CAMLACHIE, Ont. – Team Ontario emerged as provincial senior team champions as Joey Bush claimed the Super Senior division following second-round play at the 2015 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa in Camlachie, Ont.

The team of Gail Pimm (Uxbridge, Ont.), Mary Ann Hayward (Aurora, Ont.), and Debbie Court (Mississauga, Ont.) finished at 11-over 295.

The winning team was led by a second-round even-par performance from Golf Hall of Fame member Mary Ann Hayward while Pimm and Court both shot 7-over 78 in the second round of the championship.

“We always have good battles with B.C., so it’s nice to have Alberta in the mix. Ontario hasn’t won too many of the team titles this year, so it’s good,” said Hayward.

Team Alberta finished two strokes back of the winners at 13-over par. The team comprised of Kim Carrington (Calgary, Alta.), Gail Barros (Edmonton, Alta.), and Susan Thomson (Calgary, Alta) began the second round in third – three strokes behind second-place Team Quebec.

Hélène Chartrand (Pincourt, Que.), Marie-Therése Torti (Candiac, Que.) and Marlène Desbiens (Clermont, Que.) of Team Quebec claimed third-place at 17-over par.

Joey Bush, 64, of Aurora, Ont., took the over-60 Super Senior Championship title after finishing 11-over par through two rounds. The Super Senior division was played concurrently with the first two rounds of the tournament.

“I’m ecstatic. I have never won anything like this before in my life,” said Bush, who considered withdrawing after a poor practice round. “I went out yesterday, played and missed two fairways, so that gave me all the confidence and I have a great caddy on the bag.”

Finishing in solo second in the Super Senior division was Janice Roberts Wilson of Flagler Beach, Fla. A hole-in-one on the 140-yard ninth hole on Thursday helped Wilson reach 6-over par on the day and 14-over par for the championship.

Holly Horwood of Vancouver B.C., Ruth Maxwell of Dartmouth, N.S., Victoria’s Alison Murdoch and Kathie Houghton of Thornbury, Ont., finished tied for third at 16-over par.

Separating themselves from the pack were first-round co-leaders Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., and Etobicoke, Ont., product Terrill Samuel who again mirrored each other’s scores with second rounds of 1-under par. The pair reached 4-under for the championship to open a 5-shot advantage in the Senior (50+), Mid-Master (40+) and Mid-Amateur (25+) divisions.

“What you want to do after the first two days is have a chance,” said Samuel, who captured the 2012 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship. “It’s nice to have one under the belt so there’s less pressure.”

Samuel, 54, had a strong start, carding a 3-under 32 on the front nine. Kyrinis, who was in a grouping with Samuel again, tallied four birdies en route to her second-round 70.

“Playing with Terrill is great because we’re always rooting for each other to make those putts and make some birdies. You’re always trying to play catch-up or get ahead of her, so it was very enjoyable the last two days,” said the 51-year-old Kyrinis.

Mary Ann Hayward sits in third place in the Senior, Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions. Her even-par second-round puts her at 1-over 143 heading into the third and final round.

A total of 78 players finished 176 or better to advance to the final round which begins at 7:30 a.m. EDT.

The champion of this year’s Canadian Women’s Senior division will receive an exemption into the 2015 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., from September 26 to October 1.

For additional information, including tee times and scoring, click here.

CAMLACHIE, Ont. – Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., and Terrill Samuel of Etobicoke, Ont., sit atop the leaderboards at the 2015 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship after carding opening rounds of 3-under par 68 at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa in Camlachie Ont.

Kyrinis, 51, and Samuel, 54, share the leads in the Senior (50+), Mid-Master (40+) and Mid-Amateur (25+) divisions.

“I hit the ball where I wanted to most of the time, which is great in this wind,” said Kyrinis, who recently competed in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and finished runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. “I made some really nice up-and-downs and some really nice putts to save a couple that I missed.”

Kyrinis managed a 3-under par 32 on the front nine; she then notched a birdie on the 12^th hole after a bogey on No. 11 to finish the back nine at even par.

“We had a nice game out there together so we really kind of pulled each other along, so it was great. We fed off each other really well,” added Kyrinis who was grouped alongside her co-leader.

