Hole in One Report

Golf Canada Hole-In-One Report – Week of November 25, 2024

HIO

Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Xavier Recasens, St Catharines Golf and Country Club, Hole #17

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I was playing with one of my best golf buddies, Jim Cooper and also two great friends, Brett Dilabbio and Fred Kolodij. The great shot took place at Jim and I’s home course St. Catharines Golf and Country Club on hole #17 into a brisk wind. I hit a solid 6 iron from 10 to 12 feet left front of the green into a front left pin placement as we all watched the ball roll in and disappear.

Brett Gelfant, Summit Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

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Was playing 166 yards from the blue tee’s. Used a Titleist T-150 9 iron. Landed on the front of the green and released off the slope to the back left hole position. This was my second hole-in-one but first one I was able to watch go in the hole.

Ewan Baldwin, Victoria Golf Club, Hole #8

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Ewan was pretty excited by his first ace. He has been hunting for one since he watched my first one in 2020.

  • Time: approximately  4:00 pm.
  • Distance: 109 yards
  • Club: Taylormade sand wedge
  • Ball: Taylormade TP5x
  • Witness: Luke Bernekevitch (his father) and Lindsay Bernekevitch (Head Professional at Victoria Golf Club)
  • Famous Llast words: “This is going to be a difficult shot”

Written by Ewan’s father, Matthew Baldwin

John Kozij, Greyhawk Golf Club – Predator, Hole #8

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I was playing with Ewen MacMillan, Peter Howe and Leonard Huffman. All of us, members of the Greyhawk Golf Club.

The par 3, hole #8 on Predator had the pin on the right back of the green that day and it measured 170 yards from the tee off blocks.

I hit an older model Callaway 7 wood with an high and slight fade to the middle of the green and the momentum carried into the back right hole location. Ewen called it. I walked up there to confirm it was in the hole before celebrating my first hole-in-one.

Robert Tomlin, Picton Golf & Country Club, Hole #2

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Second hole at Picton Golf & Country Club. Used a pitching wedge from 110 yards. Easy hole! I was golfing with Howard Ziedenberg, Don Rodney and John Hughes.

Rob Piasecki, Selkirk Golf & Country Club, Hole #16

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My hole-in-one happened on my third last round of the year playing with my friend and frequent golf partner Glen Laye. It was a great Fall morning and was warming up as we approached the par 3, hole #16 at Selkirk Golf and Country Club. It was playing at 128 yards and I chose 9 iron. Swing was good, and we watched it one hop into the hole! Very exciting day indeed.

Brett Lacey, Gorge Vale Golf Club, Hole #10

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Hole #10 played 123 yards. I hit a pitching wedge. I played with Bryan Thompson, Craig Vaughn and Jeff Boyd.

Louise Fagan, Trenton Golf Club, Hole #8

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Well, it is my first hole-in-one. I have been golfing for about 12 years now so that was really exciting. I was playing with three friends, Gwen W., Linda R. and Julie O. I hit my shot on hole #8 and I saw my ball go a bit right of the hole. There’s a little hill on that side so my ball hit the hill and started rolling sideways on the green and right into the hole. I had turned around to get back to my bag but the girls kept looking at my ball and their voices got louder so I turned just in time to see my ball roll into the hole. I was a bit in disbelief and kept looking thinking maybe it was hiding behind the flag but no, it went in. What a great feeling! I usually use my 8 iron on this hole in the summer time but because it was cold and windy I clubbed up and used my 7 iron. The distance is about 112 yards to the hole.

Brian Gillam, Georgetown Golf Club, Hole #8

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I’ve been a member at Georgetown for 15 years now and play approximately 100 rounds a year and that was my first hole-in-one. I used a eight iron from 142 yards out. I was playing with one of the new members and unfortunately I don’t recall his name. There was also two of his guests there with him.

Peter Sheriff, Greenhills Golf Club, Hole #15

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I was playing with my son Mason Sheriff, Rich Vanderwyst and Steve Gligor. The hole was playing 210 yards, and I used a 2 hybrid.

