BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Wednesday’s second round of stroke-play qualifying produced four Canadians advancing through to match play in the championship flight at the Nashville Golf & Athletic Club.
Headlining the Canucks as one of the low-64 qualifiers is Team Canada’s Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C. Ko, 17, posted a 2-under 142 (70-72) to finish in third place through two rounds of qualifying.
Joining Ko is fellow Development Squad member Michelle Kim of Surrey, B.C., who posted a 6-over 150 (78-72). Rounding out the four Canadians are two former Team Canada members—Sabrine Garrison of Calgary (77-74—151) and older sister of Michelle, Taylor Kim (78-74—152).
Six other Canadians are in the field in Tennessee, placed in the following flights based on qualifying results:
Second flight
Grace St-Germain (80-78—158)
Josée Doyon (79-80—159)
Fourth flight
Kiersten Klekner-Alt (81-84—165)
Kennedy Bodfield (90-76—166)
Gracie Howie (85-85—170)
Marlies Klekner-Alt (90-81—171)
Click here for qualifying scores
Click here for match play pairings
The second stop on the 14th Canadian Women’s Tour saw rains come and go, but when play resumed following a three-hour delay, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Seul-Ki Park and Jennifer Greggain took to the course and conquered the wet conditions at Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club to take the lead.
Dark skies and heavy rains clouded the morning and allowed for just the first 10 groups to tee off on-time before unplayable conditions delayed the remainder of the field of 84. The downpour subsided and gave way to brilliant sunshine to mask the wet conditions on the course. Seul-Ki Park opened with a pair of birdies on her first four holes, but the Northbrook, Ill., native couldn’t maintain her quick start. She concluded her round with a bogey on hole 18 to finish at even par.
“My tee shots kind of cost me today, but I was able to make three birdies to even out my three bogeys,” said Park, when asked about her round. “I think if I tighten up a little bit, I can position myself a little bit better. But obviously, it’s not over until the last shot.
Park’s two co-leaders needed time to re-focus following the delay, but settled down as the round progressed. Chilliwack, B.C., product Jennifer Greggain finished the front nine with a bogey to fall to 2-over par, but a pair of birdies on the 13th and 17th holes drew her back to even.
Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Rebecca Lee-Bentham needed a moment to gather herself, but quickly regained her form to take a share of the lead. The Toronto native went bogey-free on her final 12 holes and added a trio of birdies, including one on her final hole, to move into the tie for first.
Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad fared well to open the competition. Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., carded four birdies and sits in a three-way tie for fourth. She and Christina Foster are currently knotted for low amateur honours.
The Henderson sisters, Brooke and Brittany, opened the two-day tournament on their home course with identical 2-over 73 performances. Brooke, the younger of the two, notched birdies on the 1st and 4th holes, but succumbed to the difficult course conditions. Sister Brittany found her form and ended her round even across the back nine. The two are part of a six-player tie for seventh alongside National Team member Jennifer Ha of Calgary.
The remaining members of Team Canada – Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., and Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., – finished T13 and T15 respectively to put all six National Team members within the top-15 and within four strokes of the lead.
The purse for the tournament is set at $60,000 with $10,000 going to the champion. The tournament winner will join Canadian Women’s Tour – Alberta champion Michelle Piyapattra in receiving a prized exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open taking place August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.
The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada, the concluding event on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour, is set to be hosted at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont., from July 20-22. In addition to the three winner exemptions, the top two competitors on the Jocelyne Bourassa Order of Merit, who are not otherwise exempt will join the trio at Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship, provided they have played in at least two of the three Tour events.
The five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will also be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.
The final round of Canadian Women’s Tour – Ontario is slated to get underway at 8 a.m. before the final threesome tees off at 10:10 a.m.
For full results and additional information, please visit the tournament’s official website.
TOYOTA CITY, Japan – Team Canada’s Development Squad foursome kicked things off on in style on Tuesday with a collective score of 3-under par to grab a share of fourth place following the first round of the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup.
Canada finished inside the top-five after the opening round at the Chukyo Golf Club’s Ishino Course thanks in part to three 1-under rounds of 70 from Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.), Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué.) and A.J. Armstrong (St. Albert, Alta.). The team’s fourth member, Trevor Ranton of Waterloo, Ont., posted a 1-over 72 for Canada’s non-counting score of the day.
