Victoria's Naomi Ko Has A Couple Of Very Big Weeks Coming Up As She Tees It Up In Two LPGA Tour Tournaments - Image Courtesy USGA

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Naomi Ko hopes these next two weeks will offer a taste of her future. The 18-year-old amateur from Victoria will tee it up in two straight LPGA Tour events, starting Thursday at the Cambria Portland Classic in Oregon. It will be her LPGA debut and she won’t have long to wait for her second stop, which is an even bigger event.

A Member Of The Rather Exclusive '59 Club' Paul Goydos Was On Hand To Help Promote This Fall's Pacific Links Championship At Bear Mountain In Victoria - Image Credit Bryan Outram

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

VICTORIA -- Bear Mountain hopes its first Champions Tour event won’t be its last. The Greater Victoria resort is preparing, on very short notice, to play host to the Pacific Links Championship on the 50-and-over circuit. The 54-hole, $2.5-million US event goes Sept. 22-25.

And Bear Mountain’s owner, Ecoasis Developments, has made it clear it would love to have a permanent spot on the Champions Tour schedule. “We want this to be successful in 2016,” David Clarke, chief financial officer of Ecoasis, told a news conference this week. “But not just 2016 . . .we would really love to see this as a fixture on the Champions Tour schedule going forward.”

Top-ranked Jared du Toit picked up 10 spots in the world rankings to sit at a career-best 57th in the world. The Golf Canada National Team member is coming off a win at the Glencoe Invitational. He became the first player from the host club, The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, to win the tournament since 1995.

Kimberley's Jared du Toit Will See How He Stacks Up Against The Pros In This Week's SIGA Dakota Dunes Open - Image Courtesy Jared du Toit/Twitter 

B.C. Amateur Champion Has Spot In This Week’s Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Event In Saskatoon

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Fresh off a big win at Calgary’s Glencoe Invitational, Jared du Toit will get his first taste of pro golf at this week’s Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada event in Saskatoon. Du Toit, the reigning B.C. Amateur champion from Kimberley, has been granted a sponsor’s exemption to play in the SIGA Dakota Dunes Open. 

It will be the first professional tournament for du Toit, Canada’s top-ranked amateur player.

Langley's Adam Cornelson Picked Up His First Win On The Mackenzie Tour At The Bayview Place Island Savings Open At Uplands GC - Image courtesy Golf Canada

British Columbia’s Adam Cornelson returned to the Mackenzie Tour with a sense of purpose. Now, after his recent win, he’s got his eye on what’s next.

by Robert Thompson/Global Golf Post/Golf Canada

Like a lot of young pros trying to find their way forward Adam Cornelson spent a fair bit of time looking in the mirror last year trying to determine what he wanted.

Cornelson, 28, from Langley, B.C., went to school at the University of New Orleans, turned pro after graduating and spent five years chasing his dream.

Largely he played on the Mackenzie Tour (formerly the PGA Tour Canada) with mixed success. Two weekends ago he proved something to those who pay attention to the game's minor leagues - and more importantly to himself - with a dominating 20-under performance at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open.

CLICK HERE to read the rest of Robert Thompson's story on Adam Cornelson in the Global Golf Post digital magazine.

Brooke Henderson Had A Dramatic Playoff Win Over Lydia Ko In The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship At Sahalee 

Courtesy Golf Canada

SAMMAMISH, Wash. – Canada’s Brooke Henderson beat top-ranked Lydia Ko with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff Sunday in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after overcoming a three-shot deficit on the back nine.

The 18-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., ranked No. 4 in the world, closed with a bogey-free 6-under 65 – the best round of the week at Sahalee – to match Ko at 6-under 278. Ko finished with a 67.

In the playoff on the par-4 18th, Henderson hit her second shot from 155 yards to 3 feet, while Ko’s second from farther back in the fairway left her with 20 feet. Ko missed to the left, and Henderson tapped in to cap a week that started with a hole-in-one on her fourth hole of the tournament and ended with a major championship.

The PGA Of Canada’s Best Players Tee It Up June 13-16 At Victoria Golf Club Battling For The Association’s Most Prestigious Championship And The Historic P.D. Ross Trophy

Via PGA of Canada

[ACTON, ONT.]—The PGA Championship of Canada sponsored by Mr. Lube and presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf begins next week at one of the country’s most beautiful golf settings.

