Team Canada - Golf Canada

Buenos Aires, Argentina — Canadian Austin Connelly finished in second place at the Argentine Amateur final, losing to Argentina’s Andres Gallegos 4-and-3 on Sunday.

A dual citizen who resides in Nova Scotia and Irving, Tex., Connelly began the final 36-hole match with an early three-hole lead over his opponent, but could not hold on as Gallegos charged back throughout the day.

Gallegos made eight birdies in his second round of the day, including four that secured the victory between holes 28-33.

Connelly, who has signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Arkansas later this week, defeated Team Canada teammate Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont. 2-and-1 to advance to Sunday’s final.

The Canadian tandem has played solid golf while in Argentina. Last Sunday, the pair captured the Tailhade Cup by a margin of 19 strokes.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Canada won its first ever Tailhade Cup at the Los Lagartos Country Club on Sunday, defeating defending champion Spain by 19 strokes.

The two-man team of Austin Connelly and Corey Conners played solid golf in the final round to add to an already insurmountable lead heading into the day.

Connelly, a dual citizen who resides in Nova Scotia and Texas, shot a 2-under par 69 on Sunday, while Conners, a 22-year old native of Listowel, Ont., carded a 68.

“It feels great to win this championship, we played at high level and really enjoyed ourselves,” said Connelly. “The key for me this week was to stay calm in every round, especially because the course conditions became more difficult, especially on the green. Luckily I was able to hole many putts and that’s what led me to make good scores.”

Conners was also ecstatic to earn the win.

“I’m very happy and proud to win this major championship for the first time for our country,” said Conners, who finished runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Amateur. Today we were reassured by the difference we had … I hit all the greens in regulation and I am satisfied with the work I did with Austin, who played outstanding.”

Finishing behind Spain in third place was Chile, whose 577 total strokes marked the country’s best finish ever at the tournament.

Connelly also convincingly won the individual honours, finishing at 11-under par (273), seven strokes better than runner-up Alejandro Tosti of Argentina (280). Conners finished in third place with 281 total strokes on the week.

El Paso, Tex. — Canada’s Adam Svensson finished tied for fourth place at the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic, shooting a 6-under par 207 on the week.

The 20-year-old native of Surrey, B.C. represented Barry University at the El Paso Country Club in a 19-player field that featured some of the NCAA’s top players.

New Mexico’s Gavin Green won the event with a 14-under par 199, seven shots better than runners-up Jonathan Garrick of UCLA and Rico Hoey of Southern California.

Svensson (70-68-69), who is a member of Team Canada’s National Men’s Team, had 12 birdies and an eagle in the 54-hole event.

OTTAWA — PGA of Canada Technical Director Glenn Cundari was named this year’s recipient of the National Coach Developer Award presented by Investors Group at the Petro-Canada Sport Leadership Awards gala.

Created in 2012, the award is given each year to a coach who inspires and contributes to National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) coaches in their community.

A driving force behind the construction and maintenance of the NCCP in golf, Cundari delivers webinars, conference calls and resources for fellow coaches within the industry.

“I’m honoured to be receiving this award,” said Cundari. “I’m as excited as ever to have coach education discussions with fellow coach developers, coaches and athletes from many different sports.”

Cundari is also an active member of the PGA World Alliance Education Committee, a group dedicated to learning how international golfing countries are educating their coaches. Cundari travels to developing golf nations to perform mission work.

“This award was created two years ago to nationally recognize people exactly like Glenn Cundari,” said Alain Roy, Director of Education Partnerships at the Canadian Association of Coaches. “As a multi-sport Learning Facilitator, and Master Learning Facilitator across all of golf’s three NCCP streams, Glenn’s commitment to sport, development, excellence, and lifelong learning has been fundamental to his capacity to inspire and motivate coaches around him. The CAC is honoured to recognize Glenn with this award.”

Additionally, two other Canadian golf coaches were recognized for distinction in their fields with awards at the event.

Receiving Petro-Canada Coaching Excellence Awards were Derek Ingram, head coach of Team Canada’s National Amateur Men’s Team, and Tristan Mullally, head coach of Team Canada’s National Amateur Women’s Team.

