Uplands GC In Victoria, BC Will Host The Lone PGA TOUR Americas Event In British Columbia

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PGA TOUR Communications

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PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR announced the 2024 PGA TOUR Americas schedule, which features 16 tournaments spanning eight countries, beginning in March and concluding in September with the Fortinet Cup Championship.

PGA TOUR Americas, which was introduced in April 2023, is the merger of PGA TOUR Latinoamérica and PGA TOUR Canada into a singular Tour.

Click HERE to see complete article and schedule. 

View From The 1st Tee At Vancouver's Langara Golf Club - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Even on these soggy November days, there is plenty of roll on the fairways at Langara Golf Course. And now, thanks to a unanimous vote last week by the Vancouver Park Board, there is also plenty of optimism about the course’s future.

For not the first time, there have been calls recently from academics and assorted others to have at least part of Langara used for affordable housing. The park board’s answer was an emphatic no and commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky indicated his ABC party colleagues on Vancouver city council feel the same way.

Once Dubbed 'Disco Dick' For Wearing A Sony Walkman While Playing On The PGA TOUR, Richard Zokol Was Inducted Into The BC Sports Hall of Fame As Part Of The Class of 2024 - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Perseverance has always been one of Richard Zokol’s biggest assets. Zokol made his childhood dreams of becoming a professional golfer come true through a lot of hard work and self-belief.

He was inspired as a junior golfer at Marine Drive Golf Club by the likes of Stan Leonard, Johnny Johnston, Alvie Thompson and a young Doug Roxburgh. “The club had a spirit of champions and it just seemed so appealing to me,” Zokol says. “I wanted to follow in that path and fill those shoes.”

Zokol found himself doing lots of reflecting on his golf journey when he got the news that became official last week. He is being inducted into the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame.

BC Provincial Sport Organizations, British Columbia Golf and Curl BC are jointly looking to hire an Events Manager to perform an important role on behalf of both organizations in a contract position split equally over a 12-month period between the two. 

Please see full details and how to apply below. 

BC's A.J. Ewart Is On To The Next Round Of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School - Image Courtesy Brad Ziemer

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A.J. Ewart played well again in Florida, which should not come as a surprise. The 24-year-old Coquitlam native, who enjoyed considerable success as a collegiate player at Barry University in south Florida, sailed through the first stage of Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school last week at a site in Lake Worth, Fla.

Ewart fired rounds of 69, 66, 65 and 69 to finish tied for fifth at 16-under par. The top 20 and ties advanced to the second stage of Q-school. Ewart’s third-round 65 included a hole-in-one on the 177-yard par 3 third hole at The Falls Club.

Leah John Has Win No. 3 On Her College Resume At The University Of Nevada - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

For Lauren Kim, it was collegiate win No. 1 in what was just her third event. For Leah John, it was win No. 3 and it came just a week after win No. 2.

The two British Columbians, at very different points in their collegiate golf journeys, recorded their wins on the same day last week (Wednesday, Oct. 11). They both thought that was great.
“Canada is crushing it,” said John, who is in her final year at the University of Nevada.

“I immediately thought, 'we’re amazing,'” added Kim, a freshman at the University of Texas. “Two Canadians win on the same day. And Team Canada won at the World Junior Girls, too. That was pretty cool.”

Merritt, BC's Roger Sloan Has Punched His Ticket Back To The PGA TOUR -Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Eight feet was all that stood between Roger Sloan and a return to the PGA TOUR. Make that putt on the 72nd hole of the Korn Ferry Tour Championship and the Merritt product was back in the big leagues. Miss it and, well, Sloan didn’t want to think about that.

It was gut-wrenching to watch on TV, so one can only imagine how Sloan felt as he was standing over the putt. He had missed some putts late in his round, so he wasn’t exactly oozing with confidence as he stood over the ball. Somehow, he managed to put all that aside and calmly stroked the ball into the middle of the cup.

Clara Ding Accepts Her NextGen Winner's Plaque From Golf Canada's Daniel Suppa - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

White Rock’s Clara Ding won going away, while Tate Bruggeman of Edmonton had to work a little overtime to secure his victory at the NextGen Fall Series West Championship.

Ding, all of 12 years old, played the back nine of her final round in five-under par en route to a five-under 67 that set a women’s competitive record at The Hills at Portal Golf Club in Surrey. She finished the 54-hole event at even-par and won by five shots over Rose Zhiyan Chen of Langley.

L-R: Vanessa Borovilos, Vanessa Zhang, Anna Huang & Coach Jeff MacDonald - Golf Canada Photo

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Denisa Vodickova of the Czech Republic wins individual title at Brampton Golf Club

Brampton, Ont. – The most successful season in Canadian golf history added another exciting chapter on Saturday as Team Canada won its first-ever team title at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship, presented by Sargent Farms.

The Canada 1 Team comprised of 14-year-old Anna Huang of Vancouver (71-69-70-70—280), 17-year-old Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto (70-73-73-75—291), and 17-year-old Vanessa Zhang of Vancouver (72-75-80-68—295) shot a team-total 138 under cool and blustery conditions at Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont. to finish at 4-under 564 for the championship, a single shot clear of the Republic of Korea.

SFU Freshman Denby Carswell Made His University Debut In Style - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Simon Fraser University golf coach Matt Steinbach suggested before the fall season began that members of his men’s team would be playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. They might want to leave it right there.

The SFU men are off to a fabulous start to the new year, having won their first two events for the first time since joining the NCAA. The Red Leafs opened the fall season with a win at the Bishop Invitational at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash., and then last week followed that up with a win at the Western Washington Invitational at Bellingham Golf & Country Club.

Four Players From British Columbia Are On The Two Golf Canada Squads For The 2023 World Junior Girls Golf Championship, Including 14-year Old Anna Huang (pictured) From Vancouver - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Mike Masaro, Golf Canada

Sixty-six players from twenty-one countries will compete in the eighth playing of the prestigious world championship

Brampton, Ont. – Canada will once again host a global showcase of the world’s best junior golfers as the eighth edition of the World Junior Girls Championship, presented by Sargent Farms will be contested October 2-7, 2023, at the Brampton Golf Club in Brampton, Ont.

This year marks the largest field in tournament history, with a total of 66 athletes comprising 22 teams and representing 21 countries – including two teams from host nation Canada – competing for the team and individual titles.

Courtesy VIASPORT BRITISH COLUMBIA - As National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2023 approaches on September 30th, a significant opportunity emerges to reflect on how sport can play a pivotal role in bringing people together, regardless of differences in background, ethnicity, and beliefs.

This day, set aside to acknowledge the truths about the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada, prompts us to explore how the world of sport can contribute to reconciliation, education, and social progress.

Recognizing that many of you will already be acknowledging this day of reflection in your own ways, we wanted to share the campaign viaSPORT has created with their networks and for you to share with yours.

Daniel Edward Sabourin - October 6, 1948 - September 26, 2023

(September 29, 2023) PITT MEADOWS, BC - It is with heavy hearts that British Columbia Golf and indeed, the entire golf community, says goodbye to longtime volunteer and highly regarded rules official Dan Sabourin. 

Dan passed away the evening of September 26^th in hospital. Dan would have celebrated his 75^th birthday on October 6. Dan leaves behind his beloved wife and best friend of 53 years, Pat. (Please look here to see Dan's obituary in the Vancouver Sun)

Dan had a passion for golf which started while growing up in Coquitlam, where he became a junior member at The Vancouver Golf Club. He became a competitive golfer, and through competition, found a passion for the rules of golf.

He spent several years working with the Canadian Tour as a rules official. He brought his passion for the game through volunteer commitments at the zone, provincial and national level. He was a positive mentor to many in their rules journey and has been significant in developing many experienced referees.

He was on several committees with both British Columbia Golf and Golf Canada, receiving the Distinguished Service Award from British Columbia Golf in March of this year. “I have known Dan as a colleague and friend for over 30 years. His passing will leave a big hole in the volunteerism world and he will be missed,” said British Columbia Golf CEO Kris Jonasson.

Dan was also an active member of Pitt Meadows Golf Club, serving on the board for many years, including positions on the executive and as club president.

The many people he influenced over the years will miss Dan and his easy going humour. He was a great team player and happy to help wherever he could.

There will be a celebration of Dan's life at Pitt Meadows Golf Club on October 25th, 2023 from 1-3pm.

