The 2023 New Brunswick U13/U15 Championship, proudly presented by Jardine Auctioneers, unfolded on August 20th, 2023, at the prestigious Country Meadows Golf Club. Following this remarkable event, the subsequent day featured both the Family Classic & Adult Junior competition and the Jim Connolly “Little Swingers.”
The U13/U15 Championship witnessed the participation of junior golfers hailing from various corners of the province, vying for the coveted provincial champion titles across four distinct divisions on August 20th.
In the U15 Boys division, the spotlight shone on Carter Lavigne of Moncton Golf Club, who delivered an outstanding performance, securing victory with a remarkable score of 77 (+5) during the final group of the day. This triumph surpassed the early clubhouse leader Anthony Cormier, who had posted a score of 79 (+7).
Meanwhile, the U15 Girls division crowned Frédérique Doiron from NBGA Public Players Club – South East as the provincial champion. She clinched the title with a gross score of 95 (+23).
In the U13 Boys division, Liam Wheaton of Memramcook Valley Golf Club emerged victorious, capturing the title with a commendable round of 77 (+5).
For the U13 Girls division, Emma Leblanc secured the championship with a final gross score of 105 (+33).
On August 21st, Country Meadows played host to the Family Classic & Adult Junior event, along with the Jim Connolly “Little Swingers.” These competitions featured various divisions showcasing exceptional talent.
In the Female/Female category, the Mother-Daughter duo of McClune + McClune claimed the top spot, posting a final gross score of 77 (+5).
The Adult/Junior Male category saw the father-son pair of Cormier + Cormier emerge as champions, finishing with a gross score of 71 (-1).
In the Adult/Junior Mixed category, the Father-Daughter team of Miller + Miller secured first place with a final score of 71 (-1).
For the Female/Female Adult division, the Mother-Daughter team of Rossignol + Rossignol clinched the championship with a final score of 83 (+11).
In the Male/Male category, Barnes + Barnes lifted the trophy with a one-shot lead, finishing at 71 (-1) over Shannon + Shannon.
The Mixed division was won by Moore + Wentzell from the Hampton Golf Club, who concluded with a final score of 84 (+12).
In the Jim Connolly “Little Swingers” division, Hopper + Hopper of Country Meadows showcased their skill, securing first place with an impressive 43 (+7) on the back nine.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants, parents, Country Meadows members, and staff for generously sharing the course for these events. We are immensely grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of these tournaments, and we eagerly anticipate your presence at next year’s event. Your support is invaluable, and we look forward to seeing you all once again!
For Family Classic & Adult Junior & Jim Connolly “Little Swingers” Leaderboard Click Here!
For U13 / U15 Provincial Leaderboard Click Here!
Zhang becomes 11th player in tournament history to win both the Junior and Juvenile Boys Championships
North Bay, Ont. – Alex Zhang shot a final round of 74 to win the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO at the North Bay Golf and Country Club in North Bay, Ont. on Thursday.
Zhang took a one-shot lead into the final round and that’s how it would end as he becomes the 11th player in tournament history to win both the Silver Cup (Junior Championship) and the Jack Bailey Trophy (Juvenile Championship), and the first player to win both since Christopher Vandette in 2018.
He joins Jim Rutledge, Jeff Makahon, Rob McMillan, Jesse Collinson, Dustin Risdon, Gord Scutt, Rafael Lee, Mitch Sutton, Charles-Éric Bélanger and Vandette as those who have won both championships.
“It just feels awesome. I don’t think that it’s sunk in yet. I had a sloppy finish, but I am really happy to still get it done,” said Zhang after signing his scorecard on 18. “It means a lot, I’m very grateful to add my name to a list of great players,” he added.
After mostly favourable conditions during the week, the wind played a factor in Thursday’s final round. Zhang birdied the opening hole and added two more on the front nine to pull further ahead.
“I feel like the front nine it was blowing really hard, but I got off to a really good start so that helped me a lot but the back nine I just hit some bad shots at the end,” said Zhang.
With a large crowd watching, Zhang rolled in a short bogey putt on 18 to secure the national championship, “I just stuck to my game plan and told myself to miss in the right spot and that’s what I did and give myself a good chance at par and if not an easy bogey.”
