British Columbia’s Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver) and Lawren Rowe (Victoria) teamed up to secure a five-stroke victory on Saturday at the Lima Golf Club en route to capturing the Peruvian International Amateur Championship.

The pair were led by Macdonald—a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad—who paced the field at 7-under par (70-72-68-71), good for a three-stroke cushion and medallist honours.

Macdonald’s strongest performance came during Friday’s third round, where the Purdue University alum carded a bogey-free 68 (-4). It also marks another strong international performance for the second-year Team Canada product, who recently made the round of 16 in both the Australian and New South Wales Amateur Championships.

Rowe, a University of Victoria junior, fired a final-round 71 to solidify his place inside the top-5, finishing tied for third at 3-under par.

B.C. duo of Kevin Carrigan and David Rose won the event back in 2013. Hall-of-Famer Warren Sye took home the hardware in 1997 alongside fellow Ontarian Brian McCann.

Click here for full scoring

With less than two months until the Manulife LPGA Classic, the application period has officially opened for the Manulife Ladies Classic Award. One high-achieving female amateur golfer will be selected by Manulife for a unique opportunity to play with some of the world’s best golfers in the Manulife LPGA Classic from June 8 – 11, 2017 at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ontario.

“The Manulife LPGA Classic is one of only two LPGA tour stops in Canada, so the more Canadian golfers we have participating, the better,” said Marianne Harrison, President & CEO, Manulife Canada. “We are looking for a standout amateur golfer who demonstrates consistently high-performance in the sport, and an individual who sets a positive example of active, healthy living and community engagement.”

To apply, eligible golfers must complete the online application and submit a short video demonstrating their passion, including thoughts on why they should receive an opportunity to compete. The deadline for applications is May 11, 2017.

In 2015, Manulife and tournament owner Sports Properties International approached the LPGA to increase the size of the Manulife LPGA Classic field by six spots to 150 to encourage more Canadian golfers to compete. To deliver on that intention, Manulife created a Canadian-focused sponsor exemption strategy. One element of that strategy was the creation of the Manulife Ladies Classic Award. Last year, Thornhill’s Selena Costabile was the inaugural recipient of the award.

“It’s great to work with partners like Manulife who bring new ideas to the table and care about making a difference in an amateur golfer’s career,” said John Gaskin, Manulife LPGA Classic Tournament Director, Bruno Event Team. “It’s rare to see this kind of opportunity offered on the tour and we’re excited to see who will be joining us and the world’s best in just a few short weeks.”

For full contest details and eligibility, visit www.manulifeclassic.ca/classic-award

Golf Canada conducts 26 championships and qualifiers each season across the country. Notably, eight National Championships are conducted throughout the summer offering opportunities to elite players of all ages to compete on the highest level of amateur golf. 

These Championships cannot be conducted without our valuable Golf Canada member clubs. 

The most reliable rankings in golf are based on merit—best on best athletes competing over the course of a season offers a definitive snapshot of performance consistency.

With that in mind, Canadian golf’s Order of Merit will be getting an overhaul beginning in 2017. Golf Canada set out to enhance Canada’s National Golf Ranking System to improve the accuracy of the rankings used to evaluate player performance at all levels of competition.

In addition to improving on the accuracy of Canada’s Amateur and Junior Orders of Merit, the evaluation system will be more closely aligned with the R&A’s World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).

The improved system and evaluation criteria will award points based on the quality of the event combined with the numbers of participants in the field.

The revamped Order of Merit was tested in a BETA environment during the summer of 2016 to test the changes and determine how they would impact player rankings; to identify and correct perceived flaws in the new proposed system; and ensure that the changes were equitable to all competitors hailing from large, medium and small provinces.

The review and overhaul of the Order of Merit was tasked to a committee that included representatives from Golf Canada and the provincial golf associations along with Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured members Doug Roxburgh and Mary Ann Hayward, a duo well versed in amateur and high performance golf. The final recommendations of the Order of Merit Review Committee were presented to, and approved by, the Provincial Golf Associations prior to the start of the 2017 competitive golf season.

“We went through a very comprehensive review process in evaluating the changes to the National Orders of Merit,” said Dave Stockton, Director of Sport Programs with Golf Canada.  “The BETA testing phase last summer gave us some tremendous insight that we used to make some additional adjustments to the evaluation criteria. At the end of the day, you want the Order of the Merit to be a truly reflective measure of player performance and we think we’ve done that.”