2024 CPKC Women's Open

2024 CPKC Women’s Open wins Best Volunteer Appreciation at LPGA 2024 Gold Driver Awards

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Daytona Beach, Fla. – The 2024 CPKC Women’s Open was named as the Gold Driver Award recipient for Best Volunteer Appreciation at the LPGA 2024 Gold Driver Awards on Tuesday in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Volunteerism was a critical part of the success of the 2024 CPKC Women’s Open at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, Alta. The tournament was conducted for the first time at Earl Grey and saw 1,300 dedicated volunteers, whose positions were filled ahead of schedule, help to deliver an exceptional experience in Calgary. This year’s tournament also set a new record with 73,290 fans attending as Lauren Coughlin won for the first time on the LPGA Tour.

To help recognize the work of its volunteers, the tournament hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Day. The day included a complimentary breakfast, happy hour and gifts that were given to all volunteers to celebrate the 50th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open.

In addition to winning the Gold Driver Award for Best Volunteer Appreciation this year, the CPKC Women’s Open has earned Tournament of the Year honours in the previous two years (2022 and 2023). Golf Canada and CPKC also received Gold Driver Awards for Best Volunteer Engagement in 2023, Best Sponsor Activation in 2019, 2022, and 2023 as well as Best Community and Charity Engagement in three of the last five full season campaigns.

The 2025 CPKC Women’s Open will be contested at the historic Mississaugua Golf and Country Club in Mississauga, Ont. from August 20-24, 2025. Volunteer registration is now open, for more information or to apply, click here.

Mike Weir PGA TOUR

Mike Weir among Canada’s Walk of Fame honourees for 2025

Mike Weir_Walk_Of_Fame

Canadian golf star Mike Weir is among those set to be inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame next year.

The Brights Grove, Ont. native will join multi-platinum artists Our Lady Peace, award-winning acress Tonya Williams, Juno-winning guitarist Liona Boyd, pioneering cardiovascular surgeon Dr. Tirone David and War Child Canada founder Dr. Samantha Nutt.

The Walk of Fame, which honours notable Canadians for their exceptional achievements, will celebrate inductees with an awards show in Toronto in June.

Next year’s honourees will join more than 230 Canadians who have been commemorated on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

That includes Dr. Frank J. Hayden, the kinesiology professor whose research sparked the Special Olympics movement, who was this year’s sole inductee.

Additional inductees, along with plans for public events, will be announced next year.

Born in Sarnia, Ont., Weir is best known for his historic victory at the 2003 Masters Tournament, where he became the first Canadian and the first left-handed golfer to win the prestigious event.

Turning professional in 1992, Weir secured eight PGA TOUR victories, solidifying his reputation as one of Canada’s greatest golfers. He has also played key roles in multiple Presidents Cup International Teams, both as a player and assistant captain, and most recently as the captain of the International Team for the 2024 Presidents Cup in Montreal.

Weir continues to compete on the PGA TOUR Champions circuit, where he earned his first win at the 2021 Insperity Invitational.

Recognized for his contributions to the sport, Weir was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2007 and inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Industry News

NGCOA Canada announces new Board of Directors following 2024 Annual General Meeting

Richard Edmonds

OTTAWA – The National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) has announced the election of its new board of directors following the successful conclusion of its 2024 annual general meeting, held during the Golf Business Canada Conference and Trade Show in Calgary.

Richard Edmonds, owner of Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club, has been named president of NGCOA Canada. Known for his dedication to the golf industry, Edmonds is expected to provide strong leadership over the next two years, building on the work of his predecessors.

Outgoing president Daniel Pilon, owner of Club de Golf St-Zotique, was recognized for his contributions during his two-year term, which saw significant advancements for golf course operators across Canada.

The board of directors, elected by acclamation, will serve until November 2026.

