(L-R) Julianne Alvarez, Carmen Lim, Wenyung Keh, and Amelia Garvey (Photo: Chuck Russell/Golf Canada)

By Brad Ziemer/For Golf Canada

VICTORIA, B.C. – They wore all-black, of course, and just like their country’s famous rugby team, the New Zealand women took care of business in a very efficient manner Sunday at Royal Colwood Golf Club.

The Astor Trophy, a five-country competition which has been played every four years since 1959, had never been won by New Zealand. Until now.

And the fact New Zealand earned it with a victory Sunday over Australia made it that much sweeter. This was a little like the All Blacks beating the Wallabies in rugby, albeit on a smaller scale, but in a much more civilized setting.

Steven Lecuyer Holds The Big Winner's Cheque From The VGT Johnson Meier Vancouver Open - Photos Credit/VGT

Courtesy VGT

Congratulations to Steven Lecuyer of Bear Mountain Golf Resort, who won the 2019 Johnston Meier Vancouver Open with a score of 11-under par. Steven had three very consistent rounds, shooting 66 at McCleery, 69 at Langara and 68 at Fraserview to claim the $10,000 first place professional purse. Steven came from behind in Sunday's final round.

After round one, which the professionals played at McCleery, former two-time BC Golf Women's Champion Christine Wong lead the entire field after shooting 7-under par.

 Julianne Alvarez, Carmen Lim, Wenyung Keh, Amelia Garvey And Coach Jay Carter Of Team New Zealand At This Year's Astor Cup - Golf Canada Image

Written by Brad Ziemer/For Golf Canada

VICTORIA, B.C. – New Zealand golfers have a history of playing well in British Columbia.

Lydia Ko won the CP Women’s Open twice, in 2012 and 2015, at Vancouver Golf Club. And way back in 1992, the New Zealand men’s team that included future U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell along with Phil Tataurangi, Stephen Scahill and Grant Moorehead won the World Amateur Team competition at Capilano Golf Club in West Vancouver.

Now, it seems, the New Zealanders are at it again in British Columbia at this week’s Astor Trophy competition at Royal Colwood Golf Club. New Zealand earned a big point Friday by winning its match against South Africa. New Zealand has played two matches this week and collected the maximum two points.

Brooke Rivers (AJGA File Photo)

VICTORIA, B.C. – Brooke Rivers’ debut on the international golfing stage is off to a splendid start as the 14-year-old from Brampton, Ont. helped put Canada on the board Thursday at the Astor Trophy.

Rivers, who is about to enter Grade 9, won both of her matches Thursday at Royal Colwood Golf Club as Canada earned half a point by tying its matches with Australia.

Rivers teamed with Noémie Paré of Victoriaville, Que., to win their foursomes match 2&1 over Australians Amelia Mehmet-Grohn and Kirsty Hodgkins. After a quick lunch, Rivers then went out and beat Australia’s Emily Mahar 2-up in their afternoon singles match.

Mary Parsons (Far Right) With Canadian Teammate Emily Zhu Before Their Match With Wenyung Keh (Far Left) And Julianne Alvarez Of New Zealand - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Peru. Those are some of the places golf has taken Delta’s Mary Parsons the last few years.

This week is not quite as exotic. The 20-year-old Parsons is a member of Canada’s four-woman team at the Astor Trophy competition being held at Royal Colwood Golf Club. She only had to hop on a ferry to get here. It is the end of what has been a hectic summer for Parsons, the 2018 B.C. Women’s Amateur champion.

The highlight of her summer came in early August when she was part of Canada’s golf team that won a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Parsons also finished fifth in the women’s individual competition in Lima.

Canada's Brooke Rivers (Golf Canada)

Brad Ziemer/For Golf Canada

VICTORIA, B.C. – New Zealand swept all four of its afternoon singles matches Wednesday to take the lead after the opening day of the Astor Trophy at Royal Colwood Golf Club.

All four of those wins came over Canada after the two countries had split their two morning foursomes matches.

Five four-woman teams — Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Great Britain & Ireland — have gathered for the round-robin match play event that has been held every four years since 1959.  All of the countries will face each other once during the five-day competition.

Ashley & Dave Zibrik Have Risen To The Top Of Their Profession While Forging A Life Together At The Same Time - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Before they fell in love with each other, Dave Zibrik and Ashley Hogg had already fallen in love with golf. It was the summer of 2005 when they met -- at a golf course, naturally.

Ashley had come home for the summer after completing her junior year at Boise State University, where she played collegiate golf, and had landed a summer job at Swaneset Bay in Pitt Meadows. Dave had just turned pro, was also working at Swaneset and was in the midst of completing the golf management program at Camosun College. Both were 21 and soon they were in love with more than just golf.