Ingram and Mullally are the first two golf coaches to ever receive these awards.

“Every year, the Coaching Association of Canada is proud to recognize coaches and coach developers for the positive impact they have on sport in Canada,” said Lorraine Lafrenière, CEO of the CAC. “These coaches demonstrate the values and core competencies of the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP), and the positive impact that a coach’s passion, and dedication to the profession can have on an athlete in all aspects of their life”.

Brooke Henderson’s standout season on the golf course has her in the running to be named the 2014 Ontario Athlete of the Year.

If the Team Canada member and Smiths Falls, Ont. native is successful in receiving the Syl Apps Award, she will become only the second golfer to receive the honour and the youngest award winner in its 16-year history. The only other golfer to earn the honour is Mike Weir, who received the award in 1999, 2000 and 2003.

Henderson is up against some stiff competition, including Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, Russel Martin of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays, Milos Raonic (tennis) Patrick Husbands (horse racing) and Cory Perry of the Anaheim Ducks.

Voting for the award is conducted annually by the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. Those eligible to vote include Ontario-based sports writers, broadcasters/personalities with at least 10-years covering sports in this province, members of the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors and the Hall’s Advisory Board.

To be eligible for the award, athletes must be born in Ontario or play for an Ontario-based team. They also must have made an outstanding and memorable contribution to Ontario sport during the previous calendar year.

The public is encouraged to vote for their favourite athlete online. The voting widget is located on the left side of the home page and will be available until December 5, 2014.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Team Canada’s Adam Svensson showed no signs of rust out of the gate, winning the Guy Harvey Invitational by three strokes on Tuesday with a score of 9-under par.

Svensson, a junior at Barry University, took the outright lead with a remarkable 8-under par 64 during Monday’s second round. That was the low-round for the tournament and the key reason Svensson was able to capture individual honours in his first tournament as a junior at Barry.

With the win, Svensson continues his impressive streak of collegiate victories that includes seven titles from the 2013-14 season. The National Amateur Squad member carries the momentum of winning last year’s Jack Nicklaus award, given to the top player in NCAA Div I, II and III.

Collectively, Svensson led the No. 1 ranked Buccaneers to a convincing 19-stroke victory over runner-up Nova Southeastern University. Svensson and the Bucs will tee-it-up again Octover 20 at the Otter Invitational in Seaside, Calif.

Click here for full results.

Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team USA got out to an early lead and never let it go, finishing with a team-total score of 17-under par 559 for the wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.

The Americans (137-141-137-144—559) began Wednesday’s final round with a commanding 16-shot lead and went on to shoot a team-total, even-par 144 to capture top spot on the medal podium.

Team USA counted matching rounds of even-par 72 by 16-year old Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282) and 15-year old Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) while 15-year old Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279), who finished as individual gold medalist, rounded out the scoring with a round of 1-over 73.

For Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum, the victory capped a special week that left her beaming with pride for her young squad.

“They’re my dream team, it’s been wonderful it’s been a great week and a real team effort; I couldn’t be more proud of the three of them, the way they conducted themselves on the course and off the course,” said Myhrum. “Go play and have fun, there is really not much else I can say to these three. They had great course management and are really easy to captain because they know how to get around the golf course – they didn’t really need me this week.”

Sweden, which began the day tied for fifth, five shots back of a podium placing, vaulted into the silver medal by counting the low team-total of the final round – 5-under par 139. Leading the way for the Swedes was 18-year old Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) who counted the low round of the day on the South Course at Angus Glen, a sizzling 5-under 67. Seventeen year old Filippa Mork (81-75-77-72—305) saved her best round – even-par 72 – for the final day to count the second score while 18-year old Michaela Finn (74-72-72-75—295) rounded out the scoring for Sweden.

Team Canada (144-146-141-149—580) was looking to build on their team-best score from Tuesday but it wasn’t meant to be as the host country shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 to claim the bronze medal. The Canucks counted final-round scores of even-par 72 by Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. (70-73-71-72—286) and 5-over 77 by Grace St-Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73-78-77—302) while teammate Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79-70-81—307) completed the scoring with a non-counting 81.

