MAINEVILLE, Ohio – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee etched her name in the history on books on Sunday, tying a 54-hole scoring record at the Big 10 Championship en route to a four-stroke victory.

Lee, a three-time National Amateur Squad member, went wire-to-wire at TPC River’s Bend, kickstarted by an opening-round 66—the lowest score of the tournament. The Ohio State junior followed with a second-round 68 and battled through a tense final round which saw her lead shrink to as little as one.

“This means a lot to me,” Lee said, greenside at the 18th. “It was a goal that I set at the beginning of the year and I’m so happy to achieve it. After coming in to the final round with a five-stroke lead, things got a little nerve-wracking today but I’m glad to walk away with the title. To tie the record and have my name in the history books is pretty cool, too.”

The win marks the third NCAA title of the year for the 20-year-old—she collected victories at both the Westbrook Spring Invite and the East & West Match Play.

Your @bigten champion, @JaclynLee57!! ??? pic.twitter.com/RPzkSgKwHH

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) April 22, 2018

Collectively, the Buckeyes finished fourth at 1 over par. Lee will lead the Buckeyes into the NCAA Regionals, getting under way on May 7.

Click here for full scoring.

MESA, Ariz. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee nabbed her third NCAA top-10 finish of the season on Sunday, placing 2nd in the Clover Cup at the Longbow Golf Club.

Lee, a Team Canada National Amateur Squad member, carded rounds of 72-69-71 to close the 54-hole event at 4 under par, one stroke behind the champion Julienne Soo of Oklahoma.

Lee’s efforts paced Ohio State Buckeyes to a 4th place result, 11 strokes behind champion Oklahoma Sooners.

The Ohio State junior will lead the Buckeyes into their next match at this week’s Clemson Invitational on Friday at The Reserve at Lake Keowee in Sunset, S.C.

Click here for full scoring.

PEORIA, Ariz. – Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee wrote a chapter in history on Monday, breaking an Ohio State school record with a 64 at the Westbrook Spring Invite, collecting her second NCAA victory in the process.

Lee, a Team Canada National Amateur Squad member, marched to the tune of seven birdies accompanied by an eagle on the par-5 8th hole, finishing at 8 under par for the day on the Westbrook Village Golf Course.

The 20-year-old junior finished at 19 under par in the 36-hole event, two strokes clear of runner-up Kaitlin Milligan of Oklahoma State.

????????Lee used seven birdies and an eagle en route to an Ohio State-record 64, breaking @JPorvasnik‘s opening-round 65 at the Westbrook Spring Invite in 2014.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/bvWRhtt07n

— Ohio State W Golf (@OhioState_WGOLF) February 25, 2018

Lee’s first NCAA victory of her career came in 2017 when she split medallist honours at the East & West Match Play.

The former Alberta Ladies Amateur champion paced the Buckeyes to a 2nd place finish, one stroke behind Oklahoma. She was named as the Big Ten Conference Golfer of the Week for her efforts in Arizona.

Congrats to @JaclynLee57 on her second Big Ten Golfer of the Week honor of the 2017-18 season!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xpOjDDxKgz

— Ohio State W Golf (@OhioState_WGOLF) February 28, 2018

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 full scoring.

Seven players identified for Team Alberta Boys program

Applications still being accepted for Tier 2 – Regional Player Development program

Golf Canada is pleased to announce the eight athletes—four female and four male—who have been selected to the 2018 Team Canada Young Pro Squad.

Comprising the 2018 Women’s Young Pro Squad is Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Quebec City), Brittany Marchand (Orangeville, Ont.), Augusta James (Bath, Ont.), and Jennifer Ha (Calgary) while Jared du Toit (Kimberley, B.C.), Stuart Macdonald (Vancouver), Albin Choi (Toronto) and Taylor Pendrith (Richmond Hill, Ont.) will represent the Men’s Young Pro Squad.

The focus of the Team Canada Young Pro Squad—now in its fifth year—is to bridge the gap for top-performing amateurs transitioning into the professional ranks. Since the inception of the Young Pro Squad in 2014, current and former team members have accounted for 31 wins across various professional golf tours including LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR wins by Young Pro graduates Brooke Henderson and Mackenzie Hughes, respectively.

“The depth of talent in this group of young professionals is a great reflection of our commitment to producing elite-level champions at all levels of Canadian golf,” said Golf Canada’s chief sport officer Jeff Thompson. “We are pleased to provide a number of services to these talented up-and-coming athletes including world-class coaching, sport science, and financial support as they strive to reach their full potential in the professional ranks.”

