Winnipeg – Corey Conners sits in the driver’s seat one-stroke in front of the field heading into the final round of the 110^th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The Listowel, Ont. native opened his third round by firing a 3-under 32 front-nine, but closed with four bogeys over his final six holes to finish with a 2-under 68. His 8-under 204 total leaves him one-stroke clear of New Mexico’s Sam Saunders.

“I’m happy with my score, just kind of disappointed with all the bogeys,” Conners said. “I’ll try to smooth things out a little bit, I don’t know I just kind of got out of my rhythm towards the end, got a little antsy or excited.”

Now leading the way, the Team Canada member will face a familiar challenge on Thursday over the final 18 holes at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club. The 22-year-old has finished no worse than third in his last three attempts at the national amateur championship title.

“I came here with the mindset that it’s my time to win and I’m just trying to do my thing out here and see what happens,” he continued. “It would definitely be nice, still another round to be played but I’ll give it my best.”

Playing alongside Conners, Saunders carded a 1-over 71 Wednesday. The Albuquerque, New Mexico native finished at 7-under 205 and cut Conners’ lead to a single stroke after his birdie putt found the bottom of the cup on the par-4 18^th hole.

“That was really big. On the tee I knew I needed to play that hole well and not make a bogey because I had just bogeyed the previous two holes,” Saunders said. “It was really important for me to play a good hole and I got lucky, I sort of hit in there as close as I think you can on that one and made a great putt.”

Brian Bullington of Frankfort, Ill. finished with a 1-under 69 to grab solo third at 6-under 206. Bullington currently sits one stroke ahead of Team Canada’s Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. and New Zealand’s James Beale who share fourth spot at 5-under.

Complete scoring, results and pairings can be found online here.

Winnipeg – Jonathan Garrick and Sam Saunders sit tied for the lead at the halfway point of the 110th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and Southwood Golf and Country Club.

The American duo played opposite courses Tuesday and share top spot on the leaderboard at 8-under 134 thru 36 holes of play.

New Mexico’s Saunders carded the low round of the day at Southwood, firing a 5-under 67 during the afternoon flight. The Albuquerque native’s scorecard was highlighted by an opening 3-under 33 front-nine and a closing birdie on the par-5 18th hole.

“I just sort of played steady all day, I made two bogeys on the back nine on both the par-3’s and I actually birdied the next hole both times so that was good to keep my momentum going,” Saunders said. “I didn’t ever get into a lull in my round where it was too slow, so I just kept steadily making birdies all day and ended up 5-under.”

Playing at Elmhurst, Garrick of Atherton, Calif. continued his solid play from the first round carding a 2-under 68. The only blemish on the UCLA Bruins’ scorecard was a double-bogey on the par-4 16th hole before closing with a 2-under 33 back-nine.

“Today I got off to a good start, I eagled I think the fourth or fifth hole and then made a double after that and turned at even-par,” said Garrick “ On the back I gave myself some opportunities and made a couple more birdies coming in.”

A trio of players lead the way for the Canadian contingent in a tie for third including Team Canada’s Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. who carded a second round 2-under 68. Conners hopes to continue his strong play heading into the final 36 holes after a runner-up finish at this championship last season.

“I was pretty disappointed last year, so I want to make sure I don’t do anything silly and and jeopardize winning the tournament,” Conners said. “Basically the plan is to stick to my game plan and just stay relaxed, take it one shot at a time and do my own thing.”

Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont. and Winnipeg’s Bret Thompson share third place alongside Conners at 6-under par. Hamilton and Thompson both posted 4-under 68’s at Southwood to soar up the leaderboard on Tuesday.

In the Willingdon Cup team competition, Team Ontario’s squad of Conners, Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont. and Chris Hemmerich of Kitchener, Ont. captured the title by eight strokes. The Team Canada trio carded a 2-under 138 second round team total to finish the championship at 9-under 275 ahead of Alberta’s A.J. Armstrong of St. Albert, Banff’s Jack Wood and Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon Country.

For a full field list as well as starting times, live scoring and post-round results for the 110th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

Winnipeg, Man. – Brian Bullington and Jonathan Garrick share top spot on the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship leaderboard after opening with 6-under 66’s. 

Bullington of Frankfort, Ill., played on the morning side of the draw at Southwood Golf and Country Club. He carded a 4-under 32 closing nine that was highlighted by four birdies over his final seven holes to vault into the early lead.

“I made like a 35-footer footer on No. 1 and on No. 2 I didn’t get up and down, I hit a spike mark which kind of kicked me into gear,” Bullington said. “I birdied the next three which was awesome and I knew that No. 7 was straight downwind so I knew if I could get that I’d probably be in a good position.”

