Henderson, LeBlanc finish inside top 10 in Boca Raton
Brooke Henderson hits from the 1st tee during the final round of the 2022 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio Golf Club (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Boca Raton, Fla. – The LPGA Tour commenced earlier this week with the second event of the 2022 schedule – the Gainbridge LPGA at Boco Rio. After 72 holes and a gusty week at Boco Rio Golf Club, Brooke Henderson finished T6 with Maude-Aimée LeBlanc finishing tied for eighth.
Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. shot a 4-under 68 on the final day of the the tournament with an eagle on the eighth hole. She ended the weekend seven shots behind leader Lydia Ko, and posted her second straight top 10 finish.
Maude-Aimée LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was close behind in eighth place at 6-under 274. The performance marked her return to the LPGA Tour and was also her best result since a T7 finish in 2017.
Matt & Steve’s becomes Official Caesar Partner of Golf Canada for the CP Women’s Open & RBC Canadian Open
Golf Canada
Golf Canada and Matt & Steve’s have announced a multi-year integrated partnership that will see Matt & Steve’s become the Official Caesar Partner of Canada’s National Open Golf Championships—the CP Women’s Open and the RBC Canadian Open.
Through the partnership, Matt & Steve’s will offer a selection of their popular ready to drink Caesars, Extreme Beans, and pickled garnish products at Golf Canada’s two signature championships beginning in 2022. Spectators at the RBC Canadian Open will also enjoy Matt & Steve’s Canadian Caesar Deck as an exciting addition to the Recipe Unlimited Fare Way food and beverage experience.
“We are thrilled to partner with Matt & Steve’s to deliver their innovative portfolio of Caesar products to the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open,” said John Sibley, Chief Commercial Officer of Golf Canada. “We look forward to building out a summertime atmosphere and integrating Matt & Steve’s premium Canadian blend of flavorful products into the social and hospitality experience of our two flagship properties.”
Founded in 2000, Matt & Steve’s is a fast-growing and leading-edge food and beverage company based in Mississauga, Ont. First established with only two employees and one product, the Extreme Bean, Matt & Steve’s has grown to support thousands of clients and numerous products within the retail, foodservice and beverage alcohol sectors throughout North America.
“We are very proud to be partnering with Golf Canada in the support of Canadian golf, the RBC Canadian Open and the CP Women’s Open,” said Steve McVicker, Partner and Co-founder of Matt & Steve’s. “At Matt & Steve’s we believe in creating products that celebrate the social and fun parts of life, and we are extremely excited to share our brand experience with Canadian golfers both on and off the course.
The 2022 RBC Canadian Open will be held June 6-12 at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont., with the CP Women’s Open being contested August 22-28 at Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.
Born January 21, 1940, Jack Nicklaus’ accomplishments on the golf course can only be rivaled by his achievements in golf course design.
On the PGA TOUR, Nicklaus led the money list eight times, twice while playing only 16 events. Between 1962 and 1979, he finished in the top 10 in 243 of the 357 official events he played in, a rate of 68 percent.
A strong supporter of the Canadian Open throughout his career, Nicklaus took on the challenge of designing Glen Abbey as a permanent site for the Canadian Open. His first solo design, Nicklaus brought years of on-course experience at tough golf courses and designed a layout that was tough on the professionals, yet enjoyable for the average golfer.
Nicklaus, was inducted to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in the builder category in 1995.
The success of the golf course he created and his support of the Canadian Open have assured the strength of golf in Canada for years to come.
Adam Svensson plays his shot from the 17th tee during the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 15, 2022 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
After the final day of the Sony Open in Honolulu, Canada’s Adam Svensson and Corey Conners finished T7 and 11th respectively.
For Svensson, who shot a three under 67, this would mark his best finish since he placed T15 at the 3M Open in 2019.
Connors, who celebrated his 30th birthday last week, finished the tournament at minus 16.
The tournament ended in a playoff round with Hideki Matsuyama besting Russell Henley for the top spot on the leaderboard.
Front row L to R: Doug Silverberg, Nick Weslock, Gary Cowan, Keith Alexander, Dunc Milligan at the 1966 World Amateur Tournament.
Golf Canada
Born January 16, 1933 in Red Deer, Alberta, Douglas Howard Silverberg is known for being a dominant force on the Alberta golf scene beginning in the late 1940s. A fierce competitor, Silverberg has won every major provincial championship in his home province, including the Juvenile, Junior, Amateur, Open and match play.
In addition to his stellar provincial record, Silverberg won the Canadian Junior in 1950 and the Senior Championship of Canada in 1994, and also represented Canada several times at the Commonwealth Tournaments, Americas Cup and World Amateur Team Championship.
When asked about the toughest competitor he ever faced as a player, fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Robert Wylie pointed to Silverberg.
“He wanted to win more than any other player I competed against,” explained Wylie. “He was intimidating because of his intensity; you could see him grinding the entire round. You could never feel like you had him beat because he never gave up. You could be on the green in two with a ten-footer for birdie and he could be in the middle of a bush but you would have been foolish to think you were going to win the hole. He would make pars and birdies from places you wouldn’t imagine. It was remarkable. He just put his head down and tried to beat you. No one was tougher than Doug Silverberg.”
Silverberg was inducted to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame in 1985, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1989, and the Alberta Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.
HONOLULU, HI - Adam Svensson tees off on the second hole during the third round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 15, 2022 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Prior to teeing off this morning for day three of the Sony Open, B.C. native Adam Svensson hit a few practice balls and admitted that he “just kind of wasn’t feeling it.” Clearly, the 28 year old overcame those nerves as he finished the day tied for third heading into the final round tomorrow.
