Clear skies over Red Deer Golf and Country Club set the stage for a picturesque day in Red Deer, Alta. as the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, wrapped up its third day of play in the Energy Province.

For the third consecutive day, Mike Lohner continues to hold prime real estate at the top of the leaderboard, firing even par 72 to share the lead with fellow countryman Rusty Strawn. A resident of Southlake, Tex., Lohner finished second in the Carlton Woods Invitational earlier this year and is in the hunt for his first victory north of the border.

Strawn finished the first round tied for the top spot with Lohner, but dipped down to second place after navigating three bogeys during yesterday’s second round. After a steady performance today where the McDonough, Ga. resident made birdie on five holes, Strawn holds a share of the lead once again and will look to keep the momentum going after securing a victory at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship last week.

Occupying the third spot, local golfer and Red Deer Golf and Country Club member Ken Griffith came in at one-under par today. Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta. (4), and Dave Bunker of Ridgeway, Ont. (5) round out the top five with an even score.

In addition to sitting fourth for the overall tournament, Van Dornick also leads the 65-and-over Super Senior division that runs concurrently throughout the week. The Super Senior champion will be crowned tomorrow and awarded the Governor’s Cup.

Tomorrow promises to be an exciting battle of top amateur talent with an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship on the line. Not only will the winner etch their name into the historic John Rankin Memorial Trophy, but also into Canadian golf history as the field of 156 top senior golfers comes down to one champion.

The final round is set to commence at 8:10 a.m. MT tomorrow with the awards ceremony scheduled to take place at approximately 3:00 p.m. MT at Red Deer Golf and Country Club.

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 3 LEADERS

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION ROUND 3 LEADERS

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

Through the efforts of over 10,000 women, Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru raised over $272k for breast cancer research in 2022 at 112 events held across the country.

With another 10 Golf Fore the Cure events to come in the remainder of the golf season, we are looking forward to seeing this number build even higher.

Since the program’s inception in 2003, upwards of 130,000 women have raised over $7 million to date with all proceeds donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and the Québec Breast Cancer Foundation.

Over 100 women celebrated this year’s success at the 16th annual Golf Fore the Cure National Event at Lionhead Golf and Conference Center in Brampton, Ont.

The National Event included 18 holes of golf featuring raffles, prizing, and games, followed by an awards dinner to thank the 13,000 Golf Fore the Cure participants across Canada this year.

TOP 20 FUNDRAISING SITES IN 2022

We would also like to thank our Provincial Golf Associations for their continued support in encouraging clubs to participate in Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru. Below is a breakdown of all the funds raised by province:

Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru was created in 2003 by Golf Canada to drive women’s participation in the game of golf through the use of fun, non-intimidating activities. Through a unique partnership structure with the Canadian Cancer Society (and Québec Breast Cancer Foundation), the program has women across the country participating in golf activities and raising money and awareness for a cause close to Canadian hearts—the fight against breast cancer.

Canada holds over 37,000 charity events at golf courses across the country which raise approximately $533 million annually for charity.

Subaru Canada has been a proud partner of Golf Fore the Cure since 2007.

To learn how to get involved with Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru, visit golfcanada.ca/golfforethecure.

Prevailing winds continued to challenge competitors at Red Deer Golf and Country Club as the 60^th edition of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, wrapped up the second day of play in Red Deer, Alta.   

Host squad Team Alberta ran away with the lead to win 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 (the Inter-Provincial competition wasn’t contested the past two years due to complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic). Rounding out the top 3 was Team Ontario carding a consolidated score of +12.

In the individual competition, American Mike Lohner extended his stay at the top of the leaderboard, earning sole possession of first place after Rusty Strawn (McDonough, Ga.) fell one shot back after a seesaw round of four birdies and three bogeys at Red Deer Golf and Country Club. Lohner, a resident of Southlake, Tex. carded five birdies to remain steady and set himself up well after the halfway point of the tournament.

Strawn and Red Deer Golf and Country Club member Ken Griffith share second place, coming in at 4-under after Wednesday’s round.

In the 65-and-over Super Senior Championship division, which runs concurrently throughout the tournament, Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta. shot a 70 today to extend his lead after 36 holes of play. Aurora, Ont. native Michael Mealia moved up four spots to claim solo second, with a two-way tie for third including local golfers Jim Russell (Calgary, Alta.), and David Schultz (Calgary, Alta.).

Following the conclusion of round two today, the field was reduced to the low 70 players and ties with 72 competitors advancing to bid for the 60^th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title and a coveted spot on the John Rankin Memorial Trophy. The individual champion will also receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 LEADERS

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION ROUND 2 LEADERS

Round three is set to commence tomorrow at 8:10am MT.

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

By: Terry Lenyk

Canadian Brooke Henderson joins American star Lexi Thompson and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko as the franchise-first female pros in the PGA TOUR 2K23 video game.

Other pros available in the game include cover athlete Tiger Woods, Will Zalatoris, Jon Rahm, Tony Finau, Collin Morikawa, Tony Finau, Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas, who graced the 2K21 cover.

Henderson, a 24-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., has won US$10.4 million in career earnings and currently ranks fifth in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Ko is No. 4 and Thompson No. 7.

Also featured in the game is St. George’s Golf and Country Club, host of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ch7v3XUu3lC/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=1c92e094-6e7e-46e4-9ecb-9627fd95283f

The video game is developed by HB Studios in Lunenburg N.S., for 2K Sports.

The deluxe version of the game is scheduled for release on Oct. 11 with the standard edition to follow Oct. 14.

Canada’s Taylor Pendrith has been named to the international team at the upcoming Presidents Cup.

It’s the first time more than one Canadian will compete in the best-on-best tournament that sees a team from the United States play an international squad.

Corey Conners, from Listowel, Ont., was an automatic selection after finishing the PGA TOUR season fourth on the international team standings.

Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ont., was a captain’s selection, officially chosen by Trevor Immelman on Tuesday.

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., and Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., were also considered for the event.

Quail Hollow Club outside of Charlotte, N.C., will host the Presidents Cup starting Sept. 20.

Red Deer, Alta. – Red Deer Golf & Country Club proved to be a solid test for the top senior competitors from Canada and the United States with only six golfers out of a field of 156 finishing under par after Tuesday’s opening round at the 2022 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO.

Rusty Strawn of McDonough, Ga., carded a 3-under 69 that included two birdies and an eagle to share possession of the lead with fellow American Mike Lohner.

Strawn is fresh off a victory last week at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at The Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass. This week, the Peach State resident will look to add another accolade to his impressive 2022 season collecting titles at the Trans-Mississippi Senior Championship and the Florida Senior Azalea Amateur Championship earlier this year.

Mike Lohner of Southlake, Tex. countered three bogeys with six birdies to fight for his share of the lead this afternoon. Lohner, who calls Vaquero Club home, finished second in the Carlton Woods Invitational earlier this year and is in the hunt for his first victory north of the border.

Hometown competitors Grant Lee and Ken Griffith share a four-way tie for third place along with Dave Terry of Langley, B.C., and Neil MacLeod of Burnaby, B.C.

A 65-and-over Super Senior Championship will run concurrently throughout the tournament, crowning a champion and awarding the Governor’s Cup after 72 holes of play. After round one, David Schultz of Calgary, Alta. and Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta. are tied for the lead at one-over.

The inter-provincial team competition, which returns for the first time since 2019, is also being contested over the championship’s first 36 holes.

Defending champions Team Alberta, consisting of Ken Griffith (Red Deer Golf & Country Club), Senan Foley (Public Player – Alberta), and Kelly Risling (Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club) posted a score of +4 to edge a one-stroke lead over Team Quebec.  The team title will come down to the wire Wednesday afternoon with Teams Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia also in hot pursuit at +7.

Defending champion Darren Ritchie currently sits T9 at just four strokes back.

Following the conclusion of round two tomorrow, the field will be reduced to the low 70 players and ties as competitors vie for the 60^th Canadian Men’s Senior Championship title and a coveted spot on the John Rankin Memorial Trophy. The individual champion will also receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 1 LEADERS

2022 CANADIAN MEN’S SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION ROUND 1 LEADERS

Additional information, including a full list of competitors and scores can be found here.

RED DEER, Alta. – The 60^th installment of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, tees off this week with 156 amateur golfers taking the stage in Red Deer, Alta. 

Conducted since 1962, the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship has grown to become one of the most popular amateur golf events in Canada. In 1995, the 65-and-over Super Senior division was introduced, which runs concurrently with the existing 55-and-over age group.

One of nine national championships conducted by Golf Canada for the 2022 season, the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will consist of 72 holes of stroke-play with a cut after 36 holes. The Super Senior Championship is contested concurrently over the four rounds of the championship, and the Senior Inter-provincial Team Championship, established in 1977, also runs concurrently with the first 36 holes of the tournament.

Practice rounds are scheduled for Monday, September 5^th, before the tournament officially kicks off on Tuesday, September 6^th.  

The tournament will be conducted at Red Deer Golf & Country Club in Red Deer, Alta. who is celebrating their centennial season this year. Five of the club’s members have qualified to play in the Championship including Ken Griffith, Grant Lee and Peter Innes, Tom Skinner and Joe Gascon.

Over 100 volunteers from both the Red Deer Golf & Country Club and the community will be on hand to host the National and International competitors and their families. 

“Golf Canada is proud to host the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship and bring together a field of top senior competitors to play in this prestigious championship,” said Adam Cinel, Senior Manager, Rules and Amateur Championships. “Red Deer Golf and Country Club is in excellent shape, and we congratulate the staff and volunteers on their significant 100-year milestone.”

Defending champion Darren Ritchie will return once again to defend his title and vie to see his name on the John Rankin Memorial Trophy for the second consecutive year. In 2021, the St. John, N.B. native from Hampton Golf Club held the lead for the majority of the tournament and finished 2-over par 72 to claim his first Canadian Men’s Senior title.

Additional notables in the field include Robert Funk (Canyon Lake, CA.), John Crowther (London, Ont.), Jim Lehman (Minnetonka, MN.), and Rusty Strawn (McDonough, GA.) who recently claimed the 2022 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship title at The Kittansett Club in Marion, Mass. this past week.

The champion will receive an exemption into the 2023 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.  

More information about the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.

(September 1, 2022) – Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are committed to providing opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the physical, psychological, and social benefits golf can offer.

As part of this commitment, the national golf organizations have launched the EDGA 359 Pilot Project, presented by Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada, 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.

“Through this coach training, we are eager to increase support for golfers of all abilities and make our sport inclusive of more Canadians,”  said Laura Wilson, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Safe Sport for Golf Canada.

Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada have invited Mark Taylor, PGA Fellow Professional, Head of Development/Coach Education, and Instruction for EDGA to educate coaches in Canada who will be involved in the future recruitment and support of golfers with disabilities. PGA of Canada Technical Director Glenn Cundari will co-facilitate the sessions. 

The EDGA curriculum is a three-step curriculum that identifies a participation pathway for golfers with disabilities. The training will provide coaches with the knowledge and skills to support golfers at each stage of the pathway from Sample – Participant – Compete. The first two stages of training will be piloted to provide coaches (PGA of Canada professionals, Physical Therapists, trainers, etc.) in Canada with the training, confidence and resources needed to develop and expand programs for golfers with disabilities.

The PGA of Canada is committed to supporting a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive sporting and workplace experience in Canadian golf. The launch of this inclusive coaching context is one of our priorities to the 88 recommendations we have committed to as an organization from our EDI task force report – said PGA of Canada Chief Innovation Officer Matt Allen.

EDGA has been providing training and resources to sport federations for more that 20 years.  

Through the EDGA 359 project, two coach training clinics will be piloted this year—one in Nova Scotia at Glen Arbour Golf Course, just outside of Halifax and one in Ontario at Lionhead Golf and Conference Centre in Brampton. Once the pilot workshops are completed this fall, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada will look to roll out EDGA workshops nationally beginning in 2023.

EDGA 359 – Pilot Workshops:

Nova Scotia Clinic:

Glen Arbour Golf Course
September 9-10

LEVEL 1   

COMBINED LEVEL 1 & 2

Ontario Clinic:

Lionhead Golf Course
September 13-14

LEVEL 1

COMBINED LEVEL 1 & 2

The training will take place at a similar time as the 2^nd annual Canadian All Abilities Championship, which is being contested this year September 13-14 at Essex Golf & Country Club in Lasalle, Ont. The EDGA 359 Pilot Project is legacy component to the event with up to 50 new coaches trained to support golfers with disabilities.

