Golf Ontario is proud to celebrate the province’s top golfers with the announcement of the 2026 BioSteel Players of the Year and the 2026 Junior Golf Pathway Players of the Year. “Our 2026 BioSteel Players of the Year have so much to be proud of after an exceptional season,” said Claire Welsh, Golf Ontario’s Chief Sport Officer. “Their results reflect countless hours of preparation and the consistency it takes to succeed against Ontario’s best. We’re delighted to celebrate their success.”
BioSteel Players of the Year
Golf Ontario, in partnership with BioSteel, is proud to recognize the top amateur golfers of 2026. These individuals delivered outstanding performances across provincial, national, and international events this season.
Men’s Amateur – Matteo Rocco
- Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship T3rd Place
- Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship Semifinalist
- Ontario Men’s Match Play Championship Semifinalist
Women’s Amateur – Kaprice Park
• Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship – 2nd Place
• U.S Women’s Amateur Qualifier – Copper Hill – T5th Place
Men’s Mid- Amateur – Cam Burke
• Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship – 3rd Place
• Ontario Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship – T4th Place
• Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship – T5th Place
Women’s Mid-Amateur – Jessie Mercer
• Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship – Champion
• Ontario Women’s Match Play Championship – Round of 16
• US Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifier – 1st Place
Men’s Senior Amateur – Dave Bunker
• Ontario Men’s Senior Amateur Championship – Champion
• Canadian Men’s Senior Championship – 7th Place
• US Senior Amateur – Round of 64
Women’s Senior Amateur – Judith Kyrinis
• Canadian Women’s Senior Amateur Championship – Champion
• Ontario Women’s Senior Amateur Championship – 3rd Place
• Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship – T6th Place
• U.S Senior Women’s Amateur Championship – Round of 16
Player Excellence Awards
Golf Ontario is also proud to recognize the following athletes for their outstanding achievements in the Indigenous and Adaptive categories:
Indigenous Men’s – John Monture Jr.
• 2026 Indigenous Ontario Champion
• 3x Indigenous Ontario Champion (2022, 2025, 2026)
Indigenous Women’s – Cheryl Mitchell
• 2026 Indigenous Ontario Champion
• 5x Indigenous Ontario Champion (2022-2026)
Adaptive Men’s – Chris Willis
• Ontario Adaptive Open – Champion
• US Adaptive Open – T7th Place
• The G4D Open (R&A) – 16th Place
Adaptive Women’s – Natasha Stasiuk
• Ontario Adaptive Open – Champion
• Canadian All Abilities – Champion
• The G4D Open (R&A) – 4th Place
• US Adaptive Open – 6th Place
Junior Golf Pathway Players of the Year
Golf Ontario is proud to announce the 2026 Junior Golf Pathway Players of the Year, recognizing the province’s most promising young athletes who excelled across the competitive junior golf landscape.
“The Junior Golf Pathway reflects Golf Ontario’s commitment to developing the next generation of elite junior golfers in our province,” says Welsh. “Our focus is on ensuring every junior golfer has access to the experiences, support, and opportunities needed to continue advancing in the game.”
U19 Boys – Colton Cheeseman
• Ontario Junior Players Invitational – 6th
• Golf Ontario Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship – 6th
• Canadian Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship – 6th
• Ontario Super Camp Invitational – 8th
U19 & U17 Girls – Andrea Lai
• Golf Ontario Junior Girls’ Amateur Championship – 1st
• Ontario Summer Games – 1st
• NextGen Quebec – 4th
• Ontario Super Camp Invitational – T3rd
U17 Boys – Max Li
• Golf Ontario Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship – 4th
• Ontario Super Camp Invitational – 1st
U15 Boys – Dustin Zhao
• Ontario Junior Players Invitational – 11th
• Golf Ontario U15 Championship – 3rd
• NextGen Atlantic – 2nd
U15 Girls – Kay Lynn Hoo
• Golf Ontario U17 Championship – 2nd
• Golf Ontario U15 Championship – 4th
• Golf Ontario Junior Girls Amateur Championship – 10th
• Ontario Super Camp Invitational – 1st
U13 Boys – Theo Wittemund
• Golf Ontario U15 Championship – 9th
• Golf Canada U15 Championship – 17th
U13 Girls – Audrey (Zhixin) Lu
• Golf Ontario U13 Championship – 1st
• Golf Ontario Junior Girls Amateur Championship – 5th
About the Programs
The BioSteel Player of the Year Program
Presented by BioSteel, the Player of the Year Rankings celebrate Ontario’s best amateur performances across multiple divisions. Points are awarded based on finishing positions in sanctioned events, factoring in both event weighting and strength of field.
The Junior Golf Pathway Program
The Junior Golf Pathway is an interactive framework designed to help junior golfers reach their full potential. From selecting tournaments to connecting with certified coaches, the program supports development from grassroots competition to elite performance.
Looking Ahead: 2027 Season Updates
With the 2026 championship season now complete, Golf Ontario has entered its annual review period. Updates to the 2027 BioSteel Player of the Year Rankings & the Junior Golf Pathway Rankings will be released within the upcoming months.
For inquiries, please contact:
· Mason Cowan, Player of the Year Program — mcowan@golfontario.ca
· Carlene Closs, Junior Golf Pathway — ccloss@golfontario.ca
