Team Canada’s Étienne Papineau commits to West Virginia
Étienne Papineau (Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada)
Men’s Development Squad member Étienne Papineau has committed to play golf for West Virginia University beginning in the fall of 2016.
Papineau, the lone remaining member of the Men’s Development Squad yet to commit to a post-secondary school, made the announcement just days following his amateur championship win in his home province of Québec.
The 18-year-old St-Jean-sur-Richelieu native has elected to remain home for another year to improve his English while continuing to solidify his golf game with provincial head coach Fred Colgan before joining the Mountaineers.
West Virginia Unviersity, a Div I school in the Big 12 conference, is re-launching its golf program after a 30-year hiatus from competition. Papineau will look to be a part of the Mountaineer’s core for years to come.
For Toronto’s Albin Choi, the transition from amateur to the professional ranks has been a bit of a bumpy ride.
But now in his third full season as a pro, the former Northview Heights Secondary student is starting to find his comfort zone; and the results are starting to show on the golf course.
As an amateur, the Toronto golfer was nothing short of spectacular. Besides winning the Canadian Amateur title in 2010, the Ontario Amateur title in 2012, and nine collegiate titles during his three years at North Carolina State University, Choi was also awarded the Gary Cowan trophy as the low amateur at the 2012 RBC Canadian Open.
Having turned professional after his junior year at NC State University, the former Canadian national team member admits that he’s gone through a bit of a learning curve.
“I haven’t been playing that well the past couple of years but the game’s been coming around,” said Choi recently at the RBC Canadian Open.
“It was just a bit of a learning curve when I came out of college and now I’ve been playing professional golf for a couple of years, so I’m getting use to how things work and I think I’m just getting a bit more comfortable out there,” added the 5 foot 11 inch amateur standout.
Someone who shares Choi’s assessment about the challenges involved in transitioning from amateur to pro is Canadian golfing legend, Gary Cowan.
“Once you’re a pro you have to learn how to play again,” said Cowan, who captured the United States amateur title in 1966 and then again in 1971.
“When you’re an amateur, you’re with your collegiate team or you’re with the Golf Canada amateur team and you go where everyone else goes. But when you turn pro you’re on your own and you have to learn to be on your own; and you have to take the time to learn and get familiar with the golf courses that you are playing on,” explained the 76-year-old Canadian golfing icon.
Having first met Choi in 2012, Cowan is confident, that with time, the amateur standout will be able to find similar success on the professional circuit.
“I first met him at the RBC Canadian Open in Hamilton and he’s very nice and quiet. I think he’s very talented; give him a couple more years and he’s going to be a really good player,” Cowan added about Choi.
Someone else who is eager to speak about Choi’s talents and dedication on the golf course is former high school classmate and current teammate on the Golf Canada’s Young Pro Program, Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
“Albin’s consistency really impressed me. He was the best putter I knew as a junior,” recalled the fourth year LPGA pro, who transferred from Bayview Secondary in Richmond Hill to Northview Heights Secondary after completing grade 10.
“He’s dedicated and always very focused when he practiced,” she added about Choi’s commitment.
For his part, Choi says it’s his commitment to improving and learning that has played a key part in his success so far this year.
“It’s always a work in progress but I’m just trying to learn from each tournament and take what I’ve learn into the week after,” he said.
Having learned his fair share of difficult lessons during his first two seasons as a pro as a member of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad, the Toronto golfer is successfully applying those lessons this year.
Choi started his 2015 season by claiming medalist honours at the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Qualifying School, and followed that up with a victory at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open in early June.
“Winning always boosts your confidence. It was a big accomplishment for me early on in the year so I’m just trying to keep it going,” he pointed out.
Despite failing to make the cut recently at Glen Abbey, Choi is confident that he has the all-around game to compete against the PGA TOUR’s best.
“My game is definitely good enough to compete out here; just a couple of small errors here or there that I need to touch up on. But I feel my game is just as good as these guys,” he said.
“I just have to play more on the big stage and get used to being out there with the best players. I’ve played in four of these RBC Canadian Opens and I learn from each of them; and I just need to get myself into more tournaments like this,” Choi added.
With valuable experience now under his belt and a success first half of 2015 in the books, the 23-year-old golfer takes comfort in the fact that he’s heading in the right direction; and firmly believes in his abilities to meet his long term goals.
“I’ve just got to keep working at it and just keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he said. “And I definitely see myself on the PGA TOUR five years from now – hopefully with a win or two.”
