TORONTO – The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Golf Canada have announced the four athletes who have been nominated to represent Canada at the TORONTO 2015 Pan American Games from July 10 to 26.

The Canadian athletes nominated by Golf Canada for the Pan Am golf competition – which runs July 16-19 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont. – were determined based on selection criteria and world ranking as of May 15, 2015.

On the women’s side, 17-year-old former world number one amateur Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has accepted selection to the Pan Am golf team and will be joined by four-time LPGA Tour winner Lorie Kane of Charlottetown.

The men’s team will be comprised of 18-year-old Austin Connelly who resides in, Irving Texas, currently the 10th ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings along with reigning Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont.

Golf Canada’s National Women’s Team Head Coach Tristan Mullally of Straffan, Ireland along with National Men’s Team Head Coach Derek Ingram of Winnipeg, Man will serve as coaches for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.

Selection criteria among those considered for the Canadian Pan Am Golf Team was based on competitive standing inside the top-500 on the World Golf Ranking for professional golfers as well as competitive standing inside the World Amateur Golf Ranking as of May 15, 2015. Players that met the selection criteria had until April 28, 2015 to notify Golf Canada of their interest in being considered for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Team.

The field for the 2015 Pan Am Golf Competition will include 32 women and 32 men competing in a women’s individual, men’s individual and mixed team competition (low female and male score combined).

The Pan Am Games will be a historic event for Canadian golf as the sport will be included for the first time ever as part of the multi-sport Pan Am Games. In 2016, the sport of golf makes its celebrated return to the Olympic sport program for the first time since Canadian George S. Lyon won gold at the 1904 Olympic Games.

Canada will field the largest team in its Pan American Games history with over 700 athletes expected to be named to the Team at the Games in Toronto. With TORONTO 2015 providing a “Home Games” experience, as well as a number of qualification opportunities for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, these Games will offer a tremendous experience for Canada’s high performance athletes.

QUOTES
“Canada is proud to be hosting the first-ever Pan Am Games where golf is on the program. This is a fantastic opportunity for our talented golfers to showcase their ability to the Americas with a home soil advantage. Congratulations to all those who made it onto the team.”
– Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee

“I am incredibly excited for our Canadian golfers to be a part of Pan Am Games history. I am totally confident that this group will re-ignite Canadian success in multi-sport games after George Lyon’s gold medal in 1904. Congratulations to all of the golfers named to the team, I can’t wait to see you all tee off.”
– Curt Harnett, TORONTO 2015 Team Canada Chef de Mission

“We are very excited about the composition of our team for the Pan Am Games and feel confident that they will be very competitive with the field in this event. Lorie and Brooke representing Canada provide a great combination of both youth and experience while Garrett and Austin are two of the top amateurs in the world and will give Canada a great chance over the four days of competition.”
– Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada Chief Sport Officer

“It’s an honour to be selected to represent Canada at the Pan Am Games. In a short time with the national team program I’ve been able to take advantage of great opportunities and I’m sure that the Pan Am Games will be a special golf experience.”
– Austin Connelly, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete

“I am honoured and extremely excited to be playing for Canada again.I am excited about the quality of schedule I have this year with the Pan Am Games and RBC Canadian Open as well as the other great championships I’ll be competing in this summer.”
– Garrett Rank, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete

“It is an absolute honour to have the opportunity to represent my country and the Canadian Olympic Committee with my selection to play for Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto. I have always proudly represented Canada while playing on the LPGA Tour, but wearing the maple leaf in acclaimed international competition is something I am extremely humbled by and excited about.”
– Lorie Kane, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games athlete

“It’s really exciting to have been selected to represent Canada in the first ever Pan Am games golf competition. I’ve had so many great experiences being a part of Golf Canada’s national team program since I was 14, and now in my first year as a pro, it’s a great honour to play for my country at the Pan Am Games.”
– Brooke Henderson, TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games Athlete

“Canada has a long tradition of excellence in golf, and we are very proud of the team that has been selected to represent our country as this sport makes its Pan Am Games debut this summer. Congratulations to all our golfers; Canadians will be following and encouraging you as you face the best athletes in the Americas at the 2015 Pan Am Games. Good luck!”
– The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

Click here to listen to an interview with Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Development Officer, Jeff Thompson, as he discusses team selection criteria for Canada’s golf contingent for the 2015 Pan Am Games.

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada) —Golf Canada and Hudson’s Bay today announced a new multi-year partnership that will see Hudson’s Bay become a proud partner as the exclusive official outfitter for Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

As part of the three-year agreement, Hudson’s Bay has developed a new line of men’s and ladies golf apparel under the Hudson’s Bay brand that will be worn by Team Canada athletes as well as coaches and sport science staff in all games and competitions through 2017.