The 14-year-old from Richmond, B.C. who will be celebrating his 15th birthday on Friday couldn’t think of a better way to spend his birthday, “this would be the best gift ever, I can’t beat it!” said Zhang with a smile. He finished the tournament with rounds of 71-69-72-74.
With the victory, Zhang has earned an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
Zhang will also be awarded a cheque of $1,200. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, competed for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Along with Zhang, the top-10 finishers earned prize money.
Jake Houston of Baie-D’Urfe, Que. and James Lee of Whistler, B.C. both finished at 1-under to earn silver medalist honours in the Junior Championship. Lee also earned solo silver medalist honours in the Juvenile Championship and Matthew Javier of North York, Ont. took home bronze medalist honours finishing at even par.
On Tuesday, the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship Trophy was awarded to Team Ontario, who won the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship. Ontario finished the team competition at 4-under, winning by three shots. Team Ontario consisted of Isaiah Ellis of Smithville, Ont., Matthew Javier of North York, Ont. and Isaiah Ibit of Ottawa. Team British Columbia finished at 2-under and earned silver medalist honours and Team Alberta earned bronze medalist honours finishing at 6-over.
For the final standings of the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
Zhang leads both the Junior and Juvenile Boys Championships
North Bay, Ont. – Alex Zhang continued his solid play on Wednesday, shooting an even par, 72 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO at the North Bay Golf and Country Club in North Bay, Ont.
The 14-year-old from Richmond, B.C. sits at 4-under for the tournament and leads both the Junior Championship and Juvenile Championship by one-shot.
“I kind of struggled off the start, I just had lots of pars and wasn’t hitting it too close and wasn’t giving myself many opportunities. I was one over through 13, but I made a few good putts on 14 and 15…two birdies in a row that helped my round a lot,” said the Team Canada NextGen team member.
“I made a good par save on 17 after hitting it in the trees, that kept momentum and 18 I’ve been struggling on it all week and I just hit a bad drive and kind of led to a bogey, but everything was pretty solid today,” he added.
In the Junior Championship, Zhang is a shot ahead of first rounder leader, Aydan Downer of Keswick, Ont. and James Lee of Whistler, B.C. both sitting at 3-under heading into Thursday. Lee is also a shot back in the Juvenile Championship division.
Downer fired a 2-under, 70 on Wednesday, after a challenging second round of 75, “yesterday I was nervous. The first time ever leading an event, first time ever going that low in the first round in a big event like this. The first nine was a little shaky, brought it back the second nine and then waking up this morning I’m like I proved to myself I could do it the first day so it’s just about doing the same things, going through the same steps, breathing, taking your time on shots, and just believing in yourself,” said Downer.
Lee posted back-to-back rounds of 70 following an opening round of 73 to sit tied for second in the Junior Championship and solo second in the Juvenile Championship after round three. A trio of golfers are just behind at 2-under including, Matthew Javier (North York, Ont.), Joshua Ince (Surrey, B.C.) and Isaiah Ellis (Smithville, Ont.). All six players that are under par will tee off in the final two groupings tomorrow. For Thursday’s final round tee times, please click here.
Players 18-and-under are competing for the Canadian Junior Boys Trophy, also known as the Silver Cup. In addition, players 16-and-under are eligible for the Juvenile Boys Championship and the Jack Bailey Trophy. Since its inception, only ten golfers have won both the Juvenile and Junior titles — Jim Rutledge, Jeff Makahon, Rob McMillan, Jesse Collinson, Dustin Risdon, Gord Scutt, Rafael Lee, Mitch Sutton, Charles-Éric Bélanger and Christopher Vandette.
The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
For the full leaderboard of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
Alex Zhang and Joshua Ince tied for the lead in the Junior Championship
North Bay, Ont. – Team Ontario finished with a combined score of 5-under to win the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship on Tuesday at the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO.
Team Ontario carried a one-shot lead into the final round of the team competition at the North Bay Golf and Country Club in North Bay, Ont. Ontario shot a combined score of 4-under on Tuesday to take the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Trophy by three shots over Team British Columbia.
