The University of Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades jumped to the first-round advantage on Tuesday in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship at the Royal Ashburn Golf Club in Durham, Ont.

The Cascades hold the lead in all four categories: men’s team, women’s team, men’s individual and women’s individual. Daniel Campbell (Wellington, Wash.) led the men’s division, carding a 1-under 71 to register the only under-par score of the day. Campbell holds a two-stroke advantage over teammate Zach Olson (Strathmore, Alta.).

Collectively, the Cascade men recorded an opening-round 13-over par, nine strokes ahead of University of British Columbia Okanhagan Heat.

On the women’s side, UFV sit at 24-over par for a three-stroke cushion over defending champion Georgian College. The Cascade women are led by Emery Bardock of Armstrong, B.C., who posted a round of 10 over par, highlighted by an ace on the par-3 7th.

“It was probably the most exciting thing all day because I wasn’t playing too well,” said Bardock. “Our last three holes are always ice cream holes for our team, so my coach was like ‘make this birdie putt.’ When I got up there (green), I was like ‘it’s in the hole,’ so it was really exciting.”

Emery Bardock of the @UFVCascades talks about her first career ace today on No. 7 at @RoyalAshburn! ⛳️??#CCAAgolf2017 pic.twitter.com/E6P7YMIvFI

— CCAA/ACSC (@CCAAsportsACSC) October 17, 2017

As part of the championship the host committee at Durham College and Conroy’s No Frills in Whitby have partnered to have one pound of food donated to the Salvation Army for every birdie made throughout the tournament. Through one round the total sits at 91 birdies, or 91 pounds of food.

The Georgian Grizzlies took home the women’s title in 2016, and the Niagara College Knights were victorious on the men’s side.

Round two will get underway at Royal Ashburn at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Click here for full scoring.

Three Canadian juniors will be among the 80 competitors in the fifth annual Drive, Chip and Putt championship at Augusta National on April 1, 2018.

Toronto’s Vanessa Borovilos headlines the Canadian trio, returning for a third time after finishing atop the girls 10-11 age group at the Winged Foot Golf Club regional qualifier in Mamaroneck, N.Y., — one of 10 conducted across the United States. The 10-year-old is one of three returning three-time finalists—she finished 5th in 2016 and 4th in 2015.

Borovilos is joined by fellow Ontario natives Landon Kelly (Bobcaygeon, Ont.) and Luke DelGobbo (Fonthill, Ont.) who also advanced at Winged Foot by capturing the boys 7-9 and 14-15 age groups, respectively.

Kelly mastered Winged Foot’s greens tying the high score in all divisions with 65 points in the putting competition to win the Boys 7-9 division. Good golf runs in the family, as Kelly learned the game from his mother, Shana – a PGA of Canada professional – and sister Nyah, who participated in the 2014 National Finals.

Canada’s Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., captured the girls 14-15 division at last year’s championship, becoming the first Canadian to win a title.

Local qualifying began in May, June and July, held at more than 260 sites throughout the United States. The top-three scorers per venue, in each of the four age categories in separate boys and girls divisions, advanced to 50 subregional qualifiers in July and August. Two juniors in each age and gender division then competed at the regional level in September and October, held at some of the top courses in the country, including several U.S. Open and PGA Championship venues.

The top finisher from each regional site’s age/gender divisions – a total of 80 finalists – earned a place in the National Finals.

Click here for all regional qualifying results.

The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— will be contested on July 21 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont. Learn more here.

The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) announced the golf All-Canadian award recipients on Monday for the 2017 season.

20 student-athletes (10 women, 10 men) were selected ahead of this week’s national championship at Royal Ashburn Golf Club in Ashburn, Ont.

The following were named as All-Canadians:

OSHAWA – Durham College is set to welcome the top Canadian collegiate golfers next week as they play host to the 2017 PING Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Golf National Championships. The four-round championship will take place from October 17-20 at Royal Ashburn Golf Club.

“Royal Ashburn will be an excellent venue to host this years’ national championship,” said Ken Babcock, Durham College athletic director. “The media, sponsors and friends of the program had a chance to try out the course earlier in the month at the kick-off event and it is second to none. I am certain that it will provide a challenge for all of the participants involved next week.”

The opening ceremony will take place on Monday, Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. followed by the official practice round. The CCAA championship banquet will take place at 7 p.m. Jostens is the official supplier of the CCAA Championship Awards Banquet. The first round of the championship will tee-off on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 8 a.m.