Collectively, the Canucks posted a 3-under score to sit in a three-way tie with Korea and South Africa. Sweden and host Japan hold a share of the lead at 7-under par, while the Americans trail by two strokes in third place.
Team Canada will hit the tee-box tomorrow morning starting at 8:40 a.m.
Click here for scoring.
Click here for second-round pairing sheet.
Halifax, N.S. – The Web.com Tour’s 2015 Nova Scotia Open will kick off in just two weeks on Thursday July 2nd at Ashburn Golf Club – New Course, with a strong representation of Canadian talent in the field, including No.1 ranked amateur golfer in Canada, Austin Connelly.
Connelly, a dual U.S. and Canadian citizen who lives in Irving, Texas and spends his summers at his grandparent’s home in Digby County, Nova Scotia, will play in the only Web.com Tour event on Canadian soil. Connelly, whose home course is Clare Golf & Country Club in Church Point, N.S., describes his Nova Scotia connection as always being special to go back each year to visit family and friends, but also to essentially what was the start of his goal to become the No.1 golfer in the world.
“It’s an awesome feeling to be able to play in a professional event in a province where I golfed a lot in my earlier years,” says Connelly. “I’m looking forward to teeing it up with some of the best players in the world and representing Nova Scotia in this event. It’s important for me to celebrate my roots and this is one opportunity to allow me to do that.”
Connelly will tee off in the British Amateur this week from June 15-20. He is also scheduled to play in the Canadian and U.S. Amateur Championships, and will represent Canada at the at this summer’s 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto.
Earlier this year, Connelly made his debut in his first PGA TOUR event at the AT & T Byron Nelson Championship through a sponsor’s exemption. He was also recognized as one of four Byron Nelson International Junior Golf Award recipients – an award that world No.2 ranked golfer Jordan Spieth had also previously received. As well, Connelly won the 2015 Jones Cup Invitational this season in Sea Island, GA, one of the most prestigious amateur events in the world, after finishing 2nd in the 2014 event. With his win, Austin was awarded an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s 2015 McGladrey Classic.
Connelly is a two time AJGA First Team Junior Rolex All-American and a member of the victorious 2013 and 2014 Wyndham Cup Teams, in addition to the winning 2014 Jr. Ryder Cup Team. That same year, Connelly won the 2014 AJGA FootJoy Invitational by a six stroke margin. With his decorated junior career, Connelly fast-tracked his way onto Team Canada’s Amateur Squad. As part of the National team, Connelly finished runner-up at the 2014 Argentine Amateur and captured gold for Canada at the 2014 Tailhade Cup both as an individual (by seven strokes) and as a team (by 19 strokes).
The remaining field and exemptions will be announced in the coming weeks leading up to the event, but fans can expect a strong Canadian presence similar to last year, where 20 Canadian golfers made up the field of 156 players in the Nova Scotia Open.
The Nova Scotia Open featuring the RBC Canada Cup will be an event to watch this summer, especially to see if another Canadian will take home the Nova Scotia Open Champion title, following in Calgary, AB native Roger Sloan’s footsteps – who is now on the PGA TOUR in part to his win.
For more information on the Nova Scotia Open and to purchase tickets click: here.
TOYOTA CITY, Japan – Four members of Team Canada’s Men’s Development Squad are ramping up to compete in the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup next week from June 16–19 at the Chukyo Golf Club (Ishino Course).
Leading the Canucks into battle is 18-year-old Étienne Papineau, who finished in a tie for 15th in last year’s event to earn low-Canadian honours. The St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Qué., native is riding the momentum of two top-5 finishes in CN Future Links Championships already this summer and will look to continue his strong play in Japan.
Also playing in his second World Junior Boys is Vaughan, Ont., native, Tony Gil. Last year, the 17-year-old University of Houston commit came out with a tie for 37th place—helping Team Canada finish in seventh overall.
Rounding out the squad are two first-year Development Squad members, A.J. Armstrong of St. Albert, Alta. and Trevor Ranton of Waterloo, Ont. Ranton, 18, won the CN Future Links Pacific in May.
