Team Canada amateur Jaclyn Lee jumps to early lead at LPGA Q-Series
Jaclyn Lee (LPGA Tour)
LPGA Tour Communications
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. That was the message on a cool day at Pinehurst Resort for the first of eight rounds at the inaugural LPGA Q-Series presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. Canadian amateur Jaclyn Lee was the only player to go bogey-free on Wednesday at Pinehurst No. 6 with an opening-round 68. Lee is alone at the top of the 102-player field, and holds a two-shot lead over Pajaree Anannarukarn, Laetitia Beck, Jeongeun Lee6 and Klara Spilková.
The 21-year-old Calgary native, who made it to Q-Series all the way from Stage I of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, lit up Pinehurst No. 6 on Wednesday with a bogey-free 68. There was a small group of supporters standing off the green to meet Lee, and she attributes her solid opening-round play to feeling comfortable at Pinehurst.
“I’m comfortable in this environment, I’m back with my host family from the North & South, which I love,” she said. “It’s good to be back and to have made it all the way here.”
Lee has played in the North & South Women’s Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 the past three years, and has stayed with the same host family, David and Tonya Brown, who she is also staying with this week. Lee also has her North & South Women’s Amateur caddie, Eric Bennett, on the bag this week.
“It feels pretty good,” the Ohio State senior said of her opening-round. “It’s nice to start the tournament with a solid round. I have the same goals for the next seven rounds, just to play some solid golf and try to get myself in a good position.”
New this year for the LPGA Q-Series, an amateur competitor earning LPGA status may defer her acceptance of LPGA membership until July 1 the following year allowing her to finish the college golf season if she wishes.
A lot is on the line these next two weeks as players will compete in a total of eight rounds over two, four-day tournaments with the top-45 finishers and ties receiving LPGA membership in Category 14 on the LPGA Priority List and remaining competitors earning Symetra Tour status.
Spilková, a winner on the Ladies European Tour, is aiming to finish the next two weeks inside the top 45 and was pleased with the way she fought in an opening-round 70.
“For me that’s the most important thing, to be able to let it go and just enjoy and that’s what I did today on the golf course,” Spilková said. “We had so much love, I just tried to hit fairways and greens and then two-putt. That’s how I want to play for all eight rounds. If I play even par, I’m pretty happy with it. If I make a few putts that’s pretty good. I’m not pushing myself too much.”
Quebec City’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay is 23rd after a 1-over 73. Meanwhile, Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., opened with a 6-over 78 to sit 84th.
Trio of Canadians set to compete at LPGA’s 2018 Q-Series
AC Tanguay (Golf Canada/ Bernard Brault)
Golf Canada
PINEHURST, N.C. – Three Canadians are competing at the LPGA’s revamped Qualifying Tournament, which gets underway Oct. 24 at Pinehurst Resort and concludes Nov. 3, where 45 players earning LPGA Tour status for the 2019 season.
What Canadians are competing?
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City and Team Canada National Amateur Squad member Jaclyn Lee of Calgary.
What is Q-Series?
One of the biggest changes coming to the LPGA in 2018 is the revamping of the LPGA Qualifying Tournament, the process whereby players from Canada and and all over the world compete to earn membership onto the LPGA.
Formerly, qualifying was a three-step process, where non-members generally start at Stage I in California. The top 80 and ties advanced from Stage II to Final Stage, where the top 20 earned what is considered “full” LPGA membership, while finishers 21 through 45 earn “partial” or “conditional” LPGA membership.
What’s Staying the Same?
Stage I and Stage II of LPGA Qualifying Tournament remain unchanged. Recent college graduates, those testing the waters early and the influx of players around the world hoping to reach the LPGA will still have to grind through the five-round gauntlet that is Stage I, which some consider the hardest because of the pressure and the 115–degree summer temps in the desert.
What’s Changing?
Instead of Stage II feeding into Final Stage, it feed into the Symetra Tour, for the most part. There will be some exceptions where top finishers at Stage II will qualify for the Q-Series.
