Canadian Laurent Hurtubise enjoying viral fame after hole in one at The American Express
Internet fame is suiting Laurent Hurtubise just fine.
It’s been a whirlwind two weeks for Hurtubise after a video of the one-armed golfer sinking a hole-in-one at The American Express pro-am tournament went viral. He’s been interviewed by a dozen media outlets and was invited to compete at this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.
“When you look at it, that’s what I call destiny,” said Hurtubise after practising at the famed Pebble Beach course. “We started on the back nine, so my first hole was No. 10. And when we got to the fourth hole, which was my 13th hole, it was about 2:30 in the afternoon.
“So the cameras were there all day, but the cameraman was there also. (Normally) I would have played that hole maybe at 10 o’clock in the morning. There probably wouldn’t have been a cameraman there and the story would have been ‘well, a guy made a hole in one on the fourth hole.’ without any more attention.”
This is the best thing you’ll watch all day ??⛳️#FridayFeeing pic.twitter.com/Ht8evqMANP
— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) January 17, 2020
Born with no right arm, Hurtubise has enjoyed using his sudden fame to encourage disabled children to pursue their athletic dreams. Since the video of his 151-yard hole-in-one went viral he’s started an Instagram account and visited the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Montreal to meet with disabled children.
“It’s striking to see myself as inspirational because I was born like this,” Hurtubise said. “I’ve never seen myself as inspirational, except to the guys who play golf with me or played hockey with me. They were always saying ‘Wow, you’re good.’
“But it was always normal for me to do my best, so that hole-in-one made me really realize what a positive effect I had on other people.”
Hurtubise will be paired with California-based golf pro Scott DeBorba, but there will be some other familiar faces in the field for the Carignan, Que., native.
Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., ranked No. 28 in the FedExCup standings, will also be at the event. Hurtubise hopes to reconnect with Hadwin after the two played together at the 2017 CareerBuilder Challenge _ right before Hadwin became the ninth player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59.
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., will be the other Canadians in the field.
Hurtubise, who will be playing in his 17th pro-am tournament this week, asked to play in the Pebble Beach tournament back in 2013, saying it was reserved for big-name celebrities.
“You know, like the Kenny Gs and Alfonso Ribeiro and Bill Murray and Tom Brady. I reckon that it’s OK, it’s good for the sport,” said Hurtubise, who then approached the tournament organizers again after the video of his hole-in-one went viral. “I said ‘maybe I could get a shot at it?’ And (Monterey Peninsula Foundation CEO Steve John) says, ‘You never know.’ So he texted me on Saturday and said ‘You got a minute?’
“So he called me up and he says, ‘we have a spot for you in the AT&T, if you want to play.’ Wow! Yeah.”
Hurtubise joins a field of amateurs that include past and present NFLers Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Larry Fitzgerald. Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, hockey great Wayne Gretzky, surfing legend Kelly Slater, singer-songwriter Jake Owen, former U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice, comedians Murray and Ray Romano, rapper Macklemore and sports broadcaster Chris Berman.
Organizers have kept a family feel for the tournament with Gretzky paired with son-in-law Dustin Johnson. The Manning Brothers are in a group as well, with Eli paired with Kevin Chappell and Peyton with Luke Donald.
Team Canada’s Brigitte Thibault returns to Augusta National Women’s Amateur
Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., is headed back to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The 21-year-old National Team member was the only Canadian in the field at the inaugural event last year and was officially invited back on Saturday. Participating in the first-even women’s event at the prestigious course was the start of a career season for Thibault. She went on to win the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and the NCAA’s Mountain West Conference Championship.
“I didn’t want to set expectations because I didn’t know if they were keeping the same procedures, I didn’t know how they would select the people this year,” said Thibault. “So I didn’t want to set expectations, but I knew I had a great year. I did a lot of things right.”
Thibault, who is a member of Golf Canada’s national amateur squad, is entering her third season on Fresno State University’s golf team.
She was also part of Canada’s bronze-medal team at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, with Mary Parsons, Austin Connelly and Joey Savoie. After her productive 2019 Thibault was named the female amateur of the year by the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.
Although Thibault missed the cut at last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur she thinks the experience will set her up for greater success.
“There were things I did right, things I did wrong,” said Thibault. “Last year there was so much excitement and we didn’t really know what to expect. None of the players had an advantage. None of them had played there before.
Back to back ? #blessed pic.twitter.com/B4FT25dF5L
— brigitte thibault (@bri_thib) January 25, 2020
“So to know what we’re expecting to play, what shot you’re supposed to hit, and all these things are definitely good to have learned.”
