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.”

The Combo Of Chris Crisologo And Caddy Alisha Lau, Both Accomplished Players Who Have Represented British Columbia On Numerous Occasions, Teamed Up For A Stellar Performance In The Freedom 55 Financial Open At Point Grey G&CC This Week - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

American Lee McCoy Wins Season-Opening Event On Mackenzie Tour By 8 Shots At Point Grey

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It wasn’t a banner weekend for Canadians at the Freedom 55 Financial Open, but at least one of them was smiling when the season-opening event of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit concluded Sunday at Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

And he didn’t even cash a cheque.

Richmond amateur Chris Crisologo, teeing it up in his first pro event on a sponsor’s exemption, played like a seasoned veteran at Point Grey. The 21-year-old rising star of Simon Fraser University’s golf team closed with a two-under 70 Sunday to finish the 72-hole event at seven-under par.

Courtesy PGA of BC

On Friday June 2nd Cec Ferguson passed away peacefully at home in the company of his three children, Tanya, Jason and Crystal, along with brothers Rob and Gary and sister-in-law Colleen.

He was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2016 and dealt with it as he dealt with everything in life; with dignity, perseverance and humour.

He recently enjoyed his 67th birthday with all of his extended family members, and over the past few months had a chance to visit with many old friends. Cec was well known for his golfing ability over a playing career that saw him represent Canada as an amateur, win the BC Open as an amateur and then compete professionally on the Canadian and Asian Tours back in the 1970’s.

In the late seventies he settled into the life of a Club Professional and then stepped in to Club management, but not before winning the Canadian PGA Club Professionals’ Championship in 1986.

He served the memberships of Regina GC and Quilchena G&CC as Head professional before serving as General Manager at Myrtle Point GC, Wascana G&CC, and Vernon G&CC. For 20 years Cec directed the Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society tournament fundraiser in memory of his friend, Constable Bruce Denniston, who died before a successful bone marrow transplant donor could be found.

“The Denniston” was a popular event that attracted celebrities each year along with a host of amateurs who returned year after year to honour the memory of Bruce and raise funds and awareness of the need for the Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

Cec Ferguson was inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame of British Columbia in 2011.

His last career was the one he might have enjoyed the most – Coach driver for International Stage Lines. He looked forward to being on the road in his 50 passenger coach and entertaining his passengers along the way. Cec had the ability to analyze situations and find a way to achieve a positive outcome, and make and keep friends along the way.

He will be missed, but never forgotten.

A celebration of life for Cec Ferguson will be held 1 p.m. Friday, June 23rd at University Golf Club in Vancouver. 

Messages for the family can be relayed through:

Barrie McWha barriemcwha@gmail.com

Rick Soutar rsoutar@telus.net

Stephen Ames Added His Name To The List Of Those Questioning Bernhard Langer’s Putting Stroke When Asked About It At The Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship Media Day - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Stephen Ames says Bernhard Langer is the talk of the PGA Champions circuit and not just because of his recent back-to-back victories at senior majors.

No, Ames and many of his colleagues on the 50-and-over tour are spending considerable time chatting about Langer’s putting stroke. More specifically, they are questioning whether the soon-to-be 60-year-old German is breaking the rules by continuing to anchor his long putter.

The Back-To-Back Canadian University/College Women's Champion UBC Thunderbirds And Coach Chris MacDonald - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

T’Birds Kat Kennedy And Evan Holmes Earn Medallist Honours

Courtesy Golf Canada

​BARRIE, Ont. – Kat Kennedy went wire-to-wire to lead the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds to their second consecutive Canadian University/College Championship, while Baptiste Mory helped the Université Laval Rouge et Or hold on to win the men’s division at Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club on Thursday.

As part of the celebration that is International Women's Golf Day on June 6th, the Richmond Country Club and Victoria Golf Club are both hosting events and inviting all interested women to take part in the day's festivities. 

The focus of Women's Golf Day is essentially socializing, networking and distribution of information regarding lessons, league play, ways to get involved in golf.

Anyone wishing to participate should contact either of these two facilities before Tuesday June 6th in order to register and find out further information. 

Victoria, BC's Jeevan Sihota Hasn't Cracked The Canadian Men's Amateur Top 10 List Yet. But If He Keeps Having Weeks Like The Last Two, It Won't Be Long - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

This week's Top 10 list only reflects a few notable changes but there were some rather significant moves by players vying to get on that list, including Victoria's Jeevan Sihota who is 'quietly' becoming one of the players to watch in British Columbia and the rest of Canada at the ripe-old age of 13.