Calgary’s Ryan Yip carded a 6-under-par 66 in round two of at the Web.com Tour’s LECOM Health Challenge to sit T5 through 36 holes at the Peek N’ Peak Resort Upper Course in Findley Lake, NY.

The Calgary native was T29 at -3 after round one (69). Starting on hole No. 10 Yip was 5 under par through four holes with three birdies and an eagle.

He recorded two more birdies and one bogey to move to 9 under par two shots back of co-leaders China’s Xinjun Zhang and Adam Long (New Orleans, La.)

A member of the inaugural Team Canada National Team in 2005, Yip came to Findley Lake ranked 100th on the Web.com Tour’s Order of Merit.

.@RyanYipGolf‘s first four holes of Round 2 @LECOMHC:
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He’s T4 heading into the weekend in New York. pic.twitter.com/TCwGciW5EI

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) July 7, 2017

The 32-year-old’s best result of the season was a T9 at Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER in March. He has two additional top-25 finishes this season.

Young Pro Squad’s Corey Conners (Listowel, Ont.) is T23 at 6-under-par after a second consecutive 69.

Conners’ Young Pro Squad teammate Albin Choi (Toronto, Ont.) started the day in a tie for fourth after an opening round 66 (-6), but a 1-over-par 73 in round two dropped him to T25.

Merrit, B.C., native Roger Sloan is T47 at 3 under par (70-71).

There are 11 Canadians in the field this week.

Click here for the full leaderboard.

In the 72 hole championship at the Coal Creek Golf Resort, it came down to last three for Max Sekulic to claim his long awaited junior title at provincials, with a four round total of 283 (-5), landing him one shot ahead of his nearest challenger.

“It’s huge, I remember when I was 11 and 12, I missed the cut both years. It made me really want it. I always thought winning it would be super cool. To be able to do it in my last year is awesome,” he says.

Matt Bean and Chandler McDowell also earned their well-deserved tickets, with Sekulic, to the 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship. Kai Iguchi held his own in the final round, winning the Juvenile division finishing fourth overall with an even par total (288).

This year’s 2017 Alberta Junior Boys Interprovincial Team. @ChandlerMcd99, @Maxsekulic & Matt Bean to compete in nationals @Catgandcc! ?? pic.twitter.com/VxS8DK8LZl

— Alberta Golf (@Alberta_Golf) July 8, 2017

The Championship was a close contest all week long, with the top three finishing within three strokes of one another. Iguchi held his own in Sekulic and Bean’s group, but says he could feel the pressure during the last critical holes.

“It was definitely nerve racking. It is my first time doing that well coming into the last day. I just tried to go out and play golf.”

The 2017 Canadian Junior Boys Championship will be held at the Caratiqui Golf and Country Club from July 31st to Aug. 3rd in Kingston, Ontario.

2017 Alberta Juvenile Champion Kai Iguchi

TOP 10 – JUNIOR BOYS LEADERBOARD

For the full leaderboard, click here.

For photographs from the championship, click here.

Follow the days events #ABJuniors

RYLEY, Alta. (Alberta Golf) – It was a celebratory moment as teammates Kehler Koss and Annabelle Ackroyd became this year’s 2017 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Girls Champions. After three days at the Coal Creek Golf Resort, the girls were closely matched until the end. Koss was able to claim the junior title with a strong back nine finish, only one stroke ahead of this year’s juvenile champion, Annabelle Ackroyd.

“I think it honestly came down to the last hole. Annabelle and I were close the whole day. I had three birdies coming in on the back nine. The last hole was really what set it,” says Koss.

Koss and Ackroyd went back and forth over the entire three day championship. Koss lead by two strokes after the first two rounds, following her 74, 72 (146) total. Ackroyd managed to close the gap by shooting 74 in the third and final round, but fell one shot short down the stretch. With three holes to play, the pair were tied at the top. Koss’ birdie on the 16th hole seemed to be the turning point.

Even though the competition was intense, the ladies were all laughs as Ackroyd explains what it was like to play with her Team Alberta squad member.

