Tottenham, ON – Golf Ontario is extremely proud to recognize the efforts of Joe Millage and present him with a place on our Wall of Recognition at the closing ceremonies of the Inaugural Ontario Disability Championship from Woodington Lake Golf Club on Monday evening.
“We are so thrilled to be recognizing Joe for all his efforts to build the sport of golf in the community for athletes with a disability,” said Golf Ontario’s Executive Director Mike Kelly. “It’s equally special to do so at the Inaugural Ontario Disability Championship here at Woodington Lake Golf Club”
When asked about his placing on the Wall of Recognition, Millage’s response was more about Golf Ontario than about him, continuing to show the selflessness he carries himself with.
“It is easy to embrace Golf Ontario’s mission of shaping lives by leading, creating and promoting positive golf experiences. The difficulty comes in trying to bring that statement to life and to lives that include physical, developmental, intellectual, sensory and health-related impairments”.
He continued, “Golf has long proven that in fact, we all have ‘handicaps’. Golf has also provided a system that allows everybody to compete on a playing field that is rarely ‘level’ but always a fair test. This year Golf Ontario has made giant strides in growing the game for all and I am honoured to have contributed to efforts in regard to inclusivity. I also recognize that there are many others whose investment of time, talent, expertise and energy are far greater than mine and I thank them for their unselfish dedication to a great sport.”
More About Joe Millage
Millage is recognized internationally for driving organizations and individuals to achieve the extraordinary. He is a passionate, engaging leader and raconteur who cultivates an attitude of inclusion and excellence with a focus on creating value, meeting established targets, and exceeding expectations. His accomplishments include: Facility Management/ Design including Variety Village, Director – ParaSport Ontario (Chair 2014 – 2019), Author, Impact Book–100+ stories highlighting ‘difference makers’ in the community, Director – Canadian Paralympic Foundation (2009 – 2012), Founded the largest integrated Athletic Club in Canada – from grassroots to Paralympic and Olympic podium performances.
Tottenham, ON — The first round of the inaugural Ontario Disability Championship got underway today at Woodington Lake GC. 29 players took to the beautiful course in hopes of being the first champion in tournament history.
With crowds circulating the first tee deck, the field teed off at 9:30 am showcasing their ability early on, and the impressive play didn’t stop there. With some hot scores throughout, the day proved to not only be a celebration of new beginnings, but also a look to the future of how competitive such a championship can really be.
In the men’s portion of the event, it was Tracy Ramin from Montrose, MI who came out on top after 18. Ramin got his round underway wit a thunderous drive off the tee and continued that momentum throughout. With only four bogeys, Ramin played a secure game all the while still finding openings for birdies when possible.
“I was pretty accurate today,” said Ramin. “The struggle I had today was making putts but I was still able to snag some birdies when possible. I came out to have fun, but it’s always nice to perform at the same time.” When asked about the tournament and the competitive field, he couldn’t help but name drop one of the two players within two strokes of him.
“I may be in the lead right now, but I know Josh Williams (Baden, ON) is hot on my tail. Today’s my day but it will be tough to hold the lead.” Both Kurtis Barkley (Winchester, ON) and Williams only sit within two strokes of the leader after 18.
Barkley, who trails in second by only one stroke with a score of +2 on the day, also had quite the impressive showing today. Battling back from three straight bogeys to start the round, Barkley picked up the slack on the back nine carding three birdies to pull him to within reaching distance of the top spot.
As for Williams, the Craigowan G&CC member continues to impress. After a fantastic practice round that shocked the competitors the day before, he proved that he is a serious threat to win it all with another solid round today. Scoring +3 on the day, he also is within reach of claiming the throne tomorrow afternoon.
While the men find themselves in quite the tight race, the women also showcased an impressive outing today. Natasha Stasiuk (Oakville, ON) ended her round with a score of +10 to take the lead, while Elina Pylkkanen (Espoo, Finland),and Tessa Troan (St. Catherines, ON) sit in second and third. Stasiuk opened her round joking how she hates to wait, and proved it with her quick, yet steady, play throughout the day. The three girls will continue their round tomorrow to see who can take home the hardware.
Tee times tomorrow begin at 9:30. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
About Golf Ontario
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.
