Not Many Thought Tiger Would Face The Meida After His 10-Over Round Of 80 At Chambers Bay But He Did. Briefly. - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

There’s an old saying that you can’t win the U.S. Open on the first day, but you certainly can lose it.

That’s definitely the case for the group featuring Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods and Louis Oosthuizen. The trio combined to shoot (+28), with the South African’s (+7) 77 the best score amongst them, three better than Woods and his 80 and four ahead of Fowler’s 81.

Woods, coming up on the 7th anniversary of winning his last Major, came out to answer five questions from the media. “Not very happy, that's for sure,” said Woods of his round.

Victoria, BC's Namoi Ko Will Take Part In Her Third LPGA Tour Event Of The Year At The CP Canadian Women's Open At Priddis Greens In Calgary - Image Courtesy USGA

Terry Lenyk/ Golf Canada

CALGARY (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) are pleased to announce the names of 14 players who have received exemptions into the 2016 CP Women’s Open taking place August 22–28 at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club.

Calgary natives Jaclyn Lee and Jennifer Ha will have a home crowd advantage as they compete at the 44th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. Three British Columbia-based players are included in the exemptions handed out.

Former B.C. Women's Amateur Champion Taylor Kim Has Qualified For The U.S. Women's Open Next Month - Image Courtesy Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Surrey’s Taylor Kim and Sue Kim of Langley have qualified for next month’s U.S. Women’s Open.

Taylor Kim, 21, was the medalist at a sectional qualifier Tuesday at Green Valley Golf CLub in Fairfield, Calif. She shot two rounds of 71 to finish one shot ahead of runner-up Julie Yang of Stillwater, Okla.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Adam Svensson of Surrey, BC picked up his 3rd Swingthought.com Tour win in as many tries this past weekend  at the Milton Martin Honda Classic in Gainesville, Ga.

Svensson shot rounds of 66, 66, 67 and 67 to finish at 22-under par on the Chattahoochee Golf Club course to win by five shots, pocketing $20,000 US.

BC's Lauren Kim, Seen Here During The Canadian Jr. Girls Championship At Beach Grove GC In 2019, Has Her Eyes Set On A Pro Career After Her Experience At the U.S. Women's Open - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf 

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

She played a practice round with Lexi Thompson, birdied her first hole at the U.S. Women’s Open and created some memories that will last a lifetime.

Surrey’s Lauren Kim had an absolute blast at her first U.S. Women’s Open and will return home to her Grade 11 classes at Earl Marriott Secondary more determined than ever to one day becoming a full-time touring pro.

“It has been amazing,” the 16-year-old Kim said over the phone from Pine Needles Resort in North Carolina.

Lauren Kim (L) And Gabriela Ruffels Were The Two Qualifiers For The U.S. Women's Open At VGC - Image Courtesy Golf Canada/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Lauren Kim’s one and only visit to California’s Monterey Peninsula occurred a few years ago when she and her family were driving home from a junior golf tournament in the San Diego area.

Kim, all of 11 or 12 years old at the time, vividly remembers what a beautiful spot it was. “We went to all of the golf courses in the area and picked up every scorecard,” she says. “And then we went to the beach and dipped our toes in the water.

“I bought one of those bouncy balls that had a big Pebble Beach logo on it. And it had golf ball dimples on it. I thought this is really cool, I want that.” She also decided right there and then that she’d one day play Pebble Beach.

On Monday, that dream became a reality. Kim will not only play Pebble Beach, she’ll play it in this summer’s U.S. Women’s Open.

bigsky_hole_5_chomlackphoto

Courtesy Golf Business News

BASEL, Switzerland — New members at golf clubs say stress relief has been an important reason to join during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Ahead of World Mental Health Day (October 10), a snapshot survey of 250 golfers in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, indicated that more than half (55%) of those who had joined a club in the past six months cited ‘mental wellbeing’ as their primary reason for joining.

November 14, 2014

Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

A strong crop of British Columbia nominees resulted in Canadians winning half of the eight Pacific Northwest Golf Association Player of the Year awards for the 2014 championship season.

Adam Svensson of Surrey won the top honour in the Men’s category while Kevin Carrigan of Victoria won for the third consecutive year in the Men’s Mid-Amateur category.

On the women’s side, Christina Proteau of Port Alberni won in the Women’s Mid-Amateur category while Naomi Ko of Victoria triumphed in the Junior Girls’ category.

Both The Women And The Men From UBC Won Their Conference Tournaments Handily To Qualify For The NAIA National Championships - Image Courtesy UBC Twitter 

UBC Men & Women Finish 1 -2 With UVic Men & Women At Conference Championships

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The University of B.C.’s men’s and women’s golf teams both punched tickets to the NAIA national championships with convincing wins Tuesday at their conference tournaments. The men beat the field by 33 shots to win the Association of Independent Institutions title at Brassie Golf Club in Chesterton, Ind. 

The T-Birds posted a 54-hole score of 19-under par. The University of Victoria finished second.

The Victorious UBC T'Bird's Men's Golf Squad After Winning The 45th Annual Western Washington University Men's Golf Invitational - Image Courtesy UBC Athletics

VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds prevailed as the team champion for the third time in the last four years at the 45th Annual Western Washington University Men's Golf Invitational played at Bellingham Golf & Country Club, Sept. 26-27th.

The T-Birds finished with a team score of 6-under-par 858, adding the team title at the WWU Invite to winning years in 2007, 2013 and 2014. UBC posted rounds of 1-under 287 and 5-under 282 before finishing up with a 1-over 289,

Chico State was the team runner-up at 4-under (860), followed by Concordia (Ore.) (E, 864), California State Monterey Bay (+5, 869) and the University of Victoria (+5, 869).

