EDMONTON – With the wind howling and the cold cutting right through to your bones, most of the competitors in the final round of the 2017 ACAC Golf Championship at Red Tail Landing on Sunday threw the game plan right out the window.

Survive. That’s what it boiled down to.

Michael Harrison (UAlberta-Augustana) and Shaye Leidenius (Red Deer College) did the best job of this as they emerged from the inclement round victorious, crowned men’s and women’s individual champions.

Red Deer and MacEwan won the men’s and women’s team titles, respectively.

“It was a grind the whole way through this weekend,” said Harrison, who won by a shot after rounds of 77 and 76. “It was my goal to win and it’s very satisfying to win. I’m really ecstatic for the team. Now we get to go to Oshawa for nationals, so I’m really excited.

“I’ve been working on a lower ball flight,” he added of his success on a day when many scores blew up. “There’s a lot of holes that played into the wind today, so for me that played into my hands. I putted well today. It was just a combination of good ball striking and putting and that was the key.”

MacEwan’s Les Fisher had the best round of the day on Sunday, carding a 75 to go with his opening round 79 and finish as the men’s runner-up. Not bad for a rookie player who wasn’t even selected as one of the top five on the Griffins’ team.

“I just went out and played my heart out,” he said, noting he took the advice that Royal Mayfair’s Mike Belbin gave at Saturday’s championship banquet. “I sang a song all day. I listened to Mike from last night. I enjoyed the round. I enjoyed the company. Even though I wasn’t playing for the team, I just wanted to give it my all.”

MacEwan’s Dakota Smith – also not among the five selected to be on the Griffins team – was third (78-78), while UAA’s Braden Clarkson (77-81) and first-round leader Logan Hill of RDC (71-88) rounded out the top five.

Red Deer claimed their first men’s team title in program history with a total of 642 (counting the top four of five scores each day) – seven shots better than UAA. MacEwan (655) finished third.

“It’s super exciting,” said head coach Scott Bergdahl. “It’s a long time coming for us. We put together a really solid team. We’ve had solid teams before, but to bring it on both days, especially under such conditions, I’m super proud of our team.

“This is a first for us and this is our second gold medallist for ladies’ individual.”

That would be Leidenius, who had a share of the women’s lead after an opening-round 84, but left her competitors in the dust on Sunday with an 82 that felt more like a 75 under the conditions.

“I played for par every hole,” she said. “Winning this is probably one of the better feelings I’ve had throughout my ACAC experience.”

“It’s kind of hard standing over your ball thinking ‘I have to hit three more clubs than I usually would.’ But it’s the trust part of it. I trusted every shot I hit today. That’s pretty much what got me to where I was.”

Concordia’s Kassidy Turcotte (85-90), MacEwan’s Hailey Turcotte (90-86), Medicine Hat’s Nicole Schultz (89-89) and MacEwan’s Elizabeth Stewart (87-92) rounded out the top five.

MacEwan claimed its sixth women’s team title in the past seven years and seventh of the last nine with a total of 349 (counting the top two of three women’s scores each day) – 14 shots better than Medicine Hat (363). RDC narrowly settled for third (364).

“The girls have played well all year,” said Griffins coach Jodi Campbell. “I’m so happy for them that they were able to bring this trophy home.

“We had this long stretch of success and then we had a heartbreaker last year, so they were really motivated to bring it back again. To be able to pull it through on a tough day – I’m just pumped for them.”

CHIP SHOTS… Rounding out MacEwan’s men’s scores: Justin Berget (T6th, 78-82), Josh Gorieu (14^th, 75-89), Noah Lubberding (15^th, 79-86), Zac Yurick (18^th, 80-87), Christian Solkowski (22^nd, 82-88) and Brandon Walterhouse (T23rd, 82-89) … Rounding out MacEwan’s women’s scores: Daniela Donnelly (6^th, 84-96) and Rachel Wiebe (8^th, 94-103).

ACAC Golf Championship, hosted by MacEwan at Red Tail Landing:

• Full men’s results
• Full women’s results

The MacEwan University Griffins are the 16 athletic teams that represent MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, in eight sports. The university’s teams are members of U Sports and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, and compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association and Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

U Sports is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Fifty-four members, 12,000 student-athletes and 550 coaches vie for 19 national championships in 11 different sports. U Sports also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, and 27 World University Championships.