2024–2026 NGCOA Canada Board of Directors

Executive Committee

President: Richard Edmonds, Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club

Vice-president: Slade King, Play Golf Calgary

Secretary-treasurer: Doug Breen, GolfNorth Properties

Past-president: Daniel Pilon, Club de Golf St-Zotique

Directors

• Ryan Garrett, PEI’s Finest Golf

• Carole Bergeron, Club de Golf La Tempête

• Rob Howell, Metcalfe Golf Club

• Gail Burrows, Sequin Valley Golf Club

• Doug Quick, Kingsville Golf & Country Club

• Rick Kindrachuk, Wakaw Lake Regional Golf Course

• Chris McNicol, Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club

• Bryan Ewart, Osoyoos Golf Club

• Brent Miller, ClubLink

• Nada Di Menna, Centre de Golf Le Versant

• Brian Schaal, Copper Point Golf Club

“We are excited to welcome our 2024–2026 board of directors and sincerely thank Daniel Pilon for his outstanding service over the past two years,” said NGCOA Canada CEO Jeff Calderwood. “We look forward to working with Richard Edmonds and the new board as we continue to support our members and enhance the Canadian golf industry.”

Edmonds expressed his enthusiasm for the role.

“I am honoured to serve as president of NGCOA Canada and to work with such an exceptional team of industry leaders,” he said. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by Daniel Pilon and previous boards, advocating for golf course operators, and driving growth, innovation, and sustainability in our industry.”

This leadership transition marks the beginning of a new chapter for NGCOA Canada, combining a legacy of dedicated service with a focus on innovation and growth.

For more information on NGCOA Canada and its initiatives, visit ngcoa.ca.

PGA TOUR

Canada’s Hadwin enters RSM Classic to try new swing before end of PGA Tour season

Adam Hadwin
Adam Hadwin (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Things just didn’t feel right for Adam Hadwin when he missed the cut at the Shriners Children’s Open on Oct. 18, so he went back to the drawing board.

Hadwin, from Abbotsford, B.C., spent the next month working on his swing, making subtle changes to improve his mechanics, and entered in this week’s RSM Classic — the finale of the PGA Tour’s Fall Ball season — to test out his new swing in a competitive environment. He said on Wednesday it all traced back to his disappointing performance at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas and that missed cut.

“It just kind of left a sour taste in my mouth, playing as poorly as I did there,” said Hadwin. “So I’ve been working hard the last two weeks, three weeks or so on, on some things and wanted to end the year on a better note.

“This was kind of the last event remaining. It’s fairly easy to get to (from his home in Wichita, Kan.) and the tournament itself is great.”

Hadwin finished the PGA Tour’s regular season 47th on the FedEx Cup standings, guaranteeing him a spot in all of next season’s signature events, starting with The Sentry at Plantation Course in Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii, on Jan. 2. It also meant that he didn’t have to play in the Shriners Children’s Open, the RSM Classic or any of the events on the Fall Ball calendar.

He chose to play in those events, however, to stay sharp.

“Winters in Wichita are probably not ideal for golf,” laughed Hadwin of preparing for the 2025 season. “I’ll just be working away on the technical side of things, making sure that I’m doing the right things leading into Hawaii. 

“Positionally, the things that we wanted to accomplish were accomplished and I’m just putting that work in, making swings over and over.”

The RSM Classic has been good to Canadian golfers in the past decade.

Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., won the event in a five-player playoff in 2016 and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., was the victor in 2022. Hughes was also the runner-up in 2021 and last year.

Hughes and Svensson will join Hadwin in the field on Thursday, as will Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. The event has players compete on Sea Island Golf Club’s Seaside Course and Plantation Course. Hadwin, Svensson and Sloan will start on the Seaside Course and Hughes will tee off on the Plantation Course.

“It’s two good golf courses on the island,” said Hadwin. “(St. Simons Island, Ga.,) is very laid back and I’ve enjoyed coming here the years that I have had to.

“This year it’s more so just to test out to see where I’m at, where the golf swing’s at, the shots that I’m hitting. Maybe some things to work on next six or seven weeks before going to Hawaii.”

Around the Tours

CME Group Tour Championship — Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., is the lone Canadian in the CME Group Tour Championship, the season finale for the LPGA Tour. It’s her 10th appearance at the elite event. She finished the regular season 14th on the tour’s points list.

