• SFU Men Hope Storybook Finish To Last Season Is Only The Beginning

    SFU Red Leafs Golf Coach Matthew Steinbach - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    There was a time not that long ago when Simon Fraser University golf coach Matthew Steinbach would have been delighted to have his men’s team inside the top 25 of the NCAA Division II pre-season rankings.

    But when this season’s rankings were recently released with the SFU men tied for 23rd, Steinbach couldn’t help feeling like his team wasn’t getting the respect it deserved.

    “There’s a belief within the program that we belong in the top 10 on the national stage,” Steinbach said in an interview. “I was disappointed with that (ranking) and we have a little chip on our shoulder because of it. Sometimes I think we get neglected as the only Canadian school in the NCAA.”

  • UBC Men & Women Looking For Encore Performances As New Golf Season Begins

    UBC T'Birds Golf Coach Chris Macdonald With New Recruits Tina Jiang (L) & Coco Pei (R) - Image Credit Rich Lam/UBC Athletics

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    The University of B.C. men’s and women’s golf teams have a tough act to follow.

    For the first time in program history, the T-Bird women’s and men’s teams both won their respective NAIA national championship tourney this past spring.

    As a result, the women are ranked No. 1 heading into the 2023-24 season, while the men are No. 2.

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Macdonald on the bubble at final PGA Tour Canada event; Delta resident Yi Cao a winner in Minnesota; John, Kong advance at LPGA Tour Q-school; Canadian Senior Men’s Championships set for Big Sky

    Vancouver BC's Stuart Macdonald - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald will be on the bubble when the PGA Tour Canada circuit completes its season at this week’s Fortinet Cup Championship in Calgary.

    Macdonald missed the cut at last week’s final full-field event, the CRMC Championship, in Brainerd, Minn. In doing so, he dropped from fourth to fifth on the Fortinent Cup points race.

    The top five on the list after this week’s event at Country Hills Golf Club in Calgary will earn status on the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour. Macdonald must hold his position or improve it in order to earn one of those five coveted cards.

  • BC Golf Program A Highlight Of ISPARC Healthy Living E-Bulletin

    In 2007, driven by the desire to improve the health and well-being of BC’s Indigenous people, several prominent provincial Indigenous organizations came together to develop a social legacy from the Cowichan 2008 North American Indigenous Games—a legacy that would lead to transformative change in the health and well-being of Indigenous people across the province.

    Today, the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established with the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous peoples by supporting and encouraging physically active individuals, families, and communities.

  • Jenny Kwon Finishes Magical Month Of August With Win At B.C. Bantam Girls Championship

    Vancouver's Jenny Kwon Added The BC Bantam Title To The Juvenile Girls Trophy She Picked Up At Highland Pacific Last Week  - BC Golf photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    In case you were wondering, winning never gets old. Just ask Jenny Kwon.

    The 14-year-old from Vancouver completed a magical month of August by winning the B.C. Bantam Girls Championship at Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria. It followed by six days her win at the B.C. Juvenile Girls Championship at Highland Pacific Golf Course in Victoria.

    Kwon began her August by capturing the PNGA Junior Girls Amateur Championship at North Bellingham Golf Course in Washington state.

  • Jaden August Clinches B.C. Bantam Boys Championship With Clutch Two-Putt Final Green

    BC Bantam Boys Champion, Jaden August - BC Golf Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Jaden August had to grind a little harder than he imagined on the 18th green in the final round of the B.C. Bantam Boys Championship.

    The 14-year-old from Pitt Meadows had a two-shot lead as he walked onto the green at Cedar Hill Golf Course in Victoria. But when playing partner Luke Van Alstine of Vancouver rolled in a 30-foot putt for birdie, August’s lead was cut in half.

    “I had a decent length putt that I had to two-putt,” August said. “I hit my first putt a little past the hole and I had about four feet left. I knew that was for the win. To be honest, I don’t remember too much what I was thinking standing over it. I was kind of in my own little world there. I was a little nervous.”

  • Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes: Twenty years later, Motomochi back at Shaughnessy; Five B.C. women head to LPGA Tour Q-school; Crisologo top-10s in Manitoba; Taylor’s season ends with another big payday

    BC's Jonnie Motomochi Caddied For Yu Liu In The CPKC Women's Open - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Back in 2003, Delta’s Jonnie Motomochi made headlines when at age 12 he became the youngest player to compete in the Canadian Amateur Championship, which was held that year at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.

    Motomochi was back at Shaughnessy last week, but this time he wasn’t playing. Motomochi caddied for China’s Yu Liu at the CPKC Women’s Open. “A kid that I coach, his dad knows her dad, they used to practise at the same course in Beijing,” said Motomochi, who coaches at Morgan Creek Golf Club in Surrey.

    “Her caddie got Covid so they gave me a call Monday night. “It was a great experience. She’s a really good player, so it’s been fun. I didn’t say much, I didn’t do much.”