Final Stage in Daytona Beach will be replaced by this new concept called the Q-Series, which begins this week. It consists of two weeks of golf, with eight days of tournament play on two separate golf courses at Pinehurst Resort, and scores will be cumulative over the eight rounds of competition.
Who Qualifies for the Q-Series?
The major goal of the Q-Series is to identify the most LPGA-ready talent. In the past, Final Stage was at one golf club, played over five rounds. Someone could have a bad week or catch the flu or experience the yips on the greens. It’s a roll of the dice. One tournament over five rounds doesn’t adequately provide the best glimpse at who should be on the LPGA.
That’s where Q-Series helps identify the top performers. Players that finish No. 101 to 150 on the LPGA money list during the current season will qualify, along with those that finish No. 11 through 30 on the Symetra Tour money list. Players in the top 75 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will also qualify for Q-Series.
Additionally, the top five players according to Golfweek’s Collegiate Rankings will also skip Stages I and II and right into the Q-Series.
Finally, the top finishers from Stage II will round out the field.
The field will be 102 players and there will be approximately 45 spots up for grabs for the 2019 season. Click here for scoring.
Team Canada’s Jaclyn Lee advances to final stage of LPGA Qualifying
Jaclyn Lee (Chuck Russell/Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
VENICE,Fla. – Canada’s top-ranked amateur golfer is making waves alongside this year’s LPGA hopefuls at Qualifying School.
Jacyln Lee, a five-year member of Team Canada’s National Squad program, advanced through the second stage of qualifying on Thursday at the Plantation Golf & Country Club. The 21-year-old Ohio State senior closed the 72-hole event at 3 under par (70-73-70-72) in a tie for 13th place.
With the finish, Lee is one of 25 to advance to Q-series stage from Oct. 22 – Nov. 3 at Pinehurst. Approximately 45 players will earn LPGA status.
Fellow Team Canada member Maddie Szeryk fell just short of the even-par cut line, finishing at 2 over par (75-73-72-70).
Excited to share that I’ve made it through to LPGA Q-Series!
Thanks to everyone who’s has been following along this past week. It means a lot to have your support! I’m ready for a fun week in Pinehurst ?
Canada’s Dao and Duquette finish individual play at Youth Olympic Games
William Duquette (Golf Canada)
Golf Canada
The world’s best junior golfers faced off this week at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games contested at Buenos Aires’ Hurlingham Golf Club.
In the women’s individual competition, Grace Kim of Australia won the gold medal, topping the 32-player field at 1 over par (211). Italy’s Alessia Nobilio, who was part of the gold medal winning team at the 2018 World Junior Girls Championship this past September in Ottawa, took home silver with a total score of 214 (+4). Nobilio, Emma Spitz of Austria and Yuka Saso of the Philippines squared off in an extra hole playoff with Nobilio making birdie and Spitz getting par to claim the bronze medal.
Canada’s Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Qué. — who entered the final round with share of 7th position — finished the tournament in a tie for 13th with rounds of 75-72-76 (223).
On the men’s side, Australia’s Karl Vilips topped the field of 32 to win the gold medal with a total score of 4 under 206 (69-68-69), besting American Akshay Bhatia by two strokes. Bhatia was awarded the silver medal with a total score of 208 (69-69-70) while the bronze medal was won by the Netherlands’ Jerry Ji who scored 211 (+1) for the tourney.
William Duquette of Laval, Qué., finished the competition in 28th spot with rounds of 80-79-82 for a total score of 241 (+31).
The Youth Olympic Games golf competition resumes Oct. 14-15 with the mixed team tournament, which will see the Québec duo of Dao and Duquette team up to represent the maple leaf.
Golf Canada’s Director of Next Generation and Women’s Junior Squad coach Matt Wilson is accompanying Team Canada in Buenos Aires.
