Simon Fraser University Junior Jaya Rampuri Parlayed Her First Appearance In The NCAA Division II Women's Golf Championships Into An Admirable T7th Finish - Image Courtesy SFU Athletics

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Jaya Rampuri finished off her NCAA Division II National Championship tourney in style, rolling in a 10-foot downhill putt for birdie on the 18th green.

It was a fitting conclusion for the Simon Fraser University junior, who did herself and her school proud with a tie for seventh place. Rampuri and teammate Kylie Jack were the first SFU women to ever compete in the National Championship tourney. Both received invitations to nationals after strong performances at the West Regional tournament.

With His Father, A surgeon, By His Side As His Caddy, Burnaby's Michael Belle Is Looking To Make The Cut In His Mackenzie Tour Debut At Point Grey GC Next Week - Image Courtesy Twitter/BC Golf File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Sure, Mike Belle is excited about making his debut on the PGA Tour Canada-Mackenzie Tour circuit at the season-opening Canada Life Open at Point Grey Golf & Country Club. Almost as excited as his dad.

When Belle finally earned his Mackenzie Tour status in what was his third attempt at qualifying school earlier this month, he knew right away who he wanted by his side at Point Grey. He asked his dad, Ralph, who introduced him to the game 20 years ago at Vancouver Golf Club, to caddie for him.

The two of them, often accompanied by Belle’s mom, Kim, have played more rounds than they can count over the past couple of decades.

UBC's Ziggy Nathu Drained A Long Eagle Putt To Win The PGA Works Collegiate Championship In Port St. Lucie, Fla. - Image Credit British Columbia Golf File Photo

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

University of British Columbia senior Zahidali (Ziggy) Nathu won the 33rd PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship (most recently known as the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship) in style Sunday.

Nathu eagled the first playoff hole to beat Logan Bryant of Florida A&M. Both players had finished the 54-hole event at even-par after each shot one-under 71s in Sunday’s final round at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Nathu’s eagle came after he had blown a two-shot lead on the 18th green, where he three-putted for bogey from 18 feet while Bryant made birdie.

He sunk a 40-foot putt for eagle on the first playoff hole. “I was shocked and frustrated about it,” Nathu said. “I just had to forget about it. I hit one of the greatest three-woods from 270 (yards) to the fringe. I kind of felt like I would make the putt. It was a load off my shoulders.”

Richmond Resident Michael Crisologo Birdied The First Playoff Hole To Clinch The Junior Boys Division Of The Future Links, Driven By Acura Pacific Championship At Pitt Meadows GC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

They are rather big footsteps to try and follow, but Michael Crisologo seems like he is up to the task. The 18-year-old Richmond resident earned the biggest win of his young golf career Sunday at the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

And the first person to congratulate him -- by emptying a bottle of water over his head -- was Michael’s big brother Chris.

At Age 13, Lauren Kim Established Herself As One Of Canada’s Top Junior Golfers. The Grade 8 Student From Surrey Won The Junior Girls Division Of The Future Links, Driven By Acura Pacific Championship At Pitt Meadows Golf Club - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

She played with confidence, never got rattled and did not make a single bogey all day. Lauren Kim was the epitome of calm, cool and collected. Did we mention she is only 13 years old and just finishing Grade 8?

The Surrey resident, who grew up on her parents’ driving range, played like a wily veteran as she bested a field that included many of Canada’s top junior golfers and won the Future Links, driven by Acura Pacific Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

Lauren Kim - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

Surrey’s Lauren Kim and Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., have the lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the Future Links, Driven by Acura Pacific Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

The 13-year-old Kim shot a brilliant five-under 67 Saturday and stands at four-under par through two rounds of the 54-hole event. Kim had six birdies and just one bogey during her round Saturday. She is two shots ahead of Angel Lin of Surrey and Euna Han of Coquitlam.

