Conners, Hughes T20 with opening-round suspended at Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
KAWAGOE, JAPAN - JULY 29: Corey Conners of Team Canada lines up a putt on the first green during the first round of the Men's Individual Stroke Play on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kasumigaseki Country Club on July 29, 2021 in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Canadian Press
Canada’s Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes are at 2-under 69 after the first round of the men’s golf tournament. Conners and Hughes are tied for 20th with nine other golfers, six strokes behind leader Sepp Straka of Austria.
Play was suspended two-and-a-half hours due to a thunderstorm.
371 athletes to represent Team Canada at Tokyo 2020
Canadian Olympic Committee
Largest contingent of Canadian athletes at an Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1984
TORONTO – On Tuesday, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced that a Canadian delegation of 370 athletes and 131 coaches will be participating at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This contingent of athletes will be Canada’s largest team to compete at an Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1984.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will officially open on Friday, July 23 and continue through Sunday, August 8. The competition will feature 339 events across 33 sports and 50 disciplines. This will be the second time that the Olympic Games will take place in Tokyo, which previously welcomed the world in 1964.
Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners will represent Canada at the Kasumigaseki Country Club. The first round of Men’s Individual Stroke Play will begin on July 29th, 2021, with the final round taking place on August 1st.
Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp will then hit the course starting August 4th, 2021 for the first round of the Women’s Individual Stroke Play. The final round is scheduled August 7th.
The full list of Team Canada athletes and coaches with breakdown by sport and home province can be downloaded here.
QUOTES
“This is a very special moment for these 371 athletes, who have faced some of the most challenging circumstances over the past 16 months to be named to Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 delegation. The fact that we have the largest Canadian team at a Summer Olympics in over 35 years speaks volumes to the focus and resilience of Canadian athletes and the sport community. While we are looking forward to watching them shine on the international stage, their glory will go beyond their accomplishments. This is about their journey to get to Tokyo and how they have inspired the nation.”
– Eric Myles, COC Chief Sport Officer
“These unique times have forged a special Canadian Olympic Team. Even before Canada’s incredible athletes get to their first competitions in Tokyo, I am extraordinarily impressed by their results. Despite the pandemic, through their creativity and perseverance, they have become the largest Canadian Olympic Team in three decades. In far less than ideal conditions, they have found a way to be faster and stronger than ever and I have no doubt that they are ready to reveal something special at Tokyo 2020. Their stories are ones that we can all be proud of.”
– Marnie McBean, Three-time Olympic champion and Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission
“With the Opening Ceremony just nine days away, it is an honour to be a part of this Team Canada. Every single athlete on this team has faced adversity, uncertainty and disruption, having to adapt and adjust to a new timeline and a new world. That they have come this far is a testament to their determination and perseverance. I am so excited that, after a year’s delay, we will all have the opportunity to show Canada, and the world, what we have been working for.”
National Junior Selection Camp scheduled for August 29 through September 3 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley
Golf Canada
Like many athletes in a training environment over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to competitive opportunities for junior golfers in Canada. To facilitate the selection of participants for the 2021-2022 National Junior Squad, Golf Canada will hold a National Junior Selection Camp from August 29 through September 3 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ont.
Approximately 50 junior boys and girls who have not reached their 19th birthday by August 1, 2021, will be invited to participate in the National Junior Selection Camp. The camp will include skills testing as well as a 54-hole stroke-play competition that will award World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points.
Performance at the camp will be considered alongside results from recent competitions to assist Golf Canada in selecting participants for the 2021-2022 National Junior Squad. Additional details about final squad selection will be released later the summer.
The 54-hole competition at the selection camp will also be used to fill remaining spots for Canada’s team at the World Junior Girls Championship in late September (Markham, Ontario), should this international competition gain government approval to proceed. More information about selection for the World Junior Girls team can be found at this link.
There are several ways that athletes may qualify for the National Junior Selection Camp. Players who meet any of the following criteria will automatically qualify:
Age eligible members of the 2020-2021 National Junior Squad.
Any junior girls ranked within the top-750 on the WAGR and any junior boys ranked within the top-1250 on WAGR as of August 4, 2021.
Canadian national junior and juvenile champions (boys and girls) from 2021.
Champions from each of the ten provincial junior championships from 2021, provided the winning total score is even par or better and the championship has concluded before August 9, 2021.
In addition, each provincial golf association may nominate athletes for consideration, and athletes may apply to the camp directly by completing the application form at this link by August 9. Complete information about qualification criteria for the National Junior Selection Camp should be reviewed here.
