Jennifer Kupcho heads to Augusta with 1 shot lead; Canada’s Thibault out
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jennifer Kupcho took care of the preliminaries in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and now has a shot at a title that never seemed likely: A chance to become the first woman to win at the home of the Masters.
Her only regret was that her one-shot lead was not bigger.
Kupcho, the 2017 Canadian Women’s Amateur Champion, battled her swing down the stretch on a blustery Thursday at Champions Retreat and held on for a 1-under 71, giving her a one-shot lead over Maria Fassi of Mexico, who had a 70.
The final round is Saturday at Augusta National, the first time women have competed on one of the most famous golf courses in the world.
“It’s going to be a tight race all the way to the finish,” Kupcho said.
Seo-yun Kwon of South Korea was 10 shots behind and just as excited.
The 72-player field was cut to 30 players for the final round, and Kwon flubbed two chips for double bogey on the 16th hole to seemingly lose her chance. But she saved par from a bunker on the 17th with a 10-foot putt, saw a leaderboard and knew only an eagle would suffice on the par-5 closing hole.
Her 4-hybrid came up a little short, 10 yards away.
“I said, ‘Let’s chip this in,”’ said Dave Thorpe, an Augusta National caddie working for Kwon this week. “I don’t know if she understood me or not, but she did it.”
That put her in an 11-way playoff for the last 10 spots to get the field to 30 players. Kwon was among nine players who made par on the first extra hole, all of them advancing when Alessia Nobilio of Italy and Ainhoa Olarra of Spain made bogey.
Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., missed the cut. She was the lone Canadian in the field.
On the second playoff hole, Olarra made a 25-foot birdie putt to get the last spot.
Augusta National announced its Women’s Amateur last year at the Masters, creating an opportunity for some of the best amateurs in the world to showcase their skills on a course where Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods have created so many big moments.
Women have played Augusta National for years, though it was not until 2012 that the club had its first female members. Kupcho is among several players in the field who have played as guests, usually with their college teams.
Friday will be a practice round at Augusta National, even for the 42 players who missed the cut.
Kupcho, who started on No. 10, was 3 under for the round through 10 holes and poised to stretch it even more when she missed a short birdie putt on the next hole.
“Lost my confidence a little bit,” she said.
The Wake Forest senior made her first bogey of the tournament with a 4-foot putt that rimmed out on No. 5, and she started to fight her swing. She narrowly cleared the rock-framed creek on the par-3 eighth and chipped poorly for another bogey, and she had to make a 4-footer on the par-4 ninth to avoid another dropped shot.
No matter. She was at 5-under 139 and plays in the final group with Fassi, one of the longer hitters in the field.
Kaitlyn Papp (69), Pimnipa Panthong (70) and Sierra Brooks (70) were two shots behind.
Fassi, the top college player among women last year as a junior at Arkansas, was dynamic as ever with five birdies and an eagle to offset plenty of mistakes. She was five shots behind toward the end of the round when she used her power to set up easy birdies on the reachable par-4 seventh and the par-5 ninth.
“I knew I had to post an under-par score to be in contention for Saturday, and it was just exciting to see that I made so many birdies,” she said.
Kupcho has played before big crowds at the U.S. Women’s Open.
Saturday figures to be a new experience, on the fairways and greens of Augusta National on the weekend before the Masters, with thousands of fans able to see the course for the first time all year through separate tickets they were able to buy through a lottery.
NBC Sports is televising the final round. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur has its own logo and even its own theme music for the broadcast.
Kupcho hopes the rest of it will look familiar.
“We both are good friends, so I think it will be a lot of fun, and we’re both good at golf – really good at golf,” she said. “So I think we’ll make a lot of birdies, and it will be pretty fun to watch us.”
Defending champion Vanessa Borovilos leads 5 Canadians into Drive, Chip and Putt finals
One of the lasting images from last year’s Drive, Chip, & Putt Finals at Augusta National Golf Club featured Canadian youngster Vanessa Borovilos getting lifted off her feet by multi-time Green Jacket winner Gary Player.
Borovilos is hoping for a repeat celebration this year.
“I’m not sure how old he is, but I didn’t expect that,” says Borovilos with a laugh from her home in Toronto. The Borovilos family flies to Augusta, Georgia on Friday.
“After I won I felt like something got lifted off my shoulders. I was just relieved and happy.”
Playing in her third championship in 2018, Borovilos, who also competed in 2015 and 2016 (she finished 4th and 5th, respectively) became the second Canadian to win a division at the Drive, Chip, & Putt Finals. In 2017 Savannah Grewal captured the Girls 14-15 division.