Sixty-four of the PGA of Canada’s best players tee it up June 13-16 at Victoria Golf Club in Victoria, all vying for the association’s most prestigious championship and historic P.D. Ross trophy.

Albin Choi made the biggest move among the Top-10, gaining 102 spots in the world rankings after finishing tied for fifth at the Web.com Tour Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship. It was the third-best career finish for the Golf Canada Young Pro Squad member and helped him move from No. 10 in the Canadian rankings up to No. 7. Choi picked up 3.08 world ranking points, his third-straight points-paying finish.

While Choi made the biggest move inside the Top-10, it was Adam Cornelson making the biggest move of the week with his win at Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada’s Bayview Place Island Savings Open. The Langley, B.C., native gained 882 spots in the world rankings after picking up his first career win while setting a new 72-hole scoring record on the Mackenzie tour. It was quite the turnaround for Cornelson, who finished 94th on the money list last year to lose his Tour status. After finishing tied for ninth at Q-School, he earned exempt status through the first four events of the year. The win was worth 6.00 world ranking points and moved him from No. 29 up to No. 14 in the Canadian rankings.

Oliver Tubb (left) And Philip Jonas Claim 2016 PGA of BC Championships At Kamloops Golf & Country Club - Image Courtesy PGA of BC

Oliver Tubb Becomes 2-Time PGA Of BC Assistants' Championship

Phil Jonas Successfully Defends PGA Of BC Seniors' Champion Title

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 7, 2016 - Kamloops, B.C. (PGA of BC) - In a final round that saw several players in contention for the FlightScope PGA of BC Assistants' Championship presented by My Turn Health & Fitness Equipment Inc. at Kamloops Golf & Country Club, Oliver Tubb (University Golf Club) finished atop the leaderboard, earning the PGA of BC Assistants' Champion title for the second time in three years.

Beautiful Gallagher's Canyon Golf & Country Club Will Host The Inaugural GolfBC Championship In Kelowna From June 6 -12th - Image Courtesy GolfBC

By Brian Decker, Makenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada

The Mackenzie Tour heads to Kelowna for the first time this week for the inaugural GolfBC Championship, a brand-new event at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club. Here’s a look at the storylines for the week, including what’s at stake, players to watch and key notes.

Langley's Adam Cornelson Poses With The Trophy After His First Win On The Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada Circuit In The Bayview Place Island Savings Open at Uplands Golf Club In Victoria - Image Courtesy Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada

Three Other British Columbians Finish In The Top 10

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Cornelson could be a poster child for perseverance. The Langley native has absorbed plenty of punches as he chased his professional golf dream the last few years.

Just last month Cornelson had to pull himself off the canvas and fight for survival on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit. He passed that test of nerves at qualifying school at Crown Isle in Courtenay and on Sunday finally delivered a knockout punch of his own.

Sophomore Jacqueline Bendrick Will Be The Lone Woman To Tee It Up In The Field Of 156 Players In The Inaugural GolfBC Championship At Gallagher's Canyon Next Week

155 Men And One Woman To Tee It Up At GolfBC Championship - Jacqueline Bendrick Awarded One Of Eight Sponsor’s Exemptions Into Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Event

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The inaugural GolfBC Championship will have the usual 156-player field when it begins Thursday at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club in Kelowna.

Actually, there will be one notable difference. When the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada makes its Okanagan debut, 155 men and one woman will be teeing it up.

Jacqueline Bendrick, a 20-year-old collegiate player from Mercer Island, Wash., has been granted a sponsor’s exemption into the $175,000 event. She will be the first woman to play in a Mackenzie Tour event since the PGA TOUR began running what was formerly the Canadian Tour back in 2013.

Vancouver's Ryan Williams Was The Low Canadian At The Season Opening Freedom 55 Financial Open On The Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada Schedule At Point Grey - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Ryan Williams couldn’t quite catch the leaders, but he still earned himself a nice bonus Sunday at Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

Williams closed with a three-under 69 in the final round of the $175,000 Freedom 55 Financial Open and his 72-hole total of 10-under par made him the low Canadian in the season-opening event of the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Canada circuit.