In addition, Hudson’s Bay becomes the exclusive headwear and apparel licensee for Golf Canada’s Team Canada mark. The line of high performance golf apparel will be available for purchase in many of Hudson’s Bay retail locations across Canada as well as online at www.thebay.com.

“Hudson’s Bay’s is committed to supporting Canadian athletes and we are proud to launch this new partnership as the exclusive official outfitter for Golf Canada’s National Team Program,” says Liz Rodbell, President, Hudson’s Bay.

“Hudson’s Bay has a long history of supporting Canada’s Olympic team and we are thrilled to have such an iconic Canadian brand aligned with Golf Canada and our national team program,” said Golf Canada Chief Commercial Officer Gavin Roth. “Hudson’s Bay recognizes that this is one of the most exciting periods in Canadian golf, and their support through national retail and media channels leading up to and through the Pan Am and Olympic Games will help propel our tremendous young golfers to even greater heights.”

Team Canada athletes will be wearing the official Hudson’s Bay apparel in all golf competitions and events starting in the spring of 2015.

The Pan Am games in Toronto this summer will mark the first time the apparel is worn in a major multinational/multi-sport games. Hudson’s Bay will also outfit Team Canada athletes at other major domestic and international championships including the RBC Canadian Open, Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, Canadian National Amateur Championships, World Amateur Team Championships and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A portion of proceeds from every sale in Hudson’s Bay stores and on-line will go directly towards supporting Team Canada golfers and high performance programming.

The Team Canada golf line of apparel will appear in Hudson’s Bay stores in time for Father’s Day 2015. Merchandise will also be available for purchase onsite during the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Click here for a link to Golf Canada merchandise available through Hudson’s Bay online collection.

Canadian and international professionals and amateurs will convene at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alta., from May 25-27 to play the first event of the 14^th Canadian Women’s Tour season.

The Canadian Women’s Tour Alberta competition will include a practice round on May 25 before the 36-hole competition begins on the following day with a purse set at $60,000 with a $10,000 share going to the winner. In addition, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to be played August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.

The Glencoe Golf & Country Club will welcome Canadian Women’s Tour players to its Meadows Course built upon elevated terrain which runs alongside the picturesque Elbow River.

“Golf Canada is proud to begin the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour at the Glencoe Golf & Country Club. It will be an exciting competition with an experienced international field of athletes vying for the opportunity to participate in Canada’s National Women’s Open championship,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Tournament Director for the event.

California native Michelle Piyapattra will be in the field to defend her title obtained on the first stop of the 2014 tour. As an amateur last year, Piyapattra won the Canadian Women’s Tour B.C. event in a playoff at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C. She has since turned professional and is currently in her rookie season on the Symetra Tour.

A number of former Canadian Women’s Tour champions will be joining Piyapattra in the field including Jessica Boris née Shepley who has seen much success on the Tour including two PGA Women’s Championship of Canada titles.

Samantha Richdale and Emily Childs, winners from the 2013 Canadian Women’s Tour season, will also be in the field. Joining their pursuit for victory will be former Canadian Women’s Tour Ontario winners Charlotte Mayorkas (2010) and Kirby Dreher (2008). A total of 11 players will return to their home province in hopes of claiming the first leg of the tour.

Competing alongside these seasoned veterans will be Team Canada member and Kent State University athlete, Jennifer Ha who will be playing in her hometown. Fellow national team members Elizabeth Tong of Thornhill, Ont., and Orangeville, Ont., native Brittany Marchand will also be competing.

Four members of Canada’s Development Squad will participate in the competition, including local product Jaclyn Lee playing at her home club, Ottawa’s Grace St-Germain and B.C. natives Michelle Kim and Naomi Ko.

The next Canadian Women’s Tour event will be hosted by Brooke and Brittany Henderson’s home club of Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club in Smiths Falls, Ont., from June 15-17. The PGA Women’s Championship of Canada will conclude the 2015 tour at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont., from July 20-22.

The winners of each stop on the Canadian Women’s Tour will join the field at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Also receiving exemptions will be the top two competitors on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit. To be eligible, participants must play in at least two of the three events on the 2015 schedule.

At season’s end, the five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.

Additional information regarding the competition can be found at the tournament’s website here.

For the third time in the tournament’s history, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and the stars of the LPGA Tour will return to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alberta, August 22-28, 2016.

“We are excited to announce the return of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in 2016,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “The venue is outstanding; the city of Calgary is a world-class hosting community; and we are confident that Alberta golf fans will once again rally around the LPGA Tour’s return to Western Canada.”

The championship, which typically draws arguably the strongest field on the LPGA Tour, will once again make a significant charitable contribution to the host community through the CP Has Heart campaign.

