The 2015 BC Women's Amateur Champion, Surrey's Michelle Kim, Is In The Field For This Year's Championship In Vernon - Image Courtesy Vernon GC/ BC Golf

The BC Women's Amateur, the premier event for Amateur Women golfers in the Province of British Columbia is now underway at Vernon Golf & Country Club and features one of the strongest fields the event has seen in recent years. 

It includes the entire Women's National Squad in Grace St-Germain of Ottawa, Jaclyn Lee of Calgary, Naomi Ko of Victoria and dual-citizen Maddie Szeryk of Allen, Tex. Also, two members of the national developmental team, Chloe Currie of Mississauga, Ont., and Delta’s Mary Parsons, who came second last year at Beach Grove are in the field.

CLICK HEREfor live continuous scoring.

Daily wrap-ups will be added below as the tournament progresses.

By Jim Lee (edited by Jeff Sutherland)

A new golf report has been released by British Columbia Golf that is providing both updates and some illumination on some previously unquantified market segments.

Conducted last year (2016), it has found that the size of the golf market increased slightly in 2016 to 680,000 golfers, continuing its upward trend.

The participation rate also increased.

The 1979 BC Willingdon Cup Team Including Victoria's Rick Gibson (shown here), Vancouver's Doug Roxburgh, Kelly Murray and Steve Berry Wil Be Enshrined In The BC Golf Hall Of Fame - Images Courtesy Golf Canada & BC Golf Museum

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Victoria native Rick Gibson will be entering the British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame for the third time this fall.

Gibson, who is already in the hall of fame as an individual and as part of Canada’s 1994 Dunhill Cup-winning team, is being inducted again as part of the team that won the 1979 Willingdon Cup for B.C.
That team was unique in that it was comprised of all Marine Drive Golf Club members. Doug Roxburgh, Steve Berry and Kelly Murray were the other members of that team.

The Venerable Vernon Golf & Country Club Plays Host To This Year's B.C. Women's Amateur Championship Boasting An Incredibly Strong Field

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Keep it between the trees and below the hole. Those are the most basic instructions for Vernon Golf & Country Club, which plays host to the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship June 27-30.

Vernon is one of British Columbia’s oldest courses, dating back to 1913, and many of its fairways are lined with Lombardy poplars and weeping willows. Stray off the fairway and you will have a decision to make.

The 2017 BC Women's Senior and Super-Senior Champion Karen Pulz (R) Poses With Team BC Teammates Holly Horwood (L) And Jackie Little (C) - Image Credit British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It's not like she needed a reminder, but Karen Pultz got one the night before the final round of the B.C. Senior Women’s Championship at Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club.

At Wednesday night’s tournament banquet, Pultz was looking at the long list of past Senior Women’s champions when her good friend and a past champion of the event, Phyllis Laschuk, gave her some words of encouragement.

“Phyllis said it's time you put your name on this,” Pultz recalled Thursday. “I'm 60 years old and I was probably known as one of the best players never to have won the B.C. Senior. And now I am a little bit in shock to say the least because I've done it!”

The 2017 British Columbia Golf Women's Senior, Super-Senior & Net-Stableford Championship is underway at the beautiful Sunshine Coast Golf & Country Club.

The competiton is open to all female golfers age 50 and older as of the first day of the National Senior Women's Championship (August 22, 2017).

Senior and Super-Senior: 54-hole gross stroke play competition. Players will be competing in all events in which they are age-eligible.

Net-Stableford: 54-hole Net-Stableford (Players may elect to play off a shorter set of tees, however, will not be in the primary championships).

Zone Team Gross - 2 person teams selected by each zone in advance of the competition. Scoring is based on players combined 2 day scores on day one and day two. Note players in this zone competition must be competing in the primary competition.

Best-Ball Team Net – players may submit the names of their teams at registration (prior to the beginning of play on day 1). Players may be in any of the primary or secondary (Stableford) championships. Net scores will be adjusted relative to the course rating. Scoring will be based on better-ball net score on each of the 54-holes of play.

For live scoring please CLICK HERE 

For a round-by-round wrap-ups please see below.

Fred Funk And His Son Taylor - Image Courtesy SportBox PR

Courtesy SportBox PR

VICTORIA, BC (June 15, 2017) - Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Tournament Organizers announced that PGA TOUR Champions legends Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Paul Goydos have committed to playing in this year’s event, held at Bear Mountain Golf Resort in Victoria, BC.

The three golfers join Colin Montgomerie, Bernhard Langer, Stephen Ames and Scott McCarron on the growing list of PGA TOUR Champions stars that have committed to the 2017 event to date. The latest additions to the Pacific Links Championship are all proud fathers that share the theme of unique and touching stories on the impact that golf has on fatherhood.

