Sundre, Alb. – Kelli Ann Strand secured top spot while Lauren Kim emerged from a playoff to both earn direct exemptions into the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship through the U.S. Women’s Amateur Qualifier held at The Sundre Golf Club in Sundre, Alb. on Monday.

Strand, of Challis, Idaho shot a 3-under 69 to earn Medalist honours. Strand recorded three birdies on the front nine to get off to a strong start and held on to take the top spot in Monday’s qualifier. Strand, a member of the Nebraska Cornhuskers Women’s Golf team, earned second-team All-Big Ten honours and won the Green Wave Classic in her freshman year this past season.

Kim, of Surrey, B.C. outlasted Leah John in a six-hole playoff to secure the second exemption after shooting a 2-under 70. She recorded three straight birdies on 14 through 16 and closed off her round with a pair of pars to get into the playoff. Kim is a member of Golf Canada’s National Team Program and attends the University of Texas. This past weekend, she placed T3 at the 2023 Digital Commerce Bank Glencoe Invitational in Calgary.

John will be the first alternate and Tiffany Kong of Vancouver is the second alternate. Monday’s field at The Sundre Golf Club featured 23 golfers from Canada and the United States competing for two direct exemptions. The 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship runs from August 7-13 at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles with a field of 156 competitors.

For the full leaderboard from today’s qualifier click here.

BrokerLink is proud to offer exclusive home and auto insurance premiums to GolfNB members. Talk to one of our insurance experts for the right advice.

Debunking common insurance myths

Home Insurance Myth: Your home is always protected while you’re away on vacation or a business trip. False. Most insurers require you to take precautions in order to keep your insurance coverage in place. You may be required to have someone check on your home every day, every couple of days or every week. If you are going away during the winter, you may be required to drain your pipes or make sure your home is adequately heated to prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting – if you don’t keep your home warm and your pipes do burst, a claim may be denied. Ensure that you follow the guidelines in your policy to prevent any issues arising in the event of a claim. To read about more home insurance myths debunked click here.

Auto Insurance Myth: Your personal auto insurance policy will cover the cost of unexpected events while using your vehicle for business activities. False. If you are a business owner and use your vehicle for business purposes, the costs from a claim you incur whilst conducting these activities will not be covered by your personal auto policy. A commercial auto insurance policy is required to cover costs of unexpected events, such as an accident, if it occurs during or due to business operations. To read about more auto insurance myths debunked click here.

Business Insurance Myth: For home-based businesses, home insurance will cover claims for business activities. False. Home insurance will not cover claims related to your business. For example, if a professional painter operating out of their home has their art supplies damaged or stolen, their home insurance would not cover replacement cost of these supplies. It is important to ensure you have separate coverage in place for your home-based business needs. Having a commercial general liability and business property insurance will provide you protection in the event a customer is injured, or there is damage made to your property while conducting business activities. To read about more business insurance myths debunked click here.

Insurance Claim Myth: When I submit an insurance claim, I should inflate the claims costs so I am adequately compensated. False. It is a crime to inflate the cost of a claim. This is considered insurance fraud. The amount of compensation a person receives depends on the terms of their policy and deductibles. Never try to claim additional items or fabricate an insured peril. Insurance adjusters do investigate claims and will review receipts and details of a claim to ensure that individuals are getting the appropriate value for the policy they have. In addition, insurance companies may refuse to sell insurance to people involved in false claims.

Rest Assured, BrokerLink Has You Covered*

To learn more and for your free, no-obligation quote, contact a group advisor today:

1.833.998.3798, atlanticgroups@brokerlink.ca, or visit us at BrokerLink.ca/GolfNB

* Subject to policy conditions and exclusions. ©2023 Brokerlink Inc. ™BrokerLink & Design is a trademark of Brokerlink Inc. All rights reserved.

Derrick Wiseman has been a Special Olympic athlete for over 35 years. In this time, he has played floor hockey, 5 pin bowling, and Golf. Over the years he has remained competitive in golf and bowling. This year Derrick became the first ever New Brunswick athlete to be selected for the Special Olympics Team Canada in the sport of Golf.

Derrick has medaled in all 3 Provincial and National Games for the sport of Golf, winning a gold medal in 2013 in Moncton at Provincials and 2014 In Vancouver at Nationals. He currently plays out of the Gage Golf & Curling Club in Oromocto.

In preparation for Worlds, Derrick has been receiving lessons both from Bari Gourley of Kingswood Golf Club and using the simulators at JH sports in Fredericton. Roger Ryan has been his training coach since he began and will serve as his caddie during the games.