VERONA, Wis. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee has added another accolade to her impressive resume.

The 20-year-old Ohio State junior carded seven birdies to post a 5-under-par 67, climbing three spots up the leaderboard en route to capturing her first collegiate title on Sunday at the East & West Challenge.

Lee, a four-year Team Canada member, opened with an even-par 70 on Saturday at University Ridge Golf Course before marching up the standings into first place, where she shared medallist honours with Oregon’s Kathleen Scavo.

For Head Coach Tristan Mullally, it was only a matter of time before Lee notched her first NCAA win.

“Jaclyn is learning to be more aggressive and play to her strengths, she is a fantastic ball striker who is starting to be better at taking her chances,” said Mullally. “It was only a matter of time before her ability to shoot low scores translated into an NCAA win.”

The former Sun Life Financial Alberta Ladies Amateur champion paced the Buckeyes to a 3rd place finish through two rounds of stroke play. The match play portion of the tournament is set to begin on Monday, with Lee facing off against Alanna Campbell at 10:39 a.m. ET

In her sophomore season, Lee led the Buckeyes in scoring average as well as total finishes in the top-5, earning her a selection to the All-Big Ten Second Team.

Click here for complete stroke play results.
Click here for live match play scoring.

Pictured (left to right): Brian Laubman, Frank Van Dornick and Ken Griffith

KAHNAWAKE, Que. – The second round of the 2017 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship concluded Thursday at Kanawaki Golf Club with Team Alberta emerging as provincial team champions.

The trio of Frank Van Dornick (Camrose, Alta.), Brian Laubman (Edmonton) and Ken Griffith (Red Deer, Alta.) posted a combined second-round score of 1-over 141 to capture the Phil Farley Trophy with a total of 283 (+3).

The squad finished 12-strokes ahead of runner-up Team British Columbia, which was comprised of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Doug Roxburgh (Vancouver), John Gallacher (Burnaby, BC) and Greg Bismeyer (Mission, B.C.) The team had a two-day total of 295 (+15).

Team Quebec and Team Manitoba finished at 299 (+19) to share third. Quebec’s team was comprised of François Bissonnette (Mirabel, Que.), Danny Turbide (Québec City) and Peter Harrison (Ottawa). Mike Walker (Winnipeg), Garth Collings (Matlock, Man.) and Brent Clague (Winnipeg) represented Manitoba.

In the 65-and-over Super Senior Division, Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC., claimed a one-shot victory over Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C. Simpson carded matching rounds of 71 to finish at 2-over 142 for the victory. With the Super Senior title under his belt, the 65-year-old will now set his sights on another trophy.

“The conditions were a little more difficult today and the wind was blowing, which caused some problems,” said Simson, who in 2010 made history by becoming the first person to win the British, U.S. and Canadian senior titles in the same year. “But I’ll take the win. It’s always nice to win something. I’m going to focus over the next two rounds and hopefully I can take home the Senior title, too.”

Lance Lundy of Pemberton, B.C., was leading the Super Senior category after the first round at even-par, but a 3-over 73 dropped him into second at 3-over 143.

Frank Van Dornick of Camrose, Alta., finished third at 4-over 144.

Doug Hanzel of Savannah, GA, took the overall lead in the Senior Division. He’s even for the championship at 140.

“I was very steady all the way around,” said Hanzel, who is the lone player not over par. “I hit 16 greens in regulation today. The greens are tough, you need to nail the speed and the line. But I’ve been putting the ball in good spots. If you don’t, you have some work left to make par.”

Simson and Brian Laubman of Edmonton share second at 2-over 142.

A total of 71 players finished 155-or-better to advance past the 36-hole cut. The third round will begin Wednesday at 8 a.m. EDT.

The winner of this year’s championship will earn an exemption into the 2018 U.S. Men’s Senior Amateur Championship at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., from August 25^th to 30^th.

Additional information, including tee times, for the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship can be found here.

