123 of Canada’s top women’s senior golfers will compete for the Ada Mackenzie Challenge Trophy; along with a Super Senior division title and an inter-provincial team championship all up for grabs in Georgetown
Georgetown, Ont. – The 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO is set for August 27-29, with a field of 123 golfers competing over three rounds at The Club at North Halton in Georgetown, Ont.
This year’s field competing for the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship features seven of the most recent winners including defending champion and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member, Mary Ann Hayward of St. Thomas, Ont. Last year, Hayward battled with Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. right up to the final hole to claim her fourth Canadian Women’s Senior national championship.
Kyrinis, a two-time champion (2016 and 2019) is in the field in Georgetown coming off her sixth Ontario Senior Women’s Championship earlier this month at Lora Bay Golf Club in Thornbury, Ont. Kyrinis joined Marlene Streit and Gayle Borthwick as the only six-time winners of the provincial championship.
Fellow two-time champion (2022 and 2021), Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C. will also be competing next week. Stouffer has enjoyed a successful season thus far earning a clean sweep at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship last month, winning the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Inter-Provincial Team titles at the Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay, B.C. Stouffer also added the B.C. Women’s Mid-Master and B.C. Women’s Senior Championships to her trophy cabinet this season.
Additional past champions in the field include Sue Wooster of Australia who won back-to-back Canadian Women’s Senior titles in 2017 and 2018. Wooster won the 2024 Australian Mid-Amateur in May. Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont., also a two-time champion (2012 and 2015) is coming off a T19 finish and earned low amateur honours at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh, Pa. earlier this month. Joining them is 2014 winner, Helene Chartrand of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Que. and two-time winner (2008 and 2009) Jackie Little of Procter, B.C.
“We are excited to welcome such a strong field with a number of past champions ready to compete for our Canadian Women’s Senior Championship next week at The Club at North Halton,” said Sam Brown, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “The staff at North Halton have done a tremendous job in preparing to host our national championship and will provide a great test and hospitality for our field.”
The Club at North Halton is hosting the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship while celebrating its 70th anniversary. Established in 1954, the course presents a test that allows golfers to use every club in the bag. The course features tree lined fairways, wooded ravines and natural foliage set in the valley of Georgetown. The history of the golf course itself extends back to 1914 and 1915 when local entrepreneur, J.A. Willoughby purchased two farms that would eventually become North Halton Golf and Country Club.
“We are honoured to be hosting a national championship at The Club at North Halton. Players will be welcomed into our home and community during the championship week,” said Marc Bezaire, Director of Golf Operations, The Club at North Halton. “The field of players is very strong, we are looking forward to watching some of the best players in the country compete at the highest level.”
Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured the country’s most accomplished senior golfers including Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor, Margaret Todd, Alison Murdoch and Mary Ann Hayward who all own senior national championship titles. Four women have won the national championship four times including: Marlene Streit (1985, 1987, 1988, 1993), Gayle Borthwick (1994, 1995, 1999, 2000), Alison Murdoch (2002, 2004, 2005, 2007) and Mary Ann Hayward (2010, 2011, 2013, 2023).
The Senior and Super Senior championship rounds are played concurrently over three rounds, with the low 70 players plus ties in the Senior division and a minimum of five players in the Super Senior division advancing to the final round. Players over 50 are eligible to compete in the senior championship and those 60 and over are eligible to compete for the super senior title.
In addition, the Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be played over the first 36 holes, where teams will compete for the Katherine Helleur Trophy. Last year, Team Ontario won by 14-strokes over Team British Columbia. Ontario was represented by Mary Ann Hayward, Judith Kyrinis and Terrill Samuel. It marked Ontario’s tenth title in a 12-year span, with Hayward being part of all ten championships. Kyrinis earned her sixth team title and Samuel claimed her second team title.
The winner of the 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship will earn an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Championship taking place September 21-26 at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle, Wash. Along with exemptions into the 2025 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, 2025 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2025 U.S. Women’s Senior Open.
Practice rounds are scheduled for Monday, August 26, with the opening round scheduled to begin on Tuesday, August 27. For the full player field competing in the 2024 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.