LPGA Tour

LPGA Tour celebrates 75th anniversary with another record-breaking schedule in 2025

Booke Henderson

World’s longest-running women’s professional sports organization to award over $131 million in prize money across 35 events 

As it enters its 75th anniversary season, the LPGA Tour proudly announces the 2025 schedule, celebrating its legacy as the world’s longest-running women’s professional sports organization. In this milestone year, the LPGA Tour will feature 35 events (33 official events), where the world’s top athletes will compete for a historic total prize fund of more than $131 million. This represents the largest prize fund in the Tour’s 75-year history and marks a significant increase of over $62 million in four years, up approximately 90% from 2021, underscoring the Association’s continued growth and success.

“The 2024 season was another year of historic growth for the LPGA Tour, and with this 2025 schedule we will continue to improve on that growth,” said LPGA Commissioner Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “This schedule is highlighted by two exciting new events, a new multi-year title for the longest-running non-major tournament on the LPGA Tour, even higher purse sizes, increased benefits that will enhance the athlete experience, improved geographical flow and a longer off-season that will give our athletes a well-deserved rest after their tremendous work in 2024. We’re excited to see even more thrilling competition and unforgettable moments for our partners, athletes and fans worldwide as we continue to celebrate and support the remarkable journey of women’s golf in our 75th year.”

The global schedule will begin two weeks later than in 2024 and take the LPGA Tour to 14 states in the United States and 11 other countries, including two multi-event Asian swings, the first in February and March and the second in October and November that includes the return of the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in Korea. One European swing will take place in July and August. New on the calendar in 2025 is the previously announced Black Desert Championship – the only domestic event providing private charters for LPGA athletes – which will be held at Black Desert Resort’s signature course in May. Additionally, the LPGA Tour returns to Mexico for the first time since 2017 for the Riviera Maya Open in Cancun, also in May.

Non-major purses total over $83 million for the 2025 season, up from $45.8 million in 2021. The JM Eagle LA Championship presented by Plastpro returns to the calendar in 2025 after receiving the 2024 LPGA Tournament of the Year for continuing to drive purses higher across the Tour and increasing player benefits. So far, nine tournaments have announced elevated purses from 2024, with the FM Championship becoming the first non-major, non-CME Group Tour Championship purse to surpass $4 million. Additional purse increases are expected to be announced, building on the record-breaking prize fund for 2025. Sixteen events have purses of at least $3 million, including 10 non-major and non-Tour Championship events. On top of increased purse sizes, 24 events will be elevating the athlete experience through travel stipends, free accommodations and/or guaranteed minimum payouts.

The season-ending CME Group Tour Championship continues to lead the way in non-major purse size. The LPGA announced earlier today

 the extension through 2027 of CME Group as the title sponsor of the CME Group Tour Championship, which boasts the biggest non-major prize fund and winner’s check on Tour. The $11 million purse includes a $4 million dollar winner’s check, the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf and among the very highest in women’s sports.

The 2025 major championship season will be an exciting one, with LPGA Tour athletes competing for more than $47 million and visiting three new major-championship venues. This major purse total is the highest in the Tour’s 75-year history and an increase of more than 104% since 2021.The season kicks off in April with The Chevron Championship, taking place once again in The Woodlands, Texas at The Club at Carlton Woods. In May, the LPGA Tour will make its first trip to Erin Hills in Erin, Wisc. for the U.S. Women’s Open. Three weeks later, the Tour will visit the home of the PGA of America for the first time, playing the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas. The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in France will kick off the summer European swing in July, and the AIG Women’s Open in Wales at Royal Porthcawl, another new venue for the Tour, will conclude it in August.

Thirty-two athletes will have a chance to represent their countries at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown in October at New Korea Country Club in Goyang, Republic of Korea. The bi-annual team match-play event features eight teams, represented by four athletes each, all competing for the coveted Crown. The Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown was last played in 2023 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, where the Thailand Team of Ariya Jutanugarn, Moriya Jutanugarn, Patty Tavatanakit and Jeeno Thitikul was victorious over the underdog Australians. The United States Team finished third.

The LPGA Tour will announce full broadcast details for the season in 2025, with all events airing on Golf Channel and at least seven events on NBC and four events on CBS. As previously announced, the LPGA will continue its partnership with ESPN+ in 2025, with three events to be showcased on the streaming platform next season, including the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.