As well, Golf Canada’s Mary-Beth McKenna, who is assistant tournament director for the RBC Canadian Open, is working as a rules official for the Youth Olympic Games golf competition.
MISSISSAUGUA, Ont. – Higher Ground Sports Management Inc. announced today the signing of former No.1-ranked Canadian amateur golfer Hugo Bernard of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, who has turned professional.
Bernard is making his professional debut this week at the First Stage of Web.com Tour Q-School in Dayton, Nevada.
The 23-year-old has also signed an endorsement deal with Titleist.
“With my professional career getting started this week, I was thrilled to sign with an experienced management team,” said Bernard, the former Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion, who has been a member of Golf Canada’s National Team since 2016. Bernard was also a member of Canada’s National Development Squad in 2013.
“I’ve had a lot of great opportunities as an amateur and collegiate golfer and I’m very proud of my career so far. I can’t wait to get started on the next phase of my golf career and join the professional ranks.”
Higher Ground, led by President George Sourlis, manages the business affairs of PGA Tour winner Adam Hadwin, LPGA Tour player and Canadian Olympian Alena Sharp, and fellow Golf Canada National team alums Jared du Toit and Blair Hamilton. Higher Ground will assist Bernard in sourcing and securing endorsement arrangements, developing and marketing his professional brand, and day-to-day management of his career.
“Hugo has it all,” said Sourlis. “He is extremely talented on the golf course, and that talent has shone through for years throughout his amateur and collegiate career. But away from the golf course he’s also an exemplarily young man. I’m excited to be part of what should be a long and successful career.”
Bernard was a star freshman at Saint Leo University in Florida. He led the team to a NCAA Division II national team championship and secured one individual title, at the NCAA Argonaut Invitational. He was also the individual medalist at the 2016 NCAA Division II Championship.
Bernard has had a long list of accomplishment in Canada, the U.S., and his native Quebec.
Bernard’s immediate goal will be to secure Web.com Tour status for 2019, otherwise he will play on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada next year.
Chris Vandette climbs from 7 strokes back to capture Duke of York in playoff
Chris Vandette (Duke of York Young Champions Trophy)
Golf Canada
INVERNESS, Scotland – Team Canada Development Squad member Christopher Vandette completed a remarkable come-from-behind victory on Thursday, gaining seven strokes on the field to capture the Duke of York Young Champions trophy in a playoff.
Vandette – who captured the Canadian Junior Boys title earlier this year – posted a final-round 71 (-1) in the gusty conditions at the Castle Stuart Golf Links to record the day’s only round under par. The Beaconsfield, Que., native drew even with Ireland’s Joseph Byrne, forcing a sudden-death playoff in Scotland.
The pair squared the first playoff hole and were all even until Byrne missed the green on his approach on the second hole. Vandette jumped at the opportunity with an approach inside 10 feet, going on to close the event with an emphatic birdie putt. At the time, the 17-year-old wasn’t paying too much attention to his movement on the leaderboard, but had a feeling he was gaining ground.
“I didn’t really want to take a look – I just wanted to finish up the best I could and focus on myself,” he said. “I made up strokes by keeping the ball in play and limiting mistakes. I also hit a lot of greens and putted well, I was very efficient around the greens which helped.”
Vandette was quick to credit the new centralized program in his preparation and performance this week.
“This winter, the centralized training at Bear Mountain obviously helped me develop as a player and I also think the conditions (wind, temperature) in Victoria helped me this week. I put in a lot of hours…it felt nice to get this one.”
For Team Canada Lead Development Squad coach Robert Ratcliffe, Vandette continues to show incredible resilience and growth this season.
“Chris was able to draw on his experience of playing this event last year in some pretty testing conditions to deliver a great performance at Castle Stuart,” said the PGA of Canada Class “A” member. “The wind howled for three days but Chris kept calm and showed why he’s one of Canada’s best juniors.”
The win marks the second time a Canadian has won the event – Mississauga, Ont., native Chloe Currie won back in 2016.
