Quebec golfers are leading the way at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg after round one of the Canada Summer Games. Christopher Vandette from Beaconsfield, Que., fired an opening round 5-under-par 67 to lead the boys’ division and Quebec City’s Sarah-Eve Rheame carded a 4-under-par 68 to sit atop the girls’ division.

Vandette – the third-place finisher at last week’s Canadian Junior Boys Championship – had a clean card in round one recording five birdies and no bogeys to sit two shots ahead of Winnipeg’s Ryan McMillan who posted an opening-round, 3-under-par 69.

“I hit it off the tee really well and hit a lot of greens, I was putting it close,” said Vandette. “Inside 10 feet I made a lot of putts.”

The 16-year-old’s only mistake was hitting it in the water on the par-5 13th hole.

“It was a reachable par-5, so I was able to recover and make par,” added Vandette. “Other than that, all day long I played well and kept it in the fairway.”

McMillan, who lives just 20 minutes away from Southwood and has played the course a dozen times, used that to his advantage when preparing for the Games.

“Normally when we’re out here playing it’s just hit it find it,” said McMillan. “But, the last couple times I was really thinking about what clubs I should be hitting off the tee and where I should be missing.”

The 2017 Manitoba Junior Boys Champion took advantage of his local knowledge pouring in four birdies in his opening round with the only blemish on his card coming with a bogey on the first hole.

Taylor Beckstead (Alliston, Ont.) is tied for third with Keaton Gudz (Victoria, B.C.) at 2 under par.

Vandette’s first round 67 has Quebec leading the team competition by three strokes.

On the girls’ side, Rheaume has a four-shot lead after her opening-round 68. She made only two bogeys in round one and her strong start to the Games was powered by three straight birdies on holes 13-15.

“I was hitting good iron and approach shots into the green all day,” said Rheaume. “I hit it close to the pin on 13, made a 15-foot putt on 14 and had a tap-in on 15.”

She’s playing Southwood for the first time this week and enjoyed her first competitive round at the Thomas McBroom track.

“It’s pretty flat around here, not much elevation,” said Rheaume. “It’s fun to play I liked it. I just need to keep hitting fairways and greens and making putts.”

B.C. teammates Alisha Lau from Richmond and Hannah Lee from Surrey are tied for second at even par along with Céleste Dao (Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que.) and Ellie Szeryk (London, Ont).

On the strength of Dao and Rheaume’s strong starts, Quebec is leading the girls’ team competition with a 4-under-par 140 in round one, putting them four shots ahead of British Columbia who is even par (144). Ontario is in the bronze medal position at 146 (+2).

“It’s nice to help the girls for this first round,” added Rheaume. “Hopefully it goes well for us the rest of the week.”

Led by Vandette’s low round of the day Quebec also leads in the boy division at 6-under-par (138), three shots ahead of British Columbia who posted a 3-under par 141 in round one.

Manitoba is in third at 1 under par.

British Columbia is the two-time defending champion in the male and female individual and team events – the only province or territory to win a gold medal at the Canada Summer Games since golf became part of the Games in 2009.

Click here to view the full leaderboard.

Sixty-four junior golfers from across Canada will compete for gold starting tomorrow when the 2017 Canada Summer Games golf tournament takes place from Aug. 8-11 at Southwood Golf and Country Club, in Winnipeg, Man.

A Thomas McBroom design – Southwood Golf and Country Club is known for its undulation and scenic views. With water, sand or both in play on nearly every hole, the course will provide a stiff test as golfers from ten provinces and one territory. compete for four gold medals.

“Southwood Golf and Country Club is an amazing course and it’s in stellar condition,” said Tournament Director Akash Patel. “We’re very excited to be involved with the Canada Summer Games and the celebration of sport in the beautiful city of Winnipeg.”

British Columbia comes to Winnipeg as the two-time defending champion in the male and female individual and team events – the only province or territory to win a gold medal at the Canada Summer Games since golf became part of the Games in 2009.

Team B.C. is sending a strong contingent again in the boys’ competition. The team is led by 16-year-old Victoria native Nolan Thoroughgood. Thoroughgood became the youngest champion in the history of the B.C. Men’s Amateur (age) when he won by two strokes in 2016.