Savannah Grewal (Mike Stobe/ Getty Images)
Borovilos credits her intensive, but fun, practice regime for her success a year ago.
She attends Hollycrest Middle School in Toronto, where she is part of an elite athlete program that allows her to finish school early each day, and she plays out of Credit Valley Golf and Country Club, coached by the Director of Instruction at the Mississaugua, Ont. course, Doug Lawrie.
She says she’s been working with Lawrie on getting her swing looking good for the national finals competition, and specifically on the landing spots for her chipping.
“The driving range is 40 yards wide, but it seems a lot closer together when I’m actually up there,” admits Borovilos,
The past participant of Golf Canada’s Future Links, Driven by Acura – the Canadian equivalent to Drive, Chip & Putt – said Brooke Henderson continually inspires her as she looks to try to win another title this weekend.
“She can really focus on shots that matter. When she won the CP Women’s Open I was watching, and she made every shot count,” says Borovilos, who wants to join Henderson on the LPGA Tour one day.
A year ago, Henderson told The Canadian Press after she finished up the final round of the ANA Inspiration she watched Borovilos win her title at the Drive, Chip & Putt finals.
“Who knows,” said Henderson, “maybe I will see her out here on the LPGA (Tour) one day.”
There are four other Canadians participating in this year’s Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at Augusta National but Borovilos is the only return competitor.
Local qualifying was held at more than 250 sites throughout the U.S. last summer for the 2019 event. There were 50 subregional qualifiers, and then just a handful of regional qualifiers at some world-class courses like TPC Sawgrass, Torrey Pines, Chambers Bay, Whistling Straits, Bellerive Country Club, and Winged Foot Golf Club (where Borovilos competed) – major championship venues, all.
As one of the top finishers from each regional site’s age/gender division – a total of 80 finalists – earned a place at the National Finals at Augusta National.
Borovilos says it was important for her to return, and she’s happy to have the opportunity again this year.
“I practiced really hard to get there,” she says. “There’s a lot of great competition I had to go through to get there, so I’m really happy to be going there again.”
OTHER 2019 CANADIAN DRIVE, CHIP & PUTT FINALISTS
Name: Carter Lavigne
Competition Category: Boys’ 7-9 (qualified at Winged Foot Golf Club)
Hometown: Moncton, New Brunswick
Began playing golf: Age 4
Favourite golfers: Jordan Spieth and Brooke Henderson
Name: Andy Mac
Competition Category: Boys’ 10-11 (qualified at Winged Foot Golf Club)
Hometown: Candiac, Quebec
Began playing golf: Age 5
Favourite golfers: Jordan Spieth and Lydia Ko
Name: Anna Huang
Competition Category: Girls’ 10-11 (qualified at Chambers Bay)
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Began playing golf: Age 4
Favourite golfer: Tiger Woods
Name: Nicole Gal
Competition Category: Girls’ 14-15 (qualified at Winged Foot Golf Club)
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Began playing golf: Age 5
Favourite golfer: Jordan Spieth and Sandra Gal
Canada’s Thibault to play inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur
AUGUSTA, GA – The field for the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship is taking shape as the tournament announced the first 66 players who accepted invitations into the 72-player field for the April 3-6 event.
Included in the field announcement is Team Canada member Brigitte Thibault. The 20-year-old, who is a native of Rosemère, Que., is currently the highest ranked Canadian (221) on the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. Thibault, a sophomore at Fresno State, will tee it up at 11:12 a.m. ET in Wednesday’s opening round.
Other commitments include three players who earned their exemptions by winning recognized events, 55 qualifiers from the final Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking of 2018 and eight committee picks. The remaining spots will be filled by the tournament committee.
Making the field of 72 seemed like a long shot to Thibault, who needed to be in the 30 highest ranked players not from the United States and not otherwise qualified, based on the final women’s world amateur golf ranking of 2018.
Thibault was therefore surprised when she was leaving the gym on Jan. 17 and got a call from an anonymous number. It was a tournament official offering her a spot at the elite amateur event.
“I was so excited that I wanted to hang up so I could cry,” said Thibault, now ranked 197th. “I didn’t want to cry on the phone and so I was trying to keep calm but I was just super excited.
“When the call ended, the only people I could tell was my family. So I couldn’t tell anyone for five whole days so everyone was asking me ‘why are you so excited?’ but I couldn’t say anything.”
Forty of the top 50 women’s amateurs in the world, including five of the top 10, are set to tee it up,
(Starting this year, winners of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur will receive a five-year exemption into the championship.)
The first 36 holes of the 54-hole Augusta National Women’s Amateur will be played at Champions Retreat Golf Club with the top 30 and ties making the cut and competing at Augusta National Golf Club on April 6. Players who qualify for the final round will play in a practice round at Augusta National on April 5.
