GUELPH, Ont. – A fierce competitor on the course. A warm and generous person off of it. “Outside of the ropes, I’m not sure I ever saw her without a smile on her face.” That is how Grace Glofcheskie was described by Brandon McLeod, the head golf coach at the University of Guelph. Glofcheskie played five seasons on the Gryphons varsity golf team (2010-2014) and this past Fall came back on a part-time basis to serve as an assistant coach and help out with some of the current student-athletes on the women’s team. Grace tragically passed away early Sunday morning at the age of 24.

When describing Grace’s impact on the Gryphons varsity golf program over the past half decade or so, there are several analogies that seem to fit perfectly. In basketball terms, she was the point guard of the team. An extension of the coaching staff both on the course and at the range; someone who worked hard on her own game, yet always found the time to offer help to teammates as well. To use a family analogy, she was the mother of the team. The one who was caring and welcoming to both rookies and veterans alike. The one who constantly put others before herself. And the one who provided the type of leadership qualities that ultimately led to her being described as “the glue of the team for the past five years” by her head coach.

Who is going to organize the team party at the end of the season? Grace.

Where’s everyone meeting up before heading to the year-end Athletic Banquet? Grace’s house.

When head coach Bob Wanzel announced he was retiring, who was the one who put together a picture book to give to him at his retirement dinner? Take a guess.

Grace Glofcheskie’s impact on and off the golf course will never be forgotten by all of those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with her. In 2010, Grace joined the Gryphons varsity golf team as an eager-to-learn rookie from Arnprior, Ontario (just outside of Ottawa) who was full of energy. “Even at that young age, you could already see she had a lot of great leadership qualities” said head coach Brandon McLeod. “She was a sponge for information and each and every year she took a few steps forward to get better.” While improving her own game and pushing herself to be her best was certainly high on her list of priorities, it wasn’t at the top of the list for Grace. That spot was reserved for the greater good of her team as a whole. Towards the end of her career, Glofcheskie battled injuries that limited her in both practice and in competition. Head coach Brandon McLeod recalls a forearm injury that resulted in Grace barely being able to grip a club. Coach McLeod told her that she should not practice and that it was ok if she missed out on the team’s competition the next day. Grace, who McLeod added “never complained once,” practiced anyways and was on the course the very next day. For her, it was simple decision to try to play through the pain…she did not want to let her team down.

On the course, Glofcheskie was hard to miss with her long blond hair and glowing personality. That same personality made her a tremendous employee in the Gryphons fitness centre where she worked as a Weight Room Supervisor from September of 2010 until December of 2013. Fitness Program Supervisor Lynne Skilton-Hayes adds, “We were truly blessed to have Grace as part of our team. She had an excellent work ethic, was reliable and had a very genuine desire to help people.”

The Grace Olivia Glofcheskie Memorial Fund has been established by Grace’s loving family to honour the memory of their daughter and sister. click here to to visit the Memorial Fund

Richmond Hill, Ont. – The Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is pleased to announce Michelle Kim as the recipient of the 2015 Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award.

Kim, an 18-year old CJGA member living in Surrey, B.C. is the first British Columbian to earn the honorable distinction for an award that recognizes sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment in the game of golf.

The award is named after Helena Harbridge, an outstanding junior golfer and CJGA alum that passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University.

“I’m extremely proud and honored to be named the recipient of the Helena Harbridge Award this year,” said a thrilled Michelle when notified of the award. “Junior golf has not only taught me goal setting, it has taught me honesty, patience, sportsmanship, and etiquette. It has brought out my inner competitiveness.”

Taking a similar path to that of Helena, Kim is a freshman at the University of Idaho. She is also a member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team, after spending one season on their Development Squad. Looking into the future, Kim sees herself turning professional after graduating university with the goal of playing on the LPGA Tour.

“I’ve always had big goals and dreams for golf. This game requires commitment and dedication, and golf has taught me both of those things.”

Kim has had an exceptional CJGA playing career amassing nine top 5 finishes and six top 10 finishes since 2011. She had a notable win earlier this year at the CJGA Western Canadian Junior Championship.

Winners of the Helena Harbridge Sportsmanship Award will receive an elegant custom trophy courtesy of Lorry Moffatt and Classic Awards as well as a complimentary life time membership to the CJGA.