He’s joined by Keaton Gudz (Victoria) and Tristan Mandur (Mill Bay). All three are ranked inside the top-45 of the Future Links driven by Acura National Order of Merit.

15-year-old Kelvin Lim will lead the Team Ontario boys’ team as Ontario attempts to take down the B.C. powerhouse. Lim, from Thornhill, won the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Junior Boys’ Spring Classic and is ranked third on the Future Links driven by Acura National Order of Merit.

Sudbury’s Tristan Renaud – the 2017 Ontario Junior Boys Champion – and Alliston native Taylor Beckstead will join Lim in Winnipeg.

43 days to go & 4 more athletes named to #TeamBC! Congrats @bc_golfer men’s team! #JCG2017 #CGGolf #WEareBC https://t.co/0L5MbpyCZg pic.twitter.com/SRbq2xdBSb

— Team BC (@GoTeamBC) June 15, 2017

On the girls’ side, Team Canada’s Hannah Lee of Surrey will lead Team B.C. in their title defense. Lee is in her second year on the Team Canada Development Squad and is coming off a third place finish at the B.C. Junior Girls Championship. Lee is joined by Richmond’s Alisha Lau the 2017 B.C. Junior Girls Champion Tiffany Kong (Vancouver).

Led by Team Canada Development Squad’s Monet Chun, the Ontario team will look to bring gold to Canada’s largest province for the first time.

Chun, from Richmond Hill, won the 2017 Ontario Future Links Driven by Acura Championship and the 2017 Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic.

London, Ont., native Ellie Szeryk, the 2017 Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ champion will join Chun along with Toronto’s Sarah Beqaj who is a member of Golf Ontario’s Team Ontario program.

Szeryk captures Investors Group Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship: https://t.co/DWZ6oLJMkc #Golf #GolfOntario #JuniorGirlsChamp pic.twitter.com/6aFRSdKShf

— Golf Ontario (@TheGolfOntario) July 7, 2017

Both the team and individual competitions take place over the course of four rounds with no cut and all 60 golfers playing 72 holes.

Each day the two best scores of the three team members count towards the team score. The team medallists are determined by the aggregate sum of the four daily team scores.

For more information on the Canada Summer Games golf tournament click here.

Click here to view the rosters of each team.

CHAMPIONSHIP FAST FACTS

B.C. has won all eight gold medals since golf became part of the Canada Summer Games in 2009 and has the most medals overall with 10 (eight gold, one silver, one bronze).

In 2013, British Columbia dominated the team competitions in Sherbrooke, Que., winning the girls’ event by 17 strokes and the boys by 12.

Maple Ridge, B.C.’s Kevin Kwon won the 2013 men’s individual event finishing 13 strokes clear of silver medallist Etienne Papineau (Bromont, Que.) en route to establishing a new Canada Games record with a four-round score of 279 (-13). Calgary’s Matt Williams won bronze.

Surrey, B.C., native Taylor Kim finished five shots ahead of Valerie Tanguay from Saint-Hyacinthe, Que. in the women’s 2013 event. Calgary’s Sabrine Garrison won bronze.

Only four provinces have medalled in golf at the Canada Summer Game: British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario.

The lowest single day team score is 141 for male and female with B.C. setting both records at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in Prince Edward Island.

COURSE FACTS

Southwood Golf and Country Club was established in 1894, but moved to its current location in 2011.

Architect: Thomas McBroom

Southwood Golf and Country Club hosted the 2014 Canadian University/College Championship and the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The ruins of a monastery were left in place during construction of the course creating a landscape with natural beauty and man-made structures.

Global sports entertainment leader Topgolf® and Cineplex (TSX: CGX), a leading entertainment and media company, today announced an exclusive partnership that will bring Topgolf’s sports entertainment experience to Canada. The joint venture will see the opening of multiple Topgolf venues in markets across the country during the next several years.

“Throughout the years, Canada has been the top-requested country among our fans asking us to expand outside the United States,” said Topgolf Entertainment Group Co-Chairman and CEO Erik Anderson. “We’re thrilled to continue our growth in North America and introduce Topgolf as a destination for entertainment and socializing where Canadians can play golf even when there’s snow on the ground.”

