Tour Talk | The Alberta Golfer
Written by Dunc Mills, Executive Director, The McLennan Ross Junior Golf Tour
Tour Talk
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
When the McLennan Ross Junior Golf Tour, Presented by Crowe MacKay, was founded twenty years ago, one of the main goals of the Tour was to help grow the game of golf in Alberta by providing a platform for aspiring young Albertans to start to get their feet wet in the world of tournament golf. As the Tour enters its 21st season this year, I think it is fair to say that the Tour has more than accomplished that goal as tens of thousands of juniors have entered tournaments over the last two decades and many of them are now introducing their own children to our wonderful sport.
One of the most unique and heart- warming ‘grow the game’ initiatives in Alberta golf circles came to light last summer after receiving a phone call from Jim Fraser, the CPGA Head Golf Professional at Eagle Point GC in Wabasca. Eagle Point is a terrific new nine-hole course located about a two- hour drive north of Athabasca and serves the hamlet of Wabasca/Desmarais and the entire Municipal District of Opportunity, Alberta’s third-largest M.D.
Fraser has been the head pro at the tree-lined Puddicombe Golf designed layout since the course opened in August, 2013. Fraser said in his call that he had some very enthusiastic, but inexperienced young juniors. All were from the aboriginal community of Wabasca/Desmarais and had been learning golf over the past couple of summers. He felt they were now ready to expand their horizons by entering a junior golf tournament.
“It has been very interesting and very rewarding working with these boys and girls the past couple of years,” said the personable Fraser, who had previously been the head pro at the Smoky Lake GC for five years. “In 2013 when the course opened, we started out from ground zero. We had a brand new golf course and a fabulous clubhouse, but no members and no juniors.”
Fraser tirelessly went about the task of building a membership base, both by recruiting kids from the school system in the community and introducing adults to golf as well. The club offered very affordable family passes designed to get youth and adults alike interested in taking up golf.
“We have a small, but very dedicated core of volunteers here in the community who were already golfers, and they helped tremendously in both getting these youngsters involved and encouraging adults to learn the game as well,” Fraser said. “It was a steep learning curve for these kids, and for some of the adults,
too. We had to coach them in everything from basic swing mechanics to things like keeping up a proper pace of play, course etiquette and even learning to play from the appropriate tees!”
Once the juniors started to improve, Fraser thought it was time for them to spread their wings, and last August, he and some volunteers accompanied ten budding stars to the McLennan Ross Tour event at Blackhawk GC in Edmonton. Talk about jumping into the deep end of the pool to get your golf careers started!
The kids were nervous of course and needed some help at first with things like how to use a tournament scorecard, which other more experienced juniors perhaps take for granted. But they behaved beautifully, competed hard, and made many new friends among the other competitors. Fraser said the kids and the entire community couldn’t stop talking about the experience afterwards.
“The kids had a great time,” he continued. “It was a fantastic experience for them and a nice reward for all the hard work they have put in learning to play.” This summer, Fraser hopes that the Eagle Point juniors will be competing in several McLennan Ross events over the summer.
We have a full slate of 25 Tour events on the 2016 schedule leading up to the 21st annual Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort on August 29, 2016. Our corporate partners in the Tour, led by the law firm of McLennan Ross, our Presenting Sponsor Crowe MacKay, and the rest of our roster of partners, have been critically important to the ongoing success of the Tour. Thanks must also go to the clubs that host Tour events as well as the parents and families who support their kids’ participation. See you on Tour this summer!
Tour Talk
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
Montréal’s Jacob Peterson and Banff’s Jordan Irwin share Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur lead
Taylor Craig/ Golf Canada
BROMONT, Que. – Clear skies and mountain winds at Golf Château-Bromont welcomed competitors to the first round of the 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. At 5-under 67, Montréal’s Jacob Peterson holds a one-stroke lead alongside Jordan Irwin of Banff, Alta.
Peterson took off from the 10th tee with the morning wave and moved into quick possession of the lead with three birdies through holes 12 to 15 and an eagle on the par-5 17th.
“It was a pretty windy morning, but I managed pretty well,” said Peterson. “It honestly helped me at some points. I got some good breaks, I made some good putts and I holed-out from a bunker.”
The 25-year-old Concordia University Stinger, who is competing for the first time at this national championship, birdied No. 2, but settled for a bogey on the par-4 5th hole. A birdie on his final hole solidified Peterson’s 67.