The 2023 Special Olympic World Games will be held in Berlin, Germany from the 17^th to the 26^th of June. Bad Saarow Country club will host the event where competitors will play the Nick Faldo Course. Derrick and Ryan will leave NB on June 10^th and spend two days in Toronto at staging camp then fly to Munich Germany which will be Canadas host city for the event. They will be there for a week of cultural exchange before the games start, returning to Canada on the 27^th of June!

Best of luck Derrick, from all of us at Golf New Brunswick

67 of Canada’s top junior golfers to compete over 54 holes at one of Saskatchewan’s most attractive layouts, with exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys and Girls Championships on the line.

Golf Canada’s 2023 championship season continues on Thursday, June 15 at Evergreen Golf Club, in Nipawin, Saskatchewan with the NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

The 54-hole stroke play competition gets underway with a practice round on Thursday, June 15 and championship rounds beginning on Friday, June 16. There will be no cuts in this NextGen Championship.  

The starting field will feature 67 male and female competitors – 52 Junior Boys and 15 Junior Girls – vying for spots into their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The top six players in the Junior Boys division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 14-17, at North Bay Golf and Country Club Ltd. in North Bay, Ont. The top six players (including ties) in the Junior Girls division will earn exemptions into the 2023 Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 24-27, at Hampton Golf Course in Hampton, N.B.

Evergreen Golf Course is located in the heart of Nipawin, known as Saskatchewan’s vacation capital. Surrounded by two spectacular lakes where the prairies meet the boreal forest, Nipawin is renowned for its exceptional outdoor recreation offering world class golf, superb fishing, camping and boating opportunities.

“Having the opportunity to host a Golf Canada event is an honour that not many facilities get. It is a chance for us to showcase the high-quality golf course we have. Our course management team, staff and members put a lot of effort into providing a first-class golf experience and this is a way to share with guests from across Canada,” said Derrick Tallon, Head Pro at Evergreen Golf Course. “It is our goal to have the golfers and visitors to the Evergreen Golf Course share a positive story with their friends and encourage more visitors to our golf course.”

To follow the live leaderboard of the NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, click here.

About the NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards

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 2023 national championships. Two additional Fall Series events will be hosted to close the season. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. For more information on the NextGen Prairie Championship, click here.

ABOUT GOLF CANADA

Golf Canada is the National Sports Federation and governing body for golf in Canada representing more than 319,000 golfers and 1,435 member clubs across the country. A proud member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Golf Canada’s mission is to increase Canadian participation and excellence in golf. For more information about what Golf Canada is doing to support golf in your community, visit www.golfcanada.ca.

PGA TOUR

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., sank a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to defeat Tommy Fleetwood and win the RBC Canadian Open, becoming the first Canadian player in 69 years to win the national men’s golf championship. It was the third win for Taylor on the PGA Tour and his first since the 2020 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Mike Weir came the closest to ending the drought in 2004 before losing a dramatic three-hole playoff to Fiji’s Vijay Singh. Taylor was sitting tied for 120th after the first round and barely squeezed over the cut line after the second round. His third-round 63 was a composite-course record and his lowest career score in 35 rounds at the Canadian Open. Taylor also becomes the first male golfer to win the Canadian Junior Championship, Canadian Men’s Amateur and the RBC Canadian Open. The 72.6-foot eagle putt to win the championship is his longest career putt as a PGA pro and it’s the longest made putt on the final hole of a one-shot (or playoff) PGA Tour victory in the last 20 years. …Adam Hadwin posted his best result at this event since 2019 and his fourth top-15 finish in 12 starts. ..Corey Conners was the first Canadian to hold the lead after the first round since 2008. His streak of bogey-free holes at this event came to an end at 53 with a bogey on the third hole of round two. …Roger Sloan recorded his best result in seven career Canadian Open starts. …Mike Weir became the fourth-oldest player at age 53 to make the cut at the Canadian Open. His 30 career starts are just two behind the record held by George Cumming. …The eight Canadians who made the cut are the most at this event since 2002.

NEXT EVENT: U.S. Open  (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, Roger Sloan, Adam Svensson, Nick Taylor

PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS

Steve Stricker carded a final round 69 to win the American Family Insurance Championship by five strokes. It was his fourth win of the season which includes two major championships. He has not finished worse than a tie for eighth in 11 tournament starts this year. Paul Broadhurst and Steve Alker finished tied for second. …Stephen Ames notched his fifth top-10 result of the season.

NEXT EVENT: Dick’s Sporting Goods Open (Jun 23)

LPGA TOUR

Ashleigh Buhai birdied four of her first five holes but needed a birdie on the final hole to hold off Hyo Joo Kim for a one-shot victory in the ShopRite LPGA Classic. It was the fourth win worldwide over the past 10 months for Buhai and second LPGA victory. At 34 years, 11 months, Buhai is the oldest winner this year on the LPGA. Rookie Yan Liu finished third, three shots back. …Brooke Henderson has shot par or better in eight of her last 13 stroke play events. 

NEXT EVENT: Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Brooke Henderson, Maddie Szeryk, Alena Sharp (alternate)

KORN FERRY TOUR

Adrien Dumont de Chassart of Belgium made par on the first playoff hole to defeat Josh Teater at the BMW Charity Pro-Am. It was his first professional victory in his pro debut. Dumont de Chassart is the 18th player in tour history to win his pro debut and the first to do it since 2019.  Dumont de Chassart made three birdies and an eagle down the stretch to take the lead until a bogey on the final hole put him in a playoff with Teater. It was the seventh sudden-death playoff of the season. There were no Canadians entered in the event.

NEXT EVENT: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Wil Bateman

EUROPEAN TOUR

Dale Whitnell carded a final round 70 to win the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed event  for his first career win on the European tour. The 34-year-old Englishman finished three shots clear of American Sean Crocker, who had cut the lead to two with two to play before Whitnell birdied the 17th to end any threat of a comeback. The co-sanctioned event on the men’s European tour and the Ladies European Tour featured a field of 78 men and 78 women. There were no Canadians entered in the event.

NEXT EVENT: BMW International Open (Jun 22)

CANADIANS ENTERED: Aaron Cockerill

EPSON TOUR

Siyun Liu birdied the penultimate hole before holding on for a one-shot victory over Amelia Garvey in the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship. It was her first victory on the Epson Tour.

NEXT EVENT: Island Resort Championship (Jun 23)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Selena Costabile, Alena Sharp, Sarah-Eve Rheaume, Kate Johnston (reserve), Brogan McKinnon (reserve), Christina Foster (reserve), Josee Doyon (reserve), Megan Osland (reserve)

PGA TOUR CANADA

Jimmy Jones carded a final round of even par and survived a final hole bogey to capture the sixth and final PGA Tour Canada qualifying tournament by one stroke. Jones is the son of the late Canadian golfer Dawn Coe-Jones. The win gives him exempt status for the upcoming 2023 season, which gets underway June 15 in Victoria. Max Sear, who started the day two shots back of Jones, double-bogeyed the final hole and missed forcing a playoff. He finished in a tie for second with Carr Vernon, who birdied his last two holes to catch Sear.

Sear earned exempt status through the first half of the season along with three other Canadians, including amateur Matthew Anderson, who just turned pro and finished fourth in the event. Raoul Ménard finished tied for sixth while Jake Lane was part of a four-player playoff for the final two spots. A.J. Ewart was also part of the playoff but missed out and will have conditional membership for the year along with 11 other Canadians including Lawren Rowe, Étienne Brault, Noah Steele and Jeevan Sihota.

NEXT EVENT: Royal Beach Victoria Open (Jun 15)

CANADIANS ENTERED:  Matthew Anderson, Étienne Brault, Ty Campbell, Robin Conlan, Chris Crisologo, Jared du Toit, A.J. Ewart, Thomas Giroux, Jimmy Jones, Richard Jung, Jake Lane, Henry Lee, Stuart Macdonald, Brendan MacDougall, Raoul Ménard, Étienne Papineau, Lawren Rowe, Jim Rutledge, Joey Savoie, Max Sear, Jeevan Sihota, Brian Sluggett, Noah Steele, Riley Wheeldon, Chris R. Wilson, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Brendan Leonard (alternate), Marc-Olivier Plasse (alternate)

G4D TOUR

Juan Postigo Arce used a chip-in birdie on the final hole to defeat world number one Kipp Popert at the G4D Tour @ Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed. It was his second win of the season for the Spaniard, who was born without much of his right leg and no knee. Kurtis Barkley birdied his final two holes to finish in a tie for third. It’s his fourth consecutive top-3 finish on tour this season. The event marked the first time an equal number of men and women competed in the same field at a G4D tournament.

NEXT EVENT: G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters  (Jun 26)

The Women’s Four Ball returned to the Gowan Brae Golf and Country Club on June 11th, 2023.  The 2023 event saw 28 two-player teams compete for both gross and net championships.

Sunday brought sunny and warm conditions to the field at the NB Women’s Four Ball, Driven by Audi Moncton, the second event of the 2023 Golf NB Championship Schedule.

In the Gross Division, it was Paula Napke-Flanagan and Morgan Matchett of the Miramichi Golf and country Club who would complete their weekend with a victory in extra holes. Paula Napke-Flanagan and Morgan Matchett were able to fend off Tamara Stephen of Lakeside Golf and Country Club and her partner Claudette Nowlan of Pine Needles Golf and Country Club. Both groups finished 18 holes at +4 (76), however it was on the 1st hole of the playoff where Napke-Flanagan and Matchett would secure their victory.

In the Net Division, it was Lisa Mallet and Sonia Pitre of the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club would would take the crown for the second year in a row, accumulating an impressive total net score of fifteen under par (-14), 58. They were able to outlast runners-up Lucie Davis and Lynn Randall of the Kingswood Golf Club who shot a net score of eleven under par (-12), 60. This was the second year in a row where Mallet and Pitre were able to fend off Davis and Randall. Tamara Stephen of Lakeside Golf and Country Club and her partner Claudette Nowlan of Pine Needles Golf and Country Club ties Davis and Randall at an impressive (-12), 60 net score.

• For more information on the 2023 NB Women’s Four Ball please CLICK HERE.
• For more information on the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club please CLICK HERE.

TORONTO – Nick Taylor became the first Canadian in 69 years to win his national open, holing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to beat Tommy Fleetwood in the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday.

Taylor tossed his putter into the air and jumped into the arms of his caddie after the longest made putt of his PGA Tour career, and fellow Canadian players Mike Weir, Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin were among those who ran onto the green to congratulate him. Hadwin, Taylor’s close friend, was tackled by a security guard while spraying champagne from a bottle.

“I’m speechless. This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home,” Taylor said with tears in his eyes. “This is the most incredible feeling.”

The last player from Canada to win the Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954 at Point Grey in Vancouver. Fletcher was born in England; Carl Keffer had been the only Canadian-born champion, winning in 1909 and 1914. Weir lost a playoff to Vijay Singh in 2004.

With galleries cheering his every move and even serenading him with “O Canada” on one tee box, Taylor curled in an 11-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 17-under 271 at Oakdale, walking backwards with his fist raised as the ball dropped into the cup. He shot a 6-under 66 on Sunday.

Fleetwood needed a birdie on the reachable par 5 to win in regulation, but he missed his tee shot right, laid up into an awkward lie in the right rough and two-putted for par to force the playoff in rainy conditions.

The players traded birdies on their first time playing No. 18 in the playoff. They both parred 18 and the par-3 ninth before heading back to 18.

Taylor’s tee shot found a divot in the fairway, but he hit his second shot 221 yards to the front of the green, while Fleetwood laid up after his drive found a fairway bunker. Fleetwood hit his third shot to 12 feet, but didn’t need to putt after Taylor’s uphill eagle putt hit the flagstick and dropped.

Fans swarmed toward the green, and Hadwin who like Taylor grew up in Abbotsford, British Columbia got leveled amid the chaos. He said had so much adrenaline that the tackle didn’t faze him.

“It’s incredible. I mean, what do you say to one of the greatest moments of Canadian golf history?” Hadwin said. “I think we all predicted that this was going to happen.

“I’m not sure that any one of us predicted a 72-foot (eagle) putt … to get it done, but what a way to go.”

The 35-year-old Taylor, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, won for the third time on the PGA Tour. He shot 75 in Thursday’s opening round but rallied with a 67 on Friday to make the cut, then shot 63 on Saturday to begin the final round three shots behind leader C.T. Pan.

Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy, two shots back of Pan entering the final round, closed with a 72 and finished in a tie for ninth, five shots back.

Fleetwood, a two-time Ryder Cup player from England and a six-time winner on the European tour, remains winless on the PGA Tour.

“I played great today, even though I missed some chances, if you like, on those playoff holes,” Fleetwood said. “Yeah, it was close. I just have to take the positives from it and start practicing tomorrow. I got a major next week. So can’t dwell on it too much.”

Tyrrell Hatton (64), Aaron Rai (69) and Pan (70) finished one shot out of the playoff.

The Women’s Four Ball returns to the Gowan Brae Golf and Country Club on June 11th, 2023.  The 2023 event will see 28 two-player teams compete for both gross and net championships.

Leanne Richardson and Sandy Comeau, the accomplished duo from Country Meadows Golf and Country Club, are gearing up to protect their title as five-time champions in the upcoming Gross championship. Among their challengers are Valerie Whyte and Mary Rossignol, the 2022 runners-up, who are determined to claim the top spot this time around.