Rounding out the top-five in the team competition at the inaugural World Junior Girls Team Championship was Team Denmark (149-143-141-150—583) in fourth at 7-over 583 followed by Spain in fifth (147-146-142-152—587) at 11-over 587.

Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77-75-75—299), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74-74-76—302) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80-75-74—312) shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 (150-151-149-149—599) to finish tied for 13^th position.

In the individual competition, 15-year old American standout Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279) shot a final-round, 1-over 73 to win the gold medal by three shots over her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282). Liu came into Wednesday’s final round with a four-shot lead over Khang and was more excited to contribute to the team victory than capturing individual gold.

“Yes, I am extremely happy that my team won first and that I did too – it is a total celebration,” said Liu, the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “To be able to share the podium with my teammates who were out there on the course with me and my captain and manager makes me extremely happy and proud because we came here together and we are able to leave as champions together.”

Sweden’s Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) saved her best play for the final round, firing a 5-under 67 and tournament-total 3-under 285 to edge out Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73-71-72—286) by a single stroke and capture the bronze medal. Team USA’s Angela Yin Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) and Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey (77-67-74-72—290) tied for fifth at 2-over for the tournament.

Click here for full scoring.

Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team USA continues to dominate the 15 country field of competitors at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship after firing a team-total score of 7-under par 137 to increase their lead to 16 shots heading into the final round of the inaugural event at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.

After starting the day with a comfortable 12-shot lead, Team USA (137-141-137—415) continued their sizzling play on Tuesday and with only 18 holes to play, look poised to claim the championship team title on Wednesday at Angus Glen.

Mika Liu (70-69-67—206) continued to lead the way for the Americans shooting 5-under 67 Tuesday and pairing with teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70—210) to count a team score of 7-under 137 to lead the host Canadian team by 16 shots heading into Wednesday’ final round.

“You know what, I am just so proud of these kids – it’s shaping up really well,” said Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum. “This is a marathon, this format – everybody has to play well, you can’t just have one superstar on your team. This kid (Mika), is unbelievable, they all are. I think we have a 16 stroke lead going into the final round and it’s a nice place to be.”

Liu, 15, tied the low round of the tournament with her 5-under 67 that included six birdies and a single bogey under breezy overcast conditions at Angus Glen. The young American standout set out Tuesday to improve on her 69 a day earlier and did just that.

“Today, I improved on what I practiced yesterday. I hit the fairways I missed yesterday, I hit greens, and just had many more opportunities for birdies, and I did make more,” said Liu, currently the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. I only made one bogey today, so that was very helpful. I will continue to work on my swing, and I will focus mainly on putting again – both on the short putts and long ones for speed. Mentally, I will still be the same as during the practice round. I will play my game, talk to my teammates, talk to the other players and enjoy my time out there.”

Khang (16), carded three birdies and a single bogey for a third-round, 2-under 70 as the second USA score to count while 15-year old teammate Angel Yin (73-72-73—218) shot a non-counting 1-over 73 to round out the USA team scores.

Team Canada (144-146-141—431), had their best team score of the tournament, shooting 3-under on the day. Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79-70—226) shot her best round of the tournament, 2-under 70, to lead the way for Canada who head into Wednesday’s final round two shots up on Team Denmark (149-143-141—433) for second spot in the team competition.

Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. (70-73-71—214) counted a score of 1-under 71 for Canada while teammate Grace St. Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73-78—225) rounding out the Canadian scores with a 6-over 78.

Besides Team USA, Canada and Denmark holding down the top three positions, Spain is alone in fourth at 3-over for the tournament (147-146-142—435) with Italy (147-145-146—438) and Sweden (150-144-144—438) tied for fifth at 6-over.

Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77-75—224), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74-74—226) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80-75—238) shot a team-total, 5-over 149 (150-151-149—450) are in 13^th position at 18-over through 54 holes.

With her third-round 67, Mika Liu (70-69-67—206) continues to top the individual leader boad at 10-under par, four shots better than her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70—210). Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73-71—214) is alone in third at 2-under for the tournament while Denmark’s Line Hansen (76-67-72—215) and Hana Ryskova of the Czech Republic (74-71-70—215) are tied for fourth at 1-under.