FRANCE – Canada’s trio of Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont., finished in tie for seventh place at the 2022 World Amateur Team Championship in France this week.

The Canadians combined for a total score of 2-under-par on the tournament and were lead by Rivers who finished T10 in the Espirito Santo individual competition. The 17-year-old Rivers fired rounds of 75-70-71-69 to close her championship at 1-under-par.

Kim was T33, while Gal finished T64 in 164-player field which included representatives from 56 countries.

The top-10 result matches Canada’s efforts from the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship where Maddie Szeryk, Jaclyn Lee and Naomi Ko teamed up for a seventh place finish.

Sweden won the Espirito Santo Trophy for the third time on a tiebreaker over the hard-charging USA at the 29th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche on Saturday.

The Swedes and Americans tied at 13-under par 559 but after comparing non-counting scores, a 1-over-par 73 from Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist was one stroke better than Rachel Kuehn’s 74 giving Sweden the gold medal and the USA the silver. One stroke behind at 560, Germany and Japan tied for the bronze-medal position.

Ingrid Lindblad, ranked No 2 in the world, fired a 3-under 69 and Meja Ortengren added a 2-under 70 as Sweden made up five strokes on Germany, who held the 54-hole.

“Yesterday we were on our way to good scores (at Le Golf National), and we lost everything in the end,” said Sweden’s head of delegation Fredrik Wetterstrand. “Today, everything went our way, our scores and the other team’s scores. I admit it was a little lucky today. Our team played really well. They were fighting hard on the course, and they did it together”

In winning its first medal since capturing bronze in Turkey in 2012, Sweden rebounded from a disappointing fourth-place position in Round 3 after holding the 36-hole lead.

“I knew pretty much all day that I had a counting score,” said Lindblad. “We knew that after yesterday at Le Golf National we would have to go for it whether we finished second or 14th. Meja made about a seven-footer for par on the 18th which was so important for us. That was great.”

The USA, which began the day four strokes behind Germany, battled its way to a one-stroke lead on the tee of the 72nd hole after a birdie on the 17th by No.1-ranked Rose Zhang.

Zhang, a member of Stanford University’s 2022 NCAA Women’s Division I Championship team, missed the green with her approach on 18 and could not convert a par-saving putt that brought on the tiebreaker. She finished with a 3-under 69 and Stanford and USA Curtis Cup teammate Rachel Heck shot 70.

“There is obviously that tinge of disappointment,” Zhang said. “On that last putt, I actually hit a really good putt exactly where I wanted but it just didn’t go in the hole. It was disappointing to end that way, but I am really proud of how we fought back on the last day.”

Germany could not find its form of Round 3 and posted a fourth-round 145 left them tied with Japan, who held a short-lived lead early in the round based on a 4-under 68 from Mizuki Hashimoto, the 2021 Asia Pacific Amateur champion. Teammates Saki Baba, the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, and Mika Ueta both shot 70.

Helen Briem led Germany with an even par 72 and Celina Rosa Sattelkau shot 73.

“It wasn’t our day, but the girls kept fighting,” said Germany captain Pia Gassner, who played in the WWATC in 2008 and 2010. “It was so close that we knew we needed to make birdies, but we just couldn’t make them. We didn’t lose the gold today; we won the bronze.”

Spain, who held a late lead, was fifth at 561, Chinese Taipei was sixth at 566, Canada and Scotland tied for seventh at 570 and the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea tied for ninth at 572.

The winning team receives custody of the Espirito Santo Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship in Dubai, UAE, in October of 2023. Members of the winning team receive gold medals; members of the second-place team receive silver medals; and members of the third-place teams receive bronze medals.

Although there is no official recognition, Sweden’s Ortengren, Germany’s Briem and the USA’s Zhang tied for the low individual score at 7-under-par 279.

THORNHILL, Ont – Charles Fitzsimmons could not have scripted a better homecoming if he tried.

The North York, Ont. product carded an even-par 70 to win the 2022 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at his home course, The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont.

“It’s a dream come true,” said Fitzsimmons.

With the win, the 35-year-old defends his title from 2021 at Fort McMurray Golf Club in Fort McMurray, Alta., and once again etches his name in the President’s Cup.

“[This one] feels even better,” said Fitzsimmons. “To do it here, to defend… it’s hard to put into words right now, it’s still kind of sinking in but it’s pretty special. This place has meant so much to me, to my family and to be able to win here is just awesome.”