Despite a tsunami advisory in effect for Honolulu in the early hours of the morning, the tournament was able to safely continue with weather conditions slightly windier than the previous two days of play. When asked if this affected his game Svensson replied:
“I’m usually pretty good into the wind. I kind of like the wind. Yeah, there is some extremely tough golf shots. I think on 13 I hit 3-iron into that hole, so you definitely got to play smart, golf your ball around here.”
Corey Conners who had been tied with Svensson after the first two rounds dropped to T18.
Play resumes tomorrow morning. Full leaderboard here.
HONOLULU, HAWAII - Corey Conners plays his shot from the fifth tee during the second round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 14, 2022 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
Round 2 of the Sony Open brought envy-worthy views as golfers tee’d up for the second day of competition in paradise. Around mid-day Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time, the thermometer read 77F, equating to 25C for those who are north of the border.
For Conners and Svensson, the Friday round in Hawaii was a successful one as the pair moved up four spots on the leaderboard to finish the day at nine under in a tie for fifth. Both sit six strokes back of leader Russell Henley.
At the midway point of the tournament Conners is error-free, carding nine birdies total. His best finish at the Sony Open was in 2019 when he finished T3 at Waialae.
Conners and Svensson are the only two Canadians advancing to the third round with Sloan, Pendrith, and Gligic missing the cut.
HONOLULU, HAWAII - JANUARY 13: Adam Svensson plays his shot from the 17th tee during the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii at Waialae Country Club on January 13, 2022 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Golf Canada
2022 is off to a good start as the Canadians kick things off in Hawaii after the PGA TOUR broke for the holidays. For many of us in Canada experiencing especially cold weather as of late, the oceanfront views and swaying palm trees at Waialae County Club are an added draw along with the main attraction – spectacular professional golf.
After the conclusion of round 1, Corey Conners and Adam Svensson sit T9, with Conners carding a bogey-free round on Thursday. Both players finished six-under par 64, just three strokes behind leader and defending champ Kevin Na.
Roger Sloan and Taylor Pendrith each opened with a 71 and are tied for 119th. Michael Gligic sits T132 after he opened with a 72.
As host to 144 golfers, The Sony Open marks the first full-field event of the reopening of the PGA TOUR season. The host club, Waialae Golf and Country Club, has served as the only venue since the tournament was established in 1965.
Born on this day (January 7) in 1908, Jules Huot is often considered to be one of the finest of all Quebec golf professionals and an important contributor to the growth of the game across the country.
Huot grew up in Boischatel, Quebec, the second boy in a family of 13 children. His home within close proximity of Royal Québec Golf Club, Huot became a caddie and pro shop assistant while using his wages to help support his large family. At the age of 16, Huot’s mentor Frank Locke urged his assistant to begin competing and entered him in the 1924 Quebec Open.
Known as “le petit Jules”, Huot received many accolades and captured the CPGA Championship and Quebec Open Championship three times, won five Quebec PGA Championships, and finished as the low Canadian Professional at the Canadian Open on two occasions. His most notable victory however, was in 1937 when he bested Harry Cooper at the General Brock Open. The occasion marked the first time a Canadian professional had won a PGA TOUR tournament.
Huot would also be invited to play in the Masters on three occasions, serve as the President of the PGA of Canada in 1946, and represented Canada four times in the Hopkins Cup, as well as the Canada Cup (now World Cup) in 1954.
His achievements and legacy earned him Honoured Membership to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1977, Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1978, The Quebec Sports Hall of Fame and Quebec Golf Hall of Fame in 1996, and, posthumously, the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame in 2014.
In recognition of his loyal services, Jules Huot was named Honorary Life Member at Le Club Laval where he served as head professional for 25 years until he retired in 1970.
In Chicoutimi and Montreal, you can find streets named after this French-Canadian icon who gave so much to the sport.
Noah Steele signs with One Eleven Management Group
Noah Steele (Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
Noah Steele, 24, announced today that he has selected One Eleven Management Group for representation.
Steele, a National Team Program member and a 3-time NCAA tournament champion at Sam Houston State, begins his professional career after a summer to remember in 2021. That included a victory as an amateur on PGA Tour Canada against a field of professionals.
“I’m really excited to get my professional golf journey underway and thrilled to work with Jeff Dykeman and One Eleven Management Group in doing so,” said Steele, a Kingston, Ont., native. “Jeff’s reputation in the golf industry is fantastic and it was clear after a number of conversations that this would be a great match for both of us.”
In 2021, the Kingston, ON. native finished tied for fifth at the Canadian Amateur Championship before making an impressive run on PGA Tour Canada with a win, a runner-up and one additional top 10 on his way to finishing third on the points list. That secured him 2022 membership on the Canadian circuit. His victory at the 2021 Osprey Valley Open was especially impressive as he finished at 23-under par to win by six strokes at TPC Toronto.
“We are thrilled to start working with Noah, who on top of being exceptionally talented is also a total class act,” said Jeff Dykeman, CEO of One Eleven Management Group. “Noah is extremely dedicated to the process of achieving his goal of winning on the PGA Tour. We feel very privileged to be working with him and will do whatever we can to help and support him on this journey.”
Steele also earned conditional status on PGA Tour Latinoamerica for the 2022 season and hopes to play a full slate of events starting in February before returning home to play a full schedule on PGA Tour Canada. In addition, he will try to qualify for June’s RBC Canadian Open on the PGA Tour.
Golf Canada congratulates Noah on this next step in his career.