“CP and our 2,000 Calgary-based employees and their families are thrilled to bring world-class LPGA Tour golf back to our hometown,” said CP’s VP Corporate Affairs Mark Wallace. “In addition to some great golf, we look forward to working with the tournament as we raise funds for pediatric cardiac care and research at Alberta Children’s Hospital.”

The 44^th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will return to the formidable venue which had previously hosted in 1999 and 2009. The 2009 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship saw Norway’s Suzann Pettersen card a final-round one-under par 70 and tournament-total 269 (15-under) to claim the title. Among those in the five-way tie for second that year was World Golf Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb, who claimed victory in 1999 when Priddis Greens hosted the LPGA Tour for the first time.

“It is an honour to welcome back the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, Calgary and the province of Alberta,” said Rod McBride, President of Priddis Greens. “Hosting the CP Women’s Open provides us with another opportunity to showcase our course as one of the premiere golfing experiences in Canada and to further demonstrate Calgary’s love of the game.”

The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C., will play host to the 2015 edition of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will be contested August 17-23. First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Surrey, B.C. native Adam Svensson captured SwingThought Tour’s Martin Honda Classic on Sunday, marking his third professional victory in just four starts.

The 21-year-old Team Canada member finished at 22-under par through four rounds at the Chattahoochee Golf Club, good enough for a five-stroke margin over runner-up Brent Witcher.

Svensson, who turned professional earlier this year in March, opened with a 6-under 66 and held the lead all the way to earn the wire-to-wire victory.

In total, the 2014 Jack Nicklaus Award winner carded four eagles and 19 birdies en route to the win. Svensson will take home $20,000 (USD) for his efforts, totalling $60,000 so far this season on the SwingThought Tour alone.

Click here for full results.

LUBBOCK, Tex. – Team Canada’s Blair Hamilton notched his second collegiate victory of the season Saturday, posting a total score of 8-under par to share co-medalist honours at the NCAA’s Lubbock Regional.

The 21-year-old junior was making his collegiate postseason debut for the University of Houston, becoming the first Cougar in NCAA Regional history to card three consecutive rounds in the 60s (68-69-68).

As the lone Cougar yet to finish the final round, Hamilton birdied the 17^th at the Rawls Course to pull into a tie with Purdue, eventually forcing a playoff. Houston would go on to win the first playoff hole to earn the fifth and final spot in the NCAA Championship—making it the first time Houston had qualified in back-to-back years since 2000-01.

Hamilton, a Burlington, Ont., native, will look to continue his success at the NCAA Championships from May 29–June 3 at The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla.

Click here for full scores.

Click here to view participants competing in 2015 NCAA Div I Championship.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Symetra Tour has announced that 17-year-old Brooke Henderson has received sponsor exemptions to play in two upcoming Symetra Tour events. She will play in the Four Winds Invitational at Blackthorn Golf Club, June 19-21, and the Tullymore Classic at Tullymore Golf Club, July 3-5.

Henderson recently finished third at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, missing out on a playoff by just one shot. That finish vaulted the Smith Falls, Ont., native up 116 spots to No. 91 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Henderson then Monday Qualified for the LPGA Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout and finished in a tie for 13th. Henderson is competing this week on the LPGA at the Kingsmill Championship.

The Team Canada Young Pro Squad member is now ranked No. 80 in the world in her first year as a professional.

“It’s exciting for me to have the opportunity to play in the Four Winds Invitational and the Tullymore Classic on the Symetra Tour,” said Henderson. “I’m so thankful to be living my dream of playing professional golf and I will use these weeks to continue working on my game.”

Prior to turning professional in December of 2014, Henderson was the top ranked amateur in the world. In 2014, she was the runner up at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, finished in a tie for tenth at the U.S. Women’s Open and won the individual title at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championships.

In 2012, Henderson became the youngest ever to win a professional tournament when she won as a 14-year-old on the Canadian Women’s Tour.

The Four Winds Invitational and the Tullymore Classic will be the second and third events that Henderson has played on the Symetra Tour. She finished in a tie for second with her older sister, Brittany, at the Florida’s Natural Charity Classic earlier this year. Brittany, who ranks 11th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, is expected to play both events.

The Four Winds Invitational is part of the Symetra Tour’s Potawatomi Cup where players have the chance to earn an additional $50,000 in bonus money over the course of five events. The Tullymore Classic is one of seven new events on the 2015 schedule and one of three in the state of Michigan.

For more information about the Four Winds Invitational, visit www.fourwindsinvitational.com. For more information on the Tullymore Classic, visit www.tullymoregolf.com.

