Tess Trojan and Randall Mackus lead in the Women’s and Men’s Net Stableford Competitions

Windsor, Ont. – Defending champions Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. and Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg, Ont. have jumped out to an early-opening lead at the second playing of Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO and hosted at the Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ont.

A total of 39 players, regardless of disability classification, are competing over 36 holes across four divisions— Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford. 

In the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Competition, Stasiuk, a member of Heron Point Golf Links who won the 2021 Women’s Gross Stroke Play title at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, shot a 13-over 84 and heads into Wednesday’s final round with a seven-shot lead over Tess Trojan of St. Catharines. Earlier this year Stasiuk won the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship.

For the Women’s Net Stableford Competition, Trojan, a public player with the Golf Canada, earned 35 total stableford points and leads Stasiuk (26) by nine points. Trojan also won the Women’s Net Stableford Competition in 2021.

In the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Competition, Barkley, currently ranked no. 6 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GWD), fired an opening-round 4-under 67 to take a two-shot lead into Wednesday’s final round. A member of Cedar Glen Golf Course, Barkley also won the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship in July.

Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. sits alone in second at 2-under 69 while Jesse Florkowski of Medicine Hat, Alta. (2-over 73), local product Kevin Delaney of Windsor (5-over 76) and Michael Pisaric (6-over 77) round out the top-five.

In the Men’s Net Stableford competition, Randall Mackus, a member of Prince George Golf and Country Club, earned 42 total stableford points Tuesday and leads Delaney by two points. Vic McLelland of High River, Alta. is third with 39 points with Pisaric is fourth with 37 points. Barkley and Willis round out the top-five with 36 points each.

The national golf championship is being contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition and features players from Canada and the United States with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes.

Click here for opening-round results from the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship.

WINDSOR, Ont. – The Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, heads to Essex Golf and Country Club this week to celebrate the second playing of the now-annual championship.
 
With international competitors permitted to take part this year following restrictions in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the field will expand to feature 39 golfers from Canada and the United States.
 
The national golf championship will be contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition and will feature players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.
 
“We are extremely proud to host the Canadian All Abilities Championship, a signature event on Golf Canada’s calendar that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Golf Canada Director of Rules and Championships, Mary Beth McKenna. “Essex Golf and Country Club will prove to be an excellent test for our talented competitors, and we look forward to an exciting competition ahead.”
 
There are four different divisions in the Canadian All Abilities Championship that players will compete in, regardless of disability classification: Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford. 
 
Williamsburg, Ont., product Kurtis Barkley will return to defend his title in the Men’s Gross Stroke Play division. The 34-year-old is currently ranked no. 6 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GD) and carded the lowest score in last years tournament at 3-under 67.  Barkley, who is a member at Cedar Glen Golf Course, also claimed victory at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship back in July.
 
2021 Women’s Gross Stroke Play champion Natasha Stasiuk will also make her way to Essex Golf and Country Club to compete for a chance at back-to-back victories. Like Barkley, the Oakville, Ont. resident came out on top of her division at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship.
 
2021 Canadian All Abilities Women’s Net Stableford champion Tess Trojan will also return to the field to compete in the second playing of the championship in Windsor.
 
Essex Golf and Country Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross and played host to the Canadian Open in 1976 won by Jerry Pate. In 1998 the club also hosted the world’s finest female golfers by staging one of the four “Majors” on the LPGA tour, the du Maurier Classic, won by Brandie Burton. This year, the club celebrates its 120th year of operation.
 
As part of Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment, the national sport federation in concert with the PGA of Canada has also launched the EDGA 359 Pilot Project, partnering with EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association) on coach training designed to demystify adaptive golf and give coaches the confidence needed to launch and develop programs for golfers with disabilities across Canada. More information about the EDGA 359 Pilot Project is available here.
 
More information about the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship can be found here.

TORONTO – Kurtis Barkley and Natasha Stasiuk both completed wire-to-wire victories on Friday to capture their respective stroke play divisions in the inaugural All Abilities Championship at Humber Valley Golf Course.

Williamsburg, Ont., product Kurtis Barkley jumped to the early lead with an opening-round 69 and followed that up on Friday with a 3-under 67—the lowest score of the tournament.

“I usually set little goals and I try to minimize my mistakes—I try to play one hole at a time,” said Barkley, who is ranked No. 12 in the World Gross Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD).

The win extends a recent stretch of great play from Barkley, who also won his third consecutive title at the Ontario Disability Championship a week prior.

The 33-year-old finished with a 16-stroke cushion over silver medallist Craig Dowling of Vancouver. Rounding out the top three was Bob MacDermott of Sherwood Park, Alta., who closed with a score of 14 over par.

