Inside Golf House Team Canada

Golf Canada appoints Paul Perrier as Chief Sport Officer

Paul Perrier

National Sport Organization welcomes former USC Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director to advance Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence.

(December 3, 2025) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Paul Perrier has joined the National Sport Federation as its new Chief Sport Officer (CSO).

Born in Sherbrooke, Que. and raised in Aurora, Ont., Perrier is an accomplished and dynamic sports administration executive who brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in NCAA Division I athletics, most recently serving as Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director and Deputy Athletic Director at the University of Southern California (USC).

As Chief Sport Officer, Perrier will oversee Golf Canada’s sport portfolio, including Team Canada high-performance and athlete development, National Amateur Championships, grassroots participation programs such as First Tee – Canada and She Plays Golf, and Safe Sport compliance. Reporting to CEO Laurence Applebaum as a member of Golf Canada’s Executive Team, Perrier will play a pivotal role in advancing Canadian golf participation and competitive excellence for the National Sport Organization.

“Paul is a dynamic sport executive and former high-level athlete with extensive leadership experience across sport including golf, coach development, compliance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and fundraising within both elite and public NCAA Division I athletic departments,” said Applebaum. “His experience managing complex sport organizations and building high-performance programs will help to further advance the sport and elevate Canadian golf on the global stage.”

During his tenure at USC (2019–2025), Perrier was a member of the Executive Leadership Team, with oversight and support for 23 varsity programs and 600 athletes. He led strategic planning, resource allocation, and performance initiatives and fostered inclusive, collaborative cultures that drove innovation and excellence. Perrier also managed the men’s and women’s golf programs, guiding them to multiple NCAA championship appearances and supporting elite athletes who advanced to the LPGA and PGA Tours.

Perrier, who will work collaboratively with the Golf Canada Foundation, also brings experience in fundraising and donor relations, having helped drive capital campaigns at USC and Rutgers. He also oversaw a $750,000 renovation of USC’s golf training facility and served as Tournament Director for the Trojan Golf Classic. His ability to build trust-based relationships with donors, alumni, and corporate partners has been a hallmark of his leadership.

Perrier joins Golf Canada at a time where the organization is experiencing strong momentum with a rise in participation and rounds played, Canadian continued success on the global stage and increased investment in the game from donors and corporate partners.

The opportunity to return to Canada to champion further growth is an opportunity for Perrier to apply his executive leadership experiences across a sport that has been a longtime passion.

“Joining Golf Canada is an incredible honour, and I’m inspired to help accelerate the sport’s growth and impact across the country,” said Perrier. “Together with our athletes, coaches, donors, and partners, we will continue to build pathways that drive participation and elevate Canada’s success on the world stage.”

Previously, Perrier served as Senior Associate Athletic Director at Rutgers University (2015–2019), where he helped develop a five-year strategic plan, oversaw sport programs, and led compliance and governance during a critical transition to the Big Ten Conference.  Prior to joining Rutgers, Perrier held several progressive leadership roles with USC including Associate Vice President for Athletic Compliance.

Perrier also co-founded the NACDA Sport Administrator Leadership Institute, served on the Big Ten Olympic Sports Oversight Committee, and was selected for the NCAA Pathway Program, a national initiative preparing senior administrators for CEO roles.

He holds a Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Oswego State, where he was also a student-athlete (hockey) and co-president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

A proud Canadian who is married with two sons, Perrier has started in the CSO role and will be relocating back to Canada in the coming months.

Amateur Golf Team Canada

Three members of Team Canada named 2025 Players of the Year by Pacific Northwest Golf Association

2025 PNGA Award Winners

TACOMA, Wash. – Team Canada members Lauren Kim, Clara Ding and Austin Krahn have been named 2025 Players of the Year by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Kim of Surrey, B.C. was named Women’s Player of the Year, earning the honour for a third consecutive year. Kim is currently ranked No. 20 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) and enjoyed a strong 2025 season, highlighted by competing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur for a second straight year as well as the CPKC Women’s Open. Kim, a junior at the University of Texas, earned her second collegiate win at the Betsy Rawls Invitational in March and added a pair of third place finishes as well as a top five. Kim also represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship in Singapore in October.

Ding of White Rock, B.C. was named Junior Girls’ Player of the Year. Ding won twice in 2025, taking the GolfBC Group BC Women’s Open and the Women’s Orlando International Championship. Her win in B.C. came as part of the She Plays Golf Championship Series, earning her an exemption into her first appearance at the CPKC Women’s Open. In her debut at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, Ding helped lead Team Canada 2 to its best result in tournament history, finishing sixth place and was runner-up in the individual competition by one stroke.

