Roach & Matchett Claim Back to Back NB Ladies Four Balls in Bathurst
by Luke Lacey – Golf NB
For Immediate Release:
The Gowan Brae Golf and Country Club proved to be a worthy host for a second consecutive year as the NB Ladies Four Ball returned to the par 72 (Robby) Robinson design which features its signature holes of 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 along the Bay of Chaleur.
This year’s event would see 27 teams of two from across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia compete for both the gross and net championships on a testing day. Teams would be faced with cold and windy conditions on Sunday.
Kristi Roach of The Riverside Country Club and Morgan Matchett of Miramichi Golf & Country Club claimed their second consecutive NB Ladies Four Ball Championship at Gowan Brae. The duo braved the windy and fall like weather to fire a sizzling 6-under 66.
The team of Roach and Matchett began their round by birdying the par 4 1st and the par 5 2nd then paring out until back to back birdies en route to a 4-under 32 on the front nine. The duo continued their performance on the windy back nine as they managed to walk away from holes 11, 15, and 18 with birdies and only falling victim to one bogey on the par 4 13th. This year’s victory allowed Roach and Matchett to add to their already impressive resumes. For Roach, 2018 marks her third NB Ladies Four Ball Victory, previously won with her sister Michelle. For Matchett this is her fourth NB Ladies Four Ball victory in the last six years.
While Roach and Matchett were busy running away from the rest of the field, there was a close competition developing for second. In the end, the Country Meadows team of Sandy Comeau and Leanne Richardson secured second place with an even par round of 72. In the race for second were the home teams of Molly MacDermaid and Kelly Maher, Shelagh Eddy and Kathy Grebnec along with the Miramichi Golf and Country Club team of Karen Flett and Paula Napke-Flanagan who all finished in a three way tie for third at 3-over 75.

2018 NB Ladies Four Ball Champions Amelie & Alexandra Guitard (Royal Oaks Golf CLub)
In the net division, the Royal Oaks and sister team of Amelie and Alexandra Guitard claimed their first NB Ladies Four Ball Championship with a 12-under net 60. The sister duo started out the front nine with back to back net birdies on holes 1 and 2 followed by net birdies on holes 4 and 8 and finished off the front nine with a net eagle on the par 4 9th , the eagle help the team finish the front with a 6-under net 30. Amelie and Alexandra started the back nine where they left off on the front with a net eagle on the par 4 12th hole followed by back to back net birdies on 13 and 14. The Royal Oaks team were able to hold onto their 4 shot lead ahead of gross winners Kristi Roach and Morgan Matchett who finished with an 8-under net 64.
For more information on the 2018 NB Ladies Four Ball including full results please CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Gowan Brae Golf Country Club please visit: https://www.gowanbrae.ca/en/index
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by Golf NB to its 9,000 members include: 12 provincial events, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.
Canada’s National Junior Golf Development Centres
The National Junior Golf Development Centre (NJGDC) initiative was established to recognize facilities that offer a first-class experience for children aged 5-18. NJGDC support and run nationally endorsed programs, having trained and certified PGA of Canada golf coaches, they are also linked to schools in their surrounding communities.
All facilities meet the minimum national standards for the delivery of junior golf programs, coaching, and instruction. All of the parties involved are dedicated and committed to making these locations state-of-the-art facilities that offer a welcoming atmosphere for juniors of all levels.
There are 32 site locations established in seven different provinces – all of which were supported by PGA of Canada coaches, certified in the Coach New Competitor context.
Each centre has full access and use of National, Long-Term Player Development compliant programming and are recognized as a leading junior golf development facility in Canada.
To find a location near you click here.
Gowan Brae set to host the 2018 NB Ladies Four Ball
For Immediate Release:
The Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club again proved to be a worthy host, as the par 72 C.E. (Robby) Robinson design will play host to the NB Ladies Four Ball for the second consecutive year. This year’s version of the event will see 27 two player teams compete for both gross and net championships.