“It’s awesome, we always have a good time out there. We’re so fairly matched all the time. We’ve been together in probably every tournament. This is maybe our seventh time this year. So it kind of just feels normal at this point. It’s always the same.”

Annabelle Ackroyd on the back nine of the final round.

Despite losing the junior girls title to her teammate, Ackroyd, at age 15, takes home the juvenile title in her fifth attempt at provincials. Koss, 18, has only been competing for a few years, but has worked hard to get to this level of play.

“In this last year, I’ve really set my mind to certain goals and trying to achieve them,” she says.

Tillie Claggett, from The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, joins today’s top two to form the 2017 Alberta Interprovincial Junior Girls Team. Koss will attempt to use this week’s momentum in the 2017 Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies’ Amateur Championship next week in Red Deer. She will then go to nationals, and begin her first year at New Mexico State University in the fall. Ackroyd is set to compete with the 2017 Canada Summer Games Alberta girls and boys teams this August in Winnipeg.

Gord MacIntyre gets help from his caddie Leam Thistle in the qualifying for the Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games

When people talk about “growing the game,” that catchphrase seems to generally encompass only one main group — kids. However, courses across Alberta are becoming aware that another segment of the population, special needs athletes, is playing a huge role in boosting the sport’s numbers.

Special Olympians are flocking to golf courses across Alberta in ever-increasing numbers, says Johnny Byrne, the President and CEO of Special Olympics Alberta. He noted that from 2013 to 2016 the provincial program has grown by an 15 per cent, rising to 309 athletes from 268. They are overseen by 42 head/assistant coaches and 38 program volunteers in 14 communities.

“Golf started in the last six years as a formal program,” said Byrne, adding the competitive stream is four years old. “We’ve had really good reception from certain clubs, and the pros, who want to help out. We have a great relationship with the PGA of Canada as well. It’s been great to see this really develop.”

Calgary plays home to a large number of the province’s golfers where 141 athletes are involved with a wait list of 20 more. The Calgary program began 15 years ago with a single facility, the Eaglequest Golf Dome at the Fox Hollow GC, pitching in with their support.

“They have been wonderful friends to the organization, lending us the dome on a weekly basis,” said Kathy Urquhart, the Executive Director of Special Olympics Calgary. Since then, she added, the Winston Golf Club and now a city-owned course have joined in to offer up their facilities.

“Without all three of those partners we would not be able to run this program. We would not be able to grow this program, so we are significantly grateful for their support,” Urquhart stated.

Another huge supporter of the Special Olympics program is in the Stony Plain/Spruce Grove area, where the Stony Plain Golf Course bought into this idea four years ago. The Manager of Golf Operations, Jeff Cuthbertson, is wholeheartedly behind the program that sees upwards of 20 athletes take to the driving range and four-hole kids’ course every second week. As well, they have three competitive-minded players who tour the “big” course on a weekly basis.

“When you look at Special Olympics and the athletes, whether they’re kids, young adults or adults, we have the opportunity to include another group of people in what we do,” explained Cuthbertson. “Truly, if you want to grow the game of golf, it’s not just the kids. There are other groups of people not playing our sport for various reasons and if we can open the doors to those who want to be part of what we are doing, that makes us a viable business and also a valuable asset to our community.”

Ryan Tapankov from the West Central District at the Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games

The feeling of inclusion for the Special Olympics athletes who get to use a course’s driving range, practice areas and sometimes the course itself is a big deal, Byrne pointed out.

“There is no segregation. You’re just out there playing golf. It’s sport at its purest. When you’re out there on the course, everyone’s the same. Everybody shanks shots. You don’t always hit the shot where you want it to go. There’s no difference.”

Cuthbertson suggested quietly that perhaps society as a whole could take a valuable lesson from these very special athletes.

“Golf is hard. Anybody that plays understands that and for someone that has challenges and puts in the effort to play this game, they have my respect. Those that are participating dedicate themselves to it. They go at it as hard, or harder, than anybody else learning to play the game. We’d be doing a disservice to our community if we tried to exclude them from being part of our facility. I’m excited they’re here as part of our community and our golf course. They’re excited to come and that’s a great thing for golf!”

