for Segment II in North America. The Nos. 1 and 2 players in the Fortinet Cup at the conclusion of the Latin America Swing will earn conditional membership for the Korn Ferry Tour 2026 season.

After the Latin America Swing and before the North America Swing, PGA TOUR Americas Q-School will be contested across six sites. Five sites will be in North America, while the sixth will be a new site in Colombia. The top nine finishers from each Q-School site will earn exempt membership for PGA TOUR Americas, starting with the 10-event North America Swing, while players finishing 10th-25th (and ties) from each site will earn conditional status.

The PGA TOUR Americas summer slate begins on the east coast of Canada and works westward, starting with the Explore NB Open (July 3-6) at Mactaquac Golf Course in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The following week, the Tour heads to the Bromont Open (July 10-13) at Golf Chateau-Bromont in Bromont, Quebec.

After a one-week break, the second three-week stint of the schedule begins with the Commissionaires Ottawa Open (July 24-27) at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Ottawa, Ontario. The Tour will then return to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (July 31-August 3), previously host of the 2024 season finale, for the Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates. With the North Course hosting the 2025 RBC Canadian Open, the 2025 Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates will be contested on the Heathlands Course. The BioSteel Championship (August 7-10) at Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor will wrap up the three-week stretch of Ontario-based events.

The Tour returns from a week off with the Manitoba Open (August 21-24) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The 2025 tournament marks the beginning of a five-course rotation, with Breezy Bend Country Club serving as the first host venue. The Tour then heads to its only U.S. event, the CRMC Championship presented by Northern Pacific Center (August 28-31) at Cragun’s Legacy Courses in Brainerd, Minnesota.

After a one-week break, the closing stretch of the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas season commences with the ATB Classic (September 11-14) at Northern Bear Golf Course in Edmonton, Alberta, followed by the Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist (September 18-21) at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia. The top 120 players in the Fortinet Cup upon conclusion of the Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist will be eligible to compete at the season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship.

The Fortinet Cup Championship (September 25-28) will be contested at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, British Columbia. Morgan Creek Golf Course is the newest addition to the PGA TOUR Americas schedule, as the golf course will host its first PGA TOUR-sanctioned event to round out the Tour’s second season.

For more information on the 2025 PGA TOUR Americas season, please visit PGATOUR.com/americas.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida and SURREY, B.C. – PGA TOUR Americas announced Tuesday that Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, British Columbia, will host the Fortinet Cup Championship in 2025. The 16th and final event of the PGA TOUR Americas season will include the top 120 players in the season-long Fortinet Cup and will be contested September 22-28, 2025. The 72-hole event will determine the Fortinet Cup Champion and the season’s top 10 players who will earn Korn Ferry Tour cards for the 2026 season.

“We’re delighted to partner with Morgan Creek and their fantastic team and look forward to contesting the Fortinet Cup Championship in the greater Vancouver area, for the first time in the history of the event,” said Scott Pritchard, Vice President of PGA TOUR Americas. “It’s been a mutual goal of ours and Fortinet to play the Fortinet Cup Championship in the Greater Vancouver Area since the inception of our partnership and we are looking forward to an amazing competition at one of British Columbia’s premier venues.”

Designed by Thomas McBroom, Morgan Creek has earned the reputation as one of the top golf courses in Canada since it opened in 1995. The course plays as a par 72 and just under 7,000 yards. For the Fortinet Cup Championship, players will play the course as a par 70, as two par 5s will be converted into par 4s. The Fortinet Cup Championship will be the first PGA TOUR-sanctioned tournament hosted by Morgan Creek, however the club is no stranger to hosting national and international tournaments and has hosted Golf Canada, PGA of B.C. and Maple Leaf Junior Tour events. Additionally, Morgan Creek has hosted Open Qualifiers for the RBC Canadian Open and the LPGA’s CPKC Women’s Open.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome the Fortinet Cup Championship to Morgan Creek,” said Tom Doull, Director of Golf Operations at Morgan Creek Golf Course. “This prestigious event is the perfect match for our commitment to excellence in golf, and we are thrilled to showcase our course on an international stage. We can’t wait to celebrate the season’s top players and create a memorable experience for everyone involved.”

The Fortinet Cup Championship has proven to be a pivotal stop for the future stars of the PGA TOUR. Past participants of the Fortinet Cup Championship include PGA TOUR member and 2023 Fortinet Cup Champion Hayden Springer, Tony Finau, Jake Knapp and 2024 Presidents Cup International Team members Corey Conners, Mackenzie Hughes and Taylor Pendrith.