Fitzsimmons grabbed a share of the lead in Tuesday’s opening round and didn’t falter. A steady diet of birdies and pars outweighed the few bogeys he made en route to the national championship. Rounds of 68, 67, 70 and 70 – all even par or better – totalled for a score of 5-under-par 275 and a five-stroke triumph.

On Friday, the lead slipped down to no less than three strokes, but even at that, Fitzsimmons says he was feeling the nerves.

“There were moments where I felt really calm and in control and good, and then moments where I felt nervous and a little more uncertain about how things were going to go,” said Fitzsimmons. “It was definitely a bit of a mental grind at times but, again, I just always felt the warmth and the support from the Club and there’s so many great members here, it was able to bring me back.”

With the win, Fitzsimmons ears an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

Curtis Markusson was crowned champion of the Men’s Mid-Master division – a subdivision for players 40 and over – and with it, was awarded the Canadian Men’s Mid-Master Trophy.

“Well, I feel old, but also it feels great because like I said earlier, it takes a thousand swings to get here, and it’s on the bucket list so it’s quite emotional,” said Markusson.

Admittedly, it wasn’t the 41-year-old’s best round of golf, but he held on to win by one stroke over Rob Couture (Dallas, Texas) and Mike Dinner (Burlington, Ont.). Markusson says he knew exactly where he stood in crunch time.

“We’re leaderboard watchers whenever you’re in the thick [of things],” said the Gimli, Man. native. “We figured we have to grind in, and we saw some mistakes and knew that we’d just have to bring it in, but the stressful three pars coming in isn’t easy.”

Markusson got up-and-down for par out of the greenside bunker on No. 17 and rolled in a two-foot par putt on No. 18 to clinch the title.

Warren Sellors, of Hudson, Que., finished as this year’s runner-up at even-par on the tournament. Sellors’ 4-under-par 66 in Wednesday’s second round matched the low score of the week and propelled him up the leaderboard. He closed the competition with a 1-under 69 to vault into second place.

Brett Nymeyer (+2), Ryan Tsang (+3) and Barrett Jarosch (+4) round out the top five. The top-10 finishers and ties will earn a direct exemption into the 2023 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship at a location to be determined. 

Earlier in the week, On Wednesday, Team Ontario claimed the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy as champions of the Interprovincial Team competition. The victory marked the sixth consecutive provincial title for Ontario and 16^th in the 29-year history of the team event.

For full results click here.

THORNHILL, Ont. – The rain came and went on Thursday at The Thornhill Club, but, as it has all week, Charles Fitzsimmons’ lead remained through three rounds of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO.

Fitzsimmons didn’t even make it to the fairway on No. 1 before the rain started coming down. It was relentless, but so was he. Through the downpour, Fitzsimmons made a pair of birdies in his opening three holes to increase his lead to six shots in that moment. Bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7 offset the early birdies to re-establish the four-stroke lead that the defending champion will hold going into tomorrow’s final round.

“It brought me back to being a kid out there. No one would want to play, so I had the course to myself,” said Fitzsimmons of the heavy rain in the early stages of his round.

“I really just tried to hit a golf shot, then try to hit another and was fortunate enough to hit a couple of good ones and make some putts. Honestly, kind of a little surprised that it got off to such a good start in such tough conditions but that was nice.”

Fitzsimmons, who was born in North York but has since relocated to London, Ont., not only has an advantage on the golf course going into the final 18 holes, but off the playing surface as well. The Western University alumnus graduated with a PhD in Sports Psychology and now works as a Mental Performance Coach. If there’s anyone that can block out tomorrow’s noise, Fitzsimmons is as safe a bet as they come.

“It’s been a huge part of my development as a player and what’s helped me to get better over time and to be bale to stay calm and focused under pressure so that I can get some wins and play well in these bigger events,” said the 2021 Men’s Mid-Am champion. “There’s nothing that makes me happier than be able to coach somebody and help them to play better, but obviously it helps my own game too so it’s kind of nice that way.”

Fitzsimmons shot an even-par 70 on the day and will vie for his second consecutive Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship on Friday.

Ryan Tsang and Curtis Markusson are the men chasing him. Tsang also carded an even-par 70 to remain four strokes back of the lead. The Thornhill, Ont., native got out to a bumpy start, making bogeys on holes 1 and 6, but Tsang found his mojo with birdies on 8 and 9.

“Early in the day was lots of rain, so I tried to keep it together [and] not get too wet,” said Tsang. “Overall, played pretty good; parred every single hole on the back nine, really big par on 15 and really big par on 18.”