Also making her mark in Scotland was fellow Canadian Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont. Zhu finished the 54-hole mixed event in a tie for 8th place, which is also good for runner-up in the girls’ division.
The Duke of York Young Champions Trophy, founded in 2001, is a highly rated international event. All of the competitors are either the current holders of their Under 18 National Championship or have won another major golfing event in the previous year. The event boasts an impressive array of former competitors, including four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.
Team Canada’s Jaclyn Lee wins in Ann Arbour to collect 4th NCAA golf title
Jaclyn Lee
Golf Canada
ANN ARBOUR, Mich. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee has picked up right where she left off last season, winning medalist honours and her fourth NCAA golf title on Tuesday at the East & West Match Play event.
The Ohio State senior carded rounds of 69-71 to finish the stroke-play portion at 4 under par, two strokes clear of the pack. The three-time Team Canada Amateur Squad member continued rolling in the match play rounds with 5&3 and 5&4 victories, leading the Buckeyes into a 3rd place finish.
The medal comes with a heavy heart for the 21-year-old Lee, who paid her respects to the late Celia Barquin Arozamena, a European golf star and Iowa State student who had her life tragically taken away this week.
Canadian men’s squad finishes 9th at World Amateur in Ireland
Joey Savoie, Hugo Bernard, Garrett Rank, Greg Redman (Golf Canada)
MAYNOOTH, Ireland – Denmark, bolstered by the stellar play of 17-year-old identical twins Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, held off a surging field to win its first World Amateur Team Championship at 39-under-par 541 by one stroke over the USA.
The Danes claimed the Eisenhower Trophy in their 25th appearance as Nicolai Hojgaard, the 2018 European Amateur champion, posted a 7-under-par 66 and his brother Rasmus fired a 6-under-67 for a team total of 13-under-par 133 on the par-73 O’Meara Course. Teammate John Axelsen posted a non-counting 4-under 69. Previously, in 2010, Denmark had claimed the silver medal.
“It means a lot,” said six-time Danish captain Torben Nyehuus. “Everybody is watching. It’s just amazing. I was with the team in 2010 when we came in second, so this is just amazing. It’s pretty nice to go one better.”
Nicolai notched five birdies in his final nine holes and Rasmus logged three as they took the lead from a tightly-packed leaderboard. Four teams, Denmark, USA, Spain and New Zealand, were tied at 34-under as the last groups made the turn.
“I feel wonderful,” said Nicolai. “This is a dream come true for all of us. I had a tough start to this tournament, so I was just trying to play some good rounds to help the team. I did that the last two rounds so this is perfect. This is the biggest team event we could have won and to do it with Rasmus is perfect. But, also with John, John is a great friend and we are all having fun. This is just wonderful.”
The USA used a strong finish by University of Texas freshman and 2018 U.S. Amateur semifinalist Cole Hammer (7-under 66) and University of Southern California senior Justin Suh (4-under 69) to pass Spain for the silver medal at 38-under-par 542.
“It says a lot,” said Hammer, the 2018 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball champion. “It speaks a lot to the way our team jelled and how much fun we had together. When you are having fun playing golf, good things happen. To medal in my first international competition, especially on a stage as big as this, is really special.”
Spain took the bronze medal at 36-under 544. New Zealand, which held the lead through 36 and 54 holes, was fourth at 545, followed by Norway, Italy and Thailand tied for fifth at 548; England in eighth at 549, Canada in ninth at 550 and host Ireland and Germany tied for 10th at 553.
Although there is no official recognition, Spain’s Alejandro “Alex” Del Rey was the low individual scorer at 23-under 267. He and England’s Matthew Jordan shot the low scores in the fourth round at 8-under 65.
The Canadian squad carded a final-round of 10 under par to climb into sole possession of 9th place overall. The trio finished at 30 under par, with Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., leading the way at 13 under. Fellow Quebec native Hugo Bernard finished at 11 under par while Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., closed out at 7 under par.