After Having His Tee Shot Bury In Some Long Grass, Jeevan Sihota Managed An All-World Par On The 17th Hole At Pitt Meadows GC En Route To An Opening Round Of 2-under Par 69 - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

Victoria's Jeevan Sihota, who plays out of Gorge Vale GC, took the first round lead on the Junior Boys side in the Future Links, Driven By Acura Pacific Championship taking place this weekend at Pitt Meadows Golf Club, while 2018 Canadian Junior Girls Champion Celeste Dao from Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot, QC, and the Summerlea G&CC led the Junior Girls with both players recording under par scores of 69.

The Junior Boys are playing the course as a par 71 while the Junior Girls play it as a par 72. The finishing 18th hole has been changed to a par 4 for the boys while remaining as a par 5 for the girls.

At 2-under par Sihota takes a 2-shot lead into round two over 3 players, Ryan Hodgins of Medicine Hat, AB, Kai Iguchi from Banff, AB, and Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, QC. Meanwhile, Dao goes into the second round holding a one-shot advantage over Vancouver's Tiffany Kong, with Euna Han of Coquitlam 2 back and Surrey's Angel  (Mu Chen) Lin 3 behind.

Trevor Ragan Is Back...

VOLLEYBALL BC is pleased to announce a special event and learning opportunity. Trevor Ragan graced the stage of the BC Sport Leadership Conference 3 years ago and he's returning to BC to work with our Women's National Team program.

Canadian Women’s Volleyball National Team Head Coach Tom Black is bringing Trevor and his “Train Ugly” approach to work with the Women's National Team.

We have kept the price affordable and the event is targeted at athletes, coaches and parents for any sport. Coaches will also get 2 PD credits for attending! 

WHAT: THE USGA'S LARRY GILHULY TELLS YOU WHY YOUR FORWARD TEES NEED TO BE EVEN SHORTER
WHERE: VICTORIA GOLF CLUB
WHEN: NEXT MONDAY, MAY 13th FROM 8AM TO 11AM
COST: FREE
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: CLUB MANAGERS, CLUB BOARD MEMBERS, PGA PROFESSIONALS, GREENS COMMITTEE MEMBERS & INTERESTED GOLFERS

If you are really interested in offering a set of tees that will let women and senior senior-players have a great experience then you must attend Larry Gilhuly's talk next Monday at Victoria GC.

Attention all golfers who'd like the opportunity to test out and be fitted for Titleist golf clubs. Titleist Thursday Complimentary Fitting Events are back. This summer they'll be available in two different locations in BC... 

Okanagan GC in Kelowna starting this week.
Northview GC in Surrey starting next week.

As a reminder, these are Titleist run, public access fitting events at the same locations for consecutive Thursdays. Check the schedule below, then go to the Titleist website for more information and to book online.

The events page accepts appointments for each event.

Image Courtesy Facebook

Kelowna’s Megan Osland won the 36-hole U.S Women’s Open Sectional Qualifier held at the Bradenton Country Club in Florida, Monday, May 6th shooting 3-under par 68 in the first round and 1-under par 70 in the second to finish 4-under in the one day tournament.

This secured her a spot in the 2019 U.S Women’s Open Golf Tournament to be held at the Country Club of Charleston in South Carolina May 30-June 2.

Former Coach Of Tiger Woods, Hank Haney Had A Lot Of Very Intriguing Thoughts To Share During The Callaway Golf Learning Summit At Morgan Creek GC - Image Credit Bryan Outram/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Hank Haney figures he knows a thing or two about golf instruction. “I feel like I am uniquely qualified,” Haney told a clinic at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey this week. “I am really the only instructor who has taught arguably the greatest player in the history of the game in Tiger Woods and the worst player in the history of the game in Charles Barkley.”

That line drew lots of laughs from clinic participants -- mostly Vancouver-area club pros -- who had gathered at Morgan Creek to hear four of Callaway Golf’s heavy hitters talk golf.

Langley's James Allenby Carded A Bogey-Free 7-Under 65 To Take Medallist Honours At The RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifier At Delta's Kings Links - Image Credit © 2019 Chuck Russell | @russell.pixmedia

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

You want to know what keeps James Allenby going, why he hasn’t given up chasing his professional golf dream? Well, for starters, rounds like the one he shot Monday at Kings Links Golf Course in Delta.