We continue to identify new opportunities to grow and diversify our business and are very pleased to introduce this incredible entertainment and sports concept to Canadians,” said Cineplex President and CEO Ellis Jacob. “As one of the country’s leading entertainment companies, this relationship with Topgolf is a natural extension of our business and leverages our existing expertise, experience and infrastructure in the Canadian market.”

Through the premium experience of play, food and music, Topgolf inspires people of all ages and skill levels – even non-golfers – to come together for playful competition. Guests can enjoy point-scoring golf games using microchipped balls that instantly score themselves, showing players the accuracy and distance of their shots on a TV screen in their hitting bay. Topgolf locations are typically three-level, 65,000-square-foot venues that feature a chef-driven menu, top-shelf drinks, big screen TVs and music in climate-controlled hitting bays for all-seasons comfort. Year-round programming includes events for kids and families, social leagues, groups, golf tournaments and instruction.

Cineplex will manage the venues’ day to day operations, working closely with Topgolf to ensure the best guest experience in Canada. Predominately known as Canada’s largest and most innovative film exhibitor, Cineplex operates in the film entertainment and content, amusement and leisure, and media sectors. In addition to welcoming more than 75 million guests annually through its circuit of 164 theatres across Canada, it also owns and operates The Rec Room, Canada’s social destination for eats and entertainment, and an online eSports platform. Cineplex is also one of America’s largest providers of amusement games and arcade solutions.

“Cineplex has decades of experience running high-volume entertainment businesses, which makes them the perfect partner for Topgolf,” said Topgolf International COO Zach Shor. “Their company culture and expertise with real estate, location based entertainment and multi-unit operations will be major assets as we work together to introduce Topgolf in Canada.”

With 33 successful venues already operating in the United States and United Kingdom, Topgolf and Cineplex are planning potential locations in large urban centres across Canada. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

On Friday Team Canada’s Hugo Bernard won medallist honours at the York, Maine, qualifier at The Ledges Golf Club to book his ticket to the 2017 U.S. Amateur at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, Calif. from Aug. 14-20.

The Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., product played 36 holes in 4 under par (71-69), three strokes clear of Montreal native Joey Savoie whose 1 under par 143 secured the second qualifying spot available.

Bernard has had some impressive finishes in 2017. He was T7 at the South American Amateur in January and T9 at the 2017 Terra Cotta Invitational. Most recently he was tied for third at the Murat Cup International Men’s Championship of France in May.

Savoie finished tied for second at the prestigious Monroe Invitational in June. A senior at Middle Tennessee University Savoie had a 72.1 stroke average this season with the Blue Raiders.

Richmond, B.C., product Cris Crisologo won medallist honours at the Cle Elum, Wash., qualifier at 4 under par (69-71) at Rope Rider Golf Course on July 6 to book his ticket to the U.S. Amateur.

Click here for the full York Qualifier leaderboard and here for the Cle Elum, Wash., results.

Canadian Blair Bursey carded a 1-over-par 73 in the final round of the Sahalee Players Championship to finish T4 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.

The Gander, NL, product had four birdies and five bogeys to finish at even par for the championship three shots back of winner Chino Hills, Calif., native Sahith Theegala who defeated Australian Min Woo Lee in a playoff.

Bursey, 20, is a junior at the University of Utah Valley. He had two top-10s with the Wolverines this season.

In 2016 Bursey finished T5 at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. He is the two-time defending Newfoundland Amateur Champion.

Calgary native Matt Williams was T19 at 10 over par, one stroke ahead of Kevin Kwon (Pitt Meadows, B.C.) who was T22.

Lawren Rowe (Victoria, B.C.)  finished T45 at 19 over par alongside Emmett Oh from Calgary.

Henry Lee (Coquitlam B.C.) was T49 at 21 over par. One shot ahead of the final Canadian in the field fellow Coquitlam native Team Canada Development Squad golfer A.J. Ewart who finished T52 after a final round 7-over-par 79.

For the full leaderboard click here.

London, Ontario’s Ellie Szeryk carded a 5-under-par 66 at the Garland, Tex., Qualifier to secure a spot in the 2017 U.S. Girls Junior Championship at Boone Valley Golf Club, in Augusta, Mo., from July 24-29.

