MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Hugo Bernard begins his sixth consecutive week atop the Canadian Amateur Rankings, picking up four places in the world rankings. The Golf Canada National Team member now sits at a career-best No. 59 in the world.

Fellow National Team member Josh Whalen made the biggest move among the Top 10, gaining five places in the world rankings.

Biggest move: Andrew Nagel from Elmvale, Ont.gained 527 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 24th at the Titan Winter Invitational.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Top ranked Maddie Szeryk slipped out of the Top 30 in the world rankings for the first time in six weeks despite finishing tied for 15th in her first tournament since the winter break, the Florida State Match-Up. It was the first time in six events that the Golf Canada National Team member has failed to record a top-10 result this year.

Golf Canada National Development Squad member Celeste Dao made the biggest move among the Top-10, gaining 11 places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 12th at the AJGA Buick Shanshan Feng Girls Invitational.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

MEN’S TOP 10

Roger Sloan made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up six places in the world ranking after finishing in a tie for 16th at the Web.com Tour Club Colombia Championship. The result was worth 1.22 world ranking points and marked his second consecutive points-paying finish after missing the cut in each of his first two Web.com Tour starts. Over the course of the last two weeks, Sloan has gained 111 spots in the world rankings.

Adam Svensson gained three places in the world rankings despite having to withdraw from the Web.com Tour event in Bogota.

Other notable results: No. 3 Mackenzie Hughes, No. 4 Nick Taylor, No. 6 Benjamin Silverman No. 7 David Hearn all missed the cut at PGA Tour AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am; No. 5 Austin Connelly finished 80th at the European Tour ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth;

Click here for Men’s Official World Golf Rankings.

WOMEN’S TOP 10

Only top ranked Brooke Henderson and No. 5 Brittany Marchand were able to maintain their standing in the world rankings as everyone else in the Top 10 slipped back.

Henderson, No. 2 Alena Sharp and No. 4 Anne-Catherine Tanguay are all in the field for the LPGA’s ISPS Handa Woman’s Australian Open, which starts Valentines Day.

Click here for full Women’s Rolex World Rankings.

The PGA of America announced recently the formation of an international event, the Women’s PGA Cup – a first-of-its-kind team competition for Women PGA members from around the world.

The PGA of Canada is pleased to be taking part in this landmark event.

The inaugural competition will be played October 21-26, 2019 in the United States.

The Women’s PGA Cup will be a 54-hole stroke play event with each team’s lowest three scores being counted after each round. The winning country will be the team with the lowest 54-hole aggregate total.

Each national team will be composed of five players and one captain, who also may be a playing or non-playing captain at the option of the respective country.

The Women’s PGA Cup does not include a purse; rather, each team will vie for bragging rights and the honour of winning the Cup, and bask in the pride that comes with representing one’s country in a distinct and unique international competition.

Those eligible to represent their country in the Women’s PGA Cup must be members in good standing with their respective Professional Golfers Association (PGA). They must also be active in the game, be it as a teacher, coach or working as club professional/assistant. Tour professionals who primarily compete for a living are not eligible to participate.

The five members of the inaugural PGA of Canada team will be determined based on the following:

• Performance of eligible finishers at the 2018 and 2019 DATA PGA Women’s Championship

The following countries are tentatively committed to play in the 2019 Women’s PGA Cup: Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, Sweden and the United States.

More information about the Women’s PGA Cup will be made available over the coming months.

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Charles Corner made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 36 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for third at the Arizona Intercollegiate. It was the first top-10 result of the year for the senior at UTEP who never fell out of the top five on the leaderboard at the event.

No. 1 Hugo Bernard continues to improve upon his career-best world ranking, climbing nine spots up to No. 63 in the world.

Fellow Golf Canada National Team member Joey Savoie climbed three places following his performance at the NSW Amateur. After finishing 12th in the stroke play portion of the event, Savoie advanced to the quarter-finals in match play before falling to one of the eventual finalists in the tournament.

Biggest move: Jared Nicolls gained 308 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 84th at the Arizona Intercollegiate. Nicolls is a junior at South Dakota State who hails from Ponoka, Alberta.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

No significant changes in the Top-10 as the women’s collegiate golf season gets back into full swing following the winter break.