Opening ceremony for the @PingTour CCAA Golf National Championship is this morning at @RoyalAshburn – Here is a look at the course! pic.twitter.com/XrpkGvQwlU

— CCAA/ACSC (@CCAAsportsACSC) October 16, 2017

Durham College heads into the tournament as the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) bronze medalists. The last time Durham hosted the national championship, the Lords won two bronze medals (team competition and Shea Varty, individual).

Durham has hosted this event three times in 2001, 2002 and 2012. Durham College also hosted the RCGA University/College golf championship in 2011.

The Lords have hosted award winning and highly regarded national championships including men’s volleyball (1990 & 2003), women’s volleyball (1990), men’s soccer (1999), women’s soccer (1999), men’s & women’s golf (2001, 2002 & 2012), baseball (2009 & 2016), men’s basketball (2011) and women’s softball (2015).

The Royal Ashburn Golf Club opened in 1962 as an 18-hole facility, and has since developed into a world-class facility, ranked among the Top 50 public golf courses in Canada.

Click here for the full field

Mississauga, Ont. – The CGSA and Bayer have announced Greg Holden from the Clear Lake Golf Course in Onanole, Man., as the CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year for 2017.

The CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year award recognizes a member of the CGSA who has held the position of golf course superintendent for a minimum of five years and who has distinguished her or himself through dedication to the profession, performance as a golf course superintendent and contributions to their profession and their community.

“Greg Holden is probably known as the most adventurous Golf Course Superintendent and truly one of the most vigilant of the environment,” said Jim Flett, AGS, CGSA president. “I had the privilege of calling Greg to inform him of winning this award and with this being Greg’s final season as Superintendent at Clear Lake Golf Course before retiring, what better way to add to his already astounding career.”

Greg has been a CGSA member since 1999 and was the President of the CGSA in 2010. He is one of the most innovative superintendents and the only Superintendent in Manitoba that collects up to 10,000 + litres of used cooking oils from shops and resorts around town to make Bio-Diesel to run 7 pieces of equipment.

Holden has experienced many adventures throughout his life thus far.  Everything from being a cameraman on a six-month journey crossing the Pacific Ocean on a rafting expedition from Ecuador to Australia, co-owning and operating the Mooswa Resort with his wife Linda in Riding Mountain National Park for 15 years, to operating a small organic farm on his property prior to stepping into his current position as Superintendent at the Clear Lake Golf Course.

His distinguished career began back in 1993 when he got the opportunity to work for the Clear Lake Golf Foundation. At that time, they were in the process of submitting a bid to Parks Canada to run the golf course in Riding Mountain National Park. Mr. Holden was instrumental in the writing of the environmental section of that bid that ultimately won them the contract to operate the course for Parks Canada over a 25-year period.

Holden has won him and his course many awards including the Eco Network Environmental Stewardship Award; was a finalist for the 2009 Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award and was the Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association (MGSA) Superintendent of the Year Award winner in 2012 for his outstanding contributions to the industry.

Mr. Holden will receive the CGSA/Bayer Superintendent of the Year award at the 2018 CGSA Awards Ceremony in Quebec City as part of The Canadian Golf Course Management Conference.

The award is funded by Bayer – a ssponsor of the CGSA.

The CGSA represents golf course superintendents, assistant superintendents, equipment technicians, and others involved in golf course management across Canada. CGSA was founded in 1966 and has over 1,000 members. Its mission is to promote excellence in golf course management and environmental responsibility through the continuing professional development of its members. For more information please visit www.golfsupers.com.

TORONTO – The inaugural adaptive golf competition of the Invictus Games took place Tues, Sept. 26, at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, where Canadians claimed five medals.

The competition was contested over 18 holes using modified Stableford scoring using Handicap Factors/Index.

Claiming gold in the men’s competition with a 38-point total was David Scott of the United Kingdom. Canada’s Étienne Aubé claimed silver with 37 points.  Canadians Dan Graham and Jay Nickol earned bronze with 35 points, as did American Josh Lindstrom.

In the women’s competition, Cornelia Oosthuizen of the United Kingdom captured gold with a score of 32. Canada’s Karyne Gelinas earned silver with 27 points and Sandy Bate earned 24 points ton win bronze.

Karyne Gelinas of Canada, Cornelia Oosthuizen of the United Kingdom  and Sandy Bate of Canada (Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)

His Royal Highness Prince Harry was on hand at St. George’s to cheer on competitors.

Prince Harry wishing competitors the best of luck as they continue competing in the final round of adaptive golf @StGeorgesGCC! #IG2017 pic.twitter.com/zoLPcRWvTB

— Invictus Games 2017 (@InvictusToronto) September 26, 2017

Prince Harry met with @InvictusToronto golf athletes, encouraging them through the final holes. #IAM #invictus2017 pic.twitter.com/wC0XSUGX73

— St. George’s GCC (@StGeorgesGCC) September 27, 2017

The Invictus Games are an international sporting event for wounded, ill and injured servicemen and women, both currently serving and veterans. The Games use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding of and respect for those who serve their country.