Krahn of Christina Lake, B.C. was named Junior Boys’ Player of the Year. Krahn followed up a strong 2024 season, with five titles in 2025 including the British Columbia Junior Championship and the British Columbia Amateur title. In addition, Krahn led his province to its second straight gold medal at the 2025 Canada Summer Games and also won individual gold in Newfoundland and Labrador. Krahn earned two additional wins this year including the MJT Odlum Brown Classic and the MJT National Championship.

Along with the Team Canada athletes a familiar name in Canadian women’s golf was awarded the Senior Women’s Player of the Year. Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. has now earned the honour three of the past four years. In August, Stouffer won her third Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and added wins at the PNGA Senior Women’s Amateur, Irish Senior Women’s Amateur and BC Senior Women’s Amateur. She was also a semi-finalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Open and U.S. Women’s Amateur.

For all the award recipients or to learn more about PNGA, please click here.

Amateur Team Canada

South Africa finishes strong to win first Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada T24

South Africa - 2025 Men's World Amateur Team Champions
Left to right: Charl Barnard, Christiaan Maas and Daniel Bennett of South Africa pose for photos with the Eisenhower Trophy, following their victory at the World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Saturday, 11th of October, 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

SINGAPORE – After a dominant 36-hole performance, South Africa did not look back, finishing eight shots clear of Australia to claim its first ever Eisenhower Trophy at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore on Saturday.

South Africa finished the tournament at 29-under 547 to return to the podium for the first time in over 40 years at the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship. For the fourth straight day, World No. 6 (WAGR) Christian Maas led South Africa and closed the tournament with a 3-under 69 to ensure victory both for his team and individually. Daniel Bennett closed with an even par 72, Charl Barnard finished with a 5-over 77 on Saturday for the champions. South Africa’s previous best finish was a silver medal in 1980 along with two bronze medals in 1970 and 1972.

Maas finished with all four rounds in the 60s (66-66-65-69-266) to finish at 22-under, ten shots clear of the 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Declan O’Donovan of Australia (12-under). The senior at the University of Texas registered only three bogeys across 72 holes of play in Singapore on his way to the team and individual gold medals. Maas’ score of 266, ties the second lowest individual score in championship history joining Victor Perez (France), Lucas Herbert (Australia) and Alejandro Tosti (Argentina) who recorded the same score in Japan in 2014. That same year, the lowest 72-hole total score of 263 was set by Jon Rahm (Spain).

Australia finished as runner-up at 21-under to earn the silver medal while England also made the podium, finishing 19-under to claim bronze. Mexico (17-under) and France (15-under) rounded out the top five. Canada finished the tournament T24 at 1-over of the 36 countries competing.

Canada was represented by Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. who finished T46 at 3-over (74-73-72-72), Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. who finished T65 at 6-over (70-76-73-75) and Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont., T81 at 10-over (75-70-80-73).

Joining Maas and O’Donovan on the podium was Adam Bresnu (Morocco) and Oscar Couilleau (France) who finished T3 at 10-under.

The 2027 World Amateur Team Championships will be hosted by the Royal Moroccan Golf Federation at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat, Morocco.

For the final team and individual leaderboards following the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, please click here.

Amateur Team Canada

South Africa takes commanding lead into final round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada T22

Christian Maas
Christiaan Maas of South Africa plays his tee shot at the 16th hole, during the third round of the World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Friday, 10th of October, 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Justin Matthews was the low Canadian on Friday with an even par 72

SINGAPORE – One day after soaring atop the leaderboard, South Africa strengthened its lead with a combined score of 12-under on Friday to enter the final round with an 11-shot lead at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.

South Africa is in search of its first Eisenhower Trophy and returning to the podium at the championship for the first time since earning silver in 1980. Christian Maas (no. 6 WAGR) led his country on Friday with a 7-under 65, for his second bogey free round of the championship. Teammate Daniel Bennett added an impressive 5-under 67 to put the leaders at 26-under, 11 shots clear of Australia and Mexico who are tied for second at 15-under. England sit in fourth at 12-under with France in fifth at 11-under. Canada is T22 with Wales and hosts, Singapore at even par of the 36 countries competing.

On Friday, Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. was the low Canadian, shooting an even par 72. Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont.’s 1-over 73 also counted towards the team total. Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. finished with an 8-over 80. Matthews and McCulloch are both sitting T48 at 3-over and Ibit is T85 at 9-over of the 108-players competing individually.