NBC will broadcast the final round from noon-3 p.m. ET with Golf Channel providing highlights, live reports and news coverage during the event.
The magnitude of the event is not lost on Thibault.
“It still feels surreal,” said Thibault. “It was always a dream of mine, but it was not possible because I’m a woman. That’s why this dream was not unrealistic, but not possible, because the rules of the course was that it was men’s only.
“The fact that they took the first step in including women on this huge platform, when it’s been on everyone’s bucket list, I thought it was great.”
Tickets to the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur are sold out following an online ticket application process. No tickets will be available at the gates.
Click here for more info on the event, including a look at all the players currently in the field.
Richard Smith honoured with Saskatchewan’s Volunteer of the Year award
Golf Saskatchewan volunteer Richard Smith has been honoured by Sask Sport INC for his exemplary service to the game in the province.
Thursday in Saskatoon, the Katepwa Beach Golf Club member was recognized as one of two Volunteer of the Year award winners by the provincial amateur sports governing body. Smith took the time to thank all his colleagues upon receiving the honour at a gala at a packed TCU Place.
“I’d like to thank all of the volunteers I’ve worked with in Golf Saskatchewan, Golf Canada, the staff at Golf Saskatchewan, all of whom have combined to make my volunteer career very rewarding,” Smith said.
He served as the president of Golf Saskatchewan from 2014-15 and was the recipient of the organization’s Long Term and Exemplary Volunteer Service Award. Smith has been with Golf Saskatchewan for 16 years serving in member services roles, course rating, handicapping and executive committees. He has also been a member of the Golf Canada course rating and handicap committee for eight years and the chair of that group for the last four. He said his experiences have been gratifying over the years.
“Some days haven’t been very rewarding while course rating in the wind and rain,” he laughed. “For the most part it’s been pretty good.”
Golf Saskatchewan executive director Brian Lee nominated Smith for the award and was pleased Sask Sport chose him as a recipient.
“He’s shown dedication across many levels of the sport. He is a fine educator and a great volunteer. Richard is a volunteer we wish we could clone and make a few copies. In our opinion he was a worthy candidate and we’re glad Sask Sport honoured him, we’re very proud of him,” Lee said.
Government unveils new plan to battle harassment, abuse, discrimination in sport
A safe space for Canadian athletes and kids who participate in sport has been a long time coming.
That was part of Minister of Science and Sport Kirsty Duncan’s message in announcing both an investigation unit and a toll-free confidential helpline on Wednesday, major measures in an effort to combat harassment and abuse in sport.
“This was Week 1 my priority, as an athlete, coach, and judge all my life,” Duncan told The Canadian Press. “When you train athletes your No. 1 job is to protect their health and safety. It’s your No. 1 job.
“So when I came into the role, I wanted to put our athletes at the centre of everything we do. And I knew we needed to help our athletes from the beginning – that there be a confidential safe place where they could go.”
The investigation unit is an arm’s-length, third-party program set up through the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada, an independent organization that already functions in helping resolve disputes in the national sport community. Canadian sport organizations can access the unit for independent investigations on reports of harassment, abuse or discrimination in sport.
The helpline – 1-888-83SPORT (77678) – is for victims and witnesses of harassment, abuse or discrimination. The line, which is already up and running, will be staffed by counsellors, psychologists and psychotherapists, seven days a week, 12 hours a day.
“I have been clear there can be bystander effect. If you see a child being hurt or harmed, it’s all of our jobs to speak up,” Duncan said. “So having this confidential phone line where you can report cases, they are professionally trained people . . . who will listen. It’s safe, confidential, in both official languages, and they will say where you can go next, whether it’s to the police, whether it’s to child protection services, it’s to provincial or territorial resources, but you will actually have someone say ‘This is where you go next.”’
Wednesday’s announcement is the latest move by Duncan, who appointed a working group on gender equity to study issues such as sexual abuse and harassment after she was appointed sport minister in January of 2018. The government also recently partnered with Canadian athletes rights group AthletesCan for a study on abuse and discrimination and sport.
Duncan also unveiled a gender equity secretariat and a code of conduct – “which has never existed” – is being written that can be used in sports of all levels.
“This is so important to me that we get this right,” Duncan said. “We’ve got to do this for our athletes and our children.”
Canadian sports groups applauded Duncan’s efforts on Wednesday.
“Minister Duncan is dedicated to improving safe sport and is making serious, deliberate investments, not just words but actions,” Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi said in a statement. “These are impressive initiatives and the whole sport system will be safer as a result of her efforts.”
Canadian Paralympic Committee president Marc-Andre Fabien said: “These new processes are critical towards combating harassment, abuse, and discrimination in sport.”