The word Invictus is Latin for unconquered. It embodies the fighting spirit of the wounded, injured and ill service personnel and what these tenacious men and women can achieve, post-injury.

For full scores, click here.

For more information on the 2017 Invictus Games, visit www.invictusgames2017.com.

Furthering their commitment to growing Canadian junior golf, Acura is adopting five Golf in Schools kits through an Adopt a School Week contest in support of the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program.

The contest requires Canadians to simply nominate a school along with the city and town by commenting on the contest Facebook post by Oct. 6.

On Oct. 13, 2017 at approximately 1 p.m. ET, one (1) eligible entry per Region will be selected by random draw from among all eligible entries submitted (full contest rules are available here).

Click here to participate a nominate a school in your area!

The indomitable spirit will be par for the course at the 2017 Invictus Games.

In the dark of night, at 9:33 p.m. on Oct. 2, 1994, a high-powered sniper bullet was fired from an enemy-held position in the Bosnia and Herzegovina town of Ilijas. It travelled some 800 metres and pierced the armoured vehicle in which Canadian Forces warrant officer Tom Martineau was riding. The bullet ripped through Martineau’s left triceps and ricocheted through his internal organs, splitting his left kidney, detaching his spleen and fracturing his thoracic 12 vertebrae, immediately paralyzing him from the waist down.

“I knew right then and there that this was going to affect my golf swing,” muses the resident of Kingston, Ont., who turns 57 in June.

One of Team Canada’s estimated 12 golf participants at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto this September, Martineau can joke about it now. But the physical injuries for wounded warriors often pale in comparison to the psychological demons that accompany them. Martineau, who fell victim to drugs and alcohol addiction in the aftermath of his injury, contemplated suicide on more than one occasion.

“I had a loaded rifle in my mouth,” he recalls. “For whatever reason, the thought occurred to me: ‘Who will look after my dog?’”

Martineau withdrew his weapon and began the journey back into the light — an arduous road shared by military veterans the world over as they learn to keep those demons at bay and reintegrate into society.

Double amputee Bernie Broad from Team UK is more than a match for most players (photo: Terry D. Cuffel)

For many, sports have provided an opportunity to find renewed focus and purpose. Nowhere is that more evident than the Warrior Games, a U.S.-based multi-sport event originated in 2010 for seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans. The 2013 edition in Colorado was officially opened by Prince Harry, who was a captain and helicopter pilot in the British Army at the time. Inspired by the efforts of participants in the international Paralympics-style event, the prince was motivated to launch an expanded international version in 2014 — the Invictus Games.

Latin for “unconquered,” this year’s Invictus Games will feature 550 competitors from 17 allied nations and will debut golf among its dozen adaptive sports. Five-time Canadian Open host St. George’s Golf and Country Club will provide the venue for the one-day golf competition on September 26 that is expected to field around 60 competitors. Offering free entry for all spectators, the low-net event will employ the points-based Stableford scoring system, including a double-bogey maximum to assist with pace of play. Ground rules will also be implemented to address severe bunkers and other hazards for players with limited mobility.

“When (the Invictus organizers) said they’d like to have the golf event at St. George’s, I thought, ‘Well yeah, who wouldn’t?’ says Jim Clark, chair of the golf competition’s organizing committee. “But after we met with general manager Jason Clarke, the St. George’s board’s vote was a unanimous yes. And then they asked, ‘What else can we do to make it better?’”

Clark, who has served as chairman of the RBC Canadian Open since 2002 and of the 2015 Pan Am Games golf competition, is experiencing a lot of that type of support in preparation for golf’s launch at Invictus.

“We needed 60 volunteers, but were quickly oversubscribed,” he explains. “I’ve never seen anything like it. We’ve had to turn away more than 100 of these amazing, experienced Canadian Open volunteers.”

The royal, red-haired gentleman who will be handing out the medals on the 18th green is also worthy of mention.

“These Games have shone a spotlight on the unconquerable character of servicemen and women, their families and the invictus spirit,” says Prince Harry.

Karyne Gélinas, a 37-year-old Moncton native and Country Meadows GC member, is another Canadian hopeful. She suffered a lower back injury in a 1998 car accident, and after it was re-aggravated, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) captain was forced to retire from her air traffic controller role last fall. Now she’s training 10 to 12 hours weekly to hopefully walk all 18 holes at St. George’s.

