Four Ontario Golfers Named to Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team; Three More on Development Squad
Peter MacKellar
OAKVILLE (Golf Canada) – Golf Canada has announced the names of the athletes who have been selected to represent Team Canada as part of the 2015 National Amateur Squad and Development Squad programs.
In all, eight athletes comprise Team Canada’s National Amateur Squad, including four players on the women’s team and four players on the men’s team while the National Development Squad will include 11 athletes (five women and six men).
Returning to lead the men’s squad is 2014 US Amateur runner-up Corey Conners, 22, of Listowel, Ont. (No. 17 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking). Conners, who recently made it to the match play semi-finals at the Argentina Amateur and helped Canada win the Tailhade Cup, earned 2015 exemptions to play in The Masters and U.S. Open by way of his runner-up finish at the 2014 U.S. Men’s Amateur. He was also part of Canada’s runner-up team at the 2014 Men’s World Amateur Team Championship.
Surrey, B.C., native Adam Svensson, 20, ranked No. 37 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and winner of the 2014 NCAA Division II Jack Nicklaus Award also returns to the Men’s National Amateur Squad. In 2014 as a sophomore at Barry University, Svensson’s seven victories set the school record for NCAA Division II victories en route to the team repeating as NCAA Division II champions. He alsofinished as the low Canadian in 7th position at the 2014 World Amateur Team Championship where he helped Canada finished runner-up.
Joining Conners and Svensson will be Burlington, Ont. native Blair Hamilton, 21, a sophomore at the University of Houston who is a year removed from the National Program when he was a member of the Development Squad in 2013. Rounding out the squad is 18-year old rising star Austin Connelly of Irving, Texas, a dual citizen who is currently ranked No. 18 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Connelly recently paired with Conners to win the Tailhade Cup and was also a finalist in the Argentine Amateur.
On the women’s side, Team Canada Amateur Squad returning members include Brittany Marchand, 22, of Orangeville, Ont., (No. 67 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking) and Jennifer Ha, 20, of Calgary (No. 90 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking). A senior at N.C. State, Marchand helped Canada to a runner-up finish at the 2014 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship while Ha, a junior at Kent State, finished second at the 2014 Porter Cup.
A pair of rookies will join Team Canada’s Women’s Amateur Squad including dual citizen Maddie Szeryk, 18, of Allen, Texas, (No. 63 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking) who represented Canada at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games and Elizabeth Tong, 21, of Thornhill, Ont. (No. 210 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking). Szeryk, a freshman at Texas A&M, has had a solid start to her college career, finishing 3rd, 4th, 4th and 2nd in her first four starts while Tong competed in both the U.S. and Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in 2014 and advanced to the round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
“We are very excited about the group of young men and women selected as members of Team Canada for 2015,” said Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer. “It is at the very core of what we do; supporting, developing and nurturing Canada’s future stars of the sport. Investing in future heroes for our sport has a ripple affect across all areas of what we do. We have no doubt that the athletes selected will represent Canada to the best of their abilities and we look forward to assisting them in achieving their goals.”
The following athletes have been selected to Golf Canada’s 2015 Team Canada:
WOMEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR SQUAD
– Brittany Marchand, Orangeville, Ont. (22)
– Jennifer Ha, Calgary, Alta. (20)
– Elizabeth Tong, Thornhill, Ont. (21)
– Maddie Szeryk, Allen, Texas (18)
Orangeville, Ontario’s Brittany Marchand
MEN’S NATIONAL AMATEUR SQUAD
– Corey Conners, Listowel, Ont. (22)
– Adam Svensson, Surrey, B.C. (20)
– Blair Hamilton, Burlington, Ont. (21)
– Austin Connelly, Irving, Texas (18)
As part of the National Amateur Team Program, Golf Canada also named the 22-and-under Development Squad that includes five female and six male athletes. The Development Squad is designed to help facilitate the continued development of Canada’s top young talents.
The following athletes have been selected to Team Canada’s 2015 Development Squad Program:
Complete National Amateur and Development Squad player bios can be found here.
Golf Canada also announced the 2015 Team Canada coaching staff with Derek Ingram returning as Men’s Squad Head Coach and Tristan Mullally returning as Women’s Squad Head Coach. Robert Ratcliffe returns as Lead Development Squad Coach and will be supported by Women’s Development Team Coach Ann Carroll. Ingram, Mullally, Ratcliffe and Carroll are all Class A level coaches with the PGA of Canada.