Playing in the final pairing of the day Jonathan Garrick of Atherton, Calif., matched Bullington’s round with a bogey-free 6-under 66. The UCLA Bruins’ junior birdied his two final holes to grab top spot heading into Tuesday’s second round that will be split between Elmhurst and Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

“I birdied No. 10 to start of the back nine and in the middle I made one more but then missed a few opportunities, it was good to finish with two birdies,” Garrick said. “I’ve been playing well but I haven’t been scoring well, I’ve just been kind of waiting for it to all come together and it seems like this week it’s going to go that way.”

Leading the way for the Canadian contingent was Manitoba’s Josh Wytinck and Team Canada’s Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. who opened with a pair of 5-under 67’s. Wytinck of Glenboro, Man. carded seven birdies on Monday, while an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole highlighted Rank’s round.

“I’ve just been hitting it so well and usually when I feel pressure or nerves it’s usually when I’m not playing well,” Wytinck who plays for the University of Manitoba Bisons’ said. “I’ve been playing so well that I’m very confident in myself that if I made putts I’d shoot something like this.”

Colombia’s Ricardo Celia shares third place alongside Rank and Wytinck. Celia finished tied for fourth at the 2013 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and opened his 2014 campaign with six birdies at Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

In the Willingdon Cup team competition, Team Ontario’s squad of Rank, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Chris Hemmerich of Kitchener, Ont. lead the pack after opening with a 7-under 137 team total. Alberta’s A.J. Armstrong of St. Albert, Banff’s Jack Wood and Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon Country trail the trio of Team Canada’s National Squad members by three strokes heading into Tuesday’s final day of Willngdon Cup action. 

Monday’s opening round was contested at both Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and Southwood Golf and Country Club. Robert Ellis of St. Catharines, Ont. and Sam Saunders of Albuquerque, New Mexico carded the low rounds of the day at Elmhurst after posting 3-under 67’s to sit in a tie for 11th.

For a full field list as well as starting times, live scoring and post-round results for the 110th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

Winnipeg, Man. – Brian Bullington and Jonathan Garrick share top spot on the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship leaderboard after opening with 6-under 66’s. 

Bullington of Frankfort, Ill., played on the morning side of the draw at Southwood Golf and Country Club. He carded a 4-under 32 closing nine that was highlighted by four birdies over his final seven holes to vault into the early lead.

“I made like a 35-footer footer on No. 1 and on No. 2 I didn’t get up and down, I hit a spike mark which kind of kicked me into gear,” Bullington said. “I birdied the next three which was awesome and I knew that No. 7 was straight downwind so I knew if I could get that I’d probably be in a good position.”

Playing in the final pairing of the day Jonathan Garrick of Atherton, Calif., matched Bullington’s round with a bogey-free 6-under 66. The UCLA Bruins’ junior birdied his two final holes to grab top spot heading into Tuesday’s second round that will be split between Elmhurst and Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

“I birdied No. 10 to start of the back nine and in the middle I made one more but then missed a few opportunities, it was good to finish with two birdies,” Garrick said. “I’ve been playing well but I haven’t been scoring well, I’ve just been kind of waiting for it to all come together and it seems like this week it’s going to go that way.”

Leading the way for the Canadian contingent was Manitoba’s Josh Wytinck and Team Canada’s Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. who opened with a pair of 5-under 67’s. Wytinck of Glenboro, Man. carded seven birdies on Monday, while an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole highlighted Rank’s round.

“I’ve just been hitting it so well and usually when I feel pressure or nerves it’s usually when I’m not playing well,” Wytinck who plays for the University of Manitoba Bisons’ said. “I’ve been playing so well that I’m very confident in myself that if I made putts I’d shoot something like this.”

Colombia’s Ricardo Celia shares third place alongside Rank and Wytinck. Celia finished tied for fourth at the 2013 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and opened his 2014 campaign with six birdies at Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

In the Willingdon Cup team competition, Team Ontario’s squad of Rank, Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Chris Hemmerich of Kitchener, Ont. lead the pack after opening with a 7-under 137 team total. Alberta’s A.J. Armstrong of St. Albert, Banff’s Jack Wood and Tyler Saunders of Sturgeon Country trail the trio of Team Canada’s National Squad members by three strokes heading into Tuesday’s final day of Willngdon Cup action. 

Monday’s opening round was contested at both Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and Southwood Golf and Country Club. Robert Ellis of St. Catharines, Ont. and Sam Saunders of Albuquerque, New Mexico carded the low rounds of the day at Elmhurst after posting 3-under 67’s to sit in a tie for 11th.