Following a third consecutive round in the 60s, Maas has opened a 10-shot lead in the individual competition heading into Saturday’s final round. The University of Texas senior grabbed four birdies on the front and added three on the back to record the second lowest round of the day. Michael Mjaaseth (Norway) and 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur winner, Declan O’Donovan (Australia) are tied for second at 9-under. Oscar Couilleau (France) is fourth at 8-under and Adam Bresnu (Morocco) is tied for fifth with Maas’ teammate, Bennett at 7-under. Eduardo Derbez of Mexico recorded the low round of the day on Friday with an 8-under 64. Derbez tallied six consecutive birdies on holes Nos. 3 through 8 and closed his round with an eagle on the par 5 18th to move up to T9 at 5-under.

The final round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Saturday and 7:15 p.m. EST Friday. Ibit will be the first Canadian on the course, teeing off at 7:48 a.m., followed by Matthews at 7:59 a.m. and McCulloch at 8:10 a.m. local time.

For team and individual leaderboards following the third round, please click here.

Amateur Team Canada

South Africa takes lead after red hot second round at the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada T18

Christian Maas
Christiaan Maas of South Africa at the second green, during the first round of the World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Wednesday, 8th of October, 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Isaiah Ibit was the low Canadian on Thursday with a 2-under 70

SINGAPORE – South Africa soared to the top of the leaderboard following a collective round of 9-under on Thursday to take a five shot lead into the third round at the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.

For the second straight day, South Africa was led by University of Texas senior, Christian Maas who post his second consecutive round of 6-under 66. Maas (no. 6 WAGR) not only ensured South Africa moved to the top of the leaderboard but also opened a four-shot lead for himself in the individual competition. After a bogey on No. 2, Maas responded with three straight birdies on Nos. 4 through 6 and went on to add four more on the day to move ahead of opening round leader Hiroshi Tai of Singapore. Daniel Bennett fired a 3-under 69 to help push South Africa atop the leaderboard; Charl Barnard’s 4-over 76 did not count towards the team total on Thursday.

Three teams trail the leaders by five shots including Australia, France and England (-9 under). First round leaders, Mexico are tied for fifth with Denmark at 8-under. Canada shot a collective score of 1-under on Thursday after an even par opening round and sits T18 with Scotland of the 36 countries competing in Singapore.

Canada was led by Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. who shot a bogey free 2-under 70 on Thursday. Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. closed with a 1-over 73 and Ashton McCulloch with a 4-over 76.

Individually, opening round leader, Tai shot a 1-under 71 to move to 8-under and is now solo second and four shots back of Maas. Oscar Couilleau (France) and Rintaro Nakano (Japan) are tied for third at 7-under. Filip Fahlberg Johnsson (Sweden) and Oscar Holm Bredkjaer (Denmark) are tied for fifth at 6-under. Ibit sits T39 at 1-over, McCulloch is T49 at 2-over and Matthews is T57 at 3-over of the 108 players competing.

Play was suspended for over an hour on Thursday due to dangerous weather in the area. The third round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Friday and 7:15 p.m. EST Thursday. With teeing off at Matthews at 8:21 a.m., McCulloch at 8:32 a.m. and Ibit at 8:43 a.m. local time.

For team and individual leaderboards following the second round, please click here.

Amateur Team Canada

Mexico opens 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship with lead, Canada seven back

Canada
Canada World Amateur Team, from left to right, Captain Ashton McCulloch, Isaiah Ibit, Justin Matthews and Benoit Lemieux as seen with the Eisenhower Trophy during practice round at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Tuesday, 7th of October, 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Ashton McCulloch was the low Canadian on Wednesday with a 2-under 70

SINGAPORE – Mexico holds a two-shot lead over South Africa following the opening round of the 2025 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.

Mexico was led by Carlos Astiazaran who carded five birdies on his way to a 4-under 68. Eduardo Derbez added a 3-under 69 to give Mexico a combined score of 7-under. Gerardo Gomez’s 1-over 73 did not count to the team total on Wednesday. Right behind the leaders is South Africa who shot a collective 5-under, led by Christian Maas’ 6-under 66. Maas currently is one shot back in the individual standings. France is alone in third at 4-under, while host nation, Singapore is in a four-way tie for fourth with Australia, Sweden and Czechia at 3-under. Canada sits T13 with New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, Denmark and Spain at even par of the 36 countries competing for the Eisenhower Trophy.

Canada was led by Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. who shot a bogey free 2-under 70 on Wednesday. Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. closed with a 2-over 74 and Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. finished with a 3-over 75.