The field will see the 2017 winning team of Kristi Roach from The Riverside Country Club and Morgan Matchett of the Miramichi Golf & Country Club return as they attempt to win back to back NB Ladies Four Ball Championships. The duo finished nine shots clear in last years event after finishing with a six-under (-6) 66. Roach will be looking to add a fourth championship to her resume after winning in 2017 with Matchett and previously in 2013 and 2014 with former partner Paula Napke-Flanagan. Also returning to this years field are the 2017 runners up team of Monique Taylor of Moncton Golf & Country Club and Gabrielle Frenette of Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club.
The deep and experienced field should make for an exciting day of competitive golf in Bathurst on Sunday.
For more information on the 2018 NB Ladies Four Ball please CLICK HERE.
For more information on the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club please visit: www.gowanbrae.ca.
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not for profit organisation founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by Golf NB to its 10,000 members include: 12 provincial events, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, junior golf development programs and member club marketing initiatives.
Follow NB’s Isaac Darling & Mackenzie Deveau at the Future Links Québec
Club de golf Lachute prepared for Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec championship
LACHUTE, Que. – Golf Canada’s fourth junior golf championship of 2018 is set to take begin on Friday as the Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec Championship gets underway at Club de golf Lachute.
With support from Golf Quebec, the Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec Championship is the fourth of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with Acura. The 54-hole stroke play tournament will begin with a practice round on June 7 before the tournament gets underway with round one on June 8.
Built in 1959, Club de Golf Lachute is a beautiful golf course nestled at the foot of the Laurentians.
“Golf Quebec is pleased to present the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec Championship in Lachute alongside Golf Canada,” said Éric Couture, the Tournament Director from Golf Quebec. “The six regional Championships are fantastic opportunities for Canada’s premier junior golfers to showcase their skills. We look forward for this strong field of juniors attempting to navigate the challenging course at Club de golf Lachute.”
The field will consist of 87 junior golfers in the Junior Boys Division with the top six earning exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Boys Championship on July 30-Aug. 2 at Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club in Medicine Hat, Alta. A tie for the sixth position will be decided by a playoff following the conclusion of play.
The Junior Girls Division will consist of 33 golfers with the top six (including ties) earning an exemption into the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship on July 31-Aug. 3 at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, B.C.
Two additional Future Links, driven by Acura Championships will span the country this summer.
- June 15-17 – Future Links, driven by Acura Prairie – Portage la Prairie, Man. – Portage Golf Club.
- July 17-19 – Future Links, driven by Acura Atlantic – Port Blandford, Nfld. – Twin Rivers Golf Course.
Results for previous 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Championship can be found here: Pacific, Ontario, Western.
NOTABLES
William Duquette of Laval, Que.
The 17-year-old comes in as the event’s defending champion. He ended the event with a comfortable seven-shot victory and added three more top-10 finishes to his 2017 season.
Emily Romancew of Pierrefonds, Que.
Recently finished T3 at the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship on May 25-27 and T2 at the CJGA Quebec Junior Open on May 5-6. She currently ranks No. 1 on Golf Quebec’s Girls Order of Merit.
Laurent Desmarchais of Longueuil, Que.
Most recently won the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario championship. Has seven top-two finishes so far this season. Currently ranked No.7 in the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Boys Order of Merit.
Camille Lapierre-Ouellet of Granby, Que.
Recently won the CJGA Atlantic Spring Classic on May 19-20. Her top-ten finishes in 2018 so far include T2 at CJGA Quebec Junior Open and T6 at the Western edition of this championship.
Louis-Alexandre Jobin-Colgan of Quebec, Que.
Fresh off a win at the Circuit régional junior CALLAWAY on June 3rd at Morency Golf Club. Ended last year’s event T3 and went on to place second at the 2017 Quebec Junior Boys’ Championship.
Cam Kellett of London, Ont.
Recently came in second at the 2018 Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship from May 25-27 in addition to a T2 finish at the Investors Group Junior Spring Classic in May at Wooden Sticks Golf Club.
FAST FACTS
In 2018, Golf Canada is conducting its six regional Future Links, driven by Acura championships in conjunction with the Provincial Associations.
