Canada’s Conners trying to treat Masters like any other golf tournament
Corey Conners (Butch Dill/ Getty Images)
Corey Conners is getting ready for the biggest golf tournament of his life. But, the Canadian is trying to treat it like any other.
As a youngster, Conners said he got a VHS tape of the 1997 Masters when Tiger Woods won by 12 strokes. He watched that video “one or two hundred times.” He also remembered watching on television as Mike Weir sank the final putt to win his own green jacket in 2003.
Now, Conners will be playing in the tournament he’s only seen on a screen.
The 23-year-old from Listowel, Ont., will be in the field for next week’s Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga., thanks to a runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2014. The two finalists are traditionally invited to participate in the Masters each year.
He’ll become the 13th Canadian amateur to play in the tournament, joining names like Sandy Somerville – who played in the first Masters in 1934 – and Moe Norman. He’ll be the 29th Canadian ever.
And, unless Graham DeLaet wins on the PGA Tour this week at the Shell Houston Open, Conners and Weir will be the lone Canadian representatives in the field this year.
Conners hasn’t allowed the big stage to get to him yet. Augusta, although historical, is “pretty cool.” He admits he is “really looking forward to the experience,” but he just wants to play golf.
“I’m really excited for next week,” he said Tuesday. “I’m really looking forward to the experience.”
No amateur has ever won the Masters, but American Ken Venturi came close. He finished one shot back of the eventual champion Jack Burke Jr. in 1956.
Conners doesn’t shy away from saying how Augusta National fits his game.
“Overall the course is beautiful, and it sets up well for my game,” he explained. “It’s a really great course and I think I can do really well.”
He’s not alone in thinking this.
Besides a group of fans from his hometown – Conners says his father will likely caddie for him in the par-3 competition next Wednesday, before the tournament begins – Golf Canada’s men’s national team head coach Derek Ingram will also be in Augusta.
Conners has been part of Golf Canada’s program off-and-on since 2010, and Ingram has watched him grow as both a player and a young man.
“If he plays his game, I really think he can (finish in the) top 20,” Ingram stated. “The course at Augusta suits his game really well.”
Conners has played a handful of practice rounds at Augusta National, including one where Ingram was present. He says they’ve tried to work on hitting shots to the best spot possible on Augusta’s notorious greens.
“He’s trying to treat it like golf. He knows golf really well and he knows tournament golf really well,” said Ingram. “Obviously the Masters is the most iconic and biggest professional golf event in the world, and there will be some challenges there. But we’ve talked about dealing with them.”
Conners is working to arrange a practice round with Weir. He’ll definitely play one with Europeans Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke, who are both managed by the same company as Conners – International Sports Management (ISM).
The team at ISM arranged for Conners to get a spot in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open in March. He missed the cut, but said that experience was invaluable.
“It was a huge in helping me prepare. I learned a lot playing there and it was great to be out there with a bunch of professionals,” he explained. “I learned a lot that will make me feel comfortable during the Masters.”
Conners has picked the brains of a few fellow amateurs who have played in the Masters in years past, players he crossed paths with while playing for Kent State University.
Conners was a two time All-American there, and was named Kent State’s outstanding male athlete in his graduating year.
The award is given to, “the male member of the senior class who has demonstrated the most exceptional combined qualities of leadership, positive image, athletic ability and academic performance.” According to his college coach, Herb Page, this sums up Conners perfectly.
“I’m really proud of what he accomplished and how he did it,” said Page, a Canadian who is in the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. “A lot of young men hit a little wall or they don’t keep pushing ahead. But, he kept advancing and getting better. And now he’s at the Masters.”
Conners drove down Magnolia Lane – the entrance-way to Augusta’s hallowed grounds – for the first time a few weeks ago.
“It didn’t feel real,” he admitted.
But, it is. And it all starts next week.
Click here to listen in to a media teleconference with Corey Conners and Canadian golf journalists recorded March 21, 2015.
LAKE WALES, Fla. – Team Canada’s Sue Kim won the Symetra Tour’s Florida’s Natural Charity Classic on Sunday, leading a Canadian sweep of the first three places.
Kim, the 24-year-old former University of Denver player from Langley, B.C., closed with a 2-under 70 to finish at 5-under 211 at Lake Wales Country Club. This was Kim’s second Symetra Tour win, as she also won the tour’s 2013 Decatur-Forsyth Classic.
