FULL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE INCLUDING QUALIFIERS – TO BE RELEASED MONDAY JANUARY 31^ST

Golf Ontario is planning to release a full schedule of events on Monday, January 31^st. Featuring a full slate of qualifiers for each championship event. This will include the return of the Ontario Senior Men’s Match Play and separate (U15) Bantam and (U17) Juvenile Championship dates.

TOURNAMENT WEBSITES & INFORMATION AVAILABLE MONDAY FEBRUARY 14^TH

All information related to each championship including eligibility, exemptions, fees and other important details will be available through gao.ca on Monday, February 14^th.

TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION OPENING DATES – TO BEGIN MONDAY FEBRUARY 21^ST

To provide everyone equal opportunity to register for the events they want. Golf Ontario will once again stagger the opening dates across the championships, the first tournament registration openings will be Monday, February 21^st. A timeline of these registration opening dates will be announced alongside our full schedule announcement on January 31^st.

Players who are exempt from a championship will receive a special invitation to register after the opening date.

If you have any questions please email tournaments@gao.ca

NOTE: Due to the recent government restrictions, Golf Ontario has cancelled the in-person rules workshops planned for this spring. The Provincial Rules Level will now only be available through a series of webinars.

Golf Ontario’s Provincial Level Rules of Golf Webinars take an in-depth look at the concepts, procedures and outcomes that are more intuitive and easier to learn in today’s game. The webinars will cover Rules 1 to 20 as well as definitions.  Each session will be approximately 2 hours in length. Participants will be given weekly reading assignments and quiz questions. An emphasis will be placed on solving Rules problems by using the Rules of Golf book.

The Provincial Level Webinars are designed for PGA professionals, individuals with an involvement in tournament administration or individuals that have a desire to become a provincial Referee. Provincial Level certification is required for those participants proceeding to the National Level.

Webinar Series 1 – (Tuesdays from 9am to 11am)

Jan 25, Feb 1, 8, 15, 22, Mar 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

15 Attendees Max

Webinar Series 2 – (Thursdays from 6:30pm to 8:30pm)

Jan 27, Feb 3, 10, 17, 24, Mar 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

15 Attendees Max

Registration is on a first-come and first-serve basis and is only available online. The registration deadline for the webinars is January 24^th

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER OR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PROVINCIAL RULES OF GOLF WEBINARS

John Lawrence
Director of Competitions & Performance
jlawrence@gao.ca
905 852-1101 x226

Announcing: Our 8 prestigious majors of 2022

Dates and locations of other Golf Ontario championships and qualifiers will be announced in early 2022.

This will be the 100th playing of both the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship and Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship.

All questions can be sent to tournaments@gao.ca

The final installment of our Season in Review series concludes with October and our last two competitions, which included a very special week at our Super Camp and Tour Championship.

TEAM ONTARIO MEMBERS CLAIM TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES AT SUPER CAMP FROM AMBASSADOR GC

LEADERBOARD  |  PHOTOS

An incredible week from Ambassador Golf Club for the 2^nd annual Ontario Provincial Super Camp, concluded with the crowning of champions and an emotional presentation of our newest trophy. The second annual Tour Championship featured the top 64 junior boys and girls in Ontario, as they fought three days of tough competitors and varying weather conditions in their quest to come out on top. Team Ontario members on both sides filled up the vast majority of top spots in both the girls and boys divisions.

36-hole leader Ella Weber (Rattlesnake Point GC), a Team Ontario member, once again led the entire final day to claim the girl’s division. She came out victorious after a two-over (73) to finish one-under overall on the championship.  Capturing silver was Carlee Meilleur (Loyalist G&CC), the leader after day one, with a strong even-par final round (71). Finishing third at two-over overall was Ashley Lafontaine (Royal Ottawa GC) with a strong two-under (69), the only under-par score of the day for the girls.

On the boys’ side, Team Ontario players picked up where they left off after round two and attacked the course putting up low numbers once again. Second-round leader, Team Ontario member Ben MacLean (Cherry Hill Club), followed up his strong seven-under (64) yesterday with a terrific six-under (65), to be crowned the boys champion at thirteen-under on the championship. On his heels all day with a strong front nine was fellow Team Ontario member Owen Kim (Blue Springs GC), recording a brilliant six-under (65) as well and finishing three strokes back at nine-under. While Kim claimed the silver medal, bronze was tied between two more Team Ontario members, Andreas Diogenous (Whistle Bear GC) and Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), both shooting a two-under (69) and recording a six-under overall.

