Canada’s Conners and Pendrith bring chemistry to international team at Presidents Cup
By: John Chidley-Hill
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Finding chemistry on the eclectic Presidents Cup international team can be a challenge, but Canadians Corey Conners and Taylor Pendrith are bringing their own spark to captain Trevor Immelman’s squad.
Conners and Pendrith played together on Golf Canada’s amateur teams before becoming teammates at Kent State University and were even the best man at each other’s weddings. They’ll be making their Presidents Cup debuts on Thursday as the best-on-best tournament tees off at Quail Hollow Golf Club outside Charlotte, N.C.
“To be here with him is really special, and if we have a partnership, I think we can certainly feed off of one another,” said Conners before Wednesday’s first-round draw. “If I hit a poor shot, I know he’s going to bail me out, and if he struggles on a hole, I’m going to be giving it my all to give us a chance to win the hole.
“We’re certainly great friends and have played a lot of golf together, so I’m very confident in his ability.”
Although Immelman split the Canadians up in the first round’s draw on Wednesday afternoon, it’s likely they will have a chance to play together at the PGA Tour event that sees 12 Americans face 12 players from around the world, excluding Europe.
Conners, from Listowel, Ont., will partner with South Korea’s Sungjae Im against Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas in the second match of the first round. Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., will team with Chile’s Mito Pereira against Tony Finau and Max Homa in the day’s fifth match.
Pendrith said he’s enjoying sharing the honour of playing on the international team with one of his best friends.
“To be with him is really cool and comforting,” said Pendrith. “He’s probably the person I’ve played my most rounds of golf with, ever.”
Conners was an automatic selection after finishing the PGA Tour season fourth on the international team standings. He rose up from sixth after Australia’s Cam Smith and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann jumped to the Saudi-backed LIV Tour on Aug. 30, disqualifying themselves from the PGA Tour-backed Presidents Cup.
Pendrith was officially selected by Immelman on Sept. 6 after he missed four months of the PGA Tour season with a fractured rib.
The two friends have very different play styles, with Pendrith renowned for his long drives and Conners considered a surgeon with his irons.
“To get paired with him would be great,” said Pendrith. “He’s obviously an unbelievable iron player. If I drive it well and set him up well, he can do his job in the fairways, and I think it would be a great pairing.”
On paper the Presidents Cup result seems like it could be a foregone conclusion.
The American team’s average world ranking is 11.58, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama – currently No. 17 on the world rankings _ is the highest-rated member of an international team depleted by the defections to the LIV Tour. The betting line reflects that, with oddsmakers putting the Americans as -700 favourites.
“We’re embracing (being underdogs). We’re ready to go. All 12 of us are ready to go. We’re here and we’re ready to battle, and it’s going to be a fun week.”
taylor Pendrith
History is also not on the internationals side. The United States has won the biennial event 13 times, with the internationals winning in 1998 at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia and the two sides tying in 2003 at Fancourt Hotel and Country Club in George, South Africa.
Australia’s Adam Scott has played in nine of those losses and assistant captain Geoff Ogilvy, also from Australia, said those losses have served as a motivation for his countryman.
“He just wants to win it for everybody,” said Ogilvy, adding that Scott is like a fifth assistant captain. “It’s like he wants to win it for everybody who never got a chance to win one.”
However, the players on the international squad have combined for 33 victories on the PGA Tour, including Conners’ win at the 2019 Valero Texas Open. Assistant captain Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., said there’s a lot of positivity in the international locker room.
“The mood has been great. The guys are very enthusiastic. We feel they’re up for the challenge,” said Weir. “Their games look great. There’s a great buzz in our team.”
The next Presidents Cup will be in 2024 at Royal Montreal Golf Club, which hosted the event in 2007.
Diogenous & Zhao win NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fuelled by JOURNIE Rewards
By: Dan Pino
HAMPTON, N.B. – The NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, wrapped up at Hampton Golf Club Sunday with Andreas Diogenous of Cambridge, Ont. and Kelly Zhao of Richmond Hill, Ont. topping a field of 63 young amateurs to take home the respective Junior Boys and Girls titles.
Conditions played tough at Hampton Golf Club with 30 km winds during the first two rounds of the tournament and downpour rain during the final round.
In the Junior Girls Division, Zhao, a member of Station Creek Golf Club, used a final-round 75 and tournament-total 15-over 228 (76-77-75—228) to cruise to an eight-shot win over Emily McKee of Oakville, Ont. (+23). Carlee Meilleur of Lansdowne, Ont. (+32) finished alone in the third while Lindsay McGrath of Oakville, Ont. (+34) and Genevieve Jobin-Colgan of Quebec City, Que. (+37) rounded out the top-5.
