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.”

British Columbia Golf is pleased to recognize that Saturday, April 13th is the first day of the Vaisakhi month. We sincerely hope everyone is able to celebrate in a safe and happy manner. 

Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵਿਸਾਖੀ, IAST: visākhī), also known as Baisakhi, Vaishakhi, or Vasakhi is a historical and religious festival in Sikhism and Hinduism.... Vaisakhi marks the Sikh new year and commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

"Vaisakhi presents an opportunity for me to reflect on my journey as a Sikh, and to reaffirm my commitment to the values of Sikhism," said Harman Singh, senior manager of education at The Sikh Coalition.

Traditionally, the Vaisakhi (also known as Baisakhi) festival is celebrated in Punjab and is especially important for the Sikh community as it marks the establishment of the Khalsa. More recently, this festival is also celebrated around the world by the Sikh diaspora. Vaisakhi is a harvest festival of Punjab, or according to the Punjabi calendar, it is the New Year for Punjabi people.

This day is also observed as the Thanksgiving day by the farmers whereby the farmers pay their tribute, thanking God for the abundant harvest and also praying for future prosperity.

Vaisakhi is one of the three festivals Guru Amar Das Ji chose to be celebrated by Sikhs. 

Shauna Wilton Becomes The Third Woman To Lead The Organization Since The Amalgamation Of The BCGA & The BCLGA

For Immediate Release

Delta, BC - April 9, 2024 - British Columbia Golf, BC's Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) for golf, is pleased to announce the election of its newest president, Shauna Wilton. Wilton was officially elected by the BC Golf Board on April 6th and succeeds Greg Moody, who will remain on the board as past president.

Wilton, the third woman to hold the position of president with the Association since the amalgamation of the BCGA and the BCLGA in 2004 said, "It’s an honour to work alongside the board, staff and volunteers to positively influence the sport I love so much."

A lifelong participant in sport and an avid recreational golfer, Wilton brings a wealth of related professional experience to her new position.

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.

Golf Canada Launches Season-Long Campaign That Highlights The Many Health Benefits of The Sport

- New Golf and Health campaign website along with Golf Canada mobile app enhancements to focus on the sport’s positive physical, mental, and social benefits for participants -

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is highlighting the physical, mental, and social benefits that the sport can provide on Canadians through its brand-new Golf and Health campaign.

The campaign – Golf, It’s Good for You – launched leading into World Health Day April 7. All of the World Health Organization’s key criteria for health enhancing physical activity can be achieved through the sport of golf and Golf Canada is prioritizing communicating health as part of its strategic plan.

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.

Ledgeview GC, Site Of The 2024 BC Amateur - Image Courtesy Ledgeview GC

With the 2024 golf season getting underway throughout much of the province, British Columbia Golf would like to remind those who wish to enter that registration for our 2024 championship events is now almost completely open. 

Please find details below.

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 Shelly Stouffer Is Being Inducted Into The Pacific Northwest Golf Hall Of Fame - File Photo

For Immediate Release

Tacoma, Wash. – For the seventh time in Northwest golf history, the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) and the Pacific Northwest Section PGA (PNWPGA) will conduct a joint Hall of Fame ceremony to honor inductees from each organization. This combined Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held at Seattle (Wash.) Golf Club on April 27, 2024.

Their respective Halls of Fame recognize those who have distinguished themselves through outstanding playing accomplishments as well as contributions to the game in the region.

Being inducted this year for the PNGA are Shelly Stouffer of Nanoose Bay, B.C..; Dr. Jack Lamey of Bellevue, Wash.; and Bon Stein of Seattle, Wash. The PNWPGA will be inducting Doug Doxsie of Issaquah, Wash.

BC's Lauren Kim Will Tee It Up At Augusta Next Month - Kim Photo Couresty Golf Canada/BBrault

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Surrey’s Lauren Kim had to pinch herself a couple of times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, that she really was walking the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club.

“It was kind of unbelievable that I was even there,” Kim said of her recent visit to the legendary layout. “I didn’t think I would ever be playing at Augusta.” The really good news is that the 18-year University of Texas freshman will be playing it again very soon. Hopefully, twice.

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.

In Celebration of International Women’s Day, happening March 8, 2024 and recognizing women in sport and golf, we present a video from the 2023 Sport BC Athlete of The Year Awards dinner and presentation, where two very influential women were recognized and honoured with 'In Her Footsteps' awards.

The purpose of In Her Footsteps…Celebrating BC Women in Sport, is to name and honour women who have made a significant contribution to sport in BC. The athletes, coaches, officials, builders, pioneers, teams, officials, and members of the media who have been selected for this honour have helped shape sport in BC.

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.

Created as a legacy of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, viaSport British Columbia acts as the Province’s lead agency to steward the growth and development of amateur sport in BC.

Check out the three pieces of information below as put out recently through viaSport...

British Columbia Caddie Patrick Coolican Earns Full University Scholarship - Patrick Coolican Image: Dittoe Public Relations/Victoria GC 18th hole image courtesy Victoria GC

GLENVIEW, IL – A student from British Columbia, Canada, has been awarded the Evans Scholarship — a full housing and tuition university grant offered to golf caddies — following a selection meeting interview held in December.

Patrick Coolican of Victoria will begin university this fall as an Evans Scholar, where he plans to study music. He will attend one of the Program’s 24 partner universities, with a decision on his awarded school to be finalized by March 15. The Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

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.

Victoria's Royal Colwood Is A NGL Participating Club - Image Courtesy Royal Colwood

League registration is now open for the 2024 BDO National Golf League in support of First Tee – Canada! Make sure your league gets a spot by letting your league operator know about the opportunity!

The 2024 55+ BC Games will take place in Salmon Arm from September 10-14, 2024. Participants will be attending from all 12 zones within the province to compete in a possible 23 sports.

The 55+ BC Games is British Columbia’s premier annual sporting event for residents aged 55 years and over. 

In addition to high-quality competition, the Games experience includes social events, which highlight the host community, as well as Opening and Closing Ceremonies to give participants a full multi-sport experience of partaking in Games Culture.

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oakville, Ont. – Golf Canada is pleased to announce its full 2024 championship schedule, which includes amateur and professional competitions in addition to various qualifiers hosted at golf facilities across Canada.

The 2024 schedule is headlined by Golf Canada’s two signature National Open Championships — the RBC Canadian Open, returning to the historic Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ont. May 28 – June 2, and the 50th playing of the CPKC Women’s Open to be held at Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary, July 23-28.

Golf Canada’s 2024 competition calendar also includes 11 National Amateur Championships presented by BDO, six NextGen Championships, and the World Junior Girls Golf Championship. Three new previously announced championships for the 2024 season include the BDO National Golf League Finals, the Canadian U15 Championship, and the Canadian Collegiate Invitational.