The low Canadian each week earns a $2,500 bonus from Freedom 55 and the Canadian player of the year will be awarded $25,000 at the end of the season.

Coquitlam's A.J. Ewart Is Shown Here Teeing Off In The Freedom 55 Financial Classic At Point Grey - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A.J. Ewart knows his time at Point Grey Golf & Country Club this week is all about experience and trying to soak up whatever he can on the biggest stage of his young golfing life.

But the 17-year-old Coquitlam resident, last year’s B.C. Juvenile Boys champion, is also hoping to make a few birdies. He made only one in Thursday’s first round of the Freedom 55 Financial Classic, the season-opening event on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada circuit.

A few wayward drives cost Ewart as he opened with a four-over 76, but he wasn’t going to let that sour him on what he recognizes is a great opportunity.

Drew Weaver, The 2015 Freedom 55 Financial Open Winner, Recieves The Trophy From Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada President Jeff Monday On The 18th Green At Point Grey GC Last Year - Image Credit Bryan Outram 

by British Columbia Golf (with files from Mackenzie Tour - PGA Tour Canada)

The Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada season kicks off with Freedom 55 Financial Open The Mackenzie Tour’s fourth season begins this week at the Freedom 55 Financial Open at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, B.C.

Open Qualifying took place Monday May 23rd (Victoria Day) at Swan-e-Set Bay Resort & Country Club in Pitt Meadows. When the day was done, 10 more names were added to the final field for Thursday's start to the season with two more British Columbians and 3 Canadians in total among those to gain entry into the event.

Last Year's First Round Leader Of The Freedom 55 Financial Open, Langley's Thomas Hay, Is Looking To Carry That Lead A Little Further This Year - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Langley Resident One Of A Number Of B.C. Pros To Tee It Up In Season-Opener At Point Grey

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A 2015 season that started with considerable promise quickly turned sour for Langley’s Thomas Hay, who is confident that this year will be different.

At last year’s season-opening event on the Mackenzie Tour--PGA Tour Canada circuit, Hay grabbed the first-round lead with a bogey-free 66 at Vancouver’s Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

(Vancouver, B.C.) – Freedom 55 Financial announced that it has granted local Vancouver professional and Web.com Tour member Devin Carrey a sponsor exemption inthe Freedom 55 Financial Open, the season-opening event on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada schedule.

A 23 year old from Burnaby, Carrey played collegiate golf at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and owns 13 top 25 finishes in 43 Mackenzie Tour starts.

Samantha Richdale gained 24 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 45th at the LPGA Tour’s Yokohama Classic. It was her best LPGA result of the season in three tournaments. The result helped her moved up to No. 3 in the Canadian rankings.

Augusta James, who lost a spot in the Canadian rankings to Richdale, gained three spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 11th at the Symetra Tour’s Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic in South Carolina. It was her fourth Top-15 result this season in five starts.

Jennifer Kirby gained 79 spots in the world rankings after finishing in a tie for 7th in South Carolina. Kirby’s best career finish on the development tour enabled the former Golf Canada National Team member to move up to No. 12 in the Canadian rankings.

CARLSBAD, California — PUMA Golf announced the signing of Canadian golfer Adam Svensson, who is entering his first full season as a professional golfer with full status on the Web.com Tour. Svensson will don PUMA Golf apparel and accessories on-course throughout the 2016 golf season.

“Adam is a great fit for PUMA Golf,” said Dave Burgess, Director of Marketing at COBRA PUMA GOLF Canada. “He has proven his skills on the course and has a cool style and swagger. We are thrilled to be adding him to our Tour team.”

Victoria's Naomi Ko, Who Plays Out Of Royal Colwood GC, Has Qualified For This Summer's U.S. Women's Open - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Naomi Ko called it the round of her life and it could not have come at a better time for the 18-year-old Victoria native. A clutch five-under 67 in the second round of a 36-hole sectional qualifier at The Home Course in Dupont, Wash., earned Ko a spot in this summer’s U.S. Women’s Open.

Ko, a member of Canada’s national amateur team and former B.C. Junior Girls champion, topped a field of 48 players to earn the one spot available at the Monday qualifier.