SCARBOROUGH – Scarboro Golf & Country Club architect A.W. Tillinghast is one of four distinguished honourees who will be enshrined into the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum as the Class of 2015.

Scarboro members are thrilled that Laura Davies, David Graham, Mark O’Meara and Tillinghast will be inducted on Monday, July 13, 2015 at the University of St Andrews, just blocks from the Old Course, host site of that week’s 144th Open Championship.

“Tillie’s induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame is ridiculously long overdue. He should have been in there from when the hall first opened,” says Canadian golf course architect Ian Andrew of Brantford, ON. It was Andrew, along with noted American golf course architect Gil Hanse, who completed a sympathetic restoration of all known Tillinghast features and the removal of all recent changes to the course to return it to its original character in the fall of 2007.

“You could argue that he is the greatest American golf course architect of all time. I certainly put him ahead of Stanley Thompson,” says Andrew who has played most of Tillinghast’s layouts still considered among the world’s best and used frequently for golf’s major championships. Bethpage State Park, Winged Foot, Baltusrol GC, San Francisco GC, Quaker Ridge, Fenway GC, Somerset Hills and Baltimore Country Club at Five Farms in Maryland, where London, ON, golfer Sandy Somerville won the 1932 U.S. Amateur, are all Tillinghast designs.

Born in 1874, Albert Warren (A.W.) Tillinghast took golf lessons from Old Tom Morris, was an admirer of St Andrews, and used that knowledge to become a true pioneer of American golf.  He was a prolific architect, having worked on 265 plus courses including more than 100 original designs in the U.S. courses to his credit.  He was also an original member of the PGA of America and authored a slew of books about the game. He died in 1942 in Toledo, Ohio.

“It’s like a piece of art.  You look at Tillinghast, you look at Alistair MacKenzie, you look at Donald Ross, you look at designers of that era, like David (Graham) pointed out, those guys were artists,” O’Meara said during a Hall of Fame interview. “They just had great pieces of property, great land, great vision, and golf will always stand the test of time even though players hit it further and equipment is better and this and that.”

Scarboro is the lone Tillinghast design in Canada. The club hired him in 1924 to rebuild the initial George Cumming layout at a cost of $40,000 and Tillinghast`s layout opened for play in 1926. Since that time Scarboro has hosted four Canada Open Championships and numerous other international and national events within the amateur and professional ranks.

“We are thrilled that Tillinghast is finally being recognized by the World Golf Hall of Fame. His significant talent and genius are evident on every hole when playing this great golf course,” says Neil Rooney, Scarboro’s Chief Operating Officer. “We are proud to have his name connected to Scarboro and the club will continue to preserve and enhance the legacy of his classic design in the decades to come.”

Andrew believes Tillinghast was a genius when it came to creating par-3s. You only need to play Scarboro’s second, fourth, 11^th and 14^th holes to experience that brilliance. “Of all of the architects of his time, Tillinghast was the one who manufactured greens sites. He was a creator and a constructor. He would bring material together to make things more dramatic than they would have been. He was not afraid to go really big and that set him apart,” Andrew added.

Andrew says Scarboro is worthy of study when it comes to understanding golf course architecture. In his books, the course is home to some of the greatest green sites you’ll find anywhere and its strategic grass-faced bunkers that now hang on the edge of putting surfaces make them all the more interesting.

“In my mind Scarboro doesn’t get its due as a great place to play golf,” he says. “Strategically it’s a lot of fun to play and one of the best courses in Canada.”

This is the first Class to be elected by the Hall of Fame’s Selection Commission, which debated a group of 16 Finalists.  The four members of the Class of 2015 each passed the required 75 percent voting threshold – approval by at least 12 of the 16 members. The Selection Commission was co-chaired by Hall of Fame members Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and Annika Sorenstam and included the members of the World Golf Foundation Board of Directors and a mix of institutional and at-large seats.

UXBRIDGE (GAO) – Steve Carroll, Executive Director of the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), announced today that Penny Connors has been hired for the GAO’s newly created position of Director of Finance & Administration.

“We could not be happier to have someone with Penny’s experience and record of accomplishment in financial management and association executive roles, join the GAO,” stated Carroll.  “Penny is an energetic, strategic, experienced and accomplished administrator with an innovative and creative manner and strong business acumen, all of which will serve her well as GAO Director of Finance & Administration.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the GAO staff team at a very exciting time for the GAO as the Association embarks on a new strategic planning process,” said Connors.  “I look forward to helping build, grow and develop synergies among all GAO programs and properties, including existing GAO events, stakeholder needs and priorities and new initiatives designed to build capacity and grow the sport.”

Penny Connors’ varied experience of over 17 years in the not-for-profit sector has given her the opportunity to demonstrate a strong administrative capability to balance multiple priorities, build member service strategies in association and regulatory environments, manage office/operations administration, provide internal corporate services support and work with diverse stakeholder groups.

With degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from York University, the Certificate in Human Resource Management (CHRM) from the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) of Ontario, the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation and most recently the OISE Certificate in Adult Education, Penny Connors possesses the competencies needed to develop and deliver on the strategic directives of the Director, Finance & Administration role for GAO.  Penny was working in a senior management position with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario before joining the GAO following four years on the senior management team with the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.

Penny Connors’ first official day with the GAO will be October 27th where she can be reached at pconnors@gao.ca

By BRENT LONG

What goes around comes around in Adam Brown’s world.

Forty years ago this past summer Brown picked up the phone, put his index finger in the rotary phone at his parents’ home in Dundas, ON and dialed long distance to a town called Woodbridge.

News of a fabulous new golf course named The National Golf Club designed by the team of American golf course architects George and Tom Fazio had been buzzing around the province for a few months and Brown wanted to see what it was all about for himself.

By that time the 21-year-old had won the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship, lost in a playoff to Kelly Roberts in the Canadian Junior Boys Championship and was playing well in the U.S. on a scholarship at Miami University in Oxford Ohio.

“I grew up trying to be like Jack (Nicklaus),” said Brown who started to play the game at the age of nine at what is now Hidden Lake GC in Burlington followed by Glendale G&CC. “I have never met Jack, but I did have one of my first lessons from his instructor Jim Flick at Cincinnati County Club.”

Brown’s stomach twirled with a touch of nervousness and anticipation as the phone rang and he waited to be connected to Ben Kern, a noted professional who would be named the club’s Head Professional in 1976.

“The course wasn’t officially open at that time and I didn’t even know if Ben would know who I was, but I wanted to give it a try”, Brown says as he sits in the club’s modern day clubhouse that opened in 2008. “I’ll never forget that call, I introduced myself and asked if I could play and he warmly welcomed me. Ben said, “Yes” to junior champions because he wanted to promote the game and help aspiring young players. He knew who the players were.”

Brown played his first round at The National on his own. At every turn and with every shot he could not believe what he was seeing and playing.

“As I drove in along old Pine Valley Drive to the clubhouse I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was the first course of its kind in the country and it looked incredible,” says Brown. “I remember being amazed by the quickness of the green speeds. I had never played on anything like that and there were no pitch and run shots to be made at The National. I grew up with a pitch and run game. All of a sudden I was being faced with having to make a lob or a flop shot when I missed a green and it was very challenging.”

The sight and size of the Fazios’ fairway and green side bunkers also made Brown take a second look and sometimes a third before firing away.

“I asked Ben, “Is this the way modern golf is going? And he said, “Yes,” recalls Brown, who returned to play the course two more times that summer with his father and was personally welcomed back each time by Ben.

Today, at The National Golf Club of Canada, there was an official name change along the way, Brown is Head Professional. He started working at the Club as an assistant in 1999 and took the top job in 2005, after winning the 2004 PGA Seniors’ Championship of Canada.

The club has only had four head professionals over its 40-year history – Al Balding from 1974-1975, Ben Kern from 1976 to 1995, Norm Hitzroth from 1996 to 2004 and Brown.

Its three original founding members; Gil Blechman, Harvey Kalef and Irv Hennick each passed away within seven years of each other between 2000 and 2007. As legend goes the dream of The National was conceived on a hot, lazy afternoon in the summer of 1972 at Maple Downs G&CC where the trio were members. They were tired of the slow play and kids splashing around in the pool during their back swings. It was time for a change when Kalef said, “Enough of this crap. What we ought to do is buy ourselves a super golf club, the best anywhere. We’ll make it exclusive, for men only.”

That was a Friday afternoon and Blechman knew of a course that was for sale. On the Monday, Kalef went to his lawyer and without having seen Pine Valley Golf Club put in an offer to purchase from the estate of the late Jack Bailey that was accepted.

They hired the Fazios’ to design, “the best golf course in the world and money’s no object,” Blechman said. It’s a good thing it wasn’t, because Tom Fazio told Blechman he needed more land to make his dream reality and they proceeded to buy three adjoining farms totalling 135 acres. Construction of the Fazio masterpiece started on May 15, 1973, the land was cleared by June 1^st and the course was finished in three months with an official opening in 1975. The Fazio golf course design team continue to make annual visits to the club to review the course and make suggestions for tweaking the layout.

When it first opened the course, which was an instant success and on its way to quickly becoming the No. 1 golf course in Canada, the layout had three sets of tees. Today it has four sets of tees with two hybrid options for a total of six playing options measuring from 6002 to 7,235 yards, par-71. It’s very first scorecard had Al Balding as Head Professional and Ken Venturi as Associate Director with the tees measuring 5,855 yards, 6,306 yards and 6,989 yards, par-71.

“The course continues to evolve without losing its essence of being tough but fair and that’s what makes it timeless,” Brown says. “It was tough 40 years ago and it has that exact same toughness today although there have been changes and that is truly remarkable.”

Once a year players gather for the Ben Kern Pro-Am. It’s the only tournament at the club played from the back Gold tees. It’s one of the exceptional golf experiences in Canada that only the lucky few have the opportunity to play.

The favourite part of Brown’s job is seeing the expressions of first time guests as they play the course. “I’ll greet them when they arrive and I’ll go out and see them on the seventh or eighth hole and you can see it in their eyes. It gets everybody and the better the player the more they have recognized what they have played.”

He too knows the players and the champions. The tradition continues although cell phones have replaced rotary phones. Austin James won the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys Championship and Matt LeMay won the 2014 Ontario Junior Boys Championship. You just never know where they might be 40 years from now.

UXBRIDGE— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), Golf Canada and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are proud to announce the implementation of a new junior golf initiative: the NXTee youth (U13) golf x-perience.

The NXTee pilot program has been created to increase the development and engagement of junior golfers, aged 8-13 in the York Region, by providing them with an opportunity to continue to practice and increase their skills throughout the winter. The program prepares participants for the golf season in a fun and friendly environment.

“We want to be able to look at the NXTee x-perience as being able to inspire and enhance the development of kids at the club level,” said Doug Lawrie, NXTee Lead Coach. “We need to have that junior coach and leader at the club to inspire kids to learn and show them how simple it is to learn the game of golf. I think this program will help create structure to get everyone on the same page.”

A key strategy for the program aims to educate parents and increase awareness about junior golf pathways and the necessary next steps for their junior golfer.

“The GAO is truly excited to launch this important project as we work to strengthen our support for communities, families and clubs across Ontario,” added Mike Kelly, Managing Director, Sport. “NXTee is focused on enhancing engagement for parents and kids in the sport of golf while making new friends and having fun.”

The program includes: two outdoor skills challenges, one in the fall followed by another in the spring; two indoor training sessions during the winter; two parent education seminars; and proper rules and etiquette training.

“The GAO NXTee x-perience has been designed using scientific principles of long-term athlete development (LTAD),” said Dr. Peter Davis, GAO LTAD Consultant. “It is designed to help children improve their skills and enjoy their golf game using age-appropriate coaching and also for parents to understand how their children can best enjoy and develop their golf game through appropriate support.”

Locations for the Skills Challenges will be at Cardinal Golf Club (King), Copper Creek Golf Club (Kleinburg), Bushwood Golf Club (Markham), Lakeridge Links Golf Club (Whitby) and St. Andrews Valley Golf Club (Aurora) and will take place October 18-19. Each club will host a three-hour skills challenge on both days. The second skills challenge will take place in April 2015.

After the skills challenges, participants will sign up for winter training sessions. The winter training sessions will be held at The Golf Lab, in Vaughan.

During the winter training sessions, parent education seminars will also take place. The seminars are designed to offer parents insight and knowledge into the world of junior golf, competitive or recreational pathways, long-term player development and strategies to improve their child’s golf development.

www.gao.ca/nxtee

Americans finish with team-total, 17-under par 559 for wire-to-wire gold medal finish at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

Team USA’s Mika Liu (-9) wins individual gold medal by three shots over teammate Megan Khang (-6) with Sweden’s Emma Svensson (-3) capturing the bronze medal 

MARKHAM, Ont. (Golf Canada) – Team USA got out to an early lead and never let it go, finishing with a team-total score of 17-under par 559 for the wire-to-wire victory at the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course) in Markham, Ont.

The Americans (137-141-137-144—559) began Wednesday’s final round with a commanding 16-shot lead and went on to shoot a team-total, even-par 144 to capture top spot on the medal podium.

Team USA counted matching rounds of even-par 72 by 16-year old Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282) and 15-year old Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) while 15-year old Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279), who finished as individual gold medalist, rounded out the scoring with a round of 1-over 73.

For Team USA non-playing captain Courtney Myhrum, the victory capped a special week that left her beaming with pride for her young squad.

“They’re my dream team, it’s been wonderful it’s been a great week and a real team effort; I couldn’t be more proud of the three of them, the way they conducted themselves on the course and off the course,” said Myhrum. “Go play and have fun, there is really not much else I can say to these three. They had great course management and are really easy to captain because they know how to get around the golf course – they didn’t really need me this week.”

Sweden, which began the day tied for fifth, five shots back of a podium placing, vaulted into the silver medal by counting the low team-total of the final round – 5-under par 139. Leading the way for the Swedes was 18-year old Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) who counted the low round of the day on the South Course at Angus Glen, a sizzling 5-under 67. Seventeen year old Filippa Mork (81-75-77-72—305) saved her best round – even-par 72 – for the final day to count the second score while 18-year old Michaela Finn (74-72-72-75—295) rounded out the scoring for Sweden.

Team Canada (144-146-141-149—580) was looking to build on their team-best score from Tuesday but it wasn’t meant to be as the host country shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 to claim the bronze medal. The Canucks counted final-round scores of even-par 72 by Brooke Henderson (17) of Smiths Falls, Ont. (70-73-71-72—286) and 5-over 77 by Grace St-Germain (16) of Ottawa (74-73-78-77—302) while teammate Naomi Ko (17) of Victoria (77-79-70-81—307) completed the scoring with a non-counting 81.

Rounding out the top-five in the team competition at the inaugural World Junior Girls Team Championship was Team Denmark (149-143-141-150—583) in fourth at 7-over 583 followed by Spain in fifth (147-146-142-152—587) at 11-over 587.

Canada’s second team in the competition comprised of Jaclyn Lee (17) of Calgary (72-77-75-75—299), Selena Costabile (16) of Thornhill, Ont. (78-74-74-76—302) and Alisha Lau (14) of Richmond, B.C. (83-80-75-74—312) shot a final-round, team-total 5-over 149 (150-151-149-149—599) to finish tied for 13th position.

In the individual competition, 15-year old American standout Mika Liu (70-69-67-73—279) shot a final-round, 1-over 73 to win the gold medal by three shots over her USA teammate Megan Khang (67-73-70-72—282). Liu came into Wednesday’s final round with a four-shot lead over Khang and was more excited to contribute to the team victory than capturing individual gold.

“Yes, I am extremely happy that my team won first and that I did too – it is a total celebration,” said Liu, the no. 48 ranked player on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. “To be able to share the podium with my teammates who were out there on the course with me and my captain and manager makes me extremely happy and proud because we came here together and we are able to leave as champions together.”

Sweden’s Emma Svensson (76-70-72-67—285) saved her best play for the final round, firing a 5-under 67 and tournament-total 3-under 285 to edge out Canada’s Brooke Henderson (70-73-71-72—286) by a single stroke and capture the bronze medal. Team USA’s Angela Yin Angel Yin (73-72-73-72—290) and Ireland’s Olivia Mehaffey (77-67-74-72—290) tied for fifth at 2-over for the tournament.

The following are final team scores from the World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course / par 72 / 6,298 yards):
1. United States of America – Megan Khang, Angel Yin, Mika Liu *137-141-137-144-559 -17
2. Sweden – Emma Svensson, Filippa Mork, Michaela Finn *150-144-144-139-577 +1
3. Canada 1 – Brooke Henderson, Naomi Ko, Grace St-Germain *144-146-141-149-580 +4
4. Denmark – Puk Thomsen, Line Hansen, Marie Lund-Hansen *149-143-141-150-583 +7
5. Spain – Nuria Iturrios Servera, Alejandra Pasarin Olalla, Ana Pelaez Trivino *147-146-142-152-587 +11
6. Czech Republic – Kristýna Frýdlová, Karolína Kohoutová, Hana Ryškova *153-143-143-149-588 +12
7. Ireland – Mary Doyle, Olivia Mehaffey, Annabel Wilson *155-140-149-147-591 +15
7. England – India Clyburn, Alice Hewson, Inci Mehmet *148-149-143-151-591 +15
7. Belgium – Diane Baillieux, Clarisse Louis, Elodie Van Dievoet *150-145-146-150-591 +15
10. Italy – Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Martina Flori, Carlotta Ricolfi *147-145-146-154-592 +16
11. Australia – Hannah Green, Karis Davidson, Soo Jin (Jenny) Lee *154-145-144-153-596 +20
12. Finland – Anna Backman, Ellinoora Moisio, Sandra Salonen *145-149-152-152-598 +22
13. Canada 2 – Jaclyn Lee, Selena Costabile, Alisha Lau *150-151-149-149-599 +23
13. Mexico – Isabella Fierro, Maria Fassi, Monica Dibildox Hassaf *151-154-147-147-599 +23
15. New Zealand – Alanna Campbell, Julianne Alvarez, Wenyung Keh *156-147-157-148-608 +32
16. Norway – Sandra Nordaas, Dorthea Charlotte Forbrigd, Renate Grimstad *151-153-149-156-609 +33

The following are final individual scores from the World Junior Girls Golf Championship at Angus Glen Golf Club (South Course / par 72 / 6,298 yards):
1. Mika Liu, United States of America, *70-69-67-73-279 -9
2. Megan Khang, United States of America, *67-73-70-72-282 -6
3. Emma Svensson, Sweden, *76-70-72-67-285 -3
4. Brooke Henderson, Canada 1, *70-73-71-72-286 -2
5. Olivia Mehaffey, Ireland, *77-67-74-72-290 +2
5. Angel Yin, United States of America, *73-72-73-72-290 +2
7. Hana Ryškova, Czech Republic, *74-71-70-76-291 +3
7. Ana Pelaez Trivino, Spain, *73-73-71-74-291 +3
7. Puk  Thomsen, Denmark, *73-76-69-73-291 +3
10. Michaela Finn, Sweden, *74-74-72-75-295 +7
11. Kristýna Frýdlová, Czech Republic, *79-72-73-73-297 +9
11. Clarisse Louis, Belgium, *74-73-76-74-297 +9
11. Alejandra Pasarin Olalla, Spain, *74-74-71-78-297 +9
14. Diane Baillieux, Belgium, *76-76-70-76-298 +10
15. Martina Flori, Italy, *76-70-75-78-299 +11
15. Jaclyn Lee, Canada 2, *72-77-75-75-299 +11
15. Line  Hansen, Denmark, *76-67-72-84-299 +11
18. Hannah Green, Australia, *78-72-70-80-300 +12
18. Anna Backman, Finland, *71-73-73-83-300 +12
18. Carlotta Ricolfi, Italy, *74-75-74-77-300 +12
21. Alice Hewson, England, *78-73-68-82-301 +13
22. Inci Mehmet, England, *76-76-78-72-302 +14
22. Lucrezia Colombotto Rosso, Italy, *73-80-72-77-302 +14
22. Selena Costabile, Canada 2, *78-74-74-76-302 +14
22. Wenyung Keh, New Zealand, *76-75-79-72-302 +14
22. Grace St-Germain, Canada 1, *74-73-78-77-302 +14
27. India Clyburn, England, *72-77-75-79-303 +15
27. Isabella Fierro, Mexico, *76-78-76-73-303 +15
29. Soo Jin (Jenny) Lee, Australia, *77-77-74-76-304 +16
30. Karis Davidson, Australia, *77-73-78-77-305 +17
30. Filippa Mork, Sweden, *81-75-77-72-305 +17
30. Renate Grimstad, Norway, *78-73-74-80-305 +17
33. Elodie Van Dievoet, Belgium, *77-72-76-82-307 +19
33. Mary Doyle, Ireland, *78-73-75-81-307 +19
33. Alanna Campbell, New Zealand, *80-72-79-76-307 +19
33. Naomi Ko, Canada 1, *77-79-70-81-307 +19
37. Annabel Wilson, Ireland, *82-76-76-75-309 +21
37. Maria Fassi, Mexico, *75-87-71-76-309 +21
37. Sandra Nordaas, Norway, *73-80-77-79-309 +21
40. Ellinoora Moisio, Finland, *82-76-79-73-310 +22
40. Monica Dibildox Hassaf, Mexico, *84-76-76-74-310 +22
42. Alisha Lau, Canada 2, *83-80-75-74-312 +24
43. Nuria Iturrios Servera, Spain, *81-73-81-78-313 +25
44. Sandra Salonen, Finland, *74-82-79-79-314 +26
45. Julianne Alvarez, New Zealand, *80-79-78-79-316 +28
46. Dorthea Charlotte Forbrigd, Norway, *84-83-75-77-319 +31
46. Marie Lund-Hansen, Denmark, *79-80-83-77-319 +31
48. Karolína Kohoutová, Czech Republic, *86-98-85-89-358 +70

NOTES FROM ROUND 4:
•    Angus Glen’s 10th hole – a 380-yard par 4 – played as the most difficult hole Wednesday, with players averaging more than a 1/2 (0.58) of a stroke above par (4.58).
•    The 325-yard, par 4 15th and the 485-yard, par 5 16th holes played as the easiest holes Wednesday, with players averaging 0.03 of stroke below par.
•    Team USA’s Mika Liu and Emma Svensson of Sweden led the field in birdies this week with 18 each.
•    All three members of Team USA finished in the top-5 in the individual competition.
•    Wednesday’s low round of 5-under 67 was recorded by Emma Svensson of Sweden.
•    Wednesday’s final-round scoring included 2 eagles; 105 birdies; 499 pars; 210 bogies; 36 double bogies; and 12 other scores.
•    The average final-round score among the 48 competitors was 76.31, up from the third-round scoring average of 74.41.
•    Weather in Markham, Ont. today: High of 15°, low of 14° (Celsius). Fog, overcast with winds gusting up to 13 km/h.
•    Angus Glen Golf Club hosted the World Junior Girls Golf Championship as a test event for the 2015 golf competition of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. The Pan Am Games will run July 10-26, 2015 with the golf competition running July 16-19, 2015.

TRANSCRIPTS & PHOTOS:
•    Audio and video transcripts from the World Junior Girls Golf Championship are available online.
•    Photo galleries from the World Junior Girls World Championship are also available online.

ABOUT THE WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP:
The inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship – contested on the South Course at Angus Glen Golf Club – was conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario. The championship featured three-player teams of athletes under the age of 19 representing 15 countries. As host country, Canada fielded two teams in the competition.

The 16-team field competed over 72 holes for both individual and team honours. The event – which is supported by the International Golf Federation, received grant funding by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Other funding partners include the Golf Canada Foundation (Women’s Golf Fund) and the R&A as well as Central Counties. Funding was also provided from the Federal and Provincial governments in preparation for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games.

For more information, visit www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

25 players from across Canada to compete in the Skills Challenge at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont., site of the 2014 World Junior Girls Championship

Markham, Ont. (Golf Canada) – The World Junior Girls Golf Championship won’t be the only major junior golf competition taking place this week at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

Twenty-five competitors from across Canada will converge at Angus Glen Golf Club on Saturday, September 27^th for the sixth annual CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Event.

The Junior Skills Challenge National Event is one of the many activities planned around the inaugural World Junior Girls Golf Championship which runs September 26 to October 1 at Angus Glen Golf Club.

WHAT:

CN, Golf Canada and the PGA of Canada will host the national finals for the 2014 CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge on Saturday, September 27^th at Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ont.

The National Junior Skills Challenge event is delivered in the same format as the CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge Qualifiers. As determined by their standing on the National Leaderboard, the top 25 juniors in the country will compete in a four part skills challenge (putting, chipping, driving and iron play) with one overall winner per age group and gender.

WHO:    

CN Future Links participants who qualified from various golf facilities across Canada – boys and girls qualifiers within each age group (age groups: 9-11; 12-14; and 15-18).

A total of 25 competitors who achieved the highest skills challenge scores from events across Canada during the 2014 golf season will travel to Angus Glen with the hope of becoming a CN Future Links Junior Skills Challenge National Champion.

Ages 9-11

Ages 12-14

Ages 15-18

WHEN:                   

Saturday, September 27, 2014

9:00am – 10:30am: Practice & Warm-up

10:45am – 11:00am: Opening Address

11:00am – 1:00pm: Skills Challenge

Following completion of skills challenge will be a complimentary BBQ and awards presentation.

* All times EDT

WHERE:

Angus Glen Golf Club

10080 Kennedy Road

Markham, Ont.

L6C 1N9
Tel: 905-887-0090

www.angusglen.com

FORMAT:

• Driving: Each competitor receives three drives. Points are awarded and dependent on distance and aim of the drive. The drive must land within the 30-yard width to qualify for points. The number of points is dependent on the distances completed.
• Chipping: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the iron shot from the target.
• Putting: Each competitor receives two putts each from each distance of 3, 5 and 8 feet. Points are awarded for holing the putt.
• Iron Play: Each competitor receives three shots from their distance. Points are awarded and dependent on the distance of the iron shot from the target.

Prizing for CN Future Links Junior Skills National Event is provided by Titleist and Footjoy. In addition, the winner of the male and female 15-18 categories will earn an exemption into their local 2015 CN Future Links Championship events.

UXBRIDGE, ON— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is proud to announce one of their newest initiatives: She Swings She Scores (SSSS). SSSS is a program that targets female athletes currently participating in the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) and introduces them to golf at sanctioned hockey tournaments across Ontario.

The program, which will begin in October, aims to visit 20 tournaments across the province during the 2014/15 female hockey season and will expose more than 6300 girls to the game of golf.

The program represents a partnership between the GAO and the OWHA that is made possible by the Ontario Sport and Recreation Communities Fund.  The partnership between the two complementary sports will provide opportunities for these girls and their teammates to participate in sport all year round.

“She Swings She Scores” targets girls currently participating in hockey and introduces them to golf by bringing golf directly to them.  It also provides opportunities for these girls and their teammates to learn the sport together,” said Steve Carroll, GAO Executive Director. “She Swings She Scores” is a great example of introducing the game of golf to girls and will help engage them with all of the benefits golf has to offer.”

SSSS has strategically aligned itself with Golf Canada’s CN Future Links Girls’ Club program to help introduce more girls to the sport of golf.  Girls’ Club has similar goals to SSSS in that it encourages girls to experience all of the benefits of sport in a fun and engaging “girls only” setting. In addition to learning golf skills, the program promotes building self-esteem through a sport they can enjoy for life.

“We are thrilled to partner with GAO on this outstanding initiative that showcases the exceptional opportunities for girls to excel as athletes and to grow as people through participation in two great sports”, said Fran Rider, President, Ontario Women’s Hockey Association.

The GAO is also pleased to announce that they have partnered with three-time Olympic Hockey Gold Medalist Gillian Apps as the ambassador of the program. “I’m really excited to be involved with She Swings She Scores. This great initiative provides a fun environment for girls to get outside and be active. As an Olympic hockey player, I truly believe it’s important for youth to play different sports. Golf is a great way to challenge yourself and acquire new skills that will help make you a better all around athlete,” said Apps.

Follow along with SSSS by liking them on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/sheswingsshescores and on Twitter at @GAO_SSSS

BARRIE, ON– Another season is in the books for the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) as the 2014 campaign came to an end on Sept. 15 with the final event: the Women’s Four-Ball Championship. There were 19 teams that took to the Highlands Course at Horseshoe Resort in Barrie and at the end of the day it was the team of Katelyn McMahon and Claire Hernandez who captured the title.

The duo posted a two-under (69) during the round to finish with a three-shot win. For Hernandez, 17-years-old from Palgrave and the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto, it is her second consecutive title at the event and third overall. The former Team Ontario member capture last year’s event with Kennedy Bodfied and the 2010 championship with Alina Rogers. For McMahon, 17-years-old from Brampton and the Brampton Golf Club, it is her first Women’s Four-Ball title.

Finishing second was the team of Komoka’s Alex Amos and Kingston’s Diana McDonald. McDonald, a member of the GAO’s Ottawa Regional Team, and Amos finished the day one-over (72).

Taking the bronze medal was the Thornhill sister duo of Eunice and Ellice Hong. Ellice, a member of the York Regional Team and Eunice carded a three-over 74.

In fourth was the team of Stouffville’s Ivy Steinberg and Toronto’s Kelly Koselek at five-over (76). rounding out the top five in a tie for fifth was the team of Fort Erie’s Linda Burroughsford and Kitchener’s Denise Schaefer along with London’s Sue Postian and Strathroy’s Jane Hedges-McKinnon who both finished at six-over (77).

As for the net division, it was won by the team of Lynne-Marie Fabris and Marianne Vardon at five-under (66).

For the final leaderboard see the tournament site at: http://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao14/event/gao1427/index.htm

First played in 1953, the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship is contested annually and features two-woman teams competing in a better ball format. The Golf Association of Ontario would like to thank the staff and members of Horseshoe Resort for hosting the 2014 event and for their continued support of amateur golf in Ontario.

The Golf Association was saddened to hear that former volunteer Heather Furlong passed away on Sept. 11 at the age of 72. Furlong had been a tournament scoring volunteer from 2007-2013. The GAO would like to send their condolences to her family. Below is Furlong’s obituary from the Waterloo Region Record.