2006 – Lauren Bowerman-Ritchie (Ontario)

2007 – Juanita Rico (Alberta)

2008 – Jocelyn Alford (Alberta)

2009 – Thea Hedemann (Saskatchewan)

2010 – Shannon Lee Greenshields (Quebec)

2011 – Marlies Klekner-Alt (Ontario)

2012 – Molly Molyneaux (Prince Edward Island)

2013 – Genevieve Stelmacovich (Ontario)

2014 – Bria Jansen (Alberta)

2015 – Michelle Kim (British Columbia)

—

Helena Harbridge Award

The Helena Harbridge Award is an award dedicated to the memory of Helena Harbridge, a CJGA alumna, who passed away in 2006 during her freshman year at West Georgia University.  The award exemplifies the traits that Helena exhibited throughout her career, both on and off the course: sportsmanship, dedication, and contribution to the game of golf. Each year, the Canadian Junior Golf Association selects one female junior member for this award.  The award recipient will be one that holds the same characteristics that Helena exemplified. The recipient of the award will also receive a lifetime membership with the CJGA.

VAUGHAN, Ont. – Thornhill Golf & Country Club has announced the hiring of a new General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, an appointment that’s certain to attract notice across the country.

Thornhill Golf & Country Club, at the north end of the Greater Toronto Area, will welcome Joseph Murphy as its GM and COO, starting in March 2016. Mr. Murphy has served as GM and Chief Executive Officer at Toronto’s St. George’s Golf & Country Club for the last seven-and-a-half years, and other local private clubs prior to that.

“The members of our club are, basically, ecstatic with this appointment,” said Thornhill Club President Adrian Hartog. “We have been extremely fortunate to have had Michael Chadsey manage our facility for the last four years, and we wish him a long and happy retirement. We’re excited and confident that Joe Murphy will continue to build on a fine legacy and history, and take our Club to an even higher level of service in the years to come.”

Thornhill G&CC was founded in 1922, and remains in its original location on the west side of Yonge Street, north of downtown Toronto. It has recently completed a $5 million expansion and renovation project, augmenting and improving its facilities and services. The Club’s nationally-ranked 18-hole championship golf course was designed by renowned Canadian course architect Stanley Thompson.

Joe Murphy is certainly no stranger to historic Canadian golf clubs. In addition to two separate management stints at St. George’s, he has also served as GM at Toronto’s Scarboro Golf & Country Club, Islington Golf Club, and Clubhouse Manager at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Ancaster, Ontario.

“I’m just delighted to be moving to Thornhill, and excited by the opportunity to maximize the new facilities and renovations at this outstanding Club,” Mr. Murphy said. “Leaving St. George’s will not be easy, but I’m sure the members there understand that new challenges are energizing, and most club managers know when it’s time to move on. This was an opportunity I couldn’t refuse.”

Joe Murphy

Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., and dual citizen Maddie Szeryk who hails from London, Ont., as well as Allen, Texas, have been recognized as Canada’s top male and female amateur golfers after finishing atop their respective National Orders of Merit for the 2015 season. Charles-Éric Bélanger and Michelle Kim claimed top honours on their respective CN Future Links Junior Orders of Merit.

“We are excited to celebrate our four winners for their performances over the course of the season which led to their successes on both the National Orders of Merit and CN Future Links Junior Orders of Merit,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “These rankings recognize our athletes’ outstanding accomplishments while providing them with a great measuring tool for their continued development. As the National Sport Federation, they provide us with a strong indicator for tracking up-and-coming players and their achievements.”

Hamilton, who in 2016 will spend a second consecutive season as a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, finished with 3,768.46 points in 12 events – almost 1,000 points clear of second place. At No. 112 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, the 22-year-old is one of Canada’s top-ranked talents. The University of Houston Cougar’s 2015 campaign netted him a PING All-America Honourable Mention and selections to the PING All-Central Region Team and the All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) Team. He claimed individual titles at the NCAA’s 2015 Border Olympics and the 2015 NCAA Lubbock Regional before adding Top-20 finishes at the 2015 Investors Group Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship and the 111^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to his season. Hamilton and fellow 2015 National Amateur Squad member Austin Connelly were co-recipients of the Gary Cowan Award after tying for low amateur honours at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.

