Eugene Wong Has Played His Way Onto The Web.com Tour For 2016 After A Top Five OOM Finish On The PGA TOUR China In 2015 - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

DONGGUAN, China (December 6)—North Vancouver’s Eugene Wong finished fifth on the 2015 Ping An Bank China Tour – PGA TOUR China Series’ Order of Merit, a position that earned him membership on the 2016 Web.com Tour. Wong's fellow British Columbian, Justin Shin from Maple Ride, slipped to 6th spot on the OOM, narrowly missing his ticket to the next level. 

Besides Wong other players moving to the Web.com Tour are Australia’s Bryden Macpherson, New Zealand’s Josh Geary and China’s Xinjun Zhang and Zecheng Dou. The players received their membership cards during a ceremony following the final event of the season, the Capital Airlines – HNA Real Estate Championship.

Maple Ridge, BC's Justin Shin Was The 2015 Medallist And Currently Sits 5th On The OOM And In Position To Earn Membership On The 2016 Web.com Tour - Image Courtesy Golf Canada/Graig Abel

BEIJING, China – The Ping An Bank China Tour – PGA TOUR China Series announced that OCT Kunming Wind Valley Club in Yunnan Province will host both of the Tour’s Global Qualifying Tournaments in 2016, events open to players from every country but China.

The application deadline for the first Qualifying Tournament is January 4, 2016, the deadline for the Second Qualifying Tournament January 11, 2016. The first 2016 Qualifying Tournament will be January 12-15, with the second Qualifying Tournament the following week (January 19-22).

via Golf Canada with files from the R&A

St. Andrews, Scotland – The R&A is conducting an industry forum in St. Andrews this week to examine the issues surrounding pace of play and the time it takes to play golf.

The Time for Golf conference, which is taking place today and tomorrow (Nov. 24-25) will bring together representatives of national affiliated bodies with figures from some of the key organizations involved in administering the sport to discuss factors such as the golf course, management and player behaviour.

Dale Jackson, chair of Golf Canada’s Rules Committee, is there representing Canada.

Jordan Spieth Casually Hangs On To The U.S. Open Trophy While Addressing The Media After His Dramatic Win At Chambers Bay In The 2015 U.S. Open Championship - Image Credit Bryan Outram

FAR HILLS, N.J. (Nov. 19, 2015) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) and Fox Sports have announced the premiere of their film celebrating the 2015 U.S. Open Championship.

Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Jon Hamm, the one-hour film, 2015 U.S. Open: Spieth’s Northwest Conquest, will debut in the U.S. on Thursday, Nov. 26 on Fox (approximately 4 p.m. EST; check local listings) following the NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions.

The film will be rebroadcast at 4:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 29, on Fox Sports 1.

by Dan Pino/ Golf Canada

It is with great sadness that Golf Canada, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and the entire golf community mourns the loss of Daniel (Dan) Albert Halldorson who passed away on November 18, 2015 at the age of 63.

Halldorson suffered a major stroke on Monday, November 16 at his home in Cambridge, Illinois and passed away two days later in hospital. He is survived by his wife Patricia, daughter Angela, son Mark, three grandchildren and countless friends across the Canadian and International golf community.

The Par-5 18th Hole At Big Sky Golf Club Was Selected As One Of The ‘Great Holes Of The Northwest’ - photo by David Buzzard

Federal Way, Wash. – In the November 2015 issue of Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine, the par-5 18th hole at Big Sky Golf Club in Pemberton, B.C. is recognized as one of the “Great Holes of the Northwest,” one of just four holes selected each year by the Northwest’s largest and longest-running golf publication.

Courtenay's Abigail Rigsby Will Be An Eagle In 2016 As She Has Signed A Letter Of Intent With The Oklahoma Christian University Women's Golf Program - Image Credit Alfie Lau

courtesy Oklahoma Christian University Athletics

COURTENAY, British Columbia (Nov. 17, 2015) – Abigail Rigsby, who won a provincial title in her native country of Canada, has signed a letter of intent to play college golf at Oklahoma Christian, OC women's coach Greg Lynn said Tuesday.

Richmond, B.C.'s Diego San Pedro, Seen Here Holding The 2014 BC Juvenile Boys Championship Trophy, Has Signed A National Letter Of Intent To Join The Oregon State Men's Golf Team Program For The 2016-17 Season - Image Courtesy Richmond-News.com

via OSU Beavers website

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State men’s golf head coach Jon Reehoorn has announced that three student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2016-17 season.

The class includes Kyosuke Hara from Honolulu, Hawai’i, Shawn Lu, from Honolulu, Hawai’i and Diego San Pedro from Richmond, British Columbia.

Canada's Eric Banks (L) And Tony Gil (R) Hoist The Tailhade Cup As They Successfully Defended The Title Won A Year Ago By Corey Conners And Austin Connelly - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Team Canada’s duo of Eric Banks and Tony Gil defied the odds on Sunday at the Los Lagartos Country Club, climbing back from a three-stroke deficit to keep the Tailhade Cup in Canada for a second consecutive year.

The comeback was sparked by Development Squad member Tony Gil of Vaughan, Ont., who posted a 1-under 70 for the day’s lowest score—boosting Canada to a one-stroke victory over runner-ups Brazil and Australia. Collectively, the Canucks finished at 7-over (149-139-145).

Tyler Costigan/ Golf Canada

The second stage of Web.com Tour qualifying school kicked off Tuesday at separate sites across the U.S. going from Nov. 10–13 with 13 Canadians in the field including two from British Columbia. The week following, another 10 Canucks with three hailing from B.C. will tee-it-up at two separate events to complete stage II of qualifying.

