Riley Wheeldon (L) And Eugene Wong (R) Are Getting Set For The Second Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Q-School At Crown Isle - Image Courtesy Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Two British Columbians who are past winners on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit will be back at qualifying school later this spring trying to regain their playing privileges.

Riley Wheeldon of Comox and North Vancouver’s Eugene Wong have both entered the tour’s qualifying school at Crown Isle Resort in Courtenay. That 72-hole event, the last of five Mackenzie Tour Q-schools this spring, goes May 2-5.

Team Canada Members Jared du Toit From Kimberley, BC And Victoria, BC's Naomi Ko Model Some Of The New adidas Team Canada Apparel - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Golf Canada and adidas Golf announced an agreement that will see adidas Golf become the official apparel and headwear outfitter for Golf Canada’s National Team Program.

The adidas Golf performance products will be worn by Team Canada athletes, coaches and sport science staff in training as well as during competition at domestic and international golf championships.

by Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

Seven Byron Nelson Award nominees were announced on Tuesday, including Canadians Jared du Toit and Joey Savoie. The award is given to the graduating senior who excels in golf, the classroom, and the community.

Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin Is Now Number 51 In The OWGR After His Victory In The Valspar Championship - Image Credit Kelly Murray/ British Columbia Golf

It was a big week for players from BC in the Canadian Weekly Top-10 rankings and in particular for Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin followin his dramatic first career PGA TOUR victory at the Valspar Championship in Florida. Hadwin's triumph has now only one place back of occupying a top 50 world ranking among male professionals. 

Other notable names from BC such as Kimberley's Jared du Toit (no. 1 Male Amateur) and Victoria's Naomi Ko (no. 2 Female Amateur) continue to occupy lofty positions in our national rankings.

Help celebrate Canada's150th Birthday

by being one of150,000 people

taking part in1.5 million "Golf Activities"

this summer! 

It doesn't matter whether you...

• play just three holes,

• hit the driving range,

• take a lesson or

• putt through a windmill

  at a mini-golf course

they all count.

Click the link below, enter your email, then click on Bronze - Free. Once your registration is complete, select the  '150th Birthday Celebration' from the dropdown menu. 

Already a member of British Columbia Golf/Golf Canada? You are automatically registered, record activities through the Golf Canada Score Centre.

Register HERE 

BC's Jared du Toit Is Showing No Signs Of Slowing Down In His Senior Year At Arizona State University - Image Credit Golf Canada

courtesy Golf Canada

LAS VEGAS – National Amateur Squad member Jared du Toit continued his impressive run last week, finishing in a tie for third at the Southern Highlands Collegiate.

The 21-year-old senior (and captain) at Arizona State closed the event at 5-under par—one stroke off the lead. His final-round scorecard included a hole-in-one on the par-3 2nd hole, lifting him into contention down the stretch.

courtesy Brian Decker/ Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada

The quest to earn Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada status begins this week at Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, California, where 120 players will look to earn their cards to compete on the Mackenzie Tour this season.

Among players to keep an eye on are Mission, BC's Kevin Stinson who has 38 Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada starts to his credit and is looking to regain full status. 

Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/ British Columbia Golf

The final 2017 Canada Summer Games Selection Camp will be held March 15-17, 2017 at Northview Golf and Country Club, Surrey, BC and supported by the Canadian Junior Golf Association (CJGA), a sanctioned BC Golf OOMtournament.

British Columbia Golf is the provincial sport organization in BC that oversees the Team BC program for golf at the multi-sport games.

While Son Adam Was Playing His Way To His 1st PGA TOUR Victory, Mom Brenda (Not Shown) Couldn't Watch, But Dad Gerry (Inset) Was Glued To The TV - Image Credit/Kelly Murray/Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

His mom couldn’t bear to watch, finally turning on the TV when her son was on the 18th green. His dad didn’t miss a shot.

Both of them could not be more proud of their son, Adam Hadwin, who on Sunday won the Valspar Championship in Florida for his first PGA TOUR win.

Adam Hadwin Holds Valspar Trophy Follwing His First PGA TOUR Victory - Image Credit Kelly Murray

First A PGA TOUR Win And Now A Wedding. And Next Month, The Masters

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin knew March was going to be a special time in his life. Just not this special.

His March 24th wedding in Scottsdale, Ariz., to fiancee Jessica Kippenberger figured to be the highlight of his year -- and still will be -- but Hadwin will also remember March 12, 2017 as another big day in his life.

His wedding will change his life and so will his first PGA TOUR win Sunday at the Valspar Championship on Florida’s west coast.

BC's Adam Hadwn Is One Round Away From His First PGA TOUR Win As He Goes Into The Final Day At Valspar Championship With A 4-Shot Lead - Image Courtesy Golf Channel 

By Kelly Murray

One of Canada's greatest golfers and considered among the best ball-strikers ever, 8-time PGA TOUR winner George Knudson said to me in 1981 that, "Each golf shot is worth one. Your opening tee shot, your fairway shot on 7, bunker shot on 13, your last putt on 18." That's exactly how Knudson related it to me and it's as fresh in my memory as if he had told me just yesterday.

It became the way I thought. It became the way I played.

On Tuesday of this week heading into the Valspar Championship, Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin shared with me, "Your first tee shot, your fairway shot on 5, your last tee shot or last putt are all worth one," and that he is focusing very hard on that mindset, not trying to place too much importance on any one shot in particular, but rather going through the process to hit the best possible shot that he can at every opportunity.