  • Megan Khang Finally Gets That Elusive LPGA Tour Win

    CPKC Women's Open Champion Megan Khang With The Trophy From Her First LPGA Victory - Brad Ziemer/BC Golf Photo

    By Brad Ziemer. British Columbia Golf

    Through it all, through all the close calls and the 33 top-10s, Megan Khang never stopped believing. She knew there would be a magical moment like the one that unfolded early Sunday evening on Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club’s 18th hole.

    Finally, Khang is a winner on the LPGA Tour. She did it in the most dramatic fashion, birdieing the 72nd hole to force a playoff with South Korea’s Jin Young Ko and then winning it on the first extra hole.

  • CPKC Women’s Open Notes: Khang in great position to earn first win: Disappointing rounds for Canadians Henderson and Sharp; Zhang’s fast start fizzles: Marine Drive memories for Noh

    Brooke Henderson's Game Was Slightly Off In Round 3 As Evidenced By Sister & Caddy Brittany Pointing Right On This Tee Shot - BC Golf Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Megan Khang has done everything but win on the LPGA Tour. She has a great opportunity to finally cross that off her to-do list in Sunday’s final round of the CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.

    The 25-year-old Khang birdied four of her last five holes in Saturday’s third round to take a three-shot lead into Sunday. The Massachusetts native sits at 11-under through 54 holes on a Shaughnessy course that has proven to be a superb test.

    “Honestly, I am relieved the day is over,” Khang said after her round. “It was kind of like you look at the leaderboard and you know who is behind you and you try to ignore it as much as you can, but it’s kind of scary.”

  • Lots Of Lessons Learned For B.C. Amateurs At CPKC Women’s Open

    BC's Lauren Kim Can Still Look Back On A Pretty Successful Summer Despite Missing The Cut In The CPKC Women's Open - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Lauren Kim is not going to let some struggles at Shaughnessy spoil what has been a super summer for the Surrey teen.

    Like all of the other amateurs — and many of the pros — competing at the CPKC Women’s Open, Kim didn’t perform as well as she had hoped in the LPGA Tour event.

    “Honestly, I don’t really know what happened,” the 18-year-old said after finishing 10-over through two rounds and missing the cut. “It was more just technical (swing) stuff than mental stuff. It just didn’t happen this week. I was a little disappointed, but finished off pretty strong, so I am okay with that.”

  • Henderson Staying For The Weekend At Shaughnessy

    Canada's Brooke Henderson Had A Nice Bounce Back Round Of 68 In Round 2 Of The CPKC Women's Open - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    It was difficult to know who was more relieved, Brooke Henderson or the organizers of the CPKC Women’s Open.

    Suffice to say everyone was delighted when Henderson, the face of this tournament, rebounded with a bogey-free four-under 68 in Friday’s second round and comfortably made the cut.

    Henderson drives ticket sales at this event and her early departure would have left a huge void at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.

  • Austin Krahn Captures Juvenile Boys Championship For His Second Provincial Title This Season

    BC Juvenile Boys Champion Austin Krahn With Highland Pacific GM Jeff Palmer - BC Golf Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    A couple of other players shot lower rounds, but no one was more consistent than Austin Krahn at the B.C. Juvenile Boys Championship.

    The 16-year-old Christina Lake native shot three straight sub-par rounds at Highland Pacific Golf Club in Victoria and earned his second provincial championship of the season.

    “This week I minimized my mistakes,” Krahn said. “It was all about keeping it consistent and I think I only had six bogeys on the week. It was just pars all round and then I dropped in a couple of putts for birdies. I just kept my rounds really solid.”

  • Vancouver’s Jenny Kwon Hangs On And Wins B.C. Juvenile Girls Championship

    BC Juvenile Girls Champion Jenny Kwon With Highland Pacific GM Jeff Palmer - BC Golf Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    When it was suggested to Jenny Kwon that she has had an impressive month of August, the 14-year-old added something of a qualifier.

    “I have a lot of places for improvement, but mostly yes, I think so,” she said. These kids are never satisfied. All Kwon has done this month is win the PNGA Junior Girls Amateur and now the B.C. Juvenile Girls Championship.

    The Vancouver resident, who plays out of Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, outlasted Elsa Wu of Maple Ridge by a single shot to win the Juvenile crown for players aged 16 and under at Highland Pacific Golf Club in Victoria.

  • B.C. Contingent Looking To Bounce Back In Second Round Of CPKC Women’s Open

    Former BC Junior Girls Champion Luna Lu - BC Golf Photo

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    They battled their nerves along with an exceptionally tough golf course. Teeing it up a LPGA Tour event was a new experience for five of the six British Columbians playing in the CPKC Women’s Open at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club.