Urquhart perhaps summed up the feelings of the athletes and coaches involved in the golf programs by saying: “These partners that are so supportive of our program and we wouldn’t be able to do this without them. It’s so important for us to have these facilities to get our athletes out to and for them to be able to participate,” because while there are several courses now involved in “growing the game” in this special way, there is always room for more.

“The 2017 Special Olympics Alberta Summer Games is taking place in Medicine Hat from July 7 to 9. Medicine Hat will host the largest Provincial Summer Games with over 1,400 athletes and coaches from across the province. Athletes will compete in 11 summer sports: 5 and 10 pin bowling, athletics, basketball, bocce, golf, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, softball and swimming. Opening ceremony will be held on July 7 at 7 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Fieldhouse. This event is free and open to the public. The sport venues for the summer games are Panorama Bowling Lanes, Crescent Heights High School, Family Leisure Centre, Connaught Golf Club and Medicine Hat Golf & Country Club. Closing ceremony will be held on July 9 at the Family Leisure Centre Kinsmen Plaza on July 9 at 2:30 p.m.” For more information visit specialolympics.ca

Inclusion in the Game

This article was originally published in the 2017 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

Choi and Koss manage to narrowly hold their leads after round two of the 2017 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Championship

To think, by a fluke, Alberta Golf was able to recruit, now over 10-year volunteer, Chris Leach. The 2017 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Tournament Chair, was originally looking to help-out at the CP Women’s Open when it came to the Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club. Registering through the wrong website, Alberta Golf staff jumped on the chance to get Leach involved. A staff member did end up redirecting him to the correct event, but that accident has been nothing but positive for the long-term bantam and juniors volunteer.

“It’s nice to be out on a course, working with some amazing people from the staff from Alberta Golf to the host club representatives. There’s never been a bad experience. I mean it’s fun, it’s rewarding. They are long days, and everyone is exhausted by the end, but we get up and we do it again the very next morning.”

When Leach first got started with Alberta Golf, he didn’t know what his role would be or what it eventually would come to mean to him. Soon, he was able to find what he loved by learning about all of the tournament aspects available.

“I guess when I first started with Alberta Golf, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do. I kind of dabbled in everything and took on any kind of role. I participated in a variety of rules seminars that there were; took my Level 2 online; went and learned how to do course rating and learned about handicapping. I think during all of that, I was able to get involved in one of the junior tournaments. That’s kind of where I really found my passion. To see some of the kids develop over the years, coming through the Bantam, Junior and Juvenile events, it’s kind of incredible to watch them progress. Having an 11-year-old son of my own, it’s always been enjoyable for me to work with the kids.”

Leach has even been able to watch Alberta juniors compete up close on a national stage.

“I was fortunate enough to take down, Matt Williams and Tyler Saunders, for the Junior America’s Cup, for two years in a row. It was really interesting to see the dynamics, how they trained, how they practiced and how they put that into competition play.”

He says the experience of being around the young athletes over the years has been humbling. Having waited to pick up his first club at 27, the tournaments have also acted as teaching moments.

“Sometimes it’s frustrating to watch the kids come in with a score of like 78 and be upset. But you kind of reflect on where your game is compared with where they are at. You learn so much watching them practice and get ready for the tournaments. It certainly has helped me and my personal game. It has reminded me to work on what I need to focus on, such as if I’m struggling with putting or bunker play. Having been out at some of these tournaments with some great coaches too, and just watching what they do with kids, has benefited me personally. It’s great to see all aspects of the game, and really what we can do with it in the future.”

Leach says that seeing the players from the beginning never gets old.

“It’s incredible to see the caliber of golf that we see at these junior tournaments, and then to see what professional play is like. You can see that the kids, some of them one day, will be on those tours which is amazing.”

As a past LPGA and current Shaw Charity Classic volunteer, he has worked with players that have moved up the ranks, but he says that helping at places like the Coal Creek Golf Resort this week are still some of the most inspiring times.

“As far as volunteering, nothing tops working with the kids. These junior tournaments are so rewarding. The kids are out here, they are having fun, they’re giving it their all. There were some high scores yesterday, as frustrating as it can be for them, they’re still here this morning, and they’re going to try to be better. That’s the thing I enjoy the most is learning to never give up. There is always tomorrow. There is always more to come. As bad as yesterday or today may be, there is always tomorrow.”