Golf Canada remembers Grace McCann
It is with great sadness that Golf Canada mourns the passing of Grace McCann, a past president (2000-2001) of the former Canadian Ladies Golf Association (CLGA).
McCann, an enthusiastic promoter of women’s golf and past member of Pointe West Golf Club in Amherstburg, Ont., passed away peacefully on January 16, 2020 at 85 years of age. She was also an avid curler, swimmer and skier.
Read McCann’s full obituary here.
Golf Canada’s 2019 National Orders of Merit winners unveiled
OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is proud to announce the top finishers in the standings for its 2019 National Orders of Merit, a year that saw Québec-based golfers capture top honours in all four awarded categories, male and female in both amateur and junior golf.
On the amateur side, it is Réunion-Island born and Gatineau, Qué. resident Julien Sale, of Rivermead Golf Club, who claims top spot overall for the National Men’s Order of Merit. A senior at Arkansas State, Sale is ranked #160 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR). The former Alexandre de Tunis and Québec Men’s Amateur champion built on an impressive 2018 season by qualifying for the 2019 U.S. Men’s Amateur and making it to the round of 32. He also finished T4 at the 2019 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
The runner-up for the National Men’s Order of Merit is full-time NHL referee and Team Canada Amateur Squad veteran Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., who is currently the top ranked Canadian golfer on WAGR at #35. Rank had terrific results this season, notably winning the 2019 Western Amateur Championship, placing T5 at the Porter Cup, and finishing 2nd in the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
2019 Team Canada Amateur Squad member Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Québec, was 3rd overall in the final men’s rankings. The Pinegrove Country Club member represented Canada at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where he was part of a Canadian squad that captured the bronze medal in the mixed team event. Savoie also had notable performances in 2019 including a T6 finish at the Australian Master of the Amateurs Championship as well as quarterfinal finishes at the 2019 North & South Amateur and the 2019 NSW Amateur. Savoie also competed at the Mackenzie Tour PGA TOUR Canada Osprey Valley Open, placing T30.
After four straight years of domination for Ontario’s Maddie Szeryk, there is a new victor in the National Women’s Order of Merit for 2019: Brigitte Thibault. The Rosemère, Québec, native and Team Canada Amateur Squad member is presently a junior at Fresno State and made quite a splash at the NCAA level by notching eight top-15 finishes during her sophomore year. Thibault followed up by winning the 2019 Mountain West Championship. Thibault has also claimed the title of 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur Champion, represented Canada at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur and was a part of the Pan American Games bronze-winning Canadian formation.
Runner-up behind Thibault for the National Women’s Order of Merit is Delta, B.C.’s Mary Parsons. The newly named member of the 2020 Team Canada Amateur Squad – and former Junior Squad member – is a junior at Indiana University who was crowned champion of the 2019 Lady Boilermaker (NCAA). Parsons’ 5th place finish was the highest individual finish for Team Canada at the Pan American Games, where she also claimed bronze as a member of the squad. Other notable results this year include a 4th place at the 2019 Women’s Porter Cup and a T3 result at the 2019 PNGA Women’s Amateur Championship.
Finishing third in the amateur women’s rankings was Madeline Marck-Sherk of Ridgeway, Ont. The Bridgewater Country Club member graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2019. During her final year at FCGU, she notched five top-20 results in her nine starts as a senior. Marck-Sherk also had a T9 finish at the 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship.
Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Order of Merit
On the junior side, the Future Links, driven by Acura National Junior Order Merit winners and top finishers have also been announced.
In the boys’ division, Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Qué. caps a sizzling year with the prestigious rank of #1 junior golfer in the nation. The 2018 and 2019 Team Canada Junior Squad standout has had a tremendous domestic season, claiming the 2019 Canadian Junior Boys title, in addition to a runner-up finish at the 2019 Québec Men’s Amateur Championship and a T3 result at the 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship. A freshman at Kent State this year, Vandette has also had international success in 2019, finishing 3rd at the 2019 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup contested in Japan.
The 2019 runner-up in the Future Links, driven by Acura National Junior Boy’s Order Merit rankings is Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota. A high school student and member at Gorge Vale Golf Club, Sihota had notable finishes, including T3 at the 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship and placing T9 this year at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. He also notably reached the round of 64 of the 2019 U.S. Junior Boys Championship.
In the girl’s rankings, the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Order of Merit winner for 2019 is Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Qué. The Georgia freshman, who was a member of the Team Canada Junior Girls Squad in 2018 and 2019, is claiming the honours for the third consecutive year. Dao qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open for the second year in a row this spring by clinching a local qualifier. She also registered significant results in a host of top competitions, finishing runner-up in the 2019 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, as well as 6th place finish at the 2019 Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship and placing T12 at the AJGA Annika Invitational.