About the Ontario Disability Championship
This event will showcase some of Ontario’s top athletes with disabilities in a provincial championship environment. Focusing on player development, this inclusive event will ensure a proper pathway and better competition opportunity for some of the highest performing athletes with disabilities. This event will be included in the list of events eligible for world ranking points and will see both men and women compete in both low gross and low net categories.
About Woodington Lake Golf Club
Woodington Lake Golf Club is home to 36 holes of picturesque golf in Tottenham, Ontario, just north of Toronto. The original course, The Legend Course, opened in 1995 and is built on over 200 acres of rolling terrain. Carved from towering pine forest and nestle around Woodington Lake, this course Is truly legendary. The newest addition to Woodington Lake Golf Club is the Legacy course, a true mix of Links and Stadium styles. With very challenging water hazards, along with fast and undulating greens, the Legacy course will keep golfers of every skill coming back for more.
Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
Wasaga Beach, ON — On Monday August 26th, the Ontario Peewee (U13) Championship will get underway, where the best Peewee players in Ontario will take to Marlwood G&CC for two days of exciting youth golf, in hopes of winning it all and likely, their first-ever provincial championship. Both boys and girls will arrive bright and early Monday morning looking to claim an early lead as the two-day championship gets underway.
The host course was built in 1928. Originally 9 holes changing over time most recently accommodating a modern housing development now boasts 18 fun holes. It is known as the favorite choice for many of the locals due to the mix of scenery, challenge and playability. Marlwood’s offering does not stop with just the great course but also a full complement of Country Club services.
“Golf Ontario strongly supports the development of Junior Golfers through our many initiatives that help Grow the Game! We enjoy being able to host championships like the Peewee Girls’ and Boys’ Championships to develop the talent of Junior Golfers in Ontario. Through participating in our events, we hope that junior golfers learn values that will help build them as both golfers, and citizens for years to come.” – Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario
Tee-times on Monday will run from 8:00 am to 10:50 am from the beautiful host course, starting with the Peewee Boys and followed up by the Peewee Girls.
For future Peewee results, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Peewee Championship
The Ontario Peewee Championship made its debut in 2015. The tournament is open to boys and girls who are younger than 13 years of age as of Aug. 1.
Past PeeWee Girls Champions
| 2015 |
Alyssa DiMarcantonio (Station Creek GC) |
71-70-141 |
Puslinch Lake GC |
| 2016 |
Victoria Zheng (Station Creek GC) |
72-74-146 |
Puslinch Lake GC |
| 2017 |
Isabella Ferguson (eQuinelle Golf Club) |
76-79-155 |
Puslinch Lake GC |
| 2018 |
Vanessa Borovilos (Credit Valley G &CC) |
72-73 – 145 |
Lakeridge Links GC |
Past Peewee Boys Champions
| 2015 |
Peter Blazevic (Trafalgar Golf & Country) |
74-70-144 |
Puslinch Lake GC |
| 2016 |
Justin Matthews (Lindsay Golf & Country Club) |
69-70-139 |
Puslinch Lake GC |
| 2017 |
Andres Diogenous (Whistle Bear GC) |
71-67-138 |
Puslinch Lake GC |
| 2018 |
Alex Long (Credit Valley G &CC) |
70-67 – 137 |
Lakeridge Links GC |
London, ON — Cool and cloudy skies cast above the track as the players took to Greenhills GC for the third and final day. After two competitive rounds the previous day, the importance of today’s round was monumental as the boys and girls looked for one last round to claim glory.
Ontario Juvenile (U17) Boys Championship
It was a crowded leaderboard entering into the final round of the championship. With only two strokes separating the top five players, it was clear early on that everyone came out with the intentions of an early strike. It was a tight race throughout, but it was Ellis Kinnaird (Mississippi) who came out on top.
Entering the day, Kinnaird trailed the leaders by three strokes, but it was quick to see he would climb back into the race. With a majority of the scores in the positives, Kinnaird found a way to card the low score of the day with a -3, resulting in a -2 total. The Carleton place resident came out of the front nine even, but caught some heat early on in the back. Notching a birdie on both 10 and 11, Kinnaird started a run that would end up crowning him a champion.
“My mindset today was to go at every pin and get a lot of birdies,” said Kinnaird. “I was pretty far back heading into today and I didn’t think anyone would fall back too much, so I knew I had to come out aggressive.” Once Kinnaird got some momentum on the back nine, he started to believe that he could possibly make the comeback.