Heading up the female contingent is Quebec City native Anne-Catherine Tanguay, a graduate of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad. Tanguay, 27, returns to the team after a banner year that included eight top-15 performances on the Symetra Tour en route to finishing No. 8 on the money list. Tanguay earned full status on the LPGA Tour as one the top-10 Symetra Tour athletes in 2017.

“I’m excited for the year ahead on the LPGA Tour and am grateful for the Young Pro Squad’s support in a season that will feature some new challenges in my professional career,” said Tanguay, an Oklahoma State graduate.

Brittany Marchand rejoins Team Canada after graduating from the Amateur Squad in 2015. The Orangeville, Ont., product enters her sixth year with Team Canada following a successful 2017 campaign on the Symetra Tour that featured seven top-20 finishes including a victory at the PHC Classic. Marchand went on to add a victory at the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada. The 25-year-old also impressed at the CP Women’s Open in August, finishing tied for 30th after four strong rounds at Ottawa Hunt.

Long-standing Team Canada member Augusta James of Bath, Ont. returns for her seventh year as part of Team Canada including the past two with the Young Pro Squad. The 24-year-old looks to continue her ascension through the professional ranks as she embarks on a fourth consecutive Symetra Tour campaign. The former Canadian Women’s Amateur champion boasts 13 top-10 finishes on the Symetra Tour, including a win at the 2015 Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial Classic.

“Team Canada has played an integral role in my career since the beginning and I’m thrilled to be back working with everyone again,” said James. “I’ve developed very close relationships with Tristan (Women’s Team Coach Tristan Mullally) and the support staff and I’m looking forward to more success in 2018.”

Rounding out the women’s squad is Calgary’s Jennifer Ha. The 23-year-old Kent State alumna will play on the Symetra Tour in 2018 with hopes to regain the full LPGA status she held in 2017. Ha is also familiar with the Team Canada program as a member of the Amateur Squad from 2014-15 and Development Squad in 2013. She is a former Alberta Ladies Amateur and Junior Girls champion.

“I’m grateful for Golf Canada’s continued support in my career,” said Ha. “I have big goals for 2018 and am looking forward to putting in some hard work to achieve the results I know I’m capable of.”

On the men’s side, four Team Canada Amateur Squad graduates will form the Young Pro Squad in 2018.

Albin Choi, a member of the Young Pro Squad since its inception, will return for his fifth year representing Team Canada in the professional ranks. Choi recorded three top-25 finishes on the Web.com Tour in 2017 to finish the year at No.95 on the money list. Entering his ninth year with the Team Canada program, the 25-year-old former Canadian Men’s Amateur champion has full status on the Web.com Tour this season and recently finished T13 at the season-opening event.

“The Young Pro Squad program has provided invaluable support for both my career and personal development during a full professional season on Tour,” said Choi. “Team Canada is like a family to me; I can’t wait to make great strides in 2018.”

Jared du Toit of Kimberley, B.C., will make his debut on the Young Pro Squad after two successful seasons with Team Canada’s Amateur Squad. Du Toit posted seven top-25 finishes in 11 events on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2017 en route to taking home Freedom 55 Financial Canadian Player of the Year honours. The Arizona State alumnus made a captivating run at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open which saw him finish tied for 9th playing out of final group on Sunday.

“Knowing that I have the Young Pro Squad in my corner is extremely valuable during the many challenges of a full professional season,” said du Toit. “I know what I want to accomplish in 2018 and look forward to working hard with the coaching staff to achieve my goals.”

Also making his debut on the Young Pro Squad is Vancouver’s Stuart Macdonald. The Purdue University graduate earned Web.com Tour status through Qualifying School in December. Macdonald, 23, is coming off a season highlighted by two top-25 finishes on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. Macdonald was a member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad in 2016-17.

Rounding out the male contingent is Richmond Hill, Ont., native Taylor Pendrith, who split time between the Web.com Tour and Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada in 2017. The 26-year-old Kent State alumnus has been battling wrist and hand injuries since earning top-five honours on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada Order of Merit in 2015. Pendrith is also a former member of Team Canada’s Amateur Squad.

“I’m thankful for the continued coaching and advice from Derek (Men’s Team Coach Derek Ingram) and the sport science team, and I look forward to getting back to full health in 2018,” said Pendrith.