BC's Adam Hadwin Signs An Autograph For A Fan Following His 2nd Round 7-Under 64 That Gave Him The 36-Hole Lead At The Valspar Championship In Florida - Image Credit Kelly Murray/Inside Golf

by Kelly Murray

For the third time this season Adam Hadwin shot 29 for nine holes. His second round back-nine 29 went with a 35 on the outward 9. The 6-under 29 coming home vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard here at the Valspar Championship where he is walking the fairways looking very composed, his rhythm and tempo extraordinary. He's a very relaxed and calm young man.

USGA Chief Executive Officer Mike Davis Delivers Closing Address 'Imagining The Future' At The Conclusion Of The 2017 North American Golf Innovation Symposium In Vancouver - (USGA/Steven Gibbons)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Variable-distance golf balls, courses that are more brown than green, hard and fast fairways, slower greens and balls with chips embedded in them that you will always be able to find.

Those are just some of things Mike Davis, executive director of the United States Golf Association, sees in golf’s future.

Two-Day Gathering Draws Golf’s Leaders to Vancouver March 6-7

(Feb. 28, 2017) – Entrepreneur and technology investor Jerry Yang will headline a noteworthy lineup of speakers at the 2017 North American Golf Innovation Symposium, which will be hosted by the USGA in conjunction with Golf Canada and the Mexican Golf Federation on March 6-7, 2017, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The co-founder and former CEO of Yahoo! and the founding partner of AME Cloud Ventures, Yang exemplifies the focus on data, innovative thinking and transformative technology that are keystones of the symposium and bedrocks of the USGA’s work in advancing the game toward a stronger, more sustainable future.

The RBC Cordova Bay Invitational will take place from June 26-29th at Cordova Bay Golf Course in Victoria, BC.  This event will host 69 elite, world-ranked amateur golfers in a 54 hole medal competition. 

If you are interested in participating in this event, please fill out the short form attached.

Courtesy Golf Canada

TORONTO – Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting culminated on Saturday, February 25th with the election of Roland A. Deveau of Bedford, N.S., to serve a second term as the National Sport Federation’s President.

Deveau’s election to serve a second term is historic as he joins Alfred Collyer (1930-31), F.A. Rolph (1915-1919), A.W. Austin (1907 & 1910) and Col. George A. Sweeny (1898, 1901 & 1909) as only the fifth President to serve multiple or consecutive terms since the association’s formation in 1895.

Bill Klein (L) & George McLeod (R) Volunteer Duo Recognized During Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

by Golf Canada

Toronto (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Bill Klein of Parksville, B.C. along with George McLeod of Brandon, Man. have been named co-recipients of Golf Canada’s 2016 Volunteer of the Year.

The pair were acknowledged during the closing dinner of Golf Canada’s 2017 Annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 25th at the Crowne Plaza Toronto Airport Hotel.

Kimberley, BC Product Jared du Toit Breaks Through With A Four-Stroke Victory After Nine Top-10 Finishes With The Sun Devils

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

With the clock ticking on his collegiate golf career, Kimberley’s Jared du Toit desperately wanted to win before he finished his senior year at Arizona State University.

He had come oh, so close. Du Toit had registered nine top 10s since transferring to ASU from the University of Idaho after his sophomore year, including a playoff loss at a tournament in Kona, Hawaii in early February.

Victoria's Leslie Crawford Will Once Again Be Heading Up The Volunteer Committee For This Year's Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship In September

by Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

The 51st Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards are coming up March 8th and at that time Sport BC will also be recognizing the Presidents' Award winners in various levels of sport including golf.

The Presidents’ Awards are presented annually to volunteers from Sport BC member organizations who "represent the spirit of volunteerism, and whose dedication, energy, and commitment contribute to the development of their sport or organization in the province of British Columbia."

The recipeint of a Presidents' Award this year for the sport of golf is Victoria's Leslie Crawford who counts among the many roles she has taken on, the position of Volunteer Chair for the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship.

British Columbia Golf Staff Members L-R: Elizabeth Dunn, Andy Fung And Corrie Wong Wear Pink To Support The Erase Bullying Campaign On Pink Shirt Day

As part of the #ERASEbullying program being run in conjunction by viaSport and the Government of BC, many Provincial Sport Organizations (PSO) are taking part in the initiative both by signing the Declaration of Commitment and on this special day, February 22nd, by wearing pink to symbolize the commitment to promoting positive, respectful, engaging, accessible and inclusive environments for all participants in sport.

TAKE THE PLEDGE TODAY TO #ERASEBULLYING IN SPORT

Bullying is unwelcome or aggressive behaviour that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and can take many forms including physical, verbal, emotional or other types of intimidating or humiliating behaviours. The behaviour is often repeated and can occur on or away from the playing field, court or arena.

A sport environment in which participants - athletes, coaches, volunteers and officials – are exposed to negative experiences, such as bullying, can be harmful and cause individuals to quit, and viaSport and the Government of B.C. want to ensure participants at every level of sport are aware that bullying of any form cannot be tolerated.

To achieve this, the B.C. sport sector is committed to promoting positive, respectful, engaging, accessible and inclusive environments for all participants, and to ensuring a safe, welcoming and positive sport culture and environment for all British Columbians.

The #ERASEbullying campaign is an important part of this initiative and a key highlight will be on Pink Shirt Day, Wednesday, February 22, 2017, when provincial sport organizations are invited to come together to celebrate the Province’s first Declaration of Commitmentto erase bullying in sport throughout B.C.

So, stand with us, take the pledge and encourage your sport organizations to support this initiative to #ERASEbullying in sport.