Biggest Move: Madison Easterbrook gained six places in the world rankings. The Burlington, Ont.,  freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University posted a tie for 38th in her first tournament at the USF Intercollegiate just prior to the winter break.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

MEN’S TOP 10

Roger Sloan made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 105 spots in the world rankings after his fourth place finish at the Web.com Tour Panama Championship. It was his first points-paying result of the year, worth 4.20 world ranking points. The result also enabled Sloan to move up to No. 9 in the Canadian rankings.

Adam Svensson, coming off his first career Web.com Tour victory, jumped 21 places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for seventh at the Web.com Tour Panama Championship. It’s his second straight top 10 result and was worth 2.21 world ranking points. He’s gained 338 spots in the last two weeks to reach a career-best 358 in the world rankings..

Benjamin Silverman picked up 11 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 48th at the PGA’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. The result was worth 1.53 world ranking points, his first points paying result since the new year.

Outside the Top 10, Ryan Yip gained 254 spots in the world rankings after finished in a tie for fifth at the Web.com Tour Panama Championship. It’s his second straight top 10 result on the development tour and was worth 3.08 world ranking points. Yip also moved up four spots in the Canadian rankings, up to No. 12.

Other notable results: No. 1 Adam Hadwin finished tied 43rd at PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open; No. 3 Mackenzie Hughes missed the cut at PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open; No. 4 Nick Taylor finished tied 52nd at PGA Waste Management Phoenix Open; No. 5 Austin Connelly finished tied 62nd at Asian Tour/European Tour Maybank Championship; No. 10 Richard T Lee missed the cut at Asian Tour/European Tour Maybank Championship;

Click here for Men’s Official World Golf Rankings.

WOMEN’S TOP 10

Alena Sharp, the No. 2 ranked player in Canada, gained four places in the world rankings and moved to No. 99 in the world. It marks the first time she’s been back inside the Top 100 since last October.

Of note, both Kyla Inaba and Lorie Kane have both dropped off the Rolex World Rankings list. Both missed the cut at the Oates Vic Open on the Australian LPGA Tour.

Click here for full Women’s Rolex World Rankings.

Spanish Bay, CA — Today, RBC announced its newest brand ambassador – Dustin Johnson. Ranked #1 in the world and sitting 5^th in all-time PGA TOUR Career earnings, Johnson is the latest high profile golfer to join Team RBC, including players Matt Kuchar, Ryder Cup Captain Jim Furyk, Brandt Snedeker and Brooke Henderson.

Johnson has had an incredible career to-date, including 17 tournament wins on the PGA TOUR, and being named 2016 PGA Player of the Year. He is also only the third player in PGA TOUR history to win a title in all of his 11 seasons since his debut.

Team RBC was established in 2009 and is now comprised of 14 elite male and female golfers who embody the pinnacle of golf performance. Along with wearing the RBC branding on his apparel and golf bag, Johnson and his RBC teammates support many of the bank’s marketing initiatives and client experiences.

In addition to being the title sponsor of the RBC Heritage and RBC Canadian Open, RBC is also proud to be the Official Banking and Financial Services partner for all Team RBC ambassadors.

Proud to be joining @RBC! pic.twitter.com/tgWBn29Yal

— Dustin Johnson (@DJohnsonPGA) February 7, 2018

Quotes:

“My goal is to be the best in the game and win as many championships as possible, and I’m grateful for RBC’s support and belief in me. I have enjoyed getting to know them better over the past few years through playing in the RBC Canadian Open. Now that my relationship with RBC has expanded to brand ambassador, I can’t wait to achieve more milestones together.”

– Dustin Johnson, PGA TOUR Golfer

“RBC is a longstanding supporter of golf and we celebrate the traditions and passion of the game. We’re proud to welcome Dustin to Team RBC as our newest ambassador. He’s an exciting player that has thrilled fans around the world and a great asset to the RBC brand.”

– Dave McKay, President and CEO, RBC

“Dustin’s unique and natural talent on the course, combined with his high caliber of play, makes him an ideal Team RBC ambassador. He shares our commitment to hard work, strength and determination – and we’re happy to have him on our team.”

– Mary DePaoli, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, RBC

Get tickets for the 2018 RBC Canadian Open at www.rbccanadianopen.com/tickets.