ABOUT CANADA’S NATIONAL AMATEUR TEAM PROGRAM
Canada’s National Amateur Team program incorporates advanced coaching, sport science expertise, training camps and world-class competition. Golf Canada allocates over $1.5 million of its resources annually to the National Team program, encompassing strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, biomechanics and technique development. Players who are selected to the National Amateur and National Developmental Teams represent Canada at six to 10 internationally-sanctioned golf competitions throughout the year. The intent of this comprehensive program is to aid Canada’s top up-and-coming amateur players in all areas of their development, helping Canada produce the best golfers in the world.
Team Canada, the pinnacle of Golf Canada’s High Performance Program, provides access to world-class resources including coaching, nutrition, sport science, mental management, equipment and elite competitive opportunities. The program builds on the support team members have received in their development years from their family, member clubs, personal coaches, university programs and provincial golf associations. Golf Canada’s High Performance Program and Team Canada are proudly supported by RBC, Canadian Pacific, Titleist, FootJoy, ClubLink and Heritage Canada.
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.
Beaches and Bunkers a Trip of a Lifetime for Golf/History Enthusiasts
Peter MacKellar
If you’re looking for a different kind of getaway this June, one that combines ‘Honour’ and ‘Play’, your love of history along with a passion for golf, Robb Lucy has the answer with Beaches and Bunkers.
Beaches and Bunkers is a trip of a lifetime created in honour of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. It’s for the sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters who want to understand the experiences of those soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy, then fought through France, Belgium and Holland. It’s a tour to learn about and honour that history, while having a little fun by playing four different golf courses along the way.
This trip takes place June 21 – July 1, 2015. It’s for individuals, couples, foursomes, family, and friends. It is an opportunity for every Canadian to honour Canada’s past… and play the game we love.
Lucy came up with the idea for the tour thanks to his father Bob who was among the soldiers that landed on the beaches as a gunner in 1944. A scratch golfer, Bob carried with him a lucky 3-iron, hitting rocks, twigs and lumps of dirt to ease the stress of war during his tour.
For the 50th anniversary of D-Day, Lucy and his father went back and followed the footsteps Bob had walked during his original tour. It inspired Bob to turn his stories into a book, Ubique-A Gunner’s Story. He passed away five years ago, and after attending a service on November 11, the younger Lucy wondered what they could add to make the trip more fun, and unique. That’s when golf entered the picture.
“I’m pleased to see so many of us at our local cenotaphs each November 11, but saddened so few really understand what happened 70 years ago,” says Lucy, a passionate golfer himself. “I hope this tour will be an admonition for people not to let the stories of their parents and grandparents disappear. These experiences forged their tools for life. And it is with those tools they raised us.”
The tour is open to singles, couples and foursomes and will visit key locations of the ’39 – ’45 war, as well as Vimy, as the group travels from Paris to Dieppe, Normandy, Belgium and finally to Holland and Amsterdam. Golf will begin at the Omaha Beach Club in Normandy, overlooking the beaches, with two more courses a few days later, ending at The International, designed by Ryder Cup Captain, Ian Woosnam. Non-golfers will spend the time with tour’s guide, learning even more to pass on to the golfers when they meet at dinner!
Guiding the tour is Canadian military historian Terry Copp. Copp is a long-serving professor at Wilfrid Laurier University and the founder of the Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and Disarmament Studies. He is the leading scholar of Canada’s military role in World War II and is known as a charismatic teacher.
Lucy connected with Copp before the trip with his father 20 years ago. He knew he would be the perfect guide for this tour. “I knew we needed the best guy and Terry is it. We talked a few times and Terry said ‘he’d love to’. I’m delighted he’s on-board.”
GAO Announces New Partnership With TaylorMade-adidas Golf
Peter MacKellar
UXBRIDGE & WOODBRIDGE — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) and TaylorMade-adidas Golf Canada are pleased to announce that they have agreed to a three-year sponsorship agreement, which sees TaylorMade-adidas Golf Canada become the official clothing provider and high performance program partner of the Association.
“The Golf Association of Ontario is thrilled to announce our new partnership agreement with TaylorMade-adidas Golf. It is exciting to partner with a leading company in the golf industry that shares our passion and commitment to golf development. TaylorMade-adidas Golf is dedicated to helping Ontario athletes perform their best and we are pleased to have their support for GAO golf participation and performance initiatives” said Steve Carroll, GAO Executive Director.
With the agreement, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Canada becomes the official clothing supplier of staff, volunteers and GAO team members, along with participants in various programs.
TaylorMade-adidas Golf Canada also becomes the official equipment and clothing sponsor of the GAO’s high performance program, which includes: U19 Team Ontario and the five regional U17 teams (Ottawa, York, Waterloo, Niagara, Essex-Kent).
The Team Ontario Program offers the very best in coaching, training and peer support for the best golfers in the province under 19-years-old. The program aims to guide the players towards excellence in golf while providing unique completion and training experiences.
Similarly, the Regional Team Program selects the best golfers in the five regions under 17-years-old. It provides them with an eight-month training program geared towards enhancing their technical and physical abilities. The program culminates with an inter-squad competition during March Break in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
As part of the agreement, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Canada will also be present at GAO Championships, beginning in 2015, as they show their support to growing programs in the province with the GAO.
“First and foremost we are a performance brand and pride ourselves on making the best golf products for the best players in the world. The Golf Association of Ontario was a perfect match for us as they develop high performance golfers through their superior programs. With this new partnership with the GAO, we are thrilled to become a big part of delivering best-in-class products and service to their teams and all golfers competing in marquee GAO championships,” said David Bradley, Managing Director, International Regions, TaylorMade-adidas Golf.
The Golf Association of Ontario is excited to begin working with TaylorMade-adidas Golf Canada on this new partnership that will ultimately benefit all Ontario athletes.
About TaylorMade-adidas Golf
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company sells golf clubs, balls, clothing and accessories under the TaylorMade, adidas Golf, Adams and Ashworth brands. TaylorMade-adidas Golf Company posted 2013 sales of over €1.3 billion.
About the adidas Group
The adidas Group is a global leader in the sporting goods industry, offering a broad portfolio of footwear, apparel and hardware for sport and lifestyle around the core brands adidas, Reebok, TaylorMade, Rockport and Reebok-CCM Hockey. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the Group employs more than 50,000 people across the globe and generated sales of €14.5 billion in 2013.
About the Golf Association of Ontario
The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) 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, the GAO is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and getting the game of golf into our school systems, to keeping the Ontario golf community aware of all relevant issues and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, the Golf Association of Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to making golf better for everyone in Ontario. We share a love and passion for golf, while preserving its past, fostering its future, and championing golf’s best interests for everyone who enjoys the sport.
PENNY CONNORS APPOINTED DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION FOR THE GOLF ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO
Peter MacKellar
UXBRIDGE (GAO) – Steve Carroll, Executive Director of the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), announced today that Penny Connors has been hired for the GAO’s newly created position of Director of Finance & Administration.
“We could not be happier to have someone with Penny’s experience and record of accomplishment in financial management and association executive roles, join the GAO,” stated Carroll. “Penny is an energetic, strategic, experienced and accomplished administrator with an innovative and creative manner and strong business acumen, all of which will serve her well as GAO Director of Finance & Administration.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the GAO staff team at a very exciting time for the GAO as the Association embarks on a new strategic planning process,” said Connors. “I look forward to helping build, grow and develop synergies among all GAO programs and properties, including existing GAO events, stakeholder needs and priorities and new initiatives designed to build capacity and grow the sport.”
Penny Connors’ varied experience of over 17 years in the not-for-profit sector has given her the opportunity to demonstrate a strong administrative capability to balance multiple priorities, build member service strategies in association and regulatory environments, manage office/operations administration, provide internal corporate services support and work with diverse stakeholder groups.
With degrees in Psychology and Business Administration from York University, the Certificate in Human Resource Management (CHRM) from the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) of Ontario, the Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation and most recently the OISE Certificate in Adult Education, Penny Connors possesses the competencies needed to develop and deliver on the strategic directives of the Director, Finance & Administration role for GAO. Penny was working in a senior management position with the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario before joining the GAO following four years on the senior management team with the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada.
Penny Connors’ first official day with the GAO will be October 27th where she can be reached at pconnors@gao.ca
OTTAWA— With numerous international sporting events coming to Canada in 2015, an announcement was made last week proclaiming 2015 as the Year of Sport in Canada. The announcement came from Governor General David Johnston at the torch-lighting ceremony for the 2015 Canada Winter Games, Oct. 16 in Ottawa.
In addition to the Canada Winter Games (Prince George), the country will host the Pan American Games (Toronto/ Greater Golden Horseshoe), where golf will be one of the 36 sports featured, the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship (Toronto and Montreal), the Men’s World Curling Championship (Halifax) and the FIFA Women’s World Cup (multiple locations).
“Next year promises to be a truly memorable sporting year for Canadians. A number of major international sporting events will take place in Canada, including the Pan Am Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the IIHF World Hockey Junior Championships. It is for these reasons and so many more that I am delighted to proclaim 2015 the Year of Sport in Canada,” added Johnston.
Minister of State (Sport) Bal Gosal, was in attendance for the announcement and gave his thoughts on what 2015 means for sport in Canada. “In 2015, Canadians from across the country will have many opportunities to cheer on our remarkable athletes and celebrate their achievements. With events such as the World Junior Hockey Championship, the Canada Winter Games, the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, the Pan and Parapan American Games and many others, 2015 will be a memorable year for all Canadians — an opportunity not only to attend sport events, but also to be inspired to participate in sport activities throughout the year.”
The Year of Sport in Canada is a proactive pan-Canadian initiative to celebrate the role that sport plays in our country and encourage Canadians to participate in and seek the benefits of sport. During the year, sport events and other celebratory activities will highlight how sport benefits Canadians. The Year of Sport will promote Canada’s position as a leading sport nation and highlight the power of sport to enhance the lives of all Canadians.
The Pan Am Games, July 10-26, will welcome more than 10,000 athletes from 41 countries to the Toronto area. This year’s Games will mark the first time golf will be contested. Angus Glen Golf Club, who recently hosted the successful 2014 World Junior Girls’ Golf Championship, will be the host venue for golf at the Games. Individual and team competitions will take place for both men and women. The event will build into the lead up of Golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016 in Rio, Brazil. The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is proud to partner with Golf Canada and the International Golf Federation to organize the event.
UXBRIDGE— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), Golf Canada and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport are proud to announce the implementation of a new junior golf initiative: the NXTee youth (U13) golf x-perience.
The NXTee pilot program has been created to increase the development and engagement of junior golfers, aged 8-13 in the York Region, by providing them with an opportunity to continue to practice and increase their skills throughout the winter. The program prepares participants for the golf season in a fun and friendly environment.
“We want to be able to look at the NXTee x-perience as being able to inspire and enhance the development of kids at the club level,” said Doug Lawrie, NXTee Lead Coach. “We need to have that junior coach and leader at the club to inspire kids to learn and show them how simple it is to learn the game of golf. I think this program will help create structure to get everyone on the same page.”
A key strategy for the program aims to educate parents and increase awareness about junior golf pathways and the necessary next steps for their junior golfer.
“The GAO is truly excited to launch this important project as we work to strengthen our support for communities, families and clubs across Ontario,” added Mike Kelly, Managing Director, Sport. “NXTee is focused on enhancing engagement for parents and kids in the sport of golf while making new friends and having fun.”
The program includes: two outdoor skills challenges, one in the fall followed by another in the spring; two indoor training sessions during the winter; two parent education seminars; and proper rules and etiquette training.
“The GAO NXTee x-perience has been designed using scientific principles of long-term athlete development (LTAD),” said Dr. Peter Davis, GAO LTAD Consultant. “It is designed to help children improve their skills and enjoy their golf game using age-appropriate coaching and also for parents to understand how their children can best enjoy and develop their golf game through appropriate support.”
Locations for the Skills Challenges will be at Cardinal Golf Club (King), Copper Creek Golf Club (Kleinburg), Bushwood Golf Club (Markham), Lakeridge Links Golf Club (Whitby) and St. Andrews Valley Golf Club (Aurora) and will take place October 18-19. Each club will host a three-hour skills challenge on both days. The second skills challenge will take place in April 2015.
After the skills challenges, participants will sign up for winter training sessions. The winter training sessions will be held at The Golf Lab, in Vaughan.
During the winter training sessions, parent education seminars will also take place. The seminars are designed tooffer parents insight and knowledge into the world of junior golf, competitive or recreational pathways, long-term player development and strategies to improve their child’s golf development.