Team Ontario consists of Isaiah Ellis (Smithville, Ont.), Isaiah Ibit (Ottawa) and Matthew Javier (North York, Ont.). Ibit shot a 69 on Tuesday, while Javier and Ellis both recorded rounds of 71.
“It’s really nice…really great for Ontario to have the clean sweep this year for the junior national championships with the girls and the boys…so it’s nice,” Ibit said with a smile.
Javier was part of Team Ontario last year that came up just short of the team championship, “It means a lot. I was on the team last year and we got closed out by Team Quebec so it’s nice to close it out this year,” he said.
Ellis added “means a lot, I was very grateful to be on the team and it just means a lot.” With his round, he sits in one behind the co-leaders in the Junior Championship division.
There is a two-way tie for the lead in the Junior Boys Championship. Alex Zhang of Richmond, B.C. shot a 3-under, 69 on Tuesday morning to sit at 4-under for the tournament. He was joined atop the leaderboard by Joshua Ince of Surrey, B.C. who also shot a 3-under, 69 during Tuesday’s afternoon wave.
Zhang began his round on the back nine and carded three consecutive birdies on holes 11 through 13 to set the tone for his round, “The putter has been really hot this week. I’ve been making a lot of putts and it’s helped because I haven’t struck the ball my best,” said the Team Canada NextGen Team Member.
Zhang leads the Juvenile Boys Championship by three shots over Jager Pain of Woodbridge, Ont. and James Lee of Whistler, B.C.
Ince collected three birdies on the front and finished with an even score on the back nine, narrowly missing a chance to keep the solo lead after a bogey on 18.
Players 18-and-under are competing for the Canadian Junior Boys Trophy, also known as the Silver Cup. In addition, players 16-and-under are eligible for the Juvenile Boys Championship and the Jack Bailey Trophy. Since its inception, only ten golfers have won both the Juvenile and Junior titles — Jim Rutledge, Jeff Makahon, Rob McMillan, Jesse Collinson, Dustin Risdon, Gord Scutt, Rafael Lee, Mitch Sutton, Charles-Éric Bélanger and Christopher Vandette.
The Junior and Juvenile Boys Championships are played concurrently over four rounds. Following Tuesday’s round, the cut is set at 8-over with the top 74 players advancing to the final 36 holes of the national championship.
The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
For the full leaderboard of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here. For Wednesday’s third round tee times, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
Team Ontario leads Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship by one-shot
North Bay, Ont. – Aydan Downer finds himself atop the leaderboard at 4-under following the opening round of the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO.
Downer, of Keswick, Ont. shot a 68, in a round that was highlighted with an eagle on 17 to take a one-shot lead over a trio of players into Tuesday’s second round at The North Bay Golf and Country Club in North Bay, Ont.
For Downer, staying patient was key to getting off to a good start, “I knew coming into it, my game was really good, really solid, so keep hitting good shots, hitting fairways, hitting greens, I knew some putts were going to drop and they did,” said Downer following his round on Monday evening.
He added that having fun and playing well during his practice rounds helped with his confidence today. Downer holds the lead over Jerry Li, Grady Chuback, and Nathaniel Yoo who all shot opening rounds of 3-under, 69.
Li, of Vancouver got off to a hot start with three straight birdies and an eagle on the front nine. He got into some trouble on 17 and his approach shot on 18 landed in a green side bunker but he was able to make bogey on the closing hole, which played among the toughest for the field on Monday.
“I hit a lot of greens, made a lot of putts on the front nine, up until 17 before I slipped. I was hitting everything pretty good. I just tried to limit the damage, it was pretty good today,” said Li following his morning round.
Chuback, of Headingley, Man. opened with a bogey on the first hole but pulled back into red figures with four birdies to close his round.
“Today I just tried to protect par and minimize the chances of making a bogey. Overall, my tee shots, approach, and putting all worked well together which helped me make birdies, or simple pars. The bogey on one definitely didn’t feel so great, but I knew that there was so much more golf left that it didn’t really matter, so I just kept going,” said Chuback.
