Brooke Henderson Becomes The First Canadian To Win The Canadian Women's Open In 45 Years

Courtesy Golf Canada

REGINA – Brooke Henderson ended Canada’s long drought at the CP Women’s Open on Sunday, firing a final-round 7-under-par 65 to win the national championship by four strokes. Henderson finished with a 21-under 267 total, sealing the win with a short birdie putt on the 18th hole at the Wascana Country Club.

“It’s amazing, just surreal,” Henderson said. “The crowds here have been so amazing all week, and to finish it off the way I did is really a dream come true.”

American Angel Yin was alone in second place after a 68 and American Jennifer Song (67) was six shots behind at 15 under. Australians Minjee Lee (68) and Su Oh (69) were seven strokes off the pace in a fourth-place tie with South Korea’s Amy Yang (68) and American Austin Ernst (69).

It was the first time a Canadian has won this tournament since Jocelyne Bourassa took the 1973 event – then called La Canadienne – at Montreal.

B.C. Golf Hall of Fame Member Sandy Harper Lost In A Playoff For The Canadian Mid-Master Title To Todd Fanning Of Winnipeg At The Venerable Victoria Golf Club - Images Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- It wasn’t like Sandy Harper didn’t have his chances. So when Todd Fanning holed his bunker shot for eagle on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff, Harper wasn’t feeling like he was robbed of the Canadian Mid-Master Championship for players 40 and over.

Hey, at age 61 -- soon to be 62 -- Harper was happy just to have had the opportunity to compete for the championship. “If somebody told me I was going to be in a playoff for the Canadian Mid-Master I’d be more than happy,” said the longtime Nanaimo resident. “It doesn’t hurt to lose to an eagle.”

Thirty-five-year-old Joseph Deraney, A Father Of Three, Came From Behind To Beat Local Favourites Kevin Carrigan And Saare Adams. He Is Flanked By Golf Canada Officials David Atkinson (L) And Dale Jackson (R) - Images Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Joseph Deraney hails from Kentucky and just like some of those great thoroughbred race horses bred in his native state, he's pretty good down the stretch.

The 35-year-old father of three hung around just behind the leaders for three days at the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship and then galloped past everyone to the finish line Friday afternoon.

On a day when the rest of the field was having trouble making birdies, Deraney closed with a nearly flawless five-under par 65 at Victoria Golf Club to win by three lengths -- I mean shots.

Saare Adams Of The Host Victoria Golf Club Has The 54-Hole Lead In The Canadian Men's Mid-Amateur Championship - Image Credit Golf Canada

• Nanaimo, BC's Sandy Harper Shoots Low Round To Tie Todd Fanning In Mid-Master Division

Courtesy Golf Canada

VICTORIA, B.C. – While cold weather conditions at Victoria Golf Club made for a tougher day Saare Adams carded a third-round 69 on Thursday to edge out Garrett Rank for the lead heading into the final day of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

Adams battled it out on his home course, where he happens to also be the tournament chair, playing an up and down round with four bogeys and five birdies. The local golfer was one of only four golfers to score in the red during the third round.

“It was a good round. A little shaky start, butchered the first hole after a good drive and then made another bogey and kind of got into the groove, played better and found my putter,” said the 34-year-old. “I’ve got a good home course advantage. It was a little breezier today, so I think lots of the guys kind of struggled.”

The Wascana Country Club In Regina, Sask. Is Set To Host 89 Of The Top 100 Players On The LPGA Tour Money List Including Canadian Sensation Brooke Henderson - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

REGINA, Sask. (Golf Canada) — Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) announced the field of competitors set to challenge for the 2018 CP Women’s Open taking place August 23-26 at The Wascana Country Club in Regina, Sask.

Defending champion and world no. 4 Sung Hyun Park will lead a stellar field that includes world no. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, world no. 5 Lexi Thompson, world no. 6 Shanshan Feng, world no. 7 Minjee Lee, world no. 9 Jessica Korda and world no. 10 Georgia Hall as well as Canadian superstar Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont.

Golf Canada, the governing body for the sport in our country, is looking for interested applicants for volunteer positions for 2019 with the deadline coming up soon on September 14, 2018.

They are seeking to engage a more diverse volunteer workforce, and will be looking for opportunities to do so in 2019.

Golf Canada’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy is part of the information letter/package in Golf Canada President Leslie Dunning's letter below along with how to apply.

They are also seeking to expand their Duty Roster volunteers through the Provincial Golf Associations and other referrals.

An Aerial View Of The Victoria Golf Club Which Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary This Year - Image Courtesy Wikipedia

By Brad Ziemer

When you get to be 125 years old, one birthday party just won’t do. So Victoria Golf Club, which was founded back in 1893, is having a year-long celebration of sorts to mark its notable anniversary. The Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be played Aug. 21-24 on Victoria Golf Club’s spectacular seaside links, is a big part of that celebration.