Szeryk had six birdies and just one bogey on Wednesday at Firewheel Golf Park – Old Course to win medallist honours and finish five strokes clear of Macy Holliday (Dallas, Tex.) and Haley Vargas (Lubbock, Tex.) who carded even par 71’s to also advance.

Ellie is the younger sister of Team Canada Amateur Squad member Maddie Szeryk.

The younger Szeryk advanced to the round-of-64 at the Women’s Western Golf Association Amateur Championship last week, an event her sister went on to win.

Earlier in June Szeryk finished second at the Future Links driven by Acura Quebec Championship at Milby Golf Club after a 4-under-par 69 in the final round and in May she finished 2nd at the Future Links driven by Acura Ontario Championship at Brockville Country Club.

Two other Canadians have already qualified for the 2017 U.S. Girls Junior Championship.

Phoebe Yue advanced from the Merced, Calif., qualifier and Euna Han won medallist honours at the Kent, Wash., qualifier to book her ticket to Boone Valley.

For the full Texas qualifier results click here.

He’s won the Bandon Dunes Championship and now Blair Bursey can add the Hamilton Golf & Country Club Men’s Invitational to his list of amateur victories.

While it was 3 degrees Celsius and spitting rain at home on the rock in Gander, Newfoundland on Monday, the 20-year-old Junior at Utah Valley University played near perfect golf over the famed Harry Colt layout in Ancaster, for a one-stroke victory over travelling partner, Garrett Rank of Elmira and Gajan Sivabalasingham of Stouffville.

“Every one of the 27 holes out there are awesome,” says Bursey, who carded a double-bogey on his second hole of the day, but quickly rebound for birdies on three of the next four holes on Hamilton’s East Course to get himself back in red numbers.

Bursey finished the 27-hole marathon at even par carding nines of 35-36-34 for a total of 105 strokes. He tallied one double-bogey, three bogeys, five birdies and 17 pars as a field of 84 top amateur and senior amateur players teed it up at one of Canada’s finest invitationals. Fourth place went to Simon McInnis of Toronto at 107 followed by Eric Ross of Burlington in fifth.

“I never thought much of winning today. I was just trying to put together some solid shots and I was fortunate to keep the ball in play most of the day,” says Bursey, who took the lead into the final round of the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship last summer, but settled for fifth place in what he calls “a very good learning experience.”

“This is a phenomenal golf course, I can’t say enough about the layout, the views, it’s amazingly manicured. The whole place is first class,” added Bursey, who flew to Toronto last week to practice and travel with Rank.

They played Craigowan GC in Woodstock and The National Golf Club of Canada, as well as a practice round at Hamilton G&CC the day before the invitational. Their next stop is the Monroe Invitational Championship in Pittsford, NY, followed by The Glencoe Invitational in Calgary, AB and the Northeast Amateur Invitational in Rumford, Rhode Island.

“This is a wonderful place with its history and the golf course is fantastic,” says Rank, who was also playing it for the first time. “The shot values are outstanding and the changes in elevation keep you guessing. You really need to work the ball around to get into a good place to score and they have Big Boy par-3s.”

In the Senior Division, Lars Melander of Hidden Lake GC in Burlington outlasted Robert Gibson of Cedar Brae GC in Toronto in a four-hole playoff. Both players finished regulation play at 6 over par for a score of 111.

“Winning is not always easy. This is the first significant senior event I have won,” says Melander, who lost in a playoff just last month at the Burlington G&CC Invitational. “This is one of the top amateur events in Ontario, so to win here is very satisfying. It spurs me on to work harder at my game, so I can keep up with the younger guys,” added the 65-year-old.

Reigning Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion, Garrett Rank, advanced to the semi-finals of the U.S Amateur Four-Ball today at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Rank, (Elmira Ont.) and his partner Patrick Christovich (New Orleans, LA.) defeated Scott Harvey (Greensboro, N.C.) and Todd Mitchell (Bloomington, Ill.) 2 up after 18 holes.

Harvey and White fall to Patrick Christovich and Garrett Rank, 2 up, in the Quarterfinals of the #USFourBall. pic.twitter.com/kj4mBm7ROi

— USGA (@USGA) May 30, 2017

Rank and Christovich will play Clark Collier and Kyle Hudelson tomorrow at 7:00 am EST.

