For Immediate Release
July 5, 2016

NEWS RELEASE

Pre-tournament favourite and 2014 Champion Jaclyn Lee sits atop the leaderboard after a solid opening round

Ashley Smith leads the Mid Amateur; Kyla Larder leads the Mid Master

HIGH RIVER, Alta. (Alberta Golf) – Jaclyn Lee had a near flawless opening round of the 2016 Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship. The Team Canada Amateur Squad member had three birdies and a lone blemish on hole number ten, where she found trouble off the tee and managed to make a double bogey six from a difficult spot. The Glencoe Golf & Country Club member and Ohio State Buckeye is looking for a repeat of her 2014 Alberta Ladies Amateur victory. Pictured: Jaclyn Lee

“Overall it was a pretty good day. I was pretty steady out there,” commented Lee after the round. “I went in the water off the tee left on number ten and my third shot ended up right of the green. I had to chip under a tree but then I got up and down to save a six.” Lee went on to say that, “I missed some short putts today so hopefully they will roll in tomorrow.”

Jaclyn Lee’s club-mate Erin Farner is sitting two shots back at one over par. The 2010 Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Champion, Ashley Smith of Inglewood G&CC, holds a one shot advantage over the Mid Amateur contest for those aged 25 and over. Kyla Larder of the Edson GC also holds a one shot advantage over the Mid Master contest for those aged 40 and over. The top three competitors will make up the Team Alberta Interprovincial Squad at the 2016 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship on July 26-29 at the Ken-Wo Golf Club in New Mina, Nova Scotia.

The 2016 Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship is being played at the all-new Highwood Golf & Country Club in High River. The event is 54 holes of stroke play competition conducted on the 5,884 yard, par 72 Heritage & Mountainview courses. The first four holes of Heritage were opened in June of 2015 after being re-designed following the flood of 2013. The new Spitzee Six course is now open as well. For more information on Highwood Golf & Country Club, please visit their website here. 

TOP 10 – AMATEUR LEADER BOARD

For the full leader board, click here.

TOP 5 – MID AMATEUR LEADER BOARD (Age 25+)

For the full leader board, click here.

TOP 5 – MID MASTER LEADER BOARD (Age 40+)

For the full leader board, click here.

Round two begins tomorrow, with tee times starting at 7:30 a.m. For round two pairings, click here. For photographs from the championship, click here. Follow the action all week long on Twitter using the official hashtag #ABLadiesAm.  

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Written by Kevin Smith, Global TV

Team AB TAPS into Talent

This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

The last time I heard the word “TAPS”, I was a kid watching the 1981 movie of the same name starring Sean Penn and Tom Cruise. It was the movie debut for both actors and it certainly tapped into their potential that has since made both superstars. How does this relate to Alberta Golf 35 years later? Two coaches for Team Alberta have devised a new scorecard called “TAPS” to help Team Alberta junior golfers mature more quickly in both their golf games and in life.

Randy Robb, Alberta Golf’s manager of high performance sport, has been a Team Alberta coach for over a decade while Pinebrook Golf and Country Club junior coach, Luke Workman, joined Team Alberta last year. Robb and Workman have devised a program for their Alberta juniors unlike anything we’ve seen in Canada. “TAPS” or “Team Alberta Performance Scorecard” has 18 specific categories on a unique scorecard that helps each player assess areas of strength and weakness in his or her golf game.

The “TAPS” scorecard focuses on different aspects such as long game, short game, putting, tactical and technical skills, as well as physical and mental skills. If a category is an area of strength, the player earns a birdie or an eagle. If it’s an area of weakness, then the player chalks up a bogey. If it’s average, then the player gets a par.

Workman, Team Alberta junior girls coach, says he and Robb wanted to devise a more objective measuring tool for the juniors and their parents in the Team Alberta program. “It’s a feedback tool,” said Workman. “It helps us identify where players are excellent and areas where players need improvement to help them lower their scores. It will also help them become more well-rounded athletes and people for that matter.” The scorecard helps provide an individualized practice plan for each player and shows them how best to spend their time.

Robb points out that college golf programs often have as many players sitting on the sidelines each week as they do competing in tournaments. His objective is to help develop juniors that not only make college golf teams, but are leaders on them. “Our goal is to have them be successful at college, both in the classroom and on the golf course,” Robb said. “We’re trying to set it up so they have a better college experience.”

The eight girls and nine boys on Team Alberta will be the first golfers in the province using the “TAPS” system. Kehler Koss, 17, plays out of Earl Grey Golf Club in Calgary and is one of the eight junior girls on Team Alberta. Koss sees the benefit of this scorecard as a learning tool.