Meilleur used rounds of 86-79-80 to win the Bantam Division title by 10 shots over Kali Yeske of Calgary (+42) and Mia Poirier of Victoriaville, Que. (+42).
Diogenous, a 3-year Team Ontario member who plays out of Whistlebear Golf Club, came into Sunday with a four-shot lead and carded a final-round 78 and tournament total 17-over 23 (78-74-78—230) to finish with a two-shot victory over Antoine Jasmin of Blainville, Que.
Jasmin, who’s final round 73 was the low round of the day, finished at 19-over for the tournament (85-74-73—232). Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. (+21) finished alone in third while Toronto native Matteo Rocco was fourth at 23-over for the championship.
Charly Pinel of Beaumont, Que., who finished T5 in the Junior Division at 26-over 239 used rounds of 82-79-78 to win the Bantam Division by three shots over Chase Jerome of Ottawa, Ont. (+29).
CLICK HERE for complete final scoring results from the NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.
The top three female golfers (including ties) have earned exemptions into next year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, August 1-4, 2023, also at Hampton Golf Club while the top three male competitors have earned a spot in the 2023 Canadian Jr Boys Championship, presented by BDO.
The NextGen Fall Series East Championship is the second-last of Golf Canada’s regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. The final stop – the NextGen Fall Series West Championship will run Sept. 23-25 at Golden Golf Club in Golden, B.C.
The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships, with two Fall Series events taking place in September. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.
Bateman wins Fortinet Cup and PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year Award
By: PGA TOUR Communications
KITCHENER, Ont.—Wil Bateman didn’t necessarily need to win the season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship in order to secure the Fortinet Cup title and Player of the Year honors. That’s exactly what he did, though, shooting a final-round 1-under 69 Sunday at Deer Ridge Golf Club to defeat Jeffrey Kang by two strokes. In the process, Bateman won the Fortinet Cup, finishing with 1,654 points and vaulting past Jake Knapp, who entered the week with the standings lead. It was quite the double dip.
With the victory, Bateman locked up his 2023 Korn Ferry Tour playing privileges, making him eligible to play in every open tournament on that Tour’s schedule. He is also the second Canadian—along with Mackenzie Hughes in 2013—to win PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year honors. He pocketed a $25,000 bonus from Fortinet for winning the inaugural Fortinet Cup, and next summer Bateman is invited to play in the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open. By finishing second, Knapp will be conditionally exempt on next season’s Korn Ferry Tour. He tied for 34th at the closing tournament of the year.
After Bateman and Knapp, the third-, fourth- and fifth-place Fortinet Cup finishers were Americans Noah Goodwin, Scott Stevens and Ryan Gerard, respectively. The players received their membership cards during a ceremony following the end of play Sunday at Deer Ridge Golf Club.
Bateman, a native of Edmonton, played in his 59th career PGA TOUR Canada event with this appearance—this season easily his best. Before this year, Bateman had never recorded a top-three finish and only had one career top-10.
Exempt when the season began by virtue of his 21st-place finish on the 2021 Forme Tour Points List, Bateman was three strokes off the lead through 54 holes in the season-opening Royal Beach Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist. A final-round, 3-over 73 derailed his chances, but he put everybody on notice two weeks later when he chipped in to end the playoff and record an extremely popular win at his hometown ATB Classic presented by Volvo Edmonton. He put an exclamation mark on his season with his resounding victory Sunday, allowing him to join Noah Goodwin as the only two-time champions this season.
“I think setting some solid goals for myself and knowing that I can attain them was big. Coming into this week, I think I put more pressure on myself, more than the pressure I felt when I was out [on the course] just because I wanted to achieve some of my goals,” Bateman said. “I knocked off a few of those goals, so it was a lot of fun.
“I still have bigger goals and dreams that I want to accomplish,” Bateman continued, “but this is a really good start. Just knowing where I was four to five years ago, if someone would have told me that I would be here I would say they were insane.”
“What a fun season it was, and to come down to the Fortinet Cup Championship, our final event of the year, with so many players with still so much to play for has been incredible to watch,” said PGA TOUR Canada Executive Director Scott Pritchard. “Wil proved from start to finish that he was our best player against formidable competition, and his performance under pressure this week to win the tournament and the Fortinet Cup was impressive. He will always have the Fortinet Cup on his mantel to remind him of what a special season 2022 was. Congratulations to Wil on what is an outstanding accomplishment. I can’t wait to see what he can do next season the Korn Ferry Tour.”