Kimberley, B.C., native and 2016 National Team member Jared du Toit completed the season in second place on the National Men’s Order of Merit ahead of 2015 Team Canada Development Squad member Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon County, Alta. Fellow Albertan Brett Hogan of Calgary was fourth, while 2016 National Team selection Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver completed the Top-5.

Szeryk – who will return in 2016 as a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad – collected 5,505.42 points over 12 events to top the National Women’s Order of Merit. The 19-year-old is No. 43 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and is No. 1 in Canada. In her first year with the Texas A&M Aggies, she notched seven Top-5 and nine Top-10 finishes in 12 tournaments en route to a First Team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection and Conference Freshman of the Year honours. She finished first in the NCAA with five eagles and second in the nation with 127 birdies. Her 7-under 209 showing at the SEC Championship secured her second place and led the Aggies to the conference team title. Szeryk was a quarter-finalist at the 2015 British Ladies Open Amateur and the 2015 Investors Group Ontario Women’s Amateur champion.

2015 National Team member Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., finished runner-up on the National Women’s Order of Merit, while the 2016 National Amateur Squad’s Josée Doyon from St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., claimed third. Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., joined her 2016 National Squad teammates by finishing in fourth, while Anica Yoo of Port Coquitlam, B.C., was fifth.

Recently-named Team Canada Development Squad member Charles-Éric Bélanger completed the 2015 campaign atop the 18-and-under CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit with 4,855.63 points in 12 events. The 16-year-old from Québec began the season by winning the 2015 Quebec Junior Spring Open before registering a third-place finish at the 2015 CN Future Links Ontario Championship and a runner-up result at the Quebec edition of the championship series for juniors. The highlight of Belanger’s year would come at the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship where he prevailed in a playoff to become the first Quebec native since 1976 to claim the national junior title.

Fellow Quebec native and 2015 Development Squad member Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu was second on the CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit, followed by 2016 members Alexander Smith of Calgary and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C. Maxwell Sear of Unionville, Ont., took fifth place.

A banner year propelled Michelle Kim of Surrey, B.C., to the top of the CN Future Links National Junior Girls Order of Merit with a total of 4,685 points accumulated across 10 events. Now in her freshman year at the University of Idaho, she opened last season by claiming the 2015 CJGA Western Canadian Junior Championship. Kim excelled at the provincial level, capturing the B.C. Women’s Amateur and B.C. Junior Girls titles before translating those victories into success on the national stage by winning the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The 2015 Development Squad member’s achievements garnered her a spot on the 2016 National Amateur team.

Orleans, Ont., native Grace St-Germain – who is returning in 2016 for a second stint with Team Canada’s Development Squad – was second on the 2015 CN Future Links National Junior Girls Order of Merit. Naomi Ko, a product of Victoria, B.C., finished third before graduating alongside Kim to the 2016 National Team. Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que., and Monet Chun from Richmond Hill, Ont., completed the Top-5.

The National Men’s and Women’s Orders of Merit recognize and celebrate the season-long achievements of Canada’s amateur golfing talents. The CN Future Links Junior Boys and Junior Girls Orders of Merit were established to acknowledge and identify Canada’s top junior golfers.

2015 National Men’s Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Blair Hamilton – Burlington, Ont. – 3,768.46
2. Jared du Toit – Kimberley, B.C. – 2,857.83
3. Tyler Saunders – Sturgeon County, Alta. – 2,581.69
4. Brett Hogan – Calgary, Alta. – 2,194.15
5. Stuart Macdonald – Vancouver, B.C. – 1,917.70
6. Josh Whalen – Napanee, Ont. – 1,903.29
7. Eric Banks – Truro, N.S. – 1,820.45
8. Hugo Bernard – Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que. – 1,802.50
9. Garrett Rank – Elmira, Ont. – 1,740.00
10. Austin James – Bath, Ont. – 1,519.87

Full final standings are available here.