As for his game plan tomorrow: “Just go out there and have fun.”

Markusson is five off the lead following a one-over par 71. The Gimli, Man., native posted two bogeys, one birdie and 15 pars in the third round. He, too, is just looking to have fun on the golf course tomorrow.
“I just prefer playing golf and the competition. It’s such a good atmosphere and there’s so many great players across the country […] If you can’t get excited for this in the game of golf at any time of day, you shouldn’t be golfing,” Markusson laughed.

The 40-year-old holds a four-stroke advantage in the Men’s Mid-Master division – a subdivision for players 40 and over. Mike Dinner is in second place, four strokes shy of Markusson’s lead.

On Wednesday, Team Ontario claimed the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy as champions of the Interprovincial Team competition. The victory marked the sixth consecutive provincial title for Ontario and 16^th in the 29-year history of the team event.

Quick links:
Leaderboard
Tee times
Course details
Championship history

THORNHILL, Ont. – Team Ontario captured the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy as interprovincial champions at the 2022 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO. In its 29-year history, Ontario has now captured the title a record 16 times.

The trio of Cam Burke, David Lang and Brett Nymeyer combined for a total score of 3-over-par to edge Alberta by a single stroke on Wednesday at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill. Ont. It is the fifth time since the beginning of the event in 1992 that the province has won the trophy on home soil.

Charles Fitzsimmons continued to pace the field in round two as he seeks to defend his national title. For the second consecutive day, the 35-year-old handled his own through difficult conditions and challenging pins at The Thornhill Club, firing a 3-under-par 67 to extend his lead to four at the midway mark of the championship.

A pair of birdies on the front nine kickstarted Fitzsimmons’ round and an encore was delivered on No. 15 by way of an eagle to get the hometown favourite to 3-under on the day.

Curtis Markusson, Ryan Tsang and Warren Sellors made the biggest splashes on Wednesday, each carding rounds of 4-under par 66 to jet up the leaderboard and back into contention. Markusson and Tsang are T2 at 1-under par on the tournament, while Sellors creeped 37 spots up the standings into a tie for fifth.

A bogey to start the day set Markusson back to 4-over-par on the tournament, but that was as far back as the Gimli, Man., native would fall. The 40-year-old converted on seven birdie putts thereafter – including six in an 11-hole stretch – to reposition himself in the thick of the action.

“Just keep going, and kind of forget about the good things as soon as they happen and just think you’re still grinding to try to make the cut,” said Markusson about his hot stretch. “You know, there’s a lot of good players out here and you never know what can happen; a couple of bad swings or a couple of good swings, either way, so you just stayed focused, one shot at a time. You versus you is the mentality basically to play well.”

Markusson, who has relocated to Winnipeg, Man. where he plays at St. Charles Country Club, says lots of green and lots of fairways were the key to his low round today. Monday’s cancelled practice round was taxing for most of the players in the field, but Markusson saw it as a glass half full.

“If you see too much sometimes you get too in your head and you don’t see enough it’s sometimes a good fresh run,” he said. “You visualize it a bit more and you come out the next day and you’re visually set which is nice.”

Markusson’s 66 also gives him the lead in the Mid-Master division – a subdivision for players 40 and over.

Tsang, a native of Thornhill, Ont., capped off a 4-under-par stretch between holes 3-8 with an eagle on the par-5 8^th. Bogeys on Nos. 12 and 14 put a halt on his round, but a pair of birdies down the stretch vaulted him back into a tie for second.

Sellors, out of Hudson, Que., was bogey-free in round two. The runner-up in Quebec’s Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship birdied holes 1, 6 and 8, before dropping a final birdie putt on No. 17 to settle into the top-5 heading into the final two rounds of the championship.

After Wednesday’s second round, the field was cut to the low 70 players and ties, including the low 15 players in the Mid-Master division. Round three is scheduled to tee off at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday.

Quick links:
Leaderboard
Tee times
Course details
Championship history
Curtis Markusson interview

THORNHILL, Ont. – Mother Nature put a damper on Monday’s practice round, but skies were clear as day for the opening round of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, on Tuesday at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont.

Charles Fitzsimmons used the home course advantage conveniently, carding a bogey free, 2-under-par 68 to grab a share of the lead.

“It was a really, really good day,” said Fitzsimmons. “The pins were in some really good spots and the wind was blowing for most of the round so it was a challenge. Felt fortunate to be able hit some good spots and be able to play a pretty solid round.”