It has come to the attention of British Columbia Golf that due to a tragic fire the Bennett family from Victoria, BC, whose son Daniel represented the province in the recent Hogan Cup Matches in Oregon, have lost virtually all their belongings in the fire that also burned their home to the ground. Sadly, included in that loss was their beloved pet dog Anna. 

Whereas this isn't standard practice for our organization, we would like to take this opportunity to make anyone who chooses to lend a helping hand aware that a gofundme page has been started to assist the Bennett family in getting their lives back on track. Please go to this link if you wish to offer whatever support you can. Neil Bennett Family - GoFundMe page.

Langley's Erin Lee (L) And Rossland's Xander Bankes (R) Are The 2019 B.C. Bantam Girls' And Boys' Champions - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

They both shot 68 and, not surprisingly, they both won. Xander Bankes of Rossland and Erin Lee of Langley played clutch final rounds in less than ideal conditions Wednesday afternoon to win the B.C. Bantam Boys and Girls Championships at Belmont Golf Course in Langley.

The two 14-year-olds both overcame three-shot deficits heading into the final round to win the 36-hole competition. Lee’s win achieved a rather lofty goal she set for herself earlier this summer. “This year I really wanted to win at least one provincial championship,” Lee said. “I didn’t play my best at Juveniles, so I am happy I played well today.”

Delta, BC's Mary Parsons Will Represent Canada At This Week's Astor Trophy Competition At Royal Colwood GC In Victoria - Jurgen Kaminski/BC Golf

OAKVILLE, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce the four athletes selected to represent Canada at the Astor Trophy competition, scheduled for Aug. 29 – Sept. 1 at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C.

Canada’s team will include Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C., Noémie Paré of Victoriaville, Que., Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont.

The Astor Trophy competition is held every four years between teams from Australia, Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa. Each country is represented by four female players and each country contests foursomes and singles match play in a round-robin format.

Bryn Parry (Seymour Creek Golf Centre) Holds The William Thompson Trophy After His Victory At Whistler Golf Club In The Taylormade & Adidas Golf PGA Of BC Championship Presented By Axis Insurance Group - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

AUGUST 20, 2019 - WHISTLER, BC (PGA of British Columbia) – Bryn Parry cruised to victory Tuesday at Whistler Golf Club, capturing his fourth title in the TaylorMade & adidas Golf PGA of BC Championship presented by Axis Insurance Group.

Parry, who held a two-stroke lead over the field after a 2-under-par 69 in Monday’s first round, carded a tournament-low 66 on Tuesday to finish at 7-under and win the event by six shots. Defending champion Kevin Stinson (Cheam Mountain Golf Course) and 2011 winner Lindsay Bernakevitch (Victoria Golf Club) shared second place at 1-under.

Procter, BC's Jackie Little Holds The Trophy Alongside Two Of Canada's Finest After She Successfully Defended Her Canadian Women's Super-Senior Title On Home Turf - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

OSOYOOS -- Jackie Little didn’t exactly race across the finish line, but she got there first. The British Columbia Golf Hall of Famer successfully defended her Canadian Women’s Super-Senior Championship on Tuesday at Osoyoos Golf Club.

Little closed with an eight-over par 81 that left her at 11-over par for the 54-hole event. That was good for a five-shot win over Ivy Steinberg of Stouffville, Ont. and Ruth Maxwell of Reno, Nev. “That is the hardest I have had to work for an 81 in a long time,” Little said with a laugh after her round.

At age 61, Little knows every win now is something of a bonus. “I have been complaining about how I have been hitting it and my husband says, 'well, remember, you are 61 now,'” she said.

The 2019 Economic Impact of Golf in Canada study is underway.

The research and economic analysis is being led by We Are Golf, a coalition of golf associations that includes the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association, Canadian Society of Club Managers, Golf Canada, PGA of Canada and the National Golf Course Owners Association.

The goal of the study is to understand the impact of golf on Canada’s economy. We Are Golf is working to get the word out through multiple channels to golfers across Canada to invite them to participate in a short survey.

If your course or business could share the survey links to your patrons or post the survey link to your website and social media channels, that would greatly enhance the overall effectiveness of the survey.

The English link is here and the French link here. 

Should you be a golfer, please complete the survey as well.

Take the survey HERE.

Répondez au sondage ICI.

Make the Fair your End-of-Summer Tradition and Help Raise Money for KidSport Burnaby!  #SoALLKidsCanPlay!

