Canadian golf rallies in support of University of Southwest golfers
(Hayden Underhill and Dayton Price)
Golf Canada
The Canadian golf community is rallying in support for the heartbreaking auto accident involving the University of Southwest golf teams in Texas on Tuesday.
It is with deep sadness that Golf Canada passes along our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the nine victims who passed in the tragic accident.
Two Canadian athletes, Dayton Price, of Mississauga, Ont., and Hayden Underhill of Amherstview, Ont., survived the crash and are now in critical condition. Both are members of the University of Southwest Men’s golf team and have played in various Golf Ontario championships.
Price, 19, is a member at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. Underhill, 20, is a member of Cataraqui Golf & Country Club.
“Our hearts go out to all of the families involved in this devastating accident,” said Liz Hoffman, President of Golf Canada. “On behalf of the Canadian golf community, our thoughts and best wishes are with Dayton and Hayden as well as their families as they deal through this tragedy.
Public GoFundMe pages are set up for both Price and Underhill to help the families with medical bills – please consider a donation if you are able.
Our thoughts are with Cataraqui member, Hayden Underhill & his family. Hayden was critically injured in a Texas bus crash involving his University of Southwest teammates. Hayden & 1 other survivor Dayton Price of Mississauga remain in hospital. Go Fund Me https://t.co/b349Q8vWhkpic.twitter.com/UCDuGF9Wgk
So heartbreaking to hear the news from Texas. There are a couple of fundraisers set up to help these two families. I’ll be donating $500 per birdie starting tomorrow to help. Donate if you can.@PGATOURhttps://t.co/EnNsTmFaf9
It was a rough Sunday on the course but much bigger things this past week. Able to raise some money for Hayden and Dayton with 12 birdies for the week. Wishing them a full recovery and thoughts are with everyone impacted by this terrible tragedy.
Adam Hadwin plays a shot on the 14th hole during the third round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2022 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. – The Players Championship had no shortage of weather delays as the rain and wind pushed the competition to a Monday afternoon finish.
While speaking of the wild week at TPC Sawgrass, Adam Hadwin noted he was “happy to be done” after battling inclement weather conditions since the start of play on Thursday. The B.C. native played well on Sunday and Monday to finish the tournament five under 67 and tied for 9th on the leaderboard.
“Got away with a few things today,” said Hawdin of his game. “I hit some really good shots that I took advantage of, obviously. Made a lot of putts early. Had 10 putts through nine holes today, hit four greens and was 2-under on the front, and that doesn’t happen very often here.”
Taylor Pendrith finished just one shot back of Hadwin to tie for 13th in his first appearance at The Players. The 30 year old also noted his familiarity with playing in colder conditions from his time spent on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“The course was great, yeah,” said Pendrith of the course conditions. “The greens were still very receptive I would say, obviously with all the rain. The rough seems to be a little easier to hit out of than the start of the week, but the greens are good. They’ve got some really nice speed to them and are rolling true. It’s challenging but it’s very fair.”
Pendy’s first tee shot of first career round at @THEPLAYERSChamp.
Four regional qualifiers set for RBC Canadian Open
HAMILTON, ONTARIO - JUNE 08: A general view of the 16th flagstick during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club on June 08, 2019 in Hamilton, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, is pleased to announce the qualifying format for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, scheduled for June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto with nearby Islington Golf Club serving as the official practice facility.
A two-stage qualifying process for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship will feature regional qualifying competitions in Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario, as well as Alberta which is new for 2022.
Each of the four regional qualifiers will consist of 18 holes of stroke-play with the low qualifier at each site receiving an exemption directly into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open field (provided a minimum of 100 competitors participate at each site). The top 10% of finishers beyond the low qualifier at each regional qualifying competition are eligible to compete at the Final Qualifying Competition.
The final qualifying competition will take place on Monday, June 6 at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, host of the 2023 & 2026 RBC Canadian Open.