Pictured (left to right): Champions Cam Dunning, Jordan Ediger, Scott Walker and Jimmy Cowan

Twenty-three teams from clubs across the province teed it up at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club for the season-ending Alberta Interclub Championship

Earl Grey Golf Club successfully defended the Alberta Interclub Championship by defeating the team from Inglewood in a sudden-death playoff. It only took one extra hole as three of the four players birdied the par 5 first hole. High temperatures and smoke made visibility difficult at the beautiful Canmore G&CC.

The team from the Derrick Golf & Winter Club took home the net contest winning by four strokes.

The Alberta Interclub Championship has a long history of welcoming clubs from across the province for a season culminating eighteen-hole team gross and net stroke play competition where the best three of four scores per hole are counted as the team score.

• Full results
• Photo album

A special thanks to Darren Cooke and the entire team at the Canmore G&CC for hosting the 2017 edition of the Alberta Interclub Championship.

Pictured: Champions Bonny Leenstra and Mike Ross

Forty-five golfers teed it up at the Lacombe Golf & Country Club for a fun-filled two days of flighted net stableford competition

‘There is something for everyone.’

That’s the mindset that Alberta Golf is using when looking at competitions.

The Alberta Net Amateur Championship is that provincial opportunity for any golfer with an official Golf Canada Handicap Factor to compete. No matter your skill level you can sign up and experience that same provincial championship feel that comes with competition.

The net stableford format makes for a fun environment where it’s ok if you are struggling on a hole because you can pick up and move on to the next one.

Perhaps the best part of these net events is the social aspect. From friends who live in different cities and are looking for an opportunity to reunite on the golf course, to couples that like to get out and play with other couples, the ‘net am’ has fit into that niche very well.

This year, Mike Ross and Bonny Leenstra took home the hardware. But all of the participants were the real winners. “It’s great to see Alberta Golf putting on events like this. Being from Lacombe and having the chance to play host to all these players who have come in from everywhere is a really nice thing to see.” – Tom McKinlay Sr.

• Full results
• Photo album

A special thanks to Kevin Broderson and the staff at Lacombe G&CC for hosting the 2017 edition of the Alberta Net Amateur Championship.

Shannon and Brezovski take home the Novice championships

CLARESHOLM, Alta (Alberta Golf) – The 2017 Alberta Bantam & Novice Championships concluded today at the Bridges of Claresholm GC. On the boys side, day one leader Hunter Thomson backed up his impressive opening 67 with a steady, even par 72 in the final round to win by five strokes over a trio who finished at even par for the championship.

Thomson played solidly in the final round commenting that “today’s round was not that much different from yesterday. I just stuck with the same game plan that worked on the first day.” He made a closing birdie to cap off an impressive week and finish at five-under-par for the championship.

Thomson added that “this win really means a lot. To see Ethan Choi’s name on there twice and a few other successful golfers from Alberta… it really helps to have my name on there. It was a really good week. I am really happy.”

It was a come from behind victory on the girls side for Kaitlyn Wingnean of the Derrick Golf & Winter Club. Back to back 76’s was enough to win the Bantam Girls championship by two shots over day one leader Tillie Claggett.

Wingnean played well down the stretch saying after the round that “the front nine was not as good as I planned it to be, but on the back nine I stepped up my game.” She added that “this is my last year (of age eligibility). This is what I have been working towards. I really wanted to win the Bantam this year and am extremely happy I was able to accomplish that.”

Jace Shannon from Forestburg won the Novice Boys championship and Belle Brezovski from the Sturgeon Valley G&CC won the Novice Girls championship. Look for both next year as they compete in the Bantam championship.

TOP 10 LEADERBOARDS

MEDIA

• Full event information
• #ABBantam
• Flickr albums

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on individuals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment. Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

CONTACT
Anthony Stirling
Tournament Coordinator
Alberta Golf
(p) 403-999-2615

Shannon and Brezovski lead the Novice Championships

CLARESHOLM, Alta (Alberta Golf) – Day one of the 2017 Alberta Bantam & Novice Championships proved to be a tough test as the field of youngsters faced difficult conditions at the Bridges of Claresholm GC. The field battled strong winds and several players shot very respectable numbers in what for many of the golfers was their first provincial championship round.