Yoo, of North York, Ont. grabbed a share of second finishing with back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18 during the afternoon flight. Yoo carded seven birdies during his round and said he plans to keep up the aggressive play on Tuesday.
Li and Yoo find themselves as co-leaders in the Juvenile Boys Championship.
Team Ontario leads the Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship competition by one shot over Team Manitoba. Team Ontario shot an opening round of 1-under and consists of Isaiah Ellis (Smithville, Ont.), Isaiah Ibit (Ottawa) and Matthew Javier (North York, Ont.). The two best individual scores from each team of three count towards the team score for the day. The Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship is contested over the first two days of the tournament with ten provinces competing for the Junior Inter-Provincial Championship Trophy.
Players 18-and-under are competing for the Canadian Junior Boys Trophy, also known as the Silver Cup. In addition, players 16-and-under are eligible for the Juvenile Boys Championship and the Jack Bailey Trophy. Since its inception, only ten golfers have won both the Juvenile and Junior titles — Jim Rutledge, Jeff Makahon, Rob McMillan, Jesse Collinson, Dustin Risdon, Gord Scutt, Rafael Lee, Mitch Sutton, Charles-Éric Bélanger and Christopher Vandette.
The Junior and Juvenile championship divisions are played concurrently over four rounds, with the top 70 players plus ties in the Junior division and a minimum of ten players in the Juvenile division advancing to the final 36 holes of the national championship.
The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
For the full leaderboard of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here. For Tuesday’s second round tee times, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
156 of Canada’s top junior golfers head to Northern Ontario to compete for the Junior title along with a U16 Juvenile division and an inter-provincial team competition.
North Bay, Ont. – The 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO is set for August 14-17 with a field of 156 junior golfers competing over four rounds at The North Bay Golf and Country Club in North Bay, Ont.
This year’s field competing for the Canadian Junior Boys Trophy, also known as the Silver Cup, features a talented field of Canadian players, including five 2023 NextGen tournament winners—Dougie Basadur of Fonthill, Ont. (NextGen Atlantic), Isaiah Ibit of Orleans, Ont. (NextGen Ontario), Jerry Li, Vancouver, B.C. (NextGen Pacific), Kye Fisher of Leduc, Alta. (NextGen Prairie) and Henry Dao from Laprairie, Que. (NextGen Quebec).
“North Bay Golf & Country Club is a classic Stanley Thompson design and will provide a tough but fair test for the country’s best junior golfers,” said Golf Canada Tournament Director Daniel Suppa. “The Host Club committee at North Bay and its members are extremely proud to host this prestigious event. In working with the staff at North Bay and their tournament committee, everyone involved is passionate and committed to providing a world-class event for all participants travelling to the tournament.”
Established in 1921, the North Bay Golf and Country Club is a privately owned club with shareholders and governed by an elected Board of Directors. In 1921, a group of golf enthusiasts formed the North Bay Golf and Country Club and engaged Stanley Thompson, the renowned Canadian designer to lay out the new course on what was once farmland originally owned by the Macintosh family.
The original nine holes spanned 2,800 yards and were ready for play in 1923 with the second nine opening in 1966. With seasonal renovations and a strong commitment from members giving of their labour, resources and donations, the course has evolved into one of the finest eighteen-hole challenges in North Ontario.
“The entire membership and professional staff are extremely excited to showcase our Northern hospitality and our beautiful property to the best junior golfers in the country,” said Jeff Mancini, Director of Golf and General Manager, North Bay Golf and Country Club. “What our course lacks in distance it makes up for with narrow corridors, challenging lies and undulating green complexes that require your attention on all putts.”
Established in 1938 with the first championship played at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont., the Canadian Junior Boys Championship has given Canadians a glimpse into the future glory that many of its champions have gone on to enjoy. Canadian Golf Hall of Famers Doug Silverberg, George Knudson, Gary Cowan, and Doug Roxburgh have all won the Silver Cup before moving on to amateur and professional careers.
Reigning RBC Canadian Open champion Nick Taylor won the Junior in 2006, the only Canadian male golfer to win the trifecta of national championships comprised of the Canadian Junior Boys, Canadian Men’s Amateur, and Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship (joining Brooke Henderson who is the lone female Canadian golfer to win the Canadian Junior Girls, Canadian Women’s Amateur, and the CPKC Women’s Open).
