PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Amateur Squad’s Jared du Toit picked up right where he left off on Saturday, carding a 71 at the prestigious Monroe Invitational for a share of third place.
du Toit, 21, came in at 2-over par (71-73-67-71) to tie with Chile’s Cristobal del Solar, one stroke back of American Andrew McCain and five strokes back of champion Sean Crocker of Westlake Village, Calif., who surged up the leaderboard with a final-round, tournament-low 63 (-7).
The finish comes on the heels of du Toit’s impressive junior season at Arizona State, where he posted five Top-10 finishes for the Sun Devils. The Kimberley, B.C., product currently sits at No. 85 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
Also in action for Canada was Amateur Squad teammate and University of Florida graduate Eric Banks. The left-handed Truro, N.S., native struggled in Sunday’s final, slipping to a T15 finish after a 7-over 77. One stroke of Banks was 22-year-old Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., who closed the tournament at 8-over par.
Rounding out the Men’s Amateur Squad was Hugo Bernard of Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., and Stuart Macdonald of Vancouver, who finished T27 and T50, respectively.
The Monroe Invitational is one of the oldest amateur events in the United States, dating back to 1937. It has been hosted at the Monroe Golf Club for 76 years, boasting past champions such as Dustin Johnson, and current Young Pro Squad members Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) and Albin Choi (Toronto).
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LEWISTON, N.Y. – National Team member Josée Doyon carded a final-round 66 to win the 4th annual Women’s Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club. The 23-year-old finished 3-under 210 to earn a five-stroke victory over 19-year-old Princess Superal of Dasmariñas City in the Philippines.
“It feels great,” commented Doyon, when asked about the title of Women’s Porter Cup champion. “After finishing third last year and now coming off a really good week of practice with Team Canada. It feels awesome.”
Doyon finished third in the 2015 edition of the event behind fellow Canadian Christina Foster of Concord, Ont., and the winner Ana Paula Valdes of Merelia, Mexico. The resilient native of St-Georges-de-Beauce, Que., would not be denied this year, shooting a 66 – the tournament’s low round – to secure the victory.
“What really helped me today was my ball-striking,” she added. “I really hit my driver well. I just kept my game plan and I was not too aggressive. I stayed patient out there and I just made every birdie that I could when I had the opportunity. I didn’t make many long putts, except at the end on 18. It was great to finish with a birdie right in front of everybody.”
Doyon entered the final round T2 alongside fellow National Team member Jaclyn Lee of Calgary; the pair trailed Superal by two strokes. Lee would go on to finish in a tie for third with Haylee Harford of Leavittsburg, Ohio.
The Women’s National Team spent the past week training at Rattlesnake Point Golf Club in Milton, Ont., with Head Coach Tristan Mullally – an experience which Doyon says helped prepare her for the competition. “I feel like there were two or three things that I worked on with Tristan this week that really made a huge difference. I feel like because I worked really hard, I just felt ready for the Porter Cup and I could just trust everything I’ve been learning.”
The first-year National Team member reflected positively on the experience of representing Canada. “It felt great at the end,” she said of her teammates. “They hugged me and said congratulations. It’s just so nice – that feeling that we are Team Canada. Canada was really well-represented at this tournament and I feel like it just makes us all stronger to have that support of players from our home country.”
Team Canada Development Squad member Grace St-Germain of Orleans, Ont., and the National Team’s Naomi Ko of Victoria were T7 at 7-over 220. Former Development Squad member Valérie Tanguay from St-Hyancinthe, Que., finished T10.
Full results from the 2016 Women’s Porter Cup are available here.
GOODWOOD, Ont. – It’s an assignment unlike any other for Canadian golf coaches Derek Ingram and Tristan Mullally.
They’re tasked with getting the Canadian Olympic golf team – two women and two men – ready to play a unique course in Rio at an event which will be much different than the usual PGA and LPGA Tour stops.
Unlike most tournaments where players are thinking about overall results, the money list and ranking position, the only thing that really matters at the Games is whether you’re in first, second or third. The podium-or-bust mindset should make for some aggressive shotmaking and a wild four rounds of stroke play.
Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp are virtual locks for the women’s team. The men are in a tight race with David Hearn, Graham DeLaet, Adam Hadwin, Nick Taylor and Brad Fritsch in the mix for two spots.
Golf Canada expects to formally unveil its team nominations in mid-July. The Summer Olympics begin Aug. 5.
Ingram and Mullally visited the Olympic Golf Course in Rio’s Barra da Tijuca district last March and came away impressed.