“Bifurcation” is word we’re hearing more and more in the world of golf. It means to divide into two parts. But don’t let that simple definition fool you. It’s an increasingly controversial concept that strikes at the heart of the game as we know it.

The first area of the current bifurcation debate relates to the Rules of Golf. Should there be one set of guidelines for recreational golfers and another for elite amateurs and professionals?

The second bone of contention, which has set off near panic among many of my colleagues in the golf media and some golf administrators, is this: Are golf courses too short? Do we need to stretch them to 8,000 yards? Do we need to rein in the ever-advancing ball and club technology?

No. And no.

Wally Uihlein, the recently retired CEO of Acushnet Co., makers of Titleist clubs and balls, is the standard bearer for the unification movement.

Back in 2013, he addressed the idea of two sets of Rules in a blog wherein he refutes the three arguments most popular among bifurcation advocates:

Today’s professional game does not mirror today’s amateur game; Golf participation has matured and the adoption of different sets of rules will allow the game to renew its participation growth; Golfers just want to have fun—They do not play by the rules and the formalization of multiple sets of rules is just sanctioning what is already reality.

In summary, his response was that amateurs enjoy trying to emulate their professional heroes, no matter what the disparity in ability; participation fluctuations in the game is a demographic issue, not a rules issue and, “if golfers don’t play by the one set of rules that exist today, why are two sets of rules required?”

On the second prong of the bifurcation tempest—the impact of technology—Uihlein spoke out last November, this time in response to comments that technology is making the game more expensive for everyone by requiring courses to be longer and longer to withstand the onslaught on par. In a letter published in the Wall Street Journal , he asked, “Is there any evidence to support this canard … the trickle-down cost argument? Where is the evidence to support the argument that golf course operating costs nationwide are being escalated due to advances in equipment technology?”

While there is no denying that Tour pros are hitting it farther every year, albeit incrementally, this has not caused a crisis among recreational golfers. Who among us has ever complained, “Dammit! I’m hitting the ball too far these days!”

Having said that, that specious argument spiked when Dustin Johnson hit a 433-yard drive to within inches of the cup on a par-4 in Hawaii a couple of weeks back. (Even though Johnson averages 333 yards per measured drive, it should be noted that there was a 30-mile-an-hour tailwind on the downhill hole with a firm, fast fairway.)

But even the world’s No.1-ranked player downplayed this perceived crisis. “It’s not like we’re dominating golf courses,” he said. “I don’t really understand what all the debate is about because it doesn’t matter how far it goes, it’s about getting it into the hole.”

While technology is important, many other factors such as fitness and course conditions impact how far top players are hitting it. Despite that reality, some at golf’s highest levels think a standardized reduced-distance ball should be required for all PGA TOUR events, arguing that some classic courses have been made “obsolete” by today’s longer players. While this would indeed protect the artificial concept of “par,” it would diminish greatly the entertainment value of professional golf. Who didn’t get a thrill out of DJ’s 433-yard poke?

Adam Helmer is Golf Canada’s Director of Rules, Competitions and Amateur Status. His view is that bifurcation “is not the answer at this point in time; golf must continue to evaluate trends and to evolve with advances in our sport.” For example, he points out that as of Jan. 1, 2019, sweeping changes will be made to the Rules of Golf. As well, distance-measuring devices are legal for even the highest echelon of amateur golf and are not allowed on most of the professional tours. And tournament committees are allowed to set specific Conditions of Competition and make local rules to make the competition fair.

Fewer than 0.1 per cent of the estimated 61 million golfers around the world are professionals. That they are the catalyst for this bifurcation brouhaha is, in my opinion, a classic case of a very small tail wagging a very big dog.

Click here to learn more about the upcoming changes to the Rules of golf.

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Hugo Bernard begins his fourth consecutive week as the No. 1 ranked amateur in Canada. The Quebec golfer, coming off a tie for 40th at the Jones Cup event, sits at No. 72 in the world rankings.

Chris Crisologo, coming off his win at the South American Amateur, also finished in a tie for 40th at the Jones Cup event. The Richmond, B.C. golfer also moved up a spot to take over the No. 4 spot in the Canadian rankings.

Charles Corner made the biggest gain among the Top 10, picking up 17 places in the world rankings.