2025 LPGA Tour Schedule

DateTournament and LocationPurse
Jan. 30- Feb. 2Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of ChampionsLake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida$2.0M
Feb. 6-9Founders CupBradenton Country Club in Bradenton, Florida $2.0M
Feb. 20-23Honda LPGA ThailandSiam Country Club (Old Course) in Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand$1.7M
Feb. 22-March 2HSBC Women’s World ChampionshipSentosa Golf Club (Tanjong Course) in Singapore $2.4.M
March 6-9Blue Bay LPGAJian Lake Blue Bay GC in Hainan Island, People’s Republic of China$2.5M
March 20-23FIR HILLS Seri Pak ChampionshipPalos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California $2.0M
March 27-30Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse PassWhirlwind Golf Club in Wild Horse Pass in Chandler, Arizona$2.25M
April 2-6T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM RewardsShadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada$2M
April 17-20JM Eagle LA Championship presented by PlastproEl Caballero Country Club in Los Angeles, California $3.75M
April 24-27The Chevron ChampionshipThe Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas$7.90M**
May 1-4Black Desert ChampionshipBlack Desert Resort Golf Course in Ivins, Utah$3M
May 8-11Mizuho Americas OpenLiberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey $3M
May 22-25Riviera Maya OpenMayakoba-El Camaleon Course in Playa de Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico$2.5M
May 29-June 1U.S. Women’s Open presented by AllyErin Hill in Erin, Wisconsin$12M**
June 6-8ShopRite LPGA Classic pres. by AcerSeaview, A Dolce Hotel (Bay Course) in Galloway, New Jersey $1.75M
June 12-15Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply GiveBlythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan$3M
June 19-22KPMG Women’s PGA ChampionshipFields Ranch East at PGA Frisco iin Frisco, Texas$10.4M**
June 26-29Dow ChampionshipMidland Country Club in Midland, Michigan$3.3M
July 10-13Amundi Evian ChampionshipEvian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France$8.0M**
July 24-27ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish OpenDundonald Links in Gailes, Ayrshire, Scotland$2.0M
July 31- Aug. 3AIG Women’s OpenRoyal Porthcawl in Porthcawl, Wales, United Kingdom$9.5M**
Aug. 14-17The Standard Portland ClassicTBD in Portland, Oregon$2.0M
Aug. 20-24CPKC Women’s OpenMississaugua Golf & Country Club in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada$2.6M
Aug. 28-31FM Global ChampionshipTPC Boston in Norton, Massachusetts$4.1M
Sept. 11-14Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&GTBD in Cincinnati, Ohio$2M
Sept. 18-21Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&GPinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas$3M
Oct. 1-4LOTTE Championship presented by HoakaleiHoakalei Country Club in Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii$3M
Oct. 9-12Buick LPGA ShanghaiQizhong Garden Golf Club in Shanghai, People’s Rep. of China 2.2M
Oct. 16-19BMW Ladies ChampionshipTBD in Republic of Korea $2.3M
Oct. 23-26Hanwha LIFEPLUS International CrownNew Korea Country Club in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea$2M
Oct. 30-Nov. 27Maybank ChampionshipKuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia$3M
Nov. 6-9TOTO Japan ClassicSeta Golf Course in Shiga, Japan$2.1M
Nov. 13-16The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at PelicanPelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida$3.25M
Nov. 20-23CME Group Tour ChampionshipTiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida$11M
Dec. 12-14Grant Thornton InvitationalTiburón Golf Club in Naples, Florida$2M
Hole in One Report

Golf Canada Hole-In-One Report – Week of November 18, 2024

HIO

Each week we write to Golf Canada members who record a hole-in-one, congratulating them and asking if they’d tell us how it happened. These are their stories (edited for length and clarity).

Have you recently accomplished the feat of a hole-in-one? Tell us about it! Share your story, picture / video and course information with us at holeinone@golfcanada.ca.

