STEINBACH, Man. – The NextGen Prairie Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards lands in Central Canada at Quarry Oak Golf Course in Steinbach, Man., June 10 – 12.

Practice rounds are scheduled for June 9, before the official 54-hole tournament gets underway on June 10. Play is scheduled to wrap up on June 12.

The top 6 male competitors (including ties) will earn a spot in the upcoming Canadian Junior Boys Championship, presented by BDO, August 7-10, at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. The top 6 female golfers (including ties) will also earn exemptions into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 25-29, at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

The starting field will feature 89 players – 67 Junior Boys and 22 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The NextGen Prairie Championship is the fourth of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Lucy Lin and Alex Zhang took home the honours in the latest NextGen Championship at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. For the full schedule of 2022 NextGen Championships, click here.

Quarry Oaks Golf Course, a 27-hole course located southeast of Winnipeg Man., will play host to the junior event. The Central Canadian club covers 440 acres and features three different nine-hole courses, each unique in their own way. The diversifying stylistic variety allows a challenge for intermediate golfers up to professionals and will test the best junior golfers of the Prairie provinces this week.

For past results of the 2022 NextGen Championships, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards: Pacific | Ontario | Western

Additional information about the 2022 NextGen Prairie Championship can be found here.

NOTABLES

Ella Kozak (Yorkton, Sask.)

Ella Kozak continues to climb the ranks in Canadian junior golf and saw her name mixed in with some of the best Junior Girls in Canada at last year’s Golf Canada Junior Selection Camp. Prior to that, the Yorkton, Sask., native won the Saskatchewan Amateur Women’s Championship and will be vying for the NextGen Prairie Championship this week.

Ryan Blair (Winnipeg, Man.)

Ryan Blair will be in familiar territory at Quarry Oaks Golf Course this week. Blair is less than a week removed from a semi-final performance at the Steinbach, Man. track at last week’s 2022 Manitoba Match Play Championship and will be looking for a repeat performance at the stroke play event June 10-12.

Clara Peake (Binscarth, Man.)

The reigning 2021 Manitoba Junior Women’s Provincial Champion headlines the Junior Girls field at Quarry Oaks this week. Peake’s rise to the top of Manitoba junior golf came after just three years from her picking up a golf club. The Binscarth, Man., native will look to continue building on an impressive resume at the NextGen Prairie Championship.

Hunter Kutcher (Regina, Sask.)

Kutcher was crowned champion of the 2021 Saskatchewan Junior Men’s Provincial Championship and will be taking his talents to the neighbouring province of Manitoba for a shot at the NextGen Prairie Championship.  

OTHER NOTABLES

• Addison Kartush
• Jack Taylor
• Noah Fiks
• Jack Moro
• Alex Swinnerton
• Carter Timmerman
• Darien Herlick
• Max Regier
• Autumn Neiszner

About the NextGen Championships series, 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 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

Rocky Mountain House, Alta. – As the old saying goes, ‘age is just a number.’ Lucy Lin and Alex Zhang proved that theory right at the 2022 NextGen Western Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

Lin, 12, and Zhang, 13, showed maturity beyond their years – and then some – at Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House, Alta. They certainly were not the oldest in the starting field of 93 players but this week they proved to be the best, winning their respective divisions at the junior event.

Lin, a Vancouver, B.C. native, lead wire-to-wire in the Junior Girls division, shooting even-par or better in each of the three rounds to secure a two-stroke victory over Eileen Park – yet another youngster who proved her talents out west.

“I had a lot of fun, [gained] a lot of experienced, learned a lot and played quite well,’ said Lin.

Lin, the second youngest player in the field in the Junior Girls divisions, welcomed the challenge of competing against girls up to the age of 19, and says she was just trying to play her own game, hit every shot well and learn from the experience.

The west-coast prodigy is now turning her focus to a U.S. Junior Girl Qualifier and says her main goal for this season is to qualify for that event.

Park, the runner-up in the Junior Girls division and youngest competitor in the field, put her talent on display in Alberta and showed why her potential is amongst the highest of junior girl golfers in Canada.

“I don’t have any fears. I’ve played with these girls for a few years now, so I am kind of used to it,” said Park. “It’s actually pretty fun to play with the older girls now. There’s a little more challenge [though] because they hit it further than me.”