Kim earned $18,750 to take the lead on the money list with $20,201. The final top 10 will earn 2016 LPGA Tour cards.
“Words can’t describe how important a win is out here,” said Kim, who moved from South Korea to Canada when she was 10. “This is definitely a confidence booster and lets me know that I can go back out on LPGA and compete. This win definitely gives me a good mindset to go back out there.”
Sisters Brooke and Brittany Henderson tied for second, three strokes back. The 17-year-old Brooke Henderson finished with a 70, and Brittany Henderson shot a 74.
“It’s a really good feeling,” Brooke Henderson said. “It would’ve been better to be one and two, but Sue had a great week and I’m happy for her.”
Kim opened with rounds of 70 and 71 and was the only player in the field under par all three days.
“It was a great tournament for me from the first day forward,” Kim said. “I had the right people around me this week to get me in position to win. It was a great patient tournament for me to grab the `W.'”
Mississauga, Ont.’s Brogan McKinnon tied for 5th at even-par 216.
Alisha Lau wins rain-shortened MJT at Meadow Gardens
Alisha Lau (Golf Canada/ Graig Abel)
PITT MEADOWS, B.C. – Team Canada member Alisha Lau, 15, of Richmond, B.C., fired 69 to win the MJT Girls Division title and Low Overall at the Boston Pizza-presented Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s rain-shortened recent stop at Meadow Gardens Golf Course in Pitt Meadows, B.C.
The tournament was scheduled to run March 28th and 29th and also serve as a qualifier for the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, but inclement weather forced cancellation of the final round, meaning the qualifier will move to April 25th and 26th at Pagoda Ridge Golf Course in Langley, B.C.
“It feels nice to put a good round together in the beginning of the season, especially with some of the changes I’ve been making,” said Lau, who won by four strokes. “Over the winter I worked a lot on my swing. This win will give me a bit more confidence playing again.”
The MJT Girls 14 and under division was won by Michelle Cha, 13, of Surrey, B.C., (83).
Shayne LaRochelle, 19, of Coquitlam, B.C. claimed the MJT Junior Boys 17-19 title after shooting 73.
Another score of 73 secured the MJT Juvenile Boys 15-16 win for Mathew McConnachie, 16, of Surrey, B.C.
There was a tie for the lead with a score of 83 in the MJT Bantam Boys 13-14 division between Andy Jang, 14, of Langley, B.C., and Dylan Bercan, 13, of Vancouver, with the trophy decided on countback and going to Jang.
A five stroke margin ensured the MJT Peewee Boys 12 and under win went to Cole Bowering, 12, of Vancouver.
France earns six-stroke victory at Southern Cross Invitational
Team France
TIGRE, BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Medalist Romain Langasque of France dominated the field at Nordelta Golf Club, finishing at 14-under par (71-69-67-67), 9 strokes ahead of runner-up Jarryd Felton of Australia to lift Team France to the come-from-behind victory.
In total, France finished comfortably in first with a combined 846 (18-under) after trailing second place Ireland (852) through 36 holes. Rounding out the podium was Australia, who held a narrow one-stroke margin over Canada through 36 holes before pulling away in the final two rounds to finish at 5-under par (859).
Canada’s Development Squad held the fourth spot at 877, fending off Argentina’s last-ditch effort on Sunday to overtake the Canucks—they finished two-back at 879.
The leaderboard was rounded out by Chile (882), South Africa (886) and Portugal (890).
The inaugural Southern Cross began in 1999 between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Since then, the event combined with the Four Nations and Ten Nations Cup to include the larger field it hosts today.
Canada’s Corey Conners finishes T6 at Azalea Invitational
Corey Conners (Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault)
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Team Canada’s Corey Conners put forth another strong effort on Sunday, finishing in usual fashion inside the top-10 (T6) at 6-under par at the Azalea Invitational.
The 23-year-old Conners closed with a final-round, 3-under 68 in his last competitive round of golf prior to teeing it up at the pinnacle of professional golf — The Masters.
With the Masters quickly approaching, the Listowel, Ont., native will fly back to West Palm Beach, Fla., where he will continue his preparation.
“We’re both very pleased with his consistent performance this week,” said Team Canada Men’s Head Coach Derek Ingram. “We’re also able to further identify strong areas in his game, and others that could use additional attention in these next few days we have to practice.”
As a refresher, Conners earned his ticket to the Masters after finishing runner-up at the 2014 U.S Men’s Amateur Championship. He since won the prestigious Lake Macquarie championship in Australia earlier in January.
Fellow Team Canada member Austin Connelly was also in the field at the Azalea Invitational, finishing T18 at 1-under par for the tournament.
The Azalea Invitational has its own roots in history as well, having been hosted almost every year at the Country Club of Charleston since 1946.
Canada’s Development Squad to fly flag in Argentina
Robert Ratcliffe Tony Gil, Étienne Papineau, Trevor Ranton, A.J. Armstrong
Team Canada is ramping up to send four Development Squad members to Argentina from Mar. 26–29 to compete in the Southern Cross Invitational.
Tony Gil (Vaughan, Ont.), Étienne Papineau (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu), Trevor Ranton (Waterloo, Ont.) and A.J. Armstrong (St. Albert, Alta.) will make up the contingent representing Canada at the Nordelta Golf Club in Tigre.
The Canucks will square off against top international squads from Australia, Chile, France, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the host nation in the prestigious 54-hole event. Each country will play four players daily, with the top-three scores from each day being counted towards the team total.
“This will be the first big test for the guys competing as a new team against a strong amateur field,” said Lead Development Squad Coach, Robert Ratcliffe. “The boys have been working hard in the offseason and are excited to put their training to the test.”
Canada’s remaining two Development Squad members remain in action elsewhere around the world this week. Patrick Murphy, a native of Crossfield, Alta., is competing at a Pepsi Tour event this week in Litchfield Park, Ariz. and Tyler Saunders (Sturgeon County, Alta.) just finished wrapping up another collegiate event in his freshman season at Texas State University.
The inaugural Southern Cross began in 1999 between Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Since then, the event combined with the Four Nations and Ten Nations Cup to include the larger field it hosts today.
Team Canada’s band of brothers embark on next stage of golf careers
Taylor Pendrith, Chris Hemmerich, Adam Svensson, Garrett Rank and Corey Conners (Graig Abel/ Golf Canada)
Adam, Taylor, Garrett, Corey and Chris.
These aren’t the names of the members of the newest boy band topping the charts (although it kind of sounds like it could be). No, this band of brothers are recent products of Golf Canada’s national team program (Corey Conners is still a member) that are embarking on the next stage of their respective golf journeys together.
Adam Svensson, the 21-year-old from B.C., announced Tuesday he has turned professional. He’ll concentrate on PGA Tour Canada – and a few events on the Web.com Tour – this year. This comes after Svensson won seven times in NCAA Division II in 2014 for Barry University and he realized he was ready for the professional ranks.
Svensson joins fellow Golf Canada teammates Taylor Pendrith and Chris Hemmerich on the Canadian circuit. Pendrith, known for his long drives and deft touch around the greens will be heading to PGA Tour Canada Q-school in April, while Hemmerich, on the heels of a successful stretch in 2014, has full status on that tour.
Meanwhile, Corey Conners remains an amateur, if only for another month, so then he can participate in The Masters. He earned a spot in that field thanks to his runner-up finish at the U.S. Amateur last year.
And then there’s Garrett Rank. Rank, the elder statesman of the group, captured the 2014 Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship and will participate in this year’s RBC Canadian Open. While Rank could have continued playing golf full-time, he shifted gears and concentrated more on being a hockey referee. Most would say this was a good decision: Rank has officiated a handful of NHL games already this season.
It’s no secret Golf Canada can’t teach someone how to hit a 350-yard drive (Pendrith) or win back-to-back NCAA championships (Svensson), but the importance of their time with the program isn’t lost on the young men.
“It’s crazy to think that wherever this group of players go, there’s at least one of us near the top of the leaderboard,” says Hemmerich. “It’s pretty fun. It speaks for itself as far as the kind of program Golf Canada is running.”
Both Svensson and Pendrith are a part of Golf Canada’s new Young Pro Program. While Pendrith explains the program really helped to prepare him to make good decisions and have good habits, Svensson explains it’s a team that will help him out through the first steps of his pro career.
“It’s another support group,” he says. “I’ve known Derek (Ingram, the men’s head coach) for many years and I can call him at any time. Golf Canada has been great to me.”
Not lost on the young men are the changes that lay ahead – not so much from a golf perspective, but from the day-to-day way they must carry themselves.