“We are very excited about the arrival of the Fortinet Cup Championship in British Columbia for 2025,” stated Gordon Phillips, Vice President of Western Canada at Fortinet. “This event will be the perfect opportunity to bring together our customers and partners and provide them with the best golf in Canada, as well as experience Fortinet’s industry-leading cybersecurity technology and commitment to the local community, built on more than 2,000 Fortinet employees based in the lower mainland in BC. Fortinet has strong ties with BC, home to our largest R&D facility and the FortiGuard´s threat intelligence team.”

“As the Title Sponsor for the Fortinet Cup Championship, we are proud to partner with PGA TOUR Americas to host this prestigious event at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey, BC,” said Marc Asturias, Vice President of Marketing and Field CISO for Government at Fortinet Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. “For the last 25 years, Fortinet has been a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. This sponsorship allows us to further our commitment to excellence in cybersecurity, fostering community engagement, promoting young golf talent, and helping the local communities.”

Since Fortinet became the Cup sponsor and season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship title sponsor, the tournament has partnered with deserving charities, including the Corey and Mallory Conners Family Fund, Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids and most recently the First Tee of Ontario. Giving back to the community remains an integral pillar to this event and Fortinet will be announcing the charity partner in the coming months.

The 16-event PGA TOUR Americas season will consist of six events in Latin America, and 10 in North America, nine of which are in Canada. PGA TOUR Americas will announce the complete 2025 schedule in the coming weeks.

RESORT VILLAGE OF ELK RIDGE, Saskatchewan – Team Canada member A.J. Ewart claimed his first professional victory at the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open presented by Lake Country Co-op and moved into the No. 14 position of the Fortinet Cup. John Keefer captured his fourth runner-up finish alongside Grant Booth and Brendon Doyle. Six players tied for fifth.

Ewart made his fifth start of the PGA TOUR Americas season this week and gained entry into the field via sponsor exemption. The 25-year-old began and ended the tournament at the top of the leaderboard after finalizing Thursday’s first round in solo possession of the lead. Through 36 holes, Ewart shared the lead with three other players and reclaimed the individual lead by one stroke after Saturday’s third round. At one point Sunday afternoon, with four holes remaining, Ewart was part of a four-way tie for the lead. A birdie on No. 16 boosted Ewart back to the top, and with late bogeys from playing partners Chuan-Tai Lin and Bryce Lewis, Ewart claimed victory with a par on the 18th hole.

With his victory, Ewart became a fully exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas for the rest of the 2024 season and through the Latin America Swing of 2025. From relying on sponsor exemptions to get into events to now having a place to play until next season, Ewart relays, “It’s really special just having some job security, right, and knowing where you’re going to be and plan ahead. The last month and a half or two months have been kind of chaotic, I didn’t know where I was going to be or what I was going to be doing, just playing everywhere and whatnot. Now it’s nice to know exactly what’s going to happen.”

Not only did a victory secure Ewart exempt membership, but it moved him 155 spots up the Fortinet Cup to No. 14 in the points list. Given that Ewart is safely inside the top 120 of the Fortinet Cup, he is expected to play in the next two full-field events, as well as the limited-field, season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship. The top 10 players in the Fortinet Cup following the conclusion of the Fortinet Cup Championship will earn Korn Ferry Tour cards for the 2025 season.

“Yeah, obviously it’s special, right,” said Ewart on the opportunity to content for a Korn Ferry Tour card. “That’s what we want to be. We want to keep moving on up and eventually make our way to the PGA TOUR. To have a chance for a Korn Ferry Tour card is everything that I could wish for. I’m thankful to be in this position and looking to make the most of the opportunity.”

Prior to this season, the Coquitlam native entered into his first year as a professional after graduating from a four-year collegiate career at Barry University. He accounted for 14 collegiate victories, breaking the previous record held by PGA TOUR player Adam Svensson. Upon graduation, Ewart qualified for PGA TOUR Canada, but on the outcome of only three made cuts, finished No. 89 in the Fortinet Cup and lost status.

Moving into his second season as a professional in 2024, Ewart appeared in three other events (prior to the Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open) on the basis of sponsor exemptions, as well as a fourth event due to his season-best and top-25 finish at the Explore NB Open (T25/-14). With Sunday’s victory, Ewart will round out the rest of the season as a fully exempt member on PGA TOUR Americas, and is expected to be in the field at next week’s CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open.