The 2015 CN Future Links Ontario Championship will welcome the talents of Canada’s elite junior golfers to Pine Knot Golf and Country Club in Dorchester, Ont., from May 21-24. Following a practice round on May 21, the athletes will compete over the course of three days in a 54-hole stroke play tournament.

The CN Future Links Ontario Championship is part of a series of six junior competitions played across the country in partnership with CN. Pine Knot Golf and Country Club – located outside of London, Ont. – features a number of narrow fairways and several water hazards that offer a unique and challenging playing experience to competitors.

“Golf Canada is looking forward to hosting the CN Future Links Ontario Championship at Pine Knot Golf and Country Club. Pine Knot is an ambitious and scenic track that will serve as an excellent opportunity for the athletes to test their games early in the season,” said Justine Decock, Tournament Director for the competition.

Sun Kim from L’Île-Perrot, Que., will be in the field of 70 to defend his CN Future Links Ontario title. He won last year’s edition of this event at The Rock Golf Club in Minett, Ont., by shooting a combined 1-under 212 with rounds of 69, 73, and 70.

Returning in an attempt to improve upon her second-place finish in 2014 will be Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont. Last year, Team Canada Development Squad member Naomi Ko (Victoria, B.C.) edged out Costabile in a playoff to be crowned CN Future Links Ontario champion.

The first CN Future Links Championship of the season was played from May 8-10 at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum Beach, B.C., with two Team Canada Development Squad members emerging victorious. Trevor Ranton led wire-to-wire to capture the Junior Boys division while Grace St-Germain (Ottawa, Ont.) claimed the Junior Girls Pacific title. The pair – who will be looking to build upon their strong starts to the season – will be joined at Pine Knot by fellow Development Squad members Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.) and Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que.).

The CN Future Links Championships are conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with CN as part of their commitment to the growth and development of the sport at the junior level.

Four additional CN Future Links Championships will be played coast to coast throughout the summer:

• June 11-14 – CN Future Links Prairie – Cooke Municipal Golf Course, Prince Albert, Sask.
• July 2-5 – CN Future Links Quebec – Domaine Château-Bromont, Bromont, Que.
• July 6-9 – CN Future Links Western – Goose Hummock Golf Course, Gibbons, Alta.
• July 13-16 – CN Future Links Atlantic – Gowan Brae G& CC, Bathurst, N.B.

Each of the six CN Future Links Championships will reward its top six junior boys with exemptions into the 2015 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, to be hosted by Summerlea Golf and Country Club in Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que., from August 2-6. Similarly, the top six finishers on the junior girls side in each of the CN Future Links Championships will earn a spot in the 2015 Canadian Junior Girls Championship. These 36 exempt players will have the right to compete in the field at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask., from August 3-7.

Additional information on the 2015 CN Future Links Ontario Championship, including a full list of competitors, tee-times and the leaderboard are available here.

RYE, N.Y. – Canadian teen Brooke Henderson will play her first LPGA major as a pro in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

The tournament on Monday announced the 17-year-old Henderson has received a sponsor’s exemption. The major will be played June 11-14 at Westchester Country Club.

Henderson had the 54-hole lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic two weeks ago at Lake Merced in San Francisco. She wound up third. Henderson has played two other events this year and has earned $161,557, which would make her equal to No. 29 on the LPGA money list.

She isn’t an LPGA member because of its minimum age requirement of 18.

Henderson tied for 10th in the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2 last year as an amateur.

SAN FRANSICO, Calif. – Walker Cup teammates Nathan Smith and Todd White won the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball on Wednesday, beating Sherrill Britt and Greg Earnhardt 7 and 5 in the championship match.

Smith and White won the first four holes at Olympic Club, Britt and Earnhardt took the fourth with a birdie, and Smith and White birdied the sixth to regain their 4-up lead. Smith and White won Nos. 11 and 12 with pars and ended the match with a birdie on the par-3 13th.

The 36-year-old Smith, a four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, is an investment adviser in Pittsburgh. The 47-year-old White is a high school history teacher in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Earlier in the day, the American duo defeated Canadian Amateur Squad member Austin Connelly and partner Sam Burns, 2 and 1, before going on to win the title.

Connelly and Burns, ranked 9^th and 7^th, respectively in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), put forward a great effort in the semi-final round, fighting back from a 2-hole deficit to draw even on the 10^th. The 18-year-olds could not hold on, however, eventually giving way to the veterans.

“They stepped up on the back nine,” said Connelly, who captured the Jones Cup in February and will attend Arkansas.“They made three putts outside of 30 feet at really key times.”

Austin Connelly (USGA/ Darren Carroll)

The Four-Ball replaced the U.S. Amateur Public Links on the USGA calendar.

Click here for full scoring.