A graduate of the Team Canada Men’s Amateur Squad, Rank, 29, has won the last three Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships. He is currently ranked 104th in the World Amateur Gold Rankings (WAGR).

In the golf off-season Rank works as a full-time referee in the NHL.

For more information on the tournament, including photos and scoring, click here.

Canada’s top student-athlete golfers will descend on Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club in Barrie, Ont., from May 29 – June 1 for the 2017 Canadian University/College Championships.

2017 marks the 15th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best college and university golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.

The Georgian College Grizzlies will host the event this year on the windswept fairways of Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club.

Designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert, the course is known for its combination of classic and links style features in addition to its grassy hollows and signature fescue.

“We are thrilled to welcome the best Canadian student golfers to Tangle Creek. We’re looking forward to a competitive championship, and showcasing our beautiful course,” said host club tournament chair Mackenzie Cuthbert.

Golf Canada prides itself on conducting a top-notch tournament that is the highest level of national competition for college and university golfers in the country.

“The Canadian University/College Championship provides a unique opportunity for the best student-athlete golfers in Canada to compete for a national championship. Golf Canada is proud to conduct this event to showcase the talent from universities and colleges across the country,” added tournament director, Mary Beth McKenna.

In 2016, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds swept the championship, winning all four events. It was the first time in the tournament’s history that a school has won the men’s and women’s team and individual events in the same year.

Calgary’s Scott Secord went wire-to-wire to win the men’s division by four strokes at 11-under par and Kat Kennedy of Okotoks, Alta., claimed victory on the women’s side by four shots at 12-over par.

UBC returns to the tournament having won 11 women’s and five men’s titles—including three of the last four.

Georgian College will look to draw upon the magic of the University of Manitoba Bisons—the last host club to win a team title—when they captured the men’s division championship in 2014 at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg.

The 72-hole stroke play competition will feature 19 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams from across the country vying for the national championship titles.

Following the third round, the field will be reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams, in addition to any individuals within 15 shots of the lead. Additional information regarding the 2017 championship, can be found here.

FAST FACTS

UBC is the defending champion on both the men’s and women’s side.

Scott Secord, of Calgary, Alta., is the defending men’s medallist.

Kat Kennedy of Okotos Alta., is the defending women’s medallist.

UBC has won the most women’s titles with 11 and the most men’s championships with 5.

The individual men’s and women’s champions receive exemptions into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, respectively.

The top three individual men and top three individual women earn the right to represent Canada at the 2017 Summer Universiade Games in Taipei City, Taiwan, from Aug. 19-30.

For pairings and additional information, click here.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club was designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert.

6,307 yards, CR/Slope: 69.7/131.

Course record of 64 was set in 2011 by Keir Smith.

In 2016, Tangle Creek hosted Golf Ontario’s Junior Boys Match-Play and the PGA of Canada’s Seniors Championship.

In 2003 Golf Digest named Tangle Creek the Best New Golf Course in Canada.

MEN’S TEAMS
Brock University Badgers
Concordia University Stingers
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Les Patriotes de l’UQTR
Queen’s University Gaels
Universitie du Montreal Carabins
Universitie Laval Rouge et Or
University of Alberta Golden Bears
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Guelph Gryphons
Universit of Manitoba Bisons
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs
University of Windsor Lancers
Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks

WOMEN’S TEAMS
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Queen’s University Gaels
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Universitié du Montreal Carabins
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs

To view the full list of teams and other information, click here.

Emily Leung and Chris Crisologo—both British Columbia natives and students at Simon Fraser University—captured their respective NCAA Division II individual titles on Tuesday at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championship.

Leung (Richmond) carded a tournament-low 70 to open the tournament with a comfortable lead, eventually leading to a six stroke victory over teammate Kylie Jack. The Simon Fraser University Clan also defended the women’s team title, winning by a margin of 19 strokes at Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.

On the men’s side, Crisologo (Richmond) closed with an even-par 71 to finish at 5-under par (70-67-71), hanging on for a two-stroke victory over Western Washington’s Chris Hatch. The win marks Crisologo’s first individual victory in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

Click here for women’s scoring.
Click here for men’s scoring.