Robert Boffa, Equinelle, Hole #3

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This year is my second year playing golf and this was my first hole-in-one. When I struck the ball, it felt like I hit it well and the ball was going right for the pin. The hole was 175 yards and I used a 3 iron. The two people who were golfing with me were Jim Parsons and Steve Eardley. Both got really excited and told me that the ball was in the hole. I did not believe them at first, as I thought it had hit the stick and continued off the back of the green. As we walked up to the hole I did not see my ball anywhere in view, I looked in the hole and there it was. I was thrilled that I got a hole-in-one and happy that my two good friends witnessed it.

John Taylor, The Hamptons Golf Club, Hole #5

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I was playing with Mark Brown, Paul Toye and Rajeev Shinde. These are three friends I have played with almost every weekend for the past decade. My shot was at the Hamptons Golf Club on hole #5. It was 141 yards with a six iron.

Exactly two years and three months earlier I had to give up golf for a knee replacement. The very first game I missed after this surgery had Rajeev hitting his first hole-in-one at the Hamptons Golf Club on hole #12. I recall how disappointed I was in missing that shot. I had never seen a hole-in-one before.

I can tell you that watching a hole-in-one shot get drained is fun. Even more fun with great friends and an absolute blast when its actually your own ball that goes in.

Peter Enright, The Okanagan Golf Club, Hole #4

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I got my first hole-in-one on hole #4 on the Quail course at the Okanagan Golf Club in Kelowna, B.C. It was 156 yards to the pin and I used a 7 iron!

Sienna Harder, Riverway Public Golf Course, Hole #11

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I was playing with SFU, HPU and WWU. The yardage was 145 and I used a 7 iron. Thank you so much for recognizing this, I really appreciate it!

Grant Mckay, Mitchell Golf & Country Club, Hole #3

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Played with Jeff Otten and Kerry Hahn. The hole was 140 yards and I used a Ping i525 9 iron.

Jeff Dicer, Vulcan Golf & Country Club, Hole #16

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Finally after trying for fifty years I finally aced a hole. Vulcan Golf & Country Club in Alberta on hole #16. 160 yard par 3 and I hit a smooth 8 iron. My last game this year, couldn’t think of a better way to finish 2024.

Alexandra Medeiros, Cherry Hill Club, Hole #16

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Very exciting stuff! I was playing with Franco Pace and Alex Dumais. Yardage was 92 and the club was a three-quarter 9 iron.

Graham Hill, Sand Valley Golf Resort, Hole #17

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Sand Valley Golf Resort, hole #17 from 225 yards with a 5 iron. I was with playing with Heath McCormick, Tyler Yates and Eric Pattenaude. We have an annual golf trip of eight and we move it around to different spots in Canada and the United States. The names of the guys in the group from left to right in the photo is Brad Giancarlo, Chris Wert, Aaron Pedlar, Eric Pattenaude, Graham Hill, Tyler Casselman, Heath McCormick and Tyler Yates.

Kadra Ben, Fox Creek Golf Club, Hole #2

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I am a member of Fox Creek Golf in Dieppe, N.B. and I made a hole-in-one on a Friday at hole #2.

Doug Stoddart, Harvest Golf Course, Hole #11

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My final swing of the season at Harvest Golf Course in Kelowna resulted in a hole-in-one! My final putt of the season resulted in a 40 foot birdie putt. Three under on my final two holes!

I played in Harvest’s year-end Ironman game. The course closed for the year after the Ironman game. It was a shotgun start. My group started on hole #12. Therefore we ended the round on hole #11, a par 3 where I scored a hole-in-one. The previous hole #10 I sunk a 40 foot putt for a birdie. On the #11 tee box, the group enjoyed a shot of birdie juice just before my hole-in-one.

Caroline Abbenbroek, The Toronto Hunt, Hole #12

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The hole-in-one was certainly an epic day for me. I’m a hack golfer at best, I’ve only been recording scores for a few years in an effort to develop a handicap. The ace was a complete surprise for me, and a memorable day for sure. I was playing with Margot and Heather Ritchie, members of the Toronto Hunt that I had not met previously, so it was very exciting to have them with me to witness it. It was the Toronto Hunt’s hole #3, a par 3, the range finder showed 132 yards (slightly uphill), middle pin placement, so I used a 3 wood. I saw that it was going left of the pin, but bounced to the right and rolled ever so nicely into the hole. I was completely shocked to see it actually go in!