Four tied after opening round of 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship
Charles-Éric Bélanger (Photo courtesy of Roger Lauzon).
VAUDREUIL-DORION, Que. – Four competitors shot 1-under-par 71 to take the opening round lead in the 77th Canadian Junior Boys Championship being contested at Summerlea Golf & Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que.
Two 16-year-olds, Charles-Éric Bélanger of Québec City, Que., and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., are co-leaders in both the Junior and Juvenile divisions.
The pair are joined at the top of the Junior leaderboard by 18-year-old Kevin Gordon of Whitby, Ont., and 17-year-old Henry Lee of Coquitlam, B.C.
While Summerlea Golf & Country Club was not affected by the heavy rainfall in the area, the competitors were challenged with gusty winds throughout the day.
Despite the challenging conditions, Bélanger maintained focus on the course. “I made good saves. I putted really well and struck the ball well. I tried to hit every fairway and attack every green in hopes of making a lot of birdies.”
Bélanger recorded five birdies on the day, including one on 18, to be one of only three players to birdie the final par four.
Bélanger and Ewart are looking to become the ninth player to win both the Junior and Juvenile titles in the same year since the Juvenile competition was introduced in 1970.
“I’m going to focus on hitting fairways and greens and not think too much about the outcome at the end, but if I did (win) it would be a great accomplishment,” added Bélanger.
A tight leaderboard has four players one-stroke back of the lead in a tie for fifth place. Opening the competition with rounds of even-par were Aaron Black of Grimsby, Ont., Gabriel Gingras of Chelsea, Que., Andrew Harrison of Camrose, Alta., and Brett Pasula of Red Deer, Alta.
Team Canada’s Development Squad was led by Étienne Papineau with a score of 2-over 74. The St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., native is tied for twelfth place and sits three strokes shy of the lead. Squad members Trevor Ranton of Waterloo, Ont., and Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont., both signed for rounds of 4-over 76.
An inter-provincial team championship is conducted in conjuction with the first 36 holes of play. Team Quebec leads by one stroke over defending champions Team Alberta. The Quebec contingent is comprised of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., natives Étienne Papineau and Raphaël Lapierre-Messier, as well as, Félix Normand of Beloeil, Que.
The winner of the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will earn an exemption into the 2015 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship from August 8 – 13, co-hosted by Weston Golf & Country Club and The Lambton Golf & Country Club.
The second-round of the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will continue tomorrow morning with a split tee start on holes 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m. EST. Following the second-round, the field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties.
Full results from the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, are available here.
Team Canada’s Étienne Papineau wins Québec Men’s Amateur
Development Squad member Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué., finished at 7-under par (67-72-68-74) to capture the 98th edition of the Québec Men’s Amateur Championship on Wednesday at the Royal Estrie Golf Club.
The 18-year-old jumped out to an early lead in the tournament with a bogey-free opening round on Monday, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 12th. The Pinegrove Golf & Country Club member kept his foot on the gas, fending off a comeback from runner-up and former Team Canada member, Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Qué. Despite struggling in Thursday’s final round, Papineau was able to close out Bernard by a three-stroke margin.
Papineau’s win marks his second victory of Québec’s Triple Crown this season—he won the Alexander of Tunis trophy earlier in July.
The men’s Triple Crown is composed of the Alexander of Tunis, Duke of Kent, and Men’s Provincial Amateur Championship. Considering his two victories in this group of events, Étienne Papineau will make the Golf Québec team for the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship to be held at the Weston Golf & Country Club and Lambton Golf & Country Club from Aug. 10-13. Pierre-Alexandre Bédard and Hugo Bernard who ranked in the Top-3 of the Triple Crown’s Order of Merit will be completing the team.
Svensson takes advantage of moving day at RBC Canadian Open
Adam Svensson (Golf Canada/ Chuck Russell)
OAKVILLE, Ont. – Long before David Hearn moved to the top of the RBC Canadian Open leaderboard, Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Adam Svensson took advantage of pristine early morning conditions during his third round.
With the first tee time Saturday morning because an odd number of players made the cut, Svensson played 18 holes by himself. The Surrey, B.C., native shot a 5-under 67 to make a major move up the leaderboard at 7 under for the tournament.
“It was a little bit weird the first couple of holes,” Svensson said. “But I kind of got used to it. Just had a good rhythm all day and got off to a pretty good start. So I was pretty happy.”
