Vancouver, B.C. — Grant Lee came to Fraserview Golf Course ranked 242nd in the world among golfers with a disability, and left with the title to prove it.
Lee, of Red Deer, Alberta, claimed the Men's Gross Stroke Play championship at the fourth annual BC All Abilities Championship on Tuesday, finishing at 14-over par (78-80) to hold off Craig Dowling of Vancouver. Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alberta, won the Women's Gross division, and Michael Moore of Osoyoos claimed the Men's Net Stableford title in one of the tightest finishes of the week.
A field with world rankings behind it
Lee holds a WR4GD Pass — the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability, administered by the R&A and USGA — which places him 24th in Canada in the gross division. His playing history runs across both streams of the game: years on the Alberta senior amateur circuit, a T7 at the 2022 Canadian Senior Championship, a 2024 Central Alberta Senior title, and a runner-up finish at last year's Alberta All Abilities Championship.
"Just the inspiration that every single one of you are — to each other, to me," Lee said after collecting his trophy. "Hopefully we continue to keep growing this every year. It's a pleasure to meet every one of you, and I'll never forget it."
BC Golf CEO Matthew Steinbach was on hand for a final day that came down to the wire between Lee and Dowling. "Watching Grant and Craig battle down the stretch today was championship golf in every sense of the word," Steinbach said. "We are proud to provide opportunities for athletes of all abilities to compete at the highest level — events like this are a powerful reminder that golf truly is a sport for life."
Bittorf defends BC title
Bittorf claimed the Women's Gross title for the second straight year — posting a 178 total (85-93) and defending the BC title she won at her debut here in 2025.
She arrived at Fraserview as the reigning Canadian All Abilities Women's Net Stableford champion, twice over. In 2024, the Strathmore Golf Club member claimed the national title in Brighton, Ontario, unseating a three-time defending champion on the final day. She returned to Kamloops last August and defended it, coming from a stroke behind entering the final round to win by two.
Bittorf, who has an intellectual disability and has represented Team Alberta in Special Olympics competition since at least 2018, has been supported throughout her development by her club, whose membership backing has allowed her to practise regularly.
For Bittorf, the scoreboard is only part of what brings her back. "I just wanted to thank everyone here for their hard work," she said. "You all are an inspiration to me."
Three-way tie decided on countback
The Men's Net Stableford division required a retrogression to separate its podium. Moore, Tim Cullen of Nanaimo Golf Club, and Spencer Easthope of Alberta Golf's Public Players Club in Okotoks all finished at 66 Stableford points. Moore — an Osoyoos Golf Club member competing under an Access Pass, the EDGA credential for players whose disability qualifies them for adaptive competition outside the world rankings — took the title on countback, with Cullen second and Easthope third.
Fraserview returns as host
Fraserview Golf Course hosted the BC All Abilities Championship for the second consecutive year. One of the busiest public courses in Canada, it has proven an apt home for an event that asks a great deal of a golf facility — in accessibility, preparation, and hospitality.
Head professional Mason Lafrance reflected on what the week means for the facility and the people who work in it. "Watching these adaptive athletes compete is truly inspiring. Each player has overcome unique challenges, yet they demonstrate the same passion, determination, and love for the game that brings all golfers together," he said. "This event does more than showcase incredible golfers — it helps all of us better understand the barriers that some people face in accessing the game. It encourages us to think differently, improve where we can, and continue working toward making golf more accessible and welcoming for everyone."
"Honestly, one of the highlights of my career getting to run this event," said BC Golf's director of rules and competition, Jerome Goddard. He told the field that what happens on the course — the competition, the camaraderie, the standard of play — is exactly what BC Golf built this championship to create. He singled out superintendent Jarrod Oliver and the grounds crew for preparing championship conditions at one of the country's highest-volume courses, noting that few facilities can host both a top-end professional event like the Vancouver Open and a championship like this one. The Monaghan Golf pro shop team, who first approached BC Golf about hosting after seeing the event at McCleery, drew equal praise, as did Joanna and her restaurant staff. "They do an incredible job," Goddard said, "and they make my life easy."
The Bigger Picture
Now in its fourth year — having launched in 2023 at McCleery Golf Course — the BC All Abilities Championship is part of a growing pipeline that runs from provincial events like this one up through the Canadian All Abilities Championship and on to the U.S. Adaptive Open and the R&A's G4D Open. Players with a WR4GD Pass earn ranking points here. Players with an Access Pass, like Moore, get to compete.
Walter van der Rijst won this championship at Qualicum Beach in 2024 and again at Fraserview in 2025. He was back in the field this week — which is, in its own way, exactly the point.
Full results from the 2026 BC All Abilities Championship are available here, and photos from the event can be found here. The 2026 BC Golf championship season continues — view the full schedule here.