Heather passed away peacefully at Sakura House Hospice on September 11, 2014, at the age of 72, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Heather had a loving and wonderful life for 51 years with her best friend and husband Jim. She was a great mum to Deb Duimering (Richard) of Gorrie, Brock Furlong (Jill) of Chicago and Scott Furlong (Nonie Lesaux) of Boston, and a special grandma to Connor, Emily, Jacob, Hannah, John and Morgan. She is survived by her brother Murray Cree (Pat) and niece Kate Cree (Patrick Peeling) of Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island.

Heather was born in Victoria, B.C. on February 7, 1942. By the age of ten Heather had lived in Victoria, Halifax, Regina, Aldergrove and finally Qualicum Beach. She took her nursing training at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, and graduated as an RN in 1963. After working for three months she received an unusual proposal by phone, accepted, married Jim, and they moved to Germany for three years. For ten summers she was a nurse at Camp Tawingo. While there she helped write a camp nursing manual to benefit others who would be helping young people in this special setting. For 23 years Heather was a nurse/receptionist for Dr. Bateman, an ophthalmologist, where her empathy skills were always at work. Heather was an excellent seamstress, and the first purchase in the marriage was a sewing machine. Everyone in the family, as well as some friends, wore clothes made by Heather. She loved to cook, garden, and dabble at weaving and art, but her favourite enjoyment came from being with family and friends.She was a volunteer with the Golf Association of Ontario and a member of PROBUS.

Special thanks to the kind and caring staff at Sakura House and the awesome doctors and nurses at the Grand River Cancer Clinic, especially Dr. Carolyn Campbell. The family is so very thankful for the kindness, visits, thoughts and prayers from friends and neighbours. It gave great strength to Heather.

Heather’s family will receive friends from 2:30-4:30 and 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2014 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home, 507 Frederick Street Kitchener, (519) 749-8467. Cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held at a later date. As expressions of sympathy, donations can be made to the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre, Sakura House Hospice or the charity of your choice. Visit www.henrywalser.com for Heather’s memorial.

ST. THOMAS— As the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) season comes to an end, the final senior men’s event took place on Sept. 11 at the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. There were 55 teams of senior men, 55-years-old and over, that took to the course in damp, fall-like conditions for the Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship.

With many great teams taking part, it meant there would be many great scores. By the end of the day there were 16 under par in total. None was greater than that of Collingwood’s Michael Jackson and Welland’s Sandy Billyard who posted the low round at seven-under (65). The difference for the duo came on the ninth hole when Billyard, from Hunters Pointe Golf Course, hit a hole-in-one on the par three.

“It really seemed to get us going,” said Jackson. “Up until then we had made eight straight pars. Sandy played a great round of golf today.”

That seemed to galvanize the team as they went on to play the back nine five-under and finished the day seven-under (65).

“Number nine was the nicest shot I hit all day!” said Billyard. “It was a four-iron, 180 yards up hill. It landed just in the right spot and rolled in like a putt. Mike made a clutch birdie on 17 and that was the winner for us.”

It is the first time that either Jackson, Georgian Bay Club, or Billyard have won the Senior Men’s Better Ball title.

“The win means a lot to me because I haven’t won a provincial event since 1973,” added Billyard. “I’m thrilled! For Mike it is just another notch in his belt.”

“It is always nice to win a tournament but it was especially nice to win with Sandy. We didn’t make a bogey all day and just played a solid game,” said Jackson.

Finishing second was a team from the host St. Thomas Golf & Country Club, Stephen Brodie and John Scott. The two used their hometown knowledge of the course to their advantage finishing six-under (66).

Rounding out the top five was a tie for third between three teams. Richard Evoy (Sault Ste. Marie Golf Club) & Tom Hossfeld (Hylands Golf Club), Ian Montgomery (Weston Golf & Country Club) & Richard Lockwood (London Hunt and Country Club) and Kerry Short & Les Westlake (St. Catharines Golf and Country Club) all ended the day at three under (69).

For the final leaderboard see the tournament site at: http://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao14/event/gao1426/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

The Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship was first contested in 1982. The trophy was donated by the Oakdale Golf & Country Club, who annually host the GAO’s Men’s Better Ball Championship. Notable champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Famers Nick Westlock and Stu Hamilton. 2014 marks the first year that St. Thomas Golf & Country Club has hosted the event. The GAO would like to thank St. Thomas Golf & Country Club for their support of amateur golf in Ontario.