by Dwayne Tingley

Sarah Holt – Gage Golf & Curling Club

Sarah Holt, who turns 19 in August, has a mature golf game.

The two-time New Brunswick juvenile girls champion is approaching the upcoming East Coast Junior Championships with new mental and physical vigor.

“I feel as though the physical and mental aspects of my game have changed significantly over the years of competitive golf,” said the Waterville native who plays out of the Gage Golf and Curling Club.

“Physically,” she added, “I feel much more involved in the game in a sense that my swing has become more technical and tailored to my body as well as taking care of it with physiotherapy and massage therapy.”

The University of New Brunswick science student took a break from training to fully recover from a back injury she suffered two years ago.

“The mental aspect of my game has changed, where I think much less, and I am not as anxious or worried about decisions I make on the course. I have become more trusting in myself as a golfer.”

Holt, who represented New Brunswick at the Canadian Junior Girls Championships from 2016-18 and the 2017 Canada Summer Games, will bring her new mature approach to the East Coast Junior Championships June 25-26 at the Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club in Hartland.

“I know I will not be as strong this season as the others, but I am happy that I am able to swing a club and participate in my last year as a junior.”

Golf New Brunswick technical director Bari Gourley said the East Coast Junior Championship is an important event on the calendar for young players.

“It is a great development tournament in that it brings great players from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec all together,” Gourley said.

“It will be the largest field (144 players) that any of these juniors will play up to that date,” she continued. “The juniors are out of school by then and have more freedom to practice and play.”

Nathan Hogan, last year’s New Brunswick Junior and Juvenile Boys Champion, is eager to compete at the East Coast Junior.

Nathan Hogan – 2018 NB Junior Boys Champion

The 17-year-old who plays out of the Miramichi Golf and Country Club has made the 90-minute trip to Moncton every Sunday during the winter to train with Team NB Junior Boys Coach, Louis Melanson, at his indoor Louis Melanson Golf Academy.

“It feels good to hit a lot of balls even in the winter time and I hit some at home, in the garage, too,” said Hogan, who just finished Grade 11 at Miramichi Valley High School.

“I’ve been doing it for a few years and it’s helped my game,” he added. “I get good instruction at the academy and I get to work on my game all year long. I really enjoy it and I learn a lot when I go to every week.”

Hogan said Covered Bridge, which measures 6,609 yards and is known to challenge the short game of the players, is a sound course for the juniors.

“This is the second year in a row we’ve been there, and I’ve played it fairly well so I will go in with some confidence,” said Hogan, adding that he sees room for improvement in all aspects of his game.

Covered Bridge will also host the Canadian Junior Boys’ Championship later this summer.

“A lot of the boys, especially the out of province players, are coming to have extra rounds at the course, hoping they are fortunate enough to be a team member for their provincial squad or receive an exemption from their province,” Gourley said.

Golf New Brunswick uses the East Coast juniors as a qualifier for the Golf Canada Future Links, driven by Acura, scheduled for July 16-18 at a site in New Brunswick to be determined.

Holt is also anticipating a good showing in Hartland.

“With a strong game plan and a straight shot, this course will do your game a favour,” she said.

“Not to mention the beautiful view of farmlands from the 18^th green is guaranteed to make any bad round just a bit better.”

For more information on the 2019 East Coat Junior Championships, including first round pairings & tee times, please CLICK HERE.

For more information on the Covered Bridge Golf & Country Club please CLICK HERE.

When dropping in taking free relief or penalty relief, your ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the defined relief area.

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TOYOTA CITY, Japan – Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., carded an 8-under 63 on Wednesday at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup, moving himself into sixth place in the individual boys competition heading into the final round.

Vandette’s 63 is tied for the lowest round of the tournament thus far. He was bogey-free in round three, with an eagle on the par-5 6th highlighting a scorching moving day at Chukyo Golf Club. He sits five shots back of leader Samuel Simpson of South Africa.

Sihota also shot in the 60s in round three, shooting a 3-under 68. The Victoria, B.C., product is in a tie for 37th after 54 holes.

Desmarchais carded even-par 71, holding steady in 33rd at 1 over on the tournament, while Duquette shot 8 over and is in 58th.

The Canadian quartet features Vandette, Laurent Desmarchais, Jeevan Sihota and William Duquette. The players are competing individually, with each nation’s three lowest scores counting towards the team competition.

Canada ranks ninth of 15 teams in the team competition at 6 under par, having gained three spots in the third round. South Africa are the leaders at 38 under, nine shots clear of Japan in second.