In addition to the 18-and-under Junior Championship, the 16-and-under Juvenile Championship was added in 1970, with the winner receiving the Jack Bailey Trophy. Since its inception, only ten golfers have won both the Juvenile and Junior titles — Jim Rutledge, Jeff Makahon, Rob McMillan, Jesse Collinson, Dustin Risdon, Gord Scutt, Rafael Lee, Mitch Sutton, Charles-Éric Bélanger and Christopher Vandette.
The Junior and Juvenile championship rounds are played concurrently over four rounds, with the top 70 players plus ties in the Junior division and a minimum of ten players in the Juvenile division advancing to the final 36 holes. The Junior Inter-Provincial Team Championship will be played over the first 36 holes, where teams will compete for the Junior Inter-Provincial Championship Trophy.
The new purse payout that was introduced in 2022 will continue at this year’s championship. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship will compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Amateur golfers may accept prize money up to a maximum of $1,200 CAD, and payouts will be awarded to the top 10 finishers and ties.
The Junior champion of the Canadian Junior Boys Championship earns an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship as well as the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.
For the full player field competing in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
Caledon, Ont. – Ashton McCulloch shot a final round of 70 to win the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship by five shots at The Pulpit Club in Caledon, Ont.
McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. was the only player in the field to shoot under par all four days of the tournament, posting rounds of 69-68-70-70 to finish at 7-under and win the national championship.
“It feels amazing, a lot of hard work has gone into this over many years of golf, I have so many people to thank, that are such big role models in my life and that have propelled me to this point,” said McCulloch after walking off the 18th green of The Pulpit. “I can’t thank enough people and Golf Canada for running this event, it was a lot of fun and I’m happy to play well this week.”
Pleasant conditions to start the day quickly changed as rain rolled in shortly after 11:00 a.m. on Thursday and remained heavy at times through just past 1:30 p.m. giving players four days of different conditions to contend with during the tournament.
McCulloch and Caleb VanArragon were battling when things turned on the 11th hole as McCulloch birdied while VanArragon triple bogeyed to give McCulloch a four-shot lead and he didn’t look back, adding two more birdies and four consecutive pars to close out his final round.
“I mean I’m really proud of myself, I got off to a slow start yesterday like I said and just willed the ball in the hole a couple times on the back. Today, I kept on saying to my best friend on the bag, the gas pedal is on the right…gotta keep on going and they’ll fall and I just kept hitting good shots and got lucky enough they went close enough that I could make them.”
By winning the Canadian Men’s Amateur, McCulloch has earned a spot into the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont.
“I’ve missed Monday qualifying by one both times, so it’s cool to get in another way this year I’m really excited about that,” added McCulloch with a big smile. He also earns an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. from August 14-20.
McCulloch will also be awarded a cheque of $1,200. To align with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, competed for a purse of $8,000 CAD. Along with McCulloch, the top-10 finishers earned prize money.
Phil Arci of Woodbridge, Ont. and Pulpit Club member earned silver medalist honours, finishing the tournament at 2-under. Jordan Gilkison of Washington Township, Ohio and VanArragon of Blaine, Minn. finished tied for bronze medalist honours at 1-under.
On Tuesday the Willingdon Cup was awarded to Team Ontario, who won the Inter-Provincial Team Championship. Ontario finished the team competition at 3-under to edge, the defending champions Team Quebec by one shot. Team Ontario consists of Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., Cameron Pero of Bloomfield, Ont. and Garrett Rank from Elmira, Ont.
For the final standings of the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
Caledon, Ont. – The term “Moving Day” certainly lived up to its definition on Wednesday at The Pulpit Club as Ashton McCulloch finished strong to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship.
McCulloch of Kingston, Ont. was two-over through 13 holes on Wednesday but finished with three straight birdies on holes 14 through 16 to sit at 6-under for the tournament and hold a one-shot lead over Collin Hodgkinson and Caleb VanArragon.
“It’s exactly why you don’t quit in a round. I really struggled with the putter early, I missed a couple putts that I felt I should have had…I couldn’t get anything going. It all started when I lipped out from forty feet on 10. I was like no, they’re going to start dropping and then I made back-to-back ten footers on 15 and 16 and that really propelled me to a strong finish today,” said McCulloch.
McCulloch has played well all week posting rounds of 69-68-70 and was part of Team Ontario’s Inter-Provincial team championship win on Tuesday. For McCulloch it comes down to trusting himself and his game, “I’ve played well all week, when I haven’t had my best stuff, I’ve found a way to grind through for a couple holes and find something that works. It’s going to be fun tomorrow.”
Behind him are Hodgkinson of Beaverton, Ore. and VanArragon of Blaine, Minn. both players sit at 5-under. Hodgkinson caught fire with four straight birdies from 11 to 14 but ended with a double bogey on the 18th to shoot 67 and sit in a tie for second.
“I was playing really well…six-under and hit one poor tee shot on 18 and it cost me two shots. Other than that, just hitting the ball really well and putting really well,” said Hodgkinson.
VanArragon was one-over through 11 holes on Wednesday but finished with three birdies and an eagle in his final seven holes to finish with a 68 and sit tied with Hodgkinson.
“I was able to hit a good wedge to within about two feet on 12 and then 13, I had a good number in the fairway, the wind was into the face which was good, it helped me stopped the ball on the green, hit a good seven iron to about six feet and made the putt from then on I felt I had a lot of momentum going,” said VanArragon.
The packed leaderboard includes three players at -4 heading into Thursday’s final round at The Pulpit. John Wild of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Xavier Marcoux of Concord, Mass., and round two leader Jordan Gilkison of Washington Township, Ohio all sit two back of McCulloch.
The final round at The Pulpit will tee off at 8:00 a.m. with the leaders teeing off at 10:01 a.m. For final round pairings, please click here.
The 2023 Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion receives an exemption into the 2024 RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. and the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship taking place at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. from August 14-20.
For the leaderboard of the 118th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
GOLF CANADA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Golf Canada annually conducts more than 30 golf competitions and qualifiers nation-wide – including nine National Amateur Championships – which play host to more than 3,000 domestic and international athletes from all corners of the world. In partnership with our host clubs, thousands of volunteers, provincial golf associations and our proud sponsors, Golf Canada is dedicated to supporting player development through world-class competition since our inception in 1895. Officiated by certified Canadian Rules of Golf officials, Golf Canada’s amateur competitions are fully compliant with golf’s international governing bodies and include marquee events such as the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Amateur Championships as well as the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships. Golf Canada’s amateur championships are proudly supported by BDO Canada, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Titleist, FootJoy, Sport Canada, Levelwear and JOURNIE Rewards. For more information and scheduling visit www.golfcanada.ca/championships.
First Tee and Youth on Course work collaboratively to provide a welcoming and accessible junior golf pathway.
Golf participation in Canada is currently at multiyear highs and as the national sport organization, Golf Canada is focused on the long-term future and overall health of our sport. For example, as golf participation thrives today, what long-term investment must be made to ensure the sport will be similarly healthy a generation from now?
Long-term trends indicate that the Canadian population will become increasingly multicultural and multidimensionally diverse than today. To sustain and grow Canadian golf participation going forward, a larger share of golfers will reflect racialized and socioeconomic backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in our sport.
Many golf courses operate highly successful and impactful junior programs across Canada. As a complement to these fundamentally important locally driven efforts, Golf Canada, along with corporate and philanthropic supporters, are making long-term investments that specifically seek to provide affordable and welcoming golf access to Canadian youth from a diversity of backgrounds.
The first primary investment is in First Tee – an internationally renowned program with over 25 years of operation in the United States. First Tee offers junior golf and youth development experiences in three settings: golf facilities, community centres, and schools. The First Tee program provides equipment, turnkey lesson plans, and in-depth instructor training. First Tee is primarily suited for publicly accessible facilities and municipal golf courses – or private courses who welcome non-member juniors for First Tee programming that takes place on driving ranges and putting greens. First Tee has an extensive track record in the United States of welcoming equity-deserving youth into our sport.