There have been several high-profile sexual assault and harassment stories recently in Canadian sport. In June, Allison Forsyth was among several former members of Canada’s ski team who spoke publicly about the abuse suffered at the hands of former coach Bertrand Charest in the 1990s. Charest was convicted last year of 37 offences of sexual assault and exploitation.
“As a victim of sexual abuse, I am extremely encouraged by these two new programs,” Forsyth said in a statement Wednesday. “It is critical that our sport system has a safe place for athletes to report instances of abuse and an ethical and legal investigation process. These is a strong sense of urgency to take action. We are not seeking perfection; we are seeking progress to ensure a safe, healthy sport environment for all athletes in Canada.”
Safe sport had been governed through the Sport Canada Accountability Framework since it was implemented in 1996 in the wake of a sexual abuse scandal involving former junior hockey coach Graham James. National sport organizations were required to have a safe sport policy – and a designated individual to handle complaints – in place to receive government funding.
But there had been major inconsistencies in how it was applied, and in recently months, and in light of a handful of high-profile cases in Canada, athletes and administrators – including Olympic wrestling champion Erica Wiebe and Sheldon Kennedy, a retired NHL player and sex abuse victim – publicly called for an independent party to handle cases.
Longtime Canadian Kent State golf coach Herb Page set to retire
KENT, Ohio – Longtime Kent State golf coach Herb Page will retire at the end of this season and end his storied run at the school.
Page has coached the Golden Flashes since 1977, building the men’s golf program into one of the nation’s most consistent and decorated. Under Page, Kent State has won 22 Mid-American Conference titles, appeared in 17 NCAA championships and he’s had 28 All-Americans, including Ben Curtis, the 2003 British Open champion.
“I feel Herb is the best coach in America,” Curtis said. “The record shows that, but the support he provides to all former players is phenomenal, no matter what the player moves onto after graduation. I would not have had the success that I’ve had without his coaching, guidance, support and friendship.”
Page was also instrumental in launching Kent State’s women’s golf program in 1998. The Golden Flashes have won 20 straight MAC titles.
He’s been the conference’s top coach 23 times.
“Kent State means so much to me,” said Page, who played three sports at the school in the early 1970s. “I am forever grateful to the university and all of the administrators, staff and student-athletes I have had the privilege of coaching, who made our golf program so successful. This is my alma mater and the Kent community has been my home ever since.
“But most of all, I am indebted to the wonderful student-athletes I have worked with. It is humbling to reflect on all that they have achieved over the past 41 years and the amazing memories that we have made together.”
Succeeding Page will be fellow Canadian golf coach Jon Mills, the current assistant men’s coach at Kent State.
Page was announced as the first-ever coach to be inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame earlier this year. Page, along with Canadian Champions Tour standout Rod Spittle, will join the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony that will take place Tuesday, June 4, during RBC Hall of Fame Day as part of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open on the grounds of Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
Herb Page & Corey Conners
Golf Canada releases 2019 championship schedule
Golf Canada is pleased to announce its 2019 championship schedule, which includes a record setting 31 amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.
The 2019 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s premier professional championships — the RBC Canadian Open, June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., and the CP Women’s Open, to be conducted August 19-25 at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont.
The 2019 competition calendar includes eight national amateur championships, eight Future Links, driven by Acura regional junior competitions and two international women’s championships.
As the National Sport Federation and governing body of golf in Canada, Golf Canada conducts the country’s premier amateur and professional golf championships as part of its mandate to support the development of the nation’s top talent through world-class competition.
“Golf Canada is incredibly proud to conduct our national championships for the more than 3,000 talented Canadian and international golfers who take part in our competitions,” said Golf Canada’s CEO, Laurence Applebaum. “Together with our host clubs, communities, volunteers and corporate partners, we are excited to be welcoming the next chapter of Canadian golf champions.”
Golf Canada’s championship season kicks off May 6 with the RBC Canadian Open British Columbia Qualifier and concludes in September with the Future Links, driven by Acura Fall Series Championship at Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community in Courtenay, B.C.
To view Golf Canada’s 2019 championship schedule including all host venues, registration requirements and volunteer opportunities please click here.
Championship Season at a Glance…
The 115th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will be contested at Glen Arbour Golf Course in Hammonds Plains, N.S. and The Links at Brunello in Timberlea, N.S., August 3-8. A field of 240 players will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 36 holes, with the final two rounds contested at Glen Arbour. The champion will receive an exemption into the 2020 RBC Canadian Open, as well as an invitation to the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship. Additionally, the winner will receive an exemption into local qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Open, and if applicable, the U.S. Junior, U.S. Mid-Amateur or USGA Senior Amateur Championships.