Hiroshi Tai of Singapore fired the low round of the day with a 7-under 65 to take the 18-hole lead in the individual competition by one over Maas. Tai carded eight birdies on his round including three straight on Nos. 16 through 18. Behind Tai and Maas is Astiazaran who is solo third. Derbez is in a four-way tie for fourth with Timotej Formanek (Czechia), Filip Fahlberg Johnsson (Sweden) and Michael Mjaaseth (Norway) at 3-under. McCulloch is tied for eight with six others, including 2025 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Declan O’Donovan (Australia) at 2-under in the 108-player field.

The second round of the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will begin at 7:15 a.m. locally (Singapore) on Thursday and 7:15 p.m. EST Wednesday. Ibit will tee off at 8:21 a.m., Matthews at 8:32 a.m. and McCulloch at 8:43 a.m. local time.

For team and individual leaderboards following the opening round, please click here.

Amateur Team Canada

United States comes from behind to win the 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship

Team U.S.A.
United States of America World Amateur Team, from left to right, Captain Kendra Graham, Megha Ganne, Farah O'Keefe and Catherine Park as seen with the Espirito Santo Trophy during practice round at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Tuesday, 30 Sept. 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Canada finishes 10th; All three team members finish inside top 40 individually

SINGAPORE – The United States of America shot a collective 5-under on Saturday to win on a tiebreaker and claim the Espirito Santo Trophy at the 31st Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.

The U.S. was led by Megha Ganne, the fifth ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), who shot a bogey free 4-under 68. Farah O’Keefe (no. 7 WAGR) and Catherine Park (no. 11 WAGR) both added rounds of 1-under 71 to move the Americans to 18-under, tied with the Republic of Korea and Spain. The U.S. won the tiebreaker as it had the lowest non-counting score from the team’s third player. The two lowest scores count towards the team total each day. The win gives the U.S. its 15th gold medal at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship and its first since 2018.

Spain made the largest charge in the final round, shooting a collective 6-under thanks to a pair of 3-under 69s from Paula Martin Sampedro and Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea. The 54-hole leaders, Republic of Korea shot a team score of 2-under on Saturday to move to 18-under. England and the People’s Republic of China finished T4 at 16-under.

Canada finished the championship in 10th at 7-under among the 36 countries competing as all three players finished with even par 72s on Saturday. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. finished as the low Canadian at 3-under, good for T18 individually. The 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion posted rounds of 72-73-68-72-285. Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. finished T29 at 1-under following rounds of 73-70-72-72-287 and Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. shot 70-76-72-72-290 to finish the championship in 38th at 2-over in the 108-player field.

Individually, Ying Xu of the People’s Republic of China fired a 5-under 67 on Saturday to win the individual championship by four shots of Rianne Mikhaela Malixi (Philippines), Sampedro (Spain) and Soomin Oh (Republic of Korea). Six golfers finished tied for fifth at 7-under.

For both the final team and individual leaderboard, please click here.

The Men’s World Amateur Team Championship will also be contested in Singapore from October 8-11, for the final field that will compete for the Eisenhower Trophy, click here.

Amateur Team Canada

Republic of Korea maintains lead, Canada T8 at the 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships

Michelle Xing
Michelle Xing of Canada gives thumbs up at the 16th green, during the first round of the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Wednesday, 1 Oct. 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Michelle Xing led Canada on Friday with a 4-under 68

SINGAPORE – The Republic of Korea will head into Saturday’s final round with a three-shot lead at the 31st Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.

Ajin Sung led the defending champions on Friday with a 4-under 68 through rainy conditions to help increase their team lead. Soomin Oh’s 1-over 73 also counted for the Republic of Korea. The United States of America is three back of the lead at 13-under. The People’s Republic of China and Spain are tied for fourth at 12-under and England and Sweden are tied for fifth at 11-under. The Republic of Korea is looking to become the first country to win consecutive titles since 2012, a feat it last accomplished winning the Espirito Santo Trophy in 2010 and 2012.

Ying Xu of the People’s Republic of China is 8-under and holds a one-shot lead heading into the final round over Rianne Mikhaela Malixi of the Philippines and Aira Nagasawa of Japan. Catherine Park (U.S.A.), Soomin Oh (Republic of Korea) and Paula Martin Sampedro (Spain) are tied for fourth at 6-under. Seven players are currently T7 at 5-under making for a crowded individual title race.

Canada currently sits T8 with Japan of the 36 countries competing at 8-under following a 4-under 140 on Friday, for its lowest team total of the tournament (142-143-140).

Michelle Xing led Canada on Friday with a 4-under 68 to move to 3-under and sits T18 individually for the tournament. Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. finished her round with five birdies, four of which came from her front nine. All three players have contributed to the team score over the first three rounds. Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. and Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. both shot even par 72s. Kim is 1-under and T28, while Borovilos is 2-over and sits T40 in the 108-player field.