In the girls division, Japan holds a three-stroke lead over the United States and Mexico. Cassie Porter of Australia and Siwoo Chung of South Korea are leading the individual competition at 8 under par.

Full scoring can be found here.

When taking relief from a penalty area for one penalty stroke, one of your relief options in the 2019 Rules is going “Back-on-the-Line.”

Visit golfcanada.ca/rules to learn more.

TOYOTA CITY, Japan – Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que. shot even-par 71, but Canada fell to 12th place in the team competition during the second round at the TOYOTA Junior Golf World Cup.

The Canadian quartet features Vandette, Laurent Desmarchais, Jeevan Sihota and William Duquette. The players are competing individually, with each nation’s three lowest scores counting towards the team competition.

Coming off an opening-round 69, Vandette was sitting at 4 under for the tournament heading into the final four holes of round two. The 17-year-old struggled after posting two bogeys on the par-5 16th and the par-4 18^th^, bringing him back to even par on the day. The bogey on No. 16 was uncharacteristic for Vandette, who had made birdie on each par 5 in the tournament to that point.

Vandette is T16 after 36 holes, eight shots back of leaders Abel Gallegos Caputo of Argentina and Gustav Andersson of Sweden.

Desmarchais shot 1-over 72 and is T28, while Sihota is 6 over in a tie for 43rd .

William Duquette is 57th at 14 over.

Canada ranks 12th of 15 teams in the team competition at 5 over par. South Africa are the current leaders at 19 under.

In the girls division, the United States hold a one-stroke lead over Japan. Rose Zhang of the United States and Siwoo Chung of South Korea are leading the individual competition at 5 under par.

Full scoring can be found here.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) announced today a 10-year agreement making the Los Angeles-based, global organizational consulting firm the Umbrella Sponsor of the newly named Korn Ferry Tour.

In replacing Web.com, Korn Ferry’s sponsorship takes effect June 19 and extends through the 2028 season. The Korn Ferry Tour will continue to award PGA TOUR membership to the Tour’s 50 leading players, including the top 25 from the Regular Season points list and the top 25 from the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals points list.

The announcement was made jointly by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, Korn Ferry Chief Executive Officer Gary Burnison, and Korn Ferry Tour President Alex Baldwin on Wednesday morning in New York City.

“We welcome Korn Ferry to the PGA TOUR family with today’s announcement,” said Monahan. “Our thanks to Gary Burnison and his team for a partnership that will promote Korn Ferry’s mission of helping people and organizations exceed their potential, collaborating with a Tour that has proven to identify the next generation of PGA TOUR talent over the last 30 years.”

Korn Ferry also becomes a PGA TOUR Official Marketing Partner as the “Official Leadership Development Firm” of the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, and Korn Ferry Tour. Additionally, Korn Ferry will assume sponsorship of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship presented by United Leasing & Finance in Evansville, Indiana – the third and final event in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals.

“We’re excited to partner with the PGA TOUR. Our organizations are both all about talent – getting players and people to that next level and advancing their careers. People will never discover their full potential until they are provided an abundance of opportunity. Korn Ferry and the Korn Ferry Tour provide that opportunity,” said Burnison. “This sponsorship will further elevate our brand as a global organizational consultancy and extend awareness of our firm to new audiences around the world.”

Korn Ferry develops and coaches 1.2 million people a year, puts someone in a new job every three minutes and has worked with companies to evaluate and assess nearly 70 million professionals. The firm has offices in more than 50 countries and 8,500 employees.

Korn Ferry works with clients to design their organizational structures, roles and responsibilities. The firm helps them hire the right people and advise them on how to reward, develop and motivate their workforce. Korn Ferry also helps professionals at all levels navigate and advance their careers.

“This is a tremendous day for our organization, and we are eager to work with Gary and his team as we continue to build the Korn Ferry Tour from the strong foundation already in place,” said Baldwin, the first female to be named president of one of the PGA TOUR’s six global Tours earlier this year. “Korn Ferry has an impassioned desire to enhance the careers and brands of our players through this incredibly competitive Tour. This partnership will allow us to further those goals while elevating the Tour and our tournaments for our partners and fans.”

With 50 available PGA TOUR cards for the following season (since 2013), the Korn Ferry Tour is the path to the PGA TOUR. Twenty-five TOUR cards are reserved for the leading points earners at the end of the 24-event Regular Season. Another 25 are up for grabs at the three-event Korn Ferry Tour Finals that follow the Regular Season in August and September.

During the PGA TOUR’s 2017-18 season, eight players from the Korn Ferry Tour Class of 2017 won titles, including Aaron Wise, whose victory at the 2018 AT&T Byron Nelson was the 500th by a former Korn Ferry Tour player – a list which includes 23 major championships and eight PLAYERS Championships.