Richmond's Chris Crisologo (L) And Kimberley's Jared du Toit (R) Had Solid Outings This Week - Images Credit British Columbia Golf/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jared du Toit left the GolfBC Championship in Kelowna with his first top 10 as a pro and a course record.

The Kimberley native is just two events into his new professional career and has already seen plenty of highs and lows. Du Toit, the 2015 B.C. Amateur champion, shot a 10-under 61 to set a course record at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club in the third round of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada event.

That round came a day after du Toit had to birdie his final hole in the second round to make the cut. That was thanks mainly to a pair of triple bogeys in his first two rounds.

Former British Columbia Golf Manager Of Participation, Matthew Steinbach, Has Been Named The Full-Time Head Golf Coach Of His Alma Mater, Simon Fraser University - Image Credit Gabriel Lynn/ SFU Athletics

Courtesy Steve Frost/SFU Athletics

BURNABY, BC – Matthew Steinbach has been appointed Head Coach of the Simon Fraser University men’s and women’s golf programs, Senior Director of Athletics and Recreation Theresa Hanson announced today.

Steinbach was promoted from assistant coach to interim head coach of the programs on Dec. 12, 2016, when legendary former coach John Buchanan went on medical leave from the University. Buchanan passed away peacefully at home with his family on January 19, 2017 at the age of 77.

Today, Hanson removed the interim appointment and put Steinbach in control of Canada’s NCAA golf programs.

British Columbia Golf Will Be Looking To Keep Their Unbeaten Streak Alive At This Year's Canada Summer Games In Winnipeg

Canada is celebrating its 150th Birthday this year and with that the Canada Games will hold its 50th edition with the Summer Games in Winnipeg from July 28th to August 13th. 

Featuring 16 sports and over 250 events, combined with a major cultural festival, the 2017 Canada Summer Games will bring together exceptional athletes and artists from coast to coast to celebrate the occasion.

One of those sports is of course, Golf, and when it comes to competing in the Canada Summer Games, few provinces can boast the results in any discipline quite like BC can when it comes to golf.

In 2009 (the first year golf was played as a sport in the Summer Games) and 2013 the representatives from British Columbia took home every gold medal available, in individual and team competitions for both males and females.

With the announcement of the male version of their golf squad this year, the coaches and managers of BC's Summer Games Team look to put together the first component of maintaining that unblemished record.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

When Darren Douma began to lose his sight, he thought he was going to lose golf as well. 

Phil Mickelson helped convince him otherwise.

It was the spring of 2010 and Douma, having been diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease, was watching that year’s Masters telecast. Mickelson was hitting his second shot out of the pine straw on the par 5 13th hole in the final round and, well, you probably remember the shot, too.

BC's Phil Jonas Will Be Teeing It With The Legends Of The Game In The 2017 U.S. Senior Open At Salem Country Club In Massachusetts 

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Phil Jonas is about to complete the Senior Open double.

Five years ago, Jonas played in the Senior Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Club in Scotland. On Monday, the 55-year-old Surrey-based teaching pro played his way into this summer’s U.S. Senior Open.

BC's Steven Diack (L) And Chris Crisologo (R) Represented British Columbia Golf In Fine Fashion With A 3rd Place Finish Just Four Back Of The Winners At The Mexican National Amateur Championship - Image Courtesy Mexican Golf Federation

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It wasn’t the finish he wanted, but Jared du Toit still enjoyed what must be considered a successful pro debut this past weekend in Victoria.

Du Toit finished tied for 29th place at the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open at Uplands Golf Club. The 2015 B.C. Amateur champion from Kimberley had entered Sunday’s final round tied for eighth spot after opening with rounds of 67, 70 and 66. But a three-over 73 on Sunday dropped him down the leaderboard.

Du Toit had been Canada’s top-ranked amateur before turning pro after graduating recently from Arizona State University.

Victoria, BC's Naomi Ko, A Member Of Royal Colwood GC, Recorded A 3rd Place Finish In The Prestigious Porter Cup - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Golf Canada

After entering Friday in a tie for first, Team Canada Amateur squad member Naomi Ko finished solo third at 1-under par at the Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club, in Lewiston, N.Y.

The Victoria, B.C., product held a share of the 36-hole lead with Lauren Waller (Canonsburg, Penn.) at 3 under par (71-70).