The 34-year-old from Langley fired a seven-under 65 to top the 43-man field at a regional qualifier for next month’s RBC Canadian Open.

Rounds like that one stoke the inner belief that fuels Allenby’s desire to make it as a professional golfer, despite the many setbacks he has endured over the last decade.

Burnaby's Michael Belle Earned Status On The Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada At Crown Isle In Courtenay After Finishing T6 In The Mackenzie Tour's Final Q-School Of The Season - Image Courtesy Twitter

Golf season is well under way and in British Columbia that also signals the return of 'Ziemer's B.C. Golf Notes' as our own Brad Ziemer keeps us up to date on what's happening around the golf world with respect to players and people from our beautiful province. Enjoy. - ed

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

The third time was the charm for Burnaby’s Michael Belle at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada Qualifying School. Belle had failed to make the grade in two previous Q-School attempts at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay. But this time was different.

Belle was Mr. Consistency as he strung together four straight sub-par rounds of 70-69-69-70 to finish tied for sixth place at 10-under par.

Tennessee's Andrew McCain Claimed Medalist Honours In The Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Q-School Stop At Crown Isle Resort In Courtenay, B.C. With Burnaby's Michael Belle (Inset) Finishing as Top Canadian At T6 - Images Courtesy Minnesota Golf Assosciation & Vancouver Golf Tour)

Via Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Communications

(Courtenay, British Columbia) — Making 22 birdies and an eagle through four rounds at Crown Isle Resort, Andrew McCain claimed medalist honours by three strokes at the sixth and final Mackenzie Tour Q-School event of the 2019 season.

“It’s not really like a normal golf tournament because it’s more stressful all the way through,” said the Knoxville, Tennessee native. “At the same time, it’s almost more satisfying just because you have one shot every year to do it, so to show up and have some game when it matters, that means a lot.”

Golf Canada is proud to celebrate the 66 adoptions that occurred during Adopt a School Week thanks to the efforts of golf enthusiasts and industry partners across the country.

In total, the figure translates to an additional 7,920 students being introduced to the sport through the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program. The coast-to-coast campaign was elevated by support from Canadian industry partners—the Provincial Associations, PGA of Canada, the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), Canadian Society of Club Managers and Canadian Golf Superintendents Association.

UBC Thunderbirds Men's Golf Team Members Ziggy Nathu (Right In Large Photo/Left In Inset) And Andy Kim Are Off To the PGA WORKS Championship - Inset Image Courtesy UBC Twitter

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

A huge month of May for the University of B.C. Thunderbirds men’s golf team has become even bigger for Ziggy Nathu and Andy Kim.

The two UBC players are heading to Florida to compete in the 33rd PGA WORKS Championship. The 54-hole event runs May 10-12 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

For its first 32 years, the tournament was known as the PGA Minority Collegiate Championship, but it has been rebranded this year as the PGA WORKS Championship. UBC is the first Canadian school to send athletes to compete in the event.

For Immediate Release

(30 April 2019), St Andrews, Scotland and Liberty Corner, NJ, USA: Golf’s new World Handicap System (WHS), which is designed to bring the game of golf under a single set of Rules for handicapping and provide a more consistent measure of players’ ability between different regions of the world, remains on track for implementation starting in 2020.

Education has begun with events being held in Singapore, South Africa, Great Britain and Ireland, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Continental Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and the USA.

A secure resource portal, accessible via whs.com, has also been launched to provide national associations with a library of materials that they can use to help support their own education efforts.

Image courtesy Golf Canada

Via Golf Canada

OTTAWA – On the second annual National Golf Day, the Canadian golf industry, represented by We Are Golf, is launching a national campaign to encourage Canadians to get involved in the sport. Industry leaders are meeting with Parliamentarians throughout the day, while golf stakeholders are working to spread the word in municipalities nationwide.