Men’s and Women’s National Squad coaches Derek Ingram and Tristan Mullally—both PGA of Canada Ben Kern Coach of the Year recipients—will provide coaching to their respective Young Pro athletes. In addition to funding and coaching support, the athletes will have access to Team Canada’s sport science staff which includes Psychologist Dr. Adrienne Leslie-Toogood and Physiotherapist & Strength Coach Greg Redman.

#TeamCanada Head Coaches @tmullallygolf & @dingramgolf speak to the success of the Young Pro Squad and how it has helped translate into 31 professional wins ?? pic.twitter.com/1rmbS5Mdr3

— Golf Canada (@TheGolfCanada) January 31, 2018

The Team Canada Young Pro initiative was developed in partnership with the PGA of Canada. Funding is received in large part from the Golf Canada Foundation with generous contributions from founding partners Canadian Pacific and RBC, as well as supporting partners Citi Canada and Bear Mountain Golf Resort, the official training centre of Golf Canada’s National Team program.

“We’re extremely proud of what Young Pro has been able to accomplish as we enter the fifth year of developing Canada’s up-and-coming professional golfers,” said Martin Barnard, Golf Canada Foundation CEO. “Driving funds for the athletes will continue as a priority item for the Foundation and we look forward to helping shape the next generation of Canadian golf.”

Throughout the season, Golf Canada will closely monitor the performance of elite Canadian amateurs transitioning to professional golf with the possibility of program expansion.

Click here to read Team Canada Young Pro Squad player bios.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – National Amateur Squad member Chris Crisologo hoisted the South American Amateur trophy on Tuesday following a four-stroke victory at the Martindale Country Club.

The Richmond, B.C., native struggled early in the final round, going 4 over par through his first five holes before recovering on the back nine with four birdies. Crisologo, 23, recorded the tournament’s two lowest rounds (64-66) to hold a lead as large as seven. He went on to close the event at 13 under par, four strokes clear of runner-up Alejandro Tosti of Argentina.

Fellow countryman Matt Williams of Calgary finished the 13th edition of the event with a 3-under-par 69—his best score of the tournament. The University of Houston of Houston junior finished the event at 4 under par in a tie for 12th.

With the win, the Simon Fraser University junior becomes the first Canadian male to capture the event. LPGA star Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., captured the women’s division in 2013. The victory also marks Crisologo’s first win as a member of Team Canada—he joined the National Amateur Squad back in October.

pic.twitter.com/D83j7SnULp

— AAG (@GolfAAG) January 16, 2018

In the women’s division, Team Canada Development Squad member Céleste Dao finished T8 at 1 over par. The Notre-Dame-de-lÎle-Perrot, Que., product carded four birdies in her final round to record her best score of the tournament with a 3-under 69.

Teammate Ellie Szeryk of London, Ont., finished tied for 22nd at 9 over par (72-79-74-72).

Click here for full scoring.

Chris Crisologo campeón del Abierto Sudamericano Amateur! Congratulaciones ! pic.twitter.com/0fJVQBp75E

— AAG (@GolfAAG) January 16, 2018

Albertans Matt Williams, Emmett Oh, Jaclyn Lee and Ethan Choi finish top 10 in respective rankings

OAKVILLE, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Josh Whalen of Napanee, Ont. and Maddie Szeryk, a dual citizen from London, Ont. and Allen, Texas, have been recognized as Canada’s top male and female amateur golfers for 2017 as Golf Canada announced the final standings for its National Orders of Merit.

Whalen claims top spot in the men’s National Order of Merit ranking after an impressive season highlighted by a 3rd place finish at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship. The 22-year-old also posted a T6 finish at the Sunnehanna Amateur and recorded six NCAA top-20s in his senior year with the Kent State Golden Flashes, including a runner-up finish at the Boilermaker Invitational.

Hugo Bernard, 22, of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Que., finished second on the Order of Merit thanks in part to earning medallist honours at the USGA’s U.S. Amateur Qualifying event in Maine, as well as strong showings at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship (T4), the French Open (T3) and the Mackenzie Investments Open (T7).

Joey Savoie, 23, of La Prairie, Que., rounded out the top-3 after recording runner-up finishes at the Duke of Kent, the USGA’s U.S. Amateur Qualifying event in Maine and the Monroe Invitational.

Whalen, Bernard and Savoie were all recently named to the 2018 Team Canada National Amateur Squad.