The EDGA 359 pilot clinics will be supported respectively by the Nova Scotia Golf Association and Golf Ontario.

HEADINGLEY, Man. – The summer of Shelly Stouffer rolled on at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship, presented by BDO, at Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley, Man.

After winning the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in early August, the Nanoose, B.C., native added a Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title and a second consecutive Canadian Women’s Senior Championship to her trophy case. The hardware didn’t end there, though. Stouffer was crowned champion of the Mid-Master division, to boot.

“That’s the first time I won the Mid-Am, so [I’m] pretty excited about that,” said Stouffer. “Last year I won just the Mid-Master and the Senior, so, yeah, it was exciting.”

Stouffer says this win is “right up there” with the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and so is the Ada Mackenzie Trophy.

“This gives Big Bertha a run,” Stouffer laughed as she hoisted one of three trophies she was awarded on Thursday, bringing her week total to five after winning both the Katherine Holleur and Crockett trophies as part of Team British Columbia in the Interprovincial Team competitions.

Opposite to the 52-year-old’s triumph in Anchorage, AK., the odds were against Stouffer coming down the stretch in Thursday’s final round. Terrill Samuel and Christina Spence Proteau lead by one over the former professional golfer with just five holes to play, but in came the wind that blew Stouffer into the lead.

With a one-stroke advantage on No. 18, Stouffer guided an iron onto the green and two-putted for par to secure the one stroke victory over Samuel.

“I’m just kind of going with the flow here,” admitted Stouffer. “I was hitting the ball well down in, well, everywhere, but the last place I was at was Dayton at the U.S. Open, so I just kind of kept that going and my ball striking was actually really, really good this week. I can’t even express how awesome it is.”

Stouffer becomes only the second Canadian in history to win both the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in the same year, joining World Golf Hall of Famer, Marlene Streit, who accomplished the feat in 1995.

“It’s amazing; it’s so great,” said Stouffer on being in the same company as Streit. “She sent me messages when I was over in Anchorage, being encouraging and everything like that and, you know, it’s phenomenal – it’s awesome.”

With the win, Stouffer earns an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax, N.S. The B.C. native’s win in the Senior division earns her direct entry into the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, where she will look to defend her title.

Samuel, the 2022 British Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, carded a final round 73 to win the Super Senior division. The Etobocoke, Ont., native also finished as the runner-up in the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Senior divisions.

In the Mid-Amateur section, six-time champion, Christina Spence Proteau, earned the bronze medal, finishing just two strokes back of Stouffer. Helene Chartrand of Sallabery-de-Valleyfield, Que.; 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Judith Kyrinis; and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, Mary-Ann Hayward all posted T4 results at 8-over-par for the tournament.

On Thursday, Golf Canada announced the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship would act as a stand-alone event in 2023 and beyond. The national championship will be held at Mad River Golf Club in Creemore, Ont., July 24-27.

The 2023 Canadian Senior Women’s Championship is moving to the Maritimes. It will take place at Mill River Golf Course in O’Leary, P.E.I.

For full results of the 2022 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship click here.

(AUGUST 31, 2022) – Golf Canada announced today format changes to the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Effective 2023, the national championship, currently held in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, will act independently as a stand-alone event.

“The decision to proceed with format changes to our Women’s Mid-Amateur aligns with the growth of golf in Canada,” said Golf Canada’s Director of Amateur Championships and Rules, Mary Beth McKenna. “We feel that this championship deserves its own spotlight and we’re confident that the talent displayed in 2023 and beyond will reflect that.”

Since 2007, the Women’s Mid-Amateur has a provided women over the age of 25 a chance to compete on a national stage. From its inaugural year to 2014, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship ran in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. In 2015, the tournament shifted gears and joined forces with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, but Breezy Bend Country Club will serve as the final joint venture for the two events.

In 2023, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will take place at Mad River Golf Club in Creemore, Ont., July 24-27. The field size will cap at 90 players and an Interprovincial team competition will also be incorporated into the reformatted event. As in years past, the Mid-Master division – a division for players 40 years or older – will remain a part of the national championship.

The winner of the 2023 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. Past winners of the event include 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Judith Kyrinis; six-time champion Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion, Christina Spence Proteau; and 2022 British Women’s Senior Amateur Champion, Terrill Samuel.