Claiming runner-up position in the junior girls’ division is 2020 returning Team Canada Junior Squad member Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont. Zhu is the reigning Canadian Junior Girls Championship title holder, as well as the sitting AJGA Natural Resource Bluegrass Junior Champion. In addition to representing Canada this year on the Astor Trophy and the World Junior Girls Championship squads, this National Pines Golf Club member claimed a runner-up finish at the 2019 Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship and took third place at the 2019 PGA of Canada Women’s Championship.
The 2020 National Order of Merit schedule and updated standings will be released in January 2020.
Golf Canada’s National Orders of Merit are used to identify and give recognition to top-performing amateur golfers from across Canada. They also provide an objective national ranking system, enabling Canada’s top players to compare themselves to counterparts across Canada.
Golf Canada also uses the National Order of Merit to assist with the Team Canada player selection and International event player selection process. For full Order of Merit standings and a points breakdown, please visit www.golfcanada.ca/nationalordersofmerit/.
Glencoe Invitational adds women’s competition for 2020
CALGARY – The Glencoe Invitational will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2020 and as part of its commitment to grow the event, the stellar invitational golf tournament will add a female competition to its schedule when it tees off June 15-20 at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club.
The event’s organizers announced it will welcome North America’s best current and aspiring female amateur and professionals in addition to male amateur golfers from across North America for the first time ever in June during a press conference Dec. 16, 2019.
The tournament will be designed for both women and men to play The Glencoe Forest course at the same time in alternating groups for 54 holes with no cut. The tournament will include a maximum of 50 players in the men’s event and 30 players in the first year of the women’s event – comprised of 20 professional and 10 amateurs. The plan is to build to 50 men and 50 women within the next three years.
The men’s amateurs will be competing for the top-three titles, the women amateurs will be competing for the title of “Champion” and “Runner-Up” and the female professionals will battle for a $25,000 purse that will be distributed amongst the top-four finishers. The winner will receive $15,000 for first, while $6,000 will be presented to the runner-up.
“As we look to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the tournament, the time is right to welcome female divisions to the Glencoe DCBank Invitational,” said Tournament Director Dale Goehring. “This fills a void in women’s golf for elite amateurs and professional. All the foundational elements were in place to build upon the success of this tournament and create a first of its kind in North America.”
Established in 1984, the Glencoe Golf & Country Club will provide a challenging test for both women and men according to Ash Chadha, General Manager of Glencoe Golf & Country Club.
“On behalf of the members and staff of The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, we are very supportive about adding the new female divisions,” said Ash Chadha, General Manager. “The Forest course will be a great test for both men and women in the new integrated event. We are very excited to host this unique annual event which will help grow the game.”
Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad, was on hand to help make the formal announcement.
We have @jaclynlee57 announcing an added WOMENS EVENT for both Pro & Amateur ladies for the @GlencoeInv 2020! ??♀️??♂️⛳️@GolfCanada @LPGA #simetratour #glencoegolf pic.twitter.com/EAhxMR20z3
— Glencoe G&CC (@glencoegcc) December 16, 2019
Brendan MacDougall, a Calgary native and member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team, also took in the exciting announcement.
Brendan @thedooogs Macdougall speaking about @GlencoeInv for 2020 and the exciting announcement of the female division being added to the tournament! ??♀️??♂️⛳️ #glencoegolf @GolfCanada @HPUmensgolf #glencoeINV pic.twitter.com/7CPcvuLvzb
— Glencoe G&CC (@glencoegcc) December 16, 2019
Further information regarding the Glencoe DCBank Invitational can be found at www.glencoeinivitational.com.
The Glencoe Golf and Country Club will also play host to the 116th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in Aug. 3-6, 2020.
Modernized Rules of Amateur Status coming in 2022
The USGA and The R&A are conducting a review of the Rules of Amateur Status to make them easier to understand and apply.
The comprehensive evaluation is part of the continued joint effort to modernize the Rules by reducing complexity and ensuring the Rules effectively guide how the game is played today.
As part of a review process that began earlier this year, the governing bodies will seek the perspectives of golf’s stakeholders as an integral component of the review process, including elite amateur golfers, golf event organizers, national golf associations, professional golf associations and other industry partners.
The aim is to provide the golf community with a modernized set of the Amateur Status Rules in late 2021, with the goal of an effective date of January 1, 2022.
