CHARLESTON, S.C. – Hugo Bernard wouldn’t go down without a fight on Sunday at the Azalea Invitational. The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member erased a two-stroke deficit to start the round, eventually forcing a three-man playoff at 11 under with Cole Hammer and Joseph Pagdin.
Bernard, a Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., native birdied two of his final four holes to force extra holes, but couldn’t hang on as America’s Hammer emerged victorious at the Country Club of Charleston.
Fellow Team Canada member and Quebec native Joey Savoie also cracked the top 10, finishing fifth at 6 under par (70-71-67-70). Amateur Squad teammate Josh Whalen of Napanne, Ont., finished T11 at even par (72-68-76-78).
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Philippe Riel/ Golf Canada
Charleston, South Carolina – A member of Canada’s National Squad was in the lead after the first day of competition at the Azalea Invitational, an annual event that features over a hundred of the top amateurs in North America.
Hugo Bernard, of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Québec, concluded his first round with a 67, good for the top position of this event held on the magnificent fairways of the Charleston Country Club. The club has a rich history, with roots originating to 1786 when it was founded by Scottish merchants newly established in the area.
The winner of this tournament, held March 22-25, will receive the Frank C. Ford trophy, awarded since 2002 to the Azalea Champion in honour of this six-time winner of the event.
Joey Savoie, another Canadian National Squad member, had a solid start by posting a 70, good for a top 10 finish. Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ontario, is also in the field and shot a 72 in the opener.
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WAIMALU, Hawaii — It wasn’t meant to be for Team Canada’s Christopher Vandette, who relinquished the 54-hole lead to settle for a share of 2nd at the 2018 Hawaii State Amateur.
The 17-year-old Beaconsfield, Que., native built a lead as large as four strokes, holding the outright lead through the first three rounds before slipping in Sunday’s final with a 2-over-par 74. Vandette’s struggles were no match for the surging local Tyler Ota, who recorded a tournament-low 67 to leapfrog into first place for the two-stroke victory at 11 under par.
Despite the disappointing result, the reigning Quebec Men’s Amateur champion held his head high at the Pearl Country Club, showing the composure of a seasoned veteran.
“It’s not the finish Chris was hoping for, but there are a lot of positives to take away from this event and he’ll be come back stronger for it,” said Team Canada Development Squad coach, Robert Ratcliffe. “I’m proud of Chris’ performance both on and off the course… it was a great week all around for our team here.”
Development Squad teammates Peyton Callens (Langton, Ont.), Johnny Travale (Stoney Creek, Ont.), Nolan Thoroughgood (Victoria, B.C.) and Thomas Critch (Austin, Texas) were also in action in Hawaii—they finished 7th, 11th, T14 and T22, respectively.
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MESA, Ariz. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee nabbed her third NCAA top-10 finish of the season on Sunday, placing 2nd in the Clover Cup at the Longbow Golf Club.
Lee, a Team Canada National Amateur Squad member, carded rounds of 72-69-71 to close the 54-hole event at 4 under par, one stroke behind the champion Julienne Soo of Oklahoma.
Lee’s efforts paced Ohio State Buckeyes to a 4th place result, 11 strokes behind champion Oklahoma Sooners.
The Ohio State junior will lead the Buckeyes into their next match at this week’s Clemson Invitational on Friday at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset, S.C.
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PEORIA, Ariz. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee wrote a chapter in history on Monday, breaking an Ohio State school record with a 64 at the Westbrook Spring Invite, collecting her second NCAA victory in the process.
Lee, a Team Canada National Amateur Squad member, marched to the tune of seven birdies accompanied by an eagle on the par-5 8th hole, finishing at 8 under par for the day on the Westbrook Village Golf Course.
The 20-year-old junior finished at 19 under par in the 36-hole event, two strokes clear of runner-up Kaitlin Milligan of Oklahoma State.
Lee’s first NCAA victory of her career came in 2017 when she split medallist honours at the East & West Match Play.
The former Alberta Ladies Amateur champion paced the Buckeyes to a 2nd place finish, one stroke behind Oklahoma. She was named as the Big Ten Conference Golfer of the Week for her efforts in Arizona.
In her sophomore season, Lee led the Buckeyes in scoring average as well as total finishes in the top-5, earning her a selection to the All-Big Ten Second Team.
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Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Canadian professional golfer and former Team Canada member Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault-sur-le-Lac, Que., has joined the organization in the role of assistant, Development Squad and Next Generation Performance.
Juneau—who played on both the LPGA and Symetra Tours during her career—will work closely with the 10 Development Squad athletes (five girls, five boys) as well as Golf Canada’s National Team coaches and Sport Science consultants to execute on Next Generation initiatives, all of which will lead to building a stronger Team Canada program.
“Sara-Maude brings a unique combination of skill and hands-on experience which we feel is critical to the success of developing our top-level juniors,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada chief sport officer. “She was also a member of the Amateur Squad for two years, adding a valuable new perspective to our coaching staff.”