He says, that even though he had to travel quite far to attend the 2017 Alberta Juniors, exploring new host courses has really opened his eyes as to what’s out there.

“This has probably been the furthest I’ve been away from home to travel in the last few years for a junior tournament, but it’s definitely worth exploring the province and everything there is to offer. I’ve seen some incredible courses in the province that I didn’t even know existed. The course that we are at now, Coal Creek, I mean it’s got to be a hidden gem within the province. Some of the courses I’ve seen, that are over 10 years old, don’t look as good as this course does after having been only open for five.”

Having been involved with the juniors for so long, Leach says that he hopes to continue to see what’s next for the future of youth golf within the province.

“I would love to see more tournament opportunities for the kids. A lot of them have to travel far distances and it can be a big expense. It would be really nice, especially for the girls, to be able to get more involved. If there were more competitive opportunities where they could continue to push themselves and grow, it could only help take their game to that next level.”

As the conversation emerges, Chris reflects on the past 10 years with Alberta Golf and the responsibilities he will proudly continue to carry out.

“To me Alberta Golf feels like home. The last few years we’ve seen some staff changes; changes kind of all around. The good thing is that it seems that every tournament I go to, everyone seems to get better than the last – regardless of which volunteers are here, or which staffers are here. I think we’ve managed to take tournament play from where it used to be and make it better every single time.”

To learn more about how you can get involved as an Alberta Golf volunteer and to fill out an inquiry please visit Volunteer Opportunities.

Team Alberta’s Koss and Choi set the pace for day one of the 2017 Alberta Junior & Juvenile Championship

TOP 10 – BOYS LEADERBOARD

Create your desired trajectory around the greens with these simple steps from Team Canada Women’s Coach Tristan Mullally.

Having a great short game is less about perfect technique and more about mastering trajectory. Understanding how to address the ball to create the desired ball-flight height will allow you to pick appropriate landing points and finish closer to the hole. Jennifer Ha, an LPGA Tour member and Golf Canada Young Pro, demonstrates below.

THE SETUP
Jennifer has placed five balls alongside her feet parallel to the target line with the middle ball in the centre of her stance. Your centre of gravity (sternum) remains constant and should be slightly towards the target, your hand position (another constant) should fall naturally below this point. The second ball (highlighted) is a good reference point.

From here we make several adjustments in setup to create both ends of the trajectory scale, low to high.

Lowest ball flight
Ball position moves back (highlighted), shaft becomes more vertical, stand closer and taller to accommodate the taller handle and your stance narrows.

Highest ball flight
Ball position moves forward (highlighted), shaft becomes more horizontal, stand farther away to accommodate the lower handle, face is slightly open and stance widens.

Although we have focused on ball No. 5 (low) and ball No. 1 (high), you should practise from all five positions. Vary the ball position (back or forward), shaft angle (up or down) and distance from the ball (closer to farther) as you move between each ball. If your standard flight is lower or higher than you wish, use these adjustments to create the flight that you want.

Follow @tmullallygolf

This article was originally published in the Family Issue edition of Golf Canada Magazine. Click here to view the full magazine

Kids across the county are getting treated to some free golf this week through an initiative from the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) Canada.

Starting July 3rd, 700 Canadian golf courses will offer free golf to junior golfers under the age of 16 during the Take A Kid To The Course program.

Not only does the program promote the game of golf at the grassroots level, but it promotes something much more valuable: family time.

“Golfing with your kids, your grandkids, nieces and nephews is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones and it’s also a lot of fun” states Jeff Calderwood, CEO, NGCOA Canada. “Deeper relationships with your kids are formed on the course as you can have one-on-one discussions without the interference of computer or video screens, not to mention the health benefits of being in the great outdoors.”

Along with providing junior golfers with free green fees, many of the clubs participating in the event offer free range balls, junior lessons and many other specials.

The program is entering its 15th season, during which it has allowed over 350,000 golfers an opportunity to golf for free.

For more information on the event and a complete list of participating courses visit kidsplaygolf.ca