US beats Europe in Solheim Cup 16 1/2 11 1/2 in Iowa
(Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Canadian Press
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Lexi Thompson set the tone by rallying from four holes down. The rest of the Americans took it from there and restored their dominance in the Solheim Cup
“I was just, like, ‘I just have to go all in and go for it all,”’ Thompson said.
Her U.S. teammates followed her lead and the Americans finished off their most-decisive Solheim Cup victory in over 20 years, beating Europe 16 1/2-11 1/2 on Sunday at Des Moines Golf and Country Club.
Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer won key matches, and Gerina Piller sealed it with a birdie putt that put her 3 up over Florentyna Parker with three to play in a 4-and-2 victory.
“They just bonded. They believed in each other. They played for the person behind them and in front of them. And they played some amazing golf,” said Juli Inkster, who joined Judy Rankin as the only U.S. captains to win the Solheim Cup twice.
The Americans are 10-5 in the biennial tournament after their biggest win since a 17-11 triumph in 1996 in Wales. They rallied to win in Germany in 2015, and have taken five of the last seven matches.
Kerr beat Mel Reid 2 and 1 for her record-extending 21st point in the competition, and Creamer edged Georgia Hall 1 up to raise her total to 19 1/2 – second on the U.S. career list.
Thompson ended up halving with Anna Nordqvist, and Angel Yin halved with Karine Icher as the teams split the 12 singles matches. Lizette Salas and Danielle Kang also won for the U.S. Salas edged Jodi Ewart Shadoff 1 up, and Kang beat Emily Pedersen 3 and 1.
For Europe, Catriona Matthew beat Stacy Lewis 1 up, Caroline Masson topped Michelle Wie 4 and 2, Charley Hull edged Brittany Lang 1 up, Carlota Ciganda beat Brittany Lincicome 4 and 3, and Madelene Sagstrom defeated Austin Ernst 3 and 2.
“We just got outplayed, no doubt about it,” European captain Annika Sorenstam said. “I’m just so proud of how hard they fought. What can I say? Just congratulate the USA because they played some awesome golf.”
Her team five points down entering the day, Sorenstam tried to keep the mood light by dressing up in a blue and yellow Viking hat and wig and dancing for the cameras before play began.
Nordqvist did her best to set the tone for the Europeans in the opening match, winning the first four holes.
But after a birdie on No. 10, Thompson holed out from 112 yards for eagle on the 11th hole – a shot so impressive that even Nordqvist was compelled to high-five her.
The 22-year-old Thompson followed with an eagle putt on the 15th hole, and a birdie on 16 put her ahead for the first time. Though Nordqvist rallied, earning the half-point by sticking her 154-yard approach on No. 18 within a foot, an American win was inevitable after Thompson’s run.
“To me, that was like six points,” Inkster said. “It’s probably fitting they both got half a point. Both played amazingly. It just shows the heart of her and her determination. You think she’s out of it and then the switch goes off.”
Nordqvist went 3-0-1 during the week to lead the Europeans.
Creamer was 3-1 filling in for the injured Jessica Korda, matching Kang and Salas for the top U.S. records. Creamer kept her celebration muted following Hall’s missed 4-foot par putt on the 18th hole. But this was a huge bounce back event for Creamer after her recent struggles kept her off the U.S. roster until Korda got hurt.
“For Juli to play me four matches, you know – I knew my game was there, but obviously it didn’t look like it was,” Creamer said.
The 47-year-old Matthew was 3-1 after replacing the injured Suzann Pettersen.
Molson Canadian 67 tees up with Golf Canada as official beer sponsor of the 2015/2016 golf seasons
(Bernard Brault/ Golf Canada)
Molson Canadian 67 and Golf Canada officially announced today the renewal of their partnership for the 2015 and 2016 golf seasons that will see Molson Canadian 67 return as the official beer of both the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open.
Molson Canadian 67 will be made available at the host courses, including on-site sampling and beer gardens. Molson Canadian 67 has been the lead beer sponsor of Golf Canada’s National Men’s and Women’s Open Golf Championships since 2011, and is renewing the partnership for the next two years.
“We are pleased to partner with Golf Canada this season, for the fifth year in a row,” says Jeff Harrop, Senior Marketing Director, Molson Coors Canada. “There is a natural synergy between Molson Canadian 67 and golf as one of our favourite summer activities with a strong social element. Golf Canada is the perfect partner to help bring this connection to life.”