The 12-year-old says she is trying to hit more “bombs” and throw more “darts” to make up for the gap in distance from the older girls. It’s safe to say she did her fair share of dart throwing this week, finishing 2-under par for the tournament.

Shifting gears, Park says she hopes to win the U19 Provincial Championship and “maybe” the Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship.

In the Junior Boys divisions, Zhang mounted an improbable comeback in the final round, firing a 1-under 72 for a two-stroke victory over Charlie Gillepsie. The 13-year-old showed that no moment was too big for him in a field where many of his competitors had more experience under their belt.

“I wasn’t scared at all, but I viewed it as a good challenge for me and a good test of golf,” said Zhang. “It was really great for experience to see how they managed emotions and their shots.”

“I knew my game was feeling pretty good going into today. I knew I had to play my own game, not think about the score and who’s leading, and I would have a good chance of winning,” said the Richmond, B.C. native.

Click here for full results of the 2022 NextGen Western Championship.

Including Lin, the top six players in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship taking place July 25-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

POS	NAME
1	Lucy Lin (Vancouver, B.C.)
2	Eileen Park (Red Deer, Alta.)
3	Sydney Bisgrove (Calgary, Alta.)
4	Carys Code (Calgary, Alta.)
5	Tessa Ion (Calgary, Alta.)
6	Belle Brezovski (St. Albert, Alta.)

From the Junior Boys division, the top six players (including ties) have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 6-10, at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, British Columbia.

POS	NAME
1	Alex Zhang (Richmond, B.C.)
2	Charlie Gillepsie (Calgary, Alta.)
3	Christian Flick (Heritage Pointe, Alta.)
T4	Kyle Fisher (Leduc, Alta.),
T4	Tate Bruggeman (Edmonton, Alta.),
T6	Cole Bergheim (Red Deer, Alta.)
T6	Tyler Kidd (Buck Lake, Alta.).

About the NextGen Championships series, 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 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

Bromont, Que. – The University of British Columbia’s golf team did it again, completing the four-division sweep at the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO and cementing their status as a dynasty in Canadian collegiate golf.

The T-Birds won the women’s team division for the fifth time in a row, and fifteenth time in the 18-year history of the event, while the men’s earned their seventh banner since the inaugural event in 2003. Aidan Schumer and Sonja Tang were crowned champions of the men’s and women’s individual events, respectively.

“We’ve probably been through as many hard times as good times […] It’s just been an incredible year – I’m very proud of them,” said head coach Chris MacDonald. “Everyone at this tournament works hard; they’re willing to put the extra time in [and] I think there’s a certain level of internal chemistry,” he said of the bond between the men’s and women’s teams.

The Thunderbirds women’s 98 stroke triumph sets the record for the largest margin of victory since 2004 and caps off a perfect season of 12 tournament wins is as many events played. The team of Sonja Tang, Élizabeth Labbé, Shania Remandaban and Grace Bell finished off a wire-to-wire win with a final round 3-over par 219.

“We work really hard, everyone here pushes each other on and off the course and it’s just really nice to have one last win in Canada,” said Tang, the 2022 Canadian University/College Women’s Individual Champion.

On the men’s side, team captain Ethan De Graaf, Aiden Schumer, Mackenzie Bickell, Russell Howlett and Dylan MacDonald combined for a tournament score of 7-under par 1145 for an eight-stroke victory over the Université de Laval Rouge et Or (1-over par 1153). The University of Victoria Vikes rounded out the top three at a total of 8-over par 1160.

Despite trailing by four strokes entering the final round, Tang pulled off the comeback, one even she didn’t think was possible.

“I still can’t believe it; I was back by four, I didn’t really think I had a chance but I just kept my head down and played,” she said. “I think I played pretty decent today.”

Decent is an understatement to Tang’s performance. After a one hour and 50-minute weather delay interrupted her final round, the Vancouver B.C., native headed back onto the course and withstood the howling wind conditions enroute to a final round 1-under par 71, to win by three strokes over her teammate Labbé. Remandaban and Bell rounded out the all-UBC top four.

Schumer held a one stroke lead entering the final round but dropped into a tie for the lead with Jacob Armstrong – one of the three second place finishers, along with Samuel Breton Gagnon and Alexis Leray – midway through his round. The Columbus, Ohio, native stepped on the gas late in his round to escape the pack and earn the title of 2022 Canadian University/College Men’s Individual Champion.