The players who finished in the sixth-through-10th positions on the Fortinet Cup standings are exempt into the finals of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament in Savannah, Georgia. That 72-hole tournament is November 4-7. The five PGA TOUR Canada players exempt into the Qualifying Tournament, hoping to secure Korn Ferry Tour status via that route, are Thomas Walsh (No. 6), Jeffrey Kang (No. 7), Danny Walker (No. 8), Joe Highsmith (No. 9) and Ian Holt (No. 10).
The 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season, the 34th in its history, starts in mid-January, the full schedule still to be announced.
Beginning in 2013, the Korn Ferry Tour became The Path to the PGA TOUR by awarding all 50 membership cards to Korn Ferry Tour players for the following PGA TOUR season. Players can initially qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour through the Qualifying Tournament and by securing a top-five Fortinet Cup finish on PGA TOUR Canada or a top-five Totalplay Cup performance. PGA TOUR Canada sent its first five players to the Korn Ferry Tour following its inaugural season in 2013. They were Mackenzie Hughes (Canada), Riley Wheeldon (Canada), Mark Hubbard (U.S.), Hugo Leon (Chile) and Wil Collins (U.S.). This is the eighth group of PGA TOUR Canada players to move on to the Korn Ferry after the Tour did not contest tournaments in 2020 and 2021 due to the global pandemic.
Final 2022 Fortinet Cup Standings
NextGen Fall Series East Championship heads to Hampton Golf Club
HAMPTON, N.B. – The NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, tees off this week with 65 amateur golfers taking the stage in Hampton, N.B.
Practice rounds are scheduled for Thursday, September 15, before the official 54-hole tournament gets underway on September 16. Play is scheduled to conclude September 18th with an awards ceremony scheduled immediately following play at Hampton Golf Club.
The starting field will feature 65 players –50 Junior Boys and 16 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer. Thirteen players in the field hail from host province, New Brunswick, and 12 boys and eight girls are competing from the Bantam Division (Under 15 years of age).
The top 3 male competitors will earn a spot in the 2023 Canadian Jr Boys Championship, presented by BDO. The top 3 and female golfers (including ties) will also earn exemptions into next year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, presented by BDO, August 1-4, 2023, also at Hampton Golf Club.
“Hampton Golf Club is in excellent shape and will serve as a challenging test to this talented field of junior competitors,” said tournament director Melany Chong. “We look forward to what is sure to be an exciting competition and are grateful for the support from the community and our hard-working volunteers”.
The NextGen Fall Series East Championship is one of Golf Canada’s regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Ella Weber and Cameron Pero took home the honours in their respective divisions in 2021.
For the full schedule of 2022 competitions, click here.
Hampton Golf Club is a 18-hole located in the Town of Hampton, a 25-minute drive from Saint John, N.B. Hampton offers scenic views and sits high up on a hill overlooking Darlings Lake and the rolling hills of Kings County.
Additional information about the 2022 NextGen Fall Series East Championship can be found here.
NOTABLES
Andreas Diogenous: Whistle Bear GC
- 3 year member of Team Ontario
- 2021 Ontario (U17) Juvenile Boys Championship
- T3 at the 2021 Ontario Junior Tour Championship
- Semi-finalist in the 2021 Ontario Junior Boys Match Play Championship
- Qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship
Isaiah Ibit: Greyhawk GC
- Top 3 finishes at 2021 Ontario Junior Boys Championship, Ontario Juvenile Boys Championship and winner of the Ottawa Valley Association Junior and City District Championship
Jacob LeBlanc: Fox Creek Golf Club
- 2020 Junior Boys U-15 Champion
Lindsay McGrath : Rattlesnake Point Golf Club
- Youngest female member of Team Ontario
- 2021 Ontario Bantam Girls Champion
Emily McKee: Rattlesnake Pointe Golf Club
- Qualified for the 2021 U.S Junior Girls Championship
Carlee Meilleur: Loyalist Golf and Country Club
- 2022 Ontario Women’s Am & Mid-Am Champion
- 3rd Place in 2022 Canada Summer Games
Kelly Zhao: Station Creek Golf Club
- 2022 top 10 finish at AJGA Junior at Southpointe
- 2022 top 10 finish at Canadian Women’s Am Championship
- 3rd place finish at 2022 Golf Ontario Junior Girls’ (U19) Championship
The NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards is a high-performance junior golf series which totals eight competitions. From May to July, six championships will take place across Canada where the region’s best junior golfers will compete to earn exemptions into their respective 2022 national championships, with two Fall Series events taking place in September. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf.