Biggest move: Zach Anderson gained 104 spots in the world rankings. The Nanaimo, B.C. golfer is currently completing his senior campaign at Washington State University.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Positive gains among nine of the 10 players ranked in the Top 10 this past week.

Golf Canada National Team member and top ranked Canadian amateur Maddie Szeryk maintained her No. 24 world ranking.

No. 8 Michelle Kim made the biggest move among the Top 10, picking up 13 places while No. 9 Valerie Tanguay picked up 11 places.

Biggest Move: Hannah Lee gained 12 places in the world rankings.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

MEN’S TOP 10

Adam Svensson made the biggest gain of the week to move back into the Top 10, climbing 317 spots in the world ranking after picking up his first professional win at the Web.com Tour event in the Bahamas. Last year, Svensson missed the cut at both Web.com Tour Bahamas events and ultimately came up one spot short of earning his PGA Tour card. He becomes the 18th Canadian to win on the Web.com Tour. The victory was worth 14 world ranking points and it moved him from No. 11 to No. 8 in the Canadian rankings. At No. 379 in the world, Svensson is just three spots shy of matching his career-best standing in the world.

Svensson’s move up knocked Corey Conners out of the Top 10 for the first time in over a year. Conners himself made a jump of 50 places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 29th at the PGA Farmers Insurance Open. That was worth 2.35 world ranking points – his second points-paying finish in the last three tournaments.

Outside the Top 10, Ryan Yip gained 224 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 10th at the Web.com Tour event in the Bahamas. It was just his fourth career top 10 result on the development tour and enabled him  to move from No. 21 up to No. 15 in the Canadian rankings.

Other notable results: No. 1 Adam Hadwin finished tied for 35th at PGA Farmers Insurance Open; No. 3 Mackenzie Hughes and No. 7 David Hearn both missed the cut at PGA Farmers Insurance Open; No. 4 Nick Taylor finished tied for 75th at PGA Farmers Insurance Open; No. 5 Austin Connelly missed the cut at European Tour Omega Dubai Desert Classic; No. 6 Benjamin Silverman finished tied for 67th at PGA Farmers Insurance Open; No. 9 Richard T Lee finished tied for 48th at the Asian Tour/Japanese Tour Myanmar Open; No. 10 Roger Sloan missed the cut at the Web.com Tour event in the Bahamas.

Click here for Men’s Official World Golf Rankings.

WOMEN’S TOP 10

Alena Sharp gained two places in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 18th at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. The No. 2 ranked Canadian pro gained 1.46 world ranking points, moving her to No. 103 in the world.

Top ranked Brooke Henderson maintained her No.14 world ranking after finishing in ninth at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.

Other Notable Results: No. 3 Maude-Aimee Leblanc finished tied for 66th at the LPGA event in the Bahamas; No. 4 Anne-Catherine Tanguay missed the cut at the LPGA event in the Bahamas;

Click here for full Women’s Rolex World Rankings.

The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is proud to announce former LPGA Tour player Gail Graham and renowned golf course architect, the late Arthur Vernon (A.V.) Macan, have been elected as Canadian Golf Hall of Fame’s 2018 inductees.

Graham will be inducted in the player category while Macan will be inducted as a builder for his career accomplishments in golf course architecture. With their inductions, the pair become the 80^th and 81^st honoured members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

“The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding individuals and their tremendous impact on the game of golf and it is an honour to welcome Gail Graham and the late A.V. Macan as our newest honoured members,” said Sandra Post, Chair of the Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee. “Gail was both an accomplished player who transitioned to a successful post-playing career as a tournament and LPGA administrator while Macan’s deep contribution to golf course design including notable redesign efforts have become synonymous with excellence in golf course architecture.”

“I am, to say the least, blown away, excited and humbled,” said Graham. “I admire and respect all of the Hall’s members and to join these amazing people who have contributed so much to Canadian golf is an absolute honour.”

With his induction, Macan, who was affectionately referred to as “Mac”, becomes the 5^th golf course architect inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

“Mac was my grandfather and although I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I feel he is a part of our lives even today,” said Matthew Macan, one of Macan’s seven grandchildren. “This is a tremendous honour for our family and we look forward to making the trek from Britain to join you in Canada for the ceremony later this year.”

