Team Canada National Squad member, Jared du Toit calls the feeling bittersweet. He is excited about what lies ahead, but also a bit sad about what he is leaving behind.
Du Toit, Canada’s top-ranked amateur golfer, is playing his final collegiate event for his Arizona State University Sun Devils this weekend and acknowledged in a telephone interview that he has been doing a lot of thinking in recent days.
The Kimberley, B.C., native finds himself reflecting on all the good times he has had at Arizona State and before that, the University of Idaho, where his collegiate golf journey began four years ago. But he is also feeling excited about the future and beginning the professional golf career he has long dreamed of.
“It is definitely pretty bittersweet,” du Toit said from suburban Chicago, where he and his Sun Devil teammates will tee it up in Friday’s first round of the NCAA Championships. “It’s kind of crazy. I’ve just been sitting here in my hotel room kind of thinking about things. I’ve been joking with the guys, saying ‘boys this is the last time I’m taking a plane with you to an event,’ just having some laughs. Right now it seems pretty bitter, but I am moving on to bigger and better things down the road and that will be pretty cool as well.
“It has been an awesome experience. I’ve met so many great people and I’ve been thinking about all the places we got to visit — from Hawaii, to Florida, New York, northern California. I have been very fortunate and have met some awesome people along the way.”
Du Toit, currently ranked 15th in the world amateur golf rankings, hopes he and his teammates can end the year on a high note with a big finish at the NCAA tourney. They qualified for the championships by finishing fifth at their regional tourney earlier this month in Austin, Tex. “We’re pretty excited about this week,” he said. “We’ve been playing well and are looking forward to going out on a high note.”
Du Toit, who won the 2015 B.C. Amateur Championship at Fairview Mountain in Oliver, finished tied for 10th spot at his regional tourney and feels his game is coming around. Earlier this spring he won a tournament at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., and lost in a playoff in another.
“I have had some ups and downs this season,” he said. “I kind of got hot there early in the spring and then didn’t play well the last couple of events. I kept it together at regionals and for the past three events things have felt better and better, so I’m really excited about where things are now and how they’re looking heading into the summer as well.”
The NCAA Championships feature 72 holes of stroke play, with the 30-team field being cut to 15 teams for Monday’s final round of stroke play. The top eight teams then advance to match play, which concludes with the championship final on Wednesday (May 31). The goal for the Sun Devils is to get to the match play round.
“That has been the goal the entire year for the team,” du Toit said. “We had a team meeting at the start of the year and coach (Matt Thurmond) laid out some of the goals he expected and the ones we should expect and getting to match play is the goal for every team. We have a good chance. We have shown some good stuff this year, maybe haven’t been as consistent as we would have liked, but we definitely have the potential to have a good run this week and get into the match play.”
As pumped as he is to play in the NCAA Championships, du Toit can’t help but think of what comes next. He confirmed he will turn pro almost immediately after the NCAAs and hopes to play the Victoria and Kelowna stops next month on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit.
“I am very optimistic about Victoria and Kelowna,” he said. “Nothing is finalized yet, but I am hoping to play those.”
To view the leaderboard for the NCAA Division I Championships, click here.
Monet Chun, a member of the Team Canada Development Squad won the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic, at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, in Stouffville, Ont., from May 20-22. While Kelvin Lim, took home the Boys’ championship at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ont.
On Monday, the 16-year-old Chun, from Summit Golf & Country Club capped off an impressive week with an 11-stroke win. The former Team Ontario member finished the final round two-over par (74).
After an even par front nine, Chun bogeyed 10 and 17, but still won comfortably. She finished the tournament at four-over par (71-75-74-220).
After the win, Chun spoke about what helped her capture the title.
“It was a tough week here at Sleepy Hollow. I struggled with my putting, but my shots helped to keep me in good shape.”
“Coming into the round I tried to focus on staying even and remain consistent throughout the day. I have been playing in the Spring Classic for about five or six years and think it is a great tournament to win considering all of the top players who have played in it before,” added Chun.
Picking up the silver was Maple’s Alyssa DiMarcantonio. DiMarcantonio, from Station Creek Golf Club, began the day in second but was unable to catch Chun.