It’s not just about the concerts, mini donuts, and baby animals when you come to the PNE Fair!

Help get kids off the sidelines when you purchase your General Gate Admission or Ride Pass!

2019 BC Juvenile Boys Champion Leo Harper - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PEMBERTON -- Leo Harper came from behind to win the B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship and it didn’t take him long to take control in Thursday’s final round. The 16-year-old Burnaby resident blitzed the front nine at The Meadows at Pemberton, making the turn in just 31 strokes.

After starting his round with a birdie on the par 5 first hole -- which Harper birdied all three days -- Harper kept his foot on the gas. He added a birdie on No. 3, made a bogey on the fourth hole, but then ended his front nine by playing the final three holes in four-under par.

2019 BC Juvenile Girls Champion Alyssa Chang Hoists The Winner's Trophy - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

PEMBERTON -- Alyssa Chang has decided she’ll keep the blue hair for a little while longer. After all, it seems to be a good luck charm of sorts.

The 16-year-old from Surrey got the biggest win of her young golfing life Thursday when she captured the B.C. Juvenile Girls Championship at The Meadows at Pemberton. Afterwards, she gave partial credit to her blue hair, which she has been thinking about dying back to its original colour.

“My parents are not super strict but my mom said she didn’t want me dying my hair until I was 16,” Chang said with a laugh after her round. “So when we got to my 16th birthday I’m like, I kind of want to do something crazy this year and come out of my shell, so I dyed it blue.

"The craziest thing I have ever done. I feel like this year it has been kind of like a good luck charm . . .so I think I am going to keep the blue hair for a while.”

From L-R: Mary Parsons, Michelle Liu And Megan Osland Will Represent BC In This Week's CP Canadian Women's Open - File Photos

AURORA, Ont. – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced the names of 13 players who have received exemptions to compete in the 2019 CP Women’s Open, set to take place at Magna Golf Club from August 19-25. Headlining the list of exemptions is Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member and CP Ambassador Lorie Kane.

The Charlottetown native will be making a record-setting 29th appearance at the CP Women’s Open appearance, besting World Golf Hall of Fame member JoAnne Carner (28) for most all-time appearances at the event.

Joining Kane will be a teenager who made national headlines last month, Vancouver’s Michelle Liu, who finished as the low Canadian at the 2019 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in July to earn an exemption. Liu will be 12 years, nine months and seven days when she tees off at Magna Golf Club, becoming the youngest player ever to appear at the CP Women’s Open.

The record was previously held by Canadian star Brooke Henderson, who played as a 14-year-old in 2012.

Vancouver's Stuart Macdonald Is A Globe Trotting Professional Golfer These Days But Is Back Home For A Spell - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A break in the PGA Tour China schedule has Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald back in Canada, where life outside the ropes is a little less stressful. Macdonald is a rookie on the PGA Tour China circuit and acknowledges it has been something of an adventure.

“It has been pretty interesting,” he says. “It's a completely different culture over there. Obviously, there is a big language barrier and just doing the simple things that we would take for granted here can be challenging.”

Delta, BC's Mary Parsons (3rd From Left) Was Part Of The Bronze Medal Winning Team From Canada In The Mixed Team Golf Event At The Peru Pan American Games. L-R: Austin Connelly, Brigitte Thibault, Parsons, Joey Savoie - Image Credit: David Jackson/ COC

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Delta’s Mary Parsons won a medal Sunday and came close to earning a second one at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. Parsons, Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., Joey Savoie of La Prairie, Que., and Austin Connelly of Lake Doucette, N.S., combined to win the bronze medal in the mixed team event on Sunday.

The Canadians finished with a team score of 552, just three shots behind the silver medalists from Paraguay. The United States took the gold medal with a team score of 544. “I think all four of us grinded out every shot to kind of get to where we are,” Parsons said. “We knew coming down the stretch we had to keep pushing because it wasn’t going to be over until it’s over.”

Victoria, BC's Jim Rutledge Won The 2019 PGA Seniors' Championship Of Canada At Carleton Golf & Yacht Club - Image Credit PGA of Canada

Courtesy PGA of Canada

It wasn’t the stroll to the finish line Jim Rutledge had hoped for, but in the end, the 59-year-old from Victoria, BC captured the PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.

When the final round began, Rutledge held a three-shot lead over Ken Tarling and a four-shot cushion over Danny King, however, as the day wore on Rutledge’s lead dwindled away. “I’m sure glad we ran out of holes out there this afternoon,” Rutledge joked after his final round 1-under-par 70.

“Going into the back-nine I hit some wayward shots, some miscues off the tee and the next thing you know I only end up winning by a shot.”