“Invictus has given me a new purpose,” notes Gélinas, a multi-sport competitive athlete prior to her injury. “It has been an amazing experience and I’ve met incredible people. But honestly, it will be great to represent our country and wear the Canadian flag again.”

“You’re willing to give your life for each other so there’s a sense of failure when you’re removed from that equation,” adds Martineau, who now helps fellow service vets navigate the road to physical and emotional recovery with the Department of National Defence’s Operational Stress Injury Social Support services. “Some athletes on the team have never re-socialized. They’re being brought together as part of a team again. You cannot measure the positives of these Games that could be life altering.”

Martineau has recovered to the point that he can now stand on his own two feet, play to a 12 handicap and pummel drives nearly 240 yards at his home course — albeit never knowing if his left leg might buckle. It’s a long way from being wheelchair-bound for three years after the shooting.

Martineau, who will also be competing in wheelchair basketball at the Games, espouses the virtues of the Soldier On program — a CAF initiative that helps currently serving veterans and members overcome illness or injury through physical activity — as well as its support for those competing at the Invictus Games.

“But’s not about the medals,” he assures. “It’s the individual journey.”

To find out more information about the event or tickets, visit invictusgames2017.com

This article was originally published in the Summer Issue edition of Golf Canada Magazine. Click here to view the full magazine

If you’re taking some nationalistic pride in watching Brooke Henderson, Adam Hadwin and the other Canadians on the pro tours enjoy unprecedented success, then it’s time to ask yourself, “What can I do to support upcoming generations of Canadian golfers? How can I give back to the game?”

Surprise! I have the answer: Support the second annual Adopt a School Week from Sept. 18 to 22.

Adopt a School is a component of Future Links Golf in Schools driven by Acura, an umbrella junior development initiative created by Golf Canada in conjunction with the PGA of Canada and PHE Canada with support from the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada as a program partner. It provides golf facilities, companies and individuals with the opportunity to “adopt” one or more schools of their choosing to introduce the Golf in Schools program at that school. (Schools can also enroll in the program on their own.)

Since the program’s inception in 2009, adoptions have accounted for almost half of the more than 3,200 registered schools delivering the Future Links Golf in Schools driven by Acura curriculum. Last year, 234 new schools were adopted, introducing golf to an average of 120 students per school. Currently, the Golf in Schools program is in more than 3,200 schools with more than 380,000 students coast to coast.

While each of the preceding partners has a vital role, much rests on the country’s golf facilities and golfers to make this program succeed. Why? Because, ideally, each school is linked with a green-grass facility like a course or a range and none of this is feasible without financial support from donors like you.

Facilities that have linked to schools have reported significant increases from the business side, such as memberships, lessons and food and beverage, as well as the long-term gratification of enhancing the ongoing vitality of the game. Participating teachers at “adopted” schools laud the program for its emphasis not just on golf but on developing affiliated values such as perseverance, etiquette, character and honesty.

So whether your support helps develop the next Brooke Henderson or Adam Hadwin or just gets kids in your community interested in the game you love, you can take justifiable pride in the fact that you’ve given back to the game.

Invest in the future of golf in Canada. Support Adopt a School Week.

To support Adopt a School Week, visit www.golfcanada.ca/adoptaschool/ or call 1-800-263-0009 ext. 475.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Judith Kyrinis defeated Terrill Samuel, 4 and 3, Thursday morning at the 5,836-yard, par-72 Waverley Country Club to win the 56th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. In winning the first USGA championship match between two Canadian competitors, Kyrinis became the seventh USGA champion from Canada and the first since 2005.

Kyrinis, 53, was the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur runner-up three years ago at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J., losing 1 down to Joan Higgins.

“It’s very special, very surreal. I don’t really believe that I’ve won yet,” said Kyrinis. “You know, it was a tough match to lose [three years ago]. You take it to 18, and like I said, I was crying like a baby, and it’s not because I was mad I lost, it’s just because you’re so pent up with all these emotions for the whole week.”

It was another emotional week for Kyrinis, who like three years ago, was greeted before the final match by her brother, Dan Allan, who showed up without prior notice and slept the previous night in his car. The week was also a celebration of Canadian golf, as several of the nine Canadian players who competed in the championship stuck around to watch their countrywomen compete in the final. Of those nine Canadian players, four advanced to the quarterfinals.

“All the girls I think that you saw, we all played very well,” said Kyrinis. “We really kind of got far into the tournament, in our matches, and it was good because, you know, I’ve been looking at those leader boards, which were fabulous, and it really would spur you on. You’d see your friends doing well, and you’re like, OK, let’s go. You don’t want to be left in the back of the bus, right, so it was fun.”