“More like a British Open I would say in terms of the wind and the style of shot that you’re going to have to play,” Mullally said at an availability Monday at Goodwood Golf Club. “But then it’s in the Brazilian heat, so it’s going to be different.”
The coaches say the Olympic course has wide fairways but plenty of hazards, shrubs and steep bunkers. High winds are expected to make things even more challenging.
Mullally – who will coach Henderson and Sharp – thinks the course plays nicely into the Canadians’ strengths.
“It’s a golf course that if it gets windy, can play very long and both of those players bomb it,” Mullally said. “So I think that’s certainly an advantage for them and they’re both good around the greens.
“They have the skills, so it’s a matter of whether they can bring them on the day.”
Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., has risen to No. 4 in the world rankings and will be one of Canada’s best bets for a podium appearance.
“She’s such a good player that the top-10’s are not a given, but she’s capable of doing that when she’s not even playing at her best,” Mullally said. “So when things are firing on all cylinders, a medal and hopefully a gold is certainly on our mind for sure.”
Sharp, meanwhile, has strengthened her ability to play in windy conditions over the last year. Couple that with her impressive length off the tee, and the veteran from Hamilton could also be in the mix.
The Canadian team is planning a pre-tournament camp in Houston shortly before heading to Rio.
Hearn, from Brantford, Ont., and DeLaet, from Weyburn, Sask., are good bets to make the men’s squad.
However, DeLaet withdrew from the Memorial last week to work on his short game. It’s unclear how long he might be out of action.
Meanwhile, Hadwin, from Abbotsford, B.C., started the final round one shot off the lead and finished tied for 11th place. A hot run over the next month could be the difference for the Olympic team selection.
Both the men’s and women’s competitions will have 60-player fields in Rio. The top 15 players in the world rankings will be eligible with a limit of four players per country.
“Honestly it’s not quite as strong as a major or a PGA Tour event because of the quantity of players,” said Ingram, who will coach the Canadian men. “So I think that gives our guys, because they’re good, solid players, an even better chance to potentially medal or have a great finish.”
The men’s tournament is scheduled for Aug. 11-14. The women will play from Aug. 17-20.
Given the reward, players may push for that birdie or eagle more than at a normal tournament. Or they could go for the steady approach and hope that others go for it and get burned.
“I think the turtle is definitely going to win the race because a lot of people will go out of the gate very hot, try that, and think that’s the way to go,” Mullally said.
With no need to worry about pressing to get a top-10 or top-20 result like they might on tour, the players will be dialled in on a top-three finish. That could provide some top-shelf dramatics in the final round.
“If you’re in 30th or 40th position, there’s not a whole lot of point in holding on to that score and playing it safe,” Mullally said. “You probably have to go for it. It’s almost all or nothing at that point.”
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – Dominic Bozzelli won the inaugural Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship on Sunday for his first Web.com Tour title.
The 25-year-old former Auburn player closed with a 4-under 68 for a four-stroke victory over Roberto Diaz, Sam Ryder and Blake Adams.
Bozzelli, from Rochester, New York, finished at 24-under 264 after opening with rounds of 69, 63 and 64. He earned $112,500 to jump from 37th to sixth on the money list with $163,288. The top 25 at the end of the regular season will earn PGA Tour cards.
“This is a big relief. I really wanted to win this year,” Bozzelli said. “I think I’m pretty close to locking up that card. A huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I’m going to enjoy this one for sure, but I’d like to try and get another one. … The goal was to get onto the PGA Tour. Getting this win changes things. The win will help my confidence. I think the sky’s the limit from here.”
Diaz shot 68, Ryder 69, and Adams 72. Jeff Gove and Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Albin Choi each each shot 67 to tie for fifth at 19 under.
Bozzelli three-putted for bogey on the par-4 18th, his first blemish in 37 holes.
“I would’ve liked to make par on 18 to finish it off,” Bozzelli said. “I’m happy to get the win.”
After tapping in for the victory, Bozzelli was greeted by father Dominic, mother Susan and sister Bianca.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for their support,” Bozzelli said. “To have them here to see that first one was really special. It’s definitely a week we won’t forget.”
Aurora, Oregon – Victoria, B.C., native Naomi Ko won the Cambia Portland Classic Amateur Open, earning a spot in the Cambia Portland Classic.
Ko, who just completed her freshman year at North Carolina State and who is a member of Team Canada, carded a 1-under par 71 at Langdon Farms Golf Club.
The Cambia Portland Classic will be held June 30-July 3, at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, OR and will be Ko’s first LPGA tournament.