Selected athletes should plan to arrive for the camp in the afternoon or evening on August 29 and depart in the afternoon on September 3. Skills testing and practice rounds will take place on August 30 and August 31. Competitive rounds will occur on the North course at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley on September 1-3.
Golf Canada will provide camp participants with a stipend to cover the cost of travel and accommodations while parents are invited to attend the camp at their own expense.
OAKVILLE, Ont. – Wondering how Canada’s Olympic golf team will be selected? You’re not alone.
In 2016, golf made its historic return to the Olympic Games for the first time in 112 years, dating back to when Canadian George S. Lyon won gold for Canada at St. Louis 1904. A lot has happened since 2016 (new Rules of Golf and new PGA TOUR schedule just to name a few) and many golf fans have forgotten how Olympic qualifying works, which is why we’re writing this article.
The field for the 2020 Olympic golf competition will include 60 women and 60 men competing over 72 holes of stroke play in a men’s individual event (July 30-August 2) and a women’s individual event (August 5-8).
Athletes earn their spots on their respective Olympic Golf Team based on their standing in the respective men’s and women’s Olympic golf rankings. The final day for qualifying is June 22, 2020 for the men’s teams and June 29, 2020, for the women’s teams.
The top-15 players will qualify with a limit of up to four golfers per any one country. Any remaining spots will go to countries who do not already have two golfers qualified, with a limit of two per country. As well, the International Golf Federation (IGF) has guaranteed at least one golfer from the host nation and each geographical region (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) will qualify.
If Canada’s team was determined today (Sept. 12, 2019), Adam Hadwin, Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp represent Canada. However, there’s still plenty of golf to be played before the selection is made.
Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing 319,000 golfers and 1,400 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. By investing in the growth of the sport and introducing more participants of all ages to the game, our vision is to be a world leader in golf.
Prior to being named to the final Canadian 2020 Team, all nominations from Canada are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Federations.
UPDATE: May 27, 2020
Qualification will still be based on the Olympic Golf Rankings, with the men’s qualification period now ending on June 21, 2021 and the women’s closing a week later on June 28, 2021. The rankings have been suspended since March 20 and points will begin to be accumulated again when competitions are allowed to resume.
UPDATE: June 30, 2021
The men’s individual event will now be played from July 29-Aug. 1, 2021 and the women’s individual event will be played from Aug. 4-7, 2021. Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes are the men’s nominated athletes and Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp are the women’s nominated athletes to represent Canada.
VIDEO: Henderson, Conners, Sharp, Hughes to tee off for Canada at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Golf Canada
Golf Canada hosted a media availability on Tuesday, June 29th, 2021 to officially announce the golfers who will represent Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
The announcement is available to watch in full below.
OAKVILLE – Golf Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have announced Canada’s golf team nominated to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. and Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. will comprise the women’s team competing in their second Olympic Games, while Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. will represent Canada in the men’s Olympic golf competition.
Henderson is a 10-time winner on the LPGA Tour and is currently the 7th ranked golfer in the world. The 23-year-old holds the record for most professional golf wins by a Canadian and has earned 59 career top-10 finishes since joining the LPGA Tour in 2015. A former world no. 1 ranked amateur and Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, Henderson is a graduate of Golf Canada’s National Team Program and represented Canada at numerous international competitions including the 2012 and 2014 World Amateur Team Championships as well as the 2014 World Junior Girls Championship. Henderson honed her game at the Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club and is also a proud member of the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club.
Sharp qualified for her second Olympic Games as the 136th ranked player in the world. The 40-year-old has earned 14 career top-10 finishes since joining the LPGA Tour in 2005 and finished 30th at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. A two-time winner of the PGA of Canada Women’s Championship, Sharp has represented Canada at a number of events including the 2000 World Amateur Team Championship and the 2008 World Cup. Sharp is also a proud member of the Brantford Golf and Country Club.
“One of the greatest thrills for an athlete is to represent our country at the Olympics and I am extremely proud to now officially be a two-time Olympian,” said Sharp. “I am excited to get to Tokyo to represent Team Canada and challenge my game against the world’s best.”
Conners, who is nominated to his first Olympic Games, is the current 37th ranked golfer in the world. The 29-year-old joined the PGA TOUR in 2018 and has earned 13 career top-10 finishes including a victory at the 2019 Valero Texas Open. A graduate of Golf Canada’s National Team Program, Conners has represented Canada at several international competitions including the World Amateur Team Championship in 2012 and 2014 as well as the 2010 Junior Boys World Cup. Conners honed his game as a proud member of the Listowel Golf Club.