Oakdale Golf & Country Club
“With the return of the RBC Canadian Open to the PGA TOUR schedule, we are very pleased to bring back our regional qualifying competitions, adding a fourth qualifier in Alberta, and providing players from across the country the opportunity to compete in our National Men’s Open Championship,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. Regional qualifying has always brought an important element to our championship field, and with such great momentum behind golf right now, we look forward to the excitement of Canadian and international competitors playing their way into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.”
Participation in the final qualifying competition is limited to those competitors receiving requisite exemptions, or individuals who have advanced through regional qualifying. The Final Qualifier will feature 18 holes of stroke play, with a minimum of four (4) spots available for direct entry into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open field.
2022 RBC Canadian Open Qualifying Competitions
Quebec Regional Qualifier, Monday May 9, 2022 @ Club de Golf Le Blainvillierin Blainvillier, Que.
British Columbia Regional Qualifier, Tuesday, May 17 @ Meadow Gardens Golf Club in Pitt Meadows, B.C.
Ontario Regional Qualifier, Wednesday, May 18 @ TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont.
Alberta Regional Qualifier, Monday, May 30 @ Mickelson National Golf Club in Calgary, Alta.
RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier, Monday, June 6 @ Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont.
Registration for all four 2022 RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifiers is now open.
The RBC Canadian Open qualifying competition is open to members in good standing of the PGA of Canada or other PGA affiliates; amateur golfers who are members of Golf Canada or in good standing with their respective association; and other golf professionals. Players’ Handicap Index must not exceed 2.0 on the date of the application filing and must be within the Handicap Index requirements at the entry deadline.
The 2022 RBC Canadian Open is also part of The Open Championship Qualifying Series. The top-2 finishers at the RBC Canadian Open (not otherwise exempt) earn a spot in the field of The 150th Open Championship, July 10-17, 2022, at St Andrews in Fife, Scotland.
For more information about RBC Canadian Open qualifying criteria and player registration, click here.
Brooke Henderson tees off at 4th hole during the third round of Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course on March 12, 2022 in Pattaya, Thailand. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Last week, the LPGA Tour headed to Thailand for the 15th edition of the Honda LPGA Classic.
During the four-day competition, temperatures reached upwards of 42C prompting Brooke Henderson to comment, “I think today was the hottest I’ve ever been in my life.” Still, that didn’t stop the Smith Falls, Ont. native from posting a T4 finish at 23 under – three shots back from leader Nanna Koerstz Madsen.
“Yeah, it was a good finish. I felt like I’ve been playing really well, which is a really good feeling, especially after last year wasn’t my best year,” said Henderson. “So to come out this year so strong, I’m definitely happy and proud of that. I feel like I’m inching my way closer every week to getting a little bit more comfortable and just enjoying those final groups as much as I have been. It’s just so fun, so exciting to be in them. I just look forward to when I have my opportunity to win.”
For Henderson, that win seems just around the corner as the 24 year old recorded her fourth top ten finish in five starts for the 2022 season.
While Henderson was competing abroad, International Women’s Day took place in North America. When asked about the celebration and the women’s game, Henderson responded:
“I think the women’s game is in a great spot. The depth of the tour and the strength of the players coming out every year just keeps getting better. It’s exciting to be part of the LPGA Tour right now just because you feel like you’re part of a movement and part of pushing it forward, which is amazing. It’s nice to see some of the sponsors step up, and to get to play better golf courses at some of our major championships, it’s definitely a cool time to be part of the tour, and hopefully I can keep getting better, too, and keep pushing the boundaries.”
Next up, Henderson heads to Carlsbad, Ca. to compete in the JTBC Classic.
Click here for the full leaderboard from the Honda LPGA Classic.
Golf Canada names 12 athletes to 2022 Team Canada Young Pro Squad
Golf Canada
Golf Canada is pleased to announce the 12 professional athletes who have been selected to receive support through the Team Canada Young Pro Squad in 2022.