“I felt I had a pretty good chance if I could just keep it going. I was in my own zone, and pretty focused.” Kinnaird sunk in his last putt, and was crowned a champion.
The second place Ben McLean (St. Catherines G&CC) was another player who impressed today. Coming into the round six strokes behind the leaders, many forgot about his ability to play alongside the top players. Coming out hot early, McLean sat at -5 after 13 holes. Down the final stretch however, he wasn’t able to hold the lead and allowed Killaird to close the gap, eventually taking over. All in all, McLean had an impressive showing throughout, and especially during today’s final day. He finished the tournament with a total score of even-par.
Tying McLean for second was Owen Kim (Blue Springs GC), who put pressure on the leaders the entire way through. Kim, who at one point even had the lead, showed his ability to play at the highest level and continued to impress everyone around. Also finishing even-par, he ends off the golf season on a high note.
For final results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
Ontario Juvenile (U17) Girls Championship
Unlike the boys, there was a clear leader the entire way through the first two days of the tournament. All eyes were yet again on Kelly Zhao (Station Creek GC) as she took to the course for her third and final time. Leading since the very first day, Zhao was the heavy favourite heading into today’s round with a three stroke lead over the trailing Krystal Li (The Summit G&CC).
Proving herself yet again, after the final round it was Zhao yet again at the top of the leaderboard. Finishing the tournament with a total score of -1, the 12-year-old showed poise and maturity way beyond her years. There were points throughout the round where it looked like Li was making a push, but every time it was Zhao who pushed on, holding her lead. It’s no easy feat leading a tournament from the very first day, many find it adds pressure to excel, but for Zhao it made no difference.
“I just wanted to come out and try my best,” said Zhao. “Whatever happened, happened. The whole tournament I was playing pretty well so I knew that if I could simply keep playing the way I had been, then I had a good chance.” Despite the lead heading through today, Zhao never settled. It wasn’t until the last hole where she felt like she had the tournament in the bag.
“The entire way through I was careful because I know how good the competition was,” she said. “But by the 18th hole, I knew that everything was going right. That was when I felt I had it.”
Trailing Zhao the entire was through, Li continues to prove her abilities and skill set. Playing a fantastic round today, there were moments where Li looked like she was going to be able to pull ahead. Despite not being able to catch the red-hot Zhao, Li’s efforts were not for nothing. Placing second for the second time in only two weeks, The Summit member may need to find a larger shelf for her hardware soon.
Tying Li for second was Sarah Gallagher (Blue Springs GC). Gallagher sat quite a few strokes behind the leaders throughout the round but after a hot streak on the final stretch of the round (three birdies on the final four holes) Gallagher propelled herself back to the top of the leaderboard, finishing the tournament with an impressive +4.
For final results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
About the Ontario Juvenile Boys and Girls’ Championships
The Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Championship is a 54-hole competition that features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Mike Weir Trophy. Notable past champions include Josh Whalen, Brandon Ng, Tim McCutcheon, Peter R. Knechtel, Bob Panasiuk and Gary Cowan.
The Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championship features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Sandra Post Trophy. Past champions of the event include Sandra Post, Jessica Shepley, Alena Sharp, Stephanie Sherlock, and Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
Follow @TheGolfOntario on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for future updates and photos of all of our championships.
Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
PGA TOUR Latinoamerica winner Drew Nesbitt, Team Canada member Josh Whalen, Korn Ferry Tour Player Albin Choi, and 2016 PGA of Canada Player of the Year Danny King headline the exciting field for the Ontario Open
Special celebrity exemptions include CFL Hall of Famer Damon Allen,
and former Our Lady Peace drummer Jeremy Taggart.
Tottenham, ON – Golf Ontario and Woodington Lake Golf Club are pleased to announce the final field that will be competing in the return of the historic Ontario Open. A full field of 144 players have qualified for this exciting event and will be competing for a guaranteed purse $40,000.
Recent PGA TOUR Latinoamerica winner Drew Nesbitt will try to mirror recent tour successes in the hopes of a strong performance at the Ontario Open, and will be joined by fellow PGA TOUR Latinoamerica player Russell Budd. Korn Ferry Tour player Albin Choi will also be at Woodington Lake along with MacKenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada standout Riley Wheeldon.