The 35-year-old knows how to win this tournament. In 2021, his final round 67 propelled him into the winner’s circle at Fort McMurray Golf Club and with a lot of golf left to play, Fitzsimmons knows it’s not about how you start the tournament, it’s how you finish.

The Western University graduate played his junior golf at The Thornhill Club and won a club championship here in 2005. Today, his status remains active at the Club as an out-of-town member. Results aside, Fitzsimmons says he’s just excited to be back home.

“This place is really, really special to me,” said Fitzsimmons. “It’s been a huge part of my life in golf and any chance I get to compete here is such an amazing opportunity. To be able to compete here as the defending champion is pretty special, so I’m pretty happy just being able to be here and enjoy it and to play like today was just icing on the cake.”

Fitzsimmons made consecutive birdies on holes 17 and 18, his ninth and tenth holes of the day, and the rest of his scorecard was clean as a whistle.

Zachary Hallborg of Welland, Ont. matched Fitzsimmons’ low score of the day, rolling in six birdies to earn a stake of the lead. Hallborg, who plays out of Cardinal Lakes Golf Club, caught fire in the early stages of his round, making five birdies and two pars through a seven-hole stretch, but dropped a few strokes coming in.

Steven Jackson and Brett McKinnon fired rounds of 1-under-par 69 and sit one shot back of the leaders ahead of Wednesday’s second round. Jackson’s five birdies on the day were tied for the second most behind Hallborg.

Three-time champion Garrett Rank is tied for fifth after an even-par 70. Joining Rank in the T5 position are Sam Harris, Ryan Sevigny and Jesse Galvon.

John Walsh leads the Mid-Master division – a separate division for players 40 and over – by one stroke. The Prince Edward Island native shot a 1-over-par 71 in the opening round.

Nova Scotia owns a one-stroke advantage in the Interprovincial Team competition over Alberta and Ontario. McKinnon’s 1-under and Leon Carter’s 3-over contributed to the total team score of 2-over-par 142. The team event will conclude following tomorrow’s second round with the winner being award the Bruce Forbes Trophy.

Quick links:
Leaderboard
Tee times
Course details
Championship history
Charles Fitzsimmons interview

THORNHILL, Ont. – The 35^th playing of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, will play host to the top men’s amateur golfers in the country over the age of 25 this week at The Thornhill Club in Thornhill, Ont.

Monday’s practice round was spoiled by inclement weather, but all looks clear for a 7:24 a.m. start to round one on Tuesday morning. The national championship will conclude on Friday, August 26, where champions will be crowned in the Men’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions, alike.

“The excitement continues to build around this year’s Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur championship,” said Tournament Director Adam Cinel. “An exceptional field of talent has joined us this week in Thornhill, and we expect they’ll bring the best out of each other as they compete for this prestigious title.”

The Thornhill Club, in their 100^th year of operation, has a rich history in championship play having previously hosted the 2014 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, the 2006 Canadian University/College Championship and the 2009 Toronto Star Women’s Amateur. In addition, the Stanley Thompson design was the site that played host to 1945 Canadian Open where Byron Nelson claimed his remarkable 11th victory in a row.

“The Thornhill Club is extremely excited to host the 2022 Canadian Men’s Mid-Am Championship, especially during our Centennial year,” said Todd McGrath, Head Golf Professional & Interim General Manager at The Thornhill Club. “The course is in excellent condition, and our Stanley Thompson design awaits some great play. All the best to the players and we look forward to crowning a champion at the end of the tournament.”

The inaugural Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, held in 1987, was won by Graham Cooke at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Île-Bizard, Qué. At the time, the tournament was played in the form of a match play competition, but in 2007, Golf Canada reverted to stroke play – a format that has since stuck.

The tournament is a 72-hole stroke play event, with a 36-hole cut to the low 70 players and ties. In the event of a tie at the end of four rounds, there will be a hole-by-hole playoff immediately following completion of 72 holes. The Mid-Amateur division will run concurrently with the Mid-Master division for players 40 and older. The Mid-Amateur champion will earn an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Interprovincial Team championship will return this year following two years of cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Ontario are the reigning champions, having bested Québec by 12 strokes in 2019 to claim the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy. The team competition, first held in 1992, has been won a record 15 times by Ontario, including five in a row dating back to 2015.