One of those players following in the gallery was 2005 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Mary Ann Hayward, the most recent USGA champion from Canada and a quarterfinalist this week. It seems a fitting ending for Kyrinis, who lists four-time USGA champion and three-time U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur champion Marlene Stewart Streit as a mother figure and golf idol.

“I’m just so happy for Judith,” said Hayward. “She’s worked so hard. We flew down and watched her when she made the final in New Jersey, and I’m just so happy for her.”

Three years after coming up just short, Kyrinis never trailed in this championship match. With her husband, Manny, on her bag, she won the first hole with a par.

After halving the next three holes, Samuel, a recently retired teacher from the Toronto area, played superb scrambling golf on holes 5 and 6. On the 451-yard, par-5 fifth, Samuel hit her second shot way left, behind a tree-lined area. With Kyrinis on in three, Samuel punched through the tree line, barely holding the back collar of the green. After Kyrinis rolled her birdie attempt 9 feet by the hole, Samuel two-putted from the collar and squared the match when Kyrinis three-putted.

On the ensuing 119-yard, par-3 ninth, Samuel, 56, hit into the right greenside bunker, plugged in the front lip. Kyrinis hit a beautiful shot to the front-right flag location, but her ball rolled off the right edge of the green, down a small valley. Forced to take an extremely awkward stance, Samuel popped the ball straight into the air and rolled it to 3 feet. Kyrinis then putted 8 feet past the hole, but earned a crucial half with a tricky par save to keep the match all square.

“You have to have a bit of luck with that shot, and so I was just trying to find a stance, and I was hoping that I could just pop it out,” said Samuel of her bunker shot. “It actually went perfectly because it went down, popped up and down. Got to have a little bit of luck. I knew if I could get it up over the lip, it will hit it hard enough that it would get out of the bunker because that’s pretty thick stuff in my stance.”

Kyrinis, a registered nurse who lives 20 minutes away from Samuel outside Toronto, immediately took advantage of her par save on 6 to win 7 with a birdie. Both players hit similar approach shots to about 10 feet. Going first, Samuel’s birdie attempt lipped out, and Kyrinis got a read on the line and converted hers to retake the lead.

After matching each other stroke for stroke on the next four holes, Kyrinis began her winning march on the par-4 12th hole. It all began with a fortuitous bounce for Kyrinis, as her tee shot hit the back facing of the right fairway bunker, but careened to the right rough instead of dropping in the bunker. Both players hit their second shots on the green, about 20 feet away. After Samuel posted a conceded par, Kyrinis rolled in her 20-footer to go 2 up.

“It was pretty flat, and as long as you keep the pace up on these greens, they’re not going to go one way or another way,” said Kyrinis. “It was probably a little more pace than I thought, or wanted, but happy to see it go down to the bottom of the hole for sure.”

On the par-5 13th, Samuel tried to play a delicate pitch over a bunker that protected the front-center flag location. Her shot was just a little short, however, and instead of a good birdie attempt, she was again playing out of a bunker. With Samuel unable to get up and down, Kyrinis made a routine par to go 3 up.

With Kyrinis still 3 up, the match ended on the 15th hole when Samuel again found bunker trouble. Samuel crushed her tee shot with a driver, but maybe hit it too well. She found herself in the front of a middle fairway bunker. Needing to be aggressive, Samuel took a full swing, trying to get on the green, but her shot hit the lip of the bunker and ricocheted backward. Once Kyrinis hit her second shot close, Samuel conceded the match before any putts were attempted.

Despite the defeat, Samuel was in good spirits and happy for her close friend.

Terrill Samuel and Judith Kyrinis, right, bump knuckles after splitting the sixth hole during final round of match play of the 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Ore. on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

“It’s easy, because I always root for her at every tournament because that’s the type of person she is, bar none,” said Samuel of Kyrinis. “We’re just such great friends. That was the bonus of playing today is whoever won, we’d be happy for each other.”

The U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, open to female amateurs age 50 and older with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 18.4, consists of two 18-hole rounds of stroke play and six rounds of match play. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

As the champion, Kyrinis receives a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, as well as two-year exemptions into the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur championships. Kyrinis also receives a two-year exemption into the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship next year at Chicago Golf Club, as well as the ensuing year at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club. Samuel is also exempt into the 2018 Senior Women’s Open and receives a three-year Senior Women’s Amateur exemption, a two-year Women’s Mid-Amateur exemption and one-year Women’s Amateur exemption.