“This is something that I’ve thought about for a long time—I’ve worked hard toward qualifying for one of the spots, and I’m just so proud to be part of Team Canada this summer in Tokyo,” said Conners, who finished T8 at The Masters earlier this season. “I’ve had the opportunity to compete for Canada at different events with the National team over my career but to do it at the Olympics, one of the biggest stages in sport along with Mac (Hughes) and the rest of the Team Canada athletes is going to be an incredible experience.”
Currently the 65th ranked golfer in the world, Hughes joins his former Kent State college teammate Conners as an Olympic rookie. The 30-year-old joined the PGA TOUR in 2017 and has 12 career top 10s including a victory at the 2017 RSM Classic. A two-time Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, Hughes is a graduate of Golf Canada’s National Team Program and represented Canada at a number of international competitions including the 2012 World Amateur Team Championship. Hughes is a proud member of the Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club which includes a short course named in his honour.
“Qualifying and competing for Team Canada has been a goal of mine since golf came back into the Olympics and now that its official, it feels like a dream come true,” said Hughes, who recently held a share of the 54-hole lead at the US Open and a past winner on the PGA Tour. “Having the opportunity to compete alongside Corey, a great player, former teammate, and one of my best friends, makes it even more special. I’m also excited for Brooke and Alena and I hope we can all put in a great performance and get Canadian fans excited.”
Golf Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man. will accompany the men’s golf team in Tokyo. Brett Saunders of Vancouver, B.C., a personal coach for Alena Sharp, will also be in Tokyo during the women’s golf competition.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic golf competition will take place on the East Course of the Kasumigaseki Country Club. The men’s event will be contested July 29 to August 1 (Days 6 – 9), while the women will compete August 4 to 7 (Days 12 – 15). The field for the Olympic golf competition will include 60 women and 60 men competing over 72 holes of stroke play with no cut. If players in medal positions are tied after 72 holes, a three-hole playoff will decide the medallists before potentially sudden death.
The complete field for the men’s Olympic golf competition is here and while the complete field for the women’s Olympic golf competition is here.
The athletes earned their spots on the Canadian Olympic golf team based on their standing on the respective men’s and women’s world golf ranking, with the men’s qualification as of June 21, 2021, and the women’s qualification as of June 28, 2021.
“Covid protocols hushing the crowd at the golf venue should make our golfers feel right at home! I can’t wait to follow the action, led by Brooke, on the links in Tokyo,” said Team Canada’s Tokyo 2020 Chef de Mission, Marnie McBean.
Brett Saunders (Vancouver, B.C.) – Alena Sharp’s Personal Coach
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.
“Brooke, Alena, Corey and Mackenzie have become heroes in our sport—they embody the Olympic spirit and I know how important it was for each of them to be part of Team Canada,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “As the National Sport Organization and proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, we are extremely pleased with how golf has become a high focus sport for the Olympics, and we look forward to watching these talented athletes take on the world’s best.”
The latest Team Canada Tokyo 2020 roster can be found here and the qualification tracker can be found here.
Team Canada’s Brigitte Thibault Advances to NCAA Women’s Golf Championship
Fresno State Athletics
Golf Canada
OAKVILLE, ONT. – Team Canada member, Brigitte Thibault has advanced to the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.
Thibault, a senior at Fresno State, secured her spot in the Championship, shooting 2-under par 211 (70-73-68) at Standford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif.
The Rosemère, Que. native shot her best round on Wednesday with a 3-under 68 driving her to a qualifying spot at the National Championship.
Thibault’s 211 was the lowest score by a Fresno State Bulldog at an NCAA regional event, beating her own record of 216 set in 2019.
Brigitte won the 2020 Women’s Western Amateur Championship and was T3 up at the 2020 Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
The 2021 NCAA Women’s Golf National Championship will be played at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. on May 21-26.
Golf Canada names 10 athletes to 2021 Team Canada Young Pro Squad
OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the 10 athletes who have been selected to represent the 2021 Team Canada Young Pro Squad. Comprising the 2021 Women’s Young Pro Squad will be returnees Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.), Jaclyn Lee (Calgary, Alta.), and Maddie Szeryk (London, Ont.). After becoming a first-time mom in July, Golf Canada is also pleased to welcome back Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City, Que.) to the Young Pro Squad as she makes her return to the LPGA Tour.
