Looking Back At A Remarkable 2019 In Canadian Golf
All Images Courtesy Golf Canada Unless Otherwise Noted
Written by Golf Canada
As the decade drew to a close, 2019 marked yet another significant year for Canadian golf milestones on and off the course and around the world. These are just some of the headlines. Details on these stories and many others are available under News on the Golf Canada website.
JANUARY
A sweeping revision and updating of the Rules of Golf comes into effect as of Jan. 1.
The Golf Journalists Association of Canada names Brooke Henderson, Adam Hadwin, Garrett Rank and Jaclyn Lee as their picks for 2018 players of the year.
Golf Canada names the 2019 Team Canada Young Pro Squad: Brittany Marchand, Anne-Catherine Tanguay, Maddie Szeryk, Augusta James, Jennifer Ha, Jaclyn Lee, Jared du Toit, Hugo Bernard, Taylor Pendrith and Stuart Macdonald.
Team Canada 2019 Young Pro Squad (Maddie Szeryk And Jared du Toit)
Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., successfully defends his South American Amateur title in Chile.
Rod Spittle, an outstanding amateur and pro golfer, and celebrated U.S. collegiate coach Herb Page are named as the 2019 honourees to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
FEBRUARY
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., wins the Korn Ferry Tour’s Panama Championship.
MARCH
Youth on Course, the non-profit organization providing young people with subsidized golf, college scholarships, caddie programs and paid internships in partnership with Golf Canada and Alberta Golf, announces a pilot project in the province of Alberta.
Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum kicks off the organization’s annual meeting with a presentation on Golf Canada’s new Strategic Plan 2019-2022, focused on advancing the sport and driving Golf Canada’s vision to be a world leader in golf. The AGM concluded with Charlie Beaulieu of Lorraine, Que., being elected as president, succeeding Leslie Dunning. Three gentlemen received Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award: Raymond Gaudet, Jean-Claude Gagne and Daniel Caza.
Charlie Beaulieu Succeeded Leslie Dunning As Golf Canada President
APRIL
Brooke Henderson ties the all-time Canadian record for pro victories (eight) with her win at the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship.
Golf Canada and the RBC Canadian Open announce a five-year Youth Initiative to make the RBC Canadian Open more junior-accessible than ever before.
Team Canada’s Brigitte Thibault goes wire-to-wire to win the NCAA’s Mountain West Conference at Mission Hills in California.
Brigitte Thibault represents Canada in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Brigitte Thibault
Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., wins the girls’ 14-15 age division at the Drive, Chip and Putt championship at Augusta National.
Golf Canada celebrates 70 adoptions of Golf in Schools sites during its annual Adopt a School Week.
The RBC Canadian Open and Tourism Hamilton partner to launch the Hamilton Fare Way, bringing several of the city’s pre-eminent restaurants to deliver a unique culinary experience to fans.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., claims his first PGA TOUR title at the Valero Texas Open after qualifying for the event on the Monday of tournament week.
MAY
The University of British Columbia wins both the men’s and women’s team titles at the Canadian University/College Championship at FireRock Golf Club in Komoka, Ont.
Canadians from coast-to-coast celebrate National Golf Day on May 1. The day brought further attention to the game of golf and its significant community impact within not only Canada, but across North America.
Golf Canada and Audi Canada announce a multi-year integrated partnership that will see the luxury automotive brand become the exclusive Premier Automotive Partner for Canada’s national Open championships as well as the Official Automotive Partner of Golf Canada’s National Team Program.
Team Canada Media Day - Audi
Golf Canada names St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Toronto, Ont., as host club of the 2020 and 2024 RBC Canadian Open alongside co-host Islington Golf Club.
Drew Nesbitt of Barrie, Ont., wins the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s Abierto Mexicano de Golf tournament.
Tristan Renaud of Sudbury, Ont., and Angela Arora of Surrey, B.C., win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Ontario Championship at Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club in Thornton.
Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., shares low-amateur honours with American Sally Krueger at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open.
Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., and Michael Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Pacific Championship at Pitt Meadows Golf Club in B.C.
Richard Jung of Toronto, a former Team Canada member, wins the PGA TOUR Series-China Beijing Championship.
JUNE
Alberta’s Dustin Risdon wins the PGA Championship of Canada at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Cambridge, Ont.
Brooke Henderson wins the CVS Health Charity Classic in Rhode Island with teammates Keegan Bradley and Billy Andrade.
Brooke Henderson collects her ninth LPGA Tour title at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan. With the win, the 21-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., broke a tie with Sandra Post for the Canadian record for wins on the LPGA Tour and moved ahead of George Knudson and Mike Weir on the PGA TOUR.
Josh Nagy and Hyeji Yang win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Prairie Championship at Deer Park Municipal Golf Course in Yorkton, Sask.
Eric (Joohyung) Byun of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont., win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Quebec Championship at Club de golf Les Boises de Joly.
Rory McIlroy wins the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club with a record-setting 22-under 258 total for four rounds, aided by a final-round 61.