Juneau will help in leading the new centralized component of the Development Squad based out of Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, B.C.—Team Canada’s Official Training Centre. The program will send Development Squad athletes to Bear Mountain from February through to early June to be immersed in a centre of excellence. In addition to being billeted and going to school locally, the athletes will be surrounded by world-class technical coaching staff and experts in the areas of mental performance, physiotherapy, biomechanics and nutrition.
“Sara-Maude is very familiar with life on the road as a touring professional, which will pay dividends in helping to guide our young athletes through proper training and competitive scheduling,” said Thompson. “We are also confident that her leadership will contribute to an ideal training environment for our Development Squad.”
The Team Canada graduate boasts 16 top-10 finishes on the Symetra Tour alongside a full season on the LPGA Tour in 2013. Prior to turning professional, Juneau played collegiate golf at the University of Louisville where she was named the 2010 Big East Conference Player of the Year while adding a win at the Quebec Women’s Amateur that same year.
Golf Canada is pleased to announce the eight athletes—four female and four male—who have been selected to the 2018 Team Canada Young Pro Squad.
Comprising the 2018 Women’s Young Pro Squad is Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.), Augusta James (Bath, Ont.), and Jennifer Ha (Calgary) while Jared du Toit (Kimberley, B.C.), Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver), Albin Choi (Toronto) and Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) will represent the Men’s Young Pro Squad.
The focus of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad—now in its fifth year—is to bridge the gap for top-performing amateurs transitioning into the professional ranks. Since the inception of the Young Pro Squad in 2014, current and former team members have accounted for 31 wins across various professional golf tours including LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR wins by Young Pro graduates Brooke Henderson and Mackenzie Hughes, respectively.
“The depth of talent in this group of young professionals is a great reflection of our commitment to producing elite-level champions at all levels of Canadian golf,” said Golf Canada’s chief sport officer Jeff Thompson. “We are pleased to provide a number of services to these talented up-and-coming athletes including world-class coaching, sport science, and financial support as they strive to reach their full potential in the professional ranks.”
Heading up the female contingent is Quebec City native Anne-Catherine Tanguay, a graduate of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad. Tanguay, 27, returns to the team after a banner year that included eight top-15 performances on the Symetra Tour en route to finishing No. 8 on the money list. Tanguay earned full status on the LPGA Tour as one the top-10 Symetra Tour athletes in 2017.
“I’m excited for the year ahead on the LPGA Tour and am grateful for the Young Pro Squad’s support in a season that will feature some new challenges in my professional career,” said Tanguay, an Oklahoma State graduate.
Brittany Marchand rejoins Team Canada after graduating from the Amateur Squad in 2015. The Orangeville, Ont., product enters her sixth year with Team Canada following a successful 2017 campaign on the Symetra Tour that featured seven top-20 finishes including a victory at the PHC Classic. Marchand went on to add a victory at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada. The 25-year-old also impressed at the CP Women’s Open in August, finishing tied for 30th after four strong rounds at Ottawa Hunt.
Long-standing Team Canada member Augusta James of Bath, Ont. returns for her seventh year as part of Team Canada including the past two with the Young Pro Squad. The 24-year-old looks to continue her ascension through the professional ranks as she embarks on a fourth consecutive Symetra Tour campaign. The former Canadian Women’s Amateur champion boasts 13 top-10 finishes on the Symetra Tour, including a win at the 2015 Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial Classic.
“Team Canada has played an integral role in my career since the beginning and I’m thrilled to be back working with everyone again,” said James. “I’ve developed very close relationships with Tristan (Women’s Team Coach Tristan Mullally) and the support staff and I’m looking forward to more success in 2018.”
Rounding out the women’s squad is Calgary’s Jennifer Ha. The 23-year-old Kent State alumna will play on the Symetra Tour in 2018 with hopes to regain the full LPGA status she held in 2017. Ha is also familiar with the Team Canada program as a member of the Amateur Squad from 2014-15 and Development Squad in 2013. She is a former Alberta Ladies Amateur and Junior Girls champion.
“I’m grateful for Golf Canada’s continued support in my career,” said Ha. “I have big goals for 2018 and am looking forward to putting in some hard work to achieve the results I know I’m capable of.”
On the men’s side, four Team Canada Amateur Squad graduates will form the Young Pro Squad in 2018.
Albin Choi, a member of the Young Pro Squad since its inception, will return for his fifth year representing Team Canada in the professional ranks. Choi recorded three top-25 finishes on the Web.com Tour in 2017 to finish the year at No.95 on the money list. Entering his ninth year with the Team Canada program, the 25-year-old former Canadian Men’s Amateur champion has full status on the Web.com Tour this season and recently finished T13 at the season-opening event.
“The Young Pro Squad program has provided invaluable support for both my career and personal development during a full professional season on Tour,” said Choi. “Team Canada is like a family to me; I can’t wait to make great strides in 2018.”
Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., will make his debut on the Young Pro Squad after two successful seasons with Team Canada’s Amateur Squad. Du Toit posted seven top-25 finishes in 11 events on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2017 en route to taking home Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours. The Arizona State alumnus made a captivating run at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open which saw him finish tied for 9th playing out of final group on Sunday.