The 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship takes place July 22-26 at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. with the champion earning an exemption into the 2019 CP Women’s Open, as well as an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Additionally, the winner will receive exemptions into the U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championships, if applicable.
Red Deer Golf & Country Club
At the junior level, the 81st playing of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship will be contested August 11-15 at Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club in Hartland, N.B., with the winner earning an exemption into the 2020 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The 65th Canadian Junior Girls Championship will be contested at Lethbridge Country Club in Lethbridge, Alta.
The 17th Canadian University/College Championship will be held May 27-31 at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. The national championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.
The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur will be held Aug. 19-23 at Summit Golf Club in Richmond Hill, Ont.
The Future Links, driven by Acura regional junior series will round out the schedule with two Fall Series Championships in 2019, totalling eight competitions conducted in conjunction with the Provincial Golf Associations. The Fall Series will take place in September in British Columbia and Quebec, where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2020 national championships. The Future Links, driven by Acura Championships provide juniors an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.
The 2019 RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR will be contested June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., and will mark the 110th playing of Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.
The CP Women’s Open will return to the Greater Toronto Area as Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., will host the stars of the LPGA Tour from August 19-25.
The Astor Trophy makes its return to Canadian soil after 20 years abroad. The 16th playing of the international women’s amateur event will run Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C. The five-team competition features both foursomes and stroke play and is contested once every four years between Australia, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa.
Cedar Brae Golf Club in Scarborough, Ont., will host the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship from September 9-13, with the winner earning an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Senior Amateur. The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship will be held Aug. 17-20 at Osoyoos Golf Club in Osoyoos, B.C., with the champion earning an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and 2020 U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
An accomplished field of international competitors will take to Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., from Sept. 22–27, for the sixth annual World Junior Girls Championship. The event will welcome 20 countries playing as 3-member squads competing for both a team and individual title.
The Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru National Event will be held at Credit Valley Golf & Country Club on Sept. 23. The one-day event is a celebration of the success of all Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru events held nationwide during the 2019 season. To date, the fundraising efforts of thousands of golfers have totaled more than $6.7 million for breast cancer research since the program’s inception in 2003.
The program’s goal is to drive women’s participation in the game of golf through the use of fun, non-intimidating activities. Click here to learn more about Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru.
Maddie Szeryk and Joey Savoie named Golf Canada’s 2018 Players of the Year
Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que. and Maddie Szeryk, a London, Ont., resident, have been recognized as Canada’s top male and female amateur golfers for 2018 as Golf Canada announced the final standings for its National Orders of Merit.
The 2018 season marks the fourth straight year that Maddie Szeryk has finished atop the women’s National Order of Merit. The 22-year-old recorded back-to-back collegiate victories this season for the Texas A&M Aggies at the Bruzzy Challenge and Dale McNamara Invitational. The wins were part of a season which saw Szeryk collect 11 top- 10 NCAA finishes. She concluded her season with a runner-up performance at the prestigious Women’s Porter Cup. Szeryk recently turned professional and will compete on the Symetra Tour in 2019.
Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee finished second on the National Order of Merit. In 2018, the 21-year-old standout posted two collegiate victories for Ohio State while adding four other top 10 results for the Buckeyes. Lee, who recently turned professional, made noise with a semi-finalist appearance at the Ladies British Amateur and quarter-finalist showing at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. Lee also had success in the pro ranks, placing in a tie for 35th at the LPGA’s Meijer Classic.
Brigitte Thibault of Rosemère, Que., finished third on the Order of Merit. Thibault collected three top-10 finishes as a member of the Fresno State Bulldogs, including a runner-up finish at the UNLV Collegiate Showdown. She added top-10 results at the Women’s Western, North & South and Quebec Amateur. Thibault was recently named to Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad.
Savoie claims top spot in the men’s National Order of Merit ranking after an impressive season highlighted by winning both individual and team honours at the Tailhade Cup in Argentina. The Middle Tennessee graduate also notched top-five results at the Argentine Amateur, Azalea Invitational, St. Andrews Links Trophy and Duke of Kent. Savoie finished T19 at the 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur and medaled at the U.S. Amateur Qualifier in Lexington, Ky. Savoie was recently named to Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad.
Henry Lee, 20, of Coquitlam, B.C., finished second on the Order of Merit thanks in part to earning four top-20 NCAA finishes for the University of Washington, as well as a top 10 result at the Canadian Men’s Amateur.
Charles Corner, 22, of Cayuga, Ont., rounded out the top three after recording three top-five NCAA finishes for the UTEP Miners.
Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Order of Merit
On the Future Links, driven by Acura National Junior Order Merit, Matthew Anderson of Mississauga, Ont., and Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que., took home top honours in their respective divisions.
Anderson, 18, tallied six top-10 results this season, including an impressive T6 finish at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship. The Team Ontario member also captured Golf Ontario’s Junior Spring Classic and finished T28 at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
Rounding out the top three on the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Boys Order of Merit are Laurent Desmarchais (17) of Longueil, Que., and Cam Kellett (19) of London, Ont. Desmarchais was recently named to Team Canada’s National Junior Squad.
Dao topped the junior girl’s Order of Merit for a second consecutive year after a remarkable rookie campaign with Team Canada’s National Junior Squad. The 17-year-old was in the winner’s circle three times in 2018, including a three-stroke victory at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que., product also qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open and won the Mexican Junior and Quebec Junior Championships. Dao had success on the international scene as well, collecting a 5th place finish at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan. She led the Canadians at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship in Ottawa with a 5th place finish.
Finishing runner-up behind Dao is 14-year-old Emily Zhu of Thornhill, Ont., while Ellie Szeryk (17) of London, Ont., rounded out the top three. Both Zhu and Szeryk were selected to the 2019 Team Canada National Junior Squad.
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/
The following are top-10 National Order of Merit finishers from each respective division:
National Men’s Order of Merit
Rank | Player | Events | Points | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
10 | 49,786.50 | |||
2 |
|
10 | 39,422.93 | |||
3 |
|
10 | 39,136.50 | |||
4 |
|
8 | 32,790.00 | |||
5 |
|
10 | 31,865.00 | |||
6 |
|
10 | 31,362.00 | |||
7 |
|
9 | 31,225.50 | |||
8 |
|
10 | 30,833.66 | |||
9 |
|
10 | 29,198.50 | |||
10 |
|
10 | 28,851.54 |
National Women’s Order of Merit
Rank | Player | Events | Points | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
10 | 66,900.00 | |||
2 |
|
10 | 64,323.33 | |||
3 |
|
10 | 43,765.83 | |||
4 |
|
10 | 41,866.00 | |||
5 |
|
10 | 39,846.25 | |||
6 |
|
10 | 38,478.33 | |||
7 |
|
10 | 38,292.00 | |||
8 |
|
10 | 37,922.00 | |||
9 |
|
10 | 34,610.25 | |||
10 |
|
10 | 32,995.00 |
National Junior Boys Order of Merit driven by Acura
Rank | Player | Events | Points | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
|
8 | 22,635.00 | |||
2 |
|
8 | 19,470.00 | |||
3 |
|
7 | 18,728.75 | |||
4 |
|
8 | 18,469.25 | |||
5 |
|
8 | 18,142.50 | |||
6 |
|
8 | 17,095.00 | |||
7 |
|
7 | 16,413.75 | |||
8 |
|
8 | 16,407.92 | |||
9 |
|
8 | 16,228.75 | |||
10 |
|
8 | 16,066.67 |
National Junior Girls Order of Merit driven by Acura
Weekly Top-10 Rankings powered by RBC
MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10
Laurent Desmarchais and James Song were the biggest movers among the Top 10 over the course of 2018. Desmarchais, who was named to the Golf Canada Development Squad for the upcoming season, gained 1,323 spots in the world rankings over the course of 2018. He vaulted into the Top 10 following his win at the Golf Quebec Junior Provincial Match-Play Championship – one of four victories he collected this past year.
Song, who holds dual citizenship, has gained 1,003 spots in the world rankings and currently holds down the No. 3 amateur ranking in Canada. A freshman at UC Berkeley, he moved into the Top 10 for the first time after a runner-up performance at the Thunderbird International Junior. Song has four top 10 results this year including a ninth place finish at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
Golf Canada National Team member Brendan Macdougall picked up 168 spots over the course of 2018, thanks in large part to a pair of wins at the Big South Championship and the Alberta Match Play Championship.
Charles Corner gained 108 spots over the course of the year after three top 5 performances in his final collegiate season.
Joey Savoie gained 99 places in the world rankings to sit at a career-best No. 57 in the world. The Golf Canada National Team member had seven top 10 results including a pair of wins and he will finish at the No. 1 amateur player in Canada.
