UXBRIDGE — The Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) 2015 season will offer a whole new look to female provincial tournaments and the changes are sure to not only increase participation but also enhance competition.
One of the first changes will be the qualifying structure for the Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship, June 29-30 at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham. Formerly, qualification and seeding took place a day before the matches began, but in 2015, that will be determined by the final results from the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Spring Classic, May 16-18 at Grey Silo Golf Club in Waterloo.
“This change should make for a stronger match play field, add more significance to finishing positions at the Junior Spring Classic and give players early notice that they have qualified for this tournament,” said Manager of Women’s Tournaments Larry Longo.
Changes have also been made to the Women’s Champion of Champions. First, it will now be played on May 14 at Galt Country Club in Cambridge after earlier scheduling conflicts. In addition, a Senior Women’s Champion of Champions will be played simultaneously at Galt Country Club.
Similarly, the Investors Group Senior Women’s and Mid-Amateur Championships have been combined to take place together, on July 21-23 at Loyalist Country Club in Bath.
The date of the Women’s Match Play Championship has also been moved to later in the season, Aug. 4-6 at Woodington Lake. This will allow those participating in the Canadian Senior Women’s Championship and college players more availability to participate in the event.
A new Player Priority Entry Rankings List for the Investors Group Women’s Amateur Championship has been created for 2015 to allow the top 90 players to enter online and be accepted into the tournament immediately. Those outside the top 90, may enter the championship but will be put on a wait list. The status of those on the wait list will not be known until after the entry deadline, unless they move into the top 90. Once the deadline passes and, if positions are available, those still on the wait list will be moved into the championship to fill the 90-player field. Remaining players not yet accepted at that point will be championship alternates and moved into the championship if a spot becomes available. A similar list has been created for the Investors Group Junior Girls’ Championship. More information can be found on the tournament page.
Finally, the GAO is pleased to announce that the Member Day event at the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto, June 22, will be a GAO Member Day for Women only.
With these new initiatives there even more reasons for women to get involved with GAO programming and enjoy all that golf has to offer.