Barkley and Stasiuk defend titles at 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO
By: Dan Pino
Windsor, Ont. – Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg, Ont. and Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. both completed wire-to-wire victories to defend their respective Gross Stroke Play titles at the second annual Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO and hosted at Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ont.
Barkley followed up an opening-round 4-under 67 with an even par 71 on Wednesday to finish the championship at 4-under 138, one shot better than runner-up Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. whose round of 1-under 70 was the low round of the day.
“The conditions were awesome tee to green. It’s a ball striker course you know, tee to green which I’m usually pretty good at it. I think I hit 14 greens today and I hit 17 yesterday, so it was definitely suited to my game,” said Barkley, a member of Cedar Glen Golf Course who came into the championship ranked no. 6 on the World Gross Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD). “I played smart percentage wise, and Kris is an amazing player. I battled with him in the Ontario one and I look forward to many battles with this guy.”
Rounding out the top-five behind Barkley (67-71—138) and Willis (69-70—139) were Jesse Florkowski of Medicine Hat, Alta. (73-72—145), Michael Pisaric of Fort Erie, Ont. (77-77—154) and local product Kevin Delaney of Windsor (76-81—157).
The win marks back-to-back victories in the Men’s Gross Stroke Play division for the 34-year-old Barkley, who won the inaugural Canadian All Abilities Championship in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Club in Toronto. Barkley’s impressive season also includes a victory at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship in July, his fourth consecutive win at the provincial event.
In the women’s Gross Stroke Play division, defending champion Natasha Stasiuk carded rounds of 84-82 to finish 24-over 166. The 24-year-old Oakville, Ont., native finished 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Tess Trojan of St. Catharines, Ont. (91-88—179).
“It feels pretty awesome and amazing,” said Stasiuk, who also collected her fourth consecutive title at the Ontario Disability Championship earlier this summer. “It was a tough situation. It was back-to-back-to-back with Tess on the back nine. I’ve been working a lot on my game, my mental game. I went to Pinehurst in July, and it helped me prepare for this.”
For the Women’s Net Stableford Competition, Trojan, a public player with the Golf Canada, earned 39 stableford points in the second round for tournament total of 74 stableford points to defend her division title. Trojan finished 20 points clear of Stasiuk who earned 28 points Wednesday and a tournament total of 54 stableford points.
In the Men’s Net Stableford competition, the local favourite Delaney, a member of Pointe West Golf Club in Windsor, earned 35 stableford points Wednesday to finish with 75 total points for the championship, two clear of Pisaric (73). Rounding out the top-five were Randall Mackus of Prince George, B.C., (72) in third and Willis in fourth (71) with Vic McLelland of High River, Alta. and Kristian Hammerback of Winnipeg, Man. in a share of fifth at 70 stableford points.
Click here for complete final results from the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship.
A total of 39 players, regardless of disability classification, competed over 36 holes across four divisions— Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford.
As a legacy of the second annual Canadian All Abilities Golf Championship, Golf Canada was proud to donate a SoloRider (Para Golfer adaptive golf equipment) to the City of Windsor to support golfers with a disability. The SoloRider will be utilized at the Roseland Golf & Curling Club.
A venue for the 2023 Canadian All Abilities Championship will be announced at later date.
The Canadian All Abilities Championship was contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition featuring players from Canada and the United States with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.
Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes.
Defending champions Barkley and Stasiuk take opening-round lead at Canadian All Abilities Championship
By: Dan Pino
Tess Trojan and Randall Mackus lead in the Women’s and Men’s Net Stableford Competitions
Windsor, Ont. – Defending champions Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. and Kurtis Barkley of Williamsburg, Ont. have jumped out to an early-opening lead at the second playing of Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO and hosted at the Essex Golf and Country Club in Windsor, Ont.
A total of 39 players, regardless of disability classification, are competing over 36 holes across four divisions— Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford.
In the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Competition, Stasiuk, a member of Heron Point Golf Links who won the 2021 Women’s Gross Stroke Play title at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, shot a 13-over 84 and heads into Wednesday’s final round with a seven-shot lead over Tess Trojan of St. Catharines. Earlier this year Stasiuk won the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship.
