(September 1, 2022) – Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada are committed to providing opportunities for people with disabilities to experience the physical, psychological, and social benefits golf can offer.
As part of this commitment, the national golf organizations have launched the EDGA 359 Pilot Project, presented by Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada, partnering with EDGA (formerly the European Disabled Golf Association) on coach training designed to demystify adaptive golf and give coaches the confidence needed to launch and develop programs for golfers with disabilities across Canada.
“Through this coach training, we are eager to increase support for golfers of all abilities and make our sport inclusive of more Canadians,” said Laura Wilson, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Safe Sport for Golf Canada.
Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada have invited Mark Taylor, PGA Fellow Professional, Head of Development/Coach Education, and Instruction for EDGA to educate coaches in Canada who will be involved in the future recruitment and support of golfers with disabilities. PGA of Canada Technical Director Glenn Cundari will co-facilitate the sessions.
The EDGA curriculum is a three-step curriculum that identifies a participation pathway for golfers with disabilities. The training will provide coaches with the knowledge and skills to support golfers at each stage of the pathway from Sample – Participant – Compete. The first two stages of training will be piloted to provide coaches (PGA of Canada professionals, Physical Therapists, trainers, etc.) in Canada with the training, confidence and resources needed to develop and expand programs for golfers with disabilities.
The PGA of Canada is committed to supporting a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive sporting and workplace experience in Canadian golf. The launch of this inclusive coaching context is one of our priorities to the 88 recommendations we have committed to as an organization from our EDI task force report – said PGA of Canada Chief Innovation Officer Matt Allen.
EDGA has been providing training and resources to sport federations for more that 20 years.
Through the EDGA 359 project, two coach training clinics will be piloted this year—one in Nova Scotia at Glen Arbour Golf Course, just outside of Halifax and one in Ontario at Lionhead Golf and Conference Centre in Brampton. Once the pilot workshops are completed this fall, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada will look to roll out EDGA workshops nationally beginning in 2023.
EDGA 359 – Pilot Workshops:
Nova Scotia Clinic:
Glen Arbour Golf Course
September 9-10
LEVEL 1
COMBINED LEVEL 1 & 2
Ontario Clinic:
Lionhead Golf Course
September 13-14
LEVEL 1
COMBINED LEVEL 1 & 2
The training will take place at a similar time as the 2nd annual Canadian All Abilities Championship, which is being contested this year September 13-14 at Essex Golf & Country Club in Lasalle, Ont. The EDGA 359 Pilot Project is legacy component to the event with up to 50 new coaches trained to support golfers with disabilities.
The EDGA 359 pilot clinics will be supported respectively by the Nova Scotia Golf Association and Golf Ontario.
HEADINGLEY, Man. – The summer of Shelly Stouffer rolled on at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship, presented by BDO, at Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley, Man.
After winning the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in early August, the Nanoose, B.C., native added a Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur title and a second consecutive Canadian Women’s Senior Championship to her trophy case. The hardware didn’t end there, though. Stouffer was crowned champion of the Mid-Master division, to boot.
“That’s the first time I won the Mid-Am, so [I’m] pretty excited about that,” said Stouffer. “Last year I won just the Mid-Master and the Senior, so, yeah, it was exciting.”
Stouffer says this win is “right up there” with the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and so is the Ada Mackenzie Trophy.
“This gives Big Bertha a run,” Stouffer laughed as she hoisted one of three trophies she was awarded on Thursday, bringing her week total to five after winning both the Katherine Holleur and Crockett trophies as part of Team British Columbia in the Interprovincial Team competitions.
Opposite to the 52-year-old’s triumph in Anchorage, AK., the odds were against Stouffer coming down the stretch in Thursday’s final round. Terrill Samuel and Christina Spence Proteau lead by one over the former professional golfer with just five holes to play, but in came the wind that blew Stouffer into the lead.
With a one-stroke advantage on No. 18, Stouffer guided an iron onto the green and two-putted for par to secure the one stroke victory over Samuel.
“I’m just kind of going with the flow here,” admitted Stouffer. “I was hitting the ball well down in, well, everywhere, but the last place I was at was Dayton at the U.S. Open, so I just kind of kept that going and my ball striking was actually really, really good this week. I can’t even express how awesome it is.”
Stouffer becomes only the second Canadian in history to win both the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in the same year, joining World Golf Hall of Famer, Marlene Streit, who accomplished the feat in 1995.
“It’s amazing; it’s so great,” said Stouffer on being in the same company as Streit. “She sent me messages when I was over in Anchorage, being encouraging and everything like that and, you know, it’s phenomenal – it’s awesome.”
With the win, Stouffer earns an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax, N.S. The B.C. native’s win in the Senior division earns her direct entry into the 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Open and 2023 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, where she will look to defend her title.
Samuel, the 2022 British Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, carded a final round 73 to win the Super Senior division. The Etobocoke, Ont., native also finished as the runner-up in the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and Senior divisions.
In the Mid-Amateur section, six-time champion, Christina Spence Proteau, earned the bronze medal, finishing just two strokes back of Stouffer. Helene Chartrand of Sallabery-de-Valleyfield, Que.; 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Judith Kyrinis; and Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, Mary-Ann Hayward all posted T4 results at 8-over-par for the tournament.
On Thursday, Golf Canada announced the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship would act as a stand-alone event in 2023 and beyond. The national championship will be held at Mad River Golf Club in Creemore, Ont., July 24-27.
The 2023 Canadian Senior Women’s Championship is moving to the Maritimes. It will take place at Mill River Golf Course in O’Leary, P.E.I.
For full results of the 2022 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship click here.
(AUGUST 31, 2022) – Golf Canada announced today format changes to the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Effective 2023, the national championship, currently held in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, will act independently as a stand-alone event.
“The decision to proceed with format changes to our Women’s Mid-Amateur aligns with the growth of golf in Canada,” said Golf Canada’s Director of Amateur Championships and Rules, Mary Beth McKenna. “We feel that this championship deserves its own spotlight and we’re confident that the talent displayed in 2023 and beyond will reflect that.”
Since 2007, the Women’s Mid-Amateur has a provided women over the age of 25 a chance to compete on a national stage. From its inaugural year to 2014, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship ran in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. In 2015, the tournament shifted gears and joined forces with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, but Breezy Bend Country Club will serve as the final joint venture for the two events.
In 2023, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will take place at Mad River Golf Club in Creemore, Ont., July 24-27. The field size will cap at 90 players and an Interprovincial team competition will also be incorporated into the reformatted event. As in years past, the Mid-Master division – a division for players 40 years or older – will remain a part of the national championship.
The winner of the 2023 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will earn an exemption into the 2024 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. Past winners of the event include 2017 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, Judith Kyrinis; six-time champion Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion, Christina Spence Proteau; and 2022 British Women’s Senior Amateur Champion, Terrill Samuel.
HEADINGLEY, Man. – Regardless of what happens on Thursday afternoon at Breezy Bend Country Club, Shelly Stouffer and Terrill Samuel can look back on this year’s golf season and be proud of what they’ve accomplished.
Nonetheless, the duo will have a chance to add to their impressive resumes at the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship, presented by BDO.
Stouffer, winner of the 2022 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, and Samuel, champion of this year’s British Senior Women’s Amateur Championship, are one-stroke back of Nonie Marler in the Mid-Amateur division and tied atop the leaderboard in the Senior division with just 18 holes left to play in Manitoba.
Samuel, 61, was born in England, but moved to Canada when she was three months old and though she already has multiple Canadian titles to her name, she isn’t taking this week’s championship for granted.
“The national amateur is always a big deal,” said Samuel. “Because you are Canadian, right, so, yes, it would be a very proud moment for sure.”
Now a member of Weston Golf Club, Samuel won’t soon forget the triumph at Royal Dornoch in Scotland.
“I said I could retire after that because that’s my best win ever,” Samuel laughed.
“I have played in some British [tournaments], so that’s helped, right; it’s not like it’s foreign to me, so I know how to keep the ball low,” said Samuel. “I only hit 3-wood off the tee all the time, but I hit it low, so it helps over there.”
Well, hitting it low will help over here tomorrow, too. Though the heat will once again descend on the golf course, the forecast calls for gusts of wind up to 50km/h, adding an extra variable to the challenging test of a final round at a national championship.
If Samuel sails to victory, she will join Canadian Golf Hall of Famer, Alison Murdoch, as the only Canadian golfer in history to win both the British Senior Women’s Amateur and the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship in the same year. Murdoch completed the feat in 2007.
Stouffer joked on Wednesday she “still might be in shock” about her victory in Alaska less than a month ago, but on Thursday, Breezy Bend will require all of the 52-year-old’s focus as she looks to recapture the Ada Mackenzie Trophy.
With a win on Thursday, Stouffer would join World Golf Hall of Famer, Marlene Streit, as the only Canadian to have won the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship in the same year. Streit did so in 1995.
Wednesday afternoon struck a moment of déja vu in the mind of Nonie Marler.
For the second consecutive year, the Vancouver, B.C. native will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship, presented by BDO, only this time Marler will hope fate and fortune is on her side.
When the final putt dropped at Domaine Château Bromont in 2021, it was Christina Spence Proteau celebrating the national title – not Marler. On Thursday, however, the 38-year-old will have a shot at redemption, and she’ll count on last year’s experience to guide her to the winner’s circle.
“I’ve been there and done that now, right,” said Marler. “Last year, I hadn’t, so it was new to me and, it’s just you kind of have to feel the situation and now that I know, I know obviously the outcome and how to play through that and what happened from it, so, obviously, I just got to play within my own game tomorrow.”
“I’m happy that I’ve now had the experience because I can take that experience to tomorrow and it’s actually given me a lot of, like, a much cooler head… today too,” she said.
British Columbia claimed both the Katherine Holleur and Crockett trophies as champions of the Interprovincial Team competitions in both the Mid-Amateur and Senior divisions. The B.C. team composed of Marler, Stouffer and Proteau, won by 14 strokes over Ontario in the Mid-Amateur division, while Stouffer, Jackie Little and Sandrine Turbide were 15-stroke winners over Quebec in the Senior division.
The final round is set to begin at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. The awards ceremony will follow the conclusion of play, around 3:00 p.m. Champions will be crowned in the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master, Senior, and Super-Senior divisions.
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HEADINGLEY, Man. – Breezy Bend Country Club stayed true to its name in the opening round of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Champonship, presented by BDO. Leanne Richardson withstood the gentle, but lively wind, to pace the field in Manitoba.
Richardson, the 2022 New Brunswick Women’s Senior champion, made birdies on holes No. 8 and 15, contributing to a round of even-par 72 and a one-stroke lead over a trio of players from B.C. tied for second place. The Indian Mountain, N.B., native holds the lead in the Mid-Amateur, Mid-Master and the Senior division through 18 holes.
In the Super Senior division – a subdivision for players 60 and above – Procter B.C.’s, Jackie Little is ahead by one stroke following a 1-over-par 73. A double bogey on No. 12 moved Little to 3-over-par on the day, but she responded with birdies on Nos. 13 and 15 to take control of the lead.
Defending champion, Christina Spence Proteau, is in the mix after round one, as she typically is in the Women’s Mid-Amateur division. The six-time winner opened her tournament with a 1-over-par 73 to position herself T2. Proteau was lights out through the opening bakers dozen at Breezy Bend, but ran out of steam finishing with two bogeys and a double bogey to surrender the lead.
“I started off very solid and committed, so I think overall I just struck the ball really well and was nice and tidy with [my] short game, and that carried through most of the back nine until 16,” said Proteau.
The Port Alberni, B.C., native says she’s dialed back the amount of which she plays the game for various reasons, but a few stops on her road trip through western Canada en route to the national championship allowed her to tighten some screws in the bag.
“This year, it’s been a bit of a different year for me. I haven’t played any major events until this event, and this will be my only major event this year, so I knew there would be some rust, I just didn’t know in what form it would show up,” said Proteau. “Overall, if someone would have told me, ‘Would you have taken 1-over today,” I’d probably take it; and I’ve always said, generally speaking, even-par, if you look at the history books over the years, that’s always done well for me.”
Joining Proteau and Little at 1-over-par for the tournament and T2, is Nonie Marler. The 2021 runner-up got as low as 2-under on the day with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, but, Malter was swallowed by the final three holes, as so many were on Tuesday. The Vancouver, B.C., native made three consecutive bogeys on the home stretch, which, statistically speaking, ranked the hardest three holes on the golf course in the first round.
Shelly Stouffer, the reigning champion in the Senior division, and Helen Chartrand carded rounds of 2-over-par 74 to round out the top-5 in the Mid-Amateur division. The 52-year-old Stouffer is coming off a T29 showing at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in Kettering, Ohio last week and is looking to build off her solid play south of the border.
“I think it’s going to be great,” said Stouffer of this week’s tournament. “I got some good momentum from that because I made the cut and I played pretty well the last few days, so I was pretty happy with my game,” said Stouffer.
British Columbia owns healthy advantages in both the Mid-Amateur and Senior Interprovincial Team competitions, leading by 12 strokes and nine shots, respectively. Champions will be crowned in each of the two divisions following Wednesday’s second round which is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m.
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HEADINGLEY, Man. – Canada’s best female golfers 25 years or older will descend on Breezy Bend Country Club in Headingley, Man., August 30 – September 1, for the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship, presented by BDO.
“There is a lot of anticipation around this year’s Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Championship, and we’re thrilled to get the competition started,” said Tournament Director, Daniel Suppa. “A competitive field of players are slated to tee it up this week, so we’re expecting a high calibre of talent at Breezy Bend.”
After a rainy start to the day, practice rounds resumed as scheduled on Monday ahead of the official start to the national championship on Tuesday. The 54-hole tournament is scheduled to wrap up on Thursday, with champions being crowned in four divisions: Mid-Amateur (25 and up); Mid-Master (40 and over); Senior (50 and above); and Super-Senior (60-plus).
Returning to the event is the Interprovincial Team competitions, for the first time since 2019. The Mid- Amateur and Senior teams will compete over the first 36 holes of the tournament.
97 players will tee it up at Breezy Bend Country Club, located about 20 kilometres west of Winnipeg, Man. The Club is widely considered one of the premiere private golf courses in its region and has previously hosted the 2004 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship as well as the 1979 Canadian Junior Boys Championship.
“Over the last six months, our volunteers, staff and Board have worked tirelessly to prepare the course and our facilities to host this special event,” said Shannon O’Brien, President of Breezy Bend Country Club. “We are very excited to have this opportunity to showcase our Club to some of the best golfers from across the country.”
“When we were first approached to host this prestigious tournament some four years ago, we jumped at the opportunity; this would be our chance to recognize, support and celebrate women’s golf in Canada,” added Cory Johnson, General Manager and COO. “Our club members, staff and enthusiastic team of volunteers look forward to providing a world-class championship event for our competitors and spectators alike.”
CANADIAN WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Since 2007, the Women’s Mid-Amateur has a provided women over the age of 25 a chance to compete on a national stage. From its inaugural year to 2014, the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship ran in conjunction with the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship. In 2015, the tournament shifted gears and joined forces with the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship.
Defending champion Christina Proteau will look to protect her title as Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur champion after knocking off Nonie Marler in last year’s championship at Domaine Château Bromont in Bromont, Que. Proteau, of Port Alberni, B.C., has won the Mid-Amateur division a record six times, including four consecutive titles from 2011-2014. Marler, out of Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, B.C., is back in the field again this year.
The winner of the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship will receive an exemption into the 2023 Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship at Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
CANADIAN WOMEN’S SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Conducted since 1971, the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has featured many of the country’s top senior golfers. Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members Marlene Streit, Gayle Borthwick, Marilyn O’Connor and Margaret Todd all own senior championship titles. In the past, this competition has also featured a strong contingent of international players, particularly from the United States – most notably Nancy Fitzgerald. The Canadian Women’s Senior Championship has also been referred to as the CLGA National Senior Championship.
The 51st playing of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship will feature a star-studded field, headlined by none other than the defending champion, Shelly Stouffer. The 52-year-old is the fourth highest ranked woman on the World Amateur Golf Rankings and will look to successfully defend the Ada Mackenzie Challenge Trophy. The Nanoose Bay, B.C., native made headlines throughout Canada and the United States earlier this summer when she won the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in Alaska, becoming the fourth Canadian to conquer the national title.
Judith Kyrinis, who is among the four Canucks to have completed the aforementioned feat, will challenge Stouffer in Manitoba. The Thornhill, Ont., native is no stranger to winning the championship, having previously done so twice before, with her most recent triumph in 2019.
2012 and 2015 champion, Terrill Samuel, is another name to lookout for this week in the Senior division. Samuel, a member of Weston Golf Club in Toronto, won the 2022 R&A Women’s Senior Amateur Championship in July, becoming the third Canadian behind Alison Murdoch and Diane Williams to win the coveted amateur event.
The winner of the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship will gain entry into the 2023 United States Golf Association Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.
The Interprovincial Team championship will return this year following two years of cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Team Ontario are the reigning champions, having bested Alberta by 15 strokes in 2019 to claim the Katherine Helleur Trophy. The team competition, featuring eight of Canada’s provinces this year, has been won a record 28 times by Ontario, including six in a row dating back to 2015.
For more information on the 2022 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship click here.
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By: John Chidley-Hill
OTTAWA – Judged purely on number of fans and the volume of their cheers, Brooke Henderson appeared to be the runaway winner of the CP Women’s Open.
But the all-time winningest professional golfer in Canadian history finished 14 shots back of South Africa’s Paula Reto to tie for 49th at the national championship on Sunday. Reto shot a final round of 4-under 67 to win her first-ever LPGA Tour title by one stroke at 19-under overall.
“It was amazing,” said Henderson of the hundreds of fans that followed her around Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. “I didn’t necessarily expect that because I was thinking, you know, they should go and see some really good golf happening.
“It’s amazing that they were out there the whole time, just so many people. I felt the love all week.”
Reto’s 4-under round was enough to lift her over third round co-leaders Narin An (72) and Hye-Jin Choi (69) of South Korea. It was also just enough to fend off a late charge from Nelly Korda (67) of the United States.
“I was trying not to watch the leaderboard,” said Reto, who played in the day’s final group with An and Choi. “I sort of knew where the girls in my group were, so I was just trying to make sure I stayed with them or maybe one or two ahead.
“That was the only thing I could control. You can’t do too much.”
A win would have lifted Korda back into the top spot on the women’s world golf rankings. She dropped down the standings after having to take time off due to a blood clot in her arm.
“I think I had a decent shot at it,” said Korda. “I played good golf, and honestly, I’m just grateful that I am playing golf and I’m out here, and I’m enjoying every second of it.”
Reto fired a course-record 9-under 62 at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club in Thursday’s first round, besting Henderson’s former mark of 63 set at the 2017 CP Women’s Open. American Lindy Duncan matched Reto’s record in the second round, split over Friday and Saturday due to a rain delay.
Despite Reto’s consistently strong performance, Henderson remained the star of the show.
Growing up in nearby Smiths Falls, Ont., the 24-year-old Henderson’s image was used extensively in promotional materials, from decals on hotel windows, to wraps on the grandstands, and even hand-held signs of her face for children to hold.
Even as Henderson made par on her final hole of the day fans chanted her name, whistled, and cheered.
“It’s hard to put into words how much that means to me,” said Henderson. “I’m a Canadian and everyone out here is proud to be Canadian too, so it was just a great week.”
Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (67) finished tied for 17th at 10 under. It’s the third time that Sharp has earned the Sandra Post Award given to the low Canadian at the tournament.
Maddie Szeryk (71) of London, Ont., tied for 26th at 9 under for her best-ever finish on the LPGA Tour.
Amateur Lauren Zaretsky (73) of Thornhill, Ont., was 75th at 1 over and Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham (72) tied for 76th at 2 over.
Golf Canada said that more than 75,000 fans attended Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club over the week, an all-time record for the women’s championship and an impressive rebound after it had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021. Those ticket sales are a 55-per-cent increase over 2017 when the tournament was last at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, which was the previous benchmark for the event.
“From fans, from commercials, from amateurs, from our field, it has just been a dream scenario being here for the 2022 CP Women’s Open,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum, who added that the only way it could have been better was if a Canadian had won the national open.
It was also a boon for Ottawa’s beleaguered tourism industry that has not yet recovered from the damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic or the anti-government convoy that occupied Canada’s capital in February and March. Tourism Ottawa projected that the golf tournament would have an economic impact of $13.4 million in the region.
Tournament director Ryan Paul said that Ottawa’s unique geographic position on the border between two of Canada’s most populous provinces was also a benefit.
“Anywhere we can host and bring in from multiple markets is big for us,” said Paul. “Bringing this event across the country and bringing it to new markets, whether they be Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, even Montreal, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, everywhere we’ve been has their benefits.”
Vancouver’s Shaughnessy Golf & Country Club is set to host the CP Women’s Open in 2023 after it was set to host cancelled events in 2020 and 2021. No host venue has been named for 2024.
By: John Chidley-Hill
OTTAWA – Canada’s Maddie Szeryk has proven to herself that she can compete on the LPGA Tour.
Szeryk, from London, Ont., had her best-ever performance on the world’s top women’s golf circuit this past week, finishing in a tie for 26th at the CP Women’s Open. She closed out the national championship with an even-par 71 at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club on Sunday to finish at 9 under overall.
“It’s really special. I definitely got a little choked up on No. 18, just the crowd and everyone coming out and being so supportive,” said Szeryk, steps away from the grandstand surrounding the course’s final hole. “It was really special.”
The 26-year-old Szeryk missed the cut at six consecutive tournaments to start her first full season on the LPGA Tour. She and partner Kristy McPherson of the United States tied for 36th at Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational on July 13, earning her US$$4,841 in winnings.
She earned more than quadruple that at the CP Women’s Open, taking home $19,701.
“I was hoping for a few more birdies, but overall it was a great week,” said Szeryk. “I’m really, really happy with the result.
“It was just awesome to have such a good week at the CP Women’s Open.”
Szeryk turned professional in 2018 and tied for 35th in the LPGA Q-Series to earn a tour card this season. Her showing at the CP Women’s Open will lift her from 184th to 158th in the Race to the CME Globe standings and opens up new opportunities to maintain her tour status.
She’ll be in the field at next week’s Dana Open at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio, and will play in the rest of September’s events as well.
“It’s very nice because it’s a been a lot of last-minute trips this year,” said Szeryk. “At least I know the next few and I can go from there.”
Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (67) earned the third Sandra Post Award of her career as the low Canadian at the national championship, tying for 17th at 10 under. Like Szeryk, the 41-year-old Sharp said it will be a benefit to her and may help her avoid having to re-qualify for the LPGA Tour.
“When I do make the cut at the Canadian Open I usually do pretty well, so it was nice to have a good finish here,” said Sharp. “That’ll definitely get me into Q-Series, the last stage, so I don’t have to do Q-II, so that’s a huge thing, too.
“Hopefully I can keep this momentum going and I don’t have to even do that.”
World No. 5 Brooke Henderson (69) of Smiths Falls, Ont., tied for 49th at 5 under. Amateur Lauren Zarestky (73) of Thornhill, Ont., who starts at Texas Tech on Monday, finished 75th at 1 over. Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham (72) tied for 76th at 2 over.
By: United States Golf Association
FRANCE – Canada’s trio of Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., Nicole Gal of Oakville, Ont., and Brooke Rivers of Brampton, Ont., finished in tie for seventh place at the 2022 World Amateur Team Championship in France this week.
The Canadians combined for a total score of 2-under-par on the tournament and were lead by Rivers who finished T10 in the Espirito Santo individual competition. The 17-year-old Rivers fired rounds of 75-70-71-69 to close her championship at 1-under-par.
Kim was T33, while Gal finished T64 in 164-player field which included representatives from 56 countries.
The top-10 result matches Canada’s efforts from the 2018 World Amateur Team Championship where Maddie Szeryk, Jaclyn Lee and Naomi Ko teamed up for a seventh place finish.
Sweden won the Espirito Santo Trophy for the third time on a tiebreaker over the hard-charging USA at the 29th Women’s World Amateur Team Championship at Golf de Saint-Nom-La-Bretèche on Saturday.
The Swedes and Americans tied at 13-under par 559 but after comparing non-counting scores, a 1-over-par 73 from Sweden’s Louise Rydqvist was one stroke better than Rachel Kuehn’s 74 giving Sweden the gold medal and the USA the silver. One stroke behind at 560, Germany and Japan tied for the bronze-medal position.
Ingrid Lindblad, ranked No 2 in the world, fired a 3-under 69 and Meja Ortengren added a 2-under 70 as Sweden made up five strokes on Germany, who held the 54-hole.
“Yesterday we were on our way to good scores (at Le Golf National), and we lost everything in the end,” said Sweden’s head of delegation Fredrik Wetterstrand. “Today, everything went our way, our scores and the other team’s scores. I admit it was a little lucky today. Our team played really well. They were fighting hard on the course, and they did it together”
In winning its first medal since capturing bronze in Turkey in 2012, Sweden rebounded from a disappointing fourth-place position in Round 3 after holding the 36-hole lead.
“I knew pretty much all day that I had a counting score,” said Lindblad. “We knew that after yesterday at Le Golf National we would have to go for it whether we finished second or 14th. Meja made about a seven-footer for par on the 18th which was so important for us. That was great.”
The USA, which began the day four strokes behind Germany, battled its way to a one-stroke lead on the tee of the 72nd hole after a birdie on the 17th by No.1-ranked Rose Zhang.
Zhang, a member of Stanford University’s 2022 NCAA Women’s Division I Championship team, missed the green with her approach on 18 and could not convert a par-saving putt that brought on the tiebreaker. She finished with a 3-under 69 and Stanford and USA Curtis Cup teammate Rachel Heck shot 70.
“There is obviously that tinge of disappointment,” Zhang said. “On that last putt, I actually hit a really good putt exactly where I wanted but it just didn’t go in the hole. It was disappointing to end that way, but I am really proud of how we fought back on the last day.”
Germany could not find its form of Round 3 and posted a fourth-round 145 left them tied with Japan, who held a short-lived lead early in the round based on a 4-under 68 from Mizuki Hashimoto, the 2021 Asia Pacific Amateur champion. Teammates Saki Baba, the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, and Mika Ueta both shot 70.
Helen Briem led Germany with an even par 72 and Celina Rosa Sattelkau shot 73.
“It wasn’t our day, but the girls kept fighting,” said Germany captain Pia Gassner, who played in the WWATC in 2008 and 2010. “It was so close that we knew we needed to make birdies, but we just couldn’t make them. We didn’t lose the gold today; we won the bronze.”
Spain, who held a late lead, was fifth at 561, Chinese Taipei was sixth at 566, Canada and Scotland tied for seventh at 570 and the Czech Republic and the Republic of Korea tied for ninth at 572.
The winning team receives custody of the Espirito Santo Trophy until the next World Amateur Team Championship in Dubai, UAE, in October of 2023. Members of the winning team receive gold medals; members of the second-place team receive silver medals; and members of the third-place teams receive bronze medals.
Although there is no official recognition, Sweden’s Ortengren, Germany’s Briem and the USA’s Zhang tied for the low individual score at 7-under-par 279.
By: John Chidley-Hill
OTTAWA – Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., is the low Canadian after three rounds. She shot a 2-under 69 to finish the day tied for 11th at 9 under. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (68) was tied for 33rd at 6 under.
“You know, it’s the Canadian Open. It’s a major for us. All the friends and family are here, and just to play well in front of the Canadian crowd is really special,” said Szeryk.
Most freshmen spend their first week of university buying books and meeting new people. Lauren Zaretsky is playing in her first LPGA Tour event.
The 18-year-old from Thornhill, Ont., delayed her arrival at Texas Tech by a week so she could play at the CP Women’s Open. Betting on herself has paid dividends as Zaretsky is the only Canadian amateur to make the cut at the national women’s golf championship.
“It just brings good momentum coming in,” said Zaretsky of playing the LPGA event before beginning her collegiate career. “I know what it takes to get on the Tour and I think I belong and I’ve just got to keep grinding.”
That grind will continue on Monday when Zaretsky has to travel to Lubbock, Texas, for her first day of school. She’ll go from the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club to Toronto’s Pearson Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth Airport before finishing her sojourn with an hour-long flight to Lubbock.
Two days later Zaretsky and her Red Raiders teammates will travel to Pebble Beach, Calif., for the Carmel Cup, the first NCAA golf tournament of the season.
“It’s going to be tough because it’s just a small goodbye to my family, but I know that a lot of success and a lot of hard work is going to come out of it,” said Zaretsky, who had her family with her at the CP Women’s Open. “So I’ll come back even stronger.”
Jojo Robertson, the head coach of the Texas Tech women’s golf team, said she was already impressed with Zaretsky’s maturity and is eager for her to arrive in Lubbock.
“Her team is supportive of her. They’re ready for her to get here and join them,” said Robertson over the phone. “We never hesitated that she should have the opportunity to play in this great tournament that she’s in right now.”
Zaretsky won the Canadian women’s amateur in 2021 which would normally be an automatic berth into the CP Women’s Open. However, the national women’s championship was cancelled last year because of COVID-19, so Golf Canada saved her a spot in this year’s CP Women’s Open allowing her to still benefit from winning the amateur.
She showed some of the fire that won her the women’s amateur on Saturday. She pumped her fist after birdieing the final hole of her third round, finishing the day 2-over 73 to sit in a tie for 71st at 1 under.
“It was a struggle the last few holes so to get that putt in for birdie was really nice and to have it in front of the crowd, I had to fist pump,” said Zaretsky. “I like the big crowds and I’m very confident I like to do my fist pump.”
World No. 5 Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., struggled to a 2-over 73 to drop into a tie for 60th at 3 under. Toronto’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham (74) was 77th at 1 over.
Two former teammates are tied atop the leaderboard at the CP Women’s Open, vying for their first wins on the LPGA Tour.
South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi and Narin An are tied at 16-under overall after three rounds at the Canadian women’s golf championship. They played together last month at the Dow Great Lakes Invitational and have known each other for more than five years after playing against each other in Asia.
“It was only about a month ago that we played on the same team and played well,” said Choi, who was paired with An and American Lindy Duncan on Saturday. “Obviously, we’re both focusing on our individual play when we played together today, but I hope we both play well tomorrow and put up a good score.”
An, the tournament’s second-round leader, shot a 3-under 68 to stay atop the leaderboard. Choi fired a 5-under 66 to move up into a tie with An.
“I didn’t like my play today as much as I did yesterday and two days ago,” said An. “But I think not making any big mistakes is a positive to take away.”
South Africa’s Paula Reto (67), the first-round leader after setting a course record at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club on Thursday, sat in third. Sarah Schmelzel (66) and Nelly Korda (68) of the United States were tied for fourth at 14 under.
If Korda wins the tournament she will reclaim the top spot in the women’s world golf rankings.
“At the end of the day, you’re not going to move up the leaderboard unless you make the putts,” said Korda. “I’m going to go to the range, try and get my swing in order, because I was kind of hitting it all over the place on the front nine.
“Hopefully I can get a one good one going tomorrow.”
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