Among the changes are a revised tournament listing for junior and amateur competitions adjusted for quality of event and strength of field as well as a reduction in the number of Order of Merit counting events from 12 to 10 (reduction from 12 to 8 on the Junior Orders of Merit). The Order of Merit point breakdown will now be tiered based on field size with seven tiers that range from 10 or less participants all the way up to 81 or more competitors. As well, Canada’s Men’s and Women’s Orders of Merit will no longer have Junior counting events, regardless of WAGR ranking.

“Reducing the number of counting events and the tiered points breakdown will really challenge players to put a focus on scheduling and choosing events that best meet their age and/or stage of development.  Obviously, higher ranking events will yield the most points,” added Stockton. “As well, removing junior counting events from the Amateur Order of Merit eliminates a perceived advantage from competitors who were additionally counting those events towards our Junior Order of Merit.

Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C. and Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont. topped the respective National Men’s and Women’s Orders of Merit in 2016 while A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. and Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C. topped the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Boys and Junior Girls Orders of Merits.

A link to the 2017 Canadian Golf Order of Merit including points breakdown and tournament standing is available here.

Click here for a full summary of changes.

With Canada 150 celebrations happening in communities from coast-to-coast all year long, the Canadian golf industry has partnered with ParticipACTION in designating Sunday, May 28 as Get Out and Golf Day.

The ParticipACTION 150 Playlist—introduced this year in honour of Canada 150—invites Canadians to participate in 150 activities throughout 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. As part of Get Out and Golf Day, avid players and new enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in a round of golf (No.14 on the Play List), learn more about the sport or take part in golf related activities at golf facilities in their community.

Canadian golf industry partners including the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada (NGCOA), PGA of Canada, Canadian Society of Club Managers, Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and Golf Canada in addition to Canada’s 10 provincial golf associations are all proudly supporting Get Out and Golf Day.

“Partnering with the ParticipACTION 150 Play List in designating May 28 as Get out and Golf Day is a great way to celebrate the tremendous health, social, charity and economic benefits golf delivers in communities from coast-to-coast,” said Golf Canada Interim CEO Jeff Thompson. “We’re proud to work with ParticipACTION and our Canadian golf industry partners to encourage heathy living through sport in honour of this great country.”

Participating golf facilities across Canada will be offering fun golf activities including tournaments, clinics, free golf for juniors, skills contests and more. For NCGOA Canada CEO Jeff Calderwood, the day provides an opportunity for golf facilities to build a connection with golfers and community sport enthusiasts.

“We’re excited to collaborate with our industry partners, ParticipACTION and most importantly the thousands of golf courses across the country as Canadians celebrate our nation’s 150^th Anniversary,” stated Jeff Calderwood, CEO, NGCOA Canada. “There is no better way to develop sense of community than hitting the links with family and friends.”

For new enthusiasts thinking about taking up the game or getting a loved one involved, PGA of Canada professionals at facilities across the country are ready to deliver a quality golf experience to players of all interests and abilities.

“The PGA of Canada is happy to join our Canadian golf industry partners in supporting ParticipACTION’s 150 Play List with Get Out and Golf Day,” said PGA of Canada CEO Gary Bernard. “I encourage everyone from coast-to-coast on May 28 to celebrate golf in Canada and take part in this great initiative.”

The sport of golf is proudly listed on the ParticipACTION 150 Play List in addition to other golf-related activities, disc golf and mini-putt. Whether it’s golf or other recreational activities, ParticipACTION wants Canadians of all ages to get active while celebrating our great country.

“The ParticipACTION 150 Play List is a physical-activity movement, inspiring and motivating Canadians everywhere to move more and sit less, and we are thrilled to have the Canadian golf industry’s support,” said Elio Antunes, President and CEO of ParticipACTION. “Modern life, with busy schedules, sedentary jobs, hours spent in front of screens and a love affair with convenience, has left little room for physical activity in everyday life. The ParticipACTION 150 Play List is helping Canadians sit less and move more by reminding us that being active is part of who we are.”

A snapshot of the Canadian golf landscape reveals an industry worth more than $14.3 billion annually to the Canadian economy. These numbers reinforce the massive financial, charitable, social, tourism and environmental impact golf has in communities across Canada.

As Canada’s most played sport, nearly 5.7 million Canadians enjoy more than 60 million rounds of golf annually at 2,346 golf facilities from coast-to-coast.