The championship sustained a 58-minute delay in the early afternoon due to dangerous weather in the area.

Individually, 20 players are within five shots or less of Xu’s lead. For both the team and individual leaderboard, please click here.

The final round will tee off at 7:15 a.m. (Saturday) in Singapore, 7:15 p.m. EDT (Friday). Borovilos will tee off at 11:30 a.m., Kim at 11:41 a.m. and Xing at 11:52 a.m. locally. For all tee times, please click here.

Amateur Team Canada

Republic of Korea takes lead, Canada sit eighth after two rounds at the 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships

Lauren Kim
Lauren Kim of Canada plays her second shot at the 10th hole, during the second round of the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Thursday, 2 Oct. 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Lauren Kim led Canadians on Thursday with a 2-under 70

SINGAPORE – The Republic of Korea are back atop the leaderboard after posting a 6-under on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead through 36 holes at the 31st Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.

Soomin Oh and A Jin Sung each finished with 3-under 69s to lead the defending champions climb on Thursday. The Republic of Korea’s team total of 13-under leads the United States of America and Spain by two-strokes in the battle for the Espirito Santo Trophy. The People’s Republic of China is fourth at 7-under, with England rounding out the top five at 6-under. Canada sits in eighth at 3-under among the 36 nations competing.

Oh, who won the 2025 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship and both team and individual honours at the 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship is now tied for first individually at 7-under with Aira Nagasawa of Japan. Right behind the co-leaders are Spain’s Paula Martin Sampedro (-6) and Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea (5). Catherine Park of the United States is tied with Goicoechea for fourth.

Canada was led by Lauren Kim’s 2-under 70 and Michelle Xing’s 1-over 73 on Thursday to keep Canada in the top ten of team championship, 10 shots back of the defending champions. Kim of Surrey, B.C. sits at 1-under and is T21 individually, six back of the co-leaders. Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. is 1-over for the tournament and is T35, with Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. sitting T42 at 2-over in the 108-player field.

Individually, 18 players are within five shots or less of the co-leaders. For both the team and individual leaderboard, please click here.

The third round will tee off at 7:15 a.m. (Friday) in Singapore, 7:15 p.m. EDT (Thursday). For tee times, please click here.

Amateur Team Canada

United States leads after opening round, Canada tied for sixth at 2025 Women’s World Amateur Team Championships

Michelle Xing and Vanessa Borovilos
Michelle Xing, (left), and Vanessa Borovilos of Canada at the practice area, during the first round of the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club, in Singapore on Wednesday, 1 Oct. 2025. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Vanessa Borovilos led Canadians on Wednesday with a 2-under 70

SINGAPORE – The United States stands atop the leaderboard following the opening round of the 31st Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Tanah Merah Country Club (Tampines Course) in Singapore.

The U.S. shot a collective score of 8-under to hold a one-shot lead over defending champion, Republic of Korea (Korea). Farah O’Keefe, ranked No. 7 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), led the way with a 5-under 67 for the Americans and also leads the individual standings by one over a trio of players including 2024 World Junior Girls Golf Championship team and individual winner Soomin Oh of Korea, Aira Nagasawa (Japan) and Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea (Spain).

Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont. led the way for Canada with a 2-under 70 and sits T9, just three shots back in the individual battle. Michelle Xing of Richmond Hill, Ont. contributed to the team score with an even par 72. Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C. is also representing Canada and shot a 1-over 73 on Wednesday. The two lowest scores count towards the team total each day.

Borovilos grabbed back-to-back birdies on Hole Nos. 6 and 7 and closed her round bogey-free with 11 consecutive pars.

“Well, weather, there’s no doubt it’s hot… Honestly, this grass is so nice to hit off of. Being from Toronto, it’s a bit different. I’ve just enjoyed hitting shots off these fairways,” said Borovilos following her round on Wednesday as temperatures hit 34 degrees Celsius, feeling closer to 42 degrees Celsius with the heat index.

Trailing the United States (-8) and Korea (-7) are Spain at 5-under, England and the People’s Republic of China at 3-under, with Canada, Thailand and Japan tied for sixth at 2-under. Denmark and Sweden are tied for ninth at even par to round out the top 10.

Individually, 22 players are within four shots or less of O’Keefe’s lead. For both the team and individual leaderboard, please click here.

The second round will tee off at 7:15 a.m. (Thursday) in Singapore, 7:15 p.m. EDT (Wednesday). For tee times, please click here.