First Tee is funded by generous individuals and corporate donors. First Tee programming is offered for free at all schools and community centres. Most participating golf courses are able to offer programming for free, and need-based financial assistance is available to all participants so that cost is never a barrier.
Golf Canada initially partnered with First Tee in 2020 and the program will be operational in every province by the end of 2023, charting a course for community-by-community growth that will be executed over several years.
The second important investment into the sport is Youth on Course – a program that allows junior golfers to play golf on a participating course for a green fee of $5 or less. Junior golfers who are introduced to the sport through First Tee can thus transition onto the golf course at an affordable price.
Youth on Course started in the United States and there are nearly 2,000 participating golf courses across North America. From a Canadian perspective, the program began in Alberta and Ontario in 2019 and expanded to British Columbia and Atlantic Canada this year. Partner courses are provided with a modest subsidy in addition to the $5 green fee collected from the junior golfer. Youth on Course is funded by individual and corporate donors who believe in increasing golf course access for juniors. Host courses also make an important contribution by prioritizing access for juniors, even while incurring an opportunity cost.
What do we believe is the blueprint for supporting an accessible junior golf pathway for Canadian youth from all backgrounds? Engage youth from equity deserving communities at their local schools and community centres through First Tee, transition participants to nearby First Tee golf courses to further their development in golf and finally, provide a low-cost on-course entry point through Youth on Course.
Beyond large-scale exposure to the sport, a segment of these participants will advance on to engage in competitive golf through the Junior Skills Challenge or the multitude of local, provincial, and national junior tournaments.
The impact of junior golf programs always occurs locally, and is often supported by the local club, provincial golf associations, and the efforts of PGA of Canada professionals. Whether at the grassroots level or competitively, junior golf is driven by the energy and professionalism of local coaches and volunteers. Through First Tee and Youth on Course, Golf Canada seeks to complement existing successful junior programs and provide local leaders with additional programming that is designed for the long-term future of Canadian golf.
The long-term result will be a sport that continues to be the most played of any sport in the country, and one more closely aligned with the diversity strengths of multi-cultural Canada.
The 2023 New Brunswick Senior and Mid-Master golf tournament took place at the Aroostook Valley Country Club in Aroostook, New Brunswick on July 24th-26th, 2023. This highly anticipated event attracted a total of 156 amateur golfers The participants vied for the titles in both overall gross score and the Dormie Par Three Challenge, which focused on the overall par three performance.
With nothing but beautiful weather and a course in pristine condition if provided these golfers with the perfect opportunity to showcase their skills all whilst fighting for the coveted Senior and Mid-Master Championship. The tournament unfolded over three days, providing an exciting platform for these promising athletes to demonstrate their abilities.
In the Overall Men’s Mid-Master division it was Edward Reevey from the Riverside Golf and Country Club who took home the title. Reevey shot an impressive 218 (+2) throughout the weekend posting 75(+3) on day one, 71(-1) on day 2, and 72(E) on day three!
Greg Jones of the Country Meadows Golf Club took home the Championship for the Senior Men’s Division! Jones put up an impressive 216 (E) throughout the tournament shooting 73 (+1) on day one, 70 (-2) on day two and 73 (+1) on day three!
Greg Jones, Darren Ritchie and Tony MacKinnon will represent team New Brunswick at the Canadian Senior Championship at the Big Sky Golf & Country Club in Pemberton, British Columbia on September 5th-8th 2023!
Edward Reevey will take the final spot for team New Brunswick at the Canadian Mid-Amateur Championship at the Algonquin Golf Course this upcoming August 21st-24th!
It was Edward Reevey and Darren Ritchie who won the Dormie Par Three Challenge for the Mid-Master division shooting 47 (+2) on all of the par threes throughout the weekend! Darren MacPherson will also be competing in the championship as he claimed the final exemption spot.
Ralph Jr. Michaud and Phil Carleton won the Dormie Par Three Challenge for the Senior division shooting 44 (-1) on all the par threes throughout the weekend!
Stay Tuned for updates on the Team NB players as they compete in the National events later this year!
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