Patience is paying off for Canadian golfer Mackenzie Hughes.
Thing are falling into place for the 25-year old from Dundas, Ont., who will be making his debut as a full-fledged PGA Tour member this week at the Safeway Open in Napa, Calif. Next week he’ll marry his long-time partner Jenna Shaw in a ceremony in his adopted home of Charlotte, N.C.
“To be where I am now is kind of surreal when I think about it,” Hughes said over the phone en route to the West Coast. “Even though things were dragging along this summer, early on, everything’s happened relatively quickly from last year to where I am now. I’m grateful, but by no means do I think I don’t deserve it. More than anything, I’m just excited to get going.”
Hughes has learned to temper that excitement while looking for his path to the PGA Tour. His approach paid dividends when he captured the Price Cutter Charity Championship on the Web.com Tour in August and finished 17th on that Tour’s money list. The top 25 finishers earn a spot on the PGA Tour for the following season.
Hughes’ maiden victory came after he rolled in an 18-inch birdie put on the final hole to win by one shot.
“It’s probably one of the hardest things to do as a professional golfer, not get too far ahead of yourself,” he said. “There were tons of times when I got ahead of myself, about what the win would mean for me and my family, and then brought myself back.”
The two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion (2011 and 2012) captured the Order of Merit title in 2013 on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, which gave him full status on the Web.com circuit in 2014. But he struggled, admitting he was inexperienced for such a big stage.
In 2015 he returned to the PGA Tour Canada, where he finished 13th on the money list. He earned a spot on the Web.com Tour last winter in a qualifying tournament.
“When we launched the Mackenzie Tour as PGA Tour Canada in 2013, we hoped to see many journeys like Mackenzie’s unfold,” said PGA Tour Canada Tour president Jeff Monday. “Seeing players benefit from their performances in Canada and then go on to prove themselves a the next level is certainly encouraging.”
Hughes was part of Golf Canada’s national team program as an amateur and remains involved today. Hughes’ coach is Derek Ingram, who leads the national team and was at the helm of Canada’s Olympic golf team in Rio de Janeiro.
“The recipe Mackenzie has been using the last few years to get on the PGA Tour is almost exactly the same recipe he needs going forward,” Ingram said. “We are going to work on the same plan, be disciplined and professional in his approach, and just continue to be Mackenzie Hughes.
“We’re going to focus on getting a little bit better, but not search for unicorns out there. He knows if he plays his game, he will have plenty of success.”
Hughes connected with fellow Canadian PGA Tour golfers David Hearn and Nick Taylor prior to this week. Both advised Hughes on what they wished they could have done differently in their first seasons on Tour.
“They had great advice for me. It’s nice to know what some of those guys learned in their first year and just put it in my back pocket,” said Hughes. “I’m not going to play with Rory McIlroy one day and change my swing to hit it like him. It’s important to have that belief that what you did to get there (the PGA Tour) is good enough.”
Where Hughes finished on the Web.com Tour’s money list determined what PGA Tour events he will be able to get into during the six-tournament ‘Fall Series’ portion of the 2016-17 Tour schedule. He does not have enough status to pick-and-choose the rest of his schedule like veterans Hearn or fellow Olympian Graham DeLaet.
He wedding will keep him from next week’s event in Kuala Lumpur, but he will return for the Sanderson Farms Championship – won by Taylor in 2014.
Taylor, Hearn, DeLaet, Adam Hadwin, and fellow Web.com Tour graduate Brad Fritsch are also in the field at this week’s Safeway Open, which begins Thursday.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Team Canada’s Maddie Szeryk posted another Top-10 result for Texas A&M on Monday at the Club at Carlton Woods Creekside, closing at 9-under par to grab a share of third at the Jim West Challenge.
Szeryk, a 20-year-old junior, shot a score of 4-under par in her final round of the 54-hole event to finish with a collective score of 207 (69-70-68). With the finish, the Allen, Texas resident collected her 13th Top-10 result so far for the Aggies. Her performance helped lift Texas A&M to a collective score of 5-under par—good for a 5th place result.
Florida State’s Matilda Castren took home medalist honours with a score of 13-under for the tournament, helping the Seminoles glide to victory with a seven-stroke advantage over runner-up Kent State.