The 2017 season marks the third straight year that Maddie Szeryk has finished atop the women’s National Order of Merit. The 21-year-old recorded three victories this season—the B.C. Women’s Amateur and Women’s Western Amateur Championships, as well as the NCAA’s Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational as part of the Texas A&M Women’s Golf Team.

Naomi Ko of Victoria, B.C., finished runner-up on the Order of Merit for the second consecutive time. In February, the 20-year-old picked up her first NCAA win at the Lady Puerto Rico Classic. Other notable showings included third place finishes at the Canadian Women’s Amateur and B.C. Women’s Amateur Championships, as well as the Women’s Porter Cup.

Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee finished third on the National Order of Merit. In 2017, the 20-year-old earned a runner-up finish at the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship and two NCAA top-5s.

Szeryk, Ko and Lee are all returning members of Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad for 2018.

On the Future Links, driven by Acura National Junior Order Merit, Christopher Vandette of Beaconsfield, Que. and Céleste Dao of Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, Que., took home top honours in their respective divisions.

Vandette, 16, tallied five victories this season, including the Quebec Men’s Amateur Championship, Canada Summer Games and the Future Links, driven by Acura Ontario Championship. He also finished third at the Canadian Junior Boys Championship.

Rounding out the top three on the Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Boys Order of Merit are Nolan Thoroughgood (17) of Victoria, B.C. and Ethan Choi (15) of Pincher Creek, Alta.

Vandette and Thoroughgood were recently named to the 2018 Team Canada Development Squad which will train out of Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria.

Dao topped the junior girl’s Order of Merit after a prolific 2017 season where she picked up wins at the Canada Summer Games, Quebec Junior Girls Championship, NIVO Quebec Women’s Provincial Championship, U.S. Junior Girls Qualifier at Fitchburg, Ma., Future Links, driven by Acura Quebec Championship and the CJGA Quebec Junior Open. The 16-year-old also represented Canada at the World Junior Girls Championship in late September.

Finishing runner-up behind Dao is 16-year-old Monet Chun from Richmond Hill, Ont., while Susan Xiao, a 15-year-old from Surrey, B.C., rounded out the top-3.

Dao and Chun were recently named to the 2018 Team Canada Development Squad.

Golf Canada’s National Orders of Merit are used to identify and give recognition to top-performing amateur golfers from across Canada. They also provide an objective national comparison and ranking system, enabling Canada’s top players to compare themselves to counterparts across Canada.

Golf Canada also uses the National Order of Merit to assist with the Team Canada player selection and International event player selection process. For full Order of Merit standings and a points breakdown, please visit www.golfcanada.ca/nationalordersofmerit/.

The following are top-10 National Order of Merit finishers from each respective division:

Men’s National Order of Merit Top-10

Women’s National Order of Merit Top-10

Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Boys Order of Merit Top-10

Future Links, driven by Acura Junior Girls Order of Merit Top-10

Organization-wide culture of commitment to supporting players, coaches and facilities committed to high performance athlete development

Tiered program offering increases access to world-class support to a growing number of athletes across the entire province

Team Alberta players and coaching staff to be announced in early 2018 following a comprehensive application and selection process

Alberta Golf is pleased to announce an expanded high performance athlete development offering in 2018. In all, five tiers of programs will provide a circle of support for golf athletes in the province.

“Supporting athletes who intend on competing at the highest levels in their chosen sport begins with the establishment and management of an organization-wide commitment to high performance,” said Phil Berube, Alberta Golf’s CEO. “These athletes, from the introduction to competition to the compete to win stages of Long-Term Player Development, are a product of a circle of support that includes personal instructors, coaches, parents and club programs and will proudly represent Alberta as they compete on the provincial and national stages.”

Alberta Golf invests $280,000 annually in sport development programs and services. The goal is to support 100% of athletes who make an application to enter the program at any tier, with the superior level of coaching they desire and the resources to assist them succeed in their journey.

2018 PLAYER, COACH AND CLUB SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Alberta Golf provides investment to players, clubs and coaches in support of our athlete development programs. Our objective is to ensure that all athletes who have been identified on world golf rankings have access to High Performance Coaching. Alberta Golf monitors ranking systems from around the globe as well as our National Golf Canada Rankings and invites players to apply to our tiered support programs.

