OAKVILLE — Golf Ontario again celebrated and recognized those who have been honoured in the golf industry in this past year. Celebrate Golf in Ontario, Golf Ontario’s annual award ceremony, took place on Sunday March 31, 2019 from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm at Glen Abbey Golf Club. This prestigious awards ceremony marked the kick-off for Golf Ontario’s 2019 Conference and Annual Meeting, with many great speakers and the Annual Meeting scheduled to occur the following day, Monday April 1, 2019 at Glen Abbey Golf Club as well. The Celebrate Golf in Ontario awards ceremony was a chance to look back on 2018 and recognize some of the best and brightest in the golf industry.

The Celebrate Golf in Ontario awards ceremony was hosted by Kara Wagland. Wagland, a Cambridge, Ontario native is a well known and highly respected anchor and reporter for TSN SPORTSCENTRE, Canada’s most watched sports new and information show. In 2014, Wagland hosted Wimbledon Primetime on TSN after beginning her career as a story editor in the SPORTSCENTRE newsroom.

Celebrate Golf in Ontario featured a reception and awards ceremony to recognize and celebrate those who have been honoured in the golf industry in the past year. Categories of award winners include PGA of Canada zone awards, IAGA distinguished service award, Golf Ontario volunteer awards, and the 2018 Golf Ontario Order of Merit winners.

In addition, for 2018, Golf Ontario was thrilled to introduce 2 new awards: The Golf Ontario Female PLAYER OF THE YEAR, and the Golf Ontario Male PLAYER OF THE YEAR. Nominees for PLAYER OF THE YEAR awards are drawn from the leaders in the Golf Ontario Order of Merit categories for 2018. Nominees on the female side included Ellie Szeryk (Juvenile Girls, Junior Girls and Women’s Amateur), Julia Hodgson (Women’s Mid-Amateur), Judith Kyrinis (Senior Women), and Emily Zhu (Bantam Girls). Nominees on the male side include Matthew Anderson (Junior Boys), Peter Blazevic (Bantam Boys), Mark Brewer (Senior Men), Gerry Mei (Juvenile Boys), and Garrett Rank (Men’s Amateur & Men’s Mid Amateur).

Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario, expressed his pride in putting on this reception and ceremony to honour the winners. “Celebrate Golf in Ontario was a great chance for Golf Ontario to recognize some truly great accomplishments in golf in 2018. Between industry award winners, and some amazing Championship performances, we were honoured to be recognizing some of the best and brightest in Ontario golf with 2018 awards. With Kara Wagland as host, and a distinguished list of nominees and winners, Celebrate Golf in Ontario was a great event for attendees and winners alike”, said Kelly

ABOUT THE WINNERS:

The ceremony was highlighted by the 2 new awards for the Player of the Year that Golf Ontario introduced this year. Garrett Rank was the winner of the Male Player of the Year for 2018, and Ellie Szeryk was the winner of the Female Player of the Year for 2018.

Rank, a 30-year old NHL referee from Elmira Golf Club had a truly outstanding year in 2018. Rank was 1^st in US Open Sectional Qualifying to earn a spot in the US Open. In addition, he made the round of 64 for the USGA Men’s Amateur, finished 1^st in both the Ontario Men’s Mid Amateur and the Ontario Men’s Amateur Championships. He also placed 3^rd in both the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur and Men’s Amateur Championships.

Szeryk, a 17-year old Team Canada development squad rookie, also had a sensational 2018 season. The future Texas A&M star was 1^st in both the Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur and the Ontario Women’s Amateur Championships. Szeryk made it to Round 4 of the Women’s Western Amateur, and the Round of 16 for the Girls British Open Amateur.

Other Winners that were recognized and celebrated were as follows:

Photos from the day can be found here

UXBRIDGE — Today, Golf Ontario announced that it is partnering with official host course Woodington Lake Golf Club to launch the first ever Ontario Disability Golf Championship. The 2019 Championships will take place on August 23 – 25, 2019 at beautiful Woodington Lake Golf Club, in Tottenham, Ontario and will be an exciting new addition to the Ontario amateur golf calendar.

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.

Mike Kelly, Executive Director of Golf Ontario, is ecstatic to see this event come to fruition following the launch of Golf Ontario’s new strategic plan in December of 2018. “Inclusion and Diversity are two very important themes that are central to our strategic plan. 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. It is particularly exciting that this event will allow participants to accumulate World Ranking Points” said Kelly.

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. Our facility is well suited to host the regions’ best athletes with disabilities for this Championship, and we are looking forward to having a front seat to witness some amazing golf at this 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. As a still ball game, golf offers even the most profoundly disabled an opportunity to participate and enjoy the thrill of the game. 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.

“I offer my congratulations to Golf Ontario for their leadership in bringing to life the Ontario Disability Championship and to the Woodington Lake Golf Club for stepping forward to be the host venue. I am sure all who play in this event will have a wonderful experience, create lasting memories and forge new friendships” continued Bennett.

The Ontario Disability Championship will feature 1 practice round and 36 holes of championship stroke play across 4 open divisions. There will be a low gross and low net for both women and men. The Championship will be open to all ages and will require participants to have an Official Handicap Index Limit of 28 for men, and 36 for women.

More information about the Ontario Disability Golf Championship can be found at www.theontarioopen.ca/disabilitychampionship

In addition to the Ontario Disability Golf Championship, Woodington Lake and Golf Ontario will also be partnering during the same week in August to present the return of the Ontario Open. This true open championship dates back to 1923, making it one of the oldest Championships in the world. The event will be returning from a hiatus since 1996, and past winners include Sam Snead, Moe Norman, George Knudson, and Nick Weslock. This week at Woodington Lake Golf Club will be an extremely important week in the Golf Ontario calendar says Kelly: “Having both the Ontario Disability Golf Championship and the Ontario Open during the same week at Woodington Lake Golf Club, will be a great way to showcase these marquee events at a world-class facility”

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 nestled 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.

UXBRIDGE — Golf Ontario is thrilled to announce that it will be bringing back the Ontario Open in 2019 after a lengthy hiatus. The 2019 Championships will take place on August 26 – 29^th, 2019 at beautiful Woodington Lake Golf Club, in Tottenham, Ontario and will immediately become one of the premiere Championships on the calendar for 2019.

The Ontario Open has a storied history dating back to 1923, making this Championship one of the oldest Championships in the world. Past champions of this event reads like a who’s who of Canadian and International golf, and includes the immortal Sam Snead, Canadian golfing legends George Knudson and Moe Norman, as well as seven-time champion Nick Weslock.

A true open Championship, this tournament will attract the best golfers from Ontario, and across Canada and beyond, to Woodington Lake Golf Club, the official host of the Ontario Open. The strategically selected date of August 26 – 29 should ensure the availability of Canada’s top athletes, including many from the PGA tour.

“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 will be a true open championship and should attract some of the best golfers in Ontario and beyond to test their games on the beautiful Woodington Lake Golf Club. With a minimum purse of $40,000, we expect this Championship to immediately become a must play event on the golfing calendar in 2019” continued Kelly.

Woodington Lake Golf Club has been a huge partner for us in the resurrection of this amazing Championships. “By signing on as the Official Host of the Ontario Open for next 5 years, Woodington Lake Golf Club and Golf Ontario will be working closely together to deliver a world class Championship at a world class facility” enthused 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 look forward to showcasing our facility to the regions’ best golfers in August”

Leading up to the Championship, there will be multiple qualifying sites available for the areas’ best golfers to try and qualify to compete in this event. Initial qualifying dates and sites are as follows: June 26 – Meadowbrook Golf Club; June 29 – RiverBend Golf Club; July 2 – Greyhawk Golf Club; and July 6 – Woodington Lake Golf Club. “These qualifying events, along with a robust list of Championship exemptions, will ensure that we have a second to none field for the return of the Ontario Open” said Kelly

More information about the Ontario Open, including qualifying information, can be found at www.theontarioopen.ca

In addition to the Ontario Open championship, Woodington Lake and Golf Ontario will also be partnering during the same week in August to present the first ever Golf Ontario Disability Championship. More details can be found at www.gao.ca, but this event will help deliver on a core element of the Golf Ontario strategic plan, says Kelly: “The Golf Ontario Disability Championship is an important first step in building a more diverse and inclusive golf environment in Ontario. Taking part the same week as the Ontario Open will provide strong exposure and good infrastructure as we deliver what we hope to be the first of many, many years of the Golf Ontario disability championship”, continued Kelly.

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.

The Ontario squad went in to the final round with their largest lead in the history of the matches with a five-point lead following Saturday’s four-ball match play format. As the young ladies led off, they were greeted by cooler temperatures but mild winds and partly cloudy skies. The Sandlappers made a run at the front end of the final round with Elle Johnson (Inman) tying her match. Lexington’s Molly Hardwick earned a shut out three-point victory in the second match and Anna Morgan (Spartanburg) clawed her way into earning two of three points after draining a must make 18 foot putt on the final hole that slammed into the back of the cup to win. That was about all of the smiling for the American girls as Ontario ladies never let their foot off the gas. Hailey McLaughlin(Markham, ON) won two of three points, Emily Zhu (Richmond Hill, ON) followed up a seven-birdie performance on Saturday with a similar showing against Lexington’s Isabella Rawl on Sunday winning three points. Victoria Zheng (Markham, ON) and Ellie Szeryk (London, ON) earned five-and-a-half of a total six points while Jensen Castle (W. Columbia) halved with five-time participant Monet Chun (Richmond Hill, ON). In total the Ontario ladies added another five points on the board for the team putting the American squad trailing by 29-19 after the first day and a half.

The South Carolina boys needed a lot of points to overcome the deficit and did their best. Seth Taylor(Gaffney), Holden Grigg (Myrtle Beach), Bronson Myers (Columbia),Drayton Stewart (Charleston) andGene Zeigler of Florence all earned points for the SC squad with Stewart making the only three point sweep. However, while the U.S. Team staged a worthy comeback effort the year belonged to Team Ontario inching out the South Carolinians 37.5-34.5 and sealing the victory for the first time since 2010.

It was a consensual feeling from all those involved that it was a great weekend of golf and for golf from both Golf Ontario and South Carolina Junior Golf Association players. The scoring format for these Matches, ensuring each Match finishes on the beautiful 18th hole with a backdrop of the Intracoastal Waterway, consists of three points per match. In the event of a tie, each team gets ½ of a point.

It should be noted that the matches are less about the competition and more about building relationships and celebrating the growth of Junior Golf in both Ontario and South Carolina. The Wachesaw Plantation Club members and staff make this a truly unique event and the relationships that have been built between the two countries, as well as the membership, shows the impact the game of golf can make. The Team Ontario victory of the Matches puts the record at 17-4 in the win-loss column in the 21-year history of the event in favor of the U.S.

A special note that this event would not be possible without the continued support from Wachesaw Plantation, multiple individual sponsors and more specifically a group of its members who help fund this event, appropriately named the “Wachesaw Warriors.” To date the Wachesaw Plantation Club membership has generated nearly $500,000 for this event and SC Junior Golf since they began hosting the matches in 2002. Also, a special thanks to all of the host families that housed some of the players this year.

Canadian Team (Team Ontario)

Peter Blazevic – Mississauga, Ontario

Sarah Beqaj – Toronto, Ontario

Jeffrey Fang – New Market, Ontario

Ashley Chow – North York, Ontario

Thomas Latter – Mississauga, Ontario

Hailey Katona – Tillbury, Ontario

Freddy D’Angelo – Hamilton, Ontario

Victoria Zheng – Markham, Ontario

Robbie Latter – Mississauga, Ontario

Monet Chun – Richmond Hill, Ontario

Dylan Henderson – Waterloo, Ontario

Hailey McLaughlin – Markham, Ontario

Gerry Mei – North York, Ontario

Raesa Sheikh – Caledon, Ontario

Bennett Ruby – Waterloo, Ontario

Eleanor Szeryk – London, Ontario

Emily Zhu – Richmond Hill, Ontario

South Carolina Team

Gene Zeigler – Florence, SC

Abigail Schimpf – Daniel Island, SC

Drayton Stewart – Charleston, SC

Jensen Castle – Lexington, SC

Nicholas Mayfield – Rock Hill, SC

Emily Dunlap – Greenville, SC

Bronson Myers – Columbia, SC

Isabella Rawl – Lexington, SC

Nathan Franks – Roebuck, SC

Rachel Rich – Mt. Pleasant, SC

Holden Grigg – Myrtle Beach, SC

Anna Morgan – Spartanburg, SC

Seth Taylor – Gaffney, SC

Molly Hardwick – Lexington, SC

Dillon Hite – Lexington, SC

Elle Johnson – Spartanburg, SC

Murrells Inlet, South Carolina – With the girls picking up 10 out of a possible 12 points in Saturdays better ball matches, Team Ontario is looking to take advantage of a strong first day at Wachesaw Plantation.