Szeryk and the Aggies are set to tee-it-up next at the Alamo Invitational from Oct. 9-10 at the Briggs Ranch Golf Course in San Antonio.
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REUNION, Fla. – Team Canada’s Hugo Bernard has added yet another strong collegiate result to his lengthy resume on Tuesday, falling in a three-man playoff to finish T2 at the Division II National Preview.
Bernard, a Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., native, opened the 54-hole tournament—his first collegiate event of the season—with a 74 (+2) at the Watson Course at Reunion. It wasn’t long before the 21-year-old Saint Leo sophomore regained his form, tying a tournament-low score of 65 (-7) in Monday’s second round to climb back into contention. He followed that with an eight birdie effort in Tuesday’s final to jump three more spots into the three-way playoff at 11-under par.
Florida Southern’s John Coultas emerged victorious, while John VanDerLaan shared runner-up honours with Bernard. With the finish, Bernard records his seventh Top-5 finish in just nine events for the Lions.
Collectively, Bernard lifted the Lions to a T5 finish at 861 (-3) for the tournament, 16 strokes back of champion Lynn. The No. 7 ranked Lions will tee-it-up again next week at the Golf Rank Invitational in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., from Oct. 10-11.
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NORMAN, Okla. – Amateur Squad member Maddie Szeryk carded a school record 63 (-8) at the Belmar Golf Club on Sunday to climb 13 spots into a tie for third at the Schooner Fall Classic.
The 20-year-old Allen, Tex., product reeled off five straight birdies en route to a bogey-free round to break the school record of 7-under par—one in which she had previously tied in 2014. Szeryk also became the first Texas A&M athlete to record a 63 in a round.
On the strength of Szeryk’s final round charge, the Aggies climbed up the leaderboard to finish tied for sixth at 19-over par. Florida State won the tournament at 829 (-23), with the Seminoles’ Morgane Metraux taking home medalist honours at 12-under par.
Szeryk and the Aggies will return to action from Oct. 9-10 at the Jim West Challenge in The Woodlands, Tex.
RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico – On the strength of Garrett Rank’s 69 (-2), the Canadian contingent climbed inside the Top-10 for the first time in Saturday’s final round of the 30th World Amateur Team Championship to close the tournament in a tie for ninth at 12-under par.
Playing on the Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club, Rank, 29, led the Canadian trio to a team score of 2-under par on the day, coupled with Jared du Toit’s even-par 71. Collectively, Rank was the leading Canadian at the event. The Elmira, Ont., product finished at 1-under par (74-72-70-69) to hold an individual share of 35th.
Kimberley, B.C., native Jared du Toit finished two strokes behind Rank at 1-over par (71-70-75-71). The 21-year-old Arizona State senior closed at T44. Teammate Hugo Bernard of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., was disqualified because of a scoring error in his final round.
“Our guys gave it their best this week and I’m proud of the fight they put up to get inside the Top-10,” said Ingram of the Canadian squad, who stood tied for 27th following Wednesday’s opening round. “An unfortunate mistake with Hugo’s scoring, but we’ll look at it as a learning experience for everyone.”
Australia extended their commanding lead, closing with a final-round team score of 6-under to win the tournament at a record score of 38-under par, 19 strokes ahead of runner-up England. The victory marks the fourth time Australia has come out on top at the World Amateur.
Austria and Ireland rounded out the top-3, sharing third place honours at 18-under par.
Australia’s Cameron Davis was the lone player to tally four rounds in the 60s, earning him medalist honours at 17-under par, with teammate Curtis Luck finishing second at 15-under.
A biennial competition, the World Amateur Team Championship has been played since 1958, with the winner taking home the Eisenhower Trophy. The United States won the 2014 title in Karuizawa, Japan, by two strokes over the Canadian contingent of Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.).
In 28 appearances at the World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has captured the Eisenhower Trophy on one occasion (1986) and earned runner-up honours five times.
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RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico ─ Led by Team Canada’s Hugo Bernard of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., the Canadian contingent had its best day Friday at the men’s World Amateur Team Championship.
Playing in the morning wave, Canada improved its standing 12 places with an 8-under 136 and is now tied for 11th. Bernard, the 2016 Canadian Amateur champion, carded a 66, while Garrett Rank, who works as a National Hockey League official, had a 70.