Four players from the Class of 2018 have won on the PGA TOUR this season – Cameron Champ (Sanderson Farms Championship), Adam Long (The Desert Classic), Martin Trainer (Puerto Rico Open) and Max Homa (Wells Fargo Championship).

Other notable PGA TOUR players who got their start on the Korn Ferry Tour include major champions Justin Thomas, Jason Day, Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson.

For more information on the Korn Ferry Tour, please visit PGATOUR.com.

by Golf NB

Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB) and title sponsor RBC Dominion Securities are pleased to announce that the Fraser Edmundston Golf Club has agreed to host the 2019 RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship.

Following the June 14^th announcement that this year’s event would need to be moved from the Westfield Golf & Country Club because of significant winter damage, the Golf NB was forced to pursue other options.  “We were very fortunate, as three of our partner facilities put their hands up right away”, said Tyson Flinn Executive Director of Golf NB.  “The first call we received was from the Fraser Edmundston Golf Club, the second from the Sussex Golf & Curling Club and the third was from Memramcook (Golf Club).”

With choices to be made the Golf NB staff and Championship Committee got to work to evaluate their options.  “There were not doubts that each of these venues would be able to host this year’s championship”, said Golf NB Tournament Committee Chair, Gary Melanson.  “At the end of the day, we wanted to keep in mind our sponsor’s continued desire to have the event moved around to the various regions of the province, while also being sure that we could provide the best championship experience possible for the competitors.”

Having hosted two (2) Canadian Men’s Amateur Championships (1956, 2002) and countless NB Provincial Championships, including seven (7) NB Men’s Amateur Championships (1952, 1982, 1975, 1967, 1963, 1958, 1952), the Fraser Edmundston Golf Club checked all the boxes.

“We wanted to do our part”, said club president Henri Allain.  “We know that winter was very hard on a number of golf courses in the southern part of the province, but our course is in very good shape, our schedule would allow us to accommodate the event and we felt like it would be good for the event, the club and the community.”

With the largest hurdle cleared, finding a venue, the work now begins for both Golf NB and the Fraser Edmundston Golf Club to quickly coordinate their resources in preparation for an event that is now just slightly more then three weeks away.

“Players will be teeing it up on the July 11^th, so there is no time to waste”, says Flinn.  “Having hosted multiple Provincial Championships in Edmundston over the years, we know the venue and the team in Edmundston well, so we are confident that we won’t skip a beat.”

Registration for the 2019 RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship will close on Sunday July 7, 2019 and the $225.00 entry fee includes one practice round, four competitive rounds and a tee gift furnished by Golf NB and TaylorMade.

• For more information or the 2019 RBC Dominion Securities NB Men’s Amateur Championship please CLICK HERE.
• For more information or the Fraser Edmundston Golf Club please CLICK HERE.

Now under the Rules, when your ball is lost or out of bounds, your course or can use a Local Rule that does not require you to play under stroke and distance.

Click here to learn more.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Brooke Henderson won the Meijer LPGA Classic on Sunday to break the Canadian record for tour victories with nine.

The 21-year-old Henderson led wire-to-wire for her second victory in three years at Blythefield Country Club, closing with a 2-under 70 in chilly conditions to hold off Lexi Thompson, Nasa Hataoka, Su Oh and Brittany Altomare by a stroke.

Henderson broke a tie with Sandra Post for the Canadian record on the LPGA Tour and also moved ahead of George Knudson and Mike Weir for the overall country mark.

“That’s really cool,” Henderson said. “Earlier this year to get my eighth win and to tie that record was a huge deal for me. To now to kind of breakthrough that is awesome. I’m just really excited for the rest of the summer and hopefully many more wins in the future.”

With caddie/sister Brittany and mother Darlene looking on, father Dave sprayed her with champagne to celebrate.

“It’s really special,” Henderson said. “I’m so happy that both my mom and my dad can be out here to watch my sister and I win this. It’s always special when they’re here, especially on Father’s Day.”

Also the Lotte Championship winner in April in Hawaii, Henderson matched the tournament record of 21 under that she set in 2017 (when the course played to a par of 71) and also was tied last year by So Yeon Ryu. Henderson opened with consecutive 64s, playing 30 holes Friday after rain delayed the start Thursday, and had a 69 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round.

“It’s a lot like the courses I grew up playing back home in Canada,” Henderson said. “I love it out here. Just trying to hit good shots and hopefully make a lot of birdies. Didn’t make as many as I wanted, but just enough.”