PLAYER SUPPORT

If you are interested in pursuing a pathway to becoming an elite golfer, speak with your local golf professional about Alberta Golf’s Player Support Program. Our staff work with athletes by providing funding and resources to assist individuals in reaching their performance objectives. This includes: skills assessment, performance planning, sports psychology, nutrition, strength & conditioning, travel, equipment, grants and scholarships.

CLUB SUPPORT

If your club is interested in Alberta Golf’s High Performance strategy, please contact us to learn how we can work together to grow your facility’s development programs. Our Get-Linked granting program provides facilities with co-operative funding to complement existing golf programs and our Future Links, driven by Acura resource library outlines a pathway to help golf facilities initiate and promote a successful program.

COACH SUPPORT

If you are interested in pursuing a career in coaching and developing local athletes in your region, contact us to find out more about Alberta Golf’s High Performance strategy. Our staff work with coaches by providing funding and resources to assist individuals in reaching their career objectives. This includes: coaching requirements, training, career planning, team support, travel, equipment, contract fees.

Alberta Golf will be inviting identified athletes and interested clubs and coaches to apply to the High Performance Athlete Development programs throughout the remainder of 2017. For more information please follow the links below:

2018 High Performance Athlete Development Program Outline
2018 Application Form

2018 PLAYER SUPPORT TIERS

TIER 1: NextGen Local Program

• The NextGen program is a local club level program designed by Alberta Golf to initiate a relationship between athletes showing interest in developing their skills and the local golf professional. Resources are made available by Alberta Golf to assist the local golf professional in showcasing golfers at their facility and provide athletes with a roadmap to success. This includes available competitions, clinics, training programs and shadowing opportunities.

• Athletes registered for the NextGen local program are invited (along with their parents) to two optional team competitions throughout the year (spring and fall) which are followed by an information session about Alberta Golf’s High Performance Athlete Development Program.

TIER 2: Regional Player Development Program

• The Regional Development program introduces coaching on a regional basis to individuals registered for selected camps which are offered four times throughout the season.

• Players in the Regional Development program are invited to participate in provincial team challenges and competitions organized by regional coaches.

• All players who have qualified for an interprovincial team at any time in their playing career are invited to participate in the Regional Player Development program.

• This program is ideal for individuals looking for additional coaching without the time commitment of Team Alberta, or those who are over the age of 19.

TIER 3: Team Alberta Provincial Program

• The Team Alberta Provincial program is the marquee component of Alberta Golf’s Player Support Program. 2018 marks the program’s tenth year with a proven track record of success enjoyed by athletes currently on the post-secondary circuit.

• Alberta Golf’s stable of world class coaches meet with all qualifying athletes on a regular basis to provide performance plans and review feedback during camps, competitions and at practice sessions on a year-round basis.

TIER 4: Alberta High Performance Squad Program

• The High Performance Squad program aims to support athletes who have met or surpassed the Tier 3 requirements but are ineligible for the support category based on age restrictions.

• Access to coaching, equipment, apparel and grants is made available to athletes who are invited to participate in this program.

TIER 5: Alumni Program

• The High Performance Alumni program aims to support athletes who have qualified for an interprovincial team during their playing career with Alberta Golf and/or have been in the top 50 on Golf Canada’s Order of Merit.

• High Performance Alumni Athletes will be invited to events throughout the season, as well as training camps at various locations in the province.

• Access to coaching, equipment, apparel and grants is made available to athletes who are invited to participate in this program.

ABOUT ALBERTA’S HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Alberta Golf’s High Performance Athlete Development program is designed to support athletes across the province by providing programs and services that ultimately help them reach their competitive goals in the sport. Support is provided to athletes, coaches and facilities who are committed to high performance. Alberta Golf invests nearly $300,000 annually in sport development programming. Team Alberta, the pinnacle of Alberta Golf’s High Performance program, provides access to world-class resources including coaching, nutrition, sport science, mental management, equipment and elite competitive opportunities. The program builds on the support team members have received in their development years from their family, clubs, personal instructors, and coaches. Alberta Golf’s High Performance Athlete Development program and Team Alberta are proudly supported by Golf Canada, Titleist, FootJoy, and Alberta Sport Connection.

Contact:
Jennifer Davison
Alberta Golf
(t) 403-236-4616
(e) jennifer@albertagolf.org

MEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Hugo Bernard was one of three players in the Top-10 to make a positive gain in this week’s world rankings. The Quebec golfer will finish the year as the only other Canadian amateur ranked inside the Top-10. The Golf Canada National Squad member solidified his standing with a number of top 10 performances this past year, including medalist honours at the Palm Beach County Four Ball. He also recorded his third straight top-5 result at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, finishing in a tie for fourth. A tie for third at the Murat Cup, tie for ninth at the Terra Cotta Invitational and a tie for seventh at the South American Amateur also highlight his resume in 2017.

One significant change outside the Top-10. Steven Diack climbs five places to move into the the top 20, replacing Golf Canada Development Squad member Johnny Travale.

Former Golf Canada National Team member Stuart MacDonald will be among the Canadians attempting to improve his playing status on the Web.com Tour at this week’s qualifying school. He’s already assured a tour card for making it to the Final Stage and if he can finish in the top 45, he’s assured of a healthy number of starts through the first part of the 2018 season to try and further improve his standing.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

WOMEN’S AMATEUR TOP 10

Maddie Szeryk maintained her top 30 standing in the world rankings and will finish as the top ranked amateur in Canada. The dual-citizen currently sits at No. 29 in the world, up three places from where she ended the year in 2016. The four-year Golf Canada National Squad member boasts 10 Top-10 results in 2017 including titles at the B.C. Women’s Amateur Championship, Women’s Western Golf Association and medallist honours at the Dr. Donnis Invitational. She also has runner-up finishes in three other NCAA events. In fact, the senior at Texas A&M has finished in the Top 10 in all five collegiate tournaments she has played this season, and has Top 5 results in four of those tournaments.

Complete World Amateur Golf Rankings can be found here.

MEN’S TOP 10

No notable changes in the Top 10 but this week is notable for what happened outside that list.

Sunil Richard Jung Bell makes his debut in not only the Canadian rankings but the official world rankings after finishing in a tie for seventh at the Asian Tour’s KG S&H City Asian Golf Championship. That was good for a 696 place jump in the world rankings, putting him inside the top 20 in Canada at No. 19. The 2.38 world rankings points earned were the first of Jung’s career in just his third career professional tour start – the previous two coming on the European Challenge Tour.

Mike Weir re-enters the Canadian rankings, picking up 603 spots  after finishing in a tie for 15th at the Australian PGA Championship. The result was worth 1.96 world ranking points, his first points-paying finish since 2014. If you’re keeping count, that’s a stretch of 38 tournaments. Since 2011, Weir has missed 71 cuts through various injuries and poor form. The Australian event marked the second weekend cut he has made in his last three tournaments and third in his last six starts. After finishing 2016 outside the world rankings, the 2003 Masters champion now finds himself up to No. 23 in the Canadian table.

Click here for Men’s Official World Golf Rankings.

WOMEN’S TOP 10

Both Maude-Aimée LeBlanc and Brittany Marchand have earned LPGA Tour status for 2018. Both LeBlanc and Marchand finished in a tie for 32nd at the final stage of Qualifying School, giving them conditional status for next season.

They will join LPGA Tour regulars next year Brooke Henderson, Alena Sharp and Anne-Catherine Tanguay, who graduated after finishing eighth on the Symetra Tour money list this past year.

Click here for full Women’s Rolex World Rankings.

Jaclyn Lee

Sport: Women’s golf

Age: 20

Year: Junior

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta

Major: Finance

Question: Well, it’s November. Do you get bummed at this time of year, when it’s often too cold to golf?

Answer: Not really. I like having a bit of an offseason from tournament golf so I have time to recharge. Being from Canada, too, I’m used to having some time off in the winter to work on my game technically, so I like that.

Q: Are you the type who will sneak in a round, or even nine holes, despite some rough weather?

A: It depends on what kind of mood I’m in, but yes. I’ll golf in all types of weather. The cold doesn’t really faze me.

Q: What’s the coldest you’ve ever been while golfing?

A: It was pretty cold during the third round of NCAAs this year at Rich Harvest Farms (in Sugar Grove, Illinois)! Back in Calgary, we have an outdoor range with heated stalls and I’ve gone out to hit balls when it was minus-16 degrees Celsius (about 3 degrees).

Q: Is it safe to say that in Calgary, golf season starts later and ends earlier?

A: Yes! Except the biggest misconception that people have is that it’s a lot colder in Canada than here. That’s not necessarily the case everywhere. For Calgary in particular, the temperature is similar to Columbus but our golf season ends around mid-October and we start in late spring.

Q: How did you deal with that growing up, by playing more often or playing longer rounds?

A: With a shorter golf season, I had more time to work on my technique in the winter but I definitely lost some short game feel during those months too. In Calgary, we have a golf dome, where I spent a lot of my winter days hitting balls and essentially putting on cement covered in felt. I also had the opportunity to fly to Arizona, California and Texas to get in some rounds in, too, which helped.

Q: What kind of golf town is Calgary?

A: In general, British Columbia and Ontario probably have more juniors and have bigger golf towns than Alberta. However, Calgary has produced a good amount of elite amateurs. I know a ton of golfers from Calgary who have gone on to play at top-ranked D-I schools for golf. Aside from competitive golf, Calgary has a bunch of great courses around town and there are always a lot of people out in the summer!

Q: You’ve played three LPGA events in Canada; how satisfying were those experiences?

A: My first LPGA event was the CP Canadian Women’s Open last year in Calgary, which to this day is one of my favorite golf experiences. I made the cut, won the low amateur award and got to experience a phenomenal hometown crowd. It has been really special to play LPGA events and in my country because the fans are always so supportive and I love learning from the other professionals.

Q: Your sister is a collegiate golfer, too, correct? Are you guys competitive with each other when you play?

A: Yes! She played college golf in Canada but she is now in medical school at University of British Columbia and doesn’t play collegiately. She will still play for fun but we were definitely more competitive with each other when we were juniors.

Q: Has golf always been part of your family?

A: Not really. My dad got us into golf when we were young because he wanted our family to play as a natural foursome. But as it turns out, my parents don’t play golf ever since my sister and I picked it up and started playing it competitively!

Q: What other sports did you play growing up, and how long did you play them?

A: I did gymnastics from ages 2 to 9, and then I also played soccer and did bit of track and field in junior high. I also skied a ton as a kid with my dad and sister!

Q: How did you end up at Ohio State?

A: A big part of my decision was based on the fact that Ohio State had just built the indoor golf facility and that coach (Therese) Hession was here. I felt like she was a coach who was dedicated to her players and could teach me a lot. I also wanted to go to a school that had a good balance of school and golf, and Ohio State fit that bill.

Q: How much will you use the indoor golf facility in the coming months?

A: We’ll use it a ton, along with our heated hitting bays on the driving range! The awesome indoor facilities are what helped me choose Ohio State over other schools.

Q: Is there anything you can’t do at the indoor range?

A: Honestly, no, and I’m not just saying that. You can putt, chip, hit balls, work out and even study. Our facility is amazing, and we are so lucky to have it. It makes the offseason a little more interesting than hitting balls in a golf dome.

Q: Are you a superstitious golfer?

A: I’m pretty superstitious, to the point where I can’t even name the things I do. I have little quirks and/or routines that I like to stick to — sometimes I don’t even know it’s a superstition until I break the routine.

Q: Let’s talk food. I’m guessing you don’t want to be too full on days when you’re playing. Do you have a go-to pre-round meal?

A: True, but we also have to be fueled for 36-hole days! While it varies, my pre-round meal usually consists of things like oatmeal, eggs, fruit, bacon, peanut butter, etc. Usually the staples that you can find at any hotel breakfast.

Q: And what is the best post-round meal to celebrate a good tournament?

A: I can always go for a nice steak! Or anything cooked by my dad.

Q: As a Canadian golfer, is it hard not to root for your countrywoman Brooke M. Henderson? Were you two competitors as juniors?

A: I have a ton of Canadian pride, as my teammates and friends here would also agree with. I got to play with Brooke a bit as a junior. She is a great person and competitor. It would definitely be hard to not root for her because she’s got such a great heart, too. I’m always cheering for my Canadians on tour! People like Alena Sharp, Jennifer Ha, Augusta James and Brittany Marchand (of the Symetra Tour) have been great role models and friends as well!

Q: Who is your favorite golfer?

A: Jordan Spieth. I think he brings a lot of excitement to the game and it seems like he’s got a big heart.

Q: And lastly: How did you celebrate the recent Canadian Thanksgiving? Do Canadians eat turkey every year, too?

A: Yes, turkey, and stuffing, pumpkin pie — all the good stuff! Our Thanksgivings are similar to American Thanksgivings, which people might not realize. This year, Gene and Sheila Smith held a Canadian Thanksgiving for all the Canadian student-athletes at Ohio State. It was a lot of fun and really sweet of them to bring a little bit of Canada to Columbus!