Bernard birdied three of the four par 3s. He struck an 8-iron to within 8 feet at No.8 and hit a three-quarter pitching wedge to set up another birdie at No. 15.
“He’s a wonderful iron player,” said Doug Roxburgh, who has served as the Canadian captain seven times. “I have only seen him hit a couple of irons that were not directly at the pin. He’s a big, strong guy who takes advantage of his length.”
Jared du Toit, Kimberley, B.C., the best trio in the first two rounds, tallied a 3-over 75, which didn’t count for Canada. After 54 holes, Canada has a cumulative score of 10-over 420.
Australia took a nearly insurmountable 16-stroke lead after 54 holes with a team score of 32-under-par 398 at the par-72, 6,888-yard Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club.
Ireland moved into second place at 16-under par after registering a third-round 135.
England, Austria and Poland are tied for fourth at 13-under.
A biennial competition, the World Amateur Team Championship has been played since 1958, with the winner taking home the Eisenhower Trophy. The United States won the 2014 title in Karuizawa, Japan, by two strokes over the Canadian contingent of Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.).
In 28 appearances at the World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has captured the Eisenhower Trophy on one occasion (1986) and earned runner-up honours five times.
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RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico – The Canadians struggled to make up any significant ground on Thursday’s second round at the 30th World Amateur Team Championship, carding a team score of 140 (-2) on the par-71, 6,771-yard/6,187-meter Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club to sit T23.
For the second straight day, 21-year-old Jared du Toit led the Canadian trio with the team’s lowest score. The Kimberley, B.C., product was scoring well until running into trouble on his 11th and 12th holes, where he carded a respective bogey and double-bogey. du Toit, a senior at Arizona State, finished the day at 1-under par to hold a share of 37th individually.
The second-counting score of the day came from the reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Hugo Bernard, who matched du Toit with a 1-under 70. The Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., native now stands in a tie for 52nd place. Rounding out the Canadian contingent was Elmira, Ontario’s Garrett Rank. The 29-year-old has yet to find his groove, posting a 72 (+1) to share 80th place.
Collectively, the Canucks sit at 2-under par for the tournament, and will look to make up ground in tomorrow’s third round. Rank will tee-off first for the Canadians on moving day, slated to start at 7:45 am EDT, followed by Bernard at 7:55 am EDT and du Toit at 8:05 EDT. The squad will be paired up with Netherlands and Germany.
Australia nearly matched the 36-hole scoring record and vaulted to an eight-stroke lead after the second round in the 30th World Amateur Team Championship (WATC). Harrison Endycott and Cameron Davis each fired 5-under 66s at the Mayakoba El Camaleon Golf Club.
The Australians, who began the day one stroke behind first-round leader Scotland, posted a 10-under 132 at Mayakoba. Australia’s two-round total of 19-under-par 267 is one off the WATC record established by the USA in 2012. Curtis Luck, the 2016 U.S. Amateur champion, added a non-counting even-par 71. The best two scores from each country’s three-man team are used.
“The mindset was to be as competitive as we can,” said Australian captain Matt Cutler, whose team also equaled the lowest second-round score in WATC history. “You talk about having an opportunity to win. If we play well, we have a chance to win, so that has been our focus.”
Endycott, who has won this year’s Porter Cup and was a quarterfinalist at the Australian Amateur, holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to cap his team’s performance. He used an 8-iron to set up two of his six birdies at Nos. 9 and 15, but his play was propelled by a run of four consecutive birdies on his inward nine in the first round.
“That was a huge confidence booster,” Endycott said. “Yesterday things weren’t going my way early on. I just wasn’t hitting good shots, and I was struggling to get feels. Making a few good putts from good positions says you can go do this.”
Davis, who finished second in both the Asia-Pacific Amateur and Australian Amateur last year, recorded seven birdies on his scorecard for the second consecutive day. He birdied Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7 on his outward nine and has the best 36-hole individual score at 10 under after opening with a 67 at the par-72, 6,888-yard/6,386-meter Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club.
“We are full of confidence,” Endycott added. “We all believe in the three of us. As long we keep building that momentum like we are doing at the moment, it is going to be a good week.”
Maverick McNealy, who won the 2016 Mark H. McCormack Medal as the top-ranked amateur player, reeled off five consecutive birdies on his inward nine at Iberostar to advance the USA into second place at 11-under 275.