HOMETOWN | SCHOOL | WR | + / – | ||
1. | Joey Savoie | La Prairie, QC | (Team Canada) | 57 | – |
2. | Garrett Rank | Elmira, ON | – | 114 | – |
3. | James Song | Rancho Santa Fe, CA | California | 172 | +1 |
4. | Josh Whalen | Napanee, ON | (Team Canada) | 230 | – |
5. | Charles Corner | Cayuga, ON | – | 278 | +5 |
6. | Chris Crisologo | Richmond, B.C. | (Team Canada) | 286 | +6 |
7. | Laurent Desmarchais | Longueuil, QC | – | 391 | +4 |
8. | Myles Creighton | Digby, NS | – | 464 | +5 |
9. | Brendan Macdougall | Calgary, AB | High Point University | 512 | +6 |
10. | Henry Lee | Coquitlam, BC | Washington | 536 | +5 |
WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10
Brigitte Thibault made the biggest move among Top 10 players in 2018. Recently named to the Golf Canada National Team, Thibault gained 833 spots in the world rankings and was one of two players who moved into the Top 10 over the course of the year. Back-to-back top 10 finishes elevated her into the Top 20 and a total of seven top 10 results have solidified her spot as the No. 2 amateur in Canada, including a runner-up finish at the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown.
The only other player to crack the Top 10 over the course of 2018 was Ellie Szeryk. The Golf Canada Development Team member is also the younger sister to Maddie Szeryk, who was formerly the No. 1 ranked amateur in Canada up until her recent graduation and decision to turn pro. Szeryk gained 274 spots in the world rankings on the strength of four top 5 results including a victory at the Ontario Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championship.
As mentioned Maddie Szeryk’s move to the pros forced a change atop the amateur rankings, which was aptly filled by Jaclyn Lee. However, it may be a short reign as the Ohio State senior is contemplating a similar move to the pros after earning her LPGA Tour card this fall. The Golf Canada National Team member gained 106 spots to move up to a career-best No. 19 in the world rankings. She has 10 top 10 results in 2018 including two victories and seven other top 5 finishes.
Development Squad member Celeste Dao gained 169 spots in the world rankings in 2018. Dao, who has signed a letter of intent to play at Georgia, has 11 top 10 results including four wins in what was a busy 2018 campaign for the Quebec junior.
HOMETOWN | SCHOOL | WR | + / – | ||
1. | Jaclyn Lee | Calgary, AB | Ohio State | 19 | – |
2. | Brigitte Thibault | Montreal, QC | Fresno State | 225 | – |
3. | Vanessa Ha | Montreal, QC | – | 257 | +3 |
4. | Naomi Ko | Victoria, BC | NC State | 281 | -2 |
5. | Celeste Dao | Notre-Dame, QC | (Team Canada) | 289 | -1 |
6. | Michelle Ruiz | Mississauga, ON | – | 301 | -2 |
7. | Grace St-Germain | Ottawa | Daytona St. | 366 | -1 |
8. | Ellie Szeryk | Allen, TX | (Team Canada) | 472 | – |
9. | Jessica Ip | Richmond Hill, ON | – | 491 | -2 |
10. | Tiffany Kong | Vancouver, BC | (Princeton) | 529 | – |
Click here for the full World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR)
MEN’S TOP 10
Nick Taylor made the biggest gain among the Top 10 over the last week, picking up 13 places after finishing tied for ninth at the Australian PGA Championship. The result was worth 2.41 world ranking points, giving him three points-paying results in his last four tournaments.
Corey Conners made the biggest move among the Top 10 in 2018, moving up a total of 408 spots in the world rankings to finish as the No. 2 ranked player in Canada. The former Golf Canada National Team player saw his biggest gain come after finishing runner-up at the Sanderson Farms Championship. It was one of only two top 10 results for the PGA rookie this past year.
Adam Svensson made the next biggest gain, picking up a total of 289 spots over the course of 2018. His highlight moment came early in the year, winning the Web.com event in the Bahamas, which moved him back into the Top 10 in the Canadian rankings. It was also one of five top 10 results as the B.C. golfer earned his PGA Tour card for 2019.
Adam Hadwin will finish as the No. 1 ranked player in Canada, having held that position for almost two full years now. The Abbotsford, B.C. golfer reached a career high No. 41 in the world after finishing in a tie for 24th at his first career Masters tournament. He notched five top 10 results in 2018 including a tie for third at the CareerBuilder Challenge.
Of the 35 total Canadians who are recognized by the world rankings, Sukwoan Ko made the biggest gain, picking up 1,271 points over the course of 2018. Playing on the Korean Tour, his victory at the Jeonbuk Open back in July vaulted him into the Top 20 in Canada and he ends the year at No. 12.