In the women’s stroke play event, Stasiuk carded rounds of 85-90 to finish at 35 over par. The Oakville, Ont., native finished 16 strokes ahead of silver medallist Tess Trojan of St. Catherines, Ont.

“Even though I know I didn’t have the best scores I never give up,” said Stasiuk, who also collected her third consecutive title at the Ontario Disability Championship last week. “I’ve played with Tess (Trojan) twice in a row now and it’s great. She’s always there for me and I’m always there for her.”

The 36-hole event also featured a net stableford division.

Tess Trojan emerged as champion in the women’s side, recording a total of 48 points while Stasiuk finished with 32.

On the men’s side, Glenn Babcock of Thornhill, Ont., captured the victory with a total of 72 points. Trailing him were Neil Washer (Trenton, Ont.) with 68 points and Barkley with 67 points. 

A total of 31 players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments teed it up this week at Humber Valley—a municipal golf facility located on the west bank of the Humber River. The club invested a significant amount of capital in recent years to improve accessibility and course conditions to appeal to golfers of all ability and skill levels.

As a legacy of the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Golf Championship, Golf Canada was proud to donate a SoloRider (Para Golfer adaptive golf equipment) to the City of Toronto to support golfers with disability. 

Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes. The inaugural championship is proudly supported by Golf Canada national partners CP, Levelwear, Titleist & Footjoy, and Sport Canada as well as championship partners including Turf Care, the R&A and Dol Turf. 

A venue for the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship will be announced at later date.

Click here for full results.

Golf Canada is committed to providing the highest level of competition for amateur golfers of all abilities and is proud to announce the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship will be conducted Sept. 22-24 at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto.

The national golf championship will be contested as a 36-hole competition and will feature players from across Canada with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. 

Originally scheduled to launch in 2020, but delayed due to restrictions from the pandemic, the Canadian All Abilities Championship supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.

“We are extremely proud to officially announce the formation of the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “We are happy to contest another national golf championship for a new group of talented and committed competitors. We also want to thank our friends at the City of Toronto for sharing in this inclusive journey and inviting the athletes to compete for a national title at Humber Valley.”

With international competitors not permitted for this year’s championship, a total of 30 players from regions across Canada will compete at Humber Valley include 15 who recently took part in the Ontario Disability Championship, September 14-16 at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham, Ont. A full list of championship competitors is available here.

Humber Valley Golf Course is a municipal golf facility located on the west bank of the Humber River. The club has invested a significant amount of capital in recent years to improve accessibility and course conditions to appeal to golfers of all ability and skill levels.

“Humber Valley Golf Course is celebrating 100 years of operation this year”, said Toronto Mayor, John Tory. “City staff have worked hard to update course conditions over recent years to improve accessibility and allow golfers of all abilities and skill levels to play. I’m delighted that Humber Valley Golf Course is able to host athletes to compete for a national title at the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship.”

A number of significant enhancements have been made to Humber Valley’s facilities including widened doorways and an elevator installed in the clubhouse. The City of Toronto has also invested in a number of course modifications including making tee decks and bunkers more accessible by flattening out areas of entry point. 

All players with a European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) Player Pass have been approved to compete for points on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GD). Players are eligible for an EDGA Player Pass if they classify in one of the following disability categories: Amputation; Intellectual; Visual Impairment; Neurological; Other (short stature, orthopedic, etc.). 

There are four different divisions in the Canadian All Abilities Championship that players will compete in, regardless of disability classification: Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford. 

Notable WR4GD Canadians in the field include Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. (No. 5 World Gross Ranking) as well as Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg, Ont. (No. 12 World Gross Ranking); Vic McClelland of High River, Alta. (No. 53 World Gross Ranking & No. 4 World Net Ranking); and Rod Reimer of Thorndale, Ont. (No. 111 World Gross Ranking & No. 2 World Net Ranking).  

As a legacy of the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Golf Championship, Golf Canada will be donating a SoloRider (Para Golfer adaptive golf equipment) to the City of Toronto to support golfers with disability. 

Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes. The inaugural championship is proudly supported by Golf Canada national partners CP, Levelwear, Titleist & Footjoy, and Sport Canada as well as championship partners including Turf Care, the R&A and Dol Turf. 

Golf Canada acknowledges and respects the Indigenous Peoples of Canada that for hundreds of generations have been the keepers of the territories where we all live and work. We also acknowledge, along with our partners at the City of Toronto, that Humber Valley Golf Course is located on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.

A complete list of Golf Canada’s competitions is available here.