For a full field list as well as starting times, live scoring and post-round results for the 110th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

Winnipeg – Winnipeg, Man., native Jay Doyle will hope to draw on a hometown edge when he vies for Canada’s most historic championship as the 47-year old shot 1-over 71 during Friday’s Final Qualifier at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club to earn his place into next week’s 110th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
 
Doyle is one of five players and three Manitoba natives to earn an exemption into the storied Canadian Men’s Amateur Golf Championship. Also punching a ticket into next week’s championship are Alex Purdom of London, Ont. (+2) and Ben Bandura (+2) of Selkirk, Man. as well as Bobby Wiebe of Headingley, Man. (+3) and Russell Bowie of Mississauga, Ont. (+3).

Among the three Manitoba natives earning spots through the Final Qualifier, Bandura plays out of the host Elmhurst Golf and Country Club while Doyle plays locally out of Niakwa Country Club and Wiebe represents the Breezy Bend Country Club.

After Friday’s Final Qualifier, a total of 240 players are set to compete in the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, contested August 4-7th at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club as well as Southwood Golf and Country Club. 

After the first two rounds, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties for the final 36 holes of the championship finishing on Thursday, August 7th at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club. 

Practice rounds are set for Saturday, August 2nd and Sunday, August 3rd with the opening round set to tee off on Monday, August 4th. 

Admission is free to all spectators throughout the week.

For a full field list as well as starting times, live scoring and post-round results for the 110th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

Winnipeg, Man. (Golf Canada) – Top male amateur golfers from Australia, Canada, Colombia, New Zealand, Taiwan and the United States will vie for national supremacy at the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

The championship will be contested August 1-7 at both Elmhurst Golf and Country Club and Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg. The Canadian Men’s Amateur Qualifier will be held on Friday, August 1 at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club. The practice rounds along with the first 36 holes of the championship will be held at both clubs with the final two days contested at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club.

“We are thrilled to bring another national championship back to Winnipeg,” said Adam Helmer, Tournament Director. “The field is very strong this year and both golf courses will certainly challenge some of the world’s top amateur players this week.”

The winner of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship will earn exemptions into both the 2015 RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club, as well as the 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship. Additionally, the winner is eligible to receive exemptions into the U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and the USGA Senior Amateur Championship, if applicable.

The 240-player field is led this year by Team Canada’s Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., alongside his teammates, Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C. and Chris Hemmerich of Kitchener, Ont., who all ranked inside the Top-100 on the World Amateur Golf rankings. Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. sits narrowly outside at No. 109.

A recent graduate of the Kent State University Golden Flashes, Conners is the field’s highest ranked Canadian at No. 33 in world. In 2013, Conners finished runner-up at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in Victoria and was a semi-finalist at the U.S. Men’s Amateur Championship. His teammate Pendrith recently finished T43 at the RBC Canadian Open and also captured the prestigious Monroe Invitational in June.

Ranked inside the Top-55 in the world, California’s Rico Hoey (No. 27) and Lee McCoy (No. 53) of New Pork Richey, Fla., will also vie for the historic Earl Grey Trophy.

In 2008, Elmhurst Golf and Country Club played host to the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and co-hosted the 2011 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, while Southwood Golf and Country Club recently hosted the 2014 Canadian University/College Championship.

“Everyone at Elmhurst has been looking forward to hosting the Canadian Men’s Amateur as part of our centennial celebrations,” said Dave McMillan, Director of Golf Operations at Elmhurst. “The members have rallied around this championship and we’re working really hard to make this a memorable experience for everyone involved.”

Additionally, teams will compete for the Willingdon Cup that will take place in conjunction with the first two rounds, with three-member teams competing towards an overall team total. Team British Columbia captured the title in 2013, finishing one-strokes ahead of Team Ontario. This year Team Yukon and Team Northwest Territories will also be competing in the competition.

The final spots (minimum of five) into the field will be determined at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Qualifier on Friday, August 1. Pairings and start times for the qualifier can be found here.

After the first two rounds the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties for the final 36 holes of the championship finishing on Thursday, August 7 at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club. In addition, admission is free to all spectators throughout the week.

For a full field list as well as starting times, live scoring and post-round results for the 110th playing of the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

Manitoba’s Aaron Cockerill battled through tough conditions to capture the Elmhurst Invitational on Sunday in Winnipeg.

Cockerill, from Gunton, Man., held the opening round lead after carding a 6-under 66 during Friday’s opening-round and held on to win by six strokes after the tournament was shortened to 27 holes.

Josh Wytinck finished in solo second to claim the second exemption into the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur to be held in just over a month at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club along with co-host Southwood Golf and Country Club.