The induction of Gail Graham and the late A.V. Macan into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame will take place on Tuesday, July 24^th, 2018 during Hall of Fame Day and Opening Ceremony of the 2018 RBC Canadian Open on the grounds of Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont.

Gail Graham

Born January 16, 1964 in Vanderhoof, B.C., Gail Graham (nee Anderson) was an accomplished amateur and professional golfer who went on to succeed off the course as an executive and broadcaster.

During her accomplished playing career, Graham, a member of the LPGA Tour for 15 years from 1990-2005, amassed a pair of LPGA Tour victories—the 1997 Alpine Australian Ladies Masters and the 1995 Fieldcrest Cannon Classic. Other professional victories included the 1988 Manhattan Futures Classic on the (former) Futures Tour along with the 2016 Wendy’s Charity Classic on the Legends Tour. Graham also won the 1988 PGA of Canada Women’s Championship and competed in Canada’s National Women’s Open (now the CP Women’s Open) on 17 occasions, her best finish a tie for 4^th in 1998.
Internationally, she helped Canada win the 1987 Commonwealth Championship and represented her country at the Handa World Cup (2009-2013) and Nations Cup (1999-2000).

As a standout amateur with ties to British Columbia and Manitoba, Graham got her start in golf at the St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg. She won the 1982 Manitoba Junior Women’s Championship, a pair of Manitoba Women’s Amateur titles (1983 & 1985) and was named Manitoba Amateur Golfer of the Year in 1983. She also represented Manitoba on several junior and amateur interprovincial teams during her amateur career. In 1986, her family moved to Kelowna, B.C. and she would later be named to represent Canada on the 1986 World Amateur Team. She also represented BC on provincial amateur teams in 1986 and 1987 and was named an All-American in 1986 playing for Lamar University in Beaumont, TX (where she was teammates with fellow Canadians Jennifer Wyatt and the late Dawn Coe-Jones, a fellow honoured member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame).

Aside from her playing career, Graham also achieved success as a golf executive, administrator and broadcaster having served on the LPGA Executive Committee (1994-1997 & 1999-2002) including a two-year term as President (2001-2002). She also worked as President of the LPGA Tournament Owners Association (2007-2013) and has served on the Board of the Legends Tour since 2016, being named their 2018 President. Graham has also worked with various outlets as a broadcaster and greenside reporter for the LPGA Tour.

In 2002, she was voted by her fellow LPGA Tour members as the recipient of the William and Mousie Powell Award as the player who whose behavior and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA. She was also elected to the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame in 2009 and British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame in 2015.

A.V. Macan

Born 1882 in Dublin, A.V. Macan’s contribution to Canadian golf is deeply rooted in defining excellence in Canadian golf course architecture.  Macan learned golf at a young age and soon developed into one of Ireland’s top players. While studying law at Dublin’s Trinity College, Macan competed in top-flight championships throughout the British Isles. It was during this time he would visit many highly touted golf courses in England, Scotland and Ireland, gaining inspiration for the much-admired courses he would later design.

In 1908, he emigrated to Canada with his young family. By 1910, he had settled in Victoria and joined the Victoria Golf Club. Macan won the B.C. Amateur in 1912 & 1913. In 1913, he also won the Pacific Northwest Amateur and the Washington State Amateur Championships.

Macan’s architectural career was launched in earnest when his 1913 design at Colwood (now Royal Colwood), in Victoria hosted the 1922 Pacific Northwest Golf Association championship. Reportedly, Colwood was a hit among competing golfers and soon after, Macan was accepting offers to design courses throughout the region.

In his early 30s, Macan volunteered for service in World War I in 1916 as an officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force of the Canadian Army. He was wounded by a shell casing fragment in 1917 at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France. Blood poisoning in his left foot resulted in the amputation of his lower left leg. After the war, he returned to Canada and continued to play competitive golf and design golf courses.

Macan revolutionized golf architecture in the Pacific Northwest region over a career which spanned five decades. In addition to Royal Colwood, Macan’s distinguished designs in Canada include Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club (Vancouver), Marine Drive Golf Club (Vancouver), University Golf Club (Vancouver) and Richmond Country Club (Richmond, B.C.), among others. He also renovated several notable golf course layouts as Vancouver Golf Club, Victoria Golf Club, Capilano Golf and Country Club and Point Grey Golf and Country Club.