Adam Helmer, director of Rules and Amateur Status for Golf Canada, said, “We are embarking on an important review with golf’s governing bodies to take a fundamental examination of the implications of the Rules of Amateur Status to our sport. We will work closely with our provincial and national association partners to gain valuable feedback from all our stakeholders to ensure the best interests of our golfers and being met. As our sport evolves, it’s paramount the Rules remain relevant to provide fair competition and help with our continued efforts to grow the game.”
Thomas Pagel, senior managing director of Governance at the USGA, said, “One of golf’s greatest benefits is that it can be played by all ages and played for a lifetime. It is our goal to ensure that the fundamental concept of what it means to be an amateur golfer is clear and retained to promote fair competition and enjoyment for everyone, while still addressing many issues that seek to protect the game. This is a forward-thinking approach and engaging golfers is a key component of doing what’s best for golf.”
Grant Moir, director – Rules at The R&A, said, “We will be looking at the Rules of Amateur Status carefully and considering ways in which we can modernize them and bring them more into line with the way the modern sport is played. The code remains a fundamental framework for amateur golf and we will be listening to the views of players, officials and associations to give us a fully rounded view of how we can improve them.”
In a separate move, effective January 1, 2020, the USGA and The R&A will introduce one change to Rule 3-2b of the Rules of Amateur Status, which regulates hole-in-one prizes. The Rules will no longer limit the prize an amateur golfer may win when making a hole-in-one outside a round of golf, including “stand-alone” and “multiple-entry” hole-in-one events. It is hoped the change will help to promote the game and cater to new audiences as well, and eliminate unnecessary restrictions for event organizers.
New Rule 3-2b will read as follows:
Rule 3-2b. Hole-in-One Prizes
An amateur golfer may accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during a round of golf on a golf course.
An amateur golfer may also accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during contests held outside a round of golf, including multiple-entry contests and contests conducted other than on a golf course (e.g., on a driving range, golf simulator or putting green) provided in all cases that the length of the shot is at least 50 yards.
Canadian trio advances to 2020 Drive, Chip and Putt championship
Three Canadian juniors will be among the 80 competitors in the sixth annual Drive, Chip and Putt championship at Augusta National on April 5, 2020.
In the Girls 7-9 division, Canada will be represented by the duo of Alexis Card (Cambridge, Ont.) and Anna Wu (Victoria, B.C.). Card punched her ticket to Augusta with a score of 107 at the Oakmont Country Club qualifier while Wu posted a total of 122 at Chambers Bay Golf Course.
The Canadians are rounded out by Cole Roberts of Oshawa, Ont., who qualified at TPC River Highlands with a score of 107.
OAKMONT, PA – SEPTEMBER 07: Alexis Card participates in the girls 7-9 putting competition during the regional round of the Drive, Putt, and Chip competition at Oakmont Country Club on September 7, 2019 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
Canada has seen three juniors take home titles at the Drive, Chip and Putt nationals in as many years. Savannah Grewal (Mississauga, Ont.) won in 2017, followed by Vanessa Borovilos (Toronto) in 2018 and Nicole Gal (Oakville, Ont.) in 2019.
Local qualifying for the seventh season began in May and was held at more than 300 sites throughout all 50 states this summer. The top-three scorers per venue, in each of the four age categories in separate boys’ and girls’ divisions, advanced to more than 60 sub-regional qualifiers in July and August.
The top two juniors in each age and gender division then competed at the regional level in September and October. Regional qualifying was held at 10 courses around the country, including several U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues.
Championship scoring at the local, subregional and regional qualifiers was based on a 25-point-per-shot basis, with each participant taking three shots per skill. Each participant accumulated points per shot in all three skills (maximum of 75 points per skill = 25 points per shot x 3). The overall winner in each age category was determined by the participant with the most points accumulated between all three skills (maximum of 225 points = 75 points per skill x 3).
Click here for all regional qualifying results.
The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— took place at Magna Golf Club in 2019. Learn more here.
The USGA and The R&A announce modifications to World Amateur Golf Ranking
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. and ST ANDREWS, Scotland – The USGA and The R&A today announced the World Amateur Golf Ranking ® (WAGR ®) will be determined by a new system called the Power Method beginning with the first update in January 2020.
The Power Method aims to better reflect the current performance of golfers by placing greater emphasis on current form and results by improving the algorithms used to determine the WAGR.
In the new structure, every event in the world will earn a Power based on the strength of its starting field which will then determine the total number of ranking points on offer to the field. This will extend to a maximum of 1000 for amateur events with players also able to gain ranking points from playing in professional tournaments.
The Power Method can be applied to all competitive events: amateur, professional, stroke play, match play, and can also cater to formats the previous system would not accommodate, such as Stableford.