Visit golfcanada.ca/golfday for information on golf events occurring across the country on May 28 or use the hashtag #golfdaycanada to share your experiences on Get Out and Golf Day.

MONTREAL – The Québec Golf Federation is proud to announce that Robert Bissonnette was appointed 2017 President at the conclusion of the 96^th edition of the Annual General Meeting held on April 2 at Le Fontainebleau, in Blainville.

He joined the Golf Québec Board of Directors in 2011. First as Secretary-Treasurer, he eventually became Vice-President of the corporation. He also acted as Regional Representative of the OVGA and was Chairman of the provincial Finance and Investments Committee. Still active with the OVGA, he was the regional Secretary-Treasurer from 2008 to 2010 and regional President in 2012 and 2013.

Robert Bissonnette has had a career as a professional accountant in the aerospace sector and currently is a financial consultant to crown corporations and non-profit organizations. He lives in Ottawa with his wife Laurie and they have two married sons, Sorrel and René.

“Golf Québec is a leader in the golf industry,” mentioned Robert Bissonnette. “Aside from introducing new golfers to the game, our mandate is also to increase the number of golf rounds played by existing golfers. To achieve these goals, we challenged ourselves to build new golf communities in the coming years,” he added. “We are convinced that by combining the efforts of all local stakeholders and supporting them with a larger number of Golf Community Coaches, we will be successful at stimulating interest for the game, inciting more sports participants to discover or rediscover golf, and contribute to generating more attendance on golf courses. Close collaboration with other associations that are promoting and developing golf in our industry will be essential”, concluded the new President.

CALGARY, Alta. (Alberta Golf) — Alberta Golf is pleased to announce its competition schedule including host clubs and dates for the 2017 championship season. A total of 13 provincial amateur championships that serve as qualifiers for national amateur championships will be conducted in 2017.

“With outstanding venues throughout the province that will both welcome and test all competitors, we are pleased to announce our 2017 championship schedule,” said Alberta Golf Executive Director/CEO Phil Berube. “As we continue to broaden our competition offering and explore additional formats to attract new competitors, we hope to see more players take advantage of the great value and high caliber events being organized by Alberta Golf.”

Alberta Golf’s provincial amateur championships are proudly supported by Sun Life Financial, Guardian Capital, Scott Venturo Rudakoff LLP, Alberta Sport Connection, adidas Golf Canada, and Titleist & FootJoy.

Championship notes:

Alberta Golf’s championship season kicks off with regional qualifiers throughout May and early June for the Alberta Open, Junior & Juvenile, Mens Amateur and Senior Mens championships. Competitors can also register to qualify for the Glencoe Invitational.

The first championship of the season is the Scott Venturo Alberta Open & Match Play Championships at the Sundre Golf Club, June 19-22^nd. The season will wrap up at the Alberta Mens Interclub Championship at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club on September 7^th. The complete 2017 championship schedule as well as registration information can be found here.

The Alberta Net Amateur Championship will be held at the Lacombe Golf & Country Club, August 30-31^st. This fun two-day competition is a net stableford format and a fantastic introduction to the competitive experience.

The Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru Provincial Event, the Alberta Ladies Team Classic, will be held at Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club on August 1^st. The one-day event is a celebration of the success of all Golf Fore the Cure events held province-wide during the 2017 season. To date, the program’s fundraising efforts have totaled more than $5.9 million for breast cancer research nationwide.

PROVINCIAL AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Alberta Golf conducts 13 provincial amateur championships for annual competition to identify the best golfer in various age and gender categories, welcoming nearly 1,500 competitors each year. Provincial amateur championships are conducted at member facilities on a variety of high quality courses across the province to provide a best in class experience for competitors. Championships service as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships and are delivered by a committed and passionate group of staff and volunteers. Provincial amateur championships are conducted to promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving an inspire future generations of golfers.

Canadian Savannah Grewal can now say she’s one of few juniors to walk away a champion from Augusta National.

The Mississauga, Ont. native rose to the occasion on Sunday under the spotlight of Golf Channel’s live broadcast to capture the Girls 14-15 division at the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. With the grandstands looking on, Grewal overcame the  pressure-packed situation to strike a putt inside five feet, the range needed to secure the one-point victory.

The aspiring LPGA professional plays out of Piper’s Heath Golf Club to a 1.0 Handicap. Her 2016 season included four top-10 finishes at American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events. She also competed in the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour professional event in Ontario.