“Our actual birthday is Nov. 7,” says Head Professional Lindsay Bernakevitch. “We are hosting a bit of a member’s tournament on that day or right around there, but that was the impetus behind us trying to get this national championship that we could host and celebrate our 125th with.”

In July, an outdoor gala was held with about 650 people in attendance. And earlier this month, Victoria’s putting green was the site of a special afternoon high tea. Victoria Golf Club is the oldest 18-hole golf course still on its original site in Canada. It is also among the most beautiful anywhere.

British Columbians Sy Lovan (Surrey) (L) And Chris Crisologo (Richmond) (R) Will Be Teeing It Up In The U.S. Amateur At Pebble Beach Starting Monday, August 13th - BC Golf File Images 

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 118th U.S. Amateur Championship, Monday (Aug. 13) and Tuesday (Aug. 14), at 7,075-yard, par-71 Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links and at 6,995-yard, par-72 Spyglass Hill Golf Course, in Pebble Beach, Calif.

The U.S. Amateur consists of 36 holes of stroke play on Aug. 13 and 14, after which the 312-player field will be reduced to the low 64 scorers. There will be six rounds of match play, starting Aug. 15. The quarterfinals and semifinals are slated for Friday, Aug. 17 and Saturday, Aug. 18, respectively. The championship is scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Sunday, Aug. 19, starting at 7:30 a.m. PDT.

Virginia Native Zach Bauchou Beat Florida’s Philip Knowles By Three Shots To Win His Second Consecutive Canadian Men's Amateur Title - Image Credit Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

DUNCAN -- The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship is no longer decided via match play, but apparently no one told Zach Bauchou and Philip Knowles.

There were 69 other competitors on the course, but right from the start of Thursday’s final round at Duncan Meadows Golf Course it was Bauchou versus Knowles. Everyone else, it seemed, was playing for third place. Bauchou ultimately prevailed and became the 13th player to win back to back Canadian Amateur titles. 

“I think the feelings are a lot different for me this year because last year I kind of came up here to try and get into the U.S. Amateur and I felt a lot of pressure to win coming down the stretch,” said the 22-year-old Bauchou. “Today I was kind of playing to defend and I was a lot less nervous today than I was last year.”

Smithers Native Kaleb Gorbahn (L), Whose Father Dana Is Caddying For Him This Week, Is Tied For Third Place After Shooting A Six-Under 65 On Thursday - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

DUNCAN -- There’s a lot of red and white on the leaderboard at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows Golf Club. And blue. The stars and stripes outnumber the Maple Leafs by a considerable margin through three rounds of the 114th playing of the Canadian Amateur.

Defending champion Zach Bauchou of Forest, Va., leads the way at 13-under par after shooting a four-under 67 in Thursday’s third round. Philip Knowles of Jacksonville, Fla., moved into second place thanks to a seven-under 64 that left him at 11-under.

The top Canadian -- and proud to be that -- is Kaleb Gorbahn of Smithers, who is in a three-way tie for third at eight-under par.

Oklahoma State University Senior Zach Baucho Has A Three-Shot Lead At The Halfway Mark Of The 2018 Canadian Men's Amateur - Image Credit Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

QUALICUM -- They are trying to catch a cowboy at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. Zach Bauchou is halfway to defending his title after a three-under 68 in Tuesday’s second round moved him to nine-under par. Bauchou, a Virginia native who is heading into his senior year with the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, has a three-shot lead on Julien Sale of Gatineau, Que.

After opening with a six-under 65 at Duncan Meadows, Bauchou moved 45 minutes north and played his second round at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort in Qualicum. The tight Pheasant Glen layout reminded him of his home track, Karsten Creek, at Oklahoma State. It seems like there is trouble everywhere at both courses.

The 114th Canadian Men's Amateur is underway on Vancouver Island at Duncan Meadows GC and Pheasant Glen GR. 

The championship was first held in 1895, making it one of the most storied sporting events in Canada and third oldest amateur championship in the world.

Duncan Meadows will play host to 252 players from nine countries over four stroke play rounds, while Pheasant Glen will co-host for the first two rounds prior to the 36-hole cut.

Defending Champion Zach Bauchou Has The First Round Lead In The 2018 Canadian Men's Amateur - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

DUNCAN, B.C. – Reigning champion Zach Bauchou fired a 65 in Monday’s opening round of the 114th Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Duncan Meadows Golf Course to tie the course record and lead by two strokes.

The Forest, Va., native thrived in the sweltering B.C. weather, going 7-under through his first 10 holes thanks to two eagles—one that included a hole-out from the bunker on No. 17. Bauchou cooled off on his final eight holes, giving one back with a bogey on the par-3 7th.