A full field of 156 players is expected, headlined by three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion, Garrett Rank. The Elmira, Ont. native won the event three years in a row between 2014 and 2016. Rank, an official in the National Hockey League, also finished as the runner-up in 2019. Following the week in Thornhill, the 34-year-old will join Johnny Travale and A.J. Ewart as part of Team Canada for the World Amateur Team Championships in Paris, France, August 29 – September 3. 

Defending champion Charles Fitzsimmons will be returning home to familiar territory this week. The 35-year-old played his junior golf at The Thornhill Club and won a club championship on these grounds in 2005. Fitzsimmons also has a University/College national championship to his name, from his time at Western University.

2021 Mid-Master champion Glenn Robinson is in the field this week and will bid to successfully defend his title at The Thornhill Club. The Middle Sackville, N.S., native defeated Ben Bandura in a playoff last year to capture the 40 and over title.

Other notable winners of the Men’s Mid-Am include Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que., who won it seven times between 1987 and 2002 and Stu Hamilton of Brampton, Ont., who won it on four separate occasions between 1990 and 1994. Together, the pair captured 11 of the first 20 championships played since the event was established in 1987.

Quick links:
Player list
Tee times
Schedule of events
Course details
Championship history & past champions

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont – Team British Columbia did it again, completing the three division sweep at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games at Legends-on-the-Niagara (Battlefield Course) in Niagara Falls, Ont.

For the third time in four attempts since the inaugural golf tournament in 2009, B.C. took home all the gold that was at stake. A 27-stroke victory earned them top honours in the newly introduced mixed team division, while Cooper Humphreys of Vernon, B.C. and Tina Jiang of Richmond B.C. claimed the gold medals in their respective individual divisions.

The hardware didn’t end there for the west coast champions. Surrey B.C.’s Lauren Kim earned silver medalist honours as the runner-up in the individual female division, finishing three strokes back of her teammate Jiang. B.C.’s 18 medals are the most out of any province since golf was introduced at the multi-sport event.

Ontario medaled in each of the three divisions: Carlee Meilleur of Landsdowne, Ont. captured the bronze in the individual female competition, Peter Blazevic won bronze in the individual male division and as a team, the province was awarded bronze in the mixed gender division.

Québec’s streak of medals in golf at the Games remained intact with a pair of runner-up finishes: the four-player team was awarded silver in the mixed team division, while Guillaume Paquette seized second place honours in the individual male category. La Belle Province’s medal count in golf at the Games improved to 14.

It was a record-breaking week in Niagara; in each of the four rounds, a record was broken, and new ones were set. The low single-round score for a female at the Games was snapped twice, first by Lauren Kim and then by her teammate Tina Jiang just two days later. Logan Graf rewrote history by posting a 7-under-par 65 to set the new low single-round score ever at the Canada Summer Games. To cap off the historic week, Jiang planted her seed as the new low 72-hole tournament score record holder.

Both the men’s and women’s individual divisions were deadlocked entering Saturday’s final round. Early into the spectacle, Jiang established herself alone at the top and didn’t budge. The 17-year-old played the final 36 holes to near perfection, making only one bogey on her final hole of the tournament. During that stretch, she rolled in 11 birdies to storm past Kim, who she trailed by five strokes after the opening two rounds of competition. Rounds of 69-71-68-66 (-14) earned the B.C. native the gold medal.

“I had so much fun; that’s the most fun I had in a while,” said Tiang. “The other teammates are so amazing, the coaches are amazing too, [it] was such a great experience.”

Humphreys and Paquette’s final round showdown felt more like a boxing match than it did golf. All day, the pair went pound for pound, shot for shot. Naturally, it came down to the wire. With a one-stroke lead on the 72^nd hole, Humphreys got up-and-down from a greenside bunker to save par and win the gold medal. After an opening round 73, the Team Canada member recomposed himself and fired rounds of 67-67-70 for a total score of 11-under.

“It feels good. I haven’t been playing the greatest lately so it’s nice to get this one,” said Humphreys. “I love competition, I love the pressure and the crowds were awesome; the more people the better for me – I love it.”

Speaking to his poise and calm demeanor on the course, the 16-year-old says he just tries to be himself out there.

“I’ve tried experimenting in different ways, being super serious and not so serious. Now I’ve just found the right middle, just being Coop is the way I play the best.”

The next edition of the Canada Games will take place from Feb. 15 – March 5 when Prince Edward Island hosts the 2023 Canada Winter Games. The next golf tournament will surface at the 2025 Canada Summer Games which are scheduled to take place in Newfoundland and Labrador.

For full results click here.

