1,000 Thank-Yous for Making the 1000 Ball Challenge a Success!
Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is thrilled to announce the successful completion of the 1000 Ball Challenge, which raised an incredible $77,835! Thanks to the unwavering support of our golf community, generous donors, and dedicated participants, all the funds raised this season will make a profound difference in advancing golf participation for more people in Ontario for many years to come.
We would also like to extend a special congratulations to Pam Jeacock from LPGA Amateurs of Ontario, the lucky winner of the 1000 Ball for the 1000 Ball Challenge Raffle! We are thrilled to celebrate this moment with you and appreciate your support.
Please see the highlight reel below, which contains all the incredible accomplishments our participants achieved this season!
Once again, thank you for your generosity, enthusiasm, and commitment to turn this program into a remarkable success. We look forward to elevating the 1000 Ball Challenge next season and continuing to bring GOLF FOR ALL to more communities in 2025.
One Week Left to Chip In: 1000 Ball Challenge closes on October 31st
Golf Ontario
As we approach the conclusion of this year’s 1000 Ball Challenge, Golf Ontario wants to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and supported this one-of-a-kind golf fundraiser such a success this season!
Whether you hit the greens yourself, encouraged others, or supported from the sidelines, your contributions have made a real impact!
Throughout this campaign, we’ve seen incredible dedication and energy from our participants across Ontario such as the LPGA Amateurs of Ontario, Hamilton Golf and Country Club, Terry Johnston, Ontario Golf Superintendents Association and Golf Fore All Abilities and many more!
As the fundraising portion of the event wraps up on October 31 2024, we encourage everyone to make a final push. Whether it’s sending out a few more donation requests or making a last-minute contribution, there’s still time to make a difference. Every dollar raised will help support Golf Ontario’s Golf For All Fund, as well as each group’s own fundraising initiatives.
Remember, your support not only goes to these incredible causes but it can also give you a chance to WIN the epic 1000 Ball for the 1000 Ball Challenge Raffle. Learn more by clicking the link!
We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together thus far. Thank you to all our participants and donors! You’ve made the 1000 Ball Challenge a success. Let’s finish strong and make these last few days count!
Thank you to all the Driving Ranges that have generously donated their space for our participants:
Since 1994, the Golf Ontario Scholarship program has thrived thanks to the generous support of our corporate partners and sponsors, impacting the lives of young people annually. This donor-led initiative allows us to award multiple scholarships each year to help students pursue higher education. Congratulations to the outstanding recipients of the 2024 scholarships!
Golf Ontario has established scholarship awards in memory of Ken McKenzie, Christine Fisher, Craig Revell, and Helena Harbridge, who greatly contributed to golf in Ontario.
In collaboration with their families, Golf Ontario will present these awards to deserving recipients who embody the passion and dedication of these remarkable people. Former Board Member and Executive Director of Golf Ontario, Dave Mills dedicated his life to promoting golf through initiatives like learn-to-play clinics and the Golf Ontario Scholarship Program.
Full List of 2024 Award Recipients:
Antiona Ho / Helena Harbidge Scholarship Award / University of Victoria
Finlay Kennie / Ken Mackenzie Scholarship Award / Western University
Graydon Laughlin / Dave Mills Scholarship Award / Bellarmine University
Michelle Ding / Dave Mills Scholarship Award / Williams College
Kelly Zhao / Craig Revell Scholarship Award / Elon University
Mia Wong / Christine Fisher Memorial StudentScholarship Award / University of Toronto
Ashley Lafontaine / Golf Ontario Scholarship / Elon University
Jacob Foxworthy / Golf Ontario Scholarship (BAKA) / University of Waterloo
Lucy Yang / Golf Ontario Scholarship (BAKA) / University of Toronto
To be eligible for one of the Golf Ontario awards or scholarships, recipients must have maintained at least a 75% academic average, be enrolled in a post-secondary institution, be members of Golf Ontario, and be actively involved in golf. If you are interested in applying for next year’s batch of scholarships, please visit here to learn more about the process and benefits of Golf Ontario Scholarships.
The Golf For All Fund, supported by generous donations, enables us to award scholarships to deserving young athletes. These funds help talented students pursue their academic goals through golf, shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
By donating, you’re not only supporting their athletic potential but also helping them unlock their full potential in life. We aim to make a lasting impact on these young lives.
Golf Ontario also invites opportunities to create new named scholarships for those passionate about leaving a legacy in Ontario Golf. For more information, please contact Raphael Root at rroot@gao.ca.
Join us in shaping young lives across Ontario. Consider supporting the Golf For All Fund today! Learn more at gao.ca/donate.