In 29 appearances at the World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has captured the Eisenhower Trophy on one occasion (1986) and earned runner-up honours five times. In 25 appearances at the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, Canada has earned runner-up honours four times.
The 32nd World Amateur Team Championship for the Eisenhower Trophy and the 29th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship for the Espirito Santo Trophy are set for Hong Kong in 2020.
Canada tied for 10th heading into final round at World Amateur
MAYNOOTH, Ireland – New Zealand lengthened its lead to three strokes after 54 holes at 30-under-par 404 powered by a 7-under 65 from Denzel Ieremia and a 3-under 69 from Daniel Hillier and positioned itself to claim its first medal since winning gold in 1992.
“That would be really cool,” said Ieremia of emulating the 1992 team of Michael Campbell, Phillip Tataurangi and Stephan Scahill. “I played college golf and I have always said that winning a team event is way more thrilling than winning an individual one. To have an opportunity to try to convert tomorrow is pretty cool.”
Spain and the USA also posted 10-under team scores to join Thailand in a share of second place at 27-under-par 407.
The Spanish posted a 6-under 66 from Angel Hidalgo and a 4-under 68 from Alejandro Del Rey while the Americans logged a 66 from Collin Morikawa and a 68 from Justin Suh.
Italy and first-round leader Denmark are tied for fifth at 408 and Norway, buoyed by the day’s best score of 133 and a 65 from U.S. Amateur champion Viktor Hovland, was tied for seventh with Germany at 412. Austria is ninth at 413 and Canada finishes the top 10 at 414.
“For us, it was another challenge the boys did well with it,” said New Zealand captain Bryce Hamer. “They worked really hard. They just love playing golf. They will look at tomorrow as another challenge. These guys will work extremely hard to do everything to do themselves and their country proud.”
The Canadian trio of Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.), Hugo Bernard (Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que.) and Garrett Rank (Elmira, Ont.) carded a 2-under 142 on Friday to sit at 10 under par, 10 strokes off the pace.
Savoie leads all Canadians at 8 under for the tournament, eight strokes back of leaders Takumi Kanaya (Japan) and Ieremia (New Zealand).
Bernard will lead off Canada’s final-round efforts, teeing it up at 12:15 p.m. local time.
Canada surges up leaderboard at World Amateur Team Championship
Hugo Bernard & Joey Savoie (Golf Canada)
New Zealand set a record for lowest second-round score to take the top spot of a tightly packed leader board at 20-under-par 270 through 36 holes by one stroke over Denmark, Thailand and host Ireland.
The Kiwis posted a 13-under 131 on the par-72 Montgomerie Course with a 65 from Daniel Hillier, who holed a birdie putt on the 18th for the outright team lead, and a 66 from Denzel Ieremia to jump from fifth place to the lead.
Thailand had earlier posted the same score of 131 on the ‘Monty’ with a 65 from World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR™) No. 13. Sadom Kaewkanjana and a 66 from Witchavanon Chothirunrungrueng.
After a morning of rain, temperatures rose and scoring conditions improved, producing a slew of under-par scores and shifts on the scoreboard.
Playing the par-73 O’Meara Course, first-round leader Denmark posted a 7-under 139 (69 from John Axelsen and identical 70s from identical twins Ramus and World No. 7 Nicolai Hjogaard). Home side Ireland posted 9-under 133 on a 68 from No. 10 Robin Dawson and a 69 from Conor Purcell.
Also making a significant move up the scoreboard with a 13-under score of 133 was Canada, who sits fifth at 18 under thanks to a 66 from Hugo Bernard and a 67 from Joey Savoie.
Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., is the leading Canadian in individual play. The 24-year-old sits T19 at 7-under 138.
Bernard, 23, from Mont-St-Hilaire, Que., and Garrett Rank, 30, of Elmira, Ont., are among a pack of players holding a share of 31st at 5-under 140.