Laurence Applebaum and Rory McIlroy
Florida Georgia Line and The Glorious Sons headline new RBCxMusic Concert Series at the RBC Canadian Open, helping draw record crowds.
The RBC Canadian Open featured one of its strongest fields, including World No. 1 Brooks Koepka, World No. 2 Dustin Johnson, World No. 4 Rory McIlroy and World No. 6 Justin Thomas. Twenty Canadians teed it up at Hamilton.
Rod Spittle and Herb Page join the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame during the induction ceremony at RBC Hall of Fame Day during the RBC Canadian Open.
The RBC Canadian Open was added to the British Open Qualifying Series— Canadian Adam Hadwin and RBC Ambassador Graeme McDowell earned exemptions in 2019.
Calgarians Annabelle Ackroyd and Tommy McKenzie win their respective divisions at the Future Links driven by Acura Western Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort in Ponoka, Alta.
JULY
Brianna Navarrosa of San Diego, Calif., shot 4 under 68, overcoming a four-stroke deficit to capture the 106th Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship held at Red Deer Golf & Country Club on Friday.
After almost 43 years of commitment and dedication to Golf Canada, Bill Paul steps down from his role as Chief Championship Officer.
Isabellla Ferguson of Ottawa and Malik Dao of Notre-Dame-de-I’lle-Perrot, Que., win their respective divisions in the Future Links driven by Acura Atlantic Championship at Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club in New Brunswick.
Michael Gligic of Burlington, Ont., locks up his PGA TOUR card for the 2019-2020 season, the first of his career, by finishing in the top 25 on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Michael Gligic Earned His PGA TOUR Card
Margaret (Sutcliffe) Todd, a pioneer of Canadian women’s golf and a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, passes away at the age of 101.
Brooke Henderson wins the ESPY Award for the best female golfer of 2019, having won her ninth LPGA Tour title this year, making her the winningest Canadian pro golfer of all time.
AUGUST
Jin Young Ko sets a tournament record en route to winning the CP Women’s Open at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont. Brooke Henderson tied for third as the top Canadian.
Jin Young Ko With The CP Women's Open Trophy
Title sponsor Canadian Pacific announces a record $2.5 million raised for the SickKids Foundation as a result of several fundraising efforts under the CP Has Heart program.
Canadian Michelle Liu of Vancouver, B.C., 12, earns berth into 2019 CP Women’s Open through the Canadian Women’s Amateur.
Image Credit: Bryan Outram/British Columbia Golf
Vancouver's Michelle Liu Garnered A Lot Of Attention By Qualifying For The CP Women's Open At The Age Of 12
The second annual CP Women’s Leadership Summit took place the Tuesday of CP Women’s Open tournament week and featured keynote speaker Roberta Bowman (Chief Brand and Communications Officer for LPGA) as well as a new athlete panel.
Golf Canada announces Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club as host of the 2020 CP Women’s Open.
Canada took home the bronze medal in mixed team event at Pan Am Games—the first ever for Canada. The team was made up of Mary Parsons (Delta, B.C.), Brigitte Thibault (Rosemère, Que.), Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Que.) and Austin Connelly (Lake Doucette, N.S.).
Team Canada's Pan American Games Golf Squad
Joseph Deraney of Belden, Miss., successfully defends his Canadian Mid-Amateur title at Summit Golf Club in Richmond Hill, Ont.
Golf Canada and Levelwear announce an extension of their official apparel partnership through 2022.
Judith Kyrinis of Thornhill, Ont., wins the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship at Osoyoos Golf Club in B.C.
Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., finishes T7 at the BMW Championship to earn full PGA TOUR playing privileges for 2019-2020, including a spot in all four majors and the World Golf Championships.
Golf Canada names the winners of the Future Links driven by Acura Junior Skills Challenge National Event: Liam McLaren, Ari Tur, Noah Turner, Claira Frizzell, Gabe Bugden, Alissa Xu, Emile Journault and Keighan Decoff.
Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., wins the Canadian Junior Boys Championship at Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club in Nova Scotia. Luke DelGobbo of Fonthill, Ont., won the Juvenile title.
Christopher Vandette
Jim Rutledge of Victoria wins his sixth PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada title.
William Buhl of Fairhope, Ala., wins the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at Glen Arbour Golf Course in Nova Scotia.
Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont., a full-time NHL referee and Team Canada alumnus, wins the Western Amateur in Michigan, the first mid-amateur to do so since 1997.
Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., wins the Canadian Junior Girls Championship at Lethbridge Country Club in Alberta. She also won the Juvenile title for the second straight year.
SEPTEMBER
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand successfully defends her World Junior Girls Championship title at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.
Atthaya Thitikul
Rory McIlroy, champion of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, was named PGA TOUR Player of the Year.
Luna Lu of Burnaby, B.C., and Ashton McCulloch of Kingston, Ont., win their divisions at the BC Future Links driven by Acura Fall Series at Crown Isle Golf Resort.