The 2022 Women’s Young Pro Squad will welcome a pair of new additions in Selena Costabile (Thornhill, Ont.) and Maude-Aimée LeBlanc (Sherbrooke, Que.), along with returning players Jaclyn Lee (Calgary, Alta.) and Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.). Golf Canada is also pleased to welcome back Rebecca Lee-Bentham (Scarborough, Ont.) who rejoins the Young Pro Squad after a brief hiatus from her professional golf career. The selection criteria for 2022 was expanded on the women’s side to recognize the more significant impact of COVID-19 on professional playing opportunities in the women’s game.
Comprising the 2022 Men’s Young Pro Squad are returnees Chris Crisologo (Richmond, B.C.), Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.), Jared du Toit (Kimberley, B.C.), Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver, B.C.) and Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.). Blair Bursey (Gander, N.L), and Myles Creighton (Digby, N.S.) will also join the Young Pro Squad program as new members.
“Expanding the roster of Canadian athletes and revising the Young Pro Squad selection criteria to support more players in their path to the LPGA and PGA Tour is an extension of the enhancements introduced to our High-Performance program and the continued support we are grateful to receive from Golf Canada Foundation trustees and our Team Canada supporting partners,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer, Kevin Blue.
Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man. will continue as Head Coach of the Men’s Young Pro Squad. Golf Canada is undertaking a search for a new Women’s Head Coach with gradual transition of Tristan Mullally of Dundas, Ont. to the newly created position of National Talent Identification Director to support Golf Canada’s enhanced High-Performance Program.
Now in its ninth year, the Team Canada Young Pro Squad supports aspiring professional golfers move up the ranks on the developmental tours with the ultimate goal of putting more players on the LPGA and PGA TOUR. Since the inception of the Young Pro Squad in 2014, current and former team members have accounted for 50 wins across various professional golf tours including PGA TOUR wins by Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners, as well as a record 10 LPGA Tour wins by Brooke Henderson.
Funding for the program comes in large part from the Golf Canada Foundation and Trustees who are generously supporting through major gifts. In addition, robust support is provided by founding partners RBC and Canadian Pacific, as well as supporting partners Citi Canada and Bear Mountain Resort – the Official Training Centre of Golf Canada’s National Team program.
Click here to read the 2022 Team Canada Young Pro Squad player and coaching staff bios.
EMERGING PROFESSIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Golf Canada Foundation is also proud to announce Maude-Aimée LeBlanc and Stuart Macdonald as the recipients of the Emerging Professional Player of the Year Award, presented by Andrew Cook. In recognition of their notable results and improvement in 2021, each received $10,000 towards their continued development in professional golf.
In 2020 Andrew Cook, a proud Trustee of the Golf Canada Foundation, and past President with Golf Canada, established the $20,000 annual fund to recognize a top male and top female emerging Canadian professional golfer. Previous recipients include Taylor Pendrith, who graduated from the Young Pro Squad program after securing his PGA TOUR card in April 2021, and Maddie Szeryk who earned her LPGA Tour card in December 2021.
“We are very pleased to name Maude-Aimée LeBlanc and Stuart Macdonald as the Emerging Professional Players of the Year,” said Martin Barnard, CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to Andrew Cook for his continued support in impacting the lives of young professional athletes as they pursue their goals.”
LeBlanc, a former member of the Team Canada Amateur Squad who came out of retirement in 2021 and earned her LPGA Tour card through strong results on the Epson Tour, notched nine top-10 results with two runner-up finishes on the season. With a renewed passion for the game, she finished sixth on the Epson Tour money list to successfully secure her 2022 LPGA Tour.
Stuart Macdonald began 2021 without Korn Ferry Tour status but progressed from conditional status to playing a near-full calendar of Korn Ferry Tour events. Macdonald earned seven top-20 finishes on the Korn Ferry Tour including a T3 showing at the REX Hospital Open to earn full status on the Korn Ferry Tour for 2022.