Last year’s runner-up Hunter Thomson, of the Glencoe G&CC, distanced himself from the field in the first round with consistently strong play off the tee.

“My mental game was strong. I only missed two fairways, the driver was on. I did not miss many greens, and my putting was very good. No three-putts. I am overall just very happy with the round.”

Thomson only made one bogey on the day and holds a five-shot heading into tomorrow’s second and final round.

“I will go into round two with the same game plan. I am pretty happy with today’s round obviously and I am looking to continue that tomorrow.”

Thomson’s club-mate Marko Banic sits alone in second place. The third-place finisher last year bounced back nicely by making an eagle on the par five second hole, after opening with a double-bogey on the first hole of the championship.

Tillie Claggett, also of the Glencoe G&CC, leads the Bantam Girls Championship by one shot over the Derrick Golf & Winter Club’s Kaitlyn Wingnean. Wingnean made an eagle on the par five eighteenth, and when Claggett made double-bogey on the closing hole her lead was slashed by four strokes. That exchange will make for a competitive final round tomorrow.

Jace Shannon from Forestburg leads the Novice Boys Championship and Belle Brezovski from the Sturgeon Valley G&CC leads the Novice Girls Championship.

TOP 10 LEADERBOARDS

MEDIA

• Full event information
• #ABBantam
• Flickr albums

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on individuals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment. Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

CONTACT
Anthony Stirling
Tournament Coordinator
Alberta Golf
(p) 403-999-2615

Ty Steinbring representing Alberta at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

Canada finishes second in the 2017 Euro Junior Golf Cup, with the MJT Team Canada crew off to Finland

This month marks an exciting time for some Alberta junior golfers. From August 8th to 11th Richard Dou, Brady McKinlay, and Ty Steinbring travelled to Scotland to compete in the 2017 Euro Junior Golf Cup (EJGC). Team Canada took home silver medals through a retrogression match against Team Europe. With Team USA capturing first for a third straight year at The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

“The whole experience was memorable. From traveling with the team, seeing Scotland (the home of golf) to playing and getting to practice on an old course, it was a great experience that I’ll never forget,” says Barrhead Golf & Country Club affiliate Steinbring.

Formerly known as the World Junior Golf Cup, the Euro Junior Golf Cup was developed in 1998 and is conducted on courses around the home of golf in St. Andrews, Scotland every year. The Euro Junior Golf Cup provides junior golfers with an opportunity to re-visit golf’s history and maybe make some of their own. Three countries participate each year – Canada, (Canadian Junior Golf Association), the United States (International Junior Golf Tour), and Scotland (Fife Golf Union). The tournament takes on a unique format with the three teams competing in singles matches over three days to determine a winner for the John Clark Trophy. Each team consists of six (U19) junior boys, two (U15) bantam boys and two (U19) junior girls.

Team Canada at the 2017 Euro Junior Golf Cup in Scotland

Also, taking place this month is the MJT (Maple Leaf Junior Tournament) Nordic Junior Team Matches in Vierumaki, Finland. Albertans Chris Horton and Brady McKinlay qualified for this year’s MJT Team Canada. They will compete against Finland, Sweden and Estonia from August 28th to September 4th, with Ontario teammates Bennett Ruby and Joe MacNeil.

“This will be an incredible life experience as well as an eye opener for the Canadian players,” said Trent Matson, MJT National Operations Manager, who is chaperoning the team to Helsinki.  “The Sports Institute of Finland is an excellent facility and this is a unique opportunity to play against very good juniors from three different countries in different conditions.”

57 Boys and Girls aged 14 and under to compete over 36 holes

CALGARY, Alta (Alberta Golf) – If there is any question about where to identify the top young golfers in the province, look no further than the Alberta Bantam & Novice Championships. This year, 57 eager youngsters will descend on the Bridges of Claresholm GC in what will be their major tournament of the year.

Flashback to last year’s championship where a talented 14-year-old named Ethan Choi from Pincher Creek shot an incredible round of 59. While it is unlikely to see that kind of magic again this year, surely there will be some incredible golf on display from those looking to work their way up the junior ranks.