As part of the partnership package, Molson Canadian 67 will be supporting Golf Canada’s two marquee events this summer as official beer sponsor, including:
RBC Canadian Open This world-class PGA TOUR event, which is part of the Triple Crown of national golf championships, will host many of the best golfers in the world at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. from July 20-26.www.RBCCanadianOpen.com
Canadian Pacific Women’s Open The women of the LPGA Tour will compete for a prize purse of 2.25 million USD at The Vancouver GolfClub in Coquitlam, B.C. from August 17-23. www.CPwomensopen.com.
“Molson Canadian has a rich history of supporting golf in Canada and continues to be a tremendous partner for Canada’s National Open Golf Championships,” says Gavin Roth, Chief Commercial Officer at Golf Canada. “Golf, summer and a cold Molson Canadian 67 go perfectly together, and with the golf season set to gear up, we’re excited to renew our partnership for 2015 and 2016.”
Molson Canadian 67 is a premium light beer with a clean, crisp, fresh taste that is specially brewed to 3% ABV and 67 calories per 341ml, and is the perfect complement to any round of golf, especially on the 19th hole.
Fortinet Cup: Canadians on the attack entering Ecuador’s KIA Open
Associated Press
QUITO, Ecuador – With Stuart Macdonald winning the Diners Club Perú Open this past Sunday and Matthew Anderson claiming the 69th ECP Brazil Open a week earlier, Canadian players are on the rise in the early stages of the race for the Fortinet Cup.
Anderson, who followed his win with a share of the 18th spot in Peru, improved his point total to 696 to remain the PGA TOUR Americas No.1 player for the second consecutive week. Meanwhile, Macdonald rose from 22nd to third in the standings with a 613-point total.
“There’s a lot to play for every week and this is a big step forward,” said the 29-year-old Macdonald after his two-shot win Sunday at Los Inkas Golf Club, where he earned 500 Fortinet Cup points.
Through four events played this season, there are seven Canadian players currently inside the top 60 who would secure exempt status for the North America Swing that follows the six-event Latin America Swing. The other Canadians behind Anderson and Macdonald are Joey Savoie (18th), Lawren Rowe (35th), Thomas Giroux (39th), Jeevan Sihota (47th) and Jimmy Jones (50th).
“Golf Canada has done an unbelievable job developing all of our players. As you can see, every year we’ve got more and more players on the PGA TOUR, the Korn Ferry Tour, and this tour. There’s a lot of Canadian depth and a lot of that we can attribute to Golf Canada and its coaching staff,” added Macdonald about the current state of Canadian golf across the PGA TOUR-sanctioned tours.
The one player between the leading Canadians is Mexico’s José de Jesús Rodríguez, who tied for fifth in Peru and is second on Tour with a 657-point total. The 43-year-old veteran will not be playing this week’s event at Quito Tennis & Golf Club.
Aside from Macdonald, the other big Fortinet Cup move was made by Wisconsin native Samuel Anderson. Coming off a tie for sixth at the 69th ECP Brazil Open, the 25-year-old gave Macdonald a run for his money late on Sunday.
“(I) didn’t play my best, but I kind of hung in there and hit some awesome shots coming down the stretch, which was great,” said Anderson about his play Sunday in Lima. “I mean, I hit an awesome shot on 16 and I even gave myself a look on 17, which is a super tough par 3. I’m happy with how I played overall and I’m looking forward to Ecuador.”
The solo second finish earned Anderson 300 Fortinet Cup points and allowed him to move from 17th to fifth in the standings. Anderson was ranked 55th before his last two starts.
Finishing only a shot behind Anderson, Argentina’s Julián Etulain was the top Latin performer in Peru. His tie for third at Los Inkas Golf Club was his second third-place finish of the season. It allowed him to defend his position as No. 8 in the standings.
“I’m happy to keep adding points to my tally,” said the 35-year-old Etulain. “Hopefully, we can keep playing well these next two weeks to make the Latin Swing top 2 and secure a (Korn Ferry Tour) card for next year.”
The KIA Open, which is set to begin Thursday at the Quito Tennis & Golf Club in Quito, Ecuador, is the fifth event of the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas season and one of just two events left to play in the Latin America Swing.