Macan also invented the Herringbone drainage system which eliminated the accumulation of water around, on and under the putting surfaces which was an important development in dealing with the west coast rainy weather.

Outside of Canada, Macan’s design work includes Fircrest Golf Club (Tacoma, WA), Columbia-Edgewater Country Club (Portland, OR), California Golf Club (San Francisco, CA), Broadmoor Golf Club (Seattle, WA) and Overlake Golf and Country Club (Bellevue, WA).

In 1964, at the age of 82, A.V. Macan succumbed to a heart attack while redesigning Sunland Golf Course in Washington. In 1989, he was Inducted to the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Hall of Fame.

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the eight athletes—four female and four male—who have been selected to the 2018 Team Canada Young Pro Squad.

Comprising the 2018 Women’s Young Pro Squad is Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.), Augusta James (Bath, Ont.), and Jennifer Ha (Calgary) while Jared du Toit (Kimberley, B.C.), Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver), Albin Choi (Toronto) and Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) will represent the Men’s Young Pro Squad.

The focus of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad—now in its fifth year—is to bridge the gap for top-performing amateurs transitioning into the professional ranks. Since the inception of the Young Pro Squad in 2014, current and former team members have accounted for 31 wins across various professional golf tours including LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR wins by Young Pro graduates Brooke Henderson and Mackenzie Hughes, respectively.

“The depth of talent in this group of young professionals is a great reflection of our commitment to producing elite-level champions at all levels of Canadian golf,” said Golf Canada’s chief sport officer Jeff Thompson. “We are pleased to provide a number of services to these talented up-and-coming athletes including world-class coaching, sport science, and financial support as they strive to reach their full potential in the professional ranks.”

Heading up the female contingent is Quebec City native Anne-Catherine Tanguay, a graduate of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad. Tanguay, 27, returns to the team after a banner year that included eight top-15 performances on the Symetra Tour en route to finishing No. 8 on the money list. Tanguay earned full status on the LPGA Tour as one the top-10 Symetra Tour athletes in 2017.

“I’m excited for the year ahead on the LPGA Tour and am grateful for the Young Pro Squad’s support in a season that will feature some new challenges in my professional career,” said Tanguay, an Oklahoma State graduate.

Brittany Marchand rejoins Team Canada after graduating from the Amateur Squad in 2015. The Orangeville, Ont., product enters her sixth year with Team Canada following a successful 2017 campaign on the Symetra Tour that featured seven top-20 finishes including a victory at the PHC Classic. Marchand went on to add a victory at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada. The 25-year-old also impressed at the CP Women’s Open in August, finishing tied for 30th after four strong rounds at Ottawa Hunt.

Long-standing Team Canada member Augusta James of Bath, Ont. returns for her seventh year as part of Team Canada including the past two with the Young Pro Squad. The 24-year-old looks to continue her ascension through the professional ranks as she embarks on a fourth consecutive Symetra Tour campaign. The former Canadian Women’s Amateur champion boasts 13 top-10 finishes on the Symetra Tour, including a win at the 2015 Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial Classic.

“Team Canada has played an integral role in my career since the beginning and I’m thrilled to be back working with everyone again,” said James. “I’ve developed very close relationships with Tristan (Women’s Team Coach Tristan Mullally) and the support staff and I’m looking forward to more success in 2018.”

Rounding out the women’s squad is Calgary’s Jennifer Ha. The 23-year-old Kent State alumna will play on the Symetra Tour in 2018 with hopes to regain the full LPGA status she held in 2017. Ha is also familiar with the Team Canada program as a member of the Amateur Squad from 2014-15 and Development Squad in 2013. She is a former Alberta Ladies Amateur and Junior Girls champion.

“I’m grateful for Golf Canada’s continued support in my career,” said Ha. “I have big goals for 2018 and am looking forward to putting in some hard work to achieve the results I know I’m capable of.”

On the men’s side, four Team Canada Amateur Squad graduates will form the Young Pro Squad in 2018.