The RBC Canadian Open is officially back to kick off the 2022 summer festival season!
Golf Canada, in partnership with title sponsor RBC, is pleased to offer a full selection of ticket options for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.
Following two years of cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RBC Canadian Open returns June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto with nearby Islington Golf Club hosting the tournament’s official practice facility. The stars of the PGA TOUR will return to Toronto as St. George’s prepares to host the tournament for the fifth time and first since 2010.
With a superb June date on the PGA TOUR schedule the week prior to the US Open, the 111th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship will be a week-long summer festival and a premier event on the Canadian sports calendar.
Building on the multi-day sellout that thrilled fans in 2019 and culminated with Rory McIlroy’s impressive victory, fans of all ages will once again experience the energy of world-class PGA TOUR golf and exciting activities all week long including the return of the RBCxMusic Concert Series on Friday and Saturday (musical acts to be announced in the coming weeks), The Rink on the 16th hole at St. George’s, and a variety of food and patio experiences at the Recipe Unlimited Fare Way.
“Together with RBC we are incredibly excited to bring the 2022 RBC Canadian Open back to the PGA TOUR schedule in a big way as a kick-off to summer festival season in Toronto,” said RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford. “With so much built-up momentum and the deep interest in golf at all levels of the game, the return of the RBC Canadian Open will be a can’t miss pinnacle celebration.”
“We are thrilled to welcome fans back to the tournament along with our partners Golf Canada,” said Shannon Cole, Vice-President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “We look forward to sharing more details on the return of the RBCxMusic Concert Series and building on the success of 2019.”
In addition to the full suite of RBC Canadian Open tickets now available, youth aged 12-and-under get free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. All Friday and Saturday tickets will include access to the RBCxMusic Concert Series.
GENERAL ADMISSION – DAILY GROUNDS TICKETS
Spectators can take advantage of miles of front row seating! General admission tickets provide access to the golf course—get an up-close look at your favourite PGA TOUR stars, enjoy fan activations throughout the property and experience the thrill of major professional golf.
1904 CLUB PRESENTED BY RBC ISHARES
The 1904 Club presented by RBC iShares delivers an elevated fan experience in the heart of the golf course. Located between the 1st and 10th greens, this premium destination is the perfect home base to sit, relax and map out your experience following the stars of the PGA TOUR. Enjoy relief and shelter from the elements, take in the broadcast on TV and treat yourself to an elevated food, beverage and hospitality experience.
Click here to sign up for the RBC Canadian Open newsletter and be among the first notified for upcoming RBCxMusic Concert Series announcements and updates.
Watch: Gender Equality in Golf – Virtual Summit
Golf Canada
The Canadian Golf Journalists Association (GJAC), in partnership with RBC, conducted a virtual summit on gender equality in golf.
The panel (moderated by Leah Bathgate-Snethun) includes:
Golf Canada is pleased to announce its 2022 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.
The 2022 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s signature professional championships — the RBC Canadian Open, June 6-12, at St. George’s Golf & Country Club with host practice facility, Islington Golf Club in Toronto, Ont., and the CP Women’s Open, to be conducted August 22-28 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.
Golf Canada’s 2022 competition calendar includes nine National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, eight NextGen Championships fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship presented by Sargent Farms. Interprovincial team competitions played concurrently over the first 36 holes at select national championships will return in 2022.
As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.
“Golf Canada is incredibly proud to return to a full championship schedule in 2022 and welcome more than 3,000 talented Canadian and international athletes to our national championships,” said Golf Canada’s CEO, Laurence Applebaum. “Together with our host clubs, corporate partners, and volunteers that help drive the success of our events, there is incredible momentum in our sport as we look ahead to the 2022 season.”
Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off on May 13 in Nanaimo, B.C. with the NextGen Pacific Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards at Nanaimo Golf Club, and concludes in October with the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.