QUOTES FROM THE WEEK

“I kind of want to break that (record) tomorrow; I know I can definitely go lower,” – Lauren Kim on her record-breaking opening round.

“I remember my buddy Ethan yesterday telling me – I missed an eagle putt like 20 feet, it just lipped out – and he was like, ‘You’re going to get that one back.’ So, there it is,” – Ryan Holwell on his eagle on no. 18.

“I’m hitting the ball better than I ever have so that’s motivating week in and week out, [it] still keeps me coming out here and excited to play. And especially being at this event, Canada Games, that’s something every athlete dreams about all their life so there’s a lot of motivation there and a lot of energy all around the course and the facility, so [I’m] feeling pretty good.” – Ethan Efford on a busy last two weeks that saw him go to B.C. for nationals, back to N.L. for two days and straight to the Games.

“I just hit my tee shot to like 20 feet and I handed him my putter on the green and he set up, looked at it and just drained it. Even just right as he hit it, I was like, “No way, no way,” because it was just on line the whole way – it was just awesome!” – Cooper Humphreys on his experience with a First Tee participant who sank a 20-foot putt for him during the ‘walk with a player’ portion of the activation.

“On the back nine, I was in the zone. I made two eagles, two birds, I lost count of how many under I was today. It was a lot of fun out there today and meeting two new players was a lot of fun.” – Peter Blazevic on his round today.

(August 18, 2022) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce today the six athletes that will represent Team Canada at the 2022 World Amateur Team Championships, conducted by the International Golf Federation in France,  outside the capital city of Paris.
 
Representing Canada on the women’s side will be Lauren Kim, 17, of Surrey B.C., Nicole Gal, 17, of Oakville, Ont, and Brooke Rivers, 17, of Brampton, Ont. The trio will compete for the Espirito Santo Trophy in the 29^th playing of the women’s competition, August 24-27 at Le Golf National (Albatros Course) and Golf de Saint-Nom-de-la-Bretèche (Red Course).
 
Donning the red and white for the men’s team will be Johnny Travale, 21, of Stoney Creek, Ont., Garrett Rank, 34, of Elmira, Ont., and A.J. Ewart, 23, of Coquitlam, B.C. – the three highest ranked Canadian men on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. The Canadian squad will vie for the Eisenhower Trophy during the 32^nd edition of the men’s tournament, also being contested at Le Golf National (Albatros Course) and Golf de Saint-Nom-de-la-Bretèche (Red Course), August 31 – September 3.
 
“The World Amateur Team Championships provide our players with an opportunity to compete against the best amateurs from nations around the world,” said Kevin Blue, Chief Sport Officer at Golf Canada. “This year’s team includes deserving candidates that continue to demonstrate excellence on the international stage, and we are confident they will represent Canada and themselves very well.”
 
Team Canada Stollery Family Women’s Head Coach, Salimah Mussani, will captain the women’s team, while Team Canada Men’s Head Coach, Derek Ingram, will handle coaching duties for the men’s team.
 
Women’s Team Bios:
Nicole Gal, a member of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad for two years running, will lead Team Canada into the World Amateur Team Championships as the highest ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. In June, Gal posted a 5^th place finish at the Women’s Porter Cup. Two weeks later, she led the charge for Team Canada at the 2022 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup, guiding the junior girls to a bronze medal finish in Japan while finishing T4 in the individual competition. Most recently, the Ole Miss freshman reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Junior Girls Championship, played in Bowling Green, KY. The 2021 Canadian Junior Girls champion will look to use her winning nature to power the Canucks to a podium finish in France.
 
Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., also a member of Team Canada’s National Junior Squad, earned a spot on the team with strong performances in 2022. The 17-year-old, who has committed to the University of Texas, is no stranger to the big stage; in June, she competed against the world’s best at the U.S. Women’s Open, posting rounds of 73-75. Her talents were on full display again at the 2022 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship where she demonstrated resilience and poise en route to a 3^rd place finish. Kim is currently competing at the 2022 Niagara Canada Summer Games – where she leads – before crossing the pond to represent her country on the global stage.
 
Brooke Rivers, a two-year member of Team Canada, burst on to the Canadian golf scene in 2019 when she won the NextGen Quebec Championship, and followed that up with another victory at the Coca Cola Junior Championship. That was only the beginning for the Brampton, Ont. native. The following year, Rivers was crowned champion of the prestigious North and South Junior Championship at Pinehurst, which gained her automatic entry into the renown North and South Amateur Championship earlier this season. The 17-year-old also finished second at the Porter Cup and recorded a 5^th place showing at the ORORO PGA Women’s Championship of Canada.
 