The 2021 Men’s Young Pro Squad features a six-pack of familiar athletes led by Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.). Other members of the Men’s Young Pro Squad for 2021 include Jared du Toit (Kimberley, B.C.), Chris Crisologo (Richmond, B.C.), Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver, B.C.), Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.), and Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.).
For the bulk of the athletes returning to the Young Pro Squad, 2021 is an opportunity to build of off the adversity of 2020 and take a next step in their developing careers.
“This is a very exciting time for young professional golfers in Canada, and we are really looking forward to seeing their continued success in 2021,” said Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer Kevin Blue. “For most of the athletes returning to the Squad, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on scheduling, training, and competition in 2020. With the support of our key partners and the drive these athletes have to overcome adversity and succeed, I’m positive we’ll see even more great results from this talented group of athletes.”
Men’s and Women’s National Team coaches Derek Ingram and Tristan Mullally – both award-winning PGA of Canada members – will continue as head coaches for the Young Pro Squad.
The Golf Canada Foundation has also announced the creation of a new award – the Emerging Professional Player of the Year Award, presented by Andrew Cook. The inaugural recipients of the award are Young Pro athletes Taylor Pendrith and Maddie Szeryk who will each receive $10,000 towards their continued development in professional golf.
Andrew Cook, a proud Trustee of the Golf Canada Foundation and past President with Golf Canada, established a $20,000 fund to annually recognize a top male and female emerging Canadian professional golfer from the Young Pro Squad having success on golf’s developmental.
“I am very pleased to partner with Golf Canada and Golf Canada Foundation to launch the Emerging Pro Player of the Year Award, as an additional incentive to Canadian professionals around the globe,” said Cook. “As a long-time volunteer of the game, I appreciate the power our heroes have in inspiring the next generation of young players, and my wife (Anne) and I are excited to help continue the tremendous success of the Young Pro Program.”
“We are so excited to announce Taylor and Maddie as our first Emerging Professional Players of the Year,” said Martin Barnard, CEO of the Canada Foundation. “Thanks to the continued generosity of Andrew Cook, we are able to reward these two deserving young professionals with additional financial support that will have an important impact as they chase their dreams.”
Pendrith, a long-time part of Golf Canada’s National Team as an amateur and now a professional, had a breakout year on the Korn Ferry Tour. He currently sits second on the Korn Ferry Tour’s Season Long Points List thanks to five top-3 finishes in 2020. Pendrith also finished T23 at the U.S. Open (finishing as Low Canadian) and jumped from 399th to 128th in the Official World Golf Ranking – all of this just one year after he played on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.
Szeryk notched her second win as a professional in 2020 in her second year as a pro. In 2020, she also recorded her career-low Symetra Tour finish (T11, FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship) and ended the year as Top Canadian on the Symetra Tour. There were only 10 events on the Symetra Tour last year and the gap between men’s and women’s professional golf opportunities widened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current and former team members of the Young Pro Squad, which was established in 2014, have accounted for 43 wins across various professional golf tours including a record nine LPGA Tour wins by Brooke Henderson along with PGA TOUR wins from Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners.
Funding for this program, in large part, comes from the Golf Canada Foundation with generous contributions from founding partners RBC and Canadian Pacific, as well as supporting partners Citi Canada and Bear Mountain Resort – the Official Training Centre of Golf Canada’s National Team program.
“RBC is proud to support the next generation of Canadian golfers through the Young Pro program” said David Agnew, CEO, RBC Wealth Management Canada, “It’s exciting for us to watch golfers we supported as amateurs, like Corey Conners, Brooke Henderson and Mackenzie Hughes, succeed as professionals.”
“From the CP Women’s Open and our deep involvement with Team Canada to ambassador partnerships with Brooke Henderson and Lorie Kane, CP is proud to support these talented athletes representing Canada on the world stage,” added James Clements, Canadian Pacific. “As the best team in the railroading business knows, precision and excellence require a strong team. We are extremely proud to be part of the great team supporting these young professionals in their golf journey.”
The topsy-turvy nature of the 2020 golf season ultimately produced one of the busiest years in the history of the game. The sport’s sudden demand required innovation, flexibility, and, perhaps most importantly, hard work and long hours by PGA of Canada professionals from coast to coast. All members of the association are worthy of accolades for their efforts, highlighted by the 2020 PGA of Canada National Award winners.