LPGA Tour

Canada’s Savannah Grewal eager to improve after re-earning LPGA Tour card

Savannah Grewal
Savannah Grewal of Canada (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Canada’s Savannah Grewal has re-earned her LPGA Tour card for 2025 and will take plenty of lessons into her second season as a pro.

Grewal, of Mississauga, Ont., finished tied for 48th on Sunday at The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican — the final full-field event of the LPGA Tour season — and ended the year at No. 97 in the Race to CME Globe standings. The top 100 earn LPGA Tour cards for next year.

“I hit the ball, for the most part, pretty good — just made some mental mistakes the first two rounds. I learned from that, especially Saturday,” Grewal said from Bellair, Fla. “Just happy to have made the cut and hopefully keep my Tour card.”

Grewal was just three shots back of the lead through two rounds last week at the Lotte Championship but struggled over the weekend, shooting 74-76, to drop into a tie for 54th. She needed to make the cut this week at the penultimate event of the season and did it on the number.

Grewal rallied to shoot a 4-under 66 on Saturday but gave it all back Sunday after a 4-under 74. It was still enough to solidify a second year in a row on the LPGA Tour.

“I just tried to stay really calm, especially in the first two rounds, just knowing I had to make the cut. I just tried to stay really present,” Grewal said. “I made triple bogey on my 18th hole in the first round because I did not stay present. Other than that, I felt like I did a pretty good job of staying calm.”

Grewal’s best result came in her second event of the year, the Blue Bay LPGA, where she finished tied for fourth. She struggled to put two good rounds together after that, however, missing nine straight cuts at one point. But she found the weekend in her last five tournaments in a row, which proved to be the difference.

Grewal, a pre-med graduate from Clemson University, earned LPGA Tour status for this season via a tie for 10th at the LPGA’s Q-Series finale last December.

She admitted she “wasn’t in a great spot” mentally this year but is eager to improve upon that for 2025.

“As long as I can stay present and confident, I can be just fine next year,” Grewal said. “That’s been my biggest takeaway.”

Nelly Korda captured The Annika on Sunday for her incredible seventh victory on the LPGA Tour in 2024. Grewal finished 15 shots back of Korda’s winning total.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp also made the cut at The Annika. She finished tied for 43rd and ended up No. 123 on the Race to CME Globe.

Four Canadians — Yeji Kwon of Port Coquitlam, B.C., Monet Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., and Josee Doyon of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que. — will aim to follow in Grewal’s footsteps and earn LPGA Tour status via the finale of LPGA Q-Series Dec. 5-9.

The LPGA Tour wraps up its 2024 campaign at the CME Globe Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Fla., next week.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. will be the lone Canadian in the field that features only the top 60 in the Race to CME Globe standings. Henderson, thanks to eight top-10s this year, is No. 14.

Korda — who has already locked up Player of the Year honours — will enter the season finale No. 1 in the standings. Up for grabs is the biggest first-place prize in women’s golf, US$4 million.

DP World Tour RBC Canadian Open

Two-time RBC Canadian Open Champion, Rory McIlroy claims third DP World Tour Championship title

Rory

Rory McIlroy finished the 2024 DP World Tour season in style by winning his sixth Race to Dubai crown following victory at the DP World Tour Championship.

Rory McIlroy-2185220425

After a third placed finish at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, only South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence could deny McIlroy from claiming his sixth Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex of his career.

Lawrence needed to win and for the World Number Three to finish in 12th or worse for him to overturn McIlroy’s huge advantage, but his challenge never materialised as he carded a one-under-par total at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The Northern Irishman shared the lead after the first and third rounds, and looked in total control when he burst three shots clear thanks to a run of four straight birdies from the second.

Rasmus Højgaard remained in touch and capitalised on bogeys at the ninth and 13th from McIlroy to sit alongside him at the summit at 13 under.