“I was pretty lucky to get the morning draw today, so hopefully it’s not too windy tomorrow afternoon. 5-under is hard to beat, but there are a lot of golfers out here, so I’ll just try to do the same thing tomorrow.”
The 31-year-old Irwin also began his round on the back nine, collecting a birdie on the 14th hole followed by a trio across holes 16 to 18. A final push with birdies on Nos. 1 and 8 nudged Irwin into his share of the lead.
Three-time Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Dave Bunker of Woodbridge, Ont., put himself in good position to defend his 2015 40-and-over Mid-Master title with a 4-under 68. The 51-year-old sits T3 in the overall competition with Vaughan, Ont., native Philip Arci, Brandon Markiw of Edmonton and Calgary’s Dustin Yeager.
The team representing Ontario – consisting of Charles Fitzsimmons (London), Ryan Kings (Kitchener) and Matthew Sim (Oakville) – lead the inter-provincial team competition which takes place concurrently with the first two rounds of stroke-play. The trio combined for a two-stroke lead at 6-under 138 as they look to defend their province’s 2015 title.
Team Quebec’s Sebastien Levasseur (Nicolet), Alain Dufresne (Deux-Montagnes) and Dwight Reinhart (Renfrew, Ont.) follow closely in second at 4-under 140.
In addition to the 2016 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title, the champion will receive an exemption into the 2017 RBC Canadian Open hosted by Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ont., from July 24 to 30.
The second round of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship will see the first wave tee off from holes 1 and 10 at 7:30 a.m., followed by the second wave from Nos. 1 and 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Additional information from the tournament can be found here.
Women and The Wolf | The Alberta Golfer
Written by Glenn Campbell
Women and The Wolf
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
The fine people of Ponoka are hoping that the wind howls and “The Wolf” bares its teeth in late August. Wolf Creek Golf Resort will be the site of the 2016 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship from August 24-26.
Mary Beth McKenna, manager of rules and competitions at Golf Canada, claims that Wolf Creek is the perfect site for this tournament.
“Wolf Creek has hosted numerous Alberta Golf and Golf Canada championships in the past and director of golf Ryan Vold has always been a great supporter of amateur golf,” McKenna said. “The course is one of the best in the province and will provide an excellent test for all the competitors.”
Kim Carrington won the 2015 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Ladies Championship at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club and she’s excited that Wolf Creek is hosting this year’s national championship. You see, the Carrington name is pretty well known at Wolf Creek.
“My dad, Bill Carrington, is a 50-year lifetime member of the PGA of Canada and was actually a golf professional at Wolf Creek for six years in the late 1990s,” Carrington proudly stated. “I was fortunate enough to play the course many times.”
Competitors will play Wolf Creek’s Old Course in the championship. There will be three competitions underway simultaneously: the Mid-Amateur for women aged 25 and over, the Mid-Master for those 40 and up, and the Senior Championship for women aged 50 and over as of the first day of the tournament.
Favourites in the senior division will likely include some of the past champions such as Terrill Samuel, Mary Ann Hayward, Jackie Little, Helene Chartrand and Alison Murdoch. Christina Proteau will be a strong contender in the Mid-Amateur division, having previously captured five national titles in that category.
“Both Hayward and Murdoch are members of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and both have numerous championships on their resumes,” said McKenna.
You can also throw Carrington’s name into that list of contenders, as she finished in eighth place at the 2015 Canadian Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship. With this year’s event being held in Alberta – and with her knowledge of the course – Carrington may just have an advantage. Kim isn’t so sure about that.
“It’s been long time since I played Wolf Creek,” Carrington noted. “I’m in golf sales and Ryan Vold is a great customer, so maybe I’ll have to make a few more calls to the course! I hope to play it as much as I can before the championship.”
Carrington says it’s a fantastic golf course and it should attract all of the best players. “Wolf Creek has proven itself to be an outstanding venue for men’s events. Hosting a Canadian [Women’s Mid Am and] Senior Championship will be fantastic for not only the players, but also for Wolf Creek. It will provide great exposure for women’s golf.”
Carrington has been competing in national golf events for over 30 years and has a Canadian Mid-Amateur title and two provincial Mid-Masters Championships to show for it. She says winning the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship would be icing on the cake. “To add a national senior title in my own province would make it that much more special.”
