South Carolina team defeats Ontario to claim 17th annual Can-Am Junior Team Matches
Peter MacKellar
MURRELLS INLET, SOUTH CAROLINA – It was almost like déjà vu from 2014 as soggy conditions greeted the players at Wachesaw Plantation Club on the final day of the Can-Am Junior Team Matches. The American team, consisting of juniors from the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, earned 147 of 288 possible points to defeat the Canadian squad, from the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), 225 to 207 to earn the 2015 title of Can-Am Champions.
The competition got underway on March 21 with best-ball team matches. While the event was played in a match-play format, the scoring was slightly different than a traditional match-play. Each match played the full 18-holes and a point was awarded for each hole with tied holes counting for half a point.
After the first day, the American team held a 12-point margin over the Canadian juniors 78 to 66. Ontario’s lone win came from Grace St-Germain and Monet Chun who took their match 11.5-6.5. Brendan Seys and Kelvin Lim managed a 9-9 split in their match, as did the team of Madeline Marck-Sherk and Alyssa Getty.
The young men led off the Can-Am singles matches, during the final round on March 22, with Ontario posting one win, by Jake Bryson, and one halved match by Trevor Ranton. However, the American team captured the other six boys’ singles matches. After the eight boys matches had concluded, the Americans extended their first day lead by an additional 20 points and were seemingly all but out of reach.
However, the lady Canadians came out firing with Grace St-Germain defeating Savanah Goodman by a 13.5 to 4.5 margin and Alyssa Getty handing a loss to Jodee Tindal 12.5 to 5.5, cutting the two-day lead in half after just two matches. The rest of the afternoon remained tight with Ontario’s girls winning two matches and the South Carolina team earning three. Chloe Currie was a winner in her match, 10-8 over Victoria Huskey, and Isabella Portokalis defeated Morgan Cox 10.5 to 7.5. In the end, the South Carolina team held on for the 225-207 win.
It was a challenging final day on the course as wet conditions impacted the players and the course. At the conclusion of play, it was a great weekend of golf for both GAO and South Carolina Junior Golf Association players. It was also the closest that the Can Am Matches have been since 2010, when the Golf Association of Ontario youngsters last hoisted the Joseph T. Simons Can-Am Trophy.
“The highlight of the event was the impressive performance by the girls in the singles matches: the dominant wins by St-Germain and Getty along with the solid wins by Currie and Portokalis,” said Mary Ann Hayward, Manager of Sport Performance. “Although Bryson was the only boy to post a win in the boys’ singles matches, many of the boys played extremely well. All of the team members fought hard for every point gained on the last day and we are extremely proud of everyone for their performance in the matches.”
Team Ontario took advantage of the trip to include a training camp leading up to the matches. Thanks to the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, the Ontario team had the opportunity to train and play at three other courses in the area: True Blue Plantation, The Reserve Golf Club and the Debordieu Club.
“The week of the Can-Am Matches are always an important one for the team as we transition from our preparation phase into competition,” added Reggie Millage, Head Provincial Coach. “The team trained hard during the week leading up to the matches and we had some really positive results heading into the event. Overall, the team played well and we had some outstanding performances that got us as close to the trophy as we have been in years. The real benefit of the week though is how it will help our athletes get a jumpstart on our competitive season. If this week is any indication we should see some great results from our Ontario athletes in 2015.”
It should be noted that the matches are less about the competition and more about building relationships and celebrating the growth of junior golf in both Ontario and South Carolina. The Wachesaw Plantation Club members and staff make this a truly unique event. The 2015 Can-Am Matches were a success in terms of showcasing the game of golf and the relationships that have been built between the two countries, as well as the membership of Wachesaw Plantation Club. The Canadian team was hosted by the Wachesaw membership in a Member-Am event on March 18 consisting of a shotgun scramble team event followed by a luncheon.
UXBRIDGE – The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is pleased to announce the 2015 team for the annual Can-Am Matches, March 21-22, against South Carolina at the Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, just south of Myrtle Beach.
The 2015 matches will mark the 17th playing of the event. The matches feature 16 of the top ranked junior golfers from Ontario taking on 16 of the top junior players from the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.