“I did have an idea [of the leaderboard] somewhat. I don’t think it was the worse thing in world. I knew the guys were struggling a little bit on the back nine, so I really felt a push to do something for not just myself, but for the guys,” he said. “I had those two birdies on five and six, that really just got me going and I put myself in a good place to comfortably come down the stretch and take it.”

For the 19-year-old, the win is no drop in the bucket.

“I am very privileged to be in this spot and I really have to enjoy it no matter what,” said Schumer. “I had to keep it in perspective, and I just focused on what I’ve been practicing my whole life.”

Schumer, who last won a tournament three years ago at the Ohio High School State Championship, says this was the biggest win in his young career as a golfer, but was quick to note that it was more than just a personal achievement.

“It’s hard to process right now, it still hasn’t fully sunken in [but] this is for the guys, this is for UBC,” he said.

Schumer’s tournament score of 277 matched the second lowest 72-hole score in tournament history, matching Lee French (2007), Scott Secord (2014) and Daniel Campbell (2018) who previously accomplished the feat.

Click here for more information including the leaderboard, final round pairings and course information.

Top-5 Women’s – Individual

POS	NAME	SCORES	TOTAL
1	Sonja Tang	76, 67, 74, 71	E
2	Élizabeth Labbé	68, 73, 72, 78	+3
3	Shania Remandaban	81, 69, 72, 74	+8
4	Grace Bell	69, 79, 79, 74	+13
5	Sasha Laoun	82, 77, 74, 71	+16

Top-5 Men’s – Individual 

POS	NAME	SCORES	TOTAL
1	Aidan Schumer	67, 71, 68, 71	-11
T2	Jacob Armstrong	69, 72, 69, 69	-9
T2	Samuel Breton Gagnon	67, 67, 73, 72	-9
T2	Alexis Leray	70, 69, 68, 72	-9
5	John Morrow	73, 69, 70, 70	-6

Top-5 Women’s – Team

POS	NAME	SCORES	TOTAL
1	University of British Columbia	213, 209, 218, 219	-5
2	University of the Fraser Valley	246, 233, 239, 239	+93
3	University of British Columbia – Okanagan	239, 238, 240, 243	+96
4	Université de Montréal	245, 247, 245, 233	+105
5	Western University	245, 247, 245, 233	+106

Top-5 Men’s – Team

POS	NAME	SCORES	TOTAL
1	University of British Columbia	283, 285, 284, 293	-7
2	Université Laval	287, 292, 279, 295	+1
3	University of Victoria	299, 279, 286, 296	+8
4	University of the Fraser Valley	290, 297, 286, 297	+18
5	Champlain St-Lawrence	288, 300, 291, 301	+28

BROMONT, Que. – Canada’s best student-athlete golfers will descend on Golf Château Bromont in Bromont, Que., for the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, presented by BDO from June 1-4. The championship includes both a team and individual component featuring Canada’s top university and college talent.

2022 marks the 18^th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best university and college golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.

The 18 teams competing for the Men’s division come from the following conferences (number of teams in brackets):

• Ontario University Athletics (6)
• Canada West (5)
• Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (2)
• Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (5)

The Women’s division is composed of 12 teams from across the country:

• Canada West (4)
• OUA (5)
• RSEQ (2)
• CCAA (1)

After the third round, the field will be cut to the low ten (10) Male teams and the low six (6) Female teams, including any team within 15 shots of the lead. Individuals within 10 shots of third place, including any player within the top 10, will also make the cut.

Golf Canada prides itself on providing an opportunity for university and college players to compete at the highest level of national competition at the end of their seasons.

“The Canadian University/College Championships, presented by BDO provides an opportunity for the best student-athletes from across the country to showcase their talents and compete for a national championship,” said tournament director, Akash Patel. “After a two-year hiatus, Golf Canada recognizes the significance of the return of this event, and we are excited to get the competition underway.”

The 72-hole stroke play event – which was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic – was last played in 2019 and hosted by the Fanshawe College Falcons at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont. In contrast to recent years, there will be no official host school for this year’s event held in Quebec’s Eastern Townships.

The University of British Columbia enters this year’s tournament as the defending champions of both the Men’s and Women’s divisions. In 2019, the women’s team captured their fourth consecutive national championship with a one-stroke victory over the Laval Rouge et Or, while the men’s team erased a nine-stroke deficit to knock off the Western Mustangs in the final round via a playoff.