For the Women’s Net Stableford Competition, Trojan, a public player with the Golf Canada, earned 35 total stableford points and leads Stasiuk (26) by nine points. Trojan also won the Women’s Net Stableford Competition in 2021.
In the Men’s Gross Stroke Play Competition, Barkley, currently ranked no. 6 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GWD), fired an opening-round 4-under 67 to take a two-shot lead into Wednesday’s final round. A member of Cedar Glen Golf Course, Barkley also won the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship in July.
Chris Willis of Aurora, Ont. sits alone in second at 2-under 69 while Jesse Florkowski of Medicine Hat, Alta. (2-over 73), local product Kevin Delaney of Windsor (5-over 76) and Michael Pisaric (6-over 77) round out the top-five.
In the Men’s Net Stableford competition, Randall Mackus, a member of Prince George Golf and Country Club, earned 42 total stableford points Tuesday and leads Delaney by two points. Vic McLelland of High River, Alta. is third with 39 points with Pisaric is fourth with 37 points. Barkley and Willis round out the top-five with 36 points each.
The national golf championship is being contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition and features players from Canada and the United States with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.
Golf Canada has worked with several partner organizations on the Canadian All Abilities Championship including Special Olympics Canada, Blind Golf Canada, Canadian Amputee Golf Association, Emeritus Golf, The R&A, EDGA, and others to ensure an inclusive and fair competition is provided to the athletes.
Click here for opening-round results from the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship.
Canadian All Abilities Championship heads to Essex Golf & Country Club
By: Dan Pino
WINDSOR, Ont. – The Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, heads to Essex Golf and Country Club this week to celebrate the second playing of the now-annual championship.
With international competitors permitted to take part this year following restrictions in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the field will expand to feature 39 golfers from Canada and the United States.
The national golf championship will be contested September 13-14 as a 36-hole competition and will feature players with neurological, intellectual, sensory, and physical impairments. First held in 2021 at Humber Valley Golf Course, the competition supports Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment across the Canadian golf community.
“We are extremely proud to host the Canadian All Abilities Championship, a signature event on Golf Canada’s calendar that demonstrates our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Golf Canada Director of Rules and Championships, Mary Beth McKenna. “Essex Golf and Country Club will prove to be an excellent test for our talented competitors, and we look forward to an exciting competition ahead.”
There are four different divisions in the Canadian All Abilities Championship that players will compete in, regardless of disability classification: Women’s Gross Stroke Play; Women’s Net Stableford; Men’s Gross Stroke Play; and Men’s Net Stableford.
Williamsburg, Ont., product Kurtis Barkley will return to defend his title in the Men’s Gross Stroke Play division. The 34-year-old is currently ranked no. 6 on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disabilities (WR4GD) and carded the lowest score in last years tournament at 3-under 67. Barkley, who is a member at Cedar Glen Golf Course, also claimed victory at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship back in July.
2021 Women’s Gross Stroke Play champion Natasha Stasiuk will also make her way to Essex Golf and Country Club to compete for a chance at back-to-back victories. Like Barkley, the Oakville, Ont. resident came out on top of her division at the 2022 Ontario Disability Championship.
2021 Canadian All Abilities Women’s Net Stableford champion Tess Trojan will also return to the field to compete in the second playing of the championship in Windsor.
Essex Golf and Country Club was designed by renowned golf course architect Donald Ross and played host to the Canadian Open in 1976 won by Jerry Pate. In 1998 the club also hosted the world’s finest female golfers by staging one of the four “Majors” on the LPGA tour, the du Maurier Classic, won by Brandie Burton. This year, the club celebrates its 120th year of operation.
As part of Golf Canada’s commitment to create a more inclusive and respectful sport environment, the national sport federation in concert with the PGA of Canada has also launched the EDGA 359 Pilot Project, partnering with EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association) on coach training designed to demystify adaptive golf and give coaches the confidence needed to launch and develop programs for golfers with disabilities across Canada. More information about the EDGA 359 Pilot Project is available here.
More information about the 2022 Canadian All Abilities Championship can be found here.
Rusty Strawn captures 2022 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title
RED DEER, Alta. – As the saying goes, there’s power in momentum. It’s a saying that Rusty Strawn knows all too well after securing back-to-back victories this September at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in Marion, Mass., and the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO in Red Deer, Alta. Nine days separated the two wins. Needless to say, the McDonough, Ga. resident is going to need a bigger trophy case.