Stephen Ames celebrates 60th birthday with successful title defense in Mitsubishi Electric Classic
DULUTH, GEORGIA - APRIL 28: Stephen Ames of Canada celebrates with the trophy after winning the Mitsubishi Electric Classic at TPC Sugarloaf Golf Course on April 28, 2024 in Duluth, Georgia. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Associated Press
DULUTH, Ga. — Stephen Ames celebrated his 60th birthday with a successful title defense in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic, closing with a 5-under 67 on Sunday for his eighth PGA Tour Champions victory.
A stroke behind Paul Broadhurst after matching the tournament record Saturday with a 64, Ames had two eagles in the final round. He won by four strokes, finishing at 14-under 202 at TPC Sugarloaf for his record third victory in the event.
Broadhurst, the 58-year-old Englishman coming off a victory last week in the Invited Celebrity Classic, closed with a 72 to tie for second with Doug Barron (69). K.J. Choi (70) and Steven Alker (71) were 9 under.
Ames became the first multiple winner this year on the tour, also taking the Chubb Classic in February. He has six victories in his last 29 starts after winning twice in his first 175 — the first at TPC Sugarloaf in 2017 — on the 50-and-over tour. A naturalized Canadian citizen from Trinidad and Tobago, Ames won four times on the PGA Tour.
Ames opened with a birdie on the par-4 first, eagled the par-5 sixth and par-4 13th and birdied the par-4 14th. He bogeyed the par-4 15th and 17th and birdied the par-5 18th.
Celebrating 100 Days until Olympic Golf at Paris 2024
Golf Canada
Men’s competition to be held 1-4 August, followed by the women’s competition 7-10 August
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (Tuesday, 23 April, 2024) – In 100 days, the men’s golf competition will commence at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at the renowned Le Golf National. The men’s golf competition will be contested Thursday, August 1st through Sunday, August 4th, followed by the women’s competition, which will run Wednesday, August 7th through Saturday, August 10th. Paris 2024 marks the fifth time golf has been featured in the Olympics, and just the third time since 1904 after its return at Rio 2016.
“With 100 days until the beginning of Olympic Golf Competitions, we’re excited to see the momentum building as we approach the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games,” said International Golf Federation Executive Director Antony Scanlon. “We know Le Golf National will provide a challenging, dramatic test to the competitors, and I can’t wait to welcome these 120 athletes as they represent their nations on sport’s biggest stage while vying to be presented Olympic medals atop the podium.”
QUALIFICATION
Both the men’s and women’s fields for the Olympic Golf Competitions feature 60 players. The IGF uses the Official World Golf Ranking to create the Olympic Golf Rankings as a method of determining eligibility. The top 15 world-ranked players will be eligible for the Olympics, with a limit of four players from a given country. Beyond the top 15, players will be eligible based on the world rankings, with a maximum of two eligible players from each country that does not already have two or more players among the top 15. For more information on the qualification process and to access the most updated Olympic Golf Rankings, please click here.
If qualification ended today (April 23, 2024), Canada’s team would be comprised of Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin on the men’s side and Brooke Henderson and Maddie Szeryk on the women’s team.
COMPETITION FORMAT
The competition consists of a 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women, with four rounds scheduled over four consecutive days. Scores are cumulative from round to round. The player with the lowest aggregate score wins.
HOST COURSE – LE GOLF NATIONAL
Le Golf National, one of the most prestigious golf venues in Europe, will host both competitions and is owned and managed by the French Golf Federation. Located in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Le Golf National has previously hosted major international competitions, most notably the 2018 Ryder Cup. The venue also serves as the permanent home for the annual Open de France event on the DP World Tour. Le Golf National opened in 1991 and was fully renovated in 2016.
KEY DATES FOR OLYMPIC GOLF
12 June – 50 days from the beginning of the men’s Olympic Golf competition
17 June – Olympic Golf Rankings finalised for the men’s golf competition
24 June – Olympic Golf Rankings finalised for the women’s golf competition
23 July – Olympic Torch at Le Golf National
29 July – Groupings and tee times announced for the men’s golf competition
1-4 August – Men’s golf competition
5 August – Groupings and tee times announced for the women’s golf competition
7-10 August – Women’s golf competition
NEW IGF WEBSITE
Today, the IGF also released its new website: www.igfgolf.org.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Matthew Anderson carded his third consecutive sub-70 round to win the 69th ECP Brazil Open at the Rio Olympic Golf Course. Anderson was one shot off the lead after 16 holes but rallied to make back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to secure his first victory as a professional.