Svensson, who’s tied for 26th going into the final round, had never golfed solo before in a tournament setting and called it a fun day. He had to be an early riser, though, teeing off at 7 a.m.
“I’m pretty much sleeping,” Svensson said. “But it was fun. It was fast, too, which I like.”
Svensson completed the round in 2 hours 59 minutes, at least 90 minutes shorter than a conventional PGA Tour event round. He was off the course more than three hours before the final groups teed off.
At 7 under, Svensson will have a playing partner for the final round of the RBC Canadian Open: American Brian Harman, who was second after two rounds before struggling.
Beyond Hearn’s heroics, it was a strong day Canadian Adam Hadwin, who shot 5 under to get to 8 under and a tie for 20th.
“The biggest thing has been my short game, my putting all week,” said Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C. “I haven’t struck it extremely well or at least up to my standards just yet. But I’ve got it around the golf course, got it up-and-down when I needed to.”
Recent PGA Tour winner Nick Taylor, also from Abbotsford, moved to 3 under.
Amateurs Blair Hamilton and Austin Connelly shot 76 and 77 respectively. They made the cut but were designated “made didn’t finish” and won’t play Sunday. They will however share the Gary Coward Award as co-recipients of the Gary Cowan Award.
Canada’s Naomi Ko advances to quarters at US Girls’ Junior
Naomi Ko (USGA/ Steven Gibbons)
TULSA, Okla. – Team Canada’s Naomi Ko won two matches Thursday in the U.S. Girls’ Junior to advance to the quarterfinals at Tulsa Country Club.
The 17-year-old Ko, from Victoria, B.C, beat stroke-play medalist Megan Khang of Rockland, Massachusetts, 1 up in the round of 32, and topped Alyaa Abdulghany of Newport Beach, California, 2 and 1 in the afternoon round of 16.
Ko will face South Korea’s Eun Jeong Seong on Friday morning. Seong routed Thailand’s Chakansim Khamborn 6 and 5 in the round of 16.
In the other upper-bracket quarterfinal, Jayna Choi of Collierville, Tennessee, will play Annika Cedo of the Philippines. Choi advanced with a 2-up victory over Karah Sanford of Escondido, California, and Cedo beat Gina Kim of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 4 and 3.
Long-hitting Angel Yin of Arcadia, California, powered into the quarterfinals. She beat Mexico’s Maria Balcazar 4 and 3 in the morning, and eliminated South Korea’s Yujeong Son 5 and 3 in the afternoon.
Yin will play Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, California, a 7-and-6 winner over Marni Murez of Manhattan Beach, California.
In the other quarterfinal, Mexico’s Evelyn Arguelles will face Mika Liu of Los Angeles. Arguelles beat Kathleen Scavo of Benicia, California, 1 up, and Liu topped Aneka Seumanutafa of Frederick, Maryland, 2 and 1.
Elizabeth Tong leads at PGA Women’s Championship of Canada
Elizabeth Tong (Jason Scourse)
Burlington, Ont. – Team Canada member Elizabeth Tong made eight birdies Tuesday at Burlington Golf and Country Club and leads the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada by three shots over the defending champion Brooke Henderson.
Tong’s impressive bogey-free round of 8-under-par 62 not only was the low round of the day, but was also low enough to set a new women’s competitive course record at Burlington Golf and Country Club.
“I didn’t really even realize I was five-under-par on the front nine until I got to No. 11 and I was like, “Oh, wait a minute I’m going pretty low,’” the amateur said. “This golf course seems pretty open to me, so it really doesn’t scare me. The greens are rolling really nicely right now, so you can easily roll them on the line you want.”
Tong, the 22-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., was recently named to the 2015 Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars team. The Indiana University Hoosier senior is a three-time collegiate winner and a first-year Team Canada member.
“We play a lot of tournaments and it definitely keeps me busy,” she said about her first year on the national team. “It’s a lot of information intake and literally I’m learning new things every single week.”
Brooke Henderson, who won the 2014 PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, sits three back in second place after a first round 5-under-par 65.
“Overall it was a pretty good day and I’m right there in the mix,” Henderson said about her round that featured six birdies, an eagle, a bogey and a double-bogey on No. 18. “I was very fortunate to win this championship last year and I’m hoping to do the same this year.”
In 2014, Henderson became not only the first amateur to capture the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, but the youngest as well. As a 16-year-old she posted a two-day total of 13-under par at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont., setting a new championship scoring record.