Adding further excitement to the competition is the dynamic pairing of Paula Napke-Flanagan, a two-time champion, and her former partner Morgan Matchett, who has secured the championship three times in the past. Together, they are laying the foundation for what promises to be a fiercely competitive tournament, as they strive to recapture their former glory.

In the net division, Lisa Mallet, and Sonia Pitre of Gowan Brae will look to defend their 2022 title. The field will also see two-time net division champions (2010, 2016) Beth Leroux of West Hills Golf Course with partner and Golf New Brunswick Past-President, Judy Astle of the Old Mill Pond Golf & Country Club, and 2018 net champions, Amelie and Alexandra Guitard.

• For more information on the 2023 NB Women’s Four Ball please CLICK HERE.
• For more information on the Gowan Brae Golf & Country Club please CLICK HERE.

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Two-time defending champion Rory McIlroy is ready to make history in defence of the RBC Canadian Open title at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.

The world’s number three ranked player will lead a field of 156 of the world’s best players looking to become the first player in history to win three consecutive titles.

“Any time you can come back and defend a title sort of wherever that is in the world, it’s nice to be able to do that, said McIlroy. “Obviously the Sunday last year was, to me, one of the probably one of the best experiences I’ve ever had playing on TOUR. Battling it out with JT and Tony down the stretch. Rosie was on course trying to shoot 59. There was a ton of low scores. Battling with those two guys. JT and Tony being two of the best players in the world. Coming out on top. Yeah, it was really nice. Nice to be able to defend a title. I felt like the support I got out there was absolutely amazing and I’m looking forward to playing in that sort of atmosphere again this week.”

It was a simple idea that grew. Why couldn’t we do that? It was a question posed to Jordan Klein by phone by Mark Laurie while the two Oakdale Golf and Country Club members watched the 2019 RBC Canadian Open at the Hamilton Golf & Country Club from their respective homes.

“They are both very good and passionate golfers at Oakdale,” says the club’s immediate past president Mark Sadowski of that fateful conversation “Jordan replied that he thought their course would be too easy. Mark pointed out that Melbourne Golf Club in Australia hosted a big tournament by using a composite 18 of their 27 holes and Oakdale likewise has 27 holes.” Sadowski said the more the two men thought about it and talked about it the more they got excited at the prospect of actually doing it. A phone call a few days later to Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada who has friends who are members at Oakdale, really got the ball rolling. The concept then took on a life of its own with more and more people at the club getting involved.

Sadowski became president of the club in 2021 and the project fell on his shoulders. He said they had an extremely consultative program involving Golf Canada, the PGA TOUR, and the members. It was important for the members to understand all aspects of what they were getting themselves into. In the end the members voted 73 percent in favor which he says is the highest percentage of membership approval for any club that has hosted the Canadian Open in recent years. As a result, they were approved to host this year’s tournament, June 8-11, as well as the 2026 event which aligns with the club’s centennial celebration.

For Oakdale, which was founded in 1926, it will be a coming out party of sorts, a chance for Toronto and indeed the whole world to see their facility for perhaps the first time and hear their story. “It was out of necessity that this club came into being,” says Sadowski. “A hundred years ago the world was a very different place and there were clubs who would not allow Jewish people to join or even play. And it was the same in the medical community and other aspects of business. There were very clear, no blacks, no Jews, and no Asians rules.” While it was members of the Jewish community who purchased the land a hundred years ago and formed the club Sadowski says it is not now and never has been a club for Jewish people only. He says the membership is predominately but not exclusively Jewish. “There is nothing on our membership application that asks your religion and never has been,” said Sadowski. “What we do ask, and have asked since basically the club was formed, is that you have a willingness to give back to the community in one way or another.” Sadowski points out, as an example, that when Golf Canada introduced the First Tee – Canada program to help inner city kids get into golf couple of years ago, Oakdale was the first private club in Canada to jump on board. And years earlier when a young George Knudson moved from Winnipeg to Toronto to become the club’s professional, a group of members put together some money to send him out on the PGA TOUR. “They told him he didn’t have to pay them back, just to go out and make the club proud,” said Sadowski. Knudson made all of Canada proud winning eight times between 1961 and 1972. And Sadowski says the membership has gotten behind the RBC Canadian Open in a big way. He says the members have bought out the club’s complete allotment of private lodges and have signed up in big numbers to volunteer for the various committees that are required to run an event as big as an RBC Canadian Open. “The members and their families are looking at this as great for Oakdale but also a great life experience, a chance of a lifetime,” he says. “This is something that money can’t buy.”

For more on this year’s RBC Canadian Open, including ticket information go to: www.rbccanadianopen.com.