“It is exciting that we have some of last year’s top finishers back in action again in 2017”, says the events Tournament Director, Stephen Wigington. “We are happy about the test that this course will present to these talented golfers. Perhaps most importantly, we are encouraged about the increase in participation this year, especially in the novice division for those aged 12 and under.”

NOTABLES

BOYS
Hunter Thomson – 2016 runner-up
Marko Banic – 2016 third place

GIRLS
Tillie Claggett – 2016 third place
Jayla Kucy – 2016 sixth place

Full list of past champions

FAST FACTS

• First contested in 1996
• Bantam Boys and Girls Format – 36 holes of stroke play competition
• Novice Boys and Girls Format – 36 holes of stableford competition

ABOUT THE COURSE

• Boys Championship tees – 6,185 yards, par 72
• Girls Championship tees – 5,566 yards, par 72
• Boys Novice tees – 5,566 yards, par 72
• Girls Novice tees – 4,589 yards, par 72

MEDIA

• Round one pairings
• Full event information
• #ABBantam
• Flickr albums

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ABOUT ALBERTA GOLF
The Alberta Golf Association was incorporated as a society in 1912 and continues today as a not for profit Provincial Sport Organization (PSO) operating as Alberta Golf. As the PSO, we are commited to realizing the positive impacts of golf on individuals and communities across Alberta. Our vision is that through golf, Albertans will enjoy a high quality of life, improved health and wellness, a strong sense of community, economic benefits and personal fulfillment. Alberta Golf hosts 13 annual provincial championships in order to identify the best golfers in various age and gender catergories. A mix of nearly 1,500 pro and amateur golfers compete on high quality member facility courses across the province. Championships are hosted by a core team of staff and over 100 volunteers. The tournaments promote competition, build pride in the community, support charitable giving and inspire future generations of golfers. They also serve as an opportunity for golfers to qualify for national amateur championships.

CONTACT
Anthony Stirling
Tournament Coordinator
Alberta Golf
(p) 403-999-2615

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

The Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship at The Toronto Golf Club dominates this week’s Top-10 rankings.

No. 3 Josh Whalen picks up 33 places in the world ranking after finishing third at the Canadian Amateur, taking low-Canadian honours at the tournament.

Despite missing the cut at the Canadian Amateur, Chris Crisologo picks up 21 places in the world rankings and moves up to No. 5 in Canada, surpassing fellow B.C. golfer and collegiate rival Lawren Rowe, who finished tied for 37th at the event.

Matt Williams gained 81 spots in the world rankings following his tie for eighth at the Canadian Amateur to move past Austin James into the No. 7 spot in the Canadian rankings.

James gained 32 places in the world rankings after finishing tied for 37th at the Canadian Amateur.

Making his Top-10 debut is Calgary’s Emmett Oh. The University of Houston graduate jumped 62 places in the world rankings to take over the No. 10 spot in the Canadian rankings after finishing tied for 22nd at the Canadian Amateur.

Outside the Top-10, Henry Lee gained 130 spots in the world rankings and climbed up from No. 17 to No. 12 in Canada as a result of finishing tied for 22nd at the Canadian Amateur.

Also making their top-20 debut is Johnny Travale, who climbed 133 spots to take over the No. 19 spot in the Canadian rankings after he finished 34th at the Canadian Amateur.

Biggest move: Kyle Chung gained 826 spots in the world ranking after finishing runner-up at the AJGA Under Armour Canadian Championship. Chung tied for second following a four-hole playoff, recording his second straight top-5 finish at the event after finishing tied for fifth last year.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Significant movement at the bottom end of the Top-10 standings. Selena Costabile made the biggest move of the week, climbing 61 places in the world rankings to move up from No. 12 to No. 9 in Canada.

Monet Chun rejoins the Top-10, picking up 12 places to move from No. 13 to No. 10. The Team Canada Development Squad member was part of the bronze medal winning women’s team at the Canada Summer Games. Chun herself finished fourth in the individual standings.

Biggest Move: Emily Zhu gained 251 spots in the world rankings after the Richmond Hill golfer finished tied for third at the AJGA Under Armour Canadian Championship. That result comes on the heels of her tie for fourth the previous week at the Canadian Junior Girls Championship.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.