Anderson’s breakthrough win comes after T21 and T3 finishes at the season-opening Bupa Championship at Tulum and the Totalplay Championship at Atlas Country Club. Anderson’s maiden victory vaults him into the No. 1 spot in the Fortinet Cup season-long ranking through three tournaments.
The Mississauga, Ont., native is the first Canadian to win on PGA TOUR Americas and has registered six top-25’s since he turned pro last summer. Anderson found success early in his career by winning the 2019 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship. He was selected for Golf Canada’s Team Canada program in 2021-22 and has been part of the team since.
Prior to turning pro, Anderson came off an impressive finish in his graduate season at the University of San Francisco, earning All-American honors after notching a top-15 finish at the 2023 NCAA Championships. From there, Anderson gained status on PGA TOUR Canada via a fourth-place finish at the PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying Tournament. He finished 50th in the 2023 Fortinet Cup standings to gain membership into the inaugural PGA TOUR Americas season.
Anderson is expected to be in the field at the Diners Club Peru Open, the fourth event of the Latin America Swing, which will be hosted at Los Inkas Golf Club from April 25-28 in Lima, Peru.
Canada’s Kim calm, cool and collected ahead of Augusta National Women’s Amateur
EVANS, GEORGIA - APRIL 03: Lauren Kim of Canada plays her second shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Course on April 03, 2024 in Evans, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
John Chidley Hill
If Lauren Kim is intimidated by storied Augusta National Golf Club, it doesn’t show.
The 19-year-old collegiate golfer from Surrey, B.C., is the lone Canadian in the field at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this week. She said that her strategy at the elite amateur event is to take the tournament one shot at a time, a strategy that paid off as she had an even-par 72 in Wednesday’s opening round.
Kim was in an 11-way tie for 29th, six shots behind leader Hannah Darling of Scotland.
“The biggest thing is to try and get up in the top 30 and make it to the weekend,” said Kim after her practice round on Tuesday. “But that’s not really going to be on my mind, I’m just going to focus on the shot ahead of me and try and stay present. That’s the most important thing.”
EVANS, GEORGIA – APRIL 03: Lauren Kim of canada plays her second shot on the 2nd hole during the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Course on April 03, 2024 in Evans, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Kim won the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship on Aug. 4 to play at last year’s CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club in Vancouver. She also won the women’s individual stroke play championship at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup in the fourth playoff on Oct. 11.
Now a freshman on the University of Texas’s women’s golf team, Kim had a practice trip with her teammates where she got to play at Champions Retreat Golf Club, which hosts the first 36 holes of the event on Wednesday and Thursday. She also got to practice at Augusta National, which will host the final round on Saturday.
EVANS, GEORGIA – APRIL 03: Lauren Kim of canada tees off on the 3rd hole during the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Course on April 03, 2024 in Evans, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Kim said that visit helped her determine what she had to work on ahead of the event.
“I’d say a lot of shots around the greens, like short game, and it’s quite important to obviously try and hit the green but when you don’t hit the greens out here, you’ve got to make sure that you try and make the up and downs,” said Kim. “So still a lot of short game practice and putting as well. “And some shots around the trees and some of the fairways here are a little narrow with the trees and the branches.”
Salimah Mussani, Golf Canada’s women’s head coach, is in Georgia with Kim and helped her through her official practice round on Tuesday. Mussani said that as good as Kim’s ball striking is, it’s her intellect that will see her through to the weekend.
“Her strength is her golf IQ,” said Mussani. “I think on this golf course, it’s very challenging, it’s a tough golf course, but her level of thinking her way around the golf course and managing her golf ball is going to be a real asset, especially in these first two rounds before the cut.”
That cerebral approach is why it’s so important for Kim to remain unfazed by one of golf’s most famous courses.
“She loves the big stage,” said Mussani. “She thrives in these types of situations, the Canadian Am and earlier this season the college event. “She’s cut out for these types of things and thrives in them and really looks forward to them and looks at them as opportunities. It’s the right mindset, for sure.”
LPGA TOUR — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was sixth on the Race to CME Globe standings heading into the first round of the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards on Wednesday. Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was 130th on the LPGA Tour’s points list before play began at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.