“I love it,” Koss raves.

“It sets goals for you and everyone wants to be under par on the scorecard. It really helps athletes who want to take this sport seriously and to know exactly where they need to improve. This really sets the benchmark for athletes in Alberta.”

Koss has already found out she gets lots of birdies in categories such as school work and fitness, but some bogeys in her short game. She is already working harder on her 60-70 yard wedges and lag putting. “It’s really an honour to be a part of that program and be supported by Randy and Luke,” she said. “They really have their hearts set on the juniors developing into the best they can be. The “TAPS” program is one of the main keys that they use.”

Randy Robb has used many coaching techniques in his years with Alberta Golf, but he’s very excited to see if the “TAPS” scorecard becomes one of the best.

“We are just starting to use the “TAPS” program with the players this year, but in the future we’d like to see more and more kids use this concept.”

Robb and Workman will assess the effectiveness of the “TAPS” program once the golf season has ended to see if it did indeed ‘tap’ into the talent of these junior golfers.

Team AB TAPS into Talent

This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

Take the High Road

This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

WE ALL KNOW THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME FLOOD THAT DEVASTATED SOUTHERN ALBERTA IN JUNE, 2013. THE RECOVERY FROM WHAT WAS THE COSTLIEST NATURAL DISASTER IN CANADIAN HISTORY LINGERS TO THIS DAY.

Damage losses and recovery costs soared to over $5Billion. Over 100,000 people had to be evacuated. Five people died. The Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River was one of dozens of golf facilities in southern Alberta that suffered unbelievable damage in the flooding. Now, three years later, the golf course has bounced back and from July 5-7 will host the Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship.

“It was overwhelming and scary,” said Lane Neilson, the long-time superintendent at Highwood, which along with Kananaskis Country, was one of the province’s hardest hit golf courses.

“It was a real nightmare,” Neilson recalls. “The water came in so fast and from every direction. I have witnessed three significant floods during my time here, but this one was in a league of its own.”

At the time, many wondered if they could even save the golf course. Yet this summer, Highwood will play host to the best women amateur players in the province.

“It’s remarkable, unbelievable and a real honour,” said Highwood general manager Graeme Kreiner. “We were supposed to host an Alberta Golf event two years ago, but the flood wiped out all chances of that happening. It’s great to be back on the rotation.”

It’s also great – never mind remarkably amazing – what Neilson, his assistant Brett Lindenback and 1,500 volunteers were able to do to get the golf course into the condition it is today.

“With most of my time spent on paper work and meetings, Brett, who was in his first year at the club, took the bull by the horns and did a wonderful job,” said Neilson. “Without the volunteers we wouldn’t have been able to save the course. Most of the volunteers were actually from Calgary and ranged in age from 8 to 85,” Neilson said. “It was strangers working side-by-side.”

The volunteers had to remove debris that included thousands of rocks and splintered trees, but easily the hardest part was getting rid of a sea of mud and silt – in some places over three feet deep – that covered all 27 fairways and all but two greens.

Most of the silt and mud was shovelled, hosed and squeegeed off the greens by hand while some 17 acres of new sod was laid down on the fairways. “Then it was over- seed and water, water, water,” said Neilson.

The latter was a major obstacle all by itself given that the irrigation pond had to be dredged because the intake was completely clogged. “It wasn’t like the flood happened and it was done,” added Kreiner. “Everybody pitched in with volunteers helping out other volunteers. It showed what Canada is all about in this area.”

Highwood, which opened as a 9-hole course in 1958, eventually expanded to be a 27-hole layout. But the flood changed that. Now there are 18 very solid holes – many with mountain vistas – comprised of the Heritage and Mountain View nines.

The opening four holes on the Heritage side are completely new and a little more open than the original pre-flood layout. All 18 holes are now on the ‘dry’ side of a 3.5-metre berm. “Because of the raised berm, if there is another flood those holes will now all be safe,” said Neilson.

But that’s not all. The original four holes of the Heritage nine now form a practice loop while what was the Spitzee nine – the hardest hit of the 27 holes – has been converted into an executive-style six-hole course with three sets of tees, hazards and forgiving greens that will open later this summer.

“Spitzee was just about everyone else’s favourite nine because it was so peaceful down on the river banks. Fortunately, six of those holes were able to be saved,” said Kreiner. “For people without time to play 18 holes – or for golfers who believe 18 holes is just too much – this offers a nice alternative.

“Time is probably the biggest deterrent to golf. My wife is a perfect example. Even nine holes are too much for her. She gets bored after about six holes. Now, people like her can play the six-hole course in just over an hour. They are still six very good holes. I can go out there with a brand new golfer and we can both have fun and be challenged.”