Samuel opened the championship with a birdie and added an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole to also finish her front nine with a 32. A birdie-par-par finish brought the 2012 Canadian Women’s Senior champion back to 3-under par to complete the opening round.

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and three-time Canadian Women’s Senior champion Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont., sits in a three-way tie for third in the Senior division after a first-round 1-over par performance.

“I had a lot of looks at birdies. I felt like I let a lot of chances go,” said Hayward. “I’ll take 1-over for a start. We will see how it shakes out, there are two more rounds. I might have to play a little catch up, but I think I can score a little better.”

Also chasing the lead at four-shots back are Marion Reid, 51, of Etobicoke, Ont., and Debbie McDonald of Claremont, Ont.

The 61-year-old McDonald leads the Super Senior (60+) division after an opening round of 72. Joey Bush (Aurora, Ont.) and Cheryll Damphouse (Amherstburg, Ont.) sit second in the division after carding rounds of five-over 76. The Super Senior division is contested concurrently with the first two rounds of play.

Joining Kyrinis and Samuel near the top of both the Mid-Master and Mid-Amateur divisions is Jessica Luciuk of Barrhead, Alta. The 40-year-old is third in both divisions after firing a round of 1-under 70 that concluded with a string of four birdies.

Team Ontario entered the tournament as defending inter-provincial champions and lead after a first round combined 4-over par performance. The team comprised of Gail Pimm (Uxbridge), Mary Ann Hayward and Debbie Court (Mississauga) holds a one-shot advantage over second-place Team Quebec. The provincial team competition will conclude following the second round of play.

The top 70 players and ties from the Senior division will advance to the third and final round of the National Championship. In addition, all Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master competitors who post a 36-hole total that is equal or better than the cutline of the Senior division will compete on the competition’s last day.

The champion of this year’s Canadian Women’s Senior division will gain entry into the 2015 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., from September 26 to October 1.

For full details on tee times and scoring, click here.

CAMLACHIE, Ont. – The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship is set to begin at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa in Camlachie, Ont., from August 26-28. The 2015 edition of the event will see the debut of the Mid-Amateur division which has historically been held in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship.

In addition to the 43^rd playing of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, competitors over 25 years of age will compete for the Mid-Amateur Championship, while the Mid-Masters division is open to players over 40. The 54-hole stroke play Senior Championship is open to amateur players over the age of 50 and the Super Senior division is open to competitors who are 60 years of age or older.

“The Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship will be an excellent showcase of Canada’s strong golf talent,” said Tournament Director Justine Decock. “We have had many Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members hoist the Ada Mackenzie Trophy and we will continue write the championship’s history this year at Sawmill Creek Golf Resort.”

This tournament has housed the talents of Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Marilyn Palmer O’Connor, four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Gayle Hitchens Borthwick and World Golf Hall of Fame member Marlene Stewart Streit.

Defending her 2014 title will be Hélène Chartrand of Pincourt, Que. The 58-year-old defeated Mary Ann Hayward on the second playoff hole at Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Que. Chartrand also captured the 2014 Mid-Master division at last year’s Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship hosted at Craigowan Golf & Country Club in Woodstock, Ont.

Three-time champion Mary Ann Hayward, 55, captured back-to-back Canadian Women’s Senior titles in 2010 and 2011 before adding her third in 2013. The Aurora, Ont., native is a member of both the Ontario and Quebec Golf Halls of Fame, and was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Hayward has four career victories at the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship and holds the distinction of being the first Canadian to win the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur title.

Also in this year’s field is 51-year-old, Thornhill, Ont., native Judith Kyrinis who recently competed in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. In 2014, Kyrinis finished third at the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship and was runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.

Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Alison Murdoch, 65, of Victoria, B.C., along with two-time champion Jackie Little, 56, of Port Alberni, B.C., will look to add to their legacies at this year’s competition. Little and Murdoch finished in first and second place respectively at the 2015 British Columbia Senior Women’s Championship.

An inter-provincial team championship will take place in conjunction with the first two rounds of stroke play; Team Ontario won the championship by 16 strokes in 2014.

The champion of this year’s Canadian Women’s Senior division will gain an entry into the 2015 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., September 26 to October 1.

Additional information, including the full field and tee times, is available here.

This season marks the inaugural year in which the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master divisions will be played as part of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.

Sawmill Creek Golf Resort & Spa in Camlachie, Ont., will host the event from August 25-28.