“Knowing that I have the Young Pro Squad in my corner is extremely valuable during the many challenges of a full professional season,” said du Toit. “I know what I want to accomplish in 2018 and look forward to working hard with the coaching staff to achieve my goals.”
Also making his debut on the Young Pro Squad is Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald. The Purdue University graduate earned Web.com Tour status through Qualifying School in December. Macdonald, 23, is coming off a season highlighted by two top-25 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. Macdonald was a member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad in 2016-17.
Rounding out the male contingent is Richmond Hill, Ont., native Taylor Pendrith, who split time between the Web.com Tour and Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2017. The 26-year-old Kent State alumnus has been battling wrist and hand injuries since earning top-five honours on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit in 2015. Pendrith is also a former member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad.
“I’m thankful for the continued coaching and advice from Derek (Men’s Team Coach Derek Ingram) and the sport science team, and I look forward to getting back to full health in 2018,” said Pendrith.
Men’s and Women’s National Squad coaches Derek Ingram and Tristan Mullally—both PGA of Canada Ben Kern Coach of the Year recipients—will provide coaching to their respective Young Pro athletes. In addition to funding and coaching support, the athletes will have access to Team Canada’s sport science staff which includes Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood and Physiotherapist & Strength Coach Greg Redman.
The Team Canada Young Pro initiative was developed in partnership with the PGA of Canada. Funding is received in large part from the Golf Canada Foundation with generous contributions from founding partners Canadian Pacific and RBC, as well as supporting partners Citi Canada and Bear Mountain Golf Resort, the official training centre of Golf Canada’s National Team program.
“We’re extremely proud of what Young Pro has been able to accomplish as we enter the fifth year of developing Canada’s up-and-coming professional golfers,” said Martin Barnard, Golf Canada Foundation CEO. “Driving funds for the athletes will continue as a priority item for the Foundation and we look forward to helping shape the next generation of Canadian golf.”
Throughout the season, Golf Canada will closely monitor the performance of elite Canadian amateurs transitioning to professional golf with the possibility of program expansion.
Click here to read Team Canada Young Pro Squad player bios.
PERTH, Australia – National Amateur Squad’s Hugo Bernard was eliminated from the Australian Amateur on Friday after falling to Shae Wools-Cobb on the first extra hole at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.
Bernard, of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., put up a back-and-forth affair against the Australian, exchanging leads for the duration of the match before draining a six-foot par putt on 18 to force a playoff.
It took one extra hole for the match to be decided, with Wools-Cobb capitalizing on Bernard missing the green with his approach. Bernard gave one last effort to make a breaking 10-foot putt for a chance to extend the match, but left it short by a couple inches.
This marks the end of a two-event Australian swing for the former Canadian Men’s Amateur champion. Bernard will head to Sea Island, Ga., to compete in the Jones Cup from Jan. 26-28 along with Team Canada teammates Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont. and Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que.
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PERTH, Australia – National Amateur Squad member Hugo Bernard posted a 1-under 71 on Wednesday to advance to the match play draw in the Australian Amateur.
Bernard, of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., finished the opening 36 holes of stroke play in a tie for 6th at 5 under par. The 23-year-old will square off against Australia’s Kiran Day in Thursday’s first round of match play.
Co-hosted by the Wanneroo Golf Club and Lake Karrinyup Golf Club, the Australian Amateur features a 264-player field from 15 countries, cut to the top 64 for match play.
Team Canada teammates Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Josh Whalen (Napanee, Ont.) fell short of the mark and were eliminated from play. Australia’s Connor McKinney and Darcy Boyd shared medallist honours at 9 under par.
In the women’s division, Korea’s Yean Cho medalled with a score of 9 under par (70-67).
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Click here for the match play draw.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – National Amateur Squad member Chris Crisologo hoisted the South American Amateur trophy on Tuesday following a four-stroke victory at the Martindale Country Club.
The Richmond, B.C., native struggled early in the final round, going 4 over par through his first five holes before recovering on the back nine with four birdies. Crisologo, 23, recorded the tournament’s two lowest rounds (64-66) to hold a lead as large as seven. He went on to close the event at 13 under par, four strokes clear of runner-up Alejandro Tosti of Argentina.
With the win, the Simon Fraser University junior becomes the first Canadian male to capture the event. LPGA star Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., captured the women’s division in 2013. The victory also marks Crisologo’s first win as a member of Team Canada—he joined the National Amateur Squad back in October.
Fellow countryman Matt Williams of Calgary finished the 13th edition of the event with a 3-under-par 69—his best score of the tournament. The University of Houston of Houston junior finished the event at 4 under par in a tie for 12th.
In the women’s division, Team Canada Development Squad member Céleste Dao finished T8 at 1 over par. The Notre-Dame-de-lÎle-Perrot, Que., product carded four birdies in her final round to record her best score of the tournament with a 3-under 69.
Teammate Ellie Szeryk of London, Ont., finished tied for 22nd at 9 over par (72-79-74-72).
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