However, birdies at the 16th and 18th paid dividends for McIlroy as he secured his third triumph on the Earth course by two shots to complete a season-finale double.

Antoine Rozner, who shared the third-round lead with McIlroy and Højgaard, birdied the opening hole to take the outright lead at 13 under, which turned into a two-shot advantage after the final group bogeyed the same hole.

The Frenchman slid a putt by at the second which would have improved his score and McIlroy and Højgaard responded by birdieing the same hole to return to 12 under.

McIlroy gained momentum and put his approach inside four feet at the third, which he rolled in to rejoin Rozner at the summit.

The birdie trail continued for the World Number Three at the fourth to become the first player to reach 14 under and when he followed suit at the fifth, he was two clear.

Before McIlroy teed off at the sixth, Rozner bogeyed the same hole to inflate the Northern Irishman’s advantage to three.

Rory McIlroy joins Seve Ballesteros with six Race to Dubai titles:

Rory McIlroy & Seve Ballesteros

Rozner and Højgaard replied with a birdie at the next, however, McIlroy continued to keep his nose out in front despite a bogey to close his front nine.

It became a two-way tussle with Højgaard following his birdie at the seventh, while Rozner slipped back after a double bogey at the ninth.

McIlroy narrowly missed chances to extend his lead at the start of his back nine and when he bogeyed the 13th, there were two at the top.

The 35-year-old showed his quality at the 16th by landing his approach inside a foot for his first birdie in 11 holes, which Højgaard could not match.

Team Canada

Canada wins bronze at The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship

Team Canada - The Spirit
Team Canada - The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (L to R): Lauren Kim, Vanessa Borovilos, Ashton McCulloch, Justin Matthews, Shelby Devore (Tournament Director) Photo Credit: Tammy Boclair

Trinity, Texas – Team Canada won the bronze medal in the combined men and women’s team competition along with another bronze in the women’s team competition at The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship (The Spirit) at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas on Saturday.

Team Canada was represented by Vanessa Borovilos of Etobicoke, Ont., Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., Justin Matthews of Little Britain, Ont. and coached by Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach, Salimah Mussani of Vancouver, B.C.

Team Canada
Team Canada (L to R): Vanessa Borovilos, Justin Matthews, Lauren Kim, Salimah Mussani (Coach), Ashton McCulloch

In the combined team championship, Canada finished T4 at 36-under (196 women’s and 200 men’s) with Denmark. England won the combined competition firing a 44-under to take the gold medal. The Republic of Korea (Korea) and Spain finished tied for second at 39-under. Due to the ties, Korea and Spain shared the silver medal, while Canada and Denmark shared bronze.

Borovilos and Kim combined to shoot 20-under (66-63-67-196) to earn the bronze medal in the women’s team competition. Denmark finished at 23-under to win with Spain taking the silver medal at 21-under. On Friday, Canada was led by Borovilos carding six birdies and an eagle. Kim was equally as strong in Thursday’s opening round with five birdies.

In the women’s individual competition, Carla Bernat Escuder of Spain finished first with 21 points, 2024 World Junior Girls team and individual champion, Soomin Oh of Korea finished second with 20 points and Marie Madsen of Denmark finished third with 17 points. Borovilos finished T5 with 14 points and Kim finished T11 with 12 points.

McCulloch and Matthews combined to shoot 16-under (66-66-68-200) to finish 10th in the men’s team competition. Mexico and England finished tied for first at 28-under with Australia finishing third at 25-under.

Individually, Josiah Gilbert of Australia won the men’s gold medal finishing with 21 points. Omar Morales of Mexico finished second with 19 points and Gerardo Gomez (Mexico) and Dominic Clemons (England) finished tied for third with 18 points. Both McCulloch and Matthews finished T18 with 11 points.

The 11th playing of The Spirit was contested over 54-holes of stroke-play competition that brought together 20 countries. In addition to the combined team component, competitors battled in individual championships as well as men’s and women’s team competitions. In the individual competition, players were awarded points based solely on birdies and eagles during their round with one point for a birdie and two for an eagle.

For the final leaderboards from The Spirit, please click here.