Father-Son Duo Triumphs at Ontario Men’s Better Ball Championship
Golf Ontario
Cam and Charlie Burke were crowned the Champions at Oakdale Golf & Country Club, capturing the Ontario Men’s Better Ball Championship.
Coming in hot off this year’s Ontario and Canadian Men’s Mid-Am championship wins, Cam and his father Charlie emerged victorious after defeating Connor Rochon and Owen Allen (Weston Golf & Country Club) in an intense six-hole playoff. Both teams had a better-ball score of 6-under-par 66.
Ty Wadsworth and Brad Wadsworth (Bellmere Winds Golf Resort) tied for third place with Gordon Gibson and Brett Geiser of Cedar Brae Golf Club with a score of 5-under-par for a total of 67.
56 teams (112 players) participated in the one-day event. Established in 1959, the Ontario Men’s Better Ball Championship has a long history at Oakdale Golf & Country Club.
Oakdale Golf and Country Club is set to host the Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship on October 7th. This prestigious, one-day competition will see 56 two-man teams battle for the championship title in the better-ball format.
Established in 1959, the Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship has a long history at Oakdale Golf and Country Club—also the site of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, where Canadian Nick Taylor secured a historic victory. The event has been held here every year since its inception, with the exception of 1963 and 1965.
QUOTE
“We are deeply honoured to have our final Golf Ontario provincial championship of the year hosted at the prestigious Oakdale Golf and Country Club. The club has been an incredible supporter of this championship for more than 60 years, and we’re excited to be on-site this Monday for another exceptional Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship.” –Rob Watson, Tournament Director.
TEAMS TO WATCH
2022 Men’s Better-Ball champions, Ryan Kings and Josh Hunke.
John Drewery and Derek McGrath, 2021 Men’s Better Ball winners.
2018 Men’s Better-Ball champions, Matt Ion-Young and Simon McInnis (last year’s Men’s Mid-Am winner).
The No. 1-ranked Men’s Mid-Am player from the BioSteel Golf Ontario Amateur Order of Merit Rankings, Charles Fitzsimmons and Canadian radio icon Howard Glassman.
This year’s Ontario and Canadian Men’s Mid-Am champion Cam Burke is teaming up with his dad, Charlie.
FAST FACTS
Venue: Oakdale Golf and Country Club
Date: Oct. 7 Field: 56 two-man teams Format: 18-hole, better-ball Leaderboard: HERE Fun Fact: Past champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Mike Weir, Gary Cowan, Warren Sye, Kelly Roberts, Bill Morland and Phil Farley
Golf Ontario Recognizes Outstanding Volunteers at Annual Appreciation Days
Golf Ontario
At this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Days across Ontario, Golf Ontario paid tribute to the incredible efforts of our more than 250 volunteers.
As part of the three celebrations (which took place in September at Craigowan Golf Club, Wooden Sticks Golf Course and Brockville Country Club), we proudly revealed the 2024 recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award and the Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award.
These prestigious awards honour individuals whose dedication has made a significant and lasting impact on golf in Ontario. Their unwavering support continues to drive Golf Ontario’s mission to ‘Shape Lives Through Golf.’
Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award Recipient: Sally Cirtwill
Sally, a Level 3 National Golf Canada Rules Official, has been a dedicated volunteer with Golf Ontario since 1998. As she considers stepping back from her role, this year may mark her final season as one of our most esteemed referees.
For decades, Sally has generously devoted her time and energy, traveling countless miles to ensure our events run smoothly.
Earlier this season, the parent of a Golf Ontario Junior Player, who is now competing at the amateur and collegiate level, shared a heartfelt message. He mentioned that Sally has talked about retiring for years, but he believes this time she may truly mean it. He expressed deep gratitude for Sally’s kindness and professionalism, stating that she will be greatly missed by his family and many others when she does decide to retire.
Sally’s presence at events is always a highlight, with players, parents, and friends eager to greet her warmly. She embodies the essence of Golf Ontario’s mission—creating meaningful connections and enriching lives through golf.
Her unwavering passion, commitment, and love for the game make Sally a standout choice for the prestigious Golf Ontario Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award.
When she does retire, Sally will no doubt relish more summer days spent at home, enjoying her love of fishing and getting back on the golf course herself.
The Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award is named in honour of Richard H. Grimm, known as “Mr. Canadian Open” for his contributions from 1965 to 1993. The award, first presented in 2005, recognizes individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to amateur golf in Ontario through volunteerism. Recipients demonstrate leadership, integrity, and dedication while embracing Golf Ontario’s mission and values.
Volunteer of the Year Award: John Sharp
John Sharp has been a dedicated volunteer with Golf Ontario since 2011, serving as a Level 3 Rules Official. He exemplifies the spirit of the game and reflects Golf Ontario’s core values. John’s interactions with players are always positive and encouraging, all while maintaining professionalism. He consistently arrives early for his volunteer shifts and stays late to help with any unfinished tasks, demonstrating remarkable dedication and organizational skills during championship preparations.
John is well-connected within the golf community and is warmly greeted by many when he steps onto a course—a testament to the respect and admiration he has earned over the years.
One of John’s standout qualities is his openness and willingness to guide new volunteers, offering advice and support as they begin their journey with Golf Ontario. He extends this same mentorship to the summer interns, even assisting with course markings at events near him, regardless of whether he’s scheduled to volunteer.
John is also a great team player, regularly organizing dinners with fellow officials and volunteers, fostering camaraderie among the team.
Through his actions, John truly embodies Golf Ontario’s mission of shaping lives through positive golf experiences.
Volunteer of the Year Award: Margaret McCornock
Marg has been a dedicated and long-serving volunteer with Golf Ontario since 2012.
Her journey as a volunteer began with Golf Quebec in 2007 as a golf course rater, quickly rising to the position of rating leader by 2010. When many courses transitioned to Golf Ontario in 2012, Marg seamlessly continued her role as a rating leader, bringing her expertise to a new audience.
In addition to her work as a course rater, Marg also served on the Ottawa Valley Golf Association Board of Directors as the Director of Course Rating and Handicaps for a decade, from 2012 to 2022. Even after stepping down from this position, she continues to lead course rating teams for both Golf Ontario and Golf Quebec.
Marg’s leadership and commitment have been exceptional throughout her tenure. Her vast experience and knowledge in course rating have been instrumental in developing a skilled team of over 10 raters in the Ottawa Valley, with many others waiting to learn from her. Drawing from her teaching background, Marg has been an enthusiastic mentor, helping new raters grow into their roles with patience and dedication.
At the start of each rating season, Marg organizes refresher courses for both new and experienced raters, ensuring that the team is up-to-date with the latest information from the Course Rating System Guide and the provincial rating sessions. She also played a key role in the adoption of new technologies, offering on-course training to raters—both seasoned and novice—on how to use tablets to record rating data, while emphasizing the importance of understanding the reasoning behind the data collection.
For her work ethic, leadership, teaching ability, willingness to embrace new technologies, and her commitment to completing challenging course rating assignments—averaging three ratings a month during the summer—Marg is truly deserving of the title Golf Ontario Volunteer of the Year 2024.
Volunteer with Golf Ontario
At the heart of Golf Ontario, our volunteers are the lifeblood in a variety of critical areas, including championships, rules, course rating, and governance on committees and our board of directors. They are the sport’s ambassadors and an essential part of our team, enabling us to deliver exceptional programming and experiences to golfers, partners, and industry stakeholders.
Interested in becoming part of the Golf Ontario volunteer family? Find out more about the opportunities and rewards on our Volunteering Resource page HERE.
Champions Crowned at Ontario Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship
Golf Ontario
The top two ranked senior men’s amateur golfers in the province triumphed Thursday at Brampton Golf Club, capturing the Ontario Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship.
The duo of Dave Bunker (Cherry Hill Club) and Rob Cowan (Westmount Golf and Country Club) emerged victorious after defeating Dan Keogh (Toronto Golf Club) and Nigel Hollidge (Taboo Resort) in a one-hole playoff. Both teams carded a better-ball score of 5-under-par 66 on the day.
Last year’s champions, Bruno Ardito (Brampton Golf Club) and Gary Parker (Brampton Golf Club), secured third place.
A total of 55 teams (110 players) participated in the one-day event. Established in 1982, the Ontario Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship is open to players aged 55 and older as of the tournament date.
This victory marks the second provincial championship win this year for Bunker, following his triumph in the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship earlier this summer. He also claimed the Senior Porter Cup this season. Cowan recently finished in the top 15 at the Canadian Senior Men’s Championship and top 10 at the Ontario Senior Men’s Championship.
After making the winning putt, Luke Smith was crowned the champion, scoring 69 for a total of 213. Hall finished the round with a score of 70.
Close behind in third place was Jager Pain who was two-under-par with scores of 73, 74, and 67 for a total of 214.
Girls’ Division
Team Ontario had two players winning Gold and Silver. Angela Cai of Heron Point Golf Links was the champion of the girl’s division after a strong performance with scores of 74, 71, 72 for a total of 217. Nobelle Park of Rattle Snake Point took home silver with scores of 74, 75, 73 for a total of 222.
Finishing in third place was Kayla Black of Markland Wood Golf Club. Black had scores of 74, 73, and 76 for a total of 223, only one point behind Park.
Brampton Golf Club to Host 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship
Golf Ontario
The Brampton Golf Club will host this year’s Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship on September 26th. The one-day event will feature 56 two-man teams competing for the championship title in a better-ball format.
First held in 1982, the Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship is open to players aged 55 and older as of the tournament date.
QUOTE
“The Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship is a great way to close out the Senior Men’s championship season here in Ontario. This year’s field includes multiple past champions and many of the top-ranked senior players in the province, all eager to reclaim their spot at the top. We’re in for another exciting championship.” — Connor Doyle, Tournament Director
TEAMS TO WATCH
Dave Bunker and Rob Cowan: The No. 1 and No. 2-ranked senior men in this season’s BioSteel Amateur Order of Merit Rankings, with Bunker also being the winner of the 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s Championship.
Bruno Ardito and Gary Parker: Defending champions from the 2023 Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship.
Chris Lee and Cam Hreljac: Winners of the 2022 Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship.
David Wilson and Eamonn McConnell: Champions of the 2021 Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship.
Mark Bennett and Jim Briggs: The 2018 Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship winners.
Notable nice playersDan Keogh and Nigel Hollidge.
FAST FACTS
Venue: Brampton Golf Club Date: September 26 Field: 56 two-man teams Format: 18-hole, better-ball Leaderboard: HERE Fun Fact: Past champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Fame members Nick Weslock and Stu Hamilton.
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The Fifth Annual Ontario Super Camp and Tour Championship Set to Begin at Black Bear Ridge
Golf Ontario
The fifth annual Ontario Super Camp and Tour Championship kicks off this weekend in Belleville at Black Bear Ridge Golf Course and Resort.
More than 60 junior golfers, each earning their invitation based on the Junior Golf Pathway Rankings, will compete for top honors and the prestigious Dave Mills Trophy. The four-day event includes the 54-hole Tour Championship and a one-day Super Camp combine, taking place from September 22 to 25.
“The Super Camp and Junior Tour Championship is an exciting time of the year for junior golf. There’s a lot at stake this week! The top 30 boys and girls in the province face off, showcasing what they’ve been working on all year. We’re extremely excited to see the best of the best compete for the title.” — Mason Cowan, Championship Director.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
BOYS:
Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club) – Team Canada NextGen member and 2023 Ontario Junior Boys U19 champion.
Bode Stephen (Cataraqui Golf and Country Club) – Team Ontario athlete and winner of this year’s NextGen Atlantic Championship.
Gabriel Mainella (Summit Golf and Country Club) – Ontario Next Wave member, winner of this year’s Ontario Junior Boys U19 Championship and Junior Players Invitational, and the No. 1-ranked U19 boy on the Junior Golf Pathway rankings.
Jaeger Pain (Station Creek Golf Club) – Defending champion of last year’s Super Camp and Junior Tour Championship.
Joseph Totino (Summit Golf and Country Club) – Winner of this year’s Ontario Junior Boys U15 Championship.
Justin Chu (Meadowbrook Golf Club) – Finished second at this year’s Canadian U15 Championship.
Karson Hurlbert (Camelot Golf and Country Club) – Finished T3 at this year’s Canadian U15 Championship.
Chase Jerome (The Royal Ottawa Golf Club) – Team Ontario member.
GIRLS:
Nobelle Park (RattleSnake Point Golf Club) – Team Ontario member with multiple wins this summer, including the Canadian U15 Championship, Ontario Women’s Amateur, Ontario Bantam U15 Championship, and the Junior Spring Classic.
Avery Nordman (Canadian Golf and Country Club) – Ontario Juvenile Girls U17 champion.
Kaylan Green (Scarboro Golf and Country Club) – Winner of this year’s Ontario Junior Girls U19 Match Play Championship.
Sarah Xing (Players Club-Ottawa) – Winner of this year’s Ontario Peewee Girls U13 Championship.
Angela Cai (Heron Point Golf Links) and Emily McKee (St. George’s Golf and Country Club) – McKee is the recent winner of the Ontario Women’s Four-Ball Championship.
Evelyn Li (Brampton Golf Club) – Finished third at this year’s Canadian U15 Championship.
FAST FACTS
Championship Venue: Black Bear Ridge Golf Course and Resort
Championship Dates: September 22-25
Field: 63 players—33 boys and 30 girls
Format: One-day skills combine followed by a 54-hole stroke play championship.
First awarded in 2021, the Dave Mills Trophy is named in honour of Dave Mills, a past Golf Ontario Executive Director and a passionate advocate for junior golf. Mills presented the first-ever Tour Championship trophy in 2020. The soapstone trophy was carved by Canada’s foremost Ojibway sculptor, Kris Nahrgang, who met with Mills before his passing.
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