Other notable additions to the field include 3-time winner of both the Canadian and Ontario PGA Championships Danny King; recent Great Lakes Tour Canada Cup winner Eric Banks of Truro, Nova Scotia; recent Team Canada National Team member Josh Whalen; former Big Break Indian Wells competitor David Byrne; and the top 3 finishers from the recent Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championships: winner Charles Fitzsimmons along with Philip Arci and Simon McInnis.
There are also 2 special exemptions to the championship: CFL Hall of Famer Damon Allen, along with former Our Lady Peace drummer Jeremy Taggart.
“We are thrilled to be bringing back the Ontario Open, one of the oldest golf Championships in the world in 2019” said Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario. “This Championship is a true open championship and has attracted some of the best golfers in Ontario and beyond to test their games on the beautiful Woodington Lake Golf Club. With a purse of $40,000, and with names like Nesbitt, Whalen, Choi, and King, we can’t wait to see the level of competition as the players compete to have their names engraved on the champions trophy, along with the likes of Sam Snead, Moe Norman, and George Knudson” continued Kelly.
Domenic DiGironimo, General Manager of Woodington Lake Golf Club echoed Kelly’s excitement at the return of this storied Championship. “We are beyond thrilled to be partnering with Golf Ontario to be bringing back the Ontario Open. The thought of being part of the return of a Championship with previous winners like Snead, Norman and Knudson, is something that gets the whole team at Woodington Lake Golf Club excited, and we can’t wait for the Championship to begin. With our recent course renovations, we know the course will be in peak condition for the Open.”
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL FIELD LIST FOR THE 2019 ONTARIO OPEN
CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORING FOR THE 2019 ONTARIO OPEN
The Ontario Open will take place on the Legends Course at Woodington Lake Golf Club on 26-29, 2019. Practice rounds will be on Monday August 26, followed by Championship rounds Tuesday August 27 to Thursday August 29. Admission is free for attendees who want to witness the incredible golf that will be played at Woodington Lake.
More information can be found at www.theontarioopen.ca
For a preview of the Championship from Rogers TV go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utecRUwWGyk
There are many great partners that are helping to bring back the Ontario Open. Woodington Lake Golf Club has signed on for 5 years to be the official host club of the event. The Evanov Radio Group is providing key support as the lead media partner for the event. And the list of current sponsors is a strong one, providing key support to help make the event a success. Presenting partners are Moosehead Breweries and TaylorMade Canada. Other great partners include Beattie’s Distillers, Lavazza Coffee, Tre Amici Wines, Yamaha Turf Care, Serpa Automotive Group, and Pro Accessibility Ltd.
ABOUT GOLF ONTARIO
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization and is focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.
ABOUT WOODINGTON LAKE GOLF CLUB
Woodington Lake Golf Club is home to 36 holes of picturesque golf in Tottenham, Ontario, just north of Toronto. The original course, The Legend Course opened in 1995, and is built on over 200 acres of rolling terrain. Carved from towering pine forest and nestle around Woodington Lake, this course Is truly legendary. The newest addition to Woodington Lake Golf Club is the Legacy course, a true mix of Links and Stadium styles. With very challenging water hazards, along with fast and undulating greens, the Legacy course will keep golfers of every skill coming back for more.
For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing Communications
Golf Ontario; 905-852-1101 ext. 224
pmackellar@gao.ca
Dave Struthers, Sr. Director, Marketing & Communication
Golf Ontario, 905-852-1101 ext 239
dstruthers@gao.ca
London, ON — Day two welcomed players with over an hour of delay due to fog, but once it cleared out the players continued their momentum from yesterday and showcased some impressive play throughout.
Ontario Juvenile (U17) Boys Championship
After the first round of the Ontario Juvenile (U17) Boys Championship, things were far from decided between the players. Round two proved to be much of the same as the talented field competed for the top spot heading into the final day. Carson Duffy (Bigwin Island GC) entered the day on top with a score of -3, but was trailed closely by a pack of players all within one or two strokes behind. After 18 holes, it was Tommy McKenzie (Northridge Public GC) and Ty Stansfield (Thornhill Club) who came out on top.
After trailing Duffy by only a few strokes heading into the second round, both McKenzie and Stansfield shot lights out in today’s outing. McKenzie came out hot early with two birdies on the first two holes, and rode those out the entire way through. With only two bogeys the entire round, McKenzie continued his success and steady play from yesterday to propel him past the field.