Kimberley, British Columbia's Jared du Toit Took Over Top Spot In The Amateur Rankings For Men In Canada This Week - Image Credit

Weekly Top 10 Rankings

(Golf Canada) - Week of November 9, 2015 -  After a five-week reign atop the rankings, Blair Hamilton has been unseated as the No. 1 amateur in Canada by Jared du Toit. The Kimberley, B.C., golfer picked up two spots while Hamilton slipped 30 places to relinquish top spot.

Federal Way, Wash. – The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has announced the 2015 Players of the Year.

Those honored include Men's Player of the Year, Charles Kern of Mercer Island, Wash.; Women's, Gigi Stoll of Tigard, Ore.; Men's Mid-Amateur, Reid Hatley of Hayden Lake, Idaho; Women's Mid-Amateur, Amanda Jacobs of Seattle, Wash.; Senior Men's, Tom Brandes of Bellevue, Wash.; Senior Women's, Leilani Norman of Eugene, Ore.; Junior Boys', Joshua Gliege of Eagle, Idaho; and Junior Girls', Ellie Slama of Salem, Ore.

Adam Helmer/ Golf Canada's Director of Rules and Competitions

Oakville, Ont. – As golf’s governing body in Canada, Golf Canada, in conjunction with the R&A and the United States Golf Association (USGA), announce the new revisions to the Rules of Golf for 2016.

In accordance with the Joint Rules Committee’s four-year review cycle of the Rules of Golf, the new changes will come into effect on January 1, 2016.

Image Courtesy Vancouver Sun

Arv Olson (Left) From The Book Jacket Cover Of His Definitive History Of BC Golf, "Backspin," and (Right) From His Early Days At The Vancouver Sun As The Golf Beat Writer 

by Kent Gilchrist

We lost Arv Olson Wednesday. I use the collective “we” because golf has lost him, hockey and rugby have lost him and all his friends and family have, too.

And we will really miss him.

SCGA 'Celebrities In Golf Carts' Host Mark Willard (Left) Watches As Brian Baumgartner (From TV's The Office) Successfully Completes The 'Chip A Golf Ball Into A Pitcher Of Beer' Challenge On The New Series Being Launched By The Southern California Golf Association 

The Southern California Golf Association, responsible for the SCGA Rules and Fitness tips seen here over the last few year, have now launched a new web series entitled “Celebrities in Golf Carts.”

In this golf and lifestyle series targeting sports and entertainment enthusiasts of all ages, host Mark Willard plays golf with popular stars and athletes, mixing in casual conversation before wrapping up with a brief competition and a beer.

B.C.'s Jared Du Toit (Shown Holding The BC Men's Amateur Trophy Has Been Nominated As The PNGA Men's Player Of The Year - Image Credit Alfie Lau

Courtesy Tom Cade and PNGA

At the end of each golfing season, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association selects the region’s Players of the Year in eight different categories: Men’s, Women’s, Mid-Amateur Men’s, Mid-Amateur Women’s, Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s, Junior Boys’, and Junior Girls’.

The players are voted on by the PNGA Championship Committee, and this committee extends to the NWGMA one vote in each category as part of the process.

Below are the nominees in each of the eight categories.

Victoria's Cory Renfrew Was The Low Monday Qualifier For The PGA TOUR's Season Opening Frys.com Event - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

courtesy Herb Fung/ Golf Canada

Victoria native Cory Renfrew posted a 7-under 65 to earn medalist honours at the Monday Qualifier for the Frys.com Open – the season-opening event on the PGA TOUR.

The 29-year-old collected eight birdies en route to a four-stroke victory over runners-up Ben Geyer, Eric Hallberg and David Bradshaw. The quartet completed the full field of 144 hoping to notch a win at Silverado Country Club in Napa, Calif.

From Left, British Columbia Golf Executive Director Kris Jonasson, Retired Vancouver Province Editor, Reporter And Columnist And 2015 NWGMA Distinguished Service Award Recipient Kent “Cookie” Gilchrist And NWGMA President Tom Cade - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

It almost seemed like a roast when retired Vancouver Province editor, reporter and columnist Kent “Cookie” Gilchrist was named the 2015 recipient of the Northwest Golf Media Association Distinguished Service Award.

Kris Jonasson, executive director of the British Columbia Golf Association, nominated Gilchrist for the award and presented him to the 50-plus people who attended the NWGMA Awards Luncheon at Tacoma Golf & Country Club on Oct. 8.

Christina Proteau Has Advanced To The Quarterfinals Of The U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur For The Second Straight Year - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

courtesy Joey Flyntz (USGA)

CHOUDRANT, La. – Christina Proteau, 32, of Port Alberni, B.C. advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, for the second straight year, which would have been hard to imagine after she shot a 15-over 87 in the first round of stroke play.

Proteau, a prosecutor for the province of British Columbia, rebounded with an even-par 72 in the second round to make match play and has posted three impressive wins.

Canada's Casey Ward Was The Medallist In The 29th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur, Just The Second Canadian To Earn That Honour - Image Courtesy USGA

courtesy Joey Flyntz USGA

Casey Ward, 25, of Picton, ON followed Saturday’s round of 2-over 74 with a 2-under 70 on Sunday to earn stroke-play medalist honors at the 29th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, being conducted at the 6,061-yard, par-72 Squire Creek Country Club.

Ward was joined in the match play portion of the tournament by two British Columbia golfers, Christina Spence Proteau and Shelley Stouffer.

Ward is the second Women’s Mid-Amateur medalist from Canada and first since Mary Ann Hayward, the 2005 Women’s Mid-Amateur champion, did so in 1998. Entering the day two strokes behind Sarah Davison, Ward posted four birdies and two bogeys on the day to record the low round of stroke play.