An emotional ceremony followed afterwards in the presentation for the newly created Dave Mills trophy. The trophy has been named in honour of Mills, a past Golf Ontario Executive Director and huge supporter and advocate for junior golf, who presented the first-ever Super Camp trophy in 2020. Members of Dave Mills family were on hand to present the trophy. His son John Mills spoke after while fighting some tears about the trophy and his father. “This event was very special to him; his life was his family but it was also golf and all of you. It was his passion.” He added his dad “was looking down and smiling”.

DREWERY AND MCGRATH WIN ONTARIO MEN’S BETTER-BALL FROM OAKDALE G&CC WRAPPING UP 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

LEADERBOARD | PHOTOS

The Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship returned to Oakdale Golf and Country Club to conclude Golf Ontario’s 2021 season in fine fashion. The 62nd running of the event was composed of 58 teams looking to emerge victoriously.

At the end of a frigid but beautiful 18 holes, it was Jonn Drewery (Westmount G&CC) and Derek McGrath (Galt CC) carding an amazing nine-under (63) on the strength of 9 birdies and 1 eagle to lead the pace and secure the championship. The tournament proved to be competitive, with only a four-shot difference separating the first-place duo, and a three-way tie for third.

Following closely were Traynor Turkiewicz and Daniel DiFrancesco, both of Brantford Golf & Country Club. The duo shot seven-under (65), only two strokes behind Drewery and McGrath. In a three-way tie for third at five-under (67) were Scott Nelson and Andrew Ross of Beverly Golf & Country Club, Mike Dinner and Mike Ward of Glencairn Golf Club and Brantford Golf & Country Club respectively, and Jamaal Moussaoui and Ben Doornekamp of Cataraqui Golf & Country Club. 16 other duos were also under-par, showcasing an extremely talented field and proving what a competitive tournament this always is.

About The Ontario Men’s Better-Ball

The Ontario Men’s Better-Ball Championship has been played since 1959. All but two of the championships have taken place at Oakdale G&CC. The tournament is open to teams whose members both have up-to-date Golf Canada Handicap Factor of 8.4 or less at the time of online registration through the completion of the championship and each team’s combined Handicap Factor must not exceed 12.8 at the time of online registration through the completion of the championship. Previous winners of the event include Gary Cowan, Bill Morland, Mike Weir, Nick Weslock, Kelly Roberts, Warren Sye, Matthew Ion Young and Simon McInnis.

This concludes our Season in Review, as we looked back at a challenging yet amazing 2021 competitive provincial season. Golf Ontario would like to take this time to thank all of our sponsors and partners who helped make this possible; Adidas, Golf Talk Canada, Play Golf Myrtle Beach, Humber College, HUB International, BioSteel, Golf Genius, Modern Golf, Dormie, Durham Artificial Grass, Foresight Sports Canada, Baka, Nikon, Solo Golf, and Sport Travel. We are grateful for your continued support. Also a special thank you to all our host clubs, volunteers, officials and to you the golfers; you helped make 2021 a huge success.

Stay Connected on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Make sure to visit our website for further information.

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 over 500-member groups and facilities, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

For more information please contact:

Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario;
PMacKellar@gao.ca

Uxbridge, ON – An impressive 2022 Team Ontario squad was announced today, featuring the top young golfers in the province. Consisting of 20 members, Team Ontario will feature a strong line-up of talent heading into the 2022 competitive season. Seven members return from the 2021 team and will be eagerly joined by 13 new faces.

The seven returning athletes include Thomas Latter (Credit Valley G&CC), Sarah Gallagher (Blue Springs Golf Club ), Alissa Xu (Station Creek Golf Club), Alessandra Nagayo (Don Valley Golf Club), Michael Weber (Rattlesnake Point Golf Club), Ryan Somerville (Summit G&CC) and Andreas Diogenous (Whistle Bear Golf Club). These Team Ontario veterans had some great achievements in 2021, including a Junior Girls Match Play Championship for Alissa Xu

Joining the team on the female’s side are seven notable players, who all had a top-level 2021 championship season. The 2021 Ontario Junior Girls Champions Peyton Costabile (Whistle Bear Golf Club), and 2021 Ontario Bantam Girls Champion, Lindsay McGrath (Rattlesnake Point Golf Club) will be joining the team alongside, Nyah Kelly (Lindsay G&CC), Krystal Li (Summit G&CC), Ashley Lafontaine (Royal Ottawa Golf Club), Tara O’ Connor (Victoria Park East Golf Club) and Emma Hansen (Blue Springs Golf Club).