2015 National Women’s Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Maddie Szeryk – London, Ont./Allen, Texas – 5,505.42
2. Elizabeth Tong – Thornhill, Ont. – 4,111.00
3. Josée Doyon – St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que. – 3.612.62
4. Naomi Ko – Victoria, B.C. – 2,545.50
5. Anica Yoo – Port Coquitlam, B.C. – 2,085.23
6. Taylor Kim – Surrey B.C. – 1,807.48
7. Michelle Kim – Surrey, B.C. – 1,776.25
8. Sabrine Garrison – Calgary, Alta. – 1,534.86
9. Jaclyn Lee – Calgary, Alta. – 1,303.64
10. Grace St-Germain – Orleans, Ont. – 1,276.13

Full final standings are available here.

2015 CN Future Links National Junior Boys Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Charles-Éric Bélanger – Québec, Que. – 4,855.63
2. Étienne Papineau – St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. – 3,809.50
3. Alexander Smith – Calgary, Alta. – 3,399.29
4. J. Ewart – Coquitlam, B.C. – 3,077.50
5. Maxwell Sear – Unionville, Ont. – 2,987.50
6. Tony Gil – Vaughan, Ont. – 2,902.33
7. Trevor Ranton – Waterloo, Ont. – 2,745.00
8. Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson – Aurora, Ont. – 2,705.00
9. Khan Lee – Surrey, B.C. – 2,623.33
10. Jaewook Lee – Langley, B.C. – 2,512.50

Full final standings are available here.

2015 CN Future Links National Junior Girls Order of Merit – Top-10

1. Michelle Kim – Surrey, B.C. – 4,685.00
2. Grace St-Germain – Orleans, Ont. – 4,272.50
3. Naomi Ko – Victoria, B.C. – 4,202.50
4. Céleste Dao – Notre-Dame-de-L’Île-Perrot, Que. – 3,950.00
5. Monet Chun – Richmond Hill, Ont. – 3,618.66
6. Sarah-Eve Rheaume – Québec, Que. – 3,585.00
7. Hannah Lee – Surrey, B.C. – 3,463.00
8. Chloë Currie – Mississauga, Ont. – 3,325.83
9. Alyssa Getty – Ruthven, Ont. – 3,291.66
10. Alexandra Naumovski – Hornby Ont. – 2,837.50

Full final standings are available here.

Canada’s flagship junior program, CN Future Links, is set to enter its twentieth year of golf on the heels of a season which saw Learn to Play numbers climb to reach record highs.

With the wind at its back, CN Future Links marched forward to hit 7,130 participants in the summer of 2015—up from 2,860 since 2010. Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, Jeff Thompson, credits the national success of the program to strengthened collaboration with program partners.

“The measured success we have achieved with CN Future Links would be not be attainable without the continued support of our partners,” said Thompson. “Together, we have continued to push the needle in terms of evolving the program and growing participation at the grassroots level.”

Nationally, CN Future Links is powered by a team of dedicated supporters, led by title sponsor CN railway. Since 2006, CN has been at the forefront of junior golf in Canada, extending the values of the sport while promoting health and safety to youth to communities across Canada.

Learn to Play, the feature program of CN Future Links, has continued to evolve over its 12 years of existence, most recently with a free mobile app for instructors and a new progress reward from apparel sponsor, Cobra PUMA Golf. Upon completing one of the four stages, participants receive a highly popular Puma hat branded with the CN Future Links stage colour completed (at no cost to the instructor).

The diagram below outlines how each reward aligns with golf’s Long-Term Player Development Model and PGA of Canada’s coaching stream context.

Looking to get a jump on next year’s programming? Learn more about CN Future Links here.

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, members of Golf Canada’s staff rallied their holiday cheer to surprise a local Brampton school with a Christmas miracle. As proud partners of WestJet, Golf Canada adopted a Brampton school into the Golf in Schools program by gifting the full elementary kit, equipped with the teacher-friendly Learning Resource.

For our #WestJetChristmas miracle we gave #GolfinSchools to 750 kids in Brampton. @WestJet for a terrific program. https://t.co/8R236oBxVX

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) December 9, 2015

Golf Canada’s miracle is part of WestJet’s global campaign this year that is spreading the holiday spirit through 12,000 miracles—the number of WestJet employees. Today’s miracle also marks the 161^st Golf in Schools adoption so far this year, which is the primary avenue for schools to receive the program.