The four-hole practice loop also gives Highwood additional options. “For bigger events like charity tournaments we can hold a 22-hole shotgun,” said Kreiner, who arrived this year from Golden, BC but who grew up on the Hinton course under head pro Doug Lecuyer.

For the Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur, the players will contest the Heritage/Mountain View layout, which will almost undoubtedly come down to the final three holes to decide a champion.

“No. 16 is a relatively short par-4. No. 17 is a drivable par-4 with water in front of the green and No. 18 plays as a par-5 for the ladies,” Kreiner said. “It wouldn’t really surprise me if somebody has a birdie- eagle-eagle finish.”

“At Highwood you want to get off to a fast start, hang on through the tougher middle holes and then finish real strong. All 18 holes are a fair test. What you see is what you get; there are no tricks.”

In 2002, Highwood achieved designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Three years after the flood, the course is finally out of the construction and rebuilding phases. The club is welcoming a lot of young families as new members and many former members are returning.

Environment Canada called the 2013 disaster “The Flood of Floods,” while the mantra of the relief program was called “Come Hell or High Water”. Highwood overcame the odds.

“There is a perception that our course is still damaged. But that’s not the case at all,” said Kreiner. “I’m telling people that chapter of our story is finished. We’ve turned the page. We’ve escaped to a new high road.”

Take the High Road

This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

   A two-hour weather delay didn’t prevent low scoring, as the top players carded -3, 69, in the first day of the Alberta Men’s Mid Amateur Championship

PONOKA, Alta. (Alberta Golf) – The second provincial championship of the season commenced with the 2016 Alberta Men’s Mid Amateur Championship. The largest field of the year, 165 competitors, (including defending champion, Kevin Temple) took to Ponoka Golf Club, aiming for a low number under threatening weather for much of the day. Other notables competing included 2015 Alberta Mid Amateur interprovincial team members, Jeff Murdoch and Brandon Markiw. Past champions within the last five years Frank Van Dornick, David Schultz and Alan Stewart are also looking to claim another provincial title. However, it would be a few stand-out performances from Justin Butt, Alexander Ritson and Tom Mckinlay Jr. that stole the show in round one.

A thunderous weather delay rolling in shortly before noon halted play for over two hours, with the competitors restarting play in a light rain that promptly turned back to blue skies. While an abrupt suspension of play can often result in competitors losing focus and failing to complete a favorable round, the inclement weather couldn’t stop Justin Butt from powering his way into a three-way tie for first.

Butt, from The Canal at Delacour Golf Course, was pleased following his 3 under score on Tuesday. He stated, “usually I shoot even – maybe a few over – so to come in at 69 is pretty good.”

When asked if there were any changes or adjustments he would like to make to his game heading into round two, he laughed and replied, “I would like to shoot the exact same number tomorrow.”

Ritson and Mckinlay Jr., who each started their round after the weather delay had been lifted, played stellar golf and earned themselves a share of first. Ritson proved consistent throughout the late afternoon, lacing together three straight birdies. He felt the wet course after the delay contributed to his success and the way he approached his play, stating “it was definitely slower for us. I wasn’t worried about being bold above the hole.”

Veteran competitor Tom Mckinlay Jr., a three-time Alberta Men’s Mid Amateur interprovincial team member, will look to break free from the tie for first in tomorrow’s round.

TOP 10 LEADER BOARD  

For the full leader board, click here.

Round two begins tomorrow, with tee times starting at 7 a.m. A 36-hole cut will reduce the field to the low 70 and ties ahead of the final round to be contested on Thursday, June 30. For round two pairings,click here.

For photos from championship, click here.

Tyler Kemp
Coordinator, Communications
Alberta Golf
c 403.852.4954
(e) tylerkemp@albertagolf.org

Written by Todd Saelhof, The Calgary Sun

Veteran Bests the Young Guns

This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

THE GOLF GODS HAVE OPENED UP NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR KEVIN TEMPLE.

Perhaps even a shot at one day playing in the RBC Canadian Open. At age 49, that’s nothing to sneeze at.

“That would be very good,” said Temple, chuckling at the thought of such a fantastic early 50th birthday gift from the sport he’s been playing since he was a teenager.

“My goal has always been to win the Canadian Mid-Amateur,” continued the Calgarian, a member of Country Hills Golf Club. “It’s a very big goal, but there isn’t a tournament I enter that I don’t think I can win.”

These days, such a dream is hardly out of reach for Temple. He’s the owner of three Alberta Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships – in 2007, ’10 and ’15 – each of which gave him an exemption to the national mid-am event later that same year. The winner of the annual Canadian Mid-Am earns a spot in the next RBC Canadian Open.

Armed with his trusty driver and the unconditional support of his wife Jennifer, who sometimes doubles as his caddie, Temple is arguably playing the best golf of his life.

His latest push to appear on the national stage saw him top not only the best of Alberta golfers aged 40 and over, but also talents as young as 25. Alberta Golf has lowered its age minimum to participate in the provincial mid-am from 40 to 25 to fall in line with the mid-am age eligibility of other provinces and governing bodies, including that of Golf Canada and the USGA. At age 48, Temple put together his best finish in beating all swingers – young and old – to capture the Alberta Mid-Am crown at Sundre’s Coyote Creek Golf & RV Resort last July.

Temple carded a final-round bogey-free 7-under-par 64, tying the course record. His 54-hole total of 12-under-total 201 was two shots better than both Brandon Markiw of the Edmonton Petroleum Club and Stony Plains’ Jeff Murdoch.

We sat down with Kevin Temple to ask him about his win last year.

Q: Looking at your scores of 70-67-64, you consistently got better as the week went on, and not a lot of guys there could say that. Did you feel that?
A: Yeah. I made my last bogey on the 27th hole there, and I seemed to find something on the back nine of the second day – I shot 29. And I just carried it on through the third day.

Q: So the old dog showed the young guys some old tricks?
A: It did come down to that. I was very aggressive. On the first hole, a par-5, I hit a good drive and then a hybrid from 230 yards over water to the back of the green and made a two-putt birdie. On second hole, a par-3, I hit it to three feet to start birdie-birdie.

Q: After making birdies on 11, 12, 13 and 15 in the final round, is that when you thought, ‘This is where I’m winning this thing’?
A: On the final day, we had to wait on the tee-box of No. 16, a drivable par-4, for about 15 minutes, and a lot of things were going through my head. I decided I would hit iron off the tee and try to make them catch me rather than me make a mistake and come back to the field. So that’s where I really started thinking about winning.

Q: So is that your crowning achievement in golf?
A: Previously, some people might say, ‘It’s a 40-and-over tournament, so it’s not that big of a deal.’ Now that it has changed it to ages 25-and- over, I think it is my best accomplishment.

Temple then took his game to the 2015 Canadian Mid-Am at Abercrombie Country Club in New Glasgow, NS and finished tied for 12th with a 15-over 295.
But it’s the outright win he’s looking for to get him into the RBC Canadian Open.

“This year I’m hoping to qualify for the Canadian Amateur (with the winner also earning a berth in the RBC Canadian Open), so I’m going to play the Sun Life Financial Alberta Men’s Amateur in Innisfail for the first time since 2008,” Temple said. “I just want to see if I still have it at that level,” even though age just doesn’t seem to be an issue for Temple.

“Just like a fine wine, I guess.”

Veteran Bests the Young Guns

This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

RISING STAR JACK WOOD DELIVERS CLUTCH PERFORMANCE TO CAPTURE THE 2016 ALBERTA MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

The 21 year-old from Banff defeated top seeded Matt Williams in 19 holes. Evan Holmes defeated Jared Nicolls 3 and 1 in the consolation match.

EDMONTON (Alberta Golf) – The Banff Springs Golf Club phenom needed one extra hole in the final match to claim victory at the 2016 Alberta Match Play Championship. The UBC Thunderbird and tenth seeded player took down the number one seeded University of Houston Cougar, Matt Williams.

Williams sported a 1 up advantage on the final hole when play was suspended due to dangerous weather conditions while the players were in the fairway. When play resumed, Wood was able to save par while Williams bogeyed, sending the match to extra holes. Wood made a solid par three on the extra hole while Williams again bogeyed, leaving Wood victorious after four gruelling matches over the past two days at RedTail Landing Golf Club. Wood went 1 up, 2 and 1, 3 and 1, 1 up (19 holes) in his victories over Max Sekulic, Brett Pasula, Jared Nicolls, and Matt Williams, respectively.

By virtue of competing in the final match both Wood and Williams have earned quota positions into the 2016 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship taking place at The Royal Ottawa Golf Club, August 8-11th. Wood has also punched his ticket into the 2017 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship. He becomes the second member selected to Team Alberta after Emmett Oh of Calgary earned the first spot last week at The Glencoe Invitational where he finished as the low Albertan.

A special thanks goes to Head Professional Joshua Davison and Head Superintendent Brad Eshpeter, as well as their entire staff at RedTail Landing Golf Club for a fantastic week of compelling golf.

Final Match Results:

For the full leaderboard, click here.

Photos from the 2016 Alberta Match Play Championship are available here.

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