Leah John Is Set For Her Pro Debut On The Epson Tour  

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

With a kinesiology degree in her back pocket and loads of great memories of her time at the University of Nevada, Vancouver’s Leah John begins a new chapter of her golfing life this week as she makes her first start as a professional.

“I am really excited,” says the two-time B.C. Women’s Amateur champion. “It’s kind of like the feeling you have before going to the best concert of your life.”

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

No matter how well things go at this week’s RBC Canadian Open, Kevin Stinson knows playing the event at Hamilton Golf & Country Club will not be the highlight of his year.

That happened on April 15, when Stinson’s wife, Allison, delivered their first child, a son named William. “He is perfect,” his proud dad said before heading east for what will be his second Canadian Open.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It has been a tough few years for Bald Eagle Golf Club, the Point Roberts layout that was forced to close during the Covid pandemic, then re-opened in 2022 only to close again for the 2023 season.

It is now scheduled to re-open sometime early this summer with a new, but familiar name and a new owner. The course is returning to its former name, Point Roberts Golf & Country Club, and has targeted June 15 as a re-opening date, although there is a good chance it could be a week or two after that.

UBC's Women's Golf Team Finished 3rd At This Year's NAIA Championship

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

You can’t win them all, which the University of B.C. women’s golf team discovered last week in Illinois. The Thunderbirds entered the NAIA national championship tourney at TPC Deere Run looking for what, officially, would have been a three-peat.

Unofficially, they were attempting to win their fourth straight title. In addition to their 2022 and 2023 crowns, the T-Birds also won the national championship in 2019. The event was not played in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic and UBC was not permitted to travel to the tournament in 2021.

Victoria, BC's Jeevan Sihota - Image Credit: Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The Latin American portion of the PGA Tour Americas circuit concludes at this week’s Inter Rapidisimo Golf Championship in Bogota, Colombia, where Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota must make the cut to secure his playing privileges for the tour’s North American swing.

Sihota enters the tournament ranked 61st on the Fortinet Cup points list. The top 60 players after this week’s event will be exempt for the nine Canadian events and one U.S. tournament on the North American swing that begins next month in Victoria.

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jake Lane grew up in the northern B.C. community of Charlie Lake and caught the golf bug playing Lake Point Golf & Country Club.

Like all kids, Lane dreamed big. During those countless summertime rounds at Lake Point, when the sun didn’t set until late into the evening, Lane would imagine maybe becoming good enough to play professional golf and one day competing in a tournament he watched on television every year.

The RBC Canadian Open was a major in his eyes and now Lane is going to play in it.

Matthew Wilson File Photo - Image Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Matthew Wilson wants to end his junior golf career on a high note and the Nanaimo native is off to a terrific start. Wilson kick-started his final round with a pair of chip-in eagles on his front nine at Summerland Golf Club and won the NextGen Pacific Championship by one shot over Joshua Ince of Surrey.

“I have put in a lot of work this off-season and one of the things I really wanted to do, especially with this being my last year of junior golf, is get my game in a good spot to win a lot of golf tournaments,” Wilson said.

The UBC Men's & Women's Golf Teams Were Both Victorious In The Warrior Invitational - Image Credit Toby Kerr (UBC Communications)

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Officially, the University of B.C. women’s team has won two straight NAIA golf championships. But factor in the two years UBC was forced to miss the national tournament because of Covid, the Thunderbirds have won the last three national titles they have been able to compete in.

Don’t bet against them making it four straight when the NAIA Championships go May 14-17 at TPC Deere Run in Silvas, Ill.

Abbotsford, BC's Adam Hadwin Watches Friend & Fellow Ledgeview Clubmate, Nick Taylor During The Famed Par 3 Contest Prior To The Masters. Hadwin Is Joined By His Daughter Maddox And Wife Jessica, While Taylor's Young Son Charlie Tends The Flag As Mom Andie Also Looks On - All Images Credit Shayain Gustavsp

By Shayain Gustavsp

As the Augusta National Golf Club buzzed with anticipation during the iconic Par Three Contest, the presence of Canadian golfers Mike Weir, Nick Taylor, Adam Hadwin, and Corey Conners added an extra layer of excitement to the proceedings. But what truly stole the show was the heartwarming sight of these talented athletes sharing the moment with their families, as they brought their children and spouses along for a memorable day on the course.

All Images Credit Shayain Gustavsp

By Shayain Gustavsp

As the 2024 Masters unfolded at Augusta National, one figure stood out amidst the lush greenery and hushed whispers of anticipation: Tiger Woods.

Despite the passage of time and a myriad of physical setbacks, Woods' presence on the course ignited a wave of nostalgia and hope among fans and fellow competitors alike. From his early practice rounds to his final putt, Woods' journey at Augusta was a testament to resilience, determination, and the enduring allure of golf's greatest stage.