Currently ranked No. 32 in the world, the Smiths Falls, Ont., native recently finished T5 at the U.S. Women’s Open at the Lancaster Country Club. Henderson also finished T5 at the Women’s PGA Championship—the second of the LPGA Tour’s five majors—in June.
In addition to her two top-five finishes in majors this year, Henderson has four more top-25 finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2015, including a third at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. The former Team Canada member also won the Four Winds Invitational on the Symetra Tour in June and has a pair of Suncoast Ladies Tour wins to her name this past winter as well.
American Sydney Cox also posted a 5-under-par round of 65 will join Tong and Henderson in the championship’s final group at 12:38 p.m.
Doris Chen put together a 4-under-par 66 first round, while Stephanie Connelly rounds out the top five after posting a 3-under-par 67. Kyla Inaba of Kelowna, B.C., and Stratford, Ont.’s, both shot two under and are T6. Amateur Valerie Tanguay of St. Hyacinthe, Que.; Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.; and Americans Lauren Mielbrecht, Brooke Baker and Michele Chun are T8.
Full results from the first round as well as second round tee times are available here.
In total, 18 players posted par or better first round scores Tuesday at Burlington Golf and Country Club.
Designed in 1924 by famed Canadian golf course architect Stanley Thompson, Burlington was ranked No. 98 on SCOREGolf’s Top 100 Golf Courses in Canada 2014 Ranking.
The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada was first played in 1987 and past champions include Cathy Sherk, Gail Graham, Nancy Harvey, Lorie Kane, Alena Sharp, Jessica Shepley and last year’s winner Brooke Henderson.
The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada will count as the third and final stop on the Canadian Women’s Tour with points awarded toward the Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year at the conclusion of the championship.
Similar to past years, the champion of each Canadian Women’s Tour stop and the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada will receive an exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to be held Aug. 17-23, 2015 at the Vancouver Golf Club in Vancouver. As well, following the conclusion of play at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, two (2) additional exemptions will be awarded to the top competitors, not otherwise exempt into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open from the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit.
In addition, the top five (previously the top 3) players on the Canadian Women’s Tour season-ending Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into LPGA Stage-2 Qualifying.
MARKHAM, Ont. — Colombia got the rare chance to celebrate as a team on the 18th green after winning all three gold medals at the Pan Am Games’ inaugural golf tournament on Sunday.
Marcelo Rozo shot 13-under to win the men’s competition, while teammate Mariajo Uribe went 9-under to capture the women’s gold. Colombia blew away the field for the mixed team gold.
Uribe held up the yellow, blue and red Colombian flag on the hill above the 18th hole at Angus Glen Golf Club and then, along with teammates Mateo Gomez and Paola Moreno, doused Rozo with water after he finished the final round.
“At the end having all them on the 18th green hugging each other, making Colombia proud, it was pretty special,” said Rozo, who tied the course record Saturday with a 9-under 63. “Golf is not a team sport. Once you get that kind of feeling, you get excited.”
Rozo finished a stroke ahead of Argentine Tommy Cocha and Chilean Felipe Aguilar. Cocha won a two-hole playoff to earn silver, as Aguilar got bronze.
Canada’s Austin Connelly, a Dallas native with Nova Scotian roots, shot his fourth-consecutive subpar round to finish fifth at 8-under for the tournament. Connelly said having three medals instead of just first place to shoot for “brings another level of pressure.”
“It’s a much different experience than any other golf tournament I’ve ever played,” Connelly said.
American Andrea Lee won women’s silver and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada bronze. The United States, which leads the medal count, won team silver and Argentina bronze.
Golf made its Pan Am debut a year before returning to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for the first time since 1904.
“It’s pretty big for golf,” Rozo said. “This is a great step looking to that.”
Rozo gets a spot in next week’s RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ont., as another prize for winning gold. It’ll be his first PGA Tour event.
While the 25-year-old is still trying to make his way into Olympic contention, Uribe is right in the thick of it for Rio. She was smiling thinking about that and reflecting on triple gold at the Pan Ams.
“Colombia is not a team that gets a lot of medals, so it really matters to us,” said Uribe, who earned an exemption into the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open next month in Vancouver. “It’s fun… I’m getting ready for the Olympics.”
Golf Canada is getting ready for the Olympics, too. The Pan Am Games being on home soil represents progress toward that goal.
“To get this experience to prepare us for Rio and the Olympics next year, you can’t get that experience anywhere else,” Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons said. “This is really going to help us.