McNealy, a first-team All-American at Stanford University, and Scottie Scheffler, a junior at the University of Texas, each carded 3-under 69s. Scheffler also closed well with birdies on three of his last five holes.
“We had a nice finish with Maverick making five in a row on the back nine, and we’re very pleased,” said USA captain Paul Caruso. “There was a little bit of weather and wind at the start, but once it calmed down, we played good golf.”
The USA appeared to be fading midway through the round in its quest to win its third consecutive WATC championship. McNealy, who was the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year for a second time, started on No. 10 and bogeyed three of his opening four holes.
“I got off to an atrocious start, so Brad (Dalke) came over and gave me a little pep-talk,” McNealy said. “I feel like I played really solidly after those first four holes. I’m glad I managed to hold the round together.”
Switzerland moved into third at 10-under 276 with an array of closing birdies and an eagle at Mayakoba. Jeremy Freiburghaus, who shot a 3-under 68, birdied four of the last six holes. Mathias Eggenberger, who helped Team Europe win this year’s Palmer Cup, shot a 69. His round was highlighted by a 32-foot eagle putt at the par-5 seventh.
“We are more than pleased,” said Toni Matti, who is serving as Switzerland’s captain for a sixth time. “Golf is never ending. It’s always until the finish that you can make some birdies and some eagles.”
Poland counted a 2-under 69 from Adrian Meronk and a 1-under 70 from Mateuz Gradecki, positioning them in fourth at 9-under 277. Meronk, who was an All-America selection at East Tennessee State University in 2015-16, took advantage of the par 5s on the inward nine at Mayakoba. He had an easy up-and-down for birdie at No. 13 and made a 15-footer for another birdie at No. 15.
“I am kind of use to it because I was a leader in college as well,” said Meronk about his role as a playing captain. “It’s been always good for me, and I hope we finish strong.”
Scotland was one stroke behind at 8-under 278. The first-round leader struggled to a 2-over 144. Robert MacIntyre, the runner-up at this year’s Amateur Championship at Royal Porthcawl, had an even-par 71, while Grant Forrest added a 73. Forrest’s topsy-turvy round included a triple-bogey at Mayakoba’s par-4 first hole, his 10th hole, and a 60-foot eagle putt from the fringe at No. 5.
“It was one of those days where it couldn’t have gone much worse,” Forrest said. “It’s just what happens sometimes, and you have a tough time when the putts don’t go in.”
Austria and Ireland are tied for sixth at 7-under 279. Austria’s Markus Maukner and Michael Ludwig each carded 2-under 70s at Iberostar. Maukner improved from his first-round 80 by making five birdies against three bogeys. Jack Hume, of Ireland, fought back from a two-stroke penalty to post a 2-under 70, and teammate Paul McBride had a 73.
“There is good spirit in the team,” said Austrian captain Tobias Schmied. “You saw that today when a player who didn’t score too well yesterday improved his performance today for the good of the team.”
Spain, which was tied for third after the first round, had difficulties making the transition to the Mayakoba El Camaleon course. The team’s second-round score of 3-over 145 left them at 281 in a tie for 12th. Manuel Elvira, who is a junior at the University of Central Florida, shot a 71 and Ivan Cantero had a 74.
“This is a PGA Tour golf course,” said Elvira about a venue which will host the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November. “It was a real tight golf course, and the greens are more difficult. It’s tougher to score on this course than the other one.”
Joshua Ho, of Singapore, produced the low round of the championship with a 7-under 65 at Iberostar. Ho, who was 11 strokes better than his first-day score, and Gregory Foo’s 70 helped improve their team’s standing 26 places and into a tie for 12th at 281.
A biennial competition, the World Amateur Team Championship has been played since 1958, with the winner taking home the Eisenhower Trophy. The United States won the 2014 title in Karuizawa, Japan, by two strokes over the Canadian contingent of Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.).
In 28 appearances at the World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has captured the Eisenhower Trophy on one occasion (1986) and earned runner-up honours five times.
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RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico – The Canadian contingent of Jared du Toit, Hugo Bernard and Garrett Rank struggled out of the gate in the 30th World Amateur Team Championship, posting a collective score of even-par (144) to hold a share of 27th after the first round.
The trio was led by 21-year-old Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., who carded a 71 (-1) on the Iberostar Playa Paraiso course—one of two courses in rotation this week. Individually, the Arizona State senior sits T34, five off the pace.
Team Canada’s second-counting score of the day was registered by Hugo Bernard of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que. The 21-year-old reigning Canadian Amateur champion scored a 1-over 73 to find himself in a tie for 77th through 18 holes of play. 29-year-old Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., recorded a non-counting 74 (+2), fighting back after slipping with a double and triple bogey in his first five holes.
Connor Syme shot a 6-under 66 to help Scotland take a one-stroke lead over Australia after the first round of the World Amateur Team Championship.
Walker Cup player Grant Forrest added a 68 at Iberostar Playa Paraiso to give Scotland a 10-under 134 total, with only the best two scores counting for the three-man teams. Robert MacIntyre had a 69.
The 20-year-old Syme topped the individual standings along with Poland’s Adrian Meronk. A rangekeeper at Drumoig Golf Centre in St. Andrews, Syme won the 2016 Australian Amateur.
Cameron Davis led Australia with a 67, Harrison Endycott had a 68, and U.S. Amateur champion Curtis Luck shot 69, also opening at Iberostar Playa Paraiso in the rotation with Mayakoba El Camaleon.
Spain was third 8-under at Iberostar Playa Paraiso. Mario Galiano shot 67, Manuel Elvira 69, and Ivan Cantero 71.
The two-time defending champion United States was tied for seventh at 5 under. Oklahoma’s Brad Dalke opened with a 67 at Mayakoba El Camaleon, Stanford’s Maverick McNealy had a 70, and Texas’ Scottie Scheffler a 73.
A biennial competition, the World Amateur Team Championship has been played since 1958, with the winner taking home the Eisenhower Trophy. The United States won the 2014 title in Karuizawa, Japan, by two strokes over the Canadian contingent of Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.).
In 28 appearances at the World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has captured the Eisenhower Trophy on one occasion (1986) and earned runner-up honours five times.
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Canada’s best are gearing up to take on the world’s top talent on Wednesday when competition begins for the Men’s World Amateur Team Championship at the Mayakoba El Cameleón Golf Club and Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
The Canadian trio will be led by Kimberley, B.C., product Jared du Toit, who currently stands as Canada’s top-ranked male on the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) at No. 26. He’ll be accompanied by Team Canada Amateur Squad teammate and reigning Canadian Amateur champion, Hugo Bernard of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que.
Rounding out the squad is 29-year-old Garrett Rank of Elmira Ont., who will be riding on the strength of his recent third-straight victory at the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship.
Canada is paired with Japan and Spain for the opening rounds, with Bernard drawing the tournaments opening tee-slot at 7:15 am EST. Rank will follow at 7:25 am EST, while du Toit will go at 7:35 am EST.
The squad will be under the direction of Team Canada Men’s Head Coach, Derek Ingram, alongside non-playing team captain Doug Roxburgh.
A biennial competition, the World Amateur Team Championship has been played since 1958, with the winner taking home the Eisenhower Trophy. The United States won the 2014 title in Karuizawa, Japan, by two strokes over the Canadian contingent of Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.), Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Adam Svensson (Surrey, B.C.).
In 28 appearances at the World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has captured the Eisenhower Trophy on one occasion (1986) and earned runner-up honours five times. In 25 appearances at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has earned runner-up honours four times.
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Team Canada’s Grace St-Germain made an immediate impact in her first collegiate event on Sunday, finishing T2 at the Lady Falcon Invitational at her new home base (and campus).
St-Germain, 18, posted a 1-over 145 (72-73) in the 36-hole event, to help lift the Falcons to a convincing 14-stroke victory over runner-up Florida Tech. The event marks the first collegiate tournament for the Daytona State freshman, who has spent the last two years as a member of Team Canada’s Development Squad. She finished three strokes behind teammate Jiwon Jeon of South Korea, who closed at 2-under par (72-70).
With the strong finish, the Ottawa native shows no signs of slowing down after an impressive summer campaign which featured a win at the Ontario Women’s Amateur and a runner-up at the Quebec Women’s Amateur. St-Germain will tee-it-up next with the Falcons from Sept. 23-25 at the Lady Paladin Invitational.
The Falcons are listed as a Div I school under the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)—an association dedicated to America’s two-year collegiate programs.
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