Men’s Team Bios
Johnny Travale’s excellence in the classroom reflects his play on the golf course. A Dean’s List nomination in the Fall 2022 semester was a signature highlight for the Stoney Creek, Ont. native in his senior year at the University of Central Florida. An impressive 2021-22 season that featured three top-5 finishes, four top-10 results and five top-20 showings earned him a unanimous nod as an All-AAC performer for the second straight year. His strong play earned an invitation to the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, his first start in a PGA TOUR event. Travale’s 106^th ranking on the World Amateur Golf Rankings is the highest among Canadian men, followed closely by World Amateur teammates Rank and Ewart.
 
Garrett Rank is no stranger to competing for Canada at the World Amateur Team Championships, having done so in 2018 and 2016. Now, he brings that wealth of experience into this year’s edition of the championship and mentor his young teammates in their bid for the Eisenhower Trophy. The Elmira, Ont., native has previously won three Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships – a feat he accomplished in consecutive years – and will seek a fourth Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title prior to departing for Paris. The NHL referee’s 2021 golf season was highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Porter Cup and a 9^th place finish at the U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Rank also boasts the experience of representing Canada in the 2015 Pan-American Games, where he finished 15^th.
 
A.J. Ewart made a lasting impression in his junior year at Barry University, winning seven events to tie his countryman Adam Svensson’s school record for the most victories in a single season. The Coquitlam, B.C. native’s superb play in the collegiate ranks earned him the NCAA DII Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year Award, as well as a PING All-American first team nomination. Ewart received an exemption into the 2022 RBC Canadian Open and will look to continue his strong play in Paris. 

NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – 42 players across ten provinces and one territory will compete for gold at the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games this week at The Niagara Park’s Commission’s Legends-on-the-Niagara (Battlefield Course) in Niagara Falls, Ont.

The Canada Summer Games, returning for the first time since 2017, opened on August 6. The golf portion will run from August 17-20, with gold, silver and bronze medallists being presented at the awards ceremony following Saturday’s final round.

“We’re very excited to be involved in the Canada Summer Games and to be here in the beautiful city of Niagara Falls,” said Tournament Director Josée Matte. “The opportunity to be part of a multi-sport games is such a valuable experience for young athletes, and we know that on and off the golf course, the Games deliver a first-class experience for athletes to create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Québec comes to Niagara as the defending champions across the board. In 2017, Céleste Dao and Christopher Vandette – now both members of Team Canada – won their respective divisions in the individual competition, while also contributing to Quebec’s gold medal in the male and female team events. Anne-Léa Lavoie (Québec, Qué), Malik Dao (Notre-Dame-Île-Perrot, Qué), Léonie Tavares (St-Jérôme, Qué) and Guillaume Paquette (La Minerve, Qué) will look to defend for La Belle Province.

This year, the male and female team divisions will be replaced by a mixed gender division, where two males and two females from each of Canada’s ten provinces will team up in their bid for the gold medal. In each of the four rounds, the low male and the low female scores will count toward that province’s score for the day. The team with the lowest total score after four rounds will be awarded the gold medal.

Prior to Québec’s sweep in 2017, British Columbia owned the top step on the podium. At the inaugural golf tournament in 2009, B.C. won all four gold medals in golf and did it again with a repeat performance in 2013 in Sherbrooke, Qué. The squad from the west coast will once again be sending a strong contingent to the Games, headlined by Lauren Kim (Surrey, B.C.), who played in the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this summer, and Cooper Humphreys (Vernon, B.C.), who won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup.

Yukon will be the lone territory represented at Legends-on-the-Niagara at this year’s Games. 15-year-old’s Drake Cooper and Jase Johnstone, both out of Whitehorse, will tee it up tomorrow.

Notable alumni include this year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur champion and recent U.S. Women’s Amateur runner-up Monet Chun; 2018 and 2019 Canadian Junior Boys champion Christopher Vandette; 2017 Canadian Junior Girls champion Céleste Dao; 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur champion and NCAA DII Individual National Champion Hugo Bernard; 2011 Canadian Women’s Amateur champion and former LPGA Tour member Rebecca Lee-Bentham; and 2010 Canadian Junior Boys champion and 6-time RBC Canadian Open participant Albin Choi.