Traditionally, the Mid-Amateur and Mid-Master tournaments were contested in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. The move to bring the competitions to the Women’s Senior event was made to provide players with another opportunity to demonstrate their talents on the national stage. All female golfers 25-and-over will now be eligible to compete for the title of Mid-Amateur Champion, including those in the Mid-Master and Senior divisions. Competitors over 40 will be able to play in the Mid-Master division.

A minimum of 25 Mid-Amateur competitors and 10 Mid-Master players will be accepted into the field, the remainder of the 156 player field will be comprised of senior competitors.

Christina Proteau of Port Alberni, B.C., captured the 2014 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title at Craigowan Golf and Country Club, in Woodstock, Ont. The Mid-Master crown was awarded to Helene Chartrand of Pincourt, Que.

The 2014 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship was contested at Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Que., where Chartrand secured the title with a thrilling playoff victory.

Additional details regarding the 2015 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master, and Senior Championships are available here.

Register here to join the competition and measure your game against some of Canada’s best players.

Sherbrooke, Qué.  – In a hole-by-hole playoff against Aurora, Ont.’s Mary Ann Hayward, Helene Chartrand of Pincourt, Qué. claimed the 2014 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship at Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Qué. on Thursday.

Chartrand entered the third and final round seven strokes behind Hayward, who led the field at 5-under 141 after Wednesday’s second round. After Hayward made three bogeys on the front nine followed by four more on the back, Chartrand was able to match the 3-time champion with an even-par score of 219 for the tournament, leading to a hole by hole playoff. Chartrand defeated Hayward with a birdie on the second playoff hole.

“Mary Ann is a great player,” said Chartrand who fired a 2-under 71 final round. “Basically I had nothing to lose; coming back from seven strokes was part of the miracle.”

This win comes almost one month after Chartrand claimed the Mid-Master title at the 2014 Canadian Women’s Amateur in Woodstock, Ont.

“I got more confident with my game playing with all of the youngsters and all the superstars,” she said of her Mid-Master win. “I think it built some confidence in my game and I kind of learned that I can come back.”

Winning the 2014 Canadian Women’s Senior has earned Chartrand an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Women’s Senior in Deal, N.J. She’s no stranger to the tournament, having played it twice in 2013 and 2012.

“It feels so great [to have earned an exemption] because I did ask for an exemption and I was rejected,” said Chartrand. “I did play in the last two U.S. [Women’s] Seniors and I just loved it. So for me, it’s a dream come true to be able to go. It will be my third one in a row and I’m very excited.”

Judith Allan-Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. finished nine strokes behind Chartrand and Hayward to claim third place in the tournament with a score of 9-over 228. Sherbrooke’s own Jocelyn Smith finished one stroke behind at 229 for the championship.

Sherbrooke, Qué. (Golf Canada) – Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont. held onto her opening round lead in the second round of play on Wednesday at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, hosted by Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Qué. 

Her second round score of 2-under 71 puts her seven strokes ahead of Pincourt, Qué.’s Helene Chartrand, who sits at even-par for the tournament.

“I felt good going into today’s round,” said Hayward. “It’s a very demanding course so you can’t take much for granted out there. I just wanted to have another good ball-striking day.”

The three-time champion is looking for her fourth win, which would earn her an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Women’s Senior. Hayward was a semifinalist in the international event in 2010. She will enter Thursday’s third and final round with a combined score of 5-under 141 for the tournament. 

“My game plan is the same for tomorrow,” Hayward said. “The key to this course is just keeping it on the right side of the hole.”

In the Inter-Provincial Team Competition, which is contested over the first 36 holes of the competition, the Team Ontario contingent of Hayward, Judith Allan-Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., and Ivy Steinberg of Stouffville, Ont. claimed the 2014 title with a total combined score of even-par 294. Team Québec’s squad of Marie-Therese Torti of Candiac, Qué., Marlene Desbiens of Clermont, Qué., and Susan Pearl of Ottawa, grabbed the runner-up spot with a final score of 6-over 310. 

Nova Scotia’s Ruth Maxwell of Dartmouth claimed the Super Senior (60+) title, also contested over the first 36 holes of the tournament. Maxwell grabbed first place in the division by one stroke with a combined score of 8-over 154, Teri deLuis of Brockville, Ont. and Holly Horwood of Vancouver shared second place in the division at 9-over for the championship. 

Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

Sherbrooke, Qué. (Golf Canada) – Mary Ann Hayward of Aurora, Ont. is in the hunt for her fourth Women’s Senior Champion title after firing an opening round 3-under 70 at Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Qué. on Tuesday.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Famer leads the competition by four strokes after a first round that consisted of five total birdies – two on the front nine and three on the back.

“I played very well,” Hayward said. “It was tough to know how the course was going to play since the greens were so wet from the rain in yesterday’s practice round. I hit the ball very well on a couple holes – the back nine was very good with only a couple hiccups on the front. Overall, I’m really happy.”

The defending champion also claimed the Canadian Women’s Senior title in both 2010 and 2011. She is looking for another win this year to earn an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Women’s Senior.

“I’d really like to get to the U.S. Senior, and since I missed the qualifier for it, this is sort of my second chance,” she said. “But it’s a good field, lots of strong players, and a good golf course. I’m quite happy with a good start, but there’s a lot of golf left to play so we will see how it goes.”

Following Hayward in second is Teri deLuis of Brockville, Ont. Her first round score of 1-over 74 puts her in the lead of the Super Senior division, which is open to players who have reached their 60th birthday by the first day of the competition.

In the Inter-Provincial Team competition – contested over the first 36 holes of the tournament – the Team Ontario contingent of Hayward, Judith Allan-Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont. and Ivy Steinberg of Stouffville, Ont. lead with a combined score of 2-over 148. Team British Columbia, which includes Jackie Little of Port Alberni, B.C., Holly Horwood of Vancouver and Penny Baziuk, of North Saanich, B.C., follow in second at 11-over.

Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

Sherbrooke, Qué.  – Canada’s top senior women are readying to compete in the 43^rd playing of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, hosted by Club de golf Milby in Sherbrooke, Qué. from August 18 – 24, 2014. A practice round will be staged on Monday August 18, 2014.

The 54-hole stroke play competition is open to female amateur players over the age of 50. In the past, the tournament has seen the talent of Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Marilyn Palmer O’Connor, Gayle Hitchens Borthwick (four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion), Marlene Stewart-Streit (four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion), and defending champion Mary Ann Hayward. This year, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2014 U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur hosted in Deal, N.J.

“The Canadian Women’s Senior is an excellent showcase of the strong golf talent fostered here in Canada,” said Tournament Director Justine Decock. “The skills and dedication demonstrated by the ladies in this tournament is both admirable and inspiring.”

Club de golf Milby, located in Sherbrooke, Qué. is set to host the three-day tournament. The Howard Watson designed course is well-versed in hosting championships, having most recently played host to the Canada Games in 2013 and the Québec Women’s Amateur in 2007.

“We are excited to be hosting this year’s Canadian Women’s Senior Championship,” said Host Club Tournament Chair Guy Faucher. “The course is in great shape and we are looking forward to seeing some great talent here in Sherbrooke.”

Leading the field this year is three-time champion Mary Ann Hayward, 54, of Aurora, Ont., who will look to defend her 2013 title. Before a fourth place finish in 2012, Hayward also captured the champion title in 2010 and 2011. Hayward has not only achieved a strong standing in the Senior Women’s Championship, but has also had an illustrious career as an amateur that’s seen her inducted into both the Ontario and Québec Golf Hall of Fames and also the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. Highlighting her remarkable career are four wins at the Canadian Women’s Amateur, six wins at the Québec Women’s Amateur, five titles at the Ontario Women’s Amateur and 12 wins at the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship (the most wins ever recorded by an individual at a provincial championship). Hayward has also made history as the first Canadian to win the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur title.

Also highlighting this year’s field is Hall of Famer and four-time Canadian Women’s Senior Champion Alison Murdoch, 64, of Victoria, B.C. and two-time champion Jackie Little, 56, of Port Alberni, B.C. Murdoch has had a successful international golf career, claiming British and Irish Senior events, as well as senior titles in British Columbia, Alberta, and Washington State. Little has had a stellar 2014 season, taking home her fourth British Columbia Women’s Senior title, as well as the Mid-Master Champion title.

Starting times, post-round results, full field list, and live scoring are available here.

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