As Ellie Szeryk lined up her final putt to seal the win at the B.C. Women’s Open, she spied longtime friend Brooke Rivers lurking around the green with a bottle of water.

Sure enough, when Szeryk made the putt, the chase was on with Rivers trying to douse her with water.

“I ran as far as I could, but she still got me quite good,” Szeryk said with a laugh. “But it was fun. In golf you usually do that to your really good friends when they win. 

“So it was really sweet that she did that. It’s like an unspoken honour.”

Szeryk beat Rivers by four strokes at Pitt Meadows Golf Club on Sunday in their professional debuts. Both golfers also earned berths at the CPKC Women’s Open, July 25-28 at Calgary’s Earl Grey Golf Club.

“It was just really nice to be able to have followed through on something that I had been thinking about,” said Szeryk. “It’s not always easy to golf. It’s just three rounds and you have no idea what the course is like and how it’s going to play.”

Earning their way into the national women’s championship, rather than relying on a sponsor’s exemption, was a relief to both players.

“I knew that there’d be a good opportunity for that,” said Szeryk, from London, Ont. “It’s been on my mind the last couple of months, like since I signed up. 

“I knew I needed to make sure I had my game right so I could take advantage of it because I knew that they weren’t going to be a lot of sponsored exemptions for this Canadian Open.”

Rivers agreed.

“It does feel really good to earn the exemption spot on my own through good play,” said Rivers, from Brampton, Ont. “It also feels a little more rewarding while being there because you feel like you had done everything in order to put yourself there.”

Rivers added with a laugh: “It’s a little bit easier when booking travel that you don’t have to do it the week before.”

Both Szeryk and Rivers turned pro after the conclusion of the NCAA golf season. They’re both spending time with family and practising before the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada tees off at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont., on July 2.

“I’m really excited to turn pro, and it’s something that I’ve wanted to do my whole life,” said Rivers, who played one season at Wake Forest University. “It’s something I’ve been working toward my whole life. 

“I just felt that I was in a position where I was ready to turn pro and I was ready to start competing.”

Golf Canada announced the early commitments to the 50th playing of the Women’s Open on Monday, with eight of the current top-10 and 83 of the top-100 players on the Race to the CME Globe Standings entered in the national women’s championship.

The 156-player field will be competing at Earl Grey Golf Club for the first time in tournament history. It will be the seventh time that Alberta hosts the Women’s Open and first time since 2016.

LPGA TOUR — Hamilton’s Alena Sharp is in the Dow Championship three days after making Canada’s Olympic golf team for a third time. Maddie Szeryk, Ellie’s older sister, just missed out on beating Sharp to the Olympics by 1.41 points in the women’s world golf rankings. Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., No. 14 in the world, is also in the field at the Midland Country Club in Midland, Mich. They will be joined by Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., and amateur Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto.

EPSON TOUR — Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is the top-ranked Canadian playing in the Dream First Bank Charity Classic. She’s 120th on the second-tier Epson Tour’s points list. She’ll be joined at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, Kan., by Vancouver’s Leah John (160th), as well as Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., and Kate Johnston of Ayr, Ont., who are unranked.

PGA TOUR — Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., is the top ranked Canadian at No. 30 on the FedEx Cup standings. He will be in the field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club, where he finished tied for second in 2022. Adam Svensson (76th) of Surrey, B.C., Ben Silverman (113th) of Thornhill, Ont., and Roger Sloan (194th) of Merritt, B.C., are also in the field.

KORN FERRY TOUR — Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., is No. 23 on the Tour’s points list heading into the Memorial Health Championship. Edmonton’s Wil Bateman (33rd), Etienne Papineau (50th) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Sudarshan Yellamaraju (100th) of Mississauga, Ont., and Jared du Toit (118th) of Kimberley, B.C., are also in the field at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Ill.

CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames leads the Canadian contingent into the U.S. Senior Open Championship. He’s No. 1 on the Charles Schwab Cup money list with two victories so far this year. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., is 25th on the list and also in the field at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I. David Morland IV of Aurora, Ont., is also playing the event.

AMERICAS TOUR — Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., remains the atop the points list of the third-tier Americas Tour heading into this week’s ATB Classic. He’s one of 18 Canadians playing Northern Bear Golf Club in Strathcona County, Alta.