Top six finishers in the Boys Division earn exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
Top six finishers (including ties) in the Girls Division earn exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship.
Defending champion William Duquette won the tournament by seven strokes in the junior boys division.
Team Canada Development Squad member Celeste Dao went wire-to-wire to win the 2017 Girls Division.
More information on the event can be found here.
ABOUT THE COURSE
Opened in 1964.
Built by renowned golf architect Howard Watson.
Learn more about the golf course here.
Hamilton Golf and Country Club to host RBC Canadian Open In 2019 And 2023
HAMILTON, Ont. – Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC today announced that the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ancaster, Ont., will host the RBC Canadian Open in 2019 and 2023.
The tournament’s return to the Harry Colt designed course in 2019 is timed perfectly – marking the 100-year anniversary since the renowned club originally hosted Canada’s National Open Golf Championship.
“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, we are extremely proud to be bringing the RBC Canadian Open back to the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in both 2019 and 2023,” said Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada. “There are few courses in the country that can equal Hamilton in terms of excellence and storied history and I am delighted that the club’s membership and the City of Hamilton have joined us to bring the RBC Canadian Open back to Hamilton twice over the next five years.”
Consistently ranked among Canada’s best courses, Hamilton’s parkland setting, which includes winding fairways, multi-elevations and undulating greens, have made the club a favourite of the PGA TOUR pros who’ve played it throughout the years.
“Returning to Hamilton Golf and Country Club in 2019 and 2023 is a great fit for RBC and the RBC Canadian Open,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice President, Brand Marketing for RBC. “Our clients and all Canadian golf fans want to see the world’s best golfers playing the world’s best courses and by having Team RBC challenge the PGA TOUR’s best at Hamilton, we will accomplish just that.”
We’re thrilled to be hosting the 2019 & 2023 #RBCCO @HamiltonGolf ??
Read ➡️https://t.co/t2zk4mggR4#OurOpen pic.twitter.com/yQNh9myrZq
— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) June 6, 2018
The Hamilton Golf and Country Club previously hosted five Canadian Opens, with the first taking place in 1919 – a championship featured two of the most legendary names in golf – Bobby Jones and Francis Ouimet. J. Douglas Edgar would go on to earn a 16-stroke win – a PGA TOUR record that stands to this day as the largest margin of victory.
Other players to have won the Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club include Tommy Armour (1930), Bob Tway (2003), Team RBC member Jim Furyk (2006) and Scott Piercy (2012).
In addition, Hamilton has hosted many other prestigious events including the (former) Canadian Senior Championship in 1996 as well as several Ontario (1932, 1974 and 1991) and Canadian Amateur Championships (1922, 1927, 1935, 1948, 1977 and 1994).
“We are proud to host the most prestigious championship in Canadian golf and welcome the RBC Canadian Open and the stars of the PGA TOUR to Hamilton Golf and Country Club twice over the next five years,” said Hamilton Golf and Country Club’s President Chris Hamel. “Our members are honoured to have the opportunity to help write additional chapters in the long and storied history of Canadian golf and the RBC Canadian Open in 2019 and 2023 and are especially pleased to celebrate a centennial connection in 2019 between our club and Canada’s National Open.”
The confirmation of the Hamilton Golf and Country Club as the host venue for 2019 and 2023 was also made possible through a new partnership between the city of Hamilton and Golf Canada. This partnership will result in Canada’s National Sport Federation bringing multiple events and golf championships to the city to complement the two RBC Canadian Opens.
“We are thrilled to welcome the stars of the PGA TOUR back to Hamilton for two more years,” said Fred Eisenberger, Mayor of Hamilton. “The RBC Canadian Open is a world class event and I know our citizens take great pride in hosting the championship here in their backyard. In addition, through our partnership with Golf Canada, our region will welcome numerous national and regional golf championships between 2019 and 2023. With a goal to leave an economic, charitable and social legacy through golf, we look forward to becoming a hub community for Canadian golf.”