BC's John Gallacher (L) And Washington State's Tom Brandes (R) Are Your 2017 PNGA Super Senior And Senior Champions Respectively - Image Courtesy PNGA

Courtesy PNGA Staff

June 8, 2017 -- Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash. came from behind in the final round to successfully defend his title and win the 53rd Pacific Northwest Senior Men’s Amateur Championship, while John Gallacher of Burnaby, B.C. went wire-to-wire for the title in the 8th Pacific Northwest Super Senior Men’s Amateur.

The two championships were held concurrently at Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club and Loomis Trail Golf Club, both of which are located in Blaine, Wash. The championships were conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Walnut Grove Gators Golf Team From L-R: Anthony Kim, Ben Whiton, Jaewook Lee, Brock Hertz, Andy Jang and coach Dana Ferguson, Beat Their Competition By 42 Shots At Ledgeview Golf Club - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

ABBOTSFORD -- It wasn’t what you would call a ‘win one for the Gipper’ speech.

Instead, Walnut Grove coach Dana Ferguson had just one simple message for his Gators golf team heading into the B.C. ‘AAA’ high school championships. The Langley team was the heavy favourite heading into the event and had finished second twice in the previous four years. So Ferguson simply told his team to finish.

Mary Parsons Of St. Thomas More And Jake Lane From Kwalikum Tied For The Overall Title In The AA Championships At Even Par For The Two Rounds - Images Courtesy British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Second place was getting old, so the golf team from Immaculata Catholic in Kelowna went one better Wednesday at the B.C. High School A Championships.

Led by senior Nik Federko and Grade 9 student Matt Hopley, Immaculata beat 2016 champions West Point Grey Academy of Vancouver by 15 shots to claim the title at Castlegar Golf Club.

Immaculata had finished second in each of the previous three years at the provincial tourney.

The 2017 BC Girls Junior Americas Cup Team Clockwise From Top Left (With Non-Playing Team Captain Pat Thompson In The Centre): Kathrine Chan, Tiegan Taylor, Tiffany Kong And Cecile Kwon - All Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf 

The 2017 Girls Junior Americas Cup takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada July 30th – August 3rd. This prestigious event is being hosted this year by the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association & Reflection Bay Golf Club.

The GJAC was established in 1978 under the leadership of Joan Teats from the state of Washington. The first tournament was held at Tumwater Valley Golf Course in Olympia, Washington.

Eleven teams participated including Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, Idaho, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon, San Diego, Southern California, Southern Nevada and Washington.

Clint Nickerson, Victoria Golf Club’s most recent past Club President passed away over the weekend (Saturday, June 3rd) after a very brief fight with cancer.

Clint first started his affection with Victoria Golf Club as a teenager caddying and eventually became a Junior Member. Like many youth, he ventured east and made a career in media.

His love of the Victoria Golf Club never wavered and in 2002 when work brought him to Victoria, Clint jumped at the opportunity to rejoin the Club.

He quickly joined committees and, as soon as allowed, was welcomed as a VGC Board Member for several terms. Clint chaired many committees investing countless hours into the Club. It was only fitting the he accepted the role as VGC Club President from 2015-2017.

“I think we are safe to say that no Member in recent memory has dedicated more time or more passion into this Club than Clint has,” said current Club President, Valerie Fitzpatrick.

When the VGC Board of Directors met last month, they unanimously voted that Clint receive a Life Membership with a plan to honour him during the Membership Appreciation event this August.

Although it was known that he had received news of his cancer, early updates led club members to believe they had more time to thank him. “I was able to let him know that he had received a Life Membership at VGC, and it was very clear how much this honour meant to him,” said Valerie.

“Clint was one of those rare Members that seemed to fit into every group here at VGC. He was a friend to many of us and will be dearly missed around here,” said Scott Kolb, General Manager.

British Columbia Golf, the general golf community and all those who knew Clint, join the Members and Staff at VGC in recognizing the years of Clint's commitment to the betterment of the Club and offer deepest condolences.

BC's Jared du Toit Debuts As A Professional This Week At Uplands GC In Victoria In The Mackenzie Tour/PGA Tour Canada's Bayview Place Cardtronics Open - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Kimberley’s Jared du Toit will make his pro debut at this week’s Bayview Place Cardtronics Open at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria and that sounds very familiar to Max Rottluff, du Toit’s former Arizona State University teammate.

“That’s is where I made my pro debut last year,” Rottluff said after his round Sunday at the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf & Country Club in Vancouver. Rottluff, who hails from Dusseldorf, Germany, thinks du Toit will do just fine on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit.

“Obviously he has shown his game is ready,” Rottluff said of du Toit, the 2015 B.C. Amateur champion. “He has the game, so I'm not too worried. Can he do it in his first event? Hopefully, but I wouldn’t be too worried. I am sure he will do just fine.”