Erin Kim of Toronto and Jean-Philippe Parr of Saint-Celestin, Que., claim their respective titles at the Quebec Future Links driven by Acura Fall Series at Lachute Golf Club.
Wes Heffernan of Calgary wins the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley.
Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., wins the Canada Life Canadian Player of the Year title on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada for the second time in four years.
Taylor Pendrith
New Zealand captures the Astor Trophy, hosted at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C. The women’s event is a five-country competition played every four years since 1959.
Gene Elliott of West Des Moines, Ind., wins the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship at Cedar Brae Golf Club in Toronto. Alberta—Ken Griffith, Brian Laubman and Frank Dornick—wins the provincial team title.
Gord Nixon is named the inaugural recipient of the Legacy Award for exceptional contribution to the sport of golf in Canada by the Golf Canada Foundation in partnership with Golf Canada.
The Canadian golf industry mourns the passing of longtime golf industry stalwart Ian Webb after a brave battle with cancer.
David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., performs well at the Korn Ferry Tour’s season-ending championship, earning him status for the 2019-2020 PGA TOUR season.
Wes Short Jr. of Austin, Texas, wins the PGA TOUR Champions Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary.
OCTOBER
Brooke Henderson wins the inaugural People’s Choice Award from Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.
Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., retires from professional golf at the age of 30.
James Beebe of Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Alberta is named the superintendent of the year by the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and Bayer Environmental Science.
The Golf Management Institute of Canada celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The team from The Carman Golf and Curling Club in Manitoba wins the RBC PGA Scramble National Final at Cabot Links in Nova Scotia.
Justin Shin of Maple Ridge, B.C., wins his second career PGA TOUR Series-China title.
Graham DeLaet attempts his return to the PGA TOUR at the Houston Open after more than two years off due to injury.
NOVEMBER
Aaron Cockerill of Stony Mountain, Man., finishes seventh at the European Tour qualifying school, earning him a partial exemption into nest season’s Euro Tour events.
Her fellow LPGA players vote to award Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., the Tour’s Founders Award given to the player “whose behaviour and deeds best exemplify the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA.”
Brooke Henderson Added To Her Solid Reputation As A Great Player And Individual Being Honoured With The LPGA Founders Award
Hilton announces a new multi-year integrated partnership with Golf Canada as the official hotel partner for the organization and its members.
Alena Sharp of Brantford, Ont., is named to the LPGA’s Board as a Player Director.
Golf Canada names the 18 athletes who will represent Team Canada on the 2020 National Amateur and Junior Squads. Men’s Amateur: Étienne Papineau, Cougar Collins, Sam Meek, Brendan MacDougall, Noah Steele. Women’s Amateur: Brigitte Thibault, Mary Parsons, Sarah-Eve Rhéaume, Noemie Paré. Junior Boys: Laurent Desmarchais, Jace Minni, JP Parr, Bennett Ruby, Malik Dao. Junior Girls: Emily Zhu, Angela Arora, Angel (Mu Chen) Lin, Monet Chun.
Jin Young Ko, champion of the 2019 CP Women’s Open, was named the LPGA Rolex Player of the Year.
Golf Canada sells Golf Canada Calgary Golf Centre to Golfuture YYC.
DECEMBER
Golf Canada announces the winners of its 2019 National Orders of Merit. On the amateur side, Julien Sale of Gatineau, Que., was the top male followed by Garrett Rank of Elmira, Ont. Brigitte Thibault of Rosemere, Que., earned top spot in the women’s Order of Merit with Mary Parsons of Delta, B.C., finishing second. Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que., was the top-ranked junior boy in Canada, followed by Victoria’s Jeevan Sihota. Celeste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-I’lle-Perrot, Que., led the junior girls’ ranking. Emily Zhu of Richmond Hill, Ont., was second.
Golf Fore the Cure presented by Subaru announces it raised more than $380,000 for breast cancer research in 2019 at 175 events across Canada.
The Shaw Charity Classic announces donations by Canadians during the PGA TOUR Champions event in Calgary raised a record $14,071,188 for 200 youth-based charities across Alberta.
The LPGA presents the CP Women’s Open, held at Magna Golf Club in Aurora, Ont., with two Gold Driver Awards for delivering best-in-class elements—Best Community and Charity Engagement and Best Sponsor Activation—among all LPGA Tour events.
The RBC Canadian Open, held at Hamilton Golf & Country Club in Hamilton, Ont., was named a finalist for Tournament of the Year—among all PGA TOUR events.
Adam Hadwin represents Canada at the Presidents Cup, finishing 1-1-1.
Canadian Kurtis Barkley finishes runner-up at the All Abilities Championship held in conjunction with the Australian Open.
Jim Fraser passes away on Dec. 9, shortly after the Golf Canada Foundation and the Canadian Seniors Golf Association unveiled a golf scholarship named in honour of the long-time golf supporter who, among other honours, was a member of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Mr. Fraser was a highly respected volunteer and then employee with Golf Canada over a career of more than 40 years.