“I’ve never been so proud to be a PGA of Canada member. The resilience and commitment to safety shown by our association during the early stages of the pandemic and throughout the 2020 golf season was inspirational,” said Teejay Alderdice, PGA of Canada President. “I’d like to congratulate our 2020 PGA of Canada Award winners and finalists. We experienced a year like no other in 2020 and this group led the way in achieving a successful season.”
Among those being honoured is Derek Ingram, Men’s Head Coach of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad. After training a team throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and finding new ways to stay connected, he is being recognized for utilizing innovative coaching methods in the midst of unpredictability.
The 2020 PGA of Canada National Awards ceremony was conducted virtually with TSN personalities Bob Weeks and Kayla Grey, along with St. George’s Golf and Country Club General Manager Ian Leggatt, serving as hosts.
“It is unfortunate that we could not gather in Orlando at the PGA Merchandise Show to celebrate as we normally would, but the show must go on and our virtual rollout ensured our winners were recognized in front of their peers as they so richly deserve,” said Kevin Thistle, PGA of Canada CEO.
Team Canada men’s head coach Derek Ingram took on even greater responsibilities in 2020, overseeing Golf Canada’s entire development program. He was one of the first coaches to use remote connection tools like CoachNow to work with his many students — including PGA Tour winner Corey Conners — and he shared his golf wisdom on social media with his popular Garage Series tips. Derek also operates a high-performance program at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club in his native Manitoba, where many of his pupils are ranked among the province’s top juniors. Derek is now a four-time national award winner, having been the 2003 Junior Leader of the Year and the 2003 and 2007 Coach of the Year.
Click here to view finalists for this award. Moe Norman Apprentice Professional of the Year – Krysta Schaus
From running tournaments to making merchandising decisions to custom fitting and teaching lessons, Krysta Schaus is an integral and versatile member of the Toronto Golf Club team. Krysta has a strong desire to grow the game among juniors and women — leading clinics at TGC for both groups — and she has been continuous in her pursuit of further education by seeking out mentors and completing various courses and seminars. The Erskine College and Gardner-Webb University alum also represents Toronto Golf Club in various competitive events.
Remarkably, Dean Ingalls led the Silver Springs Golf and Country Club shop to a record sales year in 2020. The now two-time Pat Fletcher Retailer of the Year Award winner created Vision 2020, whereby staff members were put in charge of individual categories and asked to maximize sales with creative ideas. Silver Springs also sent members daily value pricing videos that were often injected with humour as shop staff modelled clothing and showcased products. Sidewalk sales, customized water bottles, and constant shop reorganization were other retailing techniques that Ingalls spearheaded.
Tex Noble Award for Professional Development – Derrik Goodwin
Derrik Goodwin continues to show extreme devotion to his craft. The St. Charles Country Club assistant professional devours all things golf education to better himself. This is evidenced by his winning four-straight Manitoba Teacher of the Year and four-straight Manitoba Junior Leader of the Year awards. He’s also won two-straight Manitoba Class A Professional of the Year awards. Derrik is certified in numerous platforms and shares his knowledge with both his peers and students on social media platforms and on his own website.
Stan Leonard Class A Professional of the Year – Derrik Goodwin
Derrik Goodwin continues to add to his impressive trophy case. With thorough knowledge in numerous teaching technologies, such as TrackMan, Foresight Sports, K-Vest, and Quintic, Derrik brings a wealth of knowledge to members of St. Charles Country Club and to the players on the golf teams at the University of Manitoba, where he is the director and head coach. In addition, Derrik is a vital member of the St. Charles golf staff — running leagues, tournaments, club fitting, introductory clinics, the junior program, and the Future Links Learn to Play program. He also volunteers his time to numerous initiatives, such as the PGA of Manitoba’s Future Pros program.
Gareth Raflewski has the largest and most successful stable of touring pros of any golf coach in Canada. Among his many students on the LPGA Tour are World Number One Jin Young Ko, Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda and Ariya and Moria Jutanugarn. On the PGA Tour, his pupils include Michael Gligic and Hudson Swafford. Based out of RiverBend Golf Community in London, Ontario, in 2020 Gareth partnered with the Slieve Russell Hotel and Golf Club in his native Ireland to open his first golf academy outside of Canada. The short-game specialist has his own line of training aids and an online subscription platform with live lessons and on-course training for all levels.
Jack McLaughlin Junior Leader of the Year – Louis Melanson
Louis Melanson’s name is synonymous with junior golf in New Brunswick. He’s been the provincial coach for Golf New Brunswick for the past 14 years. He is the Atlantic Canada director for the Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour. He serves on the New Brunswick Junior Golf Committee. And at the Louis Melanson Golf Academy at Fox Creek Golf Club there were a whopping 156 junior members in 2020 — more than 10 times the number from when Louis first took over the program. The 2017 Sports New Brunswick coach of the year is also a seven-time Atlantic Zone teacher of the year and presides over the only Sport Études program in Atlantic Canada.
Warren Crosbie Community Leader of the Year – Muncie Booth
A 40-plus-year PGA of Canada member, Muncie Booth is the head professional at the City of Vancouver’s McCleery Golf Course and was previously the director of golf at both McCleery and Langara. That means he’s dedicated much of his career to municipal golf. In 1999 Muncie founded the Inner City Youth golf program designed to introduce golf to children of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Despite hurdles along the way, it has doubled in size and continues to teach kids the valuable life lessons golf offers. A leader in inclusive hiring, Munice was recognized by Community Living BC in 2005 with a Widening Our World award.
Dick Munn Executive Professional of the Year – Rene MacKay
Rene MacKay has led Ken-Wo Golf Club through an impressive transformation over the years, broadening club access to women and juniors, incorporating off-season events with golf simulators, and developing a team atmosphere among staff that has not gone unnoticed by members. Ken-Wo’s director of golf operations was a key member of the Nova Scotia Return to Play task force in 2020, and was also Atlantic Canada’s top retailer in 2020. As a testament to his overall dedication, Rene led the Atlantic Zone’s Professional Recognition Program ledger in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Murray Tucker Club Professional of the Year – Dean Ingalls
A double-award winner in 2020, Dean Ingalls is the Cub Professional of the Year as well as the Retailer of the Year. Ingalls showed tremendous leadership in the early days of the pandemic, taking shifts with the turf department and helping food and beverage with curbside pickup. Once the extreme busyness of the season set in, Dean ensured Silver Springs ran smoothly, developing programs for new golfers and leagues for seasoned members. He continued to mentor young pros and he did not let 2020 impede his charitable nature. As one example, Dean used proceeds from customized water bottle sales to buy back $9,000 worth of unsold 2019 inventory and donate the clothing to a women’s shelter.
National Junior Squad’s Emily Zhu wins Junior Orange Bowl Championship
Canadian Press with files from Golf Canada
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Canadian golfer Emily Zhu has captured the girls division of the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl Invitational.
The 16 year old from Richmond Hill, Ont., finished 7 under for the 72-hole tournament on Wednesday, three strokes ahead of Antonia Matte of Chile.
“It’s amazing,” said Zhu, “I hadn’t won a tournament in a while, so it’s really nice. It’s a great way to start 2021.”
Zhu, a member of Golf Canada’s national team, was the Canadian junior girls champion in 2019. She also tied for eighth at the Orange Bowl that year.
Zhu took a three-shot advantage into the final day, but saw Matte use four birdies in a seven-hole stretch to close within one with six holes remaining. Two bogeys down the stretch, though, kept Matte from getting any closer.
“I think I understood what I had to shoot,” Zhu said, “and I was just trying to shoot that as best as possible.”
In the Orange Bowl boys event, Jean-Philippe Parr of St-Celestin, Que., was third, seven shots behind winner Sebastian Moss of the U.S.
Moss and Zhu are the newest names set for engraving onto a Junior Orange Bowl International trophy already featuring Tiger Woods (1991), Hall of Famer Inbee Park (2002) and LPGA major winners Cristie Kerr (1994), Lexi Thompson (2009), Ariya Jutanugarn (2010) and Brooke Henderson (2013).
Zhu goes into the books as Canada’s third champion, following Henderson and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc (2006). With this championship, she ends a winless drought that had reached 17 months and prompted a swing change over the summer.
“It was frustrating that I couldn’t play like I’m capable of playing,” said Zhu, whose most recent win had been the 2019 Canadian Junior Championship. “I couldn’t show it in my scores. That was the most frustrating part. But I’m glad that I’ve settled it and pretty much got my golf in check.”
The Golf Championship is one of 15 athletic, artistic and cultural events that make up the Junior Orange Bowl International Youth Festival, which celebrates its 72nd anniversary in 2020-21. The festival draws more than 7,500 youth participants to South Florida’s community each year.