PGA TOUR — Two-time Valero Texas Open champion Corey Conners returns to TPC San Antonio this week going for his third title at the event. Conners is the highest ranked Canadian in the field, sitting 47th on the FedEx Cup standings and the official world golf rankings. The product of Listowel, Ont., will be joined by Adam Svensson (78th) of Surrey, Ben Silverman (96th) of Thornhill, Ont., Taylor Pendrith (103rd) of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Roger Sloan (179th) of Merritt, B.C.
KORN FERRY TOUR — Edmonton’s Wil Bateman is ranked 15th on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour’s points list heading into this week’s Club Car Championship. He will be joined at the Landings Golf & Athletic Club by Etienne Papineau (30) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Myles Creighton (37th) of Digby, N.S., Jared du Toit (68) of Kimberley, B.C., and Sudarshan Yellamaraju (122nd) of Mississauga, Ont.
World Autism Day: Embracing inclusion with First Tee – Canada
Maddy Boelhouwer/ Golf Canada
“Inclusion is not bringing people into what already exists; it is making a new space, a better space for everyone.” (George Dei, Canadian Professor)
In Canada, one in 66 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the way a person communicates and relates to people and the world around them. It can affect body language, social interactions and relationships, and sensory processing. (Autism Ontario)
Creating a welcoming, safe, and empowering environment for children from all backgrounds and abilities is a priority for staff across the country. At the core of First Tee’s mission is inclusion.
First Tee – Canada partners with youth organizations across the country to provide all children with the opportunity to play golf in a welcoming environment.
“One in 30 children in BC are on the spectrum,” said Jake Winn, Senior Manager of Programs, Canucks Autism Network. “By joining forces with First Tee, we’re giving kids an opportunity to try something new and discover a sport that they may have never tried before. Programs like First Tee broaden the horizons for children on the autism spectrum.”
The Canucks Autism Network provides year-round programming for children, youth, and adults on the autism spectrum across BC. Their programs for children aged three to 12 focus on sports and recreation so they were thrilled to add golf to their portfolio of offerings.
“We love the fact that First Tee lessons are adaptable,” said Winn. “We can change games on the fly depending on the group and alter tasks and challenges per athlete. It’s not a one size fits all. It’s customizable and accessible for each participant to be engaged.”
First Tee – BC Coach Tyler McKay has been leading the programming efforts.
“Tyler knew how to interact with the kids and instilled confidence in the participants and their families,” said First Tee – BC Program Manager, Scott Stefani. “The feedback from parents and Canucks Autism Network staff was overwhelmingly positive. To see our team and the First Tee program itself create a buzz around our sport and make children excited to play golf is so exciting.”
The positive response from parents and participants is a testament to the importance of a dedicated coach, and First Tee – Canada has no shortage of those.
Similarly, on the east coast, First Tee – Atlantic’s coaches are also offering golf to children with exceptionalities.
First Tee – Atlantic partnered with the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, thanks to the efforts of Coach Wayne Allen and his daughter Coach Rosie Allen, Golf Canada’s 2023 Lorie Kane Future Leader Award recipient.
The father-daughter duo has made a significant impact on children in their community of Corner Brook, Newfoundland over the last two years, and have gone above and beyond to create environments where all feel welcome.
In addition to obtaining a First Tee coach certification, coach Wayne completed Ernie Els’ #GameOn Autism Golf Program training, which is infused with evidence-based practices for teaching golf to people with ASD.
The time and effort put into this partnership have not gone unnoticed.
A parent of a participant left positive feedback for Coach Wayne. “Thank you for making a space for these kiddos to come together and belong to something. They are often left out of mainstream sports.”
Coaches like Wayne are proudly paving the way for a more inclusive sport across Canada.
Today, and every day, First Tee – Canada celebrates diversity and believes children of all abilities deserve to feel safe, empowered, and welcome in the sport of golf.
Canada’s Mike Weir hopes for raucous pro-International crowd at Presidents Cup
MONTREAL, CANADA - International Team Captain, Mike Weir, speaks in the Montreal Chamber of Commerce Leadership Series at The Fairmount Hotel, in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada on September 13, 2023. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
John Chidley-Hill/ Canadian Press
It’s not that Mike Weir wants the fans at Royal Montreal Golf Club to be hostile toward the United States team when the Presidents Cup comes to Canada, but he definitely doesn’t want the Americans to be comfortable. Weir, from Brights Grove, Ont., is the first Canadian to captain the International Team at the best-on-best men’s tournament. Beyond selecting the squad’s players he is responsible for the tournament’s design aesthetic and, maybe most important, he has to set the tone with fans.