(Thank you to past BC Golf Tournament Director and longtime colleague of Dan's, Susan White, for her contributions to this tribute)

Christine Wong And PGA Of BC Executive Director Mark Strong - All Images Courtesy PGA of BC

September 26, 2023

VICTORIA, BC (PGA of BC) - Christine Wong is your 2023 PGA of BC Women’s Champion and two-time tournament winner after a dominant wire-to-wire victory at Victoria Golf ClubMonday and Tuesday which saw her compile birdie after birdie.

Wong (University Golf Club), who also won the title in 2020, enjoyed a magnificent start to her tournament, ending Round One in control of the leaderboard.

Six birdies Monday gave her a two-point advantage in the Stableford event over her closest challengers Kat Kennedy (Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club) and Kyla Inaba (Predator Ridge Resort), and some breathing room heading into the final round.

BC's Kylie Jack - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By viaSPORT British Columbia

Kylie Jack, a gifted and highly accomplished golfer, competed at the British Columbia Indigenous Golf Championship in May 2023. This was BC’s first Indigenous tournament, hosted by BC Golf, and an opportunity for Kylie to help raise awareness about reconciliation through sport.

Kylie’s journey showcases her exceptional athleticism, her deep connection with the community, and staying true to her cultural roots in a sport that has been traditionally very elitist and lacking in diversity.

Click HERE to see complete article on viaSPORT...

ed. note: Kylie also took part in the just completed BC vs Ontario Indigenous Challenge Match at Victoria's Bear Mountain Resort. Read Brad Ziemer's story on that historic event HERE

BC's Harry Ferguson Was Steeped In Emotion After The Inaugural Indigenous Challenge Match - All Images Credit Jeff Sutherland/Courtesy British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA — Team British Columbia beat Ontario to win the inaugural Indigenous Challenge Match and Harry Ferguson, like the rest of his teammates, was happy about that.

But Ferguson, a past B.C. Senior Men’s Champion, would be the first to tell you that this two-day event played on the Mountain and Valley courses at the Bear Mountain resort, really wasn’t about who won and who lost.

Moments after winning his singles match 4&3, the 66-year-old Invermere resident got emotional when he was asked to describe what the event meant to him.

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British Columba Golf wishes all who are observing Yom Kippur a peaceful and fulfilling day of reflection. 

Yom Kippur is the culmination of the high holidays, a period of 10 days of repentance. These dates fall during the Hebrew month of Tishrei, which typically overlap with September or October in the Gregorian calendar. In 2023, Yom Kippur begins on the evening of September 24 and ends in the evening of September 25.

BC's Jared du Toit Felt He Was Denied A Fair Shot At DP World Tour Q-School - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

All Jared du Toit wanted was a fair fight and the Kimberley native didn’t feel like he got it at a DP World Tour first-stage qualifying school site in northern Italy.

Du Toit, along with fellow British Columbians Kaleb Gorbahn of Smithers and Stephen Thomas of Vancouver, were on the outside looking in when the 72-hole event was abruptly shortened to 36 holes due to heavy rain.

“I am probably the most angry I have been after a tournament,” du Toit said over the phone from Italy. “At least if you get to play a full event you know you have given it your all and you kind of had a fair shake at it.

Victoria's Bear Mountain Will Host The Inaugural Indigenous Challenge Cup  

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Christina Spence Proteau has lots of great memories from this past spring’s inaugural B.C. Indigenous Championship played at Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course in Oliver.

She’ll never forget winning the event, one that she also chaired and helped organize, but what really stood out for Spence Proteau was the tournament’s spirit.

The Port Alberni native had never seen so many smiles at a golf tournament. Participants seemed proud to be there and recognized they were helping plant the seeds for an event that will continue to blossom in the years ahead.

Lucas O'Dell Led The UFV Cascades To A Win In Their Season Opener At Okanagan GC’s Bear Course

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

One of the first things Connor O’Dell did when he was appointed the new golf coach at the University of the Fraser Valley was convince his cousin, Lucas O’Dell, to return home and play for the Cascades.

That decision paid early dividends when Lucas won the individual title and helped the Cascades capture the team event at the season-opening Battle of the Bear tourney in Kelowna.

Lucas, a Maple Ridge native, transferred to UFV after spending his freshman year at The Master’s University, a NAIA school in Santa Clara, Calif. He fired rounds of 67 and 68 at Okanagan Golf Club’s Bear course to win the individual competition by six shots over teammates Jackson Jacob and Eli Greene.

The Cascades won the men’s team title by 28 shots over the University of Victoria.