Ranking points will be allocated to players based on their overall finishing position in the tournament rather than on the previous round-based allocation.
“We are thrilled to introduce the Power Method which will significantly improve the World Amateur Golf Ranking,” said Jeff Holzschuh, Chairman of the WAGR Committee. “We have listened to feedback about WAGR since its inception and we believe this change addresses many of the challenges within the previous system.”
Professor Steve Otto, Director of Equipment Standards and Chief Technology Officer for The R&A, commented, “The simplicity and elegance of the revised WAGR system will be of great benefit to competitive players at every level.
“It will be easier for players to become ranked under the Power Method but with the system recognizing current form and rewarding recent top results it will be tougher to remain ranked compared to the previous system.
“The Power Method will make WAGR a true indication of the ranking of the world’s best and leading amateur golfers.”
To ensure WAGR is truly representative of the current competitive environment, event aging will also be introduced as part of the Power Method to best reflect and reward players’ current form. Points from events within the most recent 52 weeks of a player’s record will count at full value. From there, event points will reduce proportionately, approximately two percent, per week before their removal after 104 weeks.
The divisors under the Power Method will also become event based versus the previous round-based divisor scheme. Like the points, divisors will also be aged after 52 weeks. The new minimum divisors will be seven for women and eight for men. Due to the aging of points and divisors under the Power Method, unlike the previous system, minimum divisors will be the same for newly ranked and long-established players.
“We are grateful to our colleagues at The R&A for their work in developing this effort and their partnership in bringing it to life,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA Senior Managing Director, Championships.
“As we have begun to discuss the upcoming changes to WAGR with various constituents, we have received great feedback and believe this will be very warmly received by players and event organizers.”
Five Canadians named to 2019 Global Golf Post All-Amateur Team
WINTER PARK, Fla. – Global Golf Post today announced its seventh annual All-Amateur teams for men and women.
This annual effort is intended to recognize individual performance during the past 12 months for men and women amateurs, mid-amateurs, and senior amateurs.
All told, 179 players from 26 nations are honoured. And among all those players, two stood out as The Post’s Amateurs of the Year – Standford University graduate Brandon Wu and Oregon’s senior Lara Tennant.
Five Canadians were honoured in the 2019 list:
Men’s Mid-Amateur
- Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) – First team
- Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) – First team
Women’s Mid-Amateur
- Andrea Kosa (Calgary, Alta.) – Second team
Women’s Senior
- Mary-Ann Hayward (St. Thomas, Ont.) – First team
- Judith Kyrinis (Thornhill, Ont.) – First team
Among the 179 players, there were four golfers to have won Canadian national championships in 2019:
- Judith Kyrinis (Thornhill, Ont.) – 2019 Canadian Women’s Mid-Am & Senior
- Gene Elliot (West Des Mointes, Ia.) – 2019 Canadian Men’s Senior | First team
- Joseph Deraney (Belden, Miss.) – 2019 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur | First team
- Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) – 2019 World Junior Girls Championship medallist | First team
Click here for the full list.
Canadian athletes commit to NCAA programs on signing day
During the mid-November early signing period, many Canadian junior athletes shared the exciting news of their respective signings to NCAA programs.
National Junior Squad members Sarah Beqaj, Monet Chun and Ellie Szeryk were among the women to pen their signatures on National Signing Day (Nov. 13).
Women
| Name | School |
| Haley Baker (NS) | Farleigh-Dickinson |
| Sarah Beqaj (ON) | Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
| Monet Chun (ON) | Michigan University |
| Hailey Katona (ON) | Georgia Southern |
| Megan Miron (ON) | Grand Valley State |
| Ellie Szeryk (ON) | Texas A&M |
Men
| Name | School |
| Dylan Henderson (ON) | Eastern Michigan |
| Michael Ikejiani (ON) | University of Evansville |
| Brady Mckinley (AB) | Utah Valley |
| Olivier Ménard (QC) | West Virginia |
| Jace Minni (BC) | Gonzaga |
| Brandon Rattray (QC) | Bowling Green |
| Bennett Ruby (ON) | Southern Mississippi |
” … I’m very excited to become a Wolverine in the fall, and I’m looking forward to being a part of the team with some of the best coaches and teammates. Hopefully, I will be able to make a positive contribution to the program …”
Release | https://t.co/CKs7J84aic#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ULs1kzcFpM
— Michigan Golf (@umichgolf) November 14, 2019
???? @ellieszeryk officially signs on with Texas A&M #NationalSigningDay #Golf pic.twitter.com/y5JRZH9FOb
— Flagstick Golf (@Flagstick) November 13, 2019