Other notable results: No. 6 Austin Connelly finished tied for 34th at the Australian PGA Championship;
HOMETOWN | TOUR | WR | + / – | ||
1. | Adam Hadwin | Abbotsford, BC | PGA | 68 | -1 |
2. | Corey Conners | Listowel, ON | PGA | 268 | -2 |
3. | Benjamin Silverman | Thornhill, ON | PGA | 280 | -2 |
4. | Nick Taylor | Abbotsford, BC | PGA | 304 | +13 |
5. | Mackenzie Hughes | Dundas, ON | PGA | 368 | -7 |
6. | Austin Connelly | Irving, TX | EUR | 391 | -12 |
7. | Graham DeLaet | Weyburn, SK | PGA | 407 | -10 |
8. | Adam Svensson | Surrey, BC | PGA | 437 | -4 |
9. | Roger Sloan | Merritt, BC | PGA | 469 | -3 |
10. | David Hearn | Brantford, ON | PGA | 471 | -7 |
Click here for the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
WOMEN’S TOP 10
The biggest mover among the Top 10 female golfers in Canada goes to a player who has yet to officially turn pro.
Jaclyn Lee gained a total of 250 places in the world rankings in 2018, moving into the Top 10 after finishing in a tie for 35th at the Meijer LPGA Classic – which was her only LPGA Tour event in 2018. Lee, a member of Golf Canada’s National Team and a senior at Ohio State University, has since gone on to earn an LPGA Tour card for 2019 and will have a decision to make in the new year, about whether or not to turn pro at the season’s first event or wait until later in the year until after she graduates.
Brooke Henderson finishes the year as the No. 1 ranked female in Canada, a position she has held since December 2014. Henderson had two wins, including her impressive performance at the CP Women’s Open, as well as eight other top 10 finishes in 2018. She closed out the year collecting world ranking points in each of her last 14 consecutive tournaments to climb into the Top 10 in the world.
Brittany Marchand made the biggest gain over the course of the past year, picking up 205 spots in the world rankings. The Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member had one top 10 result and one top 20 finish in her rookie LPGA season as well as a third place result on the developmental Symetra Tour. At one point, Marchand collected world ranking points in 10 of 11 LPGA starts.
Anne-Catherine Tanguay gained a total of 60 places in the world rankings in 2018. After a slow start to her rookie LPGA campaign, the Young Pro Squad member found her groove in the middle of the season, earning world ranking points in six of seven events to close out the season.
HOMETOWN | TOUR | WR | + / – | ||
1. | Brooke Henderson | Smiths Falls, ON | LPGA | 9 | – |
2. | Alena Sharp | Hamilton, ON | LPGA | 192 | – |
3. | Brittany Marchand | Orangeville, ON | LPGA | 201 | +1 |
4. | Anne-Catherine Tanguay | Quebec City, QC | LPGA | 307 | +1 |
5. | Maude-Aimee Leblanc | Sherbrooke, QC | SYMT | 345 | – |
6. | Augusta James | Bath, ON | SYMT | 465 | -3 |
7. | Jaclyn Lee | Calgary, AB | – | 749 | – |
8. | Samantha Richdale | Kelowna, BC | SYMT | 904 | -1 |
9. | Christina Foster | Concord, ON | SYMT | 966 | – |
10. | Jennifer Ha | Calgary, AB | SYMT | 988 | -4 |
Click here for the Rolex Women’s Golf Rankings.
Golf Ontario and Northern Golf Association announce new partnership
Golf Ontario (GO) and the Northern Golf Association (NGA) have announced a partnership that will focus on growing the game of golf in Northern Ontario. Both organizations have long been leaders of the game of golf and bringing the two organizations together will ensure stronger collaboration in communicating and promoting the sport of golf in Northern Ontario.
The focus of this partnership will be on 3 areas:
- Membership –all NGA members will now also be Golf Ontario members and receive all of the benefits of Gold Membership
- Grow Golf – both organizations will continue to invest in initiatives (such as Golf in Schools) that are intended to grow the game of golf in Northern Ontario
- Golf Services – stronger collaboration on areas such as course rating, handicapping and competitions.
Currently, the NGA has 27 member clubs (8 of which are currently also members with Golf Ontario). As part of this agreement moving forward, all NGA clubs and members will be able to become members of both organizations with access to all of the great benefits that both organizations offer.
Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario, believes that this new arrangement will benefit both Golf Ontario and all of the members of the NGA. “We are excited to be partnering with the NGA to collaboratively promote and grow the game of golf in Northern Ontario. Golf Ontario membership provides many great benefits such as handicapping, incident coverage, and access to Golf Ontario championships, and having these available to the members of the NGA will help support the
development of golf in Northern Ontario” said Kelly.
Owen Rigg, Director of Northern Golf Association, added his very similar message. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Golf Ontario on the mutually beneficial agreement. Over the next few years we look forward in working with our NGA member Clubs in implementing so many of the wonderful programs that Golf Ontario and Golf Canada have to offer. Northern Golf is back!” Exclaimed Rigg.