    “I think on a scale of one to 10 on the first tee I was like an eight or a nine,” was how Burnaby’s Luna Lu described her nerves early in Thursday’s opening round. “And then after about nine holes I was like maybe 5 or 6.”

    The 16-year-old former B.C. Junior Girls champion carded a five-over 77, joining a large percentage of the field who were over par for the day.

  • Shaughnessy Bares Its Teeth In First Round Of CPKC Women’s Open

    The CPKC Women's Open 1st Round Leader Is Yuka Saso - Image Credit Golf Canada

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Just like it did back in 2005 and 2011 for the PGA TOUR, Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club is presenting a stern test for some of the best female golfers on the planet.

    There were lots more bogeys than birdies in the first round of the CPKC Canadian Women’s Open. Only 18 of the 156 players in the field of the LPGA Tour event managed to break par.

    Everyone is chasing 2021 U.S. Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso, who rattled off four straight birdies on her back nine and shot a six-under 66, a new tournament course record at Shaughnessy.

  • Lydia Ko Looking To Rekindle Vancouver Love Affair

    New Zealand's Lydia Ko Is Trying Win Her 3rd CPKC Title In Vancouver & 4th Overall - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    Lydia Ko is back in Vancouver and that got her to thinking about how important the city has been to not only her golf career, but her life. 

    Ko won her first LPGA Tour event at the age of 15 way back in 2012 at Vancouver Golf Club and then returned to the same course three years later and won again.

    “I had my first LPGA Tour win in Vancouver and I think that is where everything kind of started,” Ko said Wednesday after playing in the CPKC Women’s Open pro-am at Shaughnesy Golf & Country Club. “Who knows, if I didn’t win or play that event maybe I might have not got the opportunities along the way. It’s always going to be a very special place for me.”

  • CPKC Women’s Open Notes: Victoria Liu at home on the range: Captain Lewis has a lot on her mind; Australian Ruffels loving West Van digs; Szeryk sisters to play in same group

    Vancouver's Victoria Liu Will Have Her Dad Miles On The Bag When She Tees It Up In This Week's CPKC Open At Shaughnessy G&CC - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer. British Columbia Golf

    Victoria Liu was on the driving range early Wednesday afternoon at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, which is not unusual. Shaughnessy has become a second home of sorts for the Vancouver resident, who is heading into her third year of collegiate golf at Princeton University.

    But this was a little bit of a different range session.

    To her left, Lexi Thomson was hitting balls, and a couple of spots to her right, Brooke Henderson was warming up.

    It was a ‘this isn’t Kansas anymore’ type of moment for Liu, who on Thursday afternoon will tee it up in her first L:PGA Tour event at the CPKC Women’s Open.

  • Brooke Henderson Has Eyes On Her Second CPKC Women's Open Title

    2018 CPKC Women's Open Champion Brooke Henderson Sports Her New Look At The Media Presser At Shaughnessy G&CC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    She isn’t exactly humming that old Johnny Nash tune — 'I Can See Clearly Now' — but Brooke Henderson is excited about a change she is making at this week’s CPKC Women’s Open.

    Henderson will be wearing glasses for the first time in competition when she tees it up in Thursday’s first round at Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club. “I have worn glasses off the course for a long time, but I’ve never played with them, so it was a bit of a change,” Henderson said after her practice round on Tuesday.

  • Rose Zhang Makes Big Impression With First Nations Kids

    LPGA Tour Rookie Star Rose Zhang Was A Hit With First Nations Youth At Her Clinic At Musqueam Golf & Learning Centre - Image Credit: Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

    By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

    The first question came from nine-year-old Constanza Ordaz, who asked Rose Zhang something all frustrated golfers would like to know. “What does she do when she misses something, when she misses a shot,” the youngster asked Zhang. “What do you do?”

    Zhang and everyone who had gathered at the Musqueam Golf and Learning Centre chuckled at Constanza’s question. “I wish there was a thing so you couldn’t miss on the golf course,” Zhang said. “But it’s frustrating. Golf is hard.”

    Before she set foot for the first time on Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club, the site of this week’s CPKC Women’s Open, Zhang dropped by the Musqueam Golf Centre on Tuesday morning for a clinic organized by Golf Canada and the British Columbia chapter of the First Tee.

  • GoFundMe Page Started To Assist Golf Workers Losing Homes In BC Wildfires

    With the terrible wildfires that are wreaking havoc in our province many from all walks of life are suffering and those who work in the golf industry are also being affected.

    Adam Blair, the General Manager of the Vernon Golf & Country Club and past General Manager of the Talking Rock Resort at Quaaout Lodge, has started a GoFundMe page to assist friends and past co-workers who have lost their homes due to the Lower Adams Lake Fire/Bush Creek East.

    On Friday night the fires devastated the Little Shuswap Community and North Shuswap, destroying many homes and businesses.

    If you are able or wish to help however you can, please visit this page. https://gofund.me/7ad9ec40. Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated.