DIAMONDHEAD, Miss. – Toronto’s Albin Choi has done it again. After earning his first win as a professional on the NGA Tour just two weeks ago, the 22-year-old Team Canada member has already added another with a playoff victory at the Cardinal Classic on Saturday.
The N.C. State grad birdied the par-5 18th to reach 12-under par (65-67-72) at the rain-shortened event before forcing a playoff with American James Erkenbeck and eventually edging him out after two additional holes. Similar to his win two weeks ago at the SwingThought Tour Classic, Choi took home a prize total of $20,000 (USD) and earned another exemption–this time to the BMW Charity Pro-Am, a Web.com Tour event.
Fellow Canadian Bill Ross of Dundas, Ont., cracked the top 10–finishing in a tie for sixth at 9-under par. Choi’s Young Pro Squad teammate Mackenzie Hughes, also of Dundas, finished in a tie for 13th.
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EUSTIS, Fla. – 17-year-old Brooke Henderson continued her play in usual fashion on Friday, shooting a final-round 64 to take home the hardware at the SunCoast Series Winter Championship at Black Bear Golf Club.
The Young Pro Squad’s newest member went bogey-free in her final round, carding eight birdies in the process to take the lead from sister Brittany before running away with a nine-stroke victory. This marks Henderson’s second SunCoast Series win as a professional—she battled sister Brittany back in January as well, eventually winning with a birdie on the final hole.
The Smiths Falls, Ont., native finished at 15-under par (70-69-70-64) and will take home a cool $5,000 for her efforts.
Former Women’s Amateur Squad member Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Québec City joined the Henderson duo atop the leaderboard, placing 4th at 3-under par.
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SUN CITY, Ariz. – Long-standing Team Canada member Brittany Marchand won her first professional event on Wednesday at the sixth Cactus Tour event on the grounds of Sun City Country Club.
Marchand, 22, posted six birdies en route to turning in the day’s low score of 68, good for an 8-under finish and a one-stroke victory over California native Emily Tubert. The victory marks her first professional event win during her five years with Team Canada.
A week prior to the event, the fifth-year chemical engineering major at N.C. State set aside a chunk of her schedule for a training session—which payed off in full.
Women’s Head Coach, Tristan Mullally, shared his excitement with Marchand’s well-deserving win.
“I am very proud of Brittany, she continues to do her own thing while pursuing a dream to become a successful professional. Last week we worked hard technically and I knew she had the potential to go play well—this is a great win for her.”
Marchand was one of 11 amateurs in the field of 60—making for an even more impressive victory.
Other Canadians in the field
- Jessica MacPhee (Langley, B.C.) – T20, +6
- Melissa Mabanta (Langley, B.C.) – T23, +7
- Megan Chapman (Thornbury, Ont.) – T25, +8
- Dani Shap (Mission, B.C.) – 55th, +29
- Kimberley Risulmi (a) (Lloydminster, Sask.) – T56, +32
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UXBRIDGE, Ont. – The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) has announce the 2015 team for the annual Can-Am Matches, March 21-22, against South Carolina at the Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, just south of Myrtle Beach.
The 2015 matches will mark the 17th playing of the event and feature 16 of the top ranked junior golfers from Ontario taking on 16 of the top junior players from the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.
Representing Ontario at the matches will be all of the current Team Ontario members. Joining them will be Golf Canada National Development Team members, and former Team Ontario players, Trevor Ranton and Grace St-Germain. Rounding out the girls’ side will be Eunice Hong, who finished the 2014 season 10th on both the Golf Canada and GAO Junior Girls Orders of Merit.
The Team
- Trevor Ranton, 17, Waterloo and Whistle Bear Golf Club
- Max Sear, 17, Markham and York Downs Golf and Country Club
- Jason Chung, 15, Thornhill and Pheasant Run Golf Club
- Brendan Seys, 16, Port Lambton and Maple City Country Club
- Jackson Bowery, 17, London and Greenhills Golf Club
- Kyle MacDonald, 17, Burlington and Rattlesnake Pointe Golf Club
- Jake Bryson, 15, Dunrobin and Eagle Creek Golf Club
- Kelvin Lim, 13, Thornhill and Station Creek Golf Club
- Grace St- Germain, 16, Orleans and Hylands Golf Club
- Alyssa Getty, 17, Ruthven and Kingsville Golf and Country Club
- Monet Chun, 14, Richmond Hill and The Summit Golf and Country Club
- Madeline Marck-Sherk, 17, Ridgeway and Bridgewater Country Club
- Diana McDonald, 17, Kingston and Loyalist Country Club
- Isabella Portokalis, 13, London and the London Hunt and Country Club
- Chloe Currie, 15, Mississauga and Mississaugua Golf and Country Club
- Eunice Hong, 17, Thornhill and the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto
This year’s team is filled with players who will make their Can-Am Matches debut. Only six of the 16 team members have previously taken part in the Can-Am Matches, including Ranton, St. Germain, Sear, Seys, Getty and Chun.
The opening day features team best-ball matches followed by singles matches on day two. The scoring format for the matches is slightly different than a traditional match play event. In each match, there are 18 points available, one for each hole, ensuring that all 18 holes are played. If a hole is halved, each player or team receives half a point. The format stresses the importance of each player focusing on one hole at a time.
LAFAYETTE, La. – Team Canada Development Squad member Tyler Saunders fired a final-round 69 at the Louisiana Classics on Tuesday to finish runner-up at 7-under par.
Saunders, 19, totalled 13 birdies coupled with a second-round eagle at Oakbourne Country Club en route to his second top-three performance in as many weeks — the 6’6 Sturgeon County, Alta., native earned co-medalist honours at the Mobile Sports Authority last week in Moble, Ala.
The Texas State freshman shared a sense of boosted confidence following his impressive performance these past couple weeks.
“I felt like last week was just the start of something,” Saunders said. “I think I just now need to get my short game really good, but I feel like I’m swinging it really well.”
As a team, the Texas State Bobcats finished in second place behind champion University of Illinois. Saunders and the Bobcats have a week off before teeing-it-up again at the Border Olympics in Laredo, Tex.
Click here for full results.
VALDOSTA, Ga. – Toronto native and Young Pro Squad member Albin Choi recorded his first win as a professional on Saturday, shooting a 6-under 210 to win the SwingThought Tour Classic by one stroke.
Choi, 22, carded 14 birdies en route to shooting rounds of 69-70-71 for the come-from-behind victory on the weather-shortened 54-hole event at the Kiderlou Forest Golf Club.
With the win, Choi takes home $20,000 (USD) along with an exemption into the United Leasing Championship presented by PTI, a Web.com Tour event.
The long-standing Team Canada member had lost his Web.com Tour status following the 2014 season, and will surely be eager to return with an extra boost of confidence following his victory.
Young Pro Squad Head Coach, Derek Ingram, shared his excitement for Choi, who he knows well through their years together with Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad.
“There is nothing more important than knowing you can win and believing in yourself,” said Ingram. “I couldn’t be happier for Albin.”
Choi will tee-it-up again from Mar. 9-14 in the NGA Tour’s next event in Diamondhead, Miss.
Fellow Canuck and former National Team member, Riley Wheeldon was also in the field in Valdosta. The Courtenay, B.C., native cracked the top-10, squeezing in with a tie for 10th place.
This marks the second victory for the Young Pro Squad on the NGA Tour in recent months—Richmond Hill Ont. native Taylor Pendrith won the Meadowlands event in November.
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Team Canada’s Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. has received a sponsors exemption into the Puerto Rico Open.
The tournament, a PGA Tour event, will be played March 5-8 at Trump International Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, opposite the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral.
“I am so pleased to have been given this opportunity in Puerto Rico,” said Conners. He will use this event as a tune-up for the Masters.
Conners, 23, had a very successful 2014. He was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur, won the Jones Cup Invitational and three college events in his senior year with Kent State. He also played the RBC Canadian Open at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
Conners continued his strong play into 2015, winning the Lake Macquarie Amateur in Australia and cracking the top 15 at the Jones Cup.
MOBILE, Ala. – Tyler Saunders of Team Canada’s Development Squad captured co-medalist honours at the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate on Tuesday, earning his first win of his young collegiate career.
Saunders, a freshman at Texas State, shot rounds of 72-66-73 to finish at 5-under par for the tournament, setting the fifth-lowest score in school history in the process. He shared medalist honours with Auburn’s Matt Gilchrest.
“It meant a lot,” said the Sturgeon County, Alta. native. “I felt like I’ve been working pretty hard and hadn’t been getting the results I’ve wanted, so it’s nice to have that reward for how hard I feel like I’ve been trying to improve.”
The 19-year-old topped the field with 16 birdies, helping the Bobcats finish in seventh place overall.
Saunders and the Bobcats will tee-it-up again next week at the Louisiana Classic tournament in Lafayette, La.
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LAKELAND, Fla. – Team Canada’s Adam Svensson continued his winning ways Tuesday, notching the second win of his junior season with a victory at the Matlock Collegiate Classic.
Svensson, 21, carded rounds of 67-67-70 for a 12-under 204, good for a two-stroke victory at the Lone Palm Golf Club. He recorded 14 birdies en route to his second individual win this season in as many events—he won the Guy Harvey Invitational in the fall.
The Surrey, B.C., native continues to roll for Barry University. He set a school record last year in his sophomore season with seven individual titles, winning the Jack Nicklaus award for the top golfer in Div II in the process.
Collectively, the Barry Buccaneers finished runner-up, 10 strokes behind champion Nova Southeastern. Svensson and the Bucs will tee-it-up again in the Warner Invitational in Sebring, Fla., Mar. 2–3.
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Golf Canada is pleased to announce the six athletes – three female and three male – who have been selected to the 2015 Team Canada Young Pro Squad for the program’s second year of operation.
Comprising the team for 2015 is: Brooke Henderson (Smiths Falls, Ont.); Rebecca Lee-Bentham (Toronto); Sue Kim (Langley, B.C.); Albin Choi (Toronto); Mackenzie Hughes (Dundas, Ont.) and Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.).
Developed in partnership with the PGA of Canada and supported by founding partner Canadian Pacific, as well as supporting partners Citi Canada and the Golf Canada Foundation Women’s Fund, the Young Pro Squad program bridges the gap for top graduating amateurs transitioning into professional golf.
“We are very proud of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad initiative,” said Scott Simmons, Golf Canada’s Chief Executive Officer. “We’re well ahead of where we were just a couple years ago in terms of helping to make the transition from elite amateur to the professional ranks as seamless and successful as possible.”
Headlining the female contingent is Team Canada National Amateur Team graduate Brooke Henderson. The 17-year-old declared herself as a professional golfer in conjunction with signing on with IMG as her management group in December of 2014.
In September 2014, Henderson made history by becoming the first Canadian to occupy the world’s No. 1 spot on the Women’s World Amateur Ranking. Henderson earned spots in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2015 ANA Inspiration Championship (formerly the Kraft Nabisco Championship) as a result of her tie for 10th at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open. In addition, Henderson is able to accept up to a maximum of six LPGA sponsor exemptions and is also eligible for Monday qualifiers.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey the past few years and now I’m excited for what lies ahead as a professional,” said Henderson, who won her first event as a professional (Suncoast Series Tour) and this past week qualified for the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic where she finished T-33. “I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the National Team program during my amateur career and now I’m proud to continue representing Team Canada as a pro.”
Joining Henderson are two returning members of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad – Rebecca Lee-Bentham and Sue Kim. Both Lee-Bentham and Kim are also graduates of Team Canada’s National Amateur Team and maintain conditional status on the LPGA Tour for the 2015 season.
Lee-Bentham, 22, was the second-highest earning Canadian on the LPGA Tour last season. She played 18 events on tour, highlighted by a tie for 12th at the Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning & O-I. She earned conditional status on the LPGA Tour in 2015 by finishing inside the top 125 on the LPGA Tour’s Race to the CME Globe.
“I’m grateful to be back with a program that is undoubtedly working and continues to be dedicated to developing players,” said Lee-Bentham. “Golf Canada has been with me for most of my golfing career and I am honoured to represent Canada each week on the LPGA Tour.”
Sue Kim, 23, finished as No. 120 on the LPGA Tour’s Race to the CME Globe to earn conditional status for 2015. Her best finish, a tie for 35th, came at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.
“The ongoing support from Golf Canada is a huge boost for me and my goals to improve my game and results on Tour,” added Kim. “I’m thankful to Head Coach Tristan (Mullally) and the rest of the support staff and really excited for what the future holds.”
Mackenzie Hughes and Albin Choi return as members of the Team Canada Young Pro Men’s Squad. They will be joined by newly turned professional Taylor Pendrith.
All three athletes will attend PGA TOUR Canada qualifying school in April with hopes of earning full status. Hughes, 24, is a two-time former Canadian Amateur champion. This year he hopes to repeat the success he had in 2013, when he captured the No. 1 spot on PGA TOUR Canada’s Order of Merit.
“I’m thrilled to be back on the Young Pro squad and getting the support from those who share a passion for helping me become better,” said Hughes. “The program is a huge deal; it’s helped me to focus on my goal of being successful at the highest level.”
Choi, 22, is also a former Canadian Amateur champion. His 2014 season on the Web.com Tour was highlighted by four top-30 finishes and a tie for 19th at the United Leasing Championship presented by TPI.
“Being with the Team Canada program for seven years now, it almost feels like a family,” said Choi. “Derek (Ingram), the coaching staff, and the other members of the squad are all so supportive of each other. Having that backing is a huge lift for the many challenges of competing professionally.”
Pendrith, 23, will look to hit the ground running after a successful amateur career which included winning the prestigious Monroe Invitational in 2014, as well as earning the Gary Cowan trophy (low amateur honours) at the 2014 RBC Canadian Open.
“This is a big honour for me,” said Pendrith. “I have high goals and aspirations for my career and I couldn’t think of a better team to support me in my journey. The National Team program has done a lot for my amateur career and I’m excited to transition that success over to the professional ranks.”
Men’s National Squad coach Derek Ingram and Women’s National Team coach Tristan Mullally will provide coaching to their respective Young Pro players. In addition to funding as part of the program, the athletes will have access to Team Canada’s sport science staff which includes Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood, Nutritionist Nicole Springle and Physiotherapist & Strength Coach Greg Redman.
“I’m excited to see these young athletes take the next stops as professional golfers,” said Gary Bernard, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of Canada. “Golf Canada has shown great commitment in collaborating with the PGA of Canada in our world class teaching and coaching certification programs.”
Golf Canada’s ability to offer this program is due in large part to a focused fundraising effort on the part of the Golf Canada Foundation.
“Now in its second year, the board of the Golf Canada Foundation is excited to continue supporting these young athletes in their pursuit of golfing excellence,” said Golf Canada Foundation Chief Executive Officer Martin Barnard. “We are very proud to be behind this program and look forward to the future success of the Young Pro Squad.”
Throughout the season, Golf Canada will closely monitor the performance of elite Canadian amateurs transitioning to professional golf with the possibility of program expansion.
Click here for Team Canada player bios.