“When the U.S. goes overseas to play, it’s a totally different atmosphere than when they’re playing at home and traditionally, in the Presidents Cup, there hasn’t been that much of a contrast and that is our challenge,” Weir said. “Letting them know that you need to get behind our guys and make them feel supported and through that is making the other side feel a little bit uncomfortable.”
Weir said Presidents Cup organizers are teaming up with the Montreal Canadiens and their owner Jeff Molson to promote a hockey-like atmosphere.
“We don’t want it to be that over the top, but we want it to feel like the crowd is really, really with us,” he said.
The International Team’s only victory over the U.S. came at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia in 1998. It also earned a tie in 2003 at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club in George, South Africa, in 2003.
Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., hosted the biannual event in 2022, with the U.S. winning 17 1/2-12 1/2. Although thousands of American fans are expected to stream across the border in September when the 12-on-12 tournament is in Montreal, Weir hopes to make it truly feel like an away game and get a result like Australia 26 years ago.
“We’ve put a lot of thought into it and we continue amongst our team to talk about that home course, home country advantage,” said Weir. “We’re trying to engage a lot of the fans around the country with a lot of stuff that will be upcoming that we’re doing.
“We want the whole country to be involved and engaged. … We do want it to feel like it’s a home advantage for us.”
Royal Montreal hosted the Presidents Cup in 2007, when the United States beat the Internationals 19 1/2-14 1/2. Weir battled Tiger Woods in a climactic matchup that captured the imagination of many Canadian golf fans.
Weir said that, in its way, that experience was instructive in his current role as a non-playing captain.
“Tiger was playing and I think fans were excited to see him,” said Weir. “I felt like the fans were fantastic, but they were very cordial to the U.S. side. “We want them to be a little bit louder and a little bit more raucous than the past.”
The 2022 edition of the Presidents Cup was the first time that more than one Canadian played in the event, with Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., earning his way on to the team as an automatic selection and Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., picked by captain Trevor Immelman of South Africa.
Weir, and the Canadians on the PGA Tour, are hoping to have even more of a maple flavour at Royal Montreal. The top six players on the U.S. and International rankings are automatically chosen, and then Weir and U.S. captain Jim Furyk get to pick their next six players.
Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is currently fourth in the International Team rankings. Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, is ninth and Conners in 12th, meaning they could be easy choices for Weir to add.
Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., are 16th and 17th respectively, making them possible reaches. Pendrith is 22nd.
“You’ve got to give credit to Golf Canada and their development program that they’ve put together,” Weir said of the number of eligible Canadians. “A lot of those guys grew up together, were in that junior program together, and the development program.
“They’ve continued to elevate their games and elevate their careers.” There are no Canadians currently playing LIV Golf, the team-based circuit backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Weir confirmed that LIV Golf players like Chile’s Joaquin Niemann will not be eligible to play in the Presidents Cup.
Weir held a dinner with approximately 15 of the possible players who could play for the International Team ahead of this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Taylor, Hadwin, Svensson, Conners and Hughes are all in the field at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla., this week.
KORN FERRY TOUR — Edmonton’s Wil Bateman is the top-ranked Canadian on the second-tier Korn Ferry Tour. He’s ranked 12th heading into this week’s Astara Chile Classic at Prince of Wales Country Club in Santiago. There are six other Canadians in the field, including Etienne Papineau (28th) of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., Myles Creighton (54th) of Digby, N.S., and Sudarshan Yellamaraju (105th) of Mississauga, Ont. Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., and Thomas Giroux of Georgetown, Ont., enter the tournament unranked.
CHAMPIONS TOUR — Calgary’s Stephen Ames, currently ranked second in the Schwab Cup standings, will be in the field at the Cologuard Classic at La Paloma Country Club in Tucson, Ariz. Weir, when he’s done with his responsibilities at Bay Hill, will also play at the Cologuard Classic when it tees off on Friday. Weir is 38th on the Schwab Cup list. DP WORLD TOUR — Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., is in the opening group at the Jonsson Workwear Open 2024 at Glendower Golf Club in Dowerglen, Edenbale, South Africa. He’s 13th in the Race to Dubai Rankings.
LPGA TOUR — Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., are in the field at Blue Bay LPGA at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course in China. Both are currently unranked on the Race to CME Globe standings.