The 14-year-old began the day at two-under par, but would finish five-over par (77). She ended the tournament at 15-over par (75-79-77-231).
Rounding out the top three was Richmond Hill’s Emily Zhu. Zhu, 13, started the round in a four-way tie for third but separated herself from the pack. Zhu followed up an even front nine by going four-over on the back. That brought her tournament total to 16-over (75-81-76-232)
More information, including the final leaderboard can be found here.
On the boys side, Lim got out to a consistent start with pars on his first four holes. A pair of bogeys would drop the Station Creek Golf Club member back to three-over par as he made the turn.
Lim birdied the par-five 14th before finishing his round with a bogey on 18. Still, even with a two-over par (74), he was able to claim the title at three-over (75-70-74-219). Lim also won the Juvenile Championship.
For Lim, his success during the three days was all about sticking to his routine.
“Yesterday the weather was pretty bad but I just stayed focused,” said Lim. “I just thought about my routine, my swing and grinded through the round. As for today, I was hitting the ball really well, despite not being able to make anything. I focused on myself and not my opponents, I had a score in my mind and tried to achieve that. This win definitely makes me feel more confident heading into the rest of the season.”
Finishing in a tie for second place were Mississauga’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju and Cobourg’s Nicholas Oosterhof. Yellamaraju, 15, from Blue Springs Golf Club, began the day in second, one-back of Lim.
He got out to a rough start and was five-over as he got to the ninth tee. He would birdie the ninth as well as the 18th to help him finish three-over par (75). That brought him to five-over par (72-74-75-221) for the tournament.
As for Oosterhof, from Dalewood Golf Club, he began the day six-over par but had one of the low rounds at one-under par (71).
Oosterhof, 18-years-old, was even after the front nine but made birdies on 14 and 16, after a bogey on 12, to finish one-under par for the day. He finished the tournament five-over (75-75-71-221).
For more information on the boys championship, click here.
Golf Ontario would like to thank both Wooden Sticks Golf Club and Sleepy Hollow Country Club, along with their staffs, for hosting the events. Thanks also to Investors Group and the Golf Ontario volunteers for their continued support of golf in the province.
Hugo Bernard, a member of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, finished T3 at the Murat Cup International Men’s Championship of France at Chantilly Golf Club in Vineuil-Saint-Firmin, France, from May 19-21.
After an opening-round 75 (+4), Bernard rebounded with three straight rounds under par, including a 5-under 66 in the third round.
On Sunday, Bernard carded a 2-under par 69 to finish two shots back of Britain’s Josh Hilleard, who beat Frenchmen Pierre Pineau on the second playoff playoff hole.
The third-place finish is Bernard’s third top-10 result at a major international amateur competition in 2017.
The 22-year-old finished T7 at the South American Amateur at Martindale Country Club in Buenos Airees, Argentina from January 19-21 and closed T9 at the Terra Cotta Invitational at Naples National Golf Club, in Naples, FL., from May 5-7.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
Albin Choi, a veteran of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad, finished T5 at the Web.com Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am Classic presented by Synnex Corporation, after Sunday’s final round was cancelled due to inclement weather.
The Toronto product finished at 15-under par, four shots back of the 54-hole leader, crowned champion Stephan Jaeger of Germany.
After 36 holes, Choi was in a tie for 14th, thanks to rounds of 66-67. On Saturday at Furman University Golf Club in Greenville, S.C., Choi fired another 66 to climb nine spots up the leaderboard.
This is Choi’s first top-10 of the 2017 Web.com Tour season, after having three in 2016. With his 5th place finish, Choi will jump from 129th to 64th on the Order of Merit. He is looking to improve on his 69th place finish in 2016.
A graduate of North Carolina State University, Choi has been on the Team Canada Young Pro Squad since 2014, and has spent a total of seven years on Team Canada.
Fellow Canadian Ben Silverman, finished T17 at 11-under par after a third-round 70 (-1).
Corey Conners, of Listowel, Ont., who came into the week 23rd in the Order of Merit and in position to obtain his PGA Tour card, dropped to 26th, just outside the top-25, after finishing T57.