The stars of the PGA TOUR won’t be the only ones having fun during tournament week when the RBC Canadian Open stops in Hamilton. Golf Canada, RBC and all tournament partners have embraced the PGA TOUR’s new fans first mantra, highlighted in the Tour’s new “Live Under Par” campaign. The event has become much more than just 72 holes of world-class golf – it’s one of Canada’s most prolific sporting events, chocked-full of activities for spectators, whether they are core golf fans or new to the sport.
This year’s RBC Canadian Open will take place east of Hamilton at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 20-26, 2018. Ticket, volunteering, sponsorship and corporate hospitality info is available online at www.rbccanadianopen.com.
Weekly Top-10 Rankings powered by RBC
MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10
James Song gained 821 spots in the world rankings and vaulted into the Top 10 for the first time after finishing runner-up at the AJGA Thunderbird International Junior. Song started the final round with a two stroke advantage before being caught by Pierceson Coody, leading to a playoff to decide the winner. Song has signed a letter of intent to play for the University of California Bears this fall.
Charles Corner was the lone player in the Top 10 to take part in the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship, finishing in a share of 96th place, eight strokes shy of the last qualifying individual spot. Corner ends his collegiate career having notched four top-five finishes in five spring tournaments this year at UTEP.
Golf Canada National Team members Hugo Bernard and Chris Crisologo both took part in the season opening event of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada series. Bernard picking up three places in the world rankings while Crisologo jumped eight spots despite both missing the cut at the Freedom 55 Financial Open.
Biggest move:Daniel Campbell gained 1,280 spots in the world rankings after capturing medalist honours at the Canadian University/College Championship. In the process Campbell helped the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades become the first host institution to win a team title since 2014.
| HOMETOWN | SCHOOL | WR | + / – | ||
| 1. | Hugo Bernard | Mont St-Hilaire, QC | Univ. of Montreal | 50 | +3 |
| 2. | Garrett Rank | Elmira, ON | – | 74 | +4 |
| 3. | Joey Savoie | La Prairie, QC | – | 84 | +13 |
| 4. | Josh Whalen | Napanee, ON | – | 189 | +15 |
| 5. | Charles Corner | Cayuga, ON | – | 285 | -1 |
| 6. | Chris Crisologo | Richmond, B.C. | Simon Fraser Univ. | 339 | +8 |
| 7. | James Song | Rancho Santa Fe, CA | (California) | 354 | +821 |
| 8. | Myles Creighton | Digby, NS | Radford | 391 | +15 |
| 9. | Emmett Oh | Calgary, AB | – | 475 | +10 |
| 10. | Blair Bursey | Gander, NFLD | Utah Valley St. | 503 | +16 |
WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10
Celeste Dao made the biggest gain among the Top 10 after competing in her first professional golf tournament, the U.S. Women’s Open Championship. The 17-year-old member of Golf Canada’s National Development squad, who qualified for the event after winning a 36-hole Open qualifier last month, gained 25 spots in the world rankings. However, she fell just short of her goal of making the cut.
Biggest Move:Avril Li gained 458 spots in the world rankings after taking individual honours at the Canadian University/College Championship
| HOMETOWN | SCHOOL | WR | + / – | ||
| 1. | Maddie Szeryk | Allen, TX | Texas A&M | 19 | +1 |
| 2. | Jaclyn Lee | Calgary, AB | Ohio State | 43 | +2 |
| 3. | Naomi Ko | Victoria, BC | NC State | 158 | – |
| 4. | Grace St-Germain | Ottawa | Daytona St. | 239 | +3 |
| 5. | Michelle Ruiz | Mississauga, ON | Nova Southeastern | 276 | -1 |
| 6. | Vanessa Ha | Montreal, QC | San Francisco | 268 | -28 |
| 7. | Celeste Dao | Notre-Dame, QC | (Team Canada) | 359 | +25 |
| 8. | Valerie Tanguay | St-Hyacinthe, QC | Oklahoma | 412 | +1 |
| 9. | Jessica Ip | Richmond Hill, ON | Iowa | 429 | – |
| 10. | Brigitte Thibault | Montreal, QC | Fresno State | 475 | – |
MEN’S TOP 10
Top ranked Adam Hadwin slipped three places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 74th at the Memorial Tournament. It marked the first time in 13 starts this season that the Abbotsford, B.C. golfer failed to collect any world ranking points.