Representing Ontario at the matches will be all of the current Team Ontario members. Joining them will be Golf Canada National Development Team members, and former Team Ontario players, Trevor Ranton and Grace St-Germain. Rounding out the girls’ side will be Eunice Hong, who finished the 2014 season 10th on both the Golf Canada and GAO Junior Girls Orders of Merit.
The Team
– Trevor Ranton, 17, Waterloo and Whistle Bear Golf Club
– Max Sear, 17, Markham and York Downs Golf and Country Club
– Jason Chung, 15, Thornhill and Pheasant Run Golf Club
– Brendan Seys, 16, Port Lambton and Maple City Country Club
– Jackson Bowery, 17, London and Greenhills Golf Club
– Kyle MacDonald, 17, Burlington and Rattlesnake Pointe Golf Club
– Jake Bryson, 15, Dunrobin and Eagle Creek Golf Club
– Kelvin Lim, 13, Thornhill and Station Creek Golf Club
– Grace St- Germain, 16, Orleans and Hylands Golf Club
– Alyssa Getty, 17, Ruthven and Kingsville Golf and Country Club
– Monet Chun, 14, Richmond Hill and The Summit Golf and Country Club
– Madeline Marck-Sherk, 17, Ridgeway and Bridgewater Country Club
– Diana McDonald, 17, Kingston and Loyalist Country Club
– Isabella Portokalis, 13, London and the London Hunt and Country Club
– Chloe Currie, 15, Mississauga and Mississaugua Golf and Country Club
– Eunice Hong, 17, Thornhill and the Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto
This year’s team is filled with players who will make their Can-Am Matches debut. Only six of the 16 team members have taken part in the Can-Am Matches before with Ranton, St. Germain, Sear, Seys, Getty and Chun playing in the past.
Joining the team will be the coaching staff of Reggie Millage, Head Provincial Coach; Andrew Hoermann, Athletic Therapist; Mike Kelly, GAO Director of Sport Development; Mary Ann Hayward, GAO Manager of Sport Performance; Liz Hoffman, GAO Sport Committee Chair; and Judy Goss, Mental Performance Consultant.
The opening day features team best-ball matches followed by singles matches on day two. The scoring format for the matches is slightly different than a traditional match play event. In each match, there are 18 points available, one for each hole, ensuring that all 18 holes are played. If a hole is halved, each player or team receives half a point. The format stresses the importance of each player focusing on one hole at a time.
Reggie Millage, GAO Head Provincial Coach, is looking forward to the matches, “This event is always a highlight on our schedule. It is traditionally the first competition for our 2014/15 Team Ontario athletes. It is great to be able to compete as a team and to be joined by Trevor, Grace and Eunice.”
Prior to the start of the matches, the team will have an opportunity to train in the Myrtle Beach area at courses arranged with the help of the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation.
LPGA’s Lexi Thompson visits Team Ontario at Florida Camp
Peter MacKellar
CORAL SPRINGS, FL – Team Ontario got a big surprise on February 14, at their second winter training camp at TPC Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida, when LPGA star Lexi Thompson dropped by.
It was a truly unique experience for the team who took the opportunity to talk to the four-time winner on the LPGA Tour. Thompson even took to the course and played nine holes with members of the team. Team coaches said that Thompson was great with the team and thanked her for stopping by.
UXBRIDGE—The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), is pleased to announce the seven boys and six girls that will comprise Team Ontario for 2015. The announcement comes on the heels of the GAO’s recent partnership with TaylorMade-adidas Golf. An agreement that will provide Team Ontario athletes with adidas clothing and access to TaylorMade equipment. The team, which began training in October, is set for a full winter of work as they prepare for the official start to the competitive season in May with the GAO Investors Group Junior Spring Classic.
“Overall the team looks very good, with many of the players already having achieved bench mark successes in their junior golf careers,” said Mary Ann Hayward, GAO Manager of Sport Performance. “All of the players are highly motivated to make the national development team and our coaching staff is prepared to work very hard to help them get there.”