Carrington’s 2015 win at The Glencoe GCC gives her a ton of confidence heading into this season. “I played with Jackie Little of Vernon, BC in the last group last summer at The Glencoe. Jackie has been a great friend for years,” Carrington said.
Maybe the pair will find themselves in the final group on a bigger stage at Wolf Creek.
Women and The Wolf
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
What’s New, CP Women’s Open Returns to Priddis Greens | The Alberta Golfer
CP Women’s Open Returns to Priddis Greens
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
The CP Women’s Open is returning to Alberta this summer for the fifth time in the last decade. Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary will host 156 of the best women professional golfers in the world from August 22-28th in what is always one of best-attended and most prestigious events on the LPGA Tour schedule. Priddis Greens has hosted Golf Canada’s flagship women’s tournament twice previously, in 1999 and 2009, and the club is looking forward to the opportunity to showcase their spectacular course again this summer.
Canadian superstar Brooke Henderson will be one of the favorites at the 72-hole event, which will be the first tournament on the LPGA Tour immediately after the women’s golf competition at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Will Brooke have a gold medal around her neck when she steps off the plane in Calgary?
Defending champion and world #1-ranked player Lydia Ko of New Zealand will also be in the field at Priddis Greens. Top stars of the LPGA Tour from around the world such as Ha Na Jang, Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson as well as Canada’s Alena Sharp and Lorie Kane are all expected to be in Calgary to compete for the winner’s share of the $2.25M USD purse.
The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation is the official charity beneficiary of the 2016 CP Women’s Open. All funds raised through the tournament will support pediatric cardiac care and research at the hospital.
CP Women’s Open Returns to Priddis Greens
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
Strong local and Canadian contingent headlines exemptions for 2016 CP Women’s Open
CALGARY (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada and Canadian Pacific (CP) are pleased to announce the names of 14 players who have received exemptions into the 2016 CP Women’s Open taking place August 22–28 at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club.
Calgary natives Jaclyn Lee and Jennifer Ha will have a home crowd advantage as they compete at the 44th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.
Lee, 19, is enjoying a stellar year on the course. The Ohio State University sophomore won the Alberta Ladies Amateur Championship, tied for third at the Women’s Porter Cup and finished as a quarter-finalist at the PNGA’s Women’s Amateur Championship.
Ha, 22, is playing her first full year as a professional. She earned her first pro win in April at a National Women’s Golf Association (NWGA) event in Florida. The Kent State graduate won another NWGA title the following month at another event in Florida.
Both Lee and Ha play out of Glencoe Golf & Country Club, which is approximately 40 kilometres north of Priddis Greens.
Naomi Ko of Victoria is also enjoying a banner year. The 19-year-old N.C. State sophomore claimed the Canadian Junior Girls Championship last week in Nova Scotia at the Links at Penn Hills. The CP Women’s Open will be the third LPGA event of 2016 for Ko. In May, she claimed medallist honours at a sectional qualifier to earn entry into the U.S. Women’s Open. A month later she won the Portland Classic Amateur Championship to earn a spot in the Portland Classic, where she would play the weekend after making the cut.
Maddie Szeryk, 20, a dual-citizen of Canada and the United States is currently ranked No. 41 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Szeryk, who plays collegiate golf for Texas A&M, will be competing in her second CP Women’s Open.
Lee, Ko and Szeryk are members of the Team Canada’s National Amateur Team, while Ha is a program alum.
Seven Canadians who primarily compete on the Symetra Tour – the LPGA’s developmental circuit – have also been granted CP Women’s Open exemptions, including Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Sue Kim of Langley, B.C.
Other Canadian Symetra Tour players granted exemptions include Jessica Wallace of Langley, B.C., Sara-Maude Juneau of Fossambault-sur-le-lac, Que., Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto, Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. and Anne-Catherine Tanguay of Quebec City.
Hannah O’Sullivan, a former World No. 1 now ranked No. 3 in the world, will also be competing in Calgary. The 18-year-old Arizona native competed in both the 2016 U.S. and British Women’s Opens.
The 14 players earning exemptions into the CP Women’s Open will join a world-class field at Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club that features the Top-3 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings: No. 1 and three-time champion Lydia Ko; No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand; and No. 3 Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont.
Other LPGA Tour stars confirmed to compete include international fan favourites Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Suzann Pettersen, Sandra Gal, Charley Hull, Stephanie Meadow and Morgan Pressel.