On the other hand, Stansfield came out with the best round of the tournament. Entering the day at even-par, Stansfield knew he had to show out big to catch up to the leader in today’s round. And show out he did. Carding three birdies and six pars on his back nine, Stansfield rose from fifth to first in only a few holes.
“It was pretty exciting to be able to come back like that,” said Stansfield. “I came out with the intentions of putting myself in a good position for the final day so it’s rewarding to execute on that.” Both Stansfield and McKenzie have been in the same grouping the past two days, so the familiarity heading into tomorrow is there.
“At this point we’re comfortable around each other,” said Stansfield. “I know it’s going to be really competitive out there, I look forward to it.” The duo now face against each other one last time to see if either can pull ahead during tomorrow’s final round.
Sitting in third by a single stroke is Owen Kim (Blue Springs GC) who has been showcasing an impressive game all week. Although not in the same group as Stansfield and McKenzie the past two days, one has to believe he has his sights set on dethroning the two early.
Tee time is set for 7:30 am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
Ontario Juvenile (U17) Girls Championship
As the girls took to Greenhills GC for their second round, all eyes were on Kelly Zhao (Station Creek GC) as she took the tournament by storm in the first round leading by four strokes above the rest after 18. The question on many minds was if Zhao could hold the lead, or if she would crack under the pressure. 18 holes later, Zhao silenced the doubters with yet another impressive round, carding a -1 on the day, entering the final round with a final score of -3 (three strokes ahead of second place).
The 12-year-old continues to show maturity in her game, as she came out of round 2 with yet another steady showing. With only two bogeys on the difficult course, Zhao played a smart game laying drives down the center of the green and playing chips close to the hole.
“I just came out and played smart,” said Zhao. “I played well yesterday so I knew I simply had to continue my momentum.”
After two strong rounds, Zhao now leads Krystal Li (The Summit G&CC) by three strokes heading into the final day. When asked about her gameplan heading into tomorrow, Zhao explained that she’s not going to stress too much.
“Just go out there, try my best and have fun,” she said. “I’m just going to keep playing the way I’ve been playing.”
Li has also had a strong showing this week. Coming of a tough defeat for first in the Bantam Championship just last week, Li has come out with something to prove. Carding a -2 during today’s round, Li made sure to inch as close to the leading Zhao as she possibly could, putting her in striking distance on the final round tomorrow. It will surely be a close round between these two.
Sitting in third are Sarah Gallagher & Bo Brown (Blue Springs GC). The duo finished today with total scores of +4, sitting four strokes behind Li. But don’t count them out yet. The two have proved in the past that anything is possible, and they will surely be in the hunt for the top spot tomorrow.
Tee time is set for 7:30 am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
About the Ontario Juvenile Boys and Girls’ Championships
The Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Championship is a 54-hole competition that features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Mike Weir Trophy. Notable past champions include Josh Whalen, Brandon Ng, Tim McCutcheon, Peter R. Knechtel, Bob Panasiuk and Gary Cowan.
The Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championship features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Sandra Post Trophy. Past champions of the event include Sandra Post, Jessica Shepley, Alena Sharp, Stephanie Sherlock, and Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
Follow @TheGolfOntario on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates and photos of all of our championships.
Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
London, ON — Warm and foggy skies welcomed the players as they took to Greenhills GC for the first round of the Ontario Juvenile (U17) Championship. Both the u17 boys and girls are teeing it up at Greenhills this week, and with talented fields on both sides, today was sure to be an exciting opening round, as the players tried to grab an early lead in the tournament.
Ontario Juvenile Boys (U17) Championship
The Juvenile boys teed off at 7:30 to get their first round underway, and all eyes were on last years champion Ethan Cardwell (Oshawa G&CC). Being the early favourite, many thought he might come out on top after day one, but the rest of the field had different thoughts.
With only two strokes separating the top five players it was a tough battle for the top, but after 18 it was Carson Duffy (Bigwin Island GC) who came out ahead. With a score of -3, Duffy had quite the impressive showing on his back nine, carding four birdies after going 1-over on his front nine.
Coming off a semi-final defeat in the Junior (U19) Boys Match Play Championship, Duffy will likely be looking to continue his momentum and to build on his lead the next two days.