This year’s team highlights the quality of the GAO’s high performance programs as eleven members of the team are either returning Team Ontario members or graduates from the GAO’s Regional (U17) Team Program.
With a pair of Team Ontario players, Trevor Ranton and Grace St-Germain, moving up to the National Development Team, Team Ontario features five returning players in 2015:
Max Sear, 17, from Markham and York Downs Golf and Country Club, coached by Ian Crebbin
Jason Chung, 15, from Thornhill and Pheasant Run Golf Club, coached by Charlie Woo
Brendan Seys, 16, from Port Lambton and Maple City Country Club, coached by John Dengel
Alyssa Getty, 17, from Ruthven and the Kingsville Golf and Country Club, coached by Reggie Millage
Monet Chun, 13, from Richmond Hill and The Summit Golf and Country Club, coached by Ian Leggatt and Don Lee
Joining the returnees, are the following graduates of the GAO Regional Team Program:
Jackson Bowery (Team Waterloo), 17, from London and Greenhills Golf Club, coached by Len Foran
Kyle MacDonald (Team York), 16, from Burlington and Rattlesnake Pointe Golf Club, coached by Rich Storey
Jake Bryson (Team Ottawa), 15, from Dunrobin and Eagle Creek Golf Club, coached by Kevin Haime
Madeline Marck-Sherk (Team Waterloo), 17, from Ridgeway and Bridgewater Country Club, coached by Mary Kraus
Diana McDonald (Team Ottawa), 17, from Kingston and Loyalist Country Club, coached by Chris Barber
Isabella Portokalis (Team Waterloo), 13, from London and London Hunt and Country Club
Rounding out the team are:
Kelvin Lim, 13, from Thornhill and Station Creek Golf Club
Chloe Currie, 15, from Mississauga and Mississaugua Golf and Country Club, coached by Nick Starchuk
“It is great having six of our new players coming out of regional programs. They are accustomed to the team training environment and come with a good base in their technical and physical training,” added Hayward.
Team Ontario coaching staff is led by GAO Head Provincial Coach Reggie Millage, a Class ‘A’ PGA of Canada professional from Milton. Millage enters his second season with the team after taking over the position last November. Also returning this year are Athletic Therapist Andrew Hoermann and Mental Skills Coach Judy Goss. New to the coaching staff this year is Nick Martichenko, who fills the role of Strength and Conditioning Coach.
“This year’s team is obviously a very different group, especially with the make up of seven boys and six girls,” said Millage. “Most of them are already well established and are willing to work hard to reach the next level. The coaches have already been working one-on-one with them, making the changes we feel are necessary as we work towards the spring.”
Millage also spoke about the very experienced coaching staff. “We are very excited to have Andrew back as Athletic Therapist. He is the longest serving member of the coaching staff and very good at what he does working with the athletes. Adding Nick to the team is also exciting because he is a very qualified and dedicated Strength and Conditioning Coach. Nick is very committed to working with golfers and he and I have worked together in the past and have enjoyed good success in taking athlete’s golf games to the next level.”
The team is already an accomplished group and they will look for even better results in 2015. Some highlights from the 2014 season included: Getty capturing the CN Future Links Quebec Championship, Marck-Sherk taking the gold medal at the Ontario Summer Games (Juvenile Girls’ Championship), Currie winning the Ontario Bantam Girls’ Championship and the Ontario Junior Tours Championship, Lim victorious at the CN Future Links Quebec Championship, and Sear successfully defended his Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) individual championship title.
Looking ahead Team Ontario will train indoors during the winter months at The Golf Lab in Vaughan. ClubLink’s Heron Bay Golf Club in Coral Springs, Florida will be the new host venue for Team Ontario training camps in January and February. During March Break, the team will head to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for a training camp as well as take part in the Can-Am Matches which is an annual team match event between the top junior golfers from Ontario and South Carolina.
About Team Ontario
The GAO Team Ontario program is a high performance training program for the top junior aged golfers in Ontario. Athletes are selected in September each year and the program runs from October through August. Team Ontario athletes receive the very best in coaching services, training/competitive opportunities, and sport science support as they strive to make Golf Canada’s National Development Team. Being selected to Team Ontario is a tremendous accomplishment and offers unparalleled support and guidance to the participating athletes and their families.