Quarterbacking Canada’s team is Lead Development Squad Coach, Robert Ratcliffe. The PGA of Canada Class ‘A’ member is entering his third year coaching the event and knows what to expect this week.
“The field in this event is always very strong and ultimately it’s a great test,” said Ratcliffe. “We have prepared well for this event and are confident we can put up some low numbers together as a team.”
Joining Ratcliffe is Toronto native Matthew Wilson, who was appointed as Team Captain. Wilson started his teaching career under the direction of former Team Canada Head Coach, Henry Brunton. He has since become the Director of Instruction at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif., where he was named to the US Kids Golf Top 50 Teachers list in 2014 for his outstanding work with juniors. Wilson is acting in his first role as a Team Canada captain in an international event.
Canada is one of 15 teams competing in the 72-hole stroke-play event, which follows a four-players-count-three format and is being conducted for the 23rd time.
Scoring will be available here.
NORTHERN IRELAND, U.K. – Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad came out of the gate hot in Wednesday’s second and final stroke-play qualifying round of the Ladies British Open Amateur, shooting a collective 5-under par to each grab one the top-64 match play qualifying spots.
Twenty-two year-old veteran Brittany Marchand, who played in the tournament in 2012, had the low-round of the day for the Canadians with a 4-under 69. The Orangeville, Ont., native finished at 1-over par (78-69) to grab the 25th seed heading into tomorrow’s first match-play round.
Teammate Maddie Szeryk, a dual-citizen of Canada and the U.S., also finished at 1-over par (75-72), drawing the 28th seed.
Rounding out the scores for the Canadian quartet was Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., and Jennifer Ha of Calgary, who both came in at 3-over par. They drew the 39th and 41st seed, respectively.
Tomorrow’s first match-play round begins Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. local time back at the Portstewart Golf Club. The Canadian tee-times are as follows:
Jennifer Ha (CAN) v. Bethan Popel (ENG) – 8:10 a.m. BST
Brittany Marchand (CAN) v. Leonie Harm (GER) – 8:18 a.m. BST
Maddie Szeryk (CAN) v. Meghan MacLaren (ENG) – 8:42 a.m. BST
Elizabeth Tong (CAN) v. Agathe Sauzon (FRA) – 10:50 a.m. BST
Click here for full scoring.
Click here for the match-play draw.
Brooke Henderson’s solid results on the golf course recently not only has provided a solid indication of a bright future ahead for the 17-year-old from Smith Falls, Ont. but has also generated huge excitement, with many now taking notice of her game.
Her breakthrough performance came at the 2015 Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in April when the youngest member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Program set a new 36-hole record; and held the outright lead heading into the final round.
The following weekend, at the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout, Henderson once again found herself on top of the leader board after shooting a second round 6-under 65.
Henderson – who is currently in her first full season as a pro – has not only caught the attention of fans and those in the media, but also the attention of the game’s biggest star, Lydia Ko.
“She’s obviously playing great; really solid. I got to play with her recently at the Kingsmill Championship and she’s a really strong player mentally,” said the current world No. 1 at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic about Henderson.
“I’m sure she’s going to keep shooting low scores and it’ll be great to have her as a full-time member soon,” added the 18-year-old New Zealander, who is a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour.
Despite coming up short in her efforts to win an LPGA tournament thus far, Henderson says her stellar results have done a lot for her confidence.
“It was awesome and definitely a huge confidence booster leading two weeks in a row on the weekend which was really exciting,” said the former world No. 1 amateur.
“The experience taught me a lot about myself, and my game and also about competing on the LPGA; and it’s something I can continue to use in each tournament,” added the 17-year-old Canadian.
Currently as a player without status on the LPGA Tour, Henderson’s entry into additional LPGA events requires her to either successfully go through a pre-tournament qualifier or be granted a sponsor exemption.
Just this week, it was announced that she has been offered a sponsor exemption into the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which is the LPGA’s second major on the 2015 schedule.
However, one event that the talented young golfer from Smith Falls, Ont. has guaranteed herself entry into is the U.S. Women’s Open – which will be held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in July.