Grewal punched her ticket to the big event by first advancing through local and sub-regional qualifiers at Fox Valley Country Club in Lancaster, N.Y., before winning the regional qualifier at Baltusrol Golf Club.

High fives all around for Savannah Grewal, winner of the Girls 14-15 Division! ? pic.twitter.com/5uClosw6Bo

— Drive, Chip & Putt (@DriveChipPutt) April 2, 2017

Fellow Canadians Carlee Meilleur (Landsdowne, Ont.) and Mia Wong (Markham, Ont.) also competed in the fourth annual championship amongst the 80 other qualifiers (40 male, 40 female).

Meilleur, competing in the Girls 7-9 division, finished T5 with a total score of 17. Wong ended in ninth place with nine total points in the Girls 10-11 division.

Click here for full scoring.

The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— will be contested on July 22 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., the Saturday prior to the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Learn more here.

A trio of Canadian girls are gearing up to compete in the 2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament week.

Canadians Carlee Meilleur, Mia Wong and Savannah Grewal will be among the 80 qualifiers (40 male, 40 female) vying to be crowned champions of their respective age divisions at the fourth annual national championship.

Carlee Meilleur, from Landsdowne, Ont., will compete in the 7-9 age group. The aspiring LPGA professional won the regional qualifier at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. She credits Brooke Henderson as her hero, and her family’s home on the water made for a compelling story in her feature video.

Markham, Ont. native Mia Wong of the 10-11 age group qualified at the regional qualifier hosted at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., and plays to a 13 Handicap.

Savannah Grewal of Mississauga, Ont., plays out of Piper’s Heath Golf Club and also punched her ticket to the championship alongside Wong at Baltusrol.

Amongst tens of thousands of entrants in 250 qualifying events, all three girls secured top-three spots at their respective local qualifiers, top-two finishes at their sub-regionals, followed by wins at their regional events.

A joint initiative by the United States Golf Association (USGA), the Masters and the PGA of America, the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship is a free nationwide youth golf development program open to girls and boys aged 7-15 – competing in separate divisions in four age categories – focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf and tapping the creativity and enthusiasm of young golfers.

Coverage of the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship will be broadcast live on the Golf Channel on April 2.

The Canadian equivalent—Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event— will be contested on July 22 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., the Sunday prior to the 2017 RBC Canadian Open. Learn more here.

It may be our nation’s 150th birthday but Canada is providing a gift to you.

Courtesy of Parks Canada, all Canadians — and guests too — are encouraged to enjoy the beautiful and majestic landscapes of our nearly 10,000,000-square-kilometre country.

Any individual, group or family just needs to sign up for a free 2017 Discovery Pass, providing unlimited opportunities to enjoy National Parks, National Historic Sites and National Marine Conservation Areas across the country. (Normally, entry into one of Canada’s National Parks costs anywhere from $8 to $10 per day.) Each pass, which expires Dec. 31, 2017, is valid for everyone arriving in the same vehicle at a national park, or arriving together at a marine conservation area or historic site.

At some locations, the Discovery Pass may not cover separate fees for activities, tours, camping or parking. Green fees fall under that category too, but the experience of golfing in a National Park can be priceless. Courses within National Parks of Canada include the following:

Cape Breton Highlands (Cape Breton Highlands National Park, NS)
Clear Lake Golf Course (Riding Mountain National Park, MB)
Fairmont Banff Springs (Banff National Park, AB)
Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (Jasper National Park, AB)
Fundy National Park Golf Course (Fundy National Park, NB)
Gros Morne Golf Course (Gros Morne National Park, NL)
Revelstoke Golf Club (Mount Revelstoke National Park, BC)
Twin Rivers Golf Course (Terra Nova National Park, NL)
Waskesieu Golf Course (Prince Albert National Park, SK)
Waterton Lakes Golf Course (Waterton Lakes National Park, AB)

Several other layouts — though not inside a National Park — are located within minutes by car, including Radium Hot Springs (Kootenay National Park, B.C.), Club de golf St-Ignace (Kouchibouguac National Park, N.B.), Oak Bay G&CC (Georgian Bay Islands National Park, ON), Erie Shores G&CC (Point Pelee National Park, ON), Stanhope G&CC (Prince Edward Island National Park, PEI)and Smuggler’s Glen Golf Course (Thousand Islands National Park, ON).