EPSON TOUR — Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., leads the Canadian contingent into the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic on Friday at the Country Club of Winter Haven in Winter Haven. She’ll be joined by Hamilton’s Alena Sharp, Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., Kate Johnston of Ayr, Ont., and Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., in the first event on the 2024 tour’s calendar.
Golf Canada Annual Meeting concludes with David McCarthy elected to serve a second term as President
Golf Canada
2023 Annual Report & Financial Statements are now available.
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Member Doug Roxburgh Named an Honorary Life Governor with Golf Canada in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the sport.
CPKC Women’s Open Volunteers Cheryl Lee & Carolyn Naylor recognized as2023 Co-Recipients of the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award
Longtime Volunteer and junior golf supporter Duncan Mills, Industry Veterans Tiffany Gordon, and the late Denzil Palmer along with former SCOREGOLF Publisher Kim Locke to be recognized with Golf Canada’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award
Golf Canada’s 2024 Annual Meeting culminated on Thursday, March 7 with the election of David McCarthy of Toronto to serve a second term as the 117th President of the National Sport Federation.
McCarthy, who recently retired as a senior partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP, has been a volunteer with Golf Canada for more than 20 years across various committees, councils, and championships. A member of the Donalda Golf & Country Club, the St. Andrews Golf Club, and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, McCarthy has served on the Board of Directors of Golf Canada since 2018.
“I am extremely honoured that the Nominating Committee has extended its confidence in me to serve a second term as President of Golf Canada,” said McCarthy. “We are coming off a remarkable 2023 season of strong participation and incredible performances by our Canadian golfers domestically and on the world stage. We are also excited to introduce this year an initiative to use golf to promote mental health and physical well being. There is a great momentum in Canadian golf and together with the Board of Directors, our industry and provincial association partners and volunteers from coast to coast, I look forward to helping advance our sport in 2024.”
Based on the report of Golf Canada’s Nominating Committee, McCarthy will be joined on the 2024 Board of Directors by returning Vice-President Adam Daifallah of Montréal, Que. in leading the 13-member Board of Directors who will work closely with Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum and Golf Canada’s management team.
Returnees to the Board of Directors include Susan MacKinnon of Calgary, Alta., Jean-Sébastien Monty of Montréal, Que., Michelle Collens of Vancouver, B.C. Kelly Roberts of London, Ont. and Patrick Kelly of Victoria, B.C.
New additions to Golf Canada’s Board of Directors include Lori Dithurbide of Halifax, N.S., Katie Mahon of Kingston, Ont., Louise Patry of Montréal, Que., Nafeez Hirji of Calgary, Alta., Peter Broome of Jupiter, Fla. and former LPGA Tour player and Team Canada graduate Britanny Marchand of Mooresville, N.C.
For the biographies of Golf Canada Board members, click here.
Golf Canada also announced during its Annual General Meeting that Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh of Vancouver, B.C. has been named an Honorary Life Governor of Golf Canada in recognition of his longstanding contributions to the association and the sport.
As part of its Annual General Meeting, which was conducted virtually, Golf Canada also released the organization’s 2023 Annual Report including its Financial Statements which are available here.
Cheryl Lee and Carolyn Naylor named 2023 Co-Recipients of the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award…
In the continued celebration of volunteerism, Golf Canada recognized Vancouver natives Cheryl Lee and Carolyn Naylor as the 2023 recipients of the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award. The duo served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Player Services Committee for the 2023 CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club. Now in its 18th year, candidates for the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award are put forth for consideration in acknowledgment of significant contributions to the game of golf in their community. Click herefor more.
Volunteer Duncan Mills, Industry Veterans Tiffany Gordon, and the late Denzil Palmer along with former publisher Kim Locke to Receive Golf Canada’s 2024 Distinguished Service Award…
Golf Canada announced that four accomplished golf contributors – volunteer and junior golf supporter Duncan Mills of Edmonton, Alta., respected PGA of Canada professional Tiffany Gordon of Calgary, Alta., former SCOREGOLF Publisher Kim Locke of Toronto and the late Denzil Palmer, the longtime respected club manager who spent nearly 30 years as General Manager and Secretary of Royal Montreal Golf Club – will be acknowledged for their tremendous contributions to the sport as the 2024 recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award. The presentation of the Distinguished Service Award will be celebrated in person with the recipients later this year. Click herefor more.
Golf Canada’s 2024 Annual Meeting was conducted virtually on Thursday, March 7 with volunteers, staff, member clubs, and industry stakeholders participating.