To view Golf Canada’s 2022 championship schedule, including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities, please click here.
Championship Season at a Glance…
The 18th playing of the Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO will be held June 1-4 at Golf Château Bromont. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.
The 108th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO takes place July 19-22 at Westmount Golf & Country Club in Kitchener, Ont. with the champion earning an exemption into the 2022 CP Women’s Open, as well as an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. The winner also receives exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior, 2022 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships, if applicable.
The 67th Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO will be contested July 26-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont. where the winner will earn an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and the 2023 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship.
The 117th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO will be contested August 1-4 at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver, B.C and Seymour Golf & Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C. A maximum field of 264 players will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 36 holes, with the final two rounds contested at Point Grey. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship. The winner will also receive an exemption from local qualifying for the 2023 U.S. Open, and if applicable, will earn an exemption into the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur or 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championships.
The 83rd playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO will be contested August 7-10 at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. with the winner earning an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and 2023 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO will be held August 23-26 at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont., while the club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this season.
The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship, presented by BDO will be held August 30 – September 1, at Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley, M.B. with the Senior champion earning an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
As part its centennial anniversary, Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. will host the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO from September 6-9, with the champion earning an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
The second playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, a national championship for players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments, will be held September 13-14 at Essex Golf & Country Club in Windsor, Ont.
The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. The 2022 NextGen Championship host clubs include Nanaimo Golf Club (Nanaimo, B.C.), Oak Bay Golf Club (Port Severn, Ont.), Pine Hills Golf Club (Rocky Mountain House, Alta.), Quarry Oaks (Steinbach, MB), Club de Golf Hemmingford (Hemmingford, Qué.), and Antigonish Golf & Country Club (Antigonish, NS). An additional two Fall Series championships will take place in September and October, where players will compete for exemptions into their respective 2023 national junior championships.
An accomplished field of international competitors will take to Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., from October 10-15, for the seventh annual World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms. The event will welcome 25 countries playing as 3-member squads competing for both a team and individual title.
Golf Canada has also confirmed that it will not be continuing with the National Orders of Merit, beginning in 2022. Previously used to track golfer performance, the rankings will be replaced by a comprehensive talent identification system that supports the new Canadian golf high-performance strategy.
Team Canada’s Katie Cranston wins DJ World Junior title, teammate Nicole Gal finished 3rd
Golf Canada
MURRELS INLET, SC – It was a weekend to remember for Team Canada member Katie Cranston.
Cranston, a native of Oakville, Ont., shot a remarkable 4-under 68 in Sunday’s final round to erase a four-stroke deficit on her way to capturing the girls title at the Dustin Johnson World Junior Championship.
The 17-year-old’s clutch final round at TPC Myrtle Beach was boosted by an ace on the par-3 13th which helped her close out the event at 5 under par (68-75-68). She finished with a four-stroke victory over Bailey Shoemaker (Dade City, Fla.).
Fellow Team Canada member (and Oakville native) Nicole Gal rounded out the top three with a share of third place at 5 over par. Gal won the 2019 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship at Augusta National.
Nicole Gal, Katie Cranston (DJ World Junior)
Now in its seventh year, the Dustin Johnson World Junior features 90 of the top international players from around the world.
Henderson finishes T6 at HSBC Women’s World Championship
Brooke Henderson plays her shot from the fifth tee during the final round of the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
SINGAPORE – Last Thursday, the LPGA Tour took to Sentosa Golf Club for the 14th time for the HSBC Women’s World Championship. It was here where Brook Henderson recorded her third top-10 LPGA finish of the season, firing five under 67 to finish tied for sixth place.
Leader Jin Young Ko earned her sixth win in her last 10 LPGA Tour starts and set two new benchmarks in the record books, marking her 15th consecutive round in the 60s and her 30th consecutive round under par.
Next week the LPGA Tour heads to Thailand where Henderson will compete in the Honda LPGA Thailand.