Merritt, B.C., native Roger Sloan, the other Canadian inside the top-25 on the money list coming into the week, right at 25th, missed the cut and will drop to 28th.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
Albin Choi, a veteran of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad, is T5 heading into the final round of the Web.com Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am Classic presented by Synnex Corporation.
After three rounds, the Toronto product is 15-under par, four shots back of the 54-hole leader—Germany’s Stephan Jaeger.
After 36 holes, Choi was in a tie for 14th, thanks to rounds of 66-67. On moving day at Furman University Golf Club in Greenville, S.C., Choi fired another 66 to climb nine spots up the leaderboard.
On Saturday, Choi birdied the first hole then gave it right back with a bogey on the second. After back-to-back birdies on three and four, Choi recorded four straight pars, before another birdie on nine, to make the turn at 3-under par.
On the back nine, Choi poured in three more birdies—without dropping any strokes—carding a 6-under par, 66 to put him in position to record his first top-10 of 2017.
In 2016, Choi had three top-10s on the Web.com Tour, including a T8 finish at this event. He is looking to improve on his 69th place finish on the Order of Merit last season.
A graduate of North Carolina State University, Choi has been on the Team Canada Young Pro Squad since 2014, and has spent a total of seven years on Team Canada.
Fellow Canadian Ben Silverman, is T17 at 11-under par after a third-round 70 (-1). Corey Conners, of Listowel, Ont., who is currently in the top-25 of the Web.com Tour’s Order of Merit and in position to obtain his PGA Tour card, is T57.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
Austin Stanton / Golf Canada
Team Canada Amateur Squad member Grace St-Germain, finished T3 at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship at Chateau Elan Resort, in Braselton, GA. St-Germain finished at 11-over par, two strokes back of medallist Sena Ersoy, of Iowa Western Community College, who came in at 9-over par.
St-Germain’s school, the Daytona State Falcons won the overall team title for a second consecutive year. This is the ninth National Championship in the program’s history and the Falcons fourth in the the last five years.
After a 2-over par opening round (73), St-Germain, a freshman at Daytona State, struggled in the second round, carding a 7-over par 78, to sit T9, after 36 holes. She battled back in the third round, posting a 3-under par 68, the lowest score of the day and was T2 after three rounds.
In the final round Thursday, St-Germain parred her first four holes, then double bogeyed the par-4 fifth. She gained one stroke back the following hole with a birdie on the sixth. After another bogey on the eight, St-Germain posted a 2-over par 38, on her outward nine.
On the back nine St-Germain made two more bogeys, a double bogey, and just one birdie, coming home in a 3-over par 38, to post a score of 5-over par (76) for the day.
In her inaugural junior college season St-Germain had three top-5s, and four top-10s, including two second-place finishes.
The Falcons finished at 55-over par, 14 shots clear of the second place Seminole State College of Florida Raiders, who posted a team score of 69-over par.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
Austin Stanton / Golf Canada
Team Canada Amateur Squad member Grace St-Germain is T2 after three rounds of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship at Chateau Elan Resort.
On Wednesday, the Ottawa native went out with a bogey free, 2-under par 34 on the front nine. After two more birdies on the back nine and just one bogey, St-Germain carded a 3-under par 68, the lowest score of the day. She currently sits at 6-over par (73-78-68), two strokes off the pace set by leader Peerada Piddon.
In her inaugural junior college season, St-Germain had three top-5 and four top-10 finishes, including two second-place results.
St-Germain’s Falcons have won eight NJCAA national championships in program history and are looking to defend their title from 2016.
After three rounds Daytona State is well-placed to repeat. They are 38-over par and 16 shots clear of the Seminole State College of Florida Raiders who sit second at 54-over par.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
Austin Stanton / Golf Canada
Team Canada Amateur Squad member, Jared du Toit, finished T10 at 2-under par at the NCAA Division I Austin Regional at the University of Texas Golf Club.
After posting a 3-over par 74 in round one, the Kimberley, B.C., product rebounded with two solid scores. He carded a 2-under par 69 in the second round and was T12 after 36 holes.