The final putt at @MeijerLPGA that sealed the deal in Canadian #golf history ???? pic.twitter.com/q9i2cIsFZz

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) June 16, 2019

Her lead reduced to a stroke after a bogey on the par-4 16th, she three-putted the par-5 18th from 45 feet for the winning par.

“When I was walking up here I thought maybe I would have to birdie or eagle this hole to get the job done, but when I looked at the scoreboard I was sort of shocked that all I needed to do was three-putt and par,” Henderson said. “I’m really grateful about that because I was shaking pretty bad on those last couple putts.”

Henderson had Canadians from coast-to-coast cheering her on all throughout.

“Congratulations to Brooke on becoming the winningest Canadian professional golfer ever on the PGA or LPGA,” said Sandra Post, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Honoured Member. “I’m so happy for her and her family and for golf in Canada. I know there are many more wins in store.”

 

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Win No. 9, so fine ???? @brookehendersongolf wins one for the history books, becoming the winningest Canadian golfer of all time ?? #LPGA #meijerlpgaclassic

A post shared by CP Women’s Open (@cpwomensopen) on Jun 16, 2019 at 2:21pm PDT

“On behalf of Canadian golf fans across the nation, we are so proud of Brooke Henderson on her incredible 9th LPGA Tour victory,” said Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada CEO. “She’s made Canadian golf history at 21 years of age and there is no doubt that the very best is yet to come for this inspiring young athlete. We can’t wait to celebrate this victory and the defense of her CP Women’s Open title this August at Magna Golf Club!”

Thompson followed her course-record 62 in the third round with a 68, closing with an eagle for the second straight day. The 2015 winner at Blythefield, she was coming off a victory last week in New Jersey.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t hit it that great today, but I made some really good putts on my second nine,” Thompson said. “I had a little bit of a muscle spasm in my shoulder all day, but it is what it is, you can’t control that. So, overall great week.”

Hataoka shot 65, also making an eagle on the par-5 18th. Oh had a 66, and Altomare shot 68.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp had a strong tournament, finishing tied for ninth at 13-under with a final round of 72.

Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee (71) finished at 2-under while Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City (74) was at 1-under.

Jennifer Kupcho, four strokes behind Henderson entering the day, had a 76 to drop into a tie for 23rd at 11 under in her third professional start. The former Wake Forest star won the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the third major championship of the year, is next week at Hazeltine in Minnesota.

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Gary Woodland denied Brooks Koepka’s bold bid at history with two clutch shots and made U.S. Open memories of his own, starting with that silver trophy in his hands at Pebble Beach.

Woodland finished in style Sunday. He holed a 30-foot birdie putt for a 2-under 69, giving him the lowest 72-hole score in six U.S. Opens at Pebble Beach and a three-shot victory over Koepka, who was going for a third straight U.S. Open.

Koepka had to settle for a footnote in history as the first player with all four rounds in the 60s at the U.S Open without winning. But he made Woodland earn every bit of his first major championship.

Clinging to a one-shot lead with more pressure than he has ever felt, Woodland seized control by going for the green on the par-5 14th hole with a 3-wood from 263 yards, narrowly clearing a cavernous bunker and setting up a simple up-and-down for a two-shot lead.

Even more significant was a shot from 90 feet.

Woodland hit the edge of the green on the par-3 17th all the way to the right, with the pin on the hourglass green on the other side.

Ahead on the 18th, Koepka’s 3-iron went just over the back of the green, leaving him a chip for eagle to tie, with a birdie likely to do the trick considering what Woodland faced. Koepka chipped to just inside 10 feet and missed the putt.

PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 16: Gary Woodland of the United States poses with the trophy after winning the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links on June 16, 2019 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Woodland delivered again. Unable to use putter to get it close, he perfectly clipped a pitch over the mound, and it checked about 12 feet short of the hole and trickled down to tap-in range.

That effectively ended the U.S. Open. Woodland played conservatively down the 18th and made one last birdie that only mattered in the record book. He finished at 13-under 271, one shot better than Tiger Woods’ historic rout in 2000.

The difference was Woods won by 15 shots and was the only player under par. With a marine layer blocking the sunshine, and no significant wind at Pebble Beach all week, 31 players finished under par.

Koepka closed with a 68 for his second runner-up in the majors this year, along with his second straight PGA Championship title.

Justin Rose was the only one who caught Woodland, with a birdie on the opening hole. Rose bogeyed from the bunker on No. 2, and fell out of the race with three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on the back nine. He shot 74 and shared third with Xander Schauffele (67), Jon Rahm (68) and Chez Reavie (71).