Adam Niles Wins RJGA Palm Valley Classic In Goodyear, Ariz. - Image Courtesy Josh Brown/WNMU Assistant Athletics Director

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Back in the fall of 2020, Adam Niles finished second in his first event at Western New Mexico University and remembers thinking that maybe collegiate golf wasn’t going to be as tough as he thought it might be.

The 21-year-old Kamloops native chuckled as he recalled that memory following his first collegiate win at last week’s RJGA Palm Valley Classic in Goodyear, Ariz.

“It has been a long time coming,” Niles said in a phone interview. “As a freshman I came second in my first event and that kind of set the expectations pretty high. After that, it was like, okay, maybe I can actually do this and compete with the guys out here. I have just been trying to get better each day I have been here.”

BC's Lauren Kim Tees Off On The 1st Hole At Augusta National In The Final Round Of The ANWA - Image Credit Chloe Knott/Augusta National

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Her scorecard, which Lauren Kim will undoubtedly cherish for the rest of her life, shows that she made a two on Augusta National Golf Club’s par 3 16th hole.

Kim will always remember how close that two was to being a one.

“I had the crowd roaring,” the 18-year-old Surrey native said of her tee shot that landed on the slope right of the pin and then slowly rolled down toward the hole.

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

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It was a great day to be a Purdue Boilermaker. That included the guys who bounce an orange ball around a basketball court and another who chases a little white ball around a golf course.

On the day the Purdue Boilermakers advanced to their first Final Four appearance at the NCAA basketball tourney in nearly half a century, one of the university’s alma mater was having himself a nice day on the links.

Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald, who played his collegiate golf at Purdue, closed with a four-under 67 to finish tied for third at the PGA Tour Americas’ Totalplay Championship at Atlas Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico.

BC's Lawren Rowe - Photo Credit Chuck Russell/Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Lawren Rowe of Squamish closed with the low round of the day, a five-under 67, and the former University of Victoria standout tied for seventh at the PGA Tour Americas’ debut event, the Bupa Championship at Tulum in Mexico.

The PGA Riviera Maya course played tough all week. The 36-hole cut was five-over par and only 11 players finished the event under par. Rowe was one of those 11 as he completed the tournament at one-under par.

Clay Feagler of The Woodlands, Texas won the event on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff after finishing at four-under par.

BC's Jared du Toit Is Seeing Some Promising Results From All His Hard Work - Golf Canada Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The plan was to take a couple of weeks off, return to his Arizona home and rest after a gruelling four-week stretch that saw Jared du Toit tee it up in Malaysia, Oman, New Zealand and Chile.

But the Kimberley native had a change of heart. After tying for eighth at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Astara Chile Classic, he headed for the Santiago airport and instead boarded a flight to Hong Kong where he will play in this week’s International Series Macau event on the Asian Tour.

Leah John Is No Stranger To Winning, With 2 BC Women's Am Trophies Prior To Her Stellar College Career - Image Of Leah With Causeway Trophy Courtesy U of Nevada Athletic Communications

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Vancouver’s Leah John has played five events in her senior year at the University of Nevada and has won three of them.

It’s obviously been a very good year and one that is setting the table for a professional career that is now just three months away.

“I will turn professional immediately after graduation and hop on the Epson Tour,” John said in an interview after finishing as co-medalist at the Causeway Invitational in Sacramento last week.

Sagebrush Golf Club In Quilchena, BC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

If all goes as planned, the Sagebrush experience will cost a little less this season and taste much better.

The highly regarded Merritt-area layout is moving to a more traditional fee green-fee structure for the 2024 season and new general manager Chris Hood is also focused on upping Sagebrush’s food and beverage game.

“We did a survey at the end of last year of our players and one of things that came back from people is they wanted to see more simplified rate structure more in line with what other courses do,” Hood, a veteran of the B.C. golf industry, said in an interview.

Adam Hadwin Had A Solid Showing At Riviera CC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Another week, another British Columbian contends on the PGA TOUR. This time it was Adam Hadwin, who followed up fellow Abbotsford native Nick Taylor’s win at the WM Phoenix Open with a nice run of his own at the Genesis Invitational at storied Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Hadwin began his final round with three straight birdies en route to shooting 30 on Riviera’s front side. At one point, he was within two shots of the lead, but settled for a tie for fourth finish at 13-under par. That was four shots behind winner Hideki Matsuyama of Japan. Hadwin carded a six-under 65 on Sunday after firing a four-under 67 on Saturday.

BC's Nick Taylor Putted Brilliantly At The WM Phoenix Open - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Nick Taylor did more than win the WM Phoenix Open in dramatic fashion by birdieing three of his final four holes and then adding two more in a sudden-death playoff with Charley Hoffman.

Taylor served notice that he is right now Canada’s best male player and, quite frankly, a world-class talent who seems to have that ability to rise to the occasion and perform at his best in the big moments.