“It’s helped the players, it’s helped the coaches, it’s helped our support staff. That’s probably the biggest benefit coming out of this week for us.”
After Connelly, Canadians Garrett Rank finished 15th in the men’s competition at 5-over and Lorie Kane tied for 19th at 23-over in the women’s event. Canada was eighth out of 16 countries in the team competition.
But federal sports minister Bal Gosal said all the feedback he has gotten from visitors has been positive. Angus Glen turned out to be a fitting reintroduction for the sport on an international stage.
“This venue, everything’s been great,” Gosal said. “(Visitors are) very happy with the course, they’re very happy with the fairways. … It’s been great.”
A rough stretch aside, Connelly got to enjoy a final round in the last group with a throng of hundreds of fans following. When the 18-year-old chipped in for an impressive par save on the sixth hole, he heard one of the biggest cheers of the day as the Canadian star on the course.
“It was hard to describe,” Connelly said. “The roar was incredible. It’s just nice having so many people behind me.”
Pairings set for 2015 RBC Canadian Open Monday Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links
Albin Choi (Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada)
The final four players joining the 2015 RBC Canadian Open field will be determined Monday following the conclusion of final qualifying play at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ont.
Sixty-three players, many of whom have earned their way via the three regional qualifying events across Canada, will battle over 18 holes of stroke-play in hopes of competing in the 2015 RBC Canadian Open being held July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.
A total of 38 Canadians will take to Heron Point on Monday, including Team Canada Young Pro Squad members Albin Choi of Toronto and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont. Also looking to join the 14 Canadians already confirmed as part of the RBC Canadian Open field are Team Canada Development Squad member Étienne Papineau of St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Que., and Danny King of Milton, Ont., who recently captured the PGA of Canada and PGA of Ontario Championships.
Click here for pairings, start times and results for RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifying on Monday, July 20. Live scoring will not be available and results will be available as players complete their rounds.
Canada’s Connelly climbs into fourth at Pan Am Golf competition
Austin Connelly (Golf Canada)
MARKHAM, Ont. – Canada’s Austin Connelly shot a second-round, 3-under 69 at Angus Glen Golf Club to climb into medal contention in the Pan Am Games Golf Competition at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.
Connelly, 18, battled wet conditions including periods of steady rain throughout his round to sit tied for fourth position in the men’s individual competition at 5-under through 36 holes. Connelly heads into weekend action three shots off the lead and a single shot out of second.
Connelly’s teammate, Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., bounced back from an opening-round 79 to shoot even-par 72, good for 20th position overall. Rank was 3-under through 15 holes, but triple-bogeyed the 16th hole at Angus Glen to finish his second round at even-par.
Felipe Aguilar of Chile shot a second-round 67 to sit alone atop the leaderboard at 8-under while Luis Barco and American Lee McCoy fired matching 68’s to grad a share of second at 6-under through 36 holes.
In the women’s individual competition, Canadian Lorie Kane struggled Friday with a second-round 83 to fall to 22nd position at 18-over through 36 holes.
Sitting atop the women’s leaderboard is American Andrea Lee who shot a second-round, 4-under 68 to climb to 7-under for the tournament, good for a two-shot lead over Columbia’s Mariajo Uribe and Julieta Granada.
In the overall mixed team competition, Canada currently sits 11th through 36 holes. The team competition counts the top male and female score each day from each of the participating countries.
“Early in the back nine I started hitting some really good tee balls and really good second shots and I was gaining some confidence.”
On being part of the Pan Am Games:
“I’m not playing for a silver medal, and I don’t think anyone here is, and if you are you probably shouldn’t be here. I go into every event trying to win; it’s just another golf tournament with a couple of really neat things on the side.”
Garrett RANK (CAN)
On his strong front nine and disappointing back nine including a triple-bogey on 16:
“I was three under on the front and didn’t really hit it much better than yesterday. (I) just hit it far enough offline that I was away from the trouble. I managed it around nicely on the front and just made a couple mistakes on the back.”
On his overall play on Friday:
“It was a good day aside from one hole, just try and do that tomorrow and play eighteen good holes instead of seventeen”
Lorie KANE (CAN)
On her performance and lingering hip injury:
“I felt better today actually. My game is built on tempo and my timing has been off for the last few days. No excuses. My hip is a little sore but it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before. I’m just not seeing the shape I’m trying to hit. I’ve got a two-way miss going and you can’t do that.”