“The physical side hasn’t changed. Its just golf,” says Pendrith. “But you’re not playing for (amateur) points, you’re playing for dollars. It’s a mental adjustment.”
“It’s totally different now seeing how seriously some people take it. It’s starting to sink in,” continues Hemmerich. “Every shot in pro golf means a couple hundred bucks at this level, a couple thousand bucks at the next level, and a lot more at the level after that. Every shot matters.”
Each man credits their agents for alleviating some of the pressure they’re feeling as young professionals (Conners, too). SportBox, who also manage Graham DeLaet and Mike Weir, represents Svensson. Adam Hadwin’s team at Higher Ground Sports is looking after Hemmerich. Pendrith is represented by agency in the U.S. called Empire Sports Management, and Conners has Chubby Chandler of International Sports Management in his corner.
They are alone on the golf course, but have a number of people encouraging them behind-the-scenes.
“It takes a lot of pressure of me,” Svensson says of his team. “I can call them anytime, and they’re a great bunch of dudes.”
Comments like “great bunch of dudes” and Hemmerich saying he’s “fired up” for the 2015 season quickly remind you that there’s a part of each of these men that still make them kids.
But don’t mistake their fun attitudes for lack-of-motivation. Once Conners joins Hemmerich, Pendrith and Svensson later this year as a professional, Canadian golf fans will be treated to seeing this fine crop of players in action.
And, no matter what the future has in store for them, by getting to this point, they’ve already sung the song of success.
Toronto – Canadian golfer Adam Svensson, winner of his last nine of 14 Division II collegiate starts, has turned professional and signed with SportBox Entertainment Group for worldwide management and marketing representation.
Svensson has inked deals with Acushnet/Titleist, J.Lindeberg and Freedom 55 Financial. He will also continue to be supported by Golf Canada’s through the Young Pro Squad program.
“After winning my last two starts, my gut was telling me it was the right time to make the move and turn professional,” said Svensson. “I feel my game is ready to be pushed to the next level and I am excited to challenge and better myself against the best players in professional golf.”
In addition to nine collegiate wins, the product of Surrey, B.C. is a two-time NCAA First Team All-American, 2013/14 Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year, and was named the 2012/13 Phil Mickelson Award recipient as most outstanding freshman.
Svensson will focus his efforts on PGA Tour Canada and Web.com Tour events in 2015.
The Barry University alum spent two years on Golf Canada’s National Men’s Amateur Team following four years on the National Development Squad. He will once again transition his involvement with Golf Canada’s National Team program, becoming a member of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad.
Team Canada’s Maddie Szeryk ties for fifth at Wildcat Invitational
Maddie Szeryk (Golf Canada/ Graig Abel)
TUSCAN, Ariz. – Canada’s Maddie Szeryk is quietly putting together quite the resume in her first season at Texas A&M and as a member of the National Amateur Squad.
On Tuesday, the 18-year-old shot her way up the leaderboard at the Wildcat Invitational at Sewailo Golf Club with a final-round 68, finishing in a tie for fifth place. Szeryk’s five-birdie effort lifted the Texas A&M Aggies to 5th place team finish.
More importantly, Szeryk’s finish marks the fifth time the dual-citizen has placed inside the top-5 in her freshman season at Texas A&M.
The No. 14 ranked Aggies have now played in eight events this season, meaning that Szeryk is on pace to finish inside the top-5 in over 50% of events played—not a bad stat to have, especially for a freshman.
Szeryk has built up experience internationally as well—she finished T15 this past summer representing Canada at the Youth Olympics in Nanjing, Chi.
She will look to continue her trend next month when the Aggies head to Oxford, Miss., to tee-it-up at the Rebel Intercollegiate.
Team Canada’s Blair Hamilton gets first collegiate win
Blair Hamilton (l’Université de Houston)
LAREDO, Tex. – National Amateur Squad member Blair Hamilton of Burlington, Ont. won his first collegiate event Saturday afternoon at the Border Olympics, posting a final-round 71 for a one-stroke victory at Laredo Country Club.
The University of Houston junior carded earlier rounds of 67 and 69 to finish just ahead of teammates Matt Scobie (Ajax, Ont.) and Roman Robledo en route to capturing medalist honours.
Even with three Cougars finishing atop the leaderboard, the University of Houston had to settle for a runner-up finish, three strokes behind champion Baylor.
Hamilton and the Cougars will tee-it-up again next week at the Valspar Invitational in Palm City, Fla.