“I’m excited about it; I didn’t have to go through the 36-hole qualifier which is always nice and it’s pretty close to home; so I’m hoping that a lot of family and friends will be able to make it out,” said Henderson, who finished runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship and earned entry into this year’s event U.S. Women’s Open as a result.
The week following the LPGA’s third major, she will be representing Canada at the Pan Am Games along with four-time LPGA Tour winner, Lori Kane.
“It’s an honour to play for my country,” said Henderson. “And it’ll be fun; Lori is a great player and I think we’ll have a lot of bonding timing which is always good with such a legendary player with such great experience.”
Another successful Canadian LPGA veteran that Henderson has bonded with and gained valuable insight from is Alena Sharp.
“I like it that she asks me for advice. I just tell her things that she needs to know and I’m happy that she’s not afraid to talk to me,” said the 34-year-old from Hamilton, Ont. when asked for her input on Henderson’s progress and maturity as a golfer.
“I think she’s got all the talent and she’s just a nice girl. She’s really humble and we’re becoming good friends, which is cool,” Sharp added.
With strong and highly capable mentors willing and eager to provide guidance on her journey towards success, the future appears to be very bright for the talented young golfer from Smith Falls, Ont.
And while the talented young golfer lists gaining her full LPGA Tour card and earning a spot on the 2016 Canadian Olympic team as her two top goals over the next year, Henderson also understands the future is now.
The mature 17-year-old says that the best way to reach her longer term goals is simply to continue taking care of business in the busy summer ahead.
“I try not to look too far ahead but just trying to take it week by week; I’ve had great weeks out there recently, and in my mind, I know my game is right there,” said Henderson.
“I just have to stay patient,” she added. “Because I know great finishes and a win will come soon.”
NORTHERN IRELAND, U.K. – Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad is ramping up to take on the strong international field at the 112th Ladies’ British Amateur from Jun. 9–13 at the Portstewart Golf Club.
The format consists of two stroke-play qualifying rounds, followed by sudden-death match-play for the top 64 participants. The 18-hole finale will take place Saturday morning.
All members of Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad will fly the flag at Portstewart. Elizabeth Tong (Thornhill, Ont.) drew the earliest tee-off for the Canucks, slated to kick things off at 1:16 p.m. BST. Maddie Szeryk, a dual-citizen of Canada and the U.S. is next in line, drawing the 2:11 p.m. slot. Team Canada veterans Jennifer Ha (Calgary) and Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) tee-it-up at 2:44 p.m. and 3:06 p.m. respectively.
Marchand, 22, is the only member of the team to have played in the event before—she made it to the round of 32 back in 2012.
The Canadian quartet will have the luck of the Irish on their side, provided by Head Coach and hometown Irish native, Tristan Mullally.
“We’re very excited to be playing in this event—the course is in great shape and although the conditions are unfamiliar to the girls they have prepared very well,” said the PGA of Canada class ‘A’ member. “It’s a special for me being back in my home country, but I’m here to help the girls play the best they can and that’s where our focus is.”
Live scoring will be available here.
LEWISTON, N.Y. – Ana Paula Valdes, a native of Morelia, Mexico, surged in the final round of play at the Women’s Porter Cup to edge out Canadian Christina Foster of Concord, Ont., for the one-stroke victory on Friday.
Valdes, a Clemson University commit, fired a 6-under 65 for the low-round of the 54-hole event, finishing at 8-under par to end the second-round leading Foster’s bid to keep the title north of the border (Brooke Henderson won in 2014).
The tournament boasted a strong showing of Canadians atop the leaderboard with four Canucks inside the top-10. Trailing runner-up Foster was St-Georges-de-Beauce, Qué., native and Kent State senior, Josée Doyon, who finished in third place at 2-under par.
Next in line were Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.) and Jennifer Ha (Calgary)—both members of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad—who finished T4 and sixth, respectively.
Rounding out the top 10 was Development Squad member Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C. The N.C. State commit finished in a tie for seventh at 1-over par for the tournament (71-71-72).
This was the third annual Women’s Porter Cup, which runs as the sister event to the men’s tournament, taking place at the end of July.
Click here for full scoring.