Golf in Schools introduced a brand new curriculum this year, incorporating a Life Skills component that carefully integrates the eight skills throughout all lesson plans. Also new this year, Golf in Schools welcomed Canadian PGA TOUR star Graham DeLaet as an ambassador of the program, which is now available to elementary, intermediate and high schools across the country.

Click here to adopt a school in your community.

Click here to learn more about the #WestJetChristmas campaign.

Golf Canada, the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, the PGA of Canada and CCMC Sports — whose golf media and marketing portfolio includes SCOREGolf Magazine, SCOREGolf.com and SCOREGolf TV on TSN — are pleased to announce a new marketing and sales alliance that will see Canadian golf’s major powerbrokers come together to offer corporate Canada unprecedented opportunity to engage in a sport that sees more participation by Canadians than any other.

As part of the agreement, CCMC Sports will support corporate hospitality and sponsorship sales efforts for Golf Canada’s RBC Canadian Open and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, as well as Golf Canada’s grassroots development programs and advertising across Golf Canada media properties, including golfcanada.ca. CCMC Sports also assumes publishing rights to Golf Canada Magazine, the association’s bilingual membership publication, beginning January 1, 2016.

“We’re excited to partner with CCMC Sports. This agreement opens up new avenues for Golf Canada to grow our corporate hospitality, sponsorship and media revenue,” said Gavin Roth, Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer. “Working with CCMC and their collection of leading golf properties also allows for a holistic, one-stop approach to taking hospitality, sponsorship and media assets to corporate Canada.”

The newly formed consortium makes for a powerful golf sales force that will utilize its many collective assets. Representing multiple-level professional and amateur golf tournaments, grassroots initiatives, developmental programs, nearly 3,700 PGA professionals at more than 1,500 Canadian golf facilities, and multiple media arms, the alliance will be able to meet a company’s every need when it comes to investing in and supporting Canadian golf.

“The PGA of Canada is excited about the collaborative efforts of all the industry leaders involved and believe the deliberate and organized approach will resonate with and engage corporate Canada,” said Gary Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Canada.

“We’re thrilled to be in a partnership with CCMC — a proven leader in Canadian golf business— that brings together the key organizations in Canadian golf to enable the corporate community to create comprehensive marketing programs that will help to grow the game and their business,” added Jeff Monday, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada President.

CCMC Sports has also renewed its deal with PGATOUR.COM, which sees it represent golf’s most widely visited website in the Canadian marketplace.

“We are happy to continue our longstanding partnership with CCMC Sports for digital ad representation in the Canadian market. SCOREGolf is a natural fit for PGA TOUR Digital and we have great trust in their expertise in the Canadian golf industry,” said Luis Goicouria, Senior Vice-President of Digital Platforms and Media Strategy for the PGA TOUR.

CCMC Sports — with its 30-plus years of experience in sales, brand marketing, sponsorship, publishing and supporting clients through an integrated sports model that utilizes traditional, social and interactive media — assumes the responsibility of representing the alliance in the marketplace. The Toronto-based company, with offices in Vancouver and Montreal, has recently augmented its media division with an exclusive sales and content deal with Send To News, which delivers sports highlights, including golf, to the websites of nearly 200 newspapers across Canada, making it the biggest provider of sports video in the country.

“We at CCMC Sports are privileged to have been named the exclusive sales and marketing agent on behalf of the four most prestigious and powerful brands the game of golf in this country has to offer,” said Kim Locke, CCMC Sports President. “Canadians are addicted to the game of golf, and we believe that this co-operative consortium of brands — Golf Canada, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada, PGA of Canada, PGATOUR.COM and SCOREGolf — will provide us with the tools to excite corporations across the country to become true partners of the game for years to come.”

Two of North America’s most successful women amateur golfers have become Honorary Members of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.

Canadian Marlene Stewart Streit, the only player to win the British, Canadian, U.S. and Australian women’s amateur titles, and America’s Judy Bell, a former Curtis Cup captain and player and United States Golf Association president, accepted invitations to become Honorary Members.

They follow Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Dame Laura Davies, Renée Powell, Belle Robertson MBE, Lally Segard, Annika Sorenstam and Louise Suggs, who sadly passed away in August, in becoming Honorary Members. A further eight women have also become Members of the Club.

Stewart Streit said, “I am absolutely delighted to be invited to join such a historic and prestigious institution in golf. I would never have dreamt of this all those years ago when I started out playing golf but I have enjoyed every moment of it. I am extremely proud and grateful to receive this honour and it means a great deal not just to me but to Canadian golf as a whole.”

Bell said, “I’m honoured to follow in the footsteps of so many great players and people who have been so influential in the game. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club enjoys such a special place at the heart of golf and I am thrilled to be part of it. Golf has been very good to me over the years and this is a wonderful distinction to receive. ”

Gavin Caldwell, Captain of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, said, “It is a privilege to welcome two women who have enjoyed such long and distinguished careers in golf to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club. Both Marlene and Judy have made substantial contributions to golf through their outstanding achievements as players and their tireless work in supporting the development of the sport. They are both wonderful examples to follow and tremendous ambassadors for golf.”

Stewart Streit’s remarkable career saw her win 11 Canadian Ladies Open Amateurs, nine Canadian Ladies Close Amateurs, four Canadian Ladies’ Seniors and three U.S. Senior Women’s Championships. After winning the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl in 1953, she went on to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1956 and the Australian Women’s Amateur in 1963.

In 1951 and 1956, Stewart Streit, who was born in Cereal, Alberta, was named Canada’s top athlete of the year. She went on to establish the Marlene Streit Awards Fund to support promising young golfers. In 2004, she became Canada’s first member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and is also a Member of the Order of Canada, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.

Bell, who was born in Wichita, Kansas, took up golf at the age of ten and in 1952 reached the semi-final of the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship in California where she was defeated by Mickey Wright. Bell went on to play in two American Curtis Cup teams in 1960 and 1962 and captained the team in 1986 and 1988. She set the then lowest score, a 67, in the U.S. Women’s Open in 1964, and, in a successful amateur career, won the Broadmoor Invitational title three times, the Florida East Coast Championships three times, the Palm Beach Invitational, the 1958 South Atlantic Championship, and the 1963 Trans-Mississippi title.

In 1996, Bell became the first woman to be named president of the USGA. She joined the USGA’s junior championship committee in 1961 and went on to act as a Rules official at the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open. Bell served on the USGA’s women’s committee for 16 years and became the first female member of the USGA executive committee. She was nominated to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.

The Western Canadian Golf Champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds Women’s golf team (47 points) are ranked No. 1 in the Golf Coaches Association of Canada (GCAC)-Golf Canada Annual Fall Top-10 Coaches Poll. The RSEQ Champion Montréal Carabins finished a close second (45 points), while the OUA Champion Toronto Varsity Blues and Victoria Vikes tied for third place (47 points). The Waterloo Warriors claimed fifth place (28 points) and the Humber Hawks (27 points) completed the top-six.

The Laval Rouge et Or (20 points) placed in seventh overall, followed by the Queen’s Golden Gaels (13 points).  The UBCO Heat came in ninth place (16 points), and the Alberta Pandas (8 points) round out the Top-10. The Western Ontario Mustangs and Lethbridge Pronghorns also received votes in the women’s rankings.

On the men’s side, the Western Canadian Golf Champion University of Victoria Vikes Men’s golf team (49 points) are ranked as the top University/College golf team in Canada based on the vote conducted by the GCAC on December 4.  The British Columbia Thunderbirds (39 points) are ranked second, while the OUA Champion Waterloo Warriors (38 points) complete the top-three.

The RSEQ Champion Laval Rouge et Or (36 points) claimed fourth place in the poll and the CCAA champion Camosun Chargers ranked fifth (34 points). The University of Toronto Varsity Blues (22 points) took sixth while the Alberta Golden Bears and Fraser Valley Cascades were knotted at No. 7.  The Niagara College Knights and the Concordia Stingers (12 points apiece) rounded-out the Top-10 in a tie for ninth, following play in the fall portion of the season.

The Manitoba Bisons, Laurier Golden Hawks and UBCO Heat also received votes in the men’s rankings.

The 2016 University/College Golf Championship will be hosted in conjunction with the University of Victoria and will run May 30 to June 3 at Morningstar Golf Course in Parksville, B.C.

2015 Women’s University-College Fall Rankings

2015 Men’s University-College Fall Rankings

The Golf Association of Ontario is pleased to welcome the three new members who will be inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame at a ceremony tentatively set to take place on May 4, 2016 at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge. Dave Mills, John Gordon, and Patty Howard will become the 73rd, 74th and 75th members of the Hall. In addition, Bill ‘Skip’ Johns will be receiving the Lorne Rubenstein Award, which is presented annually to accredited members of the Ontario media for “major contributions to golf.”

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. Founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association, the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge.

2016 ONTARIO GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Dave Mills

Dave Mills has been involved with the GAO/OGA since 1986. He served on the board of directors from 1989-1997, before being appointed Executive Director in 1997. He turned around an association that was experiencing significant financial and administrative challenges.

Mills led several initiatives during his time as Executive Director including: the GAO Scholarship Program, educational seminars, Golf in Schools, learn to play clinics, new provincial championships, Team Ontario, participation in Canadian and Ontario Summer Games, a partnership with Ontario Golf Magazine to be official magazine of Association, led the process to establish Ontario Golf Hall of Fame and helped to have golf recognized as an “Official Sport” by Sport Canada. Perhaps one of his greatest accomplishments was leading the process to amalgamate the Ontario Golf Association with the Ontario Ladies Golf Association to create one of the largest amateur golf Associations in North America.

Mills is also a certified rules official and has volunteered his expertise at numerous GAO events and at the Canadian Open, Canadian Amateur and Telus Skins Game. He retired from the GAO in 2014, but continues to volunteer at provincial events.

John Gordon

John Gordon left the Canadian Press to become managing editor of SCOREGolf in 1986 and has been involved in the golf industry ever since. Recruited by the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada) in 1990, he initiated their communications and member services departments and was the founding editor of the Golf Canada Magazine. After a stint as executive director of the Golf Association of Ontario, he founded The Gordon Group, specializing in communications and consulting for the golf industry, in 1994. He has contributed to the National Post and Toronto Sun and appeared on multiple television stations as a golf analyst. He has also provided Rogers Sportsnet with online material and served as an associate editor of the Sportsnet Magazine.

Gordon is a past chairman of the NGCOA Canada and has conducted golf-related seminars and presentations across Canada, the U.S., and Scotland. Gordon was a founding board member of the Professional Golf Management program at Georgian College, where he also taught. In 2008, he was hired by ClubLink to build an in-house communications department, re-launch their member magazine and build out more than 50 web sites.

Gordon has written hundreds of articles for golf consumer and trade publications and is the author of eight golf books. John recently has returned to freelance golf writing.

Patty Howard

Patty Howard achieved success as professional golfer and as a teacher. She notched three provincial championships: 1988 Ontario Ladies Professional Championship, 1988 Ontario Ladies Summer Championship and the 1991 Ladies Professional Summer Championship. She also captured a pair of wins on the Florida Mini Tour (now Symetra Tour).

Howard’s impact on the game stretched past her playing career. She was the first female head professional at a private mixed club in Canada. She originally joined the PGA of Canada in 1975 and received Class A status in 1981. She was the first female to sit on the PGA of Ontario Board of Directors.

Howard has been recognized on numerous occasions for her work in the game. Honours she has received include: 2001 YWCA London Women of Excellence Award for Sport, Fitness and Recreation, 2007 Ontario Club Professional of the Year, 2007 Canadian Club Professional of the Year, 2007 Score Golf Club Professional of the Year, 2008 London Sports Person of the Year, 2009 London Sports Hall of Fame Induction, and 2013 London Heart Award.

Bill ‘Skip’ Johns – Lorne Rubenstein Award

Skip Johns began a career in journalism at the Niagara Falls Review in 1957. In 1972 he moved on to the Kitchener-Waterloo Record to continue his top priority: Sports Journalism. Throughout his 58-years in sports journalism, Johns always had a passion for golf. His work also included writing for Ontario Golf News and Golf Scene. Even now at 77-years-old, Johns continues to cover golf online. In 2002, John was honoured, where he started, as he was inducted into the Niagara Falls Virtual Wall of Fame.