Benjamin Silverman takes over the No. 3 ranking in Canada, dropping Mackenzie Hughes down to No. 4 after he missed the cut at the Memorial Tournament.
Outside the Top 10, Roger Sloan gained 35 spots to move within two places of the No. 10 ranking in Canada after finishing tied for 10th at the Web.com Tour Rex Hospital Open. The result was just his third points-paying finish in 13 starts this year.
Blair Hamilton gained 552 spots in the world rankings to move up to No. 15 in the world rankings after finishing runner-up at the PGA Tour Latinoamerica Quito Open in Ecuador. It was his career-best result since turning pro.
Team Canada Young Pro member Albin Choi gained 227 spots after finishing in a tie for sixth at the Web.com Tour Rex Hospital Open. It was his second top 10 result at this event in two years and marked only his second points-paying finish of the season.
Other notable results: No. 6 Austin Connelly finished tied for 51st at the European Tour Italian Open; No. 7 Adam Svensson missed the cut at the Web.com Tour Rex Hospital Open; No. 10 Richard T Lee finished tied for 40th at the Korean Tour KB Finance LIIV Championship;
| HOMETOWN | TOUR | WR | + / – | ||
| 1. | Adam Hadwin | Abbotsford, BC | PGA | 47 | -3 |
| 2. | Graham DeLaet | Weyburn, SK | PGA | 171 | -5 |
| 3. | Benjamin Silverman | Thornhill, ON | PGA | 234 | -4 |
| 4. | Mackenzie Hughes | Dundas, ON | PGA | 242 | -22 |
| 5. | Nick Taylor | Abbotsford, BC | PGA | 250 | -7 |
| 6. | Austin Connelly | Irving, TX | EUR | 291 | -7 |
| 7. | Adam Svensson | Surrey, BC | WEB | 329 | -13 |
| 8. | Corey Conners | Listowel, ON | PGA | 333 | -4 |
| 9. | David Hearn | Brantford, ON | PGA | 428 | -12 |
| 10. | Richard T Lee | Toronto, ON | ASIA | 546 | -10 |
WOMEN’S TOP 10
Top ranked Brooke Henderson maintained her No. 16 world ranking despite having to withdraw from the U.S. Women’s Open due to personal reasons, described only as an illness in the family. It marked the first time in her professional career she has had to withdraw from an LPGA event.
Other Notable Results: No. 2 Alena Sharp missed the cut at U.S. Women’s Open;
| HOMETOWN | TOUR | WR | + / – | ||
| 1. | Brooke Henderson | Smiths Falls, ON | LPGA | 16 | – |
| 2. | Alena Sharp | Hamilton, ON | LPGA | 139 | -6 |
| 3. | Maude-Aimee Leblanc | Sherbrooke, QC | LPGA | 302 | -7 |
| 4. | Brittany Marchand | Orangeville, ON | LPGA | 309 | -1 |
| 5. | Anne-Catherine Tanguay | Quebec City, QC | LPGA | 472 | -8 |
| 6. | Augusta James | Bath, ON | SYMT | 584 | -17 |
| 7. | Samantha Richdale | Kelowna, BC | SYMT | 744 | -10 |
| 8. | Jennifer Ha | Calgary, AB | SYMT | 848 | -15 |
| 9. | Christina Foster | Concord, ON | SYMT | 876 | -17 |
| 10. | Elizabeth Tong | Thornhill, ON | SYMT | 924 | -16 |
Team Canada alums Rank and Hughes qualify for U.S. Open
Team Canada alumni Garret Rank and Mackenzie Hughes both qualified for the U.S Open on Monday at their respective sectional qualifiers over the weekend.