Comox, B.C. Native Kolten Almgren Was The Medallist In The Canadian Amateur Qualifying Event Held Friday At Duncan Meadows GC - Image Courtesy UBC TBirds Golf Twitter

Courtesy Golf Canada

DUNCAN, B.C. – Canadians Kolten Almgren, Zach Ryujin, Mike Aizawa, Ethan Bennett and Brent Wilson earned exemptions into the 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship on Friday in the 18-hole qualifying event at Duncan Meadows Golf Course.

Almgren, a University of B.C. sophomore from Comox, B.C., posted the low score of the day with a 4-under par 68, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 12th hole.

Ryujin of North Vancouver, B.C., was next in line with a 3-under-par 69, good for sole possession of runner-up honours. Aizawa (Richmond, B.C.), Bennett (Stoney Creek, Ont.), and Wilson (Cobble Hill, B.C.) rounded out the top five that punched their tickets to the third-oldest amateur event in the world.

17-Year-Old Quebec Resident Celeste Dao, Shown Here With Golf Canada's Pat Thompson And One Of Canada's Finest, Erased A Three-Shot Deficit On The Back Nine To Beat 14-Year-Old Emily Zhu Of Ontario - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

In about a year’s time, Celeste Dao will become a University of Georgia Bulldog. On Friday, the 17-year-old from Notre-Dame Ile Perrot, Que., played like that Georgia namesake at Beach Grove Golf Club in the final round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Tenacious, resolute, stubborn, persistent. Dao was all those things and more as she dug down deep to rebound from a three-stroke deficit early on the back nine and win the title.

Quebec Native Celeste Dao Has A One-Shot Lead Heading Into The Final Round Of The Canadian Junior Girls Championship At Beach Grove Golf Club In Tsawwassen - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Play golf, see the world. That kind of describes what has been a whirlwind 2018 for Celeste Dao. The 17-year-old from Notre-Dame Ile Perrot, Que., who has the lead heading into Friday’s final round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen, has used her passport almost as much as her pitching wedge in what has been a busy year.

So far this year, she has visited Argentina, where she finished tied for eighth in the South American Amateur Championship, Mexico, where she won the Mexican Junior Girls Championship, and Japan, where she finished fifth at the Toyota Junior World Cup.

Lauren Kim, A Surrey Resident Who Just Finished Grade 7, Opened The Canadian Junior Girls Championship Tournament With A 3-under Par 69 - Image Courtesy Sarah Magyar/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Lauren Kim apparently hasn’t learned about respecting her elders. The 12-year-old has the audacity to be leading the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Beach Grove Golf Club in Tsawwassen. 

And you know what, the Surrey resident thinks she can win. “Yeah, I'm going to try,” she said after posting a three-under par 69 that gave her a two-shot lead. “I feel confident after doing well today.”

The 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Championship is underway at Tsawwassen's Beach Grove Golf Course. Below is an excerpt from a tournament preview done by Brad Ziemer.

By Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

TSAWWASSEN, B.C. -- British Columbia has a little streak going at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship, one its players hope to extend at Beach Grove Golf Club.

The last three Canadian Junior Girls Championships have been won by B.C. players. Susan Xiao of Surrey won it last year, Naomi Ko of Victoria was the 2016 champion and Michelle Kim of Surreycaptured the title in 2015.

Doing well at Beach Grove starts with keeping the ball in play off the tee. The course is tight in spots and missing fairways makes it difficult to hit the course’s small greens in regulation. “What the players will have to do especially well is position the ball off the tee,” says longtime Beach Grove Head Professional Brent Derrheim. “You can’t be overly aggressive, you need to be patient. And also putting. If you make the putts, you are going to score well.”

Richmond's Chris Crisologo Carried On His Solid Summer By Taking The Gary Cowan Award As The Low Amateur At The RBC Canadian Open - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Chris Crisologo’s first RBC Canadian Open started and finished with a birdie. The 70 holes in between weren’t bad, either. The 22-year-old Richmond resident and reigning B.C. Amateur champion rolled in a 20-foot putt for birdie on the par 5 18th hole Sunday to finish his first PGA TOUR event tied for 45th place at nine-under par.

Crisologo closed with a three-under par 69 Sunday at Glen Abbey Golf Course after opening with rounds of 68, 69 and 73. “It was quite the experience,” Crisologo told reporters after his final round.

Back In 2007 Canadian Amateur Champion Nick Taylor Posed Beside The Board With The Final Result At Riverside GC In Saskatoon - Image Courtesy Riverside/CanGolfer

By Brad Ziemer

At the time, it was the biggest win of Nick Taylor’s life, a victory he credits with providing the confidence and inner belief that ultimately helped propel him to the PGA TOUR. Taylor won the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship in 2007 and he’ll never forget the crazy final day he endured en route to the title. It lasted nearly 10 hours and 38 holes.

Taylor would be the first to tell you it should have been over much sooner than that.