Team Ontario got off to a quick start with the Team of Dylan Henderson and Bennett Ruby taking a 2up lead on the front 9 to secure Ontario’s first point of the championship.  With three of the four boys matches coming down to the eighteenth hole and two of the matches never being more than two up at a time the boys played well under with the tough competition from the South Carolina team.

“We are in a very good spot heading into Sundays single matches,” says Head Coach Reggie Millage.  “We have been in this position before and I feel like we have an opportunity to do something special tomorrow.”

Mental Coach Charles Fitzsimmons is also looking forward to 16 exciting singles matches tomorrow.  “The team performed well today despite many different challenging situations.  Single matches will present a different set of challenges but the team is well prepared to overcome them.  Everyone is excited for the opportunity that is ahead of us”

Team Ontario leads South Carolina 14.5 to 9.5 but with 48 points still on the board the team will rely on the preparation they have put in this past week in their pursuit of winning back the Joseph T. Simmons trophy for the first time sine 2010.  The girls will lead the way tomorrow starting at 8am.

Follow @teamontariogolf on Instagram and Twitter for live updates throughout the day.

Team Ontario will shift gears from their week of training into competition mode this weekend. The team had a great week with plenty of practice and were very fortunate to experience some of the best courses in Myrtle Beach. Team Ontario would like to thank True Blue, Prestwick, The Reserve and Wachesaw Plantation for their generous hospitality and resources this week.

Kicking off the Can-Am festivities is today’s Junior Am. Each Team Ontario member will be paired with a player from the South Carolina team and members of Wachesaw Plantation for a scramble format.  The day is a highlight for all those involved in the event and a great way to get to know the other team as well as the members who so generously host us for the weekend.

Saturday morning’s matches will feature team better ball format, with three points on the table for each of the eight matches (one for front 9, one for back 9, and one overall). Ontario will look to put as many points on the board as possible heading into the 16 singles matches on Sunday.  With over half the team having at least one Can-Am Match under their belt, Ontario feels they have a great shot at winning back the trophy!

The Waterloo duo of Ruby/Henderson will lead the pack at 11am on Saturday.  The Latter brothers will then team up followed by Mei/Fang.  D’Angelo/Blazevic will be the final boys pairing.  On the girls side Chow/Sheikh will lead them off at 11:40, followed by the team on Zhu/McLaughlin.  Zheng/Katona are then up and will be looking to build on their strong partnership from last year.  The final match will feature Szeryk, paired with Chun, playing in her record 6^th Can-Am Match for Ontario.

Follow @teamontariogolf on Instagram and Twitter for live updates throughout the weekend.

Following two very successful training camps at Bishops Gate Golf Academy in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, in December and February, Team Ontario is excited for another opportunity to train in warm weather.  This time it will be in beautiful Surfside Beach, South Carolina.  The Team will fly to Myrtle Beach on Sunday March 10^th and have 5 full days of training before the annual Can-Am Matches.

Team training will begin Monday March 11^th and we are excited have the opportunity to practice and play at the True Blue Golf Club, Prestwick Golf and Country Club, The Reserve Golf Club, and Wachesaw Plantation (host of the Matches).

All 14 Team Ontario athletes will be making the trip to South Carolina.  We are also very excited to have the addition of four Ontario athletes who are currently on Team Canada’s National Development Team. Ellie Szeryk, Monet Chun, Emily Zhu and Sarah Beqaj will join them in this years matches for the girl’s side and Freddy D’Angelo will complete the team of 8 on the boy’s squad.

About the 2019 Can-Am Matches:

The Annual Can/Am Matches between Ontario and the South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA) will take place March 16^th and 17^th.  The Can/Am events begin on Friday March 15^th with the Junior Am, Ontario and South Carolina athletes will play with members from Wachesaw Plantation who have been supporters of the event for the past 20 years.  Saturday will feature eight four-ball team matches, with 16 singles matches closing out the competition on Sunday.  Ontario is looking to defeat South Carolina for the first time since 2010.

Follow @teamontariogolf and @SCJGF on Instagram and twitter for updates throughout the week.

For more information, please contact:

Jessie Mercer
Grow Golf Coordinator
(e) jmercer@gao.ca

With files from Kent State Sports
Photo by Scott Halleran

KENT, Ohio 

After serving four seasons as associate head coach, Jon Mills will become the 10th head coach in the golf program’s 86-season history, following 41 years of leadership by Herb Page, a Markham, Ontario native.

The Golden Flashes have won MAC Championships in all seven seasons that Mills has been affiliated with the program as a player and a coach.

“Being able to become the next head coach here at Kent State is surreal,” Mills said.  “I had amazing experiences while playing golf here at Kent State and now having the opportunity to coach here is incredible. Coach Page has taught me a lot over the years and I look forward to using that knowledge to continue this already elite program.  We will continue to set high goals for this program and work extremely hard to fulfill them.”

Mills remains the only All-America first-team selection in the history of Kent State’s program.  As a senior, the Corbyville, Ontario native finished sixth individually at the 2001 NCAA Championships.  Mills played professionally for 14 years, including three on the PGA Tour.  In 2003, he was the leading money-winner on the Canadian Tour.  Mills was inducted into the Kent State Varsity “K” Hall of Fame in 2007.  He became associate head coach of the men’s golf team in January of 2016.

“I couldn’t be happier to turn the reins over to Jon,” Page said.  “His ability to play, teach and coach the game is as good as anybody.  We couldn’t ask for a better person.  His most important attribute is how he communicates with our student-athletes and motivates them. Jon will continue to develop great golfers and great people.”

The men’s golf team returns to action March 11-12 at the General Hackler Championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C.  This season, the Golden Flashes will host the 2019 Mid-American Conference Championships April 26-28, at Barrington Golf Club in Aurora, looking to win their fourth straight conference crown.

See original article here

About Jon Mills

Canadian professional golfer and former Golden Flash, Jon Mills ’02 came back to his alma mater to serve as the Associate Head Men’s Golf Coach in January of 2016.

Mills was a member of the Web.Com Tour from 2002-2015 and was on the PGA Tour from 2006-2008.   Mills claimed his first professional win on the Canadian Tour in 2003 en route to becoming the leading money-winner on the Tour that year.  Mills also captured two titles on the Web.Com Tour, including the 2005 Canadian PGA Championship and the 2007 Boise Open.  He also qualified for three US Opens.

Mills had an exceptional career competing as a Golden Flash under Page’s tutelage.  He was a two-time All-American as well as the only Kent State golfer to earn First Team All-American honors.  Mills was an All-MAC performer each of his four years and was also the MAC Freshman of the Year in 1998.  Mills was the medalist at the 2000 NCAA Central Regional Championship, a Kent State individual’s best-ever finish at the regional.

Mills also holds the record for having the second-best finish by a Kent State golfer at the NCAA Championships, placing sixth in 2001.  In that same year, he earned MAC Championship medalist honors.  Mills was a member of four consecutive MAC Championships teams (1998-2002) and led Kent State to an NCAA Regional title in 2001.  He currently ranks second all-time in individual season scoring average (71.68), third all-time in career scoring average (72.63) and third in career top-10 finishes (26).   He was inducted into the Varsity “K” Hall of Fame in 2007.

From R&A and Golf Canada

The R&A’s drive to increase the number of women and girls participating in golf and to encourage more opportunities for women to work within the sport has been reflected in early success for the new Women in Golf Charter.

Launched last May in London, the Charter set out to inspire an industry-wide commitment to developing a more inclusive culture within golf globally. It is designed to encourage actions that enable more women and girls to flourish and maximize their potential within the golf industry at all levels.

To date, 107 organisations have given their commitment to the Charter, pledging to build on current initiatives and develop new projects to increase the number of women, girls and families playing golf and becoming members of clubs, as well as giving women wider opportunities to enjoy careers and volunteering in the sport.

These include national federations such as Golf Canada – which held its inaugural Women’s Leadership Summit last year linked to the staging of the CP Women’s Open and enters its sixth year of hosting the World Junior Girls Championship along with Golf Ontario, which welcomes athletes from 19 countries around the world.

Other organisations who have adopted the Charter include the PGA TOUR; the European Tour; the Ladies’ European Tour; the Professional Golfers’ Association; the Golf Foundation; the PGAs of Europe; the European Disabled Golf Association; the ANNIKA Foundation; IMG; VisitScotland and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.

Mastercard, the official card of The Open, is also the first R&A Patron to sign up. Various other organisations offering their support include the Association of Golf Writers and GOLFNOW.

Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are encouraged by the number of organisations who have recognized the importance of the Charter for the sport and pledged their support.

“It is a positive start but we need an industry-wide commitment to the Charter and support for measures that will foster a more inclusive culture within the sport and enable women and girls to reach their full potential.”

While achieving the commitment of national federations and organisations was one of the first aims of the Charter, the process for clubs and regional bodies to sign up is also now gathering pace.

Conwy, which will stage the 2020 Curtis Cup in Wales, is the first golf club to sign up to the Charter.

Boldon, based in Tyne & Wear, is the first English club to sign, followed by commitments from Open venues Royal Portrush, St Andrews Links Trust and Carnoustie Golf Links.

Fulford, venue for the Girls Under 16 Amateur Championship, has also committed, along with The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, Blairgowrie, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch.

“Gaining the support of national associations and organisations was the first phase of our plan,” added Slumbers. “We have also worked closely with them to collectively agree a process to support individual clubs in adopting the Charter and gain real momentum.

“The national body is the point of contact and will directly liaise with clubs in determining commitments to the Charter should a club wish to become a signatory.

“We would like national associations, with the involvement of clubs, to set targets for participation and membership as we look to increase the number of women, girls and families playing the sport.”

Written by Canadian Press with files from Golf Canada

PANAMA CITY – Canadian Michael Gligic shot a 5-under 65 on Sunday to win the Web.com Tour’s Panama Championship by one stroke.

It was the 29-year-old’s first victory on the Web.com Tour— his first career start at the Panamá Championship. The journeyman has spent years between tours before earning Web.com Tour starts with a T13 finish at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament last December. Once the results were confirmed, Gligic was overcome with emotion, realizing he had officially won.

“I still can’t really believe it, to be honest. You come to every golf tournament to win and to actually do it is a whole different ball game, and it’s really overwhelming,” Gligic said. “I knew I was right there, and every shot really counted. I gave it my all and fortunately I was good by one shot.”

Gligic, a Burlington, Ont., native who resides in Kitchener, Ont., finished at 8-under 272 at the Panama Golf Club, one shot better than Xinjun Zhang of China.

Zhang capped his tournament with a 66.

Gligic had six birdies in Sunday’s final round – including three straight on the ninth, 10th and 11th holes. His only blemish was a bogey on the Par-4 15th.

“I would say the turning point was when I made that really good par putt on seven, which was over a cup outside,” Gligic said. “I’d say that putt kept me going and birdieing 10 and 11 was where it was game on from there.”

After a third-round 67, Gligic was T7 as he began his final round. He sensed that he was near the top of the leaderboard but didn’t know for sure until the round was over.

“Down the stretch I didn’t really know where I stood,” said Gligic. “I’ve been trying not to look at leaderboards or anything. I knew I was close because the cameras were out and people were following.”

Gligic has spent most of his career on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada with this week being his 15^th-career start on the Web.com Tour. He referenced the constant support from his fellow Canadians and Mackenzie Tour counterparts.

“It’s great; it’s always been like that. We’re a pretty tight-knit group and regardless of whether we’re playing the Mackenzie Tour, Web.com Tour or PGA TOUR, everyone’s cheering for each other,” said Gligic. “Everyone wants to see that Canadian flag at the top of the leaderboard and fortunately it was my week this week. Hopefully those boys get it done in the next few weeks here. I think Canada is moving in the right direction and we’re seeing a lot of Canadian flags on all the tours.”

Carl Yuan (69) of China finished third at 6 under while Britain’s Ben Taylor, who opened the day atop the leaderboard, had two bogeys in his 1-over final round to fall to fourth place at 5 under.

Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (67) finished in a tie for 19th, Albin Choi (70) of Surrey, B.C., tied for 36th and Mike Weir (70) of Brights Grove, Ont., took a share of 41st place.

Gligic rose six positions in the standings on the final day of the tournament. He took home US$112,500 for winning and earned 500 points in the new Web.com Tour Points system.

He shot a pair of 70’s to open the event on Thursday and Friday but bettered his score with a third-round 67 to climb within striking distance of the lead heading into the final.

“Down the stretch I didn’t really know where I stood,” said Gligic. “I’ve been trying not to look at leaderboards or anything. I knew I was close because the cameras were out and people were following.”

Gligic’s previous best result this season was a tie for 20th at the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic.