Conners keeps it as stress free as possible for PGA lead
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA - MAY 20: Corey Conners of Canada plays his shot from the seventh tee during the first round of the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Resort's Ocean Course on May 20, 2021 in Kiawah Island, South Carolina. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Golf New Brunswick
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) – Amid the wind and the havoc at Kiawah Island, there was a semblance of simplicity to the way Corey Conners navigated his way around the Ocean Course for a 5-under 67 and a two-shot lead Thursday in the PGA Championship.
He birdied all the par 5s. He made a couple of long putts for birdie. He dropped only one shot. The scorecard alone made it look like a walk on the beach.
It just didn’t feel that way.
“I’d say it’s impossible to be stress-free around this golf course,” Conners said. “You can’t fall asleep out there on any holes. It’s very challenging. I was fortunate to have a good day. Made it as least stressful as possible on myself.”
With a stiff wind into his face for his last five holes, the 29-year-old Canadian played the tough closing stretch in 2 under, one of those birdies a 55-foot putt from just short of the green.
He led by two shots over a half-dozen players. That group included Brooks Koepka, who started his day with a double bogey and stayed largely out of trouble the rest of the way; and Cameron Davis, who overcame a triple bogey on the sixth hole.
Keegan Bradley, Viktor Hovland, Aaron Wise and Sam Horsfield also were at 69. The seven players to break 70 were the fewest for the opening round of the PGA Championship since there were five at Hazeltine in 2002.
“I definitely knew in my preparation that it was possible to have a decent round out here and shoot a 5-, 6-under par round,” Conners said. “So kind of started the day thinking, ‘Why not me?’ There’s birdies to be had.”
No one needed them like Koepka, a major presence when conditions are severe. One hole into this major, he had reason to be more worried about his brain than his ailing right knee.
His opening tee shot on the 10th hole at Kiawah Island was struck poorly and didn’t quite clear a waste area. Koepka tried to do too much from a soft lie in the sand and barely got it out. It led to a double bogey, and the toughest part of the Ocean Course was still to come.
But this is a major, and this is Koepka, and that’s when he’s at his best. He knuckled down from that mess by running off six birdies the rest of the way.
“You can’t do that stuff if you want to win. You’ve just got to be more focused,” said Koepka, who has played only twice in the last three months because of surgery to repair ligaments in his knee. “I don’t know if that’s a lack of not playing or what. It was just stupid. I was able to recover, I guess.”
So did 50-year-old Phil Mickelson, who had four bogeys through six holes and nothing but birdies and pars the rest of the way to join the large group at 70 that included defending champion Collin Morikawa and former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland.
More telling were those on the other side of par, some of whom will be scrambling to make it to the weekend.
Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 player in the world in the midst of his worst stretch in nearly two years, took a double bogey from a wild tee shot on the front nine and a double bogey on the 18th for a 76. He’s in jeopardy of missing the cut in consecutive majors in the same year for the first time in his career.
Justin Thomas took double bogey on the 18th hole in the morning and two holes later sent a sand shot over the green and just into a hazard for another 6 on the par-5 second. He had a 75.
Rory McIlroy, coming off a victory at Quail Hollow two weeks ago, sent his opening tee shot into a water hazard. He salvaged a bogey, but certainly not his round. McIlroy made bogey on three of the par 5s for a 75, his worst start ever in a PGA Championship.
Jordan Spieth, who needs a victory to complete the career Grand Slam, shot 73.
The PGA of America moved up tee boxes, as expected, to account for the wind. The course played to 7,660 yards – 178 yards shorter than the scorecard – though that didn’t make it easy. Thomas, for one, still hit 7-wood into the 214-yard 17th.
John Daly was among 12 players who shot in the 80s. On the 30-year anniversary of his PGA Championship victory at Crooked Stick, he shot 85.
There were birdies to be had, and mistakes to be made, and Martin Laird was example of both. So wild was his round that he he made bogey on No. 12, ran off four straight birdies and then closed with two bogeys. That added to a 70, not a bad day’s work.
“I kind of went out with the mindset this week, even though it’s hard, don’t give the course too much respect,” Laird said. “You still have to take on shots when you have the chance. When I had a spot where I could go at the flag, I was making sure I kept doing it and hit a lot of really nice shots and managed to make some birdies.
“You’re going to hit bogeys on this golf course,” he said. “It’s nice when you can throw in a bunch of birdies, too.”
Finally heeled from a left knee injury, Koepka injured ligaments in his right knee in March and has played only twice since then, the Masters and last week in Dallas.
He began with a poor 3-wood on No. 10 that didn’t clear the waste area. He took on too much with a soft lie in the sand and barely got it out, leading to a double bogey. But he didn’t flinch and had few complaints about his start.
“It’s a major. I’m going to show up. I’m ready to play,” he said. “I love it when it’s difficult. I think that’s why I do so well in the majors. I just know mentally I can grind it out.”
Canadians Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., are also in the field. Hughes shot a 75 and Hadwin shot a 77.
Oakdale Golf & Country Club to host 2023 & 2026 RBC Canadian Open
Golf New Brunswick
TORONTO – Golf Canada and title sponsor RBC in partnership with the PGA TOUR have announced that Oakdale Golf and Country Club in Toronto will join the celebrated host venue rotation for the RBC Canadian Open, with the Stanley Thompson classic confirmed to host Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship in 2023 and 2026.
A 27-hole facility quietly located near the centre of the Greater Toronto Area, Oakdale will challenge the stars of the PGA TOUR as a 7,460-yard composite championship routing that integrates elements from each of the course’s three nines (Thompson, Homenuik, Knudson).
In 2018, the golf course underwent a major restoration under the guidance of Ian Andrew to bring consistency across the three nines. The facility is currently in the final stages of its multi-million-dollar renovation and revitalization project to the golf course and clubhouse.
— RBC Canadian Open (@RBCCanadianOpen) May 19, 2021
“Together with our partners at RBC and the PGA TOUR, I am extremely pleased that the membership of Oakdale Golf and Country Club has accepted our invitation to join us in hosting the 2023 and 2026 RBC Canadian Open,” said Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum. “The property is ideally situated in the heart of the GTA and presents the competitive challenge and operational capacity to stage an incredible championship. This is a special moment in Canadian golf as a classic venue emerges to challenge the world’s best golfers and share its history on the global golfing stage.”
When it welcomes the first of two RBC Canadian Opens in 2023, Oakdale will become the 37th golf course in the 117-year history of the event (and only the seventh since 1977) to host Canada’s National Men’s Open Golf Championship.
“RBC is proud to be title sponsor of the RBC Canadian Open and it is a special honour to see Oakdale Golf and Country Club take its place alongside the rotation of celebrated venues to host Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship,” said Matt McGlynn, Vice President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “The momentum behind this tournament continues to grow, and there is tremendous enthusiasm to introduce Canadian golf fans and the stars of the PGA TOUR including Team RBC to a great golf course and an exceptional tournament experience.”
The 2026 RBC Canadian Open will take on additional significance as the championship will coincide with the celebration of Oakdale’s centennial anniversary.
“Oakdale is honoured to be hosting the RBC Canadian Open in 2023, as well as in 2026, a year in which we will celebrate our 100th anniversary,” said Mark Sadowski, President of Oakdale Golf & Country Club. ” We are proud to be opening our doors to the world’s best golfers so they can test themselves against our recently renovated composite golf course designed by Stanley Thompson and Robbie Robinson, two Canadian Golf Hall of Fame members. Working alongside Golf Canada, the PGA TOUR, and RBC, our membership is committed to delivering an incredible tournament experience, engaging the community surrounding the club, as well as welcoming Canada and the world to Oakdale!”
The golf club also holds a unique connection to the PGA TOUR as eight-time PGA TOUR winner George Knudson was a former Oakdale club professional. Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member Wilf Homenuik has also enjoyed a 30-year teaching tenure as an Oakdale club professional.
“We’re excited about partnering with RBC, Golf Canada and Oakdale Golf and Country Club for the RBC Canadian Open in 2023 and 2026,” said PGA TOUR President Tyler Dennis. “Oakdale is a hidden gem and players will greatly enjoy the challenge of the facility. And with its centralized location, it will prove to be a perfect venue for the RBC Canadian Open rotation and one that fans of Toronto and Canada will embrace.”
Next June, Oakdale Golf and Country Club will also play host to the Monday Final Qualifier for the 2022 RBC Canadian Open, which will be contested at St. George’s Golf and Country Club with nearby Islington Golf Club as the official practice facility.
OAKDALE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB – A CLASSIC EMERGES….
Oakdale Golf and Country Club is a traditional tree-lined classic parkland style course over tumbling land, quietly situated in a populated urban setting. Formed by members of Toronto’s Jewish community, the golf course was originally designed in 1926 by renowned course architect and Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member Stanley Thompson. An additional nine holes were built soon after and a third nine holes opened in 1957 under the vision of Thompson’s protégé and fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member, Robbie Robinson. In 2018, the golf course underwent a major restoration under the guidance of Ian Andrew to bring consistency across the three nines. The facility is currently in the final stages of its multi-million-dollar renovation and revitalization project to the golf course and clubhouse.
The Thompson and Homenuik nines make up the original 18 holes created by Stanley Thompson while the Knudson nine reflects the additional work of Robbie Robinson. Smallish greens dominate the Thompson-Homenuik 18, while slightly larger greens are found on the Robinson 9. The ninth hole on Knudson course will be the historic finishing hole for the championship.A practice facility will be built using two existing holes on the property (#1 and #6 on the Thompson nine) while the existing practice range is expected to host a number of event activations. The practice range will be constructed by Ian Andrew who similarly constructed the temporary practice facility at Islington Golf Club which will be part of the 2022 RBC Canadian Open hosted at nearby St. George’s Golf and Country Club.
Team Canada’s Brigitte Thibault Advances to NCAA Women’s Golf Championship
Golf New Brunswick
OAKVILLE, ONT. – Team Canada member, Brigitte Thibault has advanced to the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship.
Thibault, a senior at Fresno State, secured her spot in the Championship, shooting 2-under par 211 (70-73-68) at Standford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif.
The Rosemère, Que. native shot her best round on Wednesday with a 3-under 68 driving her to a qualifying spot at the National Championship.
Thibault’s 211 was the lowest score by a Fresno State Bulldog at an NCAA regional event, beating her own record of 216 set in 2019.
“Coming here, I wanted to beat myself from two years ago so it was nice to keep on that. I finished with a birdie when, last time, I finished with a bogey. I am super happy with it and I am glad that I got it.”
Brigitte Thibault
Brigitte won the 2020 Women’s Western Amateur Championship and was T3 up at the 2020 Arizona Wildcat Invitational.
The 2021 NCAA Women’s Golf National Championship will be played at the Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. on May 21-26.
ALL-EXPENSES-PAID GOLF LESSONS AND EQUIPMENT FOR YOUTH – A FIRST FOR THE MARITIMES
Golf New Brunswick
MONCTON, NB– The Boys & Girls Club of Moncton in partnership with the Royal Oaks Golf Club is organizing free golf lessons and providing free equipment for youth ages 6 to 15. Courses will be held from Monday, May 31, 2021, to Monday, September 6, 2021, at the Royal Oaks Golf Club of Moncton. Full golf lessons, equipment, transportation, and food for youth at no cost is a ground-breaking initiative in the Maritimes and probably in Canada, and one that the Boys & Girls Club of Moncton and Royal Oaks Golf Club are proud of as they work together to deconstruct the “traditional views” of golf as an elitist sport and provide access to it for youth.
The costs associated with lessons, equipment, transportation, and food can make it challenging for many to be able to experience the sport. That is why the Boys & Girls Club of Moncton and the Royal Oaks Golf Club have partnered to offer golf lessons, transportation for the youth, all necessary golf equipment (clothing, shoes, bags, etc.), access to the facilities, and food at no cost to the participants. Providing access to golf for all youth in the community is the desire of Chris Medford, General Manager of Royal Oaks Golf Club, to make the sport inclusive: “What a great opportunity for us to outreach the community and be that first person to break the barrier. We are an inclusive place, we want everyone from all walks of life, different backgrounds, and ethnicities to come and play golf, especially if they were unable to play it because it is an elitist and privilege sport. Let’s blow those barriers.”
For three months, the youngsters will be interested, initiated, taught the basics of golf with pros and inspiring adults to transmit the flame of golf. The program includes bi-weekly classes of two hours combining theory and practice, and youth tournaments; all in a safe environment and respectful of social distancing related to the current pandemic context. By introducing young people to a sport they haven’t had access to before, they are given the opportunity to consider it, explore it and possibly go further to make a career out of it since there are Canadian universities that offer scholarships for those who want to golf professionally, especially for girls. The goal is to allow young people to have dreams that were previously unattainable. “We believe wholeheartedly that ‘Opportunity changes everything’”, says Moncef Lakouas, Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club of Moncton. We want to introduce young people to new opportunities that otherwise would not be available or accessible. The future is made brighter by the opportunities a person is exposed to. We will continue to be a voice for inclusion, opportunities and equality for all youth in our community. We want to open up a world of abundance and countless possibilities for young people in our community.”
The invitation is extended to the community. All youth are invited to participate. Limited space. Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, please contact.
Moncef Lakouas, Executive Director Boys & Girls Club of Moncton
The decision to cancel this event was not taken lightly but given the current restrictions surrounding competitions as outlined in the Provincial Mandatory Order, Golf NB has little choice and believes it is the best course of action at this juncture.
Golf NB strongly supports the efforts of the Province of New Brunswick and its Public Health authorities in making the safety and well-being of New Brunswickers a paramount importance.
Golf NB shares in the disappointment of those affected and thanks our competitors, volunteers, and the Algonquin Golf Course for their understanding during this extraordinary time.
Golf NB has and will continue to follow the directives from the Province of New Brunswick as we continue our plans to conduct the remainder of our 2021 championship schedule while balancing the needs of our competitors and host venues to the best of our ability.
Golf New Brunswick (Golf NB), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1934, is the official governing body for amateur golf in New Brunswick. In January of 2006, the New Brunswick Golf Association (NBGA) officially merged with the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association (NBLGA), resulting in one united governing body for amateur golf in the province. Programs offered by Golf NB to its 46 partner facilities and 6,600 individual members include provincial championships, rules of golf education, course rating and handicap services, and junior golf development programs.
Canada to host U.S. Junior Amateur & Girls’ Junior Qualifier
Oshawa Golf & Curling Club
Golf New Brunswick
USGA & Golf Canada – Golf Canada is pleased to announce it will host a U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior Qualifier at the Oshawa Golf & Curling Club on Monday, June 21st.
Held for the first time in Canada, the Qualifier will offer an opportunity for Canadian players to qualify for the respective USGA Championships.
Eligibility to compete in the Qualifiers and details on the Championships can be found below.
73rd U.S. Junior Amateur Championship The Country Club of North Carolina Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina July 19th – 24th
U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifier Eligibility Handicap Index Limit: 4.4 Age Limit: Cannot be 19 on or before July 24, 2021 Entry Fee: $100 Entries Close: May 26th at 5:00pm EDT
72nd U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship Columbia Country Club Chevy Chase, Maryland July 12th – 17th
U.S. Girl’s Junior Qualifier Eligibility Handicap Index Limit: 9.4 Age Limit: Cannot be 19 on or before July 17, 2021 Entry Fee: $100 Entries Close: May 19th at 5:00pm EDT
For any questions pertaining to entry or registration, please contact the USGA at champs@usga.org or (908) 326-1950.
***Golf Canada championships only proceed with the authorization of local and provincial health authorities***
INDUSTRY STATEMENT FOR GOLF IN ATLANTIC CANADA
Golf New Brunswick
ATLANTIC ALLIED GOLF ASSOCIATIONS –During these challenging times in Atlantic Canada, golf associations have come together to pool resources and expertise to clearly define a safe path for the golf industry as we continue to navigate through the current challenges that we face.
The Atlantic Allied Golf Associations applaud the work of our health officials, our essential workers and various Government Agencies and Health Authorities for their active roles in ensuring the continued safety of our citizens, our communities, our provinces, and our nation.
With over a year having passed since the current health crisis began and the impacts on our citizens, businesses and communities continuing, we appreciate the challenges government officials are facing when deciding on the movement of people and the operation of businesses.
With the Atlantic Canadian golf season just beginning, the Atlantic Allied Golf Associations are working closely with our golf courses and our national partners to ensure the health and safety of our facility staff and the general public.
The Atlantic Allied Golf Associations continue to respect and support the positions of the federal and provincial Governments and the Chief Medical Officers of Health and we applaud them for identifying that golf is a safe and responsible recreational opportunity for the physical and mental well-being of our citizens while ensuring financial stability for those who work in the industry.
There is a great deal of information readily available from multiple jurisdictions however specific governmental and health requirements vary from area to area. We continue to compile relevant best practices and are consulting with various provincial governments and health authorities to identify key benchmarks and health and safety guidelines. These will be distributed to our partner facilities in a timely manner once they are identified and properly vetted so that they meet the appropriate requirements from the Government of Canada, our specific provinces, and the various municipalities in our provinces.
We appreciate the specific challenges that each of our four Atlantic Provinces are facing and we will continue to work as an allied group supporting the guidelines set forth by each of the respective provincial governments and health authorities.
We will continue to work together with our partner facilities as we enter the 2021 season and ensure that golf clubs in Atlantic Canada are organized and well prepared to operate with the health and safety of players and staff members as a top priority.
Sincerely,
Atlantic Allied Golf Associations
Lindon Garron – Executive Director, PGA Atlantic Jim Thompson – Regional Director, Atlantic Chapter NGCOA Jim Nix – Executive Director, Atlantic Golf Superintendents Association Jeffrey Hutt – Regional Director, Atlantic Canada, Golf Canada Eric Tobin – President, Atlantic Branch – Canadian Society of Club Managers Tyson Flinn – Executive Director, Golf New Brunswick Jason Lohnes – Executive Director, Nova Scotia Golf Association Alison Griffin – Executive Director, Prince Edward Island Golf Association Greg Hillier – Executive Director, Golf Newfoundland Labrador
—————————————————————————————
As an Allied Group, it is important to understand that there may be situations when similar or identical releases come from multiple sources or associations. This is done in the interest of ensuring that any, and all, members / facilities of the Allied Atlantic Golf Associations receive the most current and up to date information.
The Atlantic Allied Golf Associations were formed to work on the behalf of the golf industry in Atlantic Canada while respecting each province’s specific guidelines and protocols. It is the goal of the Atlantic Allied Golf Associations to provide current up to date information as disseminated by our respective government and health authorities. In some cases, these decisions may not be in the best interest of our facilities and operations. Please note that these situations will be identified, and the Atlantic Allied Golf Associations will continue to work with our respective governments and health authorities to address any such issues in as fair a manner as possible.
OLYMPIA FIELDS, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 30: Mackenzie Hughes of Canada after making his putt on the 18th green during the final round of the BMW Championship on the North Course at Olympia Fields Country Club on August 30, 2020 in Olympia Fields, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Golf New Brunswick
PGA TOUR – With a win in his rookie season, it seemed success came easy for Mackenzie Hughes, yet that is anything but the case. The Canadian has overcome hardships at every level of his career, most notably last season with his first trip to the TOUR Championship, thanks to a simple mindset that is prominent in all aspects of his journey from Canada to the United States.
Golf Canada’s latest app update includes games and enhanced course lookup
Golf New Brunswick
Golf Canada has dropped an app update that is sure to get golfers pumping their fists!
Just in time for the 2021 golf season, the latest version of Golf Canada’s app now features the ability to set up Match Play, Skins of Stroke Play games against friends using Gross or Net scoring.
Put the pencil down and forget about dotting the scorecard. You no longer need to worry about who gets strokes on what hole. The Golf Canada app has you covered.
Plus, users can discover new places to play using a revamped course finder tool. The new look-up functionality allows golfers to search for courses using criteria like number of holes, type of facility (private, public, semi-private) and ease of walking, among many others.
The app is also helping golfers get better connected with their favourite facilities – users can look up clubs who are specifically offering promotions.
Save time and the hassle of setting up matches with your buddies and get the newest version of the Golf Canada app, available starting April 5, 2021.
These new Golf Canada App features are in addition to those users already enjoy, like real-time course GPS data and game tracking.
Don’t play another round until you download the latest version of this app.