UXBRIDGE, ON— The Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Team Ontario wrapped up their preseason exercises, April 25-27, with one final team camp at the Legends on the Niagara Battlefield golf course, site of the 2014 Canadian Junior Boys’ Championship. The camp was designed as a jumpstart for the athletes as they begin their competitive seasons. The camp featured a three-round tournament, the Team Ontario Cup, along with daily training sessions with strength and conditioning coach Andrew Hoermann.
Max Sear
“The big thing was really to jump start the team for the season,” said coach Reggie Millage. “The Team Ontario Cup was a great way to get them in that competitive mode, shake off the rust and fine tune technical issues, especially with the late start to the season this spring.”
This was the second time the GAO held a cup competition for the team that simulated an official tournament. On the boys’ side of the competition, it was a two-horse race with Max Sear and Sam McNulty putting distance between them and the rest of the team. Heading into the final round, Sear held a three shot lead, but McNulty shot an impressive 4-under par on the final round and with Sear 1-under for the day, a playoff was needed. Sear birdied the first playoff hole to take the boys side in a thriller. Both finished the tournament at 1-under par for the three rounds.
As for the girls, Monet Chun came up with a great final round finishing even for the day (14-over for the competition) and was able to hold off Annika Haynes to capture the title.
Sam McNulty
“Some of the players were very good throughout the three rounds,” added Millage. “Sam’s 68 on the final round really stood out as well as Max’s whole competition, which was very consistent. As for the girls, I think Monet’s game is really rounding into form. It is nice to see her put everything together. I felt Annika really hit and drove the ball well and pushed Monet in that final round.”
In addition to what was seen on the course, Millage reported that across the board, the teams’ strength and conditioning test results were up. “We really saw an increase in speed that translated to the course, even though they battled some tough weather conditions.”
With many players beginning their competitive schedule in the coming weeks, Millage said the camp was a great opportunity for the players to see what they needed to work on individually. “We used the launch monitor and ShotByShot to get feedback and statistics on what they need to work on.”
Monet Chun
Heading into the first major event, the Spring Classic May 17-19, Millage says he just hopes all of the team members can play to their potential. “I think they all left with something to work on. We are now in the process of transferring to our in-season facility Granite Golf Club. I will still see them regularly whether they stop in or at tournaments, but I think that now they are truly better prepared for this season.”
Alyssa Getty wins second straight Female Golfer of the Year WESPY Award
Peter MacKellar
WINDSOR— Alyssa Getty of the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) U19 Team Ontario has won the 2014 Windsor-Essex Sports Person of the Year (WESPY) Award for Female Golfer of the Year. It is the second year in a row that she has won the award.
Getty was named the winner at the ninth annual awards ceremony on April 15 at the Cabota Club in Windsor. Last year, Getty was both the youngest nominee and winner of the award.
The 17-year-old from Kingsville, just east of Windsor, plays out of the Kingsville Golf and Country Club. Getty has been playing the sport since the age of five and has been competing since she was nine.
After winning the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association (OFSAA) Championship in 2012, Getty followed it up with a third place finish in 2013. Other top 2013 finishes included: a tie for second at the Ontario Juvenile Girls Championship in Renfrew; an eighth place tie at the 2013 Canada Summer Games, in Sherbrooke, QC.; and a tie for fifth at the 2013 Royal Canadian Junior Girls Golf Championship in Pickering.
“It is great to see our Team Ontario members being recognized in their own communities for their achievements – for activities both on and off the golf course,” said Mary Ann Hayward, GAO Manager of Sport Performance. “We know they all excel in golf and it is great that they are getting the recognition against other elite athletes in their communities. Hopefully this brings recognition to golf as sport for other young athletes in the area, as well as greater recognition to our GAO player development programs. I think it is even better that they are getting recognized for non-golf related attributes – be it academics, leadership or volunteering. It speaks to the well roundedness of the individual, which is something we value in the overall development of the athletes in our Team Ontario program.”
In addition to the WESPY Award, Getty has also been chosen as a finalist for the 2014 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award. The AJGA, in conjunction with the USGA, annually awards select boys and girls who exemplify the spirit of volunteerism, charity, and leadership.
Getty is currently attending Kingsville High School and has verbally committed to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for 2015.
Team South Carolina beats Team Ontario in Can/Am Matches
Peter MacKellar
MYRTLE BEACH, SC— It was a tough couple of days on the course, but a successful week of training, for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) U19 Team Ontario as they competed in the 16th annual Can/Am Matches against South Carolina in Myrtle Beach. Team Ontario last won the competition back in 2010, but their drought continued in 2014 as South Carolina won with an overall point total of 252 to 180.
The team had the opportunity to train earlier during the week at various courses around Myrtle Beach. Team Ontario had nothing but positive things to say about their hosts for the week and thanked all of the courses the team played and trained at. “Many thanks to great hospitality shown to our team from the staff and members of the Wachesaw Plantation Club throughout the week,” said Manager of Sport Performance Mary Ann Hayward. “Also, a big thanks to the golf courses that hosted us earlier in the week: Debordieu Golf Club, The Reserve Golf Club and The Dunes Golf and Beach Club. Thanks as well to the Legends Golf Resort and True Blue Plantation for allowing our team to train at the facilities.”
On the first day of competition (March 15), the teams competed in best-ball matches. Only one Team Ontario pair won their match as Tony Gill and Sam McNulty beat their opponents 10-8. Carter Simon and Max Sear lost 10.5-7.5, Trevor Ranton and Chad Watts Denyes fell 11.5-6.5, Conner Watt and Brendan Seys were downed 11-7, Alyssa Getty and Grace St-Germain took a 10.5-7.5 loss, Annika Haynes and Samantha Spencer fell 11.5-6.5, Kennedy Bodfield and Claire Hernandez lost 12-6 and Monet Chun and Ana Peric lost by that same score.
After the best-ball matches, South Carolina held an 87-57 lead, meaning Team Ontario had their work cut out for them in the singles matches. However, a grand comeback was not in the cards as they could muster only one win and a trio of ties during the second day.
“It was another tough day (March 16) for our Ontario Team,” said Hayward. “Although we battled back in several matches, the South Carolina Team would once again prevail. Grace St-Germain, Max Sear and Samantha Spencer all rallied back on their back nines but would still fall short in their matches. Ana Peric played solidly and tied her match. Both Tony Gil and Trevor Ranton holed putts on their final hole to tie their respective matches.”
Even though the team did not bring back the title, there were many positives from the event. No doubt the story for Team Ontario was a day-two singles match win by 13-year-old Monet Chun. Chun took her match by a score of 11-7 while shooting one-under par, the first time she has broken par in a competition. Her feat was even more impressive considering the weather conditions the athletes faced during the second day of competition. “The weather was less than ideal today – with heavy rain for the latter part of the day. We were impressed by the grit shown by our players today as they all fought hard to the very end,” said Hayward.
As for the rest of the day-two results, it was Peric, Ranton and Gil all drawing their matches with scores of 9-9, Haynes was beaten 10.5-7.5, Hernandez fell 11-7, Bodfield took a 12.5-5.5 loss, Getty was defeated 11-7, Spencer and St-Germain both took 10.5-7.5 losses, McNulty lost 11-7, Denyes and Seys were both narrowly beaten 9.5-8.5, Sear took a 10.5-7.5 loss, Watt was beaten 13-5 and Simon lost 11.5-6.5.
MYRTLE BEACH, SC— It is half training camp, half competition for the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) Team Ontario as they hone their skills in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with five days of training before the 16th annual Can-Am Matches at Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet.
The Can-Am matches will see 16 of the top-ranked junior golfers in Ontario (comprised of Ontario-born National Development Team members, Team Ontario members and other qualifiers) take on the best from the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation. The event will last two days (March 15-16) with team matches being held on the first day and singles matches on the second.
The Team Ontario roster includes six males from the current squad: Conner Watt, Sam McNulty, Brendan Seys, Chad Watts Denyes, Trevor Ranton and Max Sear. Two former members, and current National Development Team members, Tony Gill and Carter Simon, will join them. As for the girls’ side, all four Team Ontario members are present (Alyssa Getty, Grace St-Germain, Monet Chun and Annika Haynes). Rounding out the team, based on 2013 performances are: Kennedy Bodfield, Samantha Spencer, Claire Hernandez and Ana Peric.
The scoring format for the matches is slightly different than a traditional match play event. In each match, there are 18 points available, one for each hole, ensuring that all 18 are played. If a hole is halved, each player or team receives half a point. The format stresses the importance of each player focusing on one hole at a time. The teams will play team four-ball matches on the first day of the event before singles matches on day two.
In advance of the Matches, Team Ontario and their additional members ventured down to Myrtle Beach on March 9 to begin a five-day training camp to prepare for the event. The team has the opportunity to play and train at a few courses in the area. Courses included in their training are: DeBordieu Golf Club in Georgetown, Dunes Golf & Beach Club and Legends Golf & Resort in Myrtle Beach, The Reserve Golf Club and True Blue Golf in Pawleys Island.
The team will also take part in a fun event on March 12 at Wachesaw with a Member-Am team scramble. Team Ontario players will be grouped with three club members for a round, giving them a chance to meet their hosts from the club.
Team Ontario’s training site; A look at the Lodge at Ventana Canyon
Peter MacKellar
TUCSON, AZ— With the Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) U19 Provincial team recently wrapping up their second winter training camp (Feb. 12-17), it is a great opportunity to take a closer look into the site that they have used to improve their game for the past four years.
The Lodge at Ventana Canyon is located just outside of Tucson, Arizona and offers a challenging facility for the team to work on their game. It features two full courses, Mountain and Canyon, appropriately named for the course that plays into the Santa Catalina Mountains and through various canyons.
The courses are both designed by Tom Fazio, something that Director of Sales and Marketing, Chris Sabala says is huge in terms of attracting golfers. “Groups really seem to like his courses. Having the name is big, especially since at the time they were built, there were very few designed by him in the area.”
The facility has been around for 30 years but features much more than just the courses. The Ventana Canyon is made up of four entities. There is the golf and racquet club, that both offer memberships; a gated community, that has approximately 800 homes; the Lodge, that features a 50-suites accommodation; and Loews Ventana a 398-room facility.
They are run by three entities, the gated community has a homeowners association, the Lodge and golf course are run together, through a board of directors and membership board and Loews too is run separately but has access to the courses.
In 2004, with the Lodge being run by Wyndham, a group of members and owners from the gated community and course decided to buy the resort and to run the Lodge themselves. The Lodge became not only accommodations, but also the clubhouse for the courses. The ownership group has since put close to $8-million in renovations and they are continuing to work on the facility. “Having the community be part of the resort has been big in us securing partnerships like the one with the GAO,” added Sabala.
In addition to the two courses, the Lodge at Ventana Canyon features a 36-station driving range, four putting greens and two short-game facilities. Off the course, there is also a full gym, multiple tennis courts, spa and eight-lane junior Olympic-size pool.
“The resort does well with groups because they seem to like the convenience of everything together. With the low number of guests we try to create an atmosphere that makes guests feel like they are members too,” said Sabala.
A view from the third tee on the Canyon course at Ventana Canyon.
“Ventana Canyon is a beautiful setting in great condition and has a terrific short-game area,” said Team Ontario coach Reggie Millage. “We certainly took full advantage in using the facilities to do things that you just can’t do inside during the winter.”
Each year the facility sees more that 60,000 rounds of golf played and hosts approximately 60 groups. Their goals is to double the number of groups they welcome. “The facility offers great views and you never have to worry about the condition of the courses. Both are challenging but playable. We rotate between which course is for members and guests each day so when people visit they can easily play both,” said Sabala.
For more information on everything that the Lodge at Ventana Canyon offers check out their website at: www.thelodgeatventanacanyon.com.