The UBC women have won 14 of the last 17 team event titles – easily the most in the competition’s history. The T-Birds also have the most men’s team championships with six.

Sarah Dunning of the University of Guelph was crowned champion of the Women’s individual competition and Charles Fitzsimmons of Western University took home the honours on the Men’s side in 2019. Neither Dunning, nor Fitzsimmons will be returning to defend their titles this year.

Last time the event was held in Quebec (2013), the UBC Thunderbirds won the Men’s division, and the Université de Montréal Carabins were named the Women’s champions.

Multiple winners of the event include Christina Spence (2007 & 2008), Kat Kennedy (2016 & 2017) and Evan Holmes (2015 & 2017). 

For more information about the 2022 Canadian University/College Championship, including the player list, pairings and leaderboards, click here.
 
MENS TEAMS
Bishop’s University Gaiters
Brock University Badgers
Champlain St Lawrence Lions
Humber College Hawks
McMaster University Marauders
Queen’s University Gaels
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Université du Montréal Carabins
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Calgary Dinos
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Guelph Gryphons
University of Manitoba Bisons
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Windsor Lancers
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks
 
WOMENS TEAMS
Brock University Badgers
Humber College Hawks
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Université du Montréal Carabins
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of British Columbia – Okanagan Heat
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Windsor Lancers
Western University Mustangs
Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks

PORT SEVERN, Ont. – There wasn’t much for Ben MacLean and Alessandra Nagayo to worry about on Saturday at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn, Ont. 

MacLean (Niagara Falls, Ont.) led wire-to-wire and Nagayo (Toronto, Ont.) made a final round comeback to capture the titles in their respective divisions at the NextGen Ontario Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards.

MacLean carded rounds of 69, 69 and 70 for an 11-stroke victory for his second championship in as many weeks, after bringing home the 2022 Ontario Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship last week. 

“I made a huge jump in my game last year and I took most of the stuff I did last year and added to that,” said MacLean on his recent success. “[I’m] finding better shots off the tee and hitting my shots a lot better than I was last year which has been pretty helpful, and I’m trusting everything more.”

Next for the 17-year-old is the RBC Canadian Open Final Qualifier on June 6 at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, an event MacLean says he’s confident he can qualify for. 

Nagayo’s week wasn’t as straight forward, but the result was no different. Entering Saturday’s round five strokes back, the 18-year-old carded a final round 71 to win the Junior Girls division by five strokes. 

Swetha Sathish, who held the 36-hole lead in the Junior Girls division wasn’t able to get it done down the stretch, but her confidence remains intact.

“Thinking about those good shots, visualizing those good shots, and then making them happen was really crucial [this week],” said Sathish, and the positive thoughts didn’t end there.

“I see myself probably winning a couple provincial championships, maybe even a national championship, and definitely getting into a good university in the future and [eventually] going professional.” 

From the Junior Boys division, the top eight players have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Boys Championship, August 6-10, at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Including Nagayo, the top eight players in the Junior Girls division have earned exemptions into the 2022 Canadian Junior Girls Championship taking place July 25-29 at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ont.

For full results click here.

By: John Chidley Hill

Canada’s Brigitte Thibault is ready to take the next step in her career.

The product of Rosemere, Que., said on Wednesday that she plans to turn professional sometime this summer after a successful career as an elite amateur, competing in the NCAA and representing Canada internationally.

“Next will be half pro events this summer, half amateur events,” said Thibault after competing in her last tournament with the Texas Longhorns. “Just making sure I get in the best field I can to challenge myself as much as possible.

“We’ll be turning pro this summer for sure but right now we’re just going with the flow and see how things go.”

BRIGITTE THIBAULT

Thibault said that she intends to turn professional either before the LPGA’s Q School or the CP Women’s Open, both of which will be held in late August.

Stage I of the Q School will be held Aug. 18-21 at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., the CP Women’s Open is at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club Aug. 22-28, and Stage II of the Q School will be held Oct. 18-21 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Fla.

Thibault had an exemplary NCAA career, winning five titles while as an undergrad at Fresno State between 2018 and 2021. She won the 2019 Mountain West Conference Championship, the 2019 Ontario Women’s amateur Championship, the 2020 Women’s Western Amateur Championship, the 2020 Women’s Dixie Amateur and the 2021 Rebel Beach Intercollegiate. She also won bronze with Canada at the 2019 Pan American Games in the mixed team event.

She moved from Fresno State to the University of Texas at Austin for her fifth and final year of eligibility as a graduate student. Her best result as a Longhorn was tying for 14th at the Bruzzy. She also helped the Texas Women’s Golf squad to a one-over-par 289 on Monday to close out the season in 13th-place at the NCAA Championship.

“I think it hasn’t sunk in yet to be honest,” said Thibault of her collegiate career coming to an end. “I was just with my teammates today and reminiscing on all of the years.

“I’m at a loss for words, I’m just super grateful for all the years, all the learning experiences, and it’s just a lot of emotions altogether.”

Thibault said her next event will still be an amateur tournament, either the British Women’s Amateur Championship at Hunstanton Golf Club in Norfolk, England, on June 20-25 or the Porter Cup at the Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, N.Y., on July 13-16.

LPGA TOUR _ Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., was paired with Jeongeun Lee6 at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play in Las Vegas. The event at Shadow Creek Golf Course will have three days of round-robin play and then the knockout round.

EPSON TOUR _ Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., and Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., will tee off on Friday in the Inova Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship in Howey-In-The-Hills, Fla. Costabile is 66th on the Epson Tour’s money list and Szeryk is 148th.

CP WOMEN’S OPEN _ The Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, host of this summer’s CP Women’s Open, posted on Sunday that its course was severely damaged by a severe storm that swept through the area over the weekend. The club shared photos of several uprooted trees in an Instagram post announcing that the club would be closed until further notice.

PGA TOUR _ Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., and Adam Svensson of Surrey, B.C., are the only Canadians in this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. Taylor enters play this week 112th in the FedEx Cup rankings and Svensson is 126th.

KORN FERRY TOUR _ Toronto’s Albin Choi leads the Canadian contingent into this week’s NV5 Invitational at the Glen Club Golf Course in Glenview, Il. He’ll be joined by David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont. Choi is ranked 89th on the second-tier tour, Hearn is 117th and Silverman is 190th.

PORT SEVERN, Ont. – The 2022 NextGen Ontario Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, is set to take place at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn, Ont. from May 26 – 28. 

Practice rounds are scheduled for May 25, before the official tournament gets underway on May 26. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the top 48 Junior Boys and the top 24 Junior Girls (both including ties) in their respective divisions, for the final round of the 54-hole stroke play competition that will wrap up on May 28.

The top eight male competitors will earn a spot in the upcoming Canadian Junior Boys Championship – presented by BDO, August 7-10 at Rivershore Estates & Golf Links in Kamloops, B.C. The top eight female golfers (including ties) will also earn exemptions into this year’s Canadian Junior Girls Championship, July 25-29, at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa, Ontario.

The starting field will feature 144 players – 96 Junior Boys and 48 Junior Girls – vying for a spot in their respective Canadian Junior Championship later this summer.

The NextGen Ontario Championship is the second of six regional junior championships presented in partnership with JOURNIE Rewards. Angela Arora and Eric Zhao took home the honours in the NextGen Pacific Championship earlier this month at Nanaimo Golf Club in B.C. For the full schedule of 2022 NextGen Championships click here.

Oak Bay Golf Club is nestled along the shoreline of the Georgian Bay and is a personification of nature at its finest. Its picturesque views and charming scenery are sights to see, but a full focus is required to score well at the challenging course located in the Muskoka region. While the yardage book may seem forgiving, Oak Bay is no walk in the park – even for the longest of hitters. Dense forests and rocky terrain, accompanied by the wetlands that surround, will leave little room for error at the NextGen Ontario Championship.

For past results of the 2022 NextGen Championships – fueled by JOURNIE Rewards: Pacific

Additional information about the 2022 NextGen Ontario Championship can be found here.

NOTABLES

Ben MacLean (Niagara Falls, Ont.)

Ben MacLean is fresh off a win at the 2022 Ontario Junior Spring Classic (U19) Boys Championship. Prior to that, the Team Canada national junior squad member recorded T2 and T4 finishes at the NextGen Pacific Championship and RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier (Ontario), respectively. The 17-year-old will be looking to add to his already impressive 2022 resume at Oak Bay.

Ryan Sommerville (Aurora, Ont.)

Ryan Sommerville is a name to look out for in Port Severn this week. The Team Ontario member ended his 2021 season with a strong showing at the NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards, finishing T3, and is looking to ride the wave into this year’s championship season.

Lindsay McGrath (Oakville, Ont.)

Lindsay McGrath celebrated the Victoria Day weekend on top at the 2022 Ontario Junior Spring Classic (U19) Girls Championship, claiming a one-shot victory with a final round 68. The youngest member of Team Ontario will look to go back-to-back at Oak Bay.

Nyah Kelly (Lindsay, Ont.)

Nyah Kelly was a top-10 machine in 2021, finishing amongst the leaders in each of the provincial and national tournaments she played in. To cap off a stellar season, Kelly notched a T2 finish at the NextGen Fall Series East Championship, fueled by JOURNIE Rewards. With the 2022 season underway, Kelly is poised to take her game to the next level and land a first-place finish at the NextGen Ontario Championship.

About the NextGen Championships series, 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 2022 national championships. NextGen Championships provide junior players an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills at the highest level of tournament golf. 

TORONTO — RBC today announced its new sponsorship as a Global Partner of Women’s Golf Day (WGD) and lead sponsor of the inaugural WGD RBC Toronto event, taking place June 7 at the historic Scarboro Golf and Country Club. The Women’s Golf Day movement, recognized each year in June, includes more than 1,000 events in over 80 countries, and celebrates women and girls learning valuable skills that will empower them on and off the golf course.

With a shared vision of advancing the game of golf for women, RBC is proud to partner with WGD, a global network of women dedicated to supporting golf and one another in the pursuit of excellence in the game. As lead sponsor of the WGD Toronto event, RBC will help provide new and experienced golfers across the greater Toronto area with resources, networking opportunities and access to the game.

“We are thrilled to partner with Women’s Golf Day for the launch of the inaugural WGD RBC Toronto event and to further our commitment to supporting women in sport,” said Shannon Cole, Vice-President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “WGD’s passion for championing the advancement of women in golf is inspiring, and we are excited to be joining their incredible global network.”

“As Women’s Golf Day continues to evolve and expand globally, we are excited to welcome RBC, an organization that shares our passion for advancing women through the sport of golf,” said Elisa Gaudet, Founder of Women’s Golf Day. “We look forward to launching this initiative in Toronto and continuing to empower Canadian women to get involved in golf no matter what their level and explore the benefits for themselves, family and friends.”

Golfers can participate in the WGD global initiative by registering for the Toronto event, taking place on Tuesday, June 7 at Scarboro Golf and Country Club from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST. The event will include a panel discussion featuring prominent women in the sport including Canadian Golf Hall of Fame Member Lorie Kane, a choice of participation in either a 9-hole shotgun game or golf clinic, as well as networking opportunities with leading golf industry professionals.

Additionally, event participants will receive complimentary tickets courtesy of Golf Canada, to the RBC Canadian Open taking place from June 6-12 at the iconic St. George’s Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke. Tickets to the WGD event are limited and registration will close once all spots have been filled.

“Scarboro Golf and Country Club is thrilled to host the Toronto event for Women’s Golf Day and to partner with RBC and WGD on this amazing initiative,” said Carol-Ann Goering, Chief Operating Officer, Scarboro Golf and Country Club. “Our Club aims to engage a diverse community of golfers and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome the WGD network this June.”

RBC is a proud supporter of women’s golf on both the professional and grassroots level, demonstrated through longstanding sponsorships including: Team Canada; CP Women’s Open; RBC PGA Scramble; and RBC Community Junior Golf. RBC is also the official financial services partner of golfers on the LPGA TOUR including world no. 9 Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp and Morgan Pressel.

Key Facts:

What: Women’s Golf Day in partnership with RBC

When: Tuesday, June 7 from 7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EST

Where: Scarboro Golf and Country Club, Toronto, ON

How: Register for the inaugural Toronto event here. Registration includes complimentary tickets to the RBC Canadian Open, courtesy of RBC and Golf Canada. Spots are limited and registration will close once all spots have been filled.

Women’s Golf Day (WGD) is a global movement that Engages, Empowers, and Supports women and girls through golf and facilitates them learning the skills that last a lifetime. The one-day, four-hour event, has now taken place at more than 1000 locations in nearly 80 countries since its inception in 2016, and has introduced thousands of new golfers to the sport. WGD is the fastest-growing female golf development initiative. Learn more at womensgolfday.com.

Golf Canada is adding new financial benefits available to competitors at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, Canadian Junior Boys Championship, Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, and Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, each presented by BDO.

To help defray the cost of participation, a limited number of needs-based financial assistance grants will be available for competitors who must travel to play in the Canadian Junior Girls Championship and Canadian Junior Boys Championship. A total of 26 grants of $500 each will be provided to eligible participants based on family financial need using an application process that is similar to how universities allocate financial aid.

“Golf Canada recognizes the financial demands associated with attending national championships and sees this as a modest way to help junior players and their families,” said Mary Beth McKenna, Director of Amateur Championships and Rules. “We will evaluate the impact of this pilot initiative as we plan for future years.”

In addition, in accordance with the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, players at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, Canadian Junior Boys Championship, Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, and Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, will now compete for a purse of $8,000 CAD at each event. 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.

McKenna says these new financial initiatives are part of Golf Canada’s commitment to operating globally prominent amateur championships and its increased efforts to grow the number of Canadians competing on the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR.

Applications for financial assistance grants for the national junior championships will open on May 16, 2022 and may be submitted by any junior golfer who qualifies for the Canadian Junior Girls Championship or Canadian Junior Boys Championship, both presented by BDO. For the financial assistance grant application form click here.

For more details about the financial assistance grants click here. For more information on the purse payout plan click here.

John Gordon

This article covers:

• The making of Rules of Amateur Status
• Get to know golf’s Rules of Amateur Status
• The 4 ways to lose your Rules of Amateur Status
• What happens if you lose Amateur Status in golf?

You may think of the Rules of Amateur Status as the proverbial “antidote for insomnia.” But you are guaranteed some sleepless nights if you choose to ignore them.

You may be thinking, “I’m not a high-roller who plays for tons of cash so those regulations don’t apply to me.”

You would be wrong.

As in most things legal, ignorance of the law is no defence. And breaking the Amateur Status rules, even unknowingly, can mean you won’t be allowed to participate in any amateur competitions for a significant period.

These Rules were revised and updated effective Jan. 1, 2022. According to Susan White, Golf Canada’s Chair of Amateur Status, they “exist to maintain the distinction between amateur and professional golfers and to protect the integrity of the game by minimizing pressure on the Rules of Golf and Handicapping. They give golfers the opportunity to level the playing field and to compete against each other using their handicaps.”

Golf Canada realizes not all amateur golfers are created equal so there are several guidelines that apply only to those players who have low handicaps and/or compete in high-level competitions. They are referred to as golfers of “skill or reputation” and have been successful at the provincial level or compete at the national level. In a related development, the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the U.S. ruled last year that college athletes, i.e., amateurs, can profit off their name, image and likeness.

But for the majority of us, the Amateur Status rules come into play only when we are tempted to participate in a calcutta (an auction-style betting format often found at pro-ams, member-guests and other events), gambling on the course, playing in tournaments with high-value prizes, hole-in-one competitions, etc.

How can you lose your amateur status?

1. Accepting a prize with a value exceeding $1,200 Cdn or accepting prize money in a handicap (not scratch) competition. However, this prize rule applies only to tee-to-hole competitions played on a golf course or simulator but does not apply to long-drive, putting or other skills competitions that are not played as part of a tee-to-hole competition.
2. Playing as a professional.
3. Accepting payment for giving instruction with the exception of coaching at educational institutions and assisting with approved programs.
4. Accepting employment as a golf clubs professional or membership in an association of professional golfers.

If you violate these rules, you will be subject to losing your amateur status, and your Golf Canada official handicap, for a length of time determined by Golf Canada. During that period, you cannot compete in any amateur competitions at any level. You must apply to Golf Canada to be reinstated.

For a complete explanation of the modernized Rules of Amateur Status, visit https://www.golfcanada.ca/amateur-status/.

FAQs

Can I play in a calcutta?

Yes, as long as the money is from the players who are betting on their own group and others. It cannot be compulsory to participate and cannot be supported by sponsors.

Can I gamble with others?

Yes. Within reason. There is no set amount because what is reasonable for one person may be different for another person.  The guidance is that it is a reasonable amount among the players involved.

What if I get a hole-in-one?

Congratulations! The prize limit does not apply to a hole-in-one made outside a tee-to-hole competition or during a tee-to-hole competition provided the length of the shot is at least 50 yards.