As part of Elmhurst’s 100-year celebration the invitational was created to fill a gap that was left behind when the Manitoba Amateur Golf Tour ceased to exist.

For more information on the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, click here.

The 2014 Elmhurst Invitational golf tournament will offer two exemptions into the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.

As part of Elmhurst’s 100-year celebration the invitational will run from June 27-29th, 2014 and is expecting to draw its strongest field ever.

Invitations will be extended to top caliber players from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota and Minnesota. To entice players to enter, fully paid exemptions to the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur to be hosted by Elmhurst Golf & Country Club from August 2–7, 2014 will be awarded to the top-two finishers at the conclusion of the Elmhurst Invitational.

The Elmhurst Invitational was created to fill a gap that was left behind when the Manitoba Amateur Golf Tour ceased to exist.

“Top ranked players in Manitoba were saddened by the demise of the amateur tour,” said John Multan a long time member and founder of the ElmhurstInvitational. “As a former player, there were not enough competitive events left to play in and we were hungry for some competition. After discussing the concept with other competitive golfers, Elmhurst decided to step up to the plate and fill this gap.”

Since its inception in 2004, the Elmhurst Invitational has succeeded in its goal to supply competitive golfers with a golf course and a field that truly tests everyone who plays in it.

For further information on the Elmhurst Invitational, please contact Dave McMillan, Director of Golf, Elmhurst Golf and Country Club by phone at (204) 222-5511.

As part of Golf Canada’s Annual General Meeting in London, Ont., the association’s Rules & Amateur Status Committee has approved the use of Distance Measuring Devices (DMD’s) for all amateur championships beginning in 2014.

This Local Rule will be introduced at CN Future Links junior championships as well as Canada’s national amateur competitions. Competitors will not be allowed to use DMD’s at Golf Canada’s professional championships including Canadian Women’s Tour events, the TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial, the RBC Canadian Open and the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, including their respective qualifiers.

This Local Rule allows competitors to use Distance Measuring Devices that measure distance only – not those devices that can measure other conditions such as wind speed or direction, temperature or elevation.

“With recent technological advances designed to enhance the golfer experience, our Rules Committee felt that this decision to allow DMD’s was a step in the right direction without jeopardizing the spirit and challenge of the game,” said Dale Jackson, Chair of Golf Canada’s Rules & Amateur Status Committee. “We have received a tremendous amount of feedback from golfers and this decision allows us to align with all of our provincial and international partners that have moved to allow DMD’s at their respective amateur competitions.”

Since 2006, committees have had the option of adopting a Local Rule under the Rules of Golf to allow players to use Distance Measuring Devices that measure or gauge distance only. See note to Rule 14-3 of the Rules of Golf.

Recently, the R&A and the USGA Championship Committee’s decided it will allow the use of distance measuring devices (DMDs) in R&A amateur events in 2014.

For more information on the Rules of Golf, please click here.

To ask a Rules of Golf question, please click here.

For more information on how to proceed in various Rules of Golf situations, guidance on the Golf Canada Handicap System and more, please consult our Rules of Golf publications – for purchase in Golf Canada’s eStore, or at your local book retailer.

Registration opens today for Golf Canada’s Amateur Championships, CN Future Links and Canadian Women’s Tour events.

Competitors looking to play in one of Golf Canada’s eight national amateur championships, six CN Future Links stops or three Canadian Women’s Tour events can view the championship schedule and register online by clicking here.

Canadian Women’s Tour returns for its 13^th season

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the schedule for the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour – Canada’s only women’s professional golf tour.

This season’s scheduled stops include May 12-14 at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C., June 23-25 at Legends on the Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont. and the Tour’s final stop set for early July in Alberta to be announced in the coming days.

New for 2014, the top five (previously the top 3) players on the Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into LPGA Stage 2 Qualifying.

In addition, the champion of each Canadian Women’s Tour stop will receive an exemption into the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. As well, following the conclusion of play at the final Canadian Women’s Tour event, two (2) additional exemptions will be awarded to the top competitors, not otherwise exempt, on the 2014 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.

Groove Specifications for 2014 Golf Canada Championships

Golf Canada has determined our plans to implement the new groove specifications for our championships starting in 2014. The Rules Committee recently approved the following:

• Introduce the groove condition of competition for the 2014 Canadian Men’s Amateur and the 2014 Canadian Women’s Amateur.  Note: this does not automatically include the qualifying events for these championships.  Please refer to the conditions of competitions at your respective provincial amateur championships.

• Introduce the groove condition of competition at all other championships (national amateur championships, CN Future Links, and Canadian Women’s Tour events) beginning in 2016.

For more information on the groove specification: Groove FAQ for Golf Canada Championships