Albin Choi, a member of the Young Pro Squad since its inception, will return for his fifth year representing Team Canada in the professional ranks. Choi recorded three top-25 finishes on the Web.com Tour in 2017 to finish the year at No.95 on the money list. Entering his ninth year with the Team Canada program, the 25-year-old former Canadian Men’s Amateur champion has full status on the Web.com Tour this season and recently finished T13 at the season-opening event.

“The Young Pro Squad program has provided invaluable support for both my career and personal development during a full professional season on Tour,” said Choi. “Team Canada is like a family to me; I can’t wait to make great strides in 2018.”

Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., will make his debut on the Young Pro Squad after two successful seasons with Team Canada’s Amateur Squad. Du Toit posted seven top-25 finishes in 11 events on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2017 en route to taking home Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours. The Arizona State alumnus made a captivating run at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open which saw him finish tied for 9th playing out of final group on Sunday.

“Knowing that I have the Young Pro Squad in my corner is extremely valuable during the many challenges of a full professional season,” said du Toit. “I know what I want to accomplish in 2018 and look forward to working hard with the coaching staff to achieve my goals.”

Also making his debut on the Young Pro Squad is Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald. The Purdue University graduate earned Web.com Tour status through Qualifying School in December. Macdonald, 23, is coming off a season highlighted by two top-25 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. Macdonald was a member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad in 2016-17.

Rounding out the male contingent is Richmond Hill, Ont., native Taylor Pendrith, who split time between the Web.com Tour and Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2017. The 26-year-old Kent State alumnus has been battling wrist and hand injuries since earning top-five honours on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit in 2015. Pendrith is also a former member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad.

“I’m thankful for the continued coaching and advice from Derek (Men’s Team Coach Derek Ingram) and the sport science team, and I look forward to getting back to full health in 2018,” said Pendrith.

Men’s and Women’s National Squad coaches Derek Ingram and Tristan Mullally—both PGA of Canada Ben Kern Coach of the Year recipients—will provide coaching to their respective Young Pro athletes. In addition to funding and coaching support, the athletes will have access to Team Canada’s sport science staff which includes Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood and Physiotherapist & Strength Coach Greg Redman.

#TeamCanada Head Coaches @tmullallygolf & @dingramgolf speak to the success of the Young Pro Squad and how it has helped translate into 31 professional wins ?? pic.twitter.com/1rmbS5Mdr3

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) January 31, 2018

The Team Canada Young Pro initiative was developed in partnership with the PGA of Canada. Funding is received in large part from the Golf Canada Foundation with generous contributions from founding partners Canadian Pacific and RBC, as well as supporting partners Citi Canada and Bear Mountain Golf Resort, the official training centre of Golf Canada’s National Team program.

“We’re extremely proud of what Young Pro has been able to accomplish as we enter the fifth year of developing Canada’s up-and-coming professional golfers,” said Martin Barnard, Golf Canada Foundation CEO. “Driving funds for the athletes will continue as a priority item for the Foundation and we look forward to helping shape the next generation of Canadian golf.”

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 to read Team Canada Young Pro Squad player bios.

It is with great sadness that Golf Canada, mourns the loss of Mary Drummie – an honorary life governor & past president of the former Canadian Ladies Golf Association (CLGA), who passed in a Fredericton, NB, hospice Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 from complications from cancer. Drummie,  was 78.

Throughout her relocations, Drummie was a member of Fredericton Golf & Country Club, Ashburn Golf Club, Kanata Golf Club, Irish Hills Golf Club and the Canadian Golf & Country Club.

Read Drummie’s full obituary here.

Sad to hear of the passing of past CLGA President Mary Drummie after a lengthy battle with cancer. Here is Mary with @maryannhayward after winning her 1999 Women’s Am title. pic.twitter.com/cBfDgAF9fP

— Can Golf Hall Fame (@CGHF) January 29, 2018

Saddened to hear Mary Drummie has passed away in New Brunswick. Mary served as VP/President for the CLGA Quebec Zone Ottawa District (1982-1985) / CLGA Quebec Zone VP/President (1988-1991 & CLGA VP/President (1994-1997) @TheGolfCanada @the_ovga @Golf_Quebec @flagstick pic.twitter.com/zNzdNM4r4s

— Joe McLean (@FlagstickJoe) January 27, 2018