Doug Carrick was responsible for the design of Legends’ Battlefield Course, which is situated next to the historic site of the War of 1812’s Battle of Chippawa. It includes four signature holes, all wrapped around a beautiful 7 hectares (19 acre) man-made lake. The centrepiece of the facility, which links everything together, is a spectacular clubhouse designed by Canadian Architect Peter Berton. This building truly captures the spirit of the Niagara area, and it embodies NPC’s vision of a world-class golfing venue that exists in concert with Niagara’s natural and historic setting.

In July of 2004, the Battlefield Course played host to the best women golfers in the world when the Canadian Women’s Open was held at Legends. The course continues to host prestigious golf championships, including the Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario stop in both 2012 and 2014 and the Canadian Junior Boys Championship in 2014.

Niagara 2022 marks the 28^th edition of the Canada Summer Games and only the third time in its history that it’s been hosted in Ontario. The last running of the national event was in 2019 in Red Deer, Alta., while the most recent summer edition was held in Winnipeg, Man.  

For tee times and results click here. For other information on the 2022 Niagara Games click here.

CHAMPIONSHIP FAST FACTS

• B.C. has won eight gold medals since golf became part of the Canada Summer Games in 2009 and has the most medals overall with 14 (eight gold, five 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, Qué.) en route to establishing a new Canada Games record with a four-round score of 279 (-13).
• In 2017, Kade David John Johnson set the low single-round score at the Canada Summer Games on the 66; that same year Sarah-Eve Rhéaume set the low single-round score on the female side with a 68.
• 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 138 for male and 140 for female, both set by Québec at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, Man.

After arriving in the U.S. in May, 17-year-old Saki Baba of Japan has shown an affinity for American golf. She made the cut in the U.S. Women’s Open (T-49), was the stroke-play medalist and reached the Round of 32 at the U.S. Girls’ Junior and now is into the final four of the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay.

During Friday’s quarterfinal, Baba shone brighter than the August sunshine at Chambers Bay by defeating 21-year-old Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, Colo., 4 and 3. After the players tied the first five holes, Baba made four straight birdies – including a chip-in on No. 7 – to pull away from Lehigh. Her lead reached 5 up after a highlight-reel approach on the 281-yard par-4 12th, where she spun a wedge from 118 yards into the hole for an eagle.

“Lauren’s drive went to a really good position,” said Baba through a translator. “I just had to make that birdie. That’s where I aimed it, and I didn’t expect it to go in. I’m really happy about it.”

Baba’s opponent in Saturday’s semifinal round will be fellow 17-year-old Bailey Shoemaker of Dade City, Fla., who defeated Leigh Chien of Irvine, Calif., 5 and 3. Like Baba, Shoemaker tied for 49th at the U.S. Women’s Open, and just three weeks ago made a run to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior. In April, she was runner-up with partner Kaitlyn Schroeder in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship in Puerto Rico.

While she didn’t have her best stuff on Friday, making only one birdie compared with the 8-under golf she played in defeating future USC teammate Amari Avery in the Round of 16, the high school senior used crisp ball-striking and timely putting to defeat Chien.

“Pars are your friend, especially on a day like this with tough conditions,” said Shoemaker. “The wind was up and the greens were faster, too, for sure. It was good to be able to just get by, and I know I’m still confident.”

In the first quarterfinal match, Annabel Wilson of Ireland was seeking to continue her winning formula: birdie the par-5 first hole and build an insurmountable lead, this time against Catherine Rao of Camarillo, Calif. Wilson did win the first hole, with a par, but Rao got it back at the third hole and the two were tied for most of the match until Wilson was able to win Nos. 15-17 to clinch the 3-and-1 victory.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever played this course in the wind, and it really picked up on the back nine,” said Wilson, a 21-year-old UCLA senior. “It becomes a completely different strategy. I had to adapt, and I did that well out there.”

The match between Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., and Monet Chun of Canada was tight throughout and included some memorable late fireworks. The players were tied when they reached the par-3 17th hole, where Chun struck the shot of the championship by holing a delicate bunker shot for birdie to take a 1-up lead heading to 18. Navarrosa poured in a gutsy birdie putt to win that hole and extend the match. The players moved on to play the par-4 10th (19th hole of the match), and Navarrosa found trouble off the tee while Chun striped a drive and hit an approach to the middle of the green to seal the victory.

“That was a pretty exciting last couple holes there, and it was definitely intense,” said Chun, who won the Canadian Women’s Amateur earlier this summer. Chun will play Wilson in the first semifinal match on Saturday.