To start round three Du Toit birdied the first hole for a second consecutive day, but gave it right back with a bogey on the third.
He then parred seven straight holes before making back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13. He finished his round with a birdie on 18 to post a 3-under par 68.
He finished 12 shots behind medallist Nick Voke of Iowa State, who posted a final-round score of 10-under par (61), thanks to eight birdies, an eagle and no bogeys to win by five strokes at 14-under par over Texas’ Doug Ghim.
Du Toit had seven top-10 finishes this season, including two first place results. He claimed sole possession of the top spot at The Prestige at PGA West, and was part of a three-way tie for first at the Amer Ari Invitational at Waikoloa King’s Course.
In the team competition the Sun Devils finished in 5th place, with a team score of 7-over par, securing the last spot available in the National Championship at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Ill., from May 26-31.
Du Toit, a senior, will look to help the Sun Devils improve on their 9th place finish in the stroke play portion of the tournament in 2016. Arizona State will be chasing their third title in school history. The first came in 1990, and the second in 1996.
For the full leaderboard click here.
Quebec City native Anne-Catherine Tanguay, moved into first place on the Symetra Tour’s Volvik Race for the Card after a third place finish at the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Classic at The Links at Stoney Point.
Tanguay finished at 9-under par, one stroke behind winner Celine Boutier of France, who defeated Columbia’s Paola Moreno in a playoff.
After taking the 36-hole lead, thanks to a bogey-free 65 on Friday, Tanguay carded an even-par, 72, Saturday and was two strokes behind Moreno the 54-hole leader heading into the final round.
Tanguay, a member of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad, made the turn Sunday at 1-over par for the round, after two bogeys and one birdie on the front nine.
She birdied the tenth hole, but then made back-to-back bogeys on 12 and 13. After another birdie on 15, Tanguay was 9-under par heading to the par-5 18th.
On the 72nd hole, Tanguay was one stroke behind Boutier and Moreno, and had the chance to move to 10-under par after her 3rd shot from the bunker set up a birdie putt. She came up short and finished at 9-under par.
Moreno and Boutier both parred the 18th, setting up a sudden-death playoff, replaying the 18th hole. Boutier birdied the first playoff hole, to win her first career Symetra Tour event.
Tanguay has been a model of consistency in 2017. Her third place finish was her 5th top-10, and fourth top-5 of the season in six starts. She has yet to finish outside of the top-15 in any of her starts this year.
Fellow Young Pro Squad member, Augusta James, Bath, Ont., finished T11, after carding a 1-over par, 73, on Sunday. James’ 11th place finish was her second best result of the season. She is looking to improve on her 12th place finish in the Volvik Race for the Card last season.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
Team Canada Young Pro Squad member, Anne-Catherine Tanguay, of Quebec City, QC., is tied for second with France’s Celine Boutier after round three of the Symetra Tour’s Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Classic.
Tanguay and Boutier are 10-under par for the tournament, two shots behind leader, Paola Moreno of Columbia.
The 26-year-old, Tanguay, who led by two shots entering the third round, hit her tee shot on hole one right and had to scramble for a double bogey. However, she responded well with a birdie on two and finished even for the day.
“I felt really comfortable on the first hole, it was just a bad swing that put me in a bad position,” explained Tanguay. “The important thing from there is I was able to bounce back.”
Tanguay closed with a birdie on 18 to post a 72.
“I think the conditions were a little different than the other days, but I still gave myself chances, but the putts didn’t go in so I am going to work on making more confident strokes,” said Tanguay. “I was getting the speed right, just not the lines.”
Tanguay will go for her first win and fifth top 10 of the season on Sunday.
I’m happy to be here and I’m excited for tomorrow.”
Fellow Canadian, and Tanguay’s Young Pro Squad teammate, Augusta James, of Bath, Ont., is T7, after firing a 1-over par, 73 on Saturday.
James, also a member of the Team Canad Young Pro Squad, is looking to improve on her 12th place finish in the Volvik Race for the Cup in 2016.
After a 1-under par, 35, on the front nine, James faltered on the second nine, recording three bogeys.
The full leaderboard can be seen here.