Duffy leads by only a single stroke over Owen Kim (Blue Springs GC) and Tommy McKenzie (Northridge Public GC). The duo sits tied for second at -2 after they too showed some impressive play over the course of the first round. Duffy, Kim, and McKenzie will all surely be heading into day two with hopes of securing a healthy lead before the final round.
Unfortunately, Cardwell had to withdraw from the tournament with back spasms on the fourteenth hole. He sat at +3 at the time of withdrawal.
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
Tee time tomorrow is set for 7:30 am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
Ontario Juvenile Girls (U17) Championship
Much like the boys portion of the tournament, the Juvenile girls saw some hot play and competitive scores throughout. Although it was a tight race, it was Kelly Zhao who was able to propel herself above the rest, and build a four stroke lead with a score of -2.
From the get-go, it was Zhao who seemed to have the game to be poised to be the the possible leader after the first round. With two birdies on her front nine, both her and Mia Wong (Bayview G&CC), who had 3 birdies on the front, led the pack out the gate. But when it was all said and done it was Zhao who was able to ride the momentum and stay ahead of the others.
“My putting was strong today and I had a lucky chip in to birdie 15,” said Zhao when asked about her round today. “I just came out today to have fun and try my best, so it’s nice being able to take the lead early.”
The 13-year-old enters the day with a sturdy lead, allowing her to play a calm and steady game with not a lot of pressure to over perform.
Wong, who was in the race for first with Zhao early on, now sits tied for second alongside Nicole Gal (Oakville GC) and Krystal Li (The Summit G&CC) with scores of +2. The trio trail four strokes behind Zhao heading into tomorrow’s round, but there is still lots of golf to play.
For photos from the tournament, CLICK HERE
Tee time tomorrow is set for 7:30 am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Juvenile Boys and Girls’ Championships
The Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Championship is a 54-hole competition that features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Mike Weir Trophy. Notable past champions include Josh Whalen, Brandon Ng, Tim McCutcheon, Peter R. Knechtel, Bob Panasiuk and Gary Cowan.
The Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championship features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Sandra Post Trophy. Past champions of the event include Sandra Post, Jessica Shepley, Alena Sharp, Stephanie Sherlock, and Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
Follow @TheGolfOntario on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates and photos of all of our championships.
Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
29 players from across Ontario, as well as the United States and Finland will be headlining the exciting field for the inaugural Ontario Disability Championship, with all players vying for important World Ranking points.
Tottenham, ON – Golf Ontario and Woodington Lake Golf Club are pleased to announce the final field competing in the inaugural Ontario Disability Championship. 29 players have qualified for this exciting event and will be competing for World Ranking Points as outlined by the EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association).
“We are extremely excited to be introducing the first ever Ontario Disability Championship in 2019,” said Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario. ”Inclusion and Diversity are two very important themes that are central to our strategic plan and we want to ensure we are working with Ontario golf facilities to promote a more inclusive environment. This Ontario Disability Championship is a critical way for us to raise awareness about golfers with disabilities, and to showcase some of the amazing talent at this Championship”, continued Kelly. “We are also thrilled to be welcoming players from both the United States and Finland, to add a truly international flavour to this championship”
Woodington Lake Golf Club will be the official host of the Ontario Disability Championship and Domenic DiGironimo, GM of Woodington Lake, is very happy to be supporting this event. “Woodington Lake Golf Club is honoured to be hosting the first Ontario Disability Golf Championship, and we are looking forward to having a front seat to witness some amazing golf at this Championship. Our facility is undergoing significant improvements, and we are excited to have the course in peak condition for the Championship.” enthused DiGironimo.
Tony Bennett, President of the European Disability Golf Association, and Head of Disability and Inclusion of the International Golf Federation is also applauding the efforts to introduce this event in Ontario. “With a growing realization of the health-enhancing benefits of physical activity and social inclusion, golf for the disabled is gaining ground as the sport of choice for an increasing number of individuals with a disability. For those who wish to test their skills against others the golf handicap system and modified rules ensure a level playing field regardless of their ability.” said Bennett.
This event will showcase some of Ontario’s top athletes with disabilities in a provincial championship environment. Focusing on player development, this inclusive event will ensure a proper pathway and better competition opportunity for some of the highest performing athletes with disabilities. This event will be included in the list of events eligible for world ranking points and will see both men and women compete in both low gross and low net categories.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL FIELD LIST for the 2019 Ontario Disability championship
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND 1 TEE TIMES FOR THE 2019 ONTARIO DISABILITY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Ontario Disability Championship will take place on the Legacy Course at Woodington Lake Golf Club on August 24 – 26, 2019. Practice rounds will be on Saturday August 24, followed by Championship rounds on August 25 and 26. Admission is free for attendees who want to see some of these amazing athletes.
More information can be found at www.theontarioopen.ca/disabilitychampionship
There are many great partners that are helping to launch the inaugural Ontario Disability Championship. Woodington Lake Golf Club has signed on for 5 years to be the official host club of the event. The Evanov Radio Group is providing key support as the lead media partner for the event. And the list of current sponsors is a strong one, providing key support to help make the event a success. Presenting partners are Moosehead Breweries and TaylorMade Canada. Other great partners include Beattie’s Distillers, Lavazza Coffee, Tre Amici Wines, Yamaha Turf Care, Serpa Automotive Group, and Pro Accessibility.
ABOUT GOLF ONTARIO
Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 450 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.
ABOUT WOODINGTON LAKE GOLF CLUB
Woodington Lake Golf Club is home to 36 holes of picturesque golf in Tottenham, Ontario, just north of Toronto. The original course, The Legend Course, opened in 1995 and is built on over 200 acres of rolling terrain. Carved from towering pine forest and nestle around Woodington Lake, this course Is truly legendary. The newest addition to Woodington Lake Golf Club is the Legacy course, a true mix of Links and Stadium styles. With very challenging water hazards, along with fast and undulating greens, the Legacy course will keep golfers of every skill coming back for more.
For more information, please contact:
Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing Communications
Golf Ontario; 905-852-1101 ext. 224
pmackellar@gao.ca
Dave Struthers, Sr. Director, Marketing & Communication
Golf Ontario, 905-852-1101 ext 239
dstruthers@gao.ca
London, ON — The Ontario Juvenile Boys & Girls Championships are days away from kick off at the beautiful Greenhills GC. From August 20th to 22nd, the championship will host the best juvenile players in the province as they try to claim the title, and crown themselves champions.
Juvenile (U17) Boys Championship
The Ontario Juvenile Boys Championship is set to kick of on August 20th, where the field will take to Greenhills GC for a chance of tasting victory. Last year, it was Ethan Cardwell (Oshawa G&CC) who took took it home after going to the distance with Michael Ikejiani (Barrie CC). The two tied things up on 18 with fantastic putts, pushing each other to extra holes, and things weren’t decided until the 23rd hole of the day where Cardwell used his home course knowledge to finally make the deciding shot to win the tournament.
Cardwell will be returning this year to defend his title, but despite being the early favourite heading into the tournament, it won’t be an easy path. With players like Team Ontario’s Peter Blazevic (Greystone GC), Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Junior Boys Match Player champion Kavith Ranchagoda (Beacon Hill G&CC) and many more, the competition is tougher than ever, and there’s no way of picking a clear winner.
The talented field will arrive at Greenhills GC on August 19th, a day before the tournament gets underway. The 44-year-old course has stood the test of time, balancing challenging greens and roomy fairways as it winds along the banks of Dingham Creek.
Tee time is set for 7:30 am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
Juvenile (U17) Girls Championship
The Ontario Juvenile Girls Championship is set to kick off on August 20th, where the field will take to Greenhills GC for a chance to become a champion. Last year, it was Hailey McLaughlin (Granite GC) who came out on top after a solid final round to steal the lead from Brooke Rivers (Brampton GC). Scoring 72 on the last day, McLaughlin was able to capitalize on the struggles from others as the course continued to push players scores higher than usual.
With McLaughlin not returning this year, the top spot is vacant, giving the talented field a chance for glory. With players like Junior Girls Match Play champion Ella Weber (Rattlesnake Point GC), Sarah Gallagher (Blue Springs GC), Bantam Girls champion Alexa Ouellet (Credit Valley G&CC) and many more, the field will be extremely competitive.
The talented field will arrive at Greenhills GC on August 19th, a day before the tournament gets underway. The 44-year-old course has stood the test of time, balancing challenging greens and roomy fairways as it winds along the banks of Dingham Creek.
Tee time is set for 7:30 am. For future results and information on the tournament, visit the official tournament page HERE
About the Ontario Juvenile Boys and Girls’ Championships
The Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Championship is a 54-hole competition that features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Mike Weir Trophy. Notable past champions include Josh Whalen, Brandon Ng, Tim McCutcheon, Peter R. Knechtel, Bob Panasiuk and Gary Cowan.
The Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championship features the province’s best junior golfers under the age of 17 competing for the Sandra Post Trophy. Past champions of the event include Sandra Post, Jessica Shepley, Alena Sharp, Stephanie Sherlock, and Rebecca Lee-Bentham.
Follow @TheGolfOntario on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates and photos of all of our championships.
Ryan MacKenzie
rmackenzie@gao.ca
Golf Ontario along with our We Are Golf industry partners, are pleased to announce the commission of a comprehensive, independent review of the Junior Golf Pathway in Ontario, conducted by independent reviewer Sport Performance Management led by Dr. Peter Davis.
This review and modernization initiative is an effort to align all junior golf leaders and to evolve the promotion and communication of the junior golf pathway at all levels. This initiative has two guiding principles:
- All aspects of junior development will be open for discussion and all stakeholders (facilities, parents, coaches, tour operators, volunteers and associations) will have an opportunity to provide feedback.
- Revisions will be assessed with the junior golfer in mind, so that the pathway is easier to understand and apply not only to elite juniors, but also intermediates and beginners.
Our collective hope is a major step forward in pursuing the following goals and outcomes:
Overall Goals
We want a modernized junior pathway to:
- Be more easily understood and applied to all;
- Be more consistent and inclusive; and
- Provincial-wide adoption at all levels
Project outcomes for Revising the Junior Golf Pathway
We want the new pathway to address:
- Pathway structure & criteria – a tiered structure that clearly outlines athlete movement along the pathway both on the development side (coaching) and competition participation;
- Pathway branding & marketing – a recognizable industry brand for junior golf that clearly provides athletes and their families answers to the question “What’s Next?”;
- Development landscape and gap analysis – a full inventory of the junior golf development programs available across the province. A gap analysis of what opportunities are missing at each stage along the pathway;
- Competitions landscape and gap analysis – a full inventory of the competition opportunities across the province. A gap analysis of what opportunities are missing at each stage along the pathway;
- Order of merit analysis – an analysis of the current Order of Merit system and ensuring that it supports each stage along the Pathway; and
- Pathway membership model – a junior membership option that provides athletes and families with additional tools, access and support at each stage along the Pathway.
Given the scope of this initiative, we want everyone involved in the junior golf community to have a chance to give us their feedback. We encourage you to complete this initial pathway survey here.
Survey responses will be collected until August 31st 2019
Our Process for Developing the Modernized Junior Golf Pathway
Working groups of Golf Ontario staff, industry leaders, PGA professionals, tour officials, and other stakeholders will be set up to review both the substance of the pathway but also and a modernized pathway will be communicated.
As work progresses on this initiative, we will talk with a variety of different leaders and organizations to update them and to get their preliminary reactions to recommendations including:
- Facilities; leaders at the club level with key roles, such as PGA professionals, instructors and coaches, members, volunteer junior chairs and
- Golfers; at all levels of the game (both individually and in focus groups), including professionals and elite amateurs, intermediate golfers and beginners.
In the next several months, we will seek your feedback about any proposed changes and revised ways of supporting junior golf, as follows:
- We will continue to meet with interested golf organizations and groups around Ontario to hear their thoughts about junior golf.
- Anyone who wishes to respond individually, we will create a feedback mechanism for receiving comments.
This will be an informal process in which we listen to and consider the input that we receive in many different ways, as we continue to assess and then finalize the modernized pathway.
Implementation of the Modernized Pathway in 2020
We intend the modernized junior pathway to go into effect on January 1, 2020. The anticipated process and schedule between now and then is as follows:
- Online Survey (August)
- Direct Interviews (August) – Direct interviews with key stakeholders
- Part A Report (end of September) – Report and recommendations from survey and interviews provided by Dr. Peter Davis.
- Workshop #1 (October) – 1st Pathway Workshop with identified key stakeholders.
- Workshop #2 (October) – 2nd Pathway Workshop with identified key stakeholders.
- Feedback period (November) – Pathway design recommendations and changes provided to industry for feedback and comments.
- Part B Report (December) – Finalized Pathway design provided to all industry stakeholders provided by Dr. Peter Davis.
If you have any questions please contact Mallory Dayman – mdayman@gao.ca