The Stanley Cup final may be in full swing, but NHL referee Garrett Rank has his sights set on another major sporting event. The 30-year old amateur golfer from Elmira, Ont., earned a spot in the U.S Open on Monday by finishing tied for first at a regional qualifying tournament.

Rank shot 2-under over the 36-hole event to earn one of the three spots available at Ansley Golf Club’s Settindown Creek Course near Roswell, Ga.
Meanwhile, Dundas, Ont., talent Mackenzie Hughes also played his way into the U.S. Open after finishing tied for second at 10-under at his qualifying site, the Ridgeway Country Club in Memphis. This will be his second U.S. Open after playing in 2013.
Sandra Post celebrates Canada’s first LPGA major on 70th birthday
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Sandra Post turns 70 this week and celebrates another milestone this month as well – the 50th anniversary of her first LPGA Tour win.
Reflecting back, Post, who has had a lengthy list of accomplishment in her career including winning the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada’s athlete of the year, twice winning the Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year, and appointed to the Order of Canada, says winning the LPGA Championship, a major in her first try, is what’s been the focal point of her on-course legacy.
But with 50 years now passed, Post realizes she had a greater mission off the course to help promote and advance the status of women in sport.
“It wasn’t just sport,” she says. “I knew that early on. I knew there was other issues to it.”
Post says she hasn’t grasped how monumental her major win was until this anniversary has come up. She won a couple of tournaments later in her career that have since become majors (Post won the ANA Inspiration twice, when it was known as the Colgate-Dinah Shore Winner’s Circle and not yet a major) but didn’t realize then that majors really define one’s career.
“Those moments live with you,” she says. “If you’re a U.S. Open champion or an LPGA Champion… it really is fabulous.”
Post was just 20 years old when she teed it up in the 1968 LPGA Championship at Pleasant Valley Country Club, about an hour outside Boston.
She finished at 2-over after 72 holes, tied with Kathy Whitworth – one of her idols and who, up to that point, had won 27 times on the LPGA Tour (she would go on to win 88 times in her career, the most ever) – and there would be an 18-hole playoff to decide the champion on the Monday.
Post remembers calling her father back in Toronto to say there was going to be a playoff the following day and he caught the last flight to Boston on Sunday along with some members of the Canadian press corps who had just finished covering Bob Charles win the Canadian Open at St. George’s.
Post wasn’t able to sleep that night, so she jumped in her car and drove to Boston to pick up her dad. The members of the press who were also on the flight couldn’t believe Post, who was about to play the biggest round of her life, was there at midnight to drive the two-plus hours back and forth from Boston, but she says she had nothing else to do so decided to make the trip.
At a dinner earlier that night, she remembers sitting with Mickey Wright (World Golf Hall of Fame member and 82-time LPGA Tour winner) and Susie Berning (four-time LPGA Tour major winner) and asked what would she need to do in order to beat Whitworth the next day.
“I remember Susie saying, ‘fire everything you’ve got at her, right off the top. And I go, ‘Really? Ok.’ I’ll never forget those words,” says Post.
“I didn’t really have a strategy but I was thrilled to death I was going to finish second at the LPGA Championship,” she continues with a laugh.
Huge crowds had showed up for this David vs. Goliath match-up, Post says. She remembers her caddie being a young teenager, maybe 14, and their combined ages barely eclipsed Whitworth’s age of 29 at the time.
Post started the day with three straight birdies, but Whitworth made an eagle and a birdie in the first four holes and they were tied.
“I looked up on the hill after the fourth hole and I saw Susie and I said, ‘That’s all I got! Now what do I do?” says Post. “She just put her hands up.”
As the day chugged along, it looked like a foregone conclusion that Post was going to be the champion, extending her lead to five shots at one point.
But Wright was already one of the winningest golfers on the LPGA Tour, and Post wasn’t going to count her out. However, late in the round it was all but settled Post was going to win.
Post had dunked her approach from 90 yards out on the par-4 15th for a birdie to get to 7-under for the day. When they got to No. 17, Whitworth ended up in the trees with her tee shot. She couldn’t make it out, made quadruple bogey, and Post would go on to win by seven, finishing at 5-under to Whitworth’s 2-over.