As part of this year's Women's Golf Day celebration, British Columbia Golf is holding a 'Cloud Scramble' and you can win prizes by entering your own team. The Scramble format has proven to be a fun way to play and to have everyone get a chance to contribute to the team. 

There will be prizes drawn from the scorecard images entered by each team, thus the 'awards' are strictly based on participation. Have fun, it's called 'playing' Golf ????

Teams will receive clarification on the basics of the rules upon entering the event from Tyler McKay. See more details below. 

November 14, 2014

Tom Cade, (PNGA)

Par-3 15th hole selected as one of the ‘Great Holes of the Northwest’

Federal Way, Wash. – In the upcoming November issue of Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine, the par-3 15th hole at Talking Rock Golf Resort in Chase, B.C. is recognized as one of the “Great Holes of the Northwest,” one of just four holes selected each year by the Northwest’s largest and longest-running golf publication.

Measuring anywhere from 152 to 210 yards, this downhill par-3 marks the return of the layout to the shores of Little Shuswap Lake and provides spectacular scenery for the finishing holes.

Guarded by bunkers left and right, the mounded green allows for shots to run up onto the surface, while shots hit long will roll into the surrounding fescue.

Pat O'donnell (L) And Denny Taylor, Winners Of The 33Rd Pacific Northwest Men's Senior Team Championship - PNGA

Courtesy Pacific Northwest Golf Golf Association

Denny Taylor of Gladstone, Ore. and Pat O’Donnell of Happy Valley, Ore. teamed to win the 33rd Pacific Northwest Men’s Senior Team Championship, while two teams consisting of British Columbia golfers came in the top five.

The championship was held at Sunriver (Ore.) Resort, and was conducted by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA).

Team BC, Led By PNGA Cup Veterans Alison Murdoch (Above Left) And Craig Doell (Above Right) Will Be Looking To Use Home Field Advantage To Bring Home The PNGA Cup (Above Middle)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

This is Year No. 11 of the PNGA Cup and Alison Murdoch can tell you about every one of the previous 10. Murdoch has played in them all and once again will be part of Team British Columbia when this year’s PNGA Cup matches are played Thursday and Friday at Richmond Country Club.

“It’s a really, really good kickoff to the competitive season,” Murdoch said before she played her practice round Wednesday at Richmond. “You run into the really good people from around the region at the beginning of the season, so you have an idea of how your game is shaping up. I only get to play match play a couple of times a year, so I always enjoy this competition.”

Team British Columbia Pose As Winners Of The North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches For The Fourth Consecutive Year - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Foursomes, otherwise known as alternate shot, is for many players the most nerve-wracking format of match play golf. You never would have known it by watching Team British Columbia perform Sunday at the North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches at Quilchena Golf & Country Club in Richmond.

The six B.C. girls earned all nine points up for grabs in their three alternate-shot matches Sunday to register their fourth straight victory in the annual event that includes fellow juniors from Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Team BC Practices Prior To The 2023 North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches

This year will be the 36th edition of the North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches (NPJLTM) and represents an opportunity for BC to win their 7th consecutive event, equalling a record set many years ago by the Washington Golf Association.

The competition had been cancelled for 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Team BC having won the previous five events played, from 2016 - 2019 and 2022, 2023.

The Oregon Golf Association will be playing host this year as the tournament is being held at Emerald Valley Golf Course in Creswell, Oregon. 

August 6, 2014
Morgan Gibbens (British Columbia Golf)

Richmond, BC (British Columbia Golf) – Team British Columbia is set to return to Portland, Oregon on August 8 – 10, heading Riverside Golf and Country Club to defend the title at the 46th Hogan Cup.

Under the guidance of coach Todd Spring, a team of four BC junior boys will compete against some of the top juniors from across the western United States in the 36-hole event.

Team BC Coach Matt Cella Poses With His Winning Squad From The North Pacific Junior Ladies Team Matches After Defending Their Title In Oregon - Image Credit: It's A Selfie!

The team of Akari Hayashi, Sumie Francois, Shirin Anjarwalla, Cecile Kwon, Euna Han And Tiffany Kong representing British Columbia Golf successfully defended the title they won last year at Pitt Meadows Golf Course by taking the 4 team international event held this year at at the Illahe Hills Country Club in Oregon May 27-28.

Team BC collected 14 out of the available 36 points, with 2nd place Washington 4.5 points back at 9.5 while host Oregon was 3rd with 6.5 and Idaho 4th with 6 points.

April 26, 2014
Morgan Gibbens (British Columbia Golf)

RICHMOND, BC (British Columbia Golf) – Team British Columbia returned to Lima to defend their title at the XXVI International Amateur Tournament April 23-26, the team finished fourth at +14 after four days of competitive play.

British Columbia Golf was represented by Kevin Carrigan and Brent Wilson at the Lima Golf Club in Peru. The pair beat 26 international teams.

The 2017 Boys Junior America's Cup Winners From British Columbia From L-R: Callum Davison, Tristan Mandur, Nolan Thoroughgood, Keaton Gudz And Coach Jayson “Nitro” Rite  - Image Courtesy PNGA 

Team British Columbia won the 45th Annual Junior America’s Cup, which was held this week at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.

British Columbia, represented by Tristan Mandur, Keaton Gudz, Nolan Thoroughgood and Callum Davison, shot a final round team score of 2-over par 218 to finish the championship at 3-under par overall as a team. 

No other team finished under par as a team. Southern California finished in second place at even-par, and Team Utah rounded out the top-3 at 2-over par overall.