Fresh faces on the male’s side include six players with some strong achievements throughout this past season. Perhaps the most impressive being a win at the Golf Canada NextGen Fall Series East Championship by new team member Cameron Pero (Picton G&CC). Also joining the team are Luke Smith (The Thornhill Club), who was a runner up at the Ontario Bantam Boys Championship and Zach Smith (Brampton G&CC), who took home bronze at the Ontario Juvenile Boys Championship. The boy’s side also has a few more strong additions to the squad in Justin Matthews (Bigwin Island Golf Club), Isaiah Ellis (Lookout Point Country Club) and Isaiah Ibit (Greyhawk Golf Club).

Click here for full bios and highlights

Team Ontario’s season will be led by Head Provincial Coach, PGA of Canada Class “A” professional Reggie Millage. With a focus on the team’s vision, mission, and values aimed at inspiring lifelong excellence. This is coach Millage’s 9th season as Coach of Team Ontario and mentioned his excitement about the new squad. “Every person who has had a sneak-peak at this roster has unanimously said ‘Wow what a great team’. Each athlete has earned this opportunity through hard work and strong performances at big events. The New Junior Golf Pathway and Ranking system have really set the table for this group. Millage added “This is the biggest team we have had since I took over as Head Coach and they all deserve it and every single one of them is trending in the right direction and is looking to utilize this program to get better. I know Dr. Nick, Dr. Charles and I are pumped to get going with this fine group of athletes.”

Millage will work to help team members grow as golfers while also instilling habits that will lead to success throughout life. Additional support from the Integrated Support Team is comprised of Dr. Nick Martichenko; Strength & Conditioning Coach, and Dr. Charles Fitzsimmons; Sport Psychologist, who will help enhance the athletes’ skills through fitness, nutrition, and development of the mental side of the game.

With a heavy focus on training and athlete development, the Team Ontario program has been built to maximize the success of these athletes. Burloak Indoor Golf and Peak Performance Golf and Athletics will be Team Ontario’s primary indoor off-season training facilities. Added to the training schedule this year, Team Ontario will be taking on a new off-season schedule. Along with a Kick-Off Camp in November and a Spring Training Session before the competitive season, the program is extending the Myrtle Beach Training Camp to two weeks ahead of the Can-Am Junior Team Matches which will be making a return in 2022.

Congratulations to all of the 2021 – 2022 Team Ontario members. Golf Ontario, along with our members, volunteers, and partners, looks forward to cheering the team on throughout the 2022 competitive season.

About Team Ontario

The Team Ontario program is a unique opportunity for identified athletes in Ontario. These athletes can expect to receive the very best in coaching services, training/competitive opportunities, and peer support as they continue their journey towards excellence in golf and life. Being selected to be part of the Team Ontario program is a tremendous accomplishment but the hard work and dedication don’t end at the selection. The Team Ontario program places considerable emphasis on developing lifelong excellence in all facets. As such, athletes in the program will receive guidance on themes like time and self-management, strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, tactical strategies, and technical feedback.

Instagram/Twitter: @TeamOntarioGolf

Vision: Team Ontario will inspire lifelong excellence on and off the golf course

Mission: Leading the development of junior golfers to succeed in golf and in life

Values: Commitment, Respect, Good Humor, Competitiveness and Positivity

Team Ontario would like to thank partners TaylorMade and adidas, as official equipment and clothing providers.

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 over 500-member groups and facilities, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Make sure to visit our website for further information.

For more information please contact:

Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca

For Immediate Release | November 22, 2021

Uxbridge, ON – With a challenging yet very strong 2021 Championship season behind us, it is now time to appreciate the true MVPs of Golf Ontario: our volunteers. We wouldn’t be able to run such successful events or provide elite support to each participant and their families without the support and dedication of these spectacular volunteers. We thank and appreciate all the hours, energy, and most importantly the passion, each of our volunteers contributes throughout the busy season. On Tuesday, October 12th, Golf Ontario held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Day, hosted by our incredible friends at Woodington Lake Golf Club. This day of golf is always a special event in celebrating our amazing volunteers.

As COVID-19 continues to affect our lives and the way we celebrate together, Golf Ontario conducted its’ 2021 Volunteer Recognition Day virtually on Monday, November 22nd. This event is one of the most important days in the Golf Ontario calendar as we get a chance to celebrate and honour some of our best volunteers from the 2021 season

To watch the 2021 Volunteer Recognition Day, view the winners
and hear the acceptance speeches,
please click here.

“For an organization like Golf Ontario, volunteers are our lifeblood. Without the commitment, passion, energy, and knowledge of our volunteers, we simply could not conduct the amazing programming that we do to grow the game of golf every year”, said Golf Ontario Executive Director, Mike Kelly. “Our incredible volunteer army allows us to conduct world-class championships, deliver game-changing junior performance programming, and launch new events intended to get more people enjoying the game of golf.”

President of Golf Ontario’s Board of Directors, Susan Vail, added, “on behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to thank you for joining us for this celebratory event. We are so grateful for our volunteer team; especially with the challenges presented in the past season…we could not do what we do without you!”

Each year at Golf Ontario, there are some special accomplishments and contributions that are worth recognizing through our volunteer recognition awards. The recipients of these prestigious awards have gone above and beyond in 2021, or through their long-time contributions, and it is our distinct honour to celebrate them. The 2021 recipients are:

Volunteer of the Year Award – Dan Michaud

This year we are awarding the Volunteer of the Year honour to Dan Michaud. “Over the last 8 years, Dan has continuously shown his dedication to Golf Ontario. Dan has helped us out at multiple qualifiers and championships this season, providing his knowledge and mentorship at all levels. Dan has conducted seminars and workshops for many levels of rules interest. Dan is recognized as a top-level rules official by the Mackenzie Tour. Dan has helped move along new Level 2 Referees, ensuring they received the required experience”.

Dan’s knowledge, dedication and efforts he has given back to the organization have made him an amazing and deserving winner of the Volunteer of the Year award.

Dan commented, “it is definitely an honour, this is a great reward”. He added, “the opportunity to be involved, the opportunity to give back, the opportunity to participate with a lot of people and really Golf Ontario more so this year than probably any other year, with all the people I was involved with, were truly a family”.

Honorary Life Director – John Gallinger

Honorary Life Directors are recognized yearly for their outstanding achievements through their involvement as a Committee and Board Member. “This award goes to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to Golf Ontario’s vision and mission”, explained Mike Kelly.

The 2021 recipient of the Honorary Life Director award is John Gallinger. “John served as president from 2017-2018. He also sat on a number of committees including; Governance, Nominating Committee and Finance. His efforts, commitment and dedication to Golf Ontario never go unnoticed and for these reasons, we’re awarding John Gallinger with the Honorary Life Director Award.”

Jon said “this is truly a special recognition, I’m very appreciative and this is something I will always cherish. I know how important volunteers are to our organization and how lucky we are to have such a dedicated and talented group of volunteers.”

Distinguished Service Award – Wayne Silverman

This award will recognize an individual’s meritorious service to the game of golf in Ontario as a volunteer. The Distinguished Service Award was first awarded in 2005. Recipients of this award will embody the principles of integrity, dignity and commitment which are central to the volunteer experience. This honour recognizes individuals who over a significant period of time have demonstrated outstanding leadership and involvement in the growth of Amateur Golf in Ontario. The recipient will also demonstrate a commitment to the vision and mission of Golf Ontario by promoting and upholding the values of the association and the game.

The recipient of the 2021 Distinguished Service Award is Wayne Silverman. “Dan has demonstrated a long-term commitment to Golf Ontario, our mission and advancing the sport. Wayne Silverman, from Sarnia, has been a volunteer with the GAO since 2005. Wayne actively works as a level 3 Rules Official and a Site Coordinator while continuously demonstrating an outstanding amount of commitment to Golf Ontario.”

Wayne said after learning he won, “meeting the people involved with Golf Ontario has been a tremendous experience for me over all these years. He added, “with the shutdown in the spring and all the rescheduling this year, we got through it all properly and it turned out to be a great season.”

Mike Kelly summed up the 2021 Volunteer Recognition Day by saying “from myself and the entire Golf Ontario team. Thank you. Thank you for your years of commitment and support. And thank you, to those who were able, for stepping up this year and helping us through this roller coaster of a ride.”

Please see a message from Mike Kelly 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 over 500-member groups and facilities, Golf Ontario 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 hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook. Make sure to visit our website for further information.

For more information please contact:

Peter MacKellar,
Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario
PMacKellar@gao.ca