Heading into the final round at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, the 59-year-old shared the lead with fellow American, Mike Lohner of Southlake, Tex. The pair went back and forth throughout the day, both beginning their round at 5-under-par. It wasn’t until the back nine when Strawn hit a groove, birdieing three of his last eight holes to pull away from the pack to secure the 60th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title.
“I was very fortunate last week to win the United States Senior Amateur,” said Strawn. “And of course, by doing it I got the exemption to the United States Mid-Amateur, and I told the people at the USGA, I said, there is no way I’m going to miss the Canadian Men’s Senior. I absolutely love it here.”
To celebrate, Strawn popped a bottle of champagne and toasted the volunteers, Red Deer Golf and Country Club staff, and fellow competitors “To my new Canadian friends!”. He also commented, “having my picture taken with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the coolest picture I’ve ever taken.”
Strawn was also highly complimentary of the host club.
“It’s just been a wonderful week here in Red Deer,” said Strawn. “When I arrived here for my practice round on Sunday – probably the strength of my game is my putting – and when I rolled those first few putts on the practice green, I was like, I have nobody but myself to blame because they were absolutely awesome.”
Low Canadian Ken Griffith, who is a member at Red Deer Golf and Country Club, placed third on the leaderboard, carding a total score of 288, his best finish ever at the national championship. Fellow members, Grant Lee and Peter Innes also competed in the tournament and finished T7 and T15, respectively.
Frank Van Dornick ran away with the Super Senior division securing the title and the Governor’s Cup by 10 strokes.
Earlier in the week, host club Team Alberta won the 36-hole inter-provincial team competition in an impressive 11-stroke victory over runner-up Team British Columbia. Ken Griffith (Red Deer Golf & Country Club), Senan Foley (Public Player – Alberta), and Kelly Risling (Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club) shot a collective one-under to give Team Alberta the back-to-back victory as they defended their 2019 title and claimed the Phil Farley Memorial Trophy.
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Jim Clark announced as recipient of GJAC’s Dick Grimm Award
TORONTO – The Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) have announced Jim Clark is the recipient of the 2022 Dick Grimm Award, the association’s highest honour.
A committee of past GJAC Presidents selected Clark, who has volunteered for the RBC Canadian Open every single year but one since 1984.
Named in honour of Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Richard “Dick” Grimm, whose legendary service to the Canadian Open and the Canadian golf industry is unparalleled in Canadian golf history, the Dick Grimm Award is presented annually to those who have made a significant lifetime contribution to Canadian golf.
Clark’s leadership was put on display 11 times as the RBC Canadian Open Tournament Chair, in addition to being the CP Women’s Open Tournament Chair on two occasions.
Clark has been recognized for his work in the golf industry by virtue of the Golf Canada Distinguished Service Award, which he received in 2016, as well as being named an Honourary Life Governor earlier this year. Clark was named to the Town of Aurora Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 in the ‘builder’ category.
“Over the course of his career, Jim’s work has contributed immensely to the Canadian golf community. We’re proud to present him with this award in the name of Dick Grimm, whose tireless efforts to promote the game of golf in Canada had so much in common with what Jim has achieved with his work with Golf Canada.”
Rick Young, GJAC President
Grimm, who passed away in 2014, was a true giant of the game in Canada, and in the world of golf. He was an energetic supporter of GJAC, and the association’s highest annual award is named after him.
PAST WINNERS
2021- Garry McKay
2020 – Kim Locke
2019 – Doug Carrick & Tom McBroom
2018 – Lorie Kane
2017 – John Gordon
2016 – Marlene Stewart Streit
2015 – Lorne Rubenstein
2014 – Jocelyne Bourassa
2013 – Bob Weeks
2012 – Sandra Post
2011 – Jim Barclay
2010 – Dick Grimm
Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp heads to TPC Toronto
CALEDON, ONT. – Forty-seven players from 8 Canadian provinces have travelled to TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) in Caledon, Ont., to compete in the annual playing of the Team Canada – NextGen Selection Camp, which is taking place September 8-11, 2022
This event’s main purpose is to help Golf Canada’s High Performance staff assess and evaluate some of the best Canadian golfers under the age of 21 who are not currently playing collegiate golf.
The selection camp includes a skills testing portion run concurrent to a practice round and a 54-hole stroke play event which gets underway Friday, September 9th and concludes Sunday, September 11th.
The boy’s and girl’s division champions of the 54-hole stroke play event receive an exemption onto the 2023 Team Canada NextGen Squad. The top-3 girls also receive exemptions to the 2022 World Junior Girls team to be played October 10-15, 2022 at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.