Mayfair Lakes GC In Richmond Have Taken A Step Backward - In Order To Move Forward - As They've Re-Positioned Their Tee Blocks For The Good Of The Game - Image Courtesy Facility

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Red, white and blue have taken on a new meaning at Mayfair Lakes Golf Course.

The Richmond course has flipped its tees in an effort to convince its players -- mainly the male ones -- to play from the appropriate set of tees. And according to general manager Mike Smedstad, it’s working.

The back tees at Mayfair are now red, which traditionally have been the forward tees at most courses.

Abbotsford's Adam Hadwin Surpassed The $3Million Mark For The Year With His 5th Place Finish In The Bridgestone Invitational - Image Courtesy @adamhadwin.com

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Adam Hadwin made his World Golf Championship debut a highly impressive one as he finished tied for fifth in a field that included 49 of the top 50 players in the world. Hadwin closed with a one-under 69 at Firestone Country Club to finish the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at seven-under par.

Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama ran away from the field, shooting a nine-under 61 Sunday to finish at 16-under par and five shots ahead of American Zach Johnson. Hadwin, who had missed three straight cuts, did more than bump a slump at the Bridgestone. He also boosted his chances of making the International team at this fall’s Presidents Cup.

Surrey's Susan Xiao Holds The Trophy Alongside One Of Canada's Finest Following Her Victory In The Canadian Junior Girls Championship - Image Credit Bernard Brault/Golf Canada

Delta’s Mary Parsons Ties For Second; Two Other British Columbians In Top 10

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Susan Xiao didn’t make a bogey Friday until it really didn’t matter. The only blemish on Xiao’s card in the final round of the Canadian Junior Girls Championship came on the par 4 17th hole, where a bogey cut the 15-year-old Surrey resident’s lead to five shots from six. Xiao figured she could hang on from there.

She did just that, parring the 18th hole to win by five shots. She also captured the Juvenile Championship for players 16 and under, which was being contested at the same time at Camelot Golf & Country Club in Cumberland, Ont.

Tristan Mandur (L) Finished Second At The Canadian Junior Boys Championship While Fellow Vancouver Island Resident Nolan Thoroughgood R) Placed Fourth And Was The Runner-Up In The Juvenile Division - Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Tristan Mandur and Nolan Thoroughgood both had to settle for silver on Thursday. Next week, they’ll try to strike gold. Mandur finished second at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship that wrapped up Thursday at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club in Kingston, Ont. Thoroughgood finished second in the Juvenile division for players 16 and under. He was solo fourth overall in the Junior championship.

It was a terrific result for the two Vancouver Island golfers, who next week will be part of an all-southern Vancouver Island B.C. team at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.

From L-R: BCer's Mary Parsons, Naomi Ko And Kathrine Chan Are In The Field For The 117th U.S. Women's Amateur Next Week In San Diego - British Columbia Golf Photo

FAR HILLS, N.J. (Aug. 2, 2017) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 117th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, Monday, Aug. 7 and Tuesday, Aug. 8 at the 6,423-yard, par-72 San Diego Country Club in Chula Vista, Calif.

The U.S. Women’s Amateur consists of 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 7 and 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 8, after which the field will be reduced to the low 64 scorers. There will then be six rounds of match play, starting Wednesday, Aug. 9. The championship is scheduled to conclude with a 36-hole final on Sunday, Aug. 13.

The Members Make The difference At One Of British Columbia’s Hidden Golfing Gems, Myrtle Point GC In Powell River - Image Credit 

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

POWELL RIVER -- It began as a labour of love. More than a quarter-century later, nothing much has changed at Myrtle Point Golf Course. The fact is Myrtle Point would never have been built without a huge contribution from volunteers.

That same community spirit helps keep the course in the wonderful shape it was in when it recently played host to the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship.

Golden Ears 2017 Champion John Shin Holds The Winner's Trophy At Pitt Meadows Golf Club - Image Credit VGT/Mike West

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

His opponent opened the back nine with an albatross, so John Shin knew he had to respond with a big finish of his own. How does birdie, birdie, eagle sound? It got the job done for Shin, who made like Jordan Spieth at the Open Championship with his finish Sunday at the Golden Ears Men’s Invitational at Pitt Meadows Golf Club.

Shin, who closed with an eight-under 64 to finish the 36-hole event at 11-under par, won by two shots over Eugene Wong. It was Wong who registered that two on Pitt Meadows’ par 5 10th hole on Sunday. Vancouver Golf Tour commissioner Fraser Mulholland said he thinks it is the first albatross recorded on his tour.

Vancouver GOLFEXPO Becomes The 7th Consumer Golf Show Owned And Operated by The National Golf Course Owners Association

Vancouver, BC [July 28, 2017] - The British Columbia Chapter of the National Golf Course Owners Association Canada (NGCOA Canada) is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Lower Mainland’s consumer golf exposition from previous owners Owen Hoskinson and John Tipping of Cascadia Events (Seattle, WA) which will be re-branded as Vancouver GOLFEXPO.

This recent acquisition marks the seventh consumer golf show owned and operated by NGCOA Canada and its over 1,300 members across Canada.

Doug Roxburgh Accepts The BC Senior Men's Championship Trophy From British Columbia Golf President Patrick Kelly - Image Credit Brad Ziemer/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

POWELL RIVER -- Legends apparently don’t retire. They just keep winning championships. Doug Roxburgh, at age 65, added another line to his Hall of Fame resume on Thursday, winning the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship at Myrtle Point Golf Club in Powell River.

It was Roxburgh’s third B.C. Senior Men’s title to go along with his 13 B.C. Amateur Championship titles, four Canadian Amateur crowns, his Canadian Senior championship and countless other titles. He won with a score of one-under par after closing the 54-hole event with an even-par 72.

The 79th Playing Of The National Junior Championship Is Set Go July 31st At The Cataraqui G&CC In Kingston ON, With A Large Contingent Of Players From BC Taking Part Including Coquitlam's A.J. Ewart (L) And Duncan's Callum Davison (R) - Images Credit British Columbia Golf

Courtesy Golf Canada

KINGSTON, Ont. –  Cataraqui Golf & Country Club will welcome the nation’s best young golfers for the 2017 Canadian Junior Boy Championship. The 79th playing of the tournament will take place between July 31-Aug. 3 and will consist of 156 of many of the nation’s best junior golfers, including all four members of Team Canada’s Development Squad.

Included in that field are 29 players from British Columbia including Team Canada Development Squad member A.J. Ewart and Callum Davison, (both pictured above) who is 3rd in the Future Links Order of Merit.

Don't Look Now But Doug Roxburgh Is In Position To Win Yet Another BC Provincial Title At Myrtle Point GC in The Senior Mens Championship - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

POWELL RIVER -- Doug Roxburgh had just stuck his approach to the 10th green inches from the cup for his third straight birdie when one of his playing partners joked about having to try and find a way to slow him down.

“I’m going to do a Nancy Kerrigan on him,” deadpanned Pemberton’s Lance Lundy. For a while, it looked like it might take a 7-iron to the knees to stop Roxburgh in the second round of the B.C. Senior Men’s Championship at Myrtle Point Golf Club in Powell River.

Defending BC Senior Men's Champion Harry Ferguson Is Back At Myrtle Point To Defend The Title He Won Last Year At Shuswap Lake Estates GC - Image Credit Brad Ziemer

As the 2017 British Columbia Golf Championship season moves into its back-nine, we see the Senior & Super-Senior Men's events taking place at Myrtle Point GC in Powell River. 

As always the tournament boasts a strong field that includes many of the top senior players in BC and the Pacific Northwest. The defending champion is Invermere's Harry Ferguson and he'll be trying to retain his crown with the likes of past Senior Mens' Champions Doug Roxburgh, John Gallacher, Gudmund Lindbjerg and Sandy Harper looking to wrest the trophy back. 

The BC Senior Men's Championship is open to male players aged 55 and older as of the first day of the Canadian Senior Men's Championship - (September 11, 2017) . The Super-Senior Championship is open to players aged 65 and older. Maximum field size is 156 players.

Each Championship is 54-hole gross stroke play (NO CUT). Players will be competing in all events in which they are age eligible. The Zone Team Championship is held concurrently with the first and second rounds of the Championship. Four person zone teams are named by each zone prior to the start of the tournament. The zone team competition uses the low 3 of 4 scores each day. 

There is also a Best-Ball Competition where players may make up their own 2-man teams from the field.

CLICK HERE for further information and live scoring.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This year’s weather has been wild; record breaking snowfall over winter, enormous amounts of rain and flooding through spring, and now a summer fire season that is one for the BC history books.

People from all over the province, and country, are being affected by the fires in the interior and northern BC—whether you’re from there, vacation there, or have friends and family there, we all are connected to the people and places that are currently under evacuation, or that have been destroyed by fires in the last few weeks.

In light of the wildfires, Redwoods is using their knowledge, resources, and connections in the industry and community to do one of the things they do best: hosting a golf tournament to raise money for those displaced by the BC Wildfires.

Doug Roxburgh Will Seek His Third B.C. Senior Men's Title This Week At Myrtle Point GC In Powell River - Image Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

In his last four B.C. Senior Men’s Championships, Doug Roxburgh has finished first twice, second and third. Don’t be surprised if he contends again at this week’s championship at Myrtle Point Golf Course in Powell River.

Roxburgh proved at last week’s B.C. Amateur Championship that his game is in good shape. He comfortably made the cut in his 51st B.C. Amateur, a tournament he has won a record 13 times. And Roxburgh has been playing more tournament golf of late than he has in several years.

Over the last month, he has competed at the Kelowna Senior, the Rivershore Senior in Kamloops, the B.C. Mid-Amateur Championship, the Ogopogo Invitational in Kelowna and last week’s B.C. Amateur at Morgan Creek in Surrey.

 AGA-BC Directors Meet With New Golf Canada CEO, Laurence Applebaum, At Point Grey Golf & Country Club. (From Left) Jerry Rousseau, Western Canada Turfgrass Association, Donald Miyazaki, PGA of BC, Mike Whalen, Canadian Society of Club Managers, Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada, Kris Jonasson, British Columbia Golf, Joan Probert, National Golf Course Owner’s Association, Eric Beck, National Golf Course Owner’s Association, Trevor Smith, Allied Golf Association of BC President, Dale Jackson, Golf Canada. (Photo/AGA-BC)

By Jeff Sutherland 

Barely into his start, Golf Canada's new CEO is already making the rounds.

Laurence Applebaum, who spent the last five years as executive vice-president of the Women’s Tennis Association, set an aggressive 21-day schedule to meet with golf industry leaders across Canada... all on their home turf.

His stop in BC was July 19th, hosted by the Point Grey Golf and Country Club and was an opportunity for break out meetings with four separate groups including the directors of the Allied Golf Association (AGA) of BC (a collective of individual provincial golf sector leaders).

British Columbia Golf Coaches Clockwise From Top Left: Matt Cella, Keri Moffat, Colin Lavers And Jennifer Greggain - Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski/BC Golf

With two Canadian Junior Championships coming up, B.C.’s four coaches will be at the national championships working with two provincial teams and two development teams.

The coaches will be travelling with 14 B.C. juniors to national competitions and coaching them throughout the week. Both of the championships take place the same week of July 31st - August 4th in Ontario, with the boys in Kingston at Cataraqui Golf & Country Club and the girls in Cumberland playing the Camelot Golf & Country Club.

As fortunate as our province is to have some very fine golfers on both the women’s and men’s sides, this seems a good time to acknowledge the behind the scenes contribution by the dedicated B.C. Golf coaches.

The 2017 British Columbia Amateur Champion, Jake DuVall, Holds The Bostock Trophy Over His Head After Winning The Title In A Playoff Over Washington's Jacob Koppenberg - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

It may have been the biggest fist-pump in the 115-year history of the B.C. Amateur Championship.

Victoria’s Jake DuVall was more than a little excited when he rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Jacob Koppenberg of Bellingham at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Surrey.

“This is huge,” an elated DuVall said. “I have never really won any big tournament anywhere near the stature of this one. It kind of gives me belief going forward into golf, thinking about turning pro, that I can do it in pressure situations and I am really excited.”

Victoria's Jake DuVall (L) And Bellingham, Wa.'s Jacob Koppenberg (R) Will Play Friday's Final Round With 13-Year-Old Jeevan Sihota, Also From Victoria - Image Credit Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

For a while Thursday, it looked like it was going to be a two-man race to finish at the B.C. Amateur Championship. Maybe it still will be, but when Jacob Koppenberg and Jake DuVall stumbled slightly on the back nine at Morgan Creek Golf Course in Thursday’s third round, it brought a handful of other players back into the tournament.

Despite their back-nine adventures, Koppenberg and DuVall somehow both managed to shoot one-under 71s on Thursday, so nothing really changed. Koppenberg, a 30-year-old from Bellingham, still has the one-shot lead he had on DuVall when the day began. Koppenberg sits at 10-under through 54 holes, while Duvall, a 23-year-old from Victoria, is nine-under.

Canada is celebrating its 150th Birthday this year and with that the Canada Games will hold its 50th edition with the Summer Games in Winnipeg from July 28th to August 13th.

Featuring 16 sports and over 250 events, combined with a major cultural festival, the 2017 Canada Summer Games will bring together exceptional athletes and artists from coast to coast to celebrate the occasion.

One of those sports is of course, Golf, and when it comes to competing in the Canada Summer Games, few provinces can boast the results in any discipline quite like BC can when it comes to golf.

13-Time B.C. Amateur Champion Doug Roxburgh (L) And 2016 Champion Nolan Thoroughgood (R) Both Made Some News At Morgan Creek In The Opening Round Of The 115th BC Amateur - Images Credit Jurgen Kaminski (JKam Photos)/BC Golf

By Brad Ziemer, British Columbia Golf

Morgan Day and Mark Berg will tell you that spending some time at Morgan Creek Golf Course beats hanging out at the evacuation centre in Kamloops. Day and Berg both work at Williams Lake Golf Course and were among thousands of area residents who had to leave town because of forest fires that are threatening the area.

Day works in the pro shop and Berg is the course superintendent. “It has been an interesting last 10 days or so,” Day said. “We got the official evacuation order on Saturday and made the commute to Kamloops which normally takes three hours and it took around eight hours. It has been pretty surreal to be honest.”