Sydney Maluenda of George Fox University finished second with a round of 72 and UCLA signee Mariel Galdiano finished third at 74 earning opportunities to compete in the tournament’s Monday qualifier alongside professionals. The qualifier will be held on Monday, June 27. The top two finishers from the Monday qualifier will earn entry into the tournament proper. 2015 Tournament Champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., earned a spot in the event through the Monday qualifier last year and went on to win the event by eight shots over a strong field, for her first LPGA victory.
Ko recently qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open which takes place the week after the Cambia Portland Classic. She finished 5th in the ACC tournament this season.
Ko, who knows Henderson from Team Canada, has actually roomed with her on occasion.
“I’m really excited to be playing in the Portland Classic,” said Ko. “I know Brooke (Henderson) won it last year and look forward to seeing her here this year.”
Last year’s Amateur Open winner, Gigi Stoll, a Beaverton High School graduate, who just completed her freshman year at the University of Arizona, was unable to defend her title, shooting a 77 to finish three shots out of contention. In 2015, Stoll set a course and tournament record with a 9-under par 63 at Langdon Farms.
The Cambia Portland Classic will take place at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club in Portland, OR, from June 30-July 3, 2016. The 72-hole tournament features a purse of $1.3 million and broadcast coverage on the Golf Channel for all four rounds. Brooke Henderson won the 2016 tournament, setting a new 72-hole tournament scoring record at 21-under par. Henderson became just the second player and first since 2000 to Monday qualify for an LPGA Tour event and go on to win. One of the hottest rising stars on the LPGA, Henderson has moved up to the 4th spot on the Rolex Rankings list of the world’s top women golfers.
Volunteer applications and Tickets to the Cambia Portland Classic are available now at www.portlandclassic.com.
MIDLAND, Ont. – Temperatures flared at Midland Golf & Country Club during the second round of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship. Monet Chun claimed sole possession of the lead in the Junior Girls division, while James Parsons and Brandon Lacasse share top spot in the Junior Boys division.
Chun of Richmond Hill, Ont., shot 1-under 69 to improve upon her opening-round 72. The 15-year-old tallied four birdies, including two back-to-back on holes 13 and 14, en route to a 1-under 35 across the back nine.
Three Team Canada Women’s Development Squad members are within the Top-5. First round leader Grace St-Germain (Orleans, Ont.) carded a 5-over 75 and sits two strokes behind Chun. Teammate Hannah Lee of Surrey, B.C., sunk five birdies for a 1-over 71 and shares 3rd with London, Ont., native Isabella Portokalis. National Team member Tiffany Kong of Vancouver also recorded five birdies on the day, advancing to T5.
The low round of the day in the Junior Girls division came courtesy of Ellie Szeryk. The dual-citizen and product of London, Ont., collected six birdies and finished 2-under 68 to climb into a share of 5th. Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., and Kathrine Chan of Richmond, B.C., are T12 and T17, respectively.
The Junior Boys’ top-spot is split between James Parsons of Almonte, Ont., and Brandon Lacasse of Châteauguay, Que. The pair sit 2-over 142 and hold a one-stroke advantage after matching 70s on the day.
Jake Bryson of Dunrobin, Ont., is third following a 73. The 16-year-old was one of three players to collect an eagle on the day. Two Ontarians – Thomas Code of Dorchester and Toronto’s Tyler Nagano – are tied at 4-over to complete the Top-5 in the Junior Boys division. Men’s Development Squad member Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson (Aurora, Ont.) is part of a six-way tie for 21st.
The top six finalists in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L., from August 1-4. Exemptions will be decided via a hole-by-hole playoff in the case of ties. All competitors in the Top-6, including ties, in the Junior Girls division will gain exemptions into the Canadian Junior Girls Championship. The tournament will be held August 2-5 at The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S.
The second day of competition will see the Junior Boys division tee-off at 7 a.m. before the Junior Girls take to the course at 11:10 a.m. Additional information, including pairings and up-to-date scoring is available here.
MIDLAND, Ont. – Canada’s junior golfing talents will gather in Midland, Ont., for the 2016 CN Future Links Ontario Championship from May 27-29. Players will test their skills during a practice round on May 26 before the 54-hole stroke play tournament gets underway.
The CN Future Links Ontario Championship is the second in a series of six junior competitions played across the nation in partnership with CN. Midland Golf & Country Club boasts a rich history of tradition and has challenged local golfers in the Georgian Bay area since its founding in 1919.
“Golf Canada is proud to bring this year’s edition of the CN Future Links Ontario Championship to Midland Golf & Country Club. This picturesque course will provide an excellent opportunity for these fine athletes to test their games in the early part of the season,” said Justine Decock, the competition’s Tournament Director.
Thomas ‘Jack’ Simpson will return in an attempt to defend his CN Future Links Ontario title. Last year, the Team Canada Men’s Development Squad member chipped in for eagle on the first extra hole to capture a thrilling playoff victory.
The full complement of the National Team Women’s Development Squad will be in attendance at Midland Golf & Country Club. Grace St-Germain of Orleans, Ont., will look to improve upon last year’s third-place result at Pine Knot Golf & Country Club in Dorchester, Ont., where Alyssa Getty finished 6-over 219 to claim victory.
Joining St-Germain are Surrey, B.C., native Hannah Lee and Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., who will attempt to take lessons learned in the past year to build upon their respective fifth and T15 finishes from a year ago. Squad members Tiffany Kong (Vancouver) and Kathrine Chan (Richmond, B.C.) will complete the Team Canada contingent.
Four additional CN Future Links Championships will cross the country this summer:
- June 3-5 – CN Future Links Quebec – Beauceville, Que. – Club de golf Beauceville
- June 10-12 – CN Future Links Prairie – Neepawa, Man. – Neepawa Golf & Country Club
- July 4-6 – CN Future Links Western – Medicine Hat, Alta. – Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club
- July 12-14 – CN Future Links Atlantic – Fairview, P.E.I. – Countryview Golf Club
The top six finishers in the Junior Boys division will gain entry into the 2016 Canadian Junior Boys Championship to be contested August 1-4 at Clovelly Golf Club in St. John’s, N.L. In the case of ties, exemptions will be decided via hole-by-hole playoff. All players within the Top-6, including ties, in the Junior Girls division will each earn exemptions into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, hosted by The Links at Penn Hills in Shubenacadie, N.S., from August 2-5.
Prior to the championship on Wednesday, May 25, Golf Canada and Special Olympics Canada will hold the second of two regional competitions in support of Special Olympics golf. The first event was held at The Dunes at Kamloops Golf Club before the CN Future Links Pacific Championship. A field of 24 local athletes will compete over nine holes. Following the event, PGA of Canada professionals will conduct a clinic for Special Olympics coaches and athletes with a focus on improving skills and leadership within the sport.
Additional information regarding the 2016 CN Future Links Ontario Championship, including participants, start times and up-to-date results can be found here.
DENVER, Colo. – Amateur Squad member Hugo Bernard capped off his impressive freshman season by winning medalist honours at the NCAA Division II Championship on Thursday at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Course.
The Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., product jumped out to an early lead with an opening-round 65 (-7) and never looked back, carding 17 birdies in total to lead the field en route to securing the two-stroke victory. The Saint Leo Lion finished at 13-under par (65-66-72) ahead of runner-up Calum Hill (Western New Mexico). The win marks the first NCAA championship win (individual or team) in Lions history.
The 21-year-old ended his freshman year where he spent most of his time this season—atop the leaderboard. Bernard finished inside the Top-5 in five out of seven events this season with Lions, including a win at the Argonaut Invitational.
The lefty’s efforts were further recognized by the NCAA on Thursday, being named as the Division II recipient of the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year Award (won by Team Canada graduate Adam Svensson in 2013). Bernard also earned a nod as one of eight members named to the GCAA/PING First Team All-American squad.
Teammate and fellow Quebec native Joey Savoie struggled in the final-round, carding a 2-over 74 to slip nine spots to a T11 finish.
Bernard will lead the No. 1-seeded Lions into the eight-team match-play portion of the NCAA Championship Friday morning against Wilmington University.
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GREENVILLE, S.C. – Byron Smith and Matt Fast matched opening rounds of 8-under 63 on Thursday at tournament host Thornblade Club to share the opening-round lead in the Web.com Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation.
Smith entered the week in Greenville with just four Web.com Tour starts to his name in 2016, but blistered the Tom Fazio-designed Thornblade course with nine birdies, including four birdies in his last five holes.
“Pretty much one club – the putter. That was about it, but it was working really well,” said Smith when asked what clicked on Thursday. “So that can really make up for a lot. I hit a few squirrelly shots off of the tee, but managed to hustle par on those. I just made a lot of putts.”
The former Pepperdine golfer won the Rex Hospital Open in 2014 en route to earning his PGA TOUR card for the 2014-15 season, but struggled on golf’s biggest stage with just one top-25 in 21 starts during his rookie season.
The 35-year-old Smith has made the cut in each of his four Web.com Tour starts this year, posting a season-best T18 at the El Bosque Mexico Championship presented by INNOVA. He is currently 83rd on the money list.
“I felt like it was coming around, and everything was in a good place. The driver is still kind of giving me some problems, but everything else has been really good,” he said. “So if I could just manage to avoid the foul ball, then I feel like I could put a good score together.”
Fast, who opened his week on No. 10 at Thornblade, birdied four of his first eight holes to turn in 4-under 32 before adding a flurry of birdies down the stretch on his way to a share of the 18-hole lead.
Birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 6 were offset by a bogey on the par-4 seventh, but the former Mississippi State golfer rebounded with a birdie on No. 8 to move back to 8-under on the day, which is where he finished for a round of 63.
“Yeah, you know you’ve got to make birdies this week and then add ball-in-hand for three days, so just hit fairways and you’ve got wedges, 9-irons and 8-irons. I feel great. It’s not my first lead of the year so I’m looking forward to it,” said Fast, who was the 36-hole leader at the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER in March.
Fast’s 2016 season has been up-and-down, with six made cuts in eight starts entering the week, but just one top-25 finish to his name – a T23 finish at last week’s Rex Hospital Open.
Without intention of pun, his starts have been fast, notching seven rounds of 68 or better in the first two rounds of play, but only two rounds in the 60s in his final two rounds of competition.
“I got an old caddie back, which we’ve always played well together. So I was really excited about that. Just getting into the flow of the year,” said Fast, who reunited with caddie David O’Donovan in Raleigh. “I was hurt at the beginning of the year and actually played good on some Thursdays and Fridays, but (now we’re) just getting in the flow of it and letting it go.”
Five players set the pace at tournament co-host The Reserve at Lake Keowee, with Chris Baker, Brandon Hagy, Sebastian Cappelen, Adam Schenk and Rex Hospital Open champion Trey Mullinax matching rounds of 7-under 65 on Thursday.
Mullinax, who closed in 30 to win his first Web.com Tour title at TPC Wakefield Plantation on Sunday, birdied five of his first six holes in the opening round before adding a late eagle on the par-5 17th to move to 7-under for the day.
The former Alabama standout moved from No. 33 to No. 4 on the money list with last week’s win, which pushed his 2016 earnings up to $154,486.
Surrey, B.C., native Adam Svensson, who earned medalist honors at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament in December, and former Western Amateur champion Jhared Hack posted the day’s low rounds at The Preserve at Verdae with a pair of 67s.
The 22-year-old Svensson was even-par through eight holes at the tournament’s newest host venue before making birdie on five of his final 10 holes to round out his 5-under-par effort.
Svensson, who finished ninth on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit in just six starts last year, earned fully exempt status on the 2016 Web.com Tour with his Q-School win. The former Barry University golfer turned professional at the start of 2015 before competing on the Mackenzie Tour, where he ended the year ranked No. 1 in Scoring Average (Actual), thanks in part to four top-5 finishes.
Young Pro Squad member Albin Choi of Toronto was 3-under at The Reserve at Lake Keowee.
At Thornblade, Calgarian Ryan Yip shot 4-under and sits T-24; Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C., is T88 at 1-under; North Vancouver’s Eugene Wong is even-par and Young Pro Squad member Taylor Pendrith opened with a 74.
At The Preserve at Verdae, Wil Bateman of Edmonton is T113 after carding a 72. Ontarians Ben Silverman (Concord) and the Young Pro Squad’s Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas) registered matching 73s.
Three Men’s Amateur Squad members punched their ticket to the NCAA Championship on Wednesday by advancing at their respective regional events.
Leading the way for Team Canada was Kimberley, B.C., native Jared du Toit, who finished at 4-over (72-73-75) to tie for fifth at the Albuquerque Regional hosted at the University of New Mexico Championship Course. The Arizona State junior opened the tournament with an eagle, setting the tone early to help the Sun Devils finish first overall as a team. The Sun Devils were led by World No. 1 ranked John Rahm, who repeated as medalist at 4-under par (69-71-72).
Team Canada veteran Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont., posted a final score of 2-over par (78-68-72) at the Franklin Regional to close at T51. The University of Houston senior was part of a Cougars squad that finished at 25-under par to tie for third place, earning one of the Top-5 spots to move on to the championship.
Rounding out the trio of Team Canada members to advance is Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, who closed at T52 with a score of 24-over par (88-75-77). Despite his individual struggles, Macdonald and the Purdue Boilermakers captured the fifth and final spot at the Stillwater Regional with a two-stroke advantage over Augusta University.
All three Canucks will tee-it-up at the NCAA Div I Championship from May 27–June 1 at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Oreg.
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Albuquerque Regional scoring (Jared du Toit)
Franklin Regional scoring (Blair Hamilton)
Stillwater Regional scoring (Stuart Macdonald)