The Canucks receiving exemptions will join a Canadian contingent led by Henderson, Canadian Pacific ambassador Lorie Kane of Charlottetown, as well as fellow LPGA Tour players Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Maude-Aimee LeBlanc of Sherbrooke, Que., and Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C.
Sharp and Henderson are representing Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games from August 17-20.
In total, 16 Canadians will compete at Priddis Greens.
“The CP Women’s Open is not only set to feature arguably the strongest field on the LPGA Tour, but also the very best rising talents in Canadian and international golf,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “Golf fans are sure to be treated to an unbelievable showcase of world-class golf.”
A field of 156 competitors will vie for the US$2.25 million purse when the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open makes its return to Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club for the first time since 2009 and the third time in tournament history.
On Monday, August 22, the LPGA Tour will conduct an 18-hole stroke play qualifier at The Hamptons Golf Club in Calgary to determine the final four exemptions directly into the 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.
Free Admission for Juniors…
Golf Canada and CP are proud to offer free admission to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to any spectator aged 17-and-under. In addition to free admission for juniors, parents can take advantage of discounted tickets by using the promotional code JUNIOR and clicking here.
Tickets…
Juniors – 17 & Under Free
Early Week (Mon-Wed) $10.50
Anyday Grounds (Thurs-Sun) $31.50
Weekly (Mon-Sun) $78.75
First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.
Lynn Kuehn goes wire-to-wire to win the 2016 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Ladies Championship
NEWS RELEASE
Lynn Kuehn maintains her lead in the 2016 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Ladies Championship
NEWS RELEASE
Lynn Kuehn maintains her lead in the 2016 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Ladies Championship
Lynn Kuehn takes the early lead in the 2016 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Ladies Championship
NEWS RELEASE
Lynn Kuehn takes the early lead at the 2016 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Ladies Championship
Pictured: Lynn Kuehn
The Champions, Senior Ladies Champion | The Alberta Golfer
Written by Wes Gilbertson, The Calgary Sun
The Champions, Senior Ladies Champion
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
KIM CARRINGTON
SENIOR LADIES CHAMPION
Calgary’s Kim Carrington had a good feeling about the 2015 Guardian Capital Alberta Senior Ladies Championship.
After all, she had fond memories of a previous trophy celebration at The Glencoe Golf & Country Club. “I had a won a city amateur event there a number of years ago,” Carrington said. “So I knew it was a great golf course for me. I like Glencoe and I’ve had success there before.”
Carrington captured her first provincial senior title, posting a three-day tally of 5-over 218 en route to a six-stroke victory. She sealed the deal with a 2-under 69 in the final round, ending a streak wherein five of the six previous years the winner had come from BC.
“That just makes it even more special to get a win, knowing that there were lots of top players coming into our territory to compete for the title.”
The Champions, Senior Ladies Champion
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
What’s New, Shaw Charity Classic | The Alberta Golfer
Shaw Charity Classic
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.
The Shaw Charity Classic continues to earn accolades as one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour Champions schedule. For the third year in a row, the Shaw Charity Classic broke its own record for charitable donations by raising $3.9 Million for 99 youth- based charities in Alberta. Those efforts did not go unnoticed by PGA Tour Champions as the tournament earned its second consecutive President’s Award in recognition of those achievements.
Miller Brady, PGA Tour Champions Chief Operating Officer, presented the award to tournament executive director Sean Van Kesteren at the PGA Tour’s annual meeting held in Miami, FL in December. Van Kesteren said, “I didn’t think we had a chance to win this award two times in a row. We are very happy for all the charities we support. The Calgary community has really embraced this event.”
The golf fans in Calgary and area aren’t the only ones who have taken notice of the great things going on with the Shaw Charity Classic. The 2015 tournament had one of the strongest fields of the PGA Tour Champions season and it will only get stronger this year. The tournament recently announced that Tom Watson will be making his first tournament visit to Calgary at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club from August 31 – September 4.
World Golf Hall of Fame member Watson, with 39 PGA Tour wins, including eight major championships on his resume spoke about his desire to come to Calgary at a media conference in April. “I heard about the success of the Shaw Charity Classic and there was no way I was going to miss it this time around,” commented Watson, who made his final appearance at The Masters this year. “I have heard nothing but positive things about the Shaw Charity Classic, and the record amount of money they raise for children’s charities.”
Shaw Charity Classic
This article was originally published in the 2016 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.