Post won a “whopping” US$3,000 in first-place prize money, the most she had ever won at one time. She says she still has a copy of that cheque.
“I had a bonus with Spalding too. I got in my car and went down the road to Baltimore (where the next event was) thinking I was pretty rich,” she says, laughing.
Looking back on that victory 50 years ago, Post says there were a ton of great memories on the course, but it was off the course where she really learned her place in the world.
She knows they were playing for money and needed money to make a living, but all the women on the LPGA Tour at the time were trying to elevate the status of women in sport, and says they were all very conscious of their role in that.
Post says the voting for the Lou Marsh Trophy in 1968 was a big point in her realization that she needed to do more for the advancement of women in professional sport. She finished fifth in the voting that year.
“I took that very seriously. I was Rookie of the Year, I had won a major, and I was the first Canadian woman to really play golf professionally and get to that level. For a woman to play any sport professionally, and to see I was ranked fifth… I didn’t ever think it wasn’t fair, but I knew I had so much more work to do,” she says. “I had to get the message across to our country.”
Post says it was an honour to pass the baton in Canadian professional golf to Gail Graham and Dawn Coe-Jones, and then to see them pass it along to Lorie Kane and A.J. Eathorne, who then passed it to Alena Sharp and Brooke Henderson.
She’s happy to see there has been more done in women’s golf on the scholarship side and with purse increases on the LPGA Tour, and has no doubt Henderson is going to end up passing the baton sooner rather than later, given the talent on the LPGA Tour is getting younger and younger each year.
“I see the social issues and I see so many things we’ve been able to achieve. Absolutely we have a lot of work to do with the disparity of the purses and all that, but I tend to look more on the positive side,” she says.
At 70 Post remains as sharp as ever. Her victory half a century ago was the turning point for Canadian women’s golf and opened the door to many others who followed. And although she was a “young 20” when she found the winner’s circle, she says being a part of that group of women was something she’ll never forget.
“When I look back I have such admiration for those founders of the LPGA Tour and what they accomplished. Talk about pure pioneers of not only golf, but of women. To help move the needle for women,” she says. “I would not trade my time for any other time.”
Women’s Golf Day
by Bari Gourley – Golf NB
Women’s Golf Day is on Tuesday June 5th. It is an International day that last year 46 countries, 700 + locations and over 20,000 women participated in! It is a special day that celebrates women and girls playing golf and learning life skills. There are 3 Women’s Day Celebrations happening in NB and other than all of them being in the Saint John area, they all have something else in common…me, Bari Gourley, Technical Director of Golf NB and a PGA of Canada Golf Professional. I will be giving clinics at all 3 of those clubs that day. I will start this great day at the Hampton Golf Club instructing a clinic from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm, then hop in my vehicle and drive to the Westfield Golf & Country Club to conduct a clinic there from 1:30 pm – 3:45 pm and then head to my last stop at The Riverside Country Club and put on my last clinic of the day from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and then stay for their BBQ buffet and social. I am so excited that I will be able to help so many women with their golf games in just one day. Hampton is also having a women’s 9-Hole scramble for members and guests at 5:30 pm with a social after the round. Westfield clinic will also be followed by a social. At Riverside, they will be hosting golf clinics as well as a 9 -hole shotgun scramble (your choice of the event) followed by a BBQ buffet for dinner. Riverside says, “This is open to all ladies, so gather up your girlfriends and family, whether you are an experienced golfer or completely new to the game to participate in this fantastic event!!” The Clinic or Golf (you choose) will be $10 with proceeds going to Junior Golf. The BBQ buffet is $20 and a great way to network with other ladies who want to play the game. Everyone at all 3 golf courses are encouraged to wear red and white as they are the colours of Women’s Golf Day! Make a trip to Saint John and join in the festivities! Call the golf course and register for the event. Click here for the phone numbers and visit https://womensgolfday.com/ to read about Women’s Golf Day! See you on June 5th and I will definitely be wearing red and white!!