In total, the Golf Association of Ontario crowned 12 Leaderboard Champions (six men and six women) during the 2015 season. In addition, the GAO selected over 125 prize winners who received great items from TayorMade, Turkish Airlines, Muscle Milk, and TED Books. The GAO is truly thankful to all of the sponsors for their support of the vTOUR.

As the 2015 edition of the GAO vTOUR closed out, the GAO is very happy to announce that the Grand Prize winner of a trip for two to participate in the GAO 2Ball Invitational this December in St Kitts, courtesy of the St Kitts Tourism Authority, is Nancy Vince from the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto.

Congratulations to Nancy, the GAO looks forward to hosting you and your guest in St Kitts. There are still a few places available to join the 2Ball Invitational and more information can be found here.

The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) was saddened to learn of the passing of Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Gerry Kesselring on Oct. 16 at the age of 86. Born in Kitchener in 1928, Kesselring began playing golf at an early age. He won the Ontario Junior Championship in 1945, 1946 and 1948.

Kesselring won the Canadian Junior Championship in 1946 and 1947. He was on the Ontario Provincial team for the Willingdon trophy from 1949 to 1953. Kesselring turned professional in October 1953 and in 1960 applied for a return to amateur ranking. Six years later in 1966, his request was granted.

Included in his achievements are the Ontario Open in 1952 and 1953; Ontario Open as a Professional in 1956 and 1957, the Ontario Amateur Championship in 1949, 1951, 1952 and 1953. In addition, the Ontario Sportswriter and Broadcasters Association chose Kesselring as Ontario’s most outstanding athlete in 1952.

The GAO sends its condolences to Kesselring’s family and friends.

Obituary via Canadian Obituaries

KESSELRING, Gerald Simon – Passed away peacefully on October 16, 2015 at Freeport Health Centre at the age of 86.

Loving husband of the late Helga Kesselring (2003). Predeceased by parents William and Erna Kesselring, sons Fred and Marc, daughter-in-law Judy, brothers Fred and Ken and sister-in-law Ruby. He will be missed by nieces and nephews and their families and dear friend Tony Matlock.

Gerald was a life long employee of Kitchener PUC. He enjoyed his lifetime member status at Rockway Golf Club in Kitchener and was one of Rockway’s finest ever. In May of 2008 he was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

At Gerald’s request, there will be no visitation or funeral service. Cremation has taken place. Interment at Memory Gardens, Breslau.

Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. W, Kitchener entrusted with arrangements.

Memorial donations to First Baptist Church, Freeport Health Centre or St. Mary’s Hospital would be appreciated.

Please save the date for the GAO 2016 AGM. It will be at Weston Golf & Country Club, Toronto on Jan 23. More details to follow.

Highlights from the Investors Group Ontario Bantam Boys’ and Girls’ Championship, Aug. 11-12, from the Sawmill Creek Golf Resort in Camlachie.

UXBRIDGE—The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO), is proud to announce the seven boys and five girls that will make up Team Ontario for 2016. The team met in full for the first time, Oct. 2-4 in Foot’s Bay, for their kickoff camp held at OviinByrd Golf Club.

The team is set for a full winter of training, which will include two camps in Florida, along with a camp/the Can-AM Matches during March Break in South Carolina. The camps will all be leading up to the start of the 2016 season, which will begin with the Team Ontario Cup in late April.

“The coaching staff and I are very excited to begin training with this very talented group of young athletes,” said GAO Manager of Sport Performance Mary Ann Hayward. “Several of the players already hold national and age category provincial titles and we are looking forward to raising their games to the next level and hopefully putting more Ontario players onto the National Development Team.”

This year’s team again highlights the quality of the GAO’s high performance programs as eleven members of the team are either returning to Team Ontario or are products of the GAO’s Regional (U17) Team Program.

With each new installment of the team, there are departures. Three 2015 members have graduated from the program and are furthering their career in the ranks of the NCAA. Unionville’s Max Sear is attending the University of West Virginia; Ruthven’s Alyssa Getty is at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Ridgeway’s Madeline Marck-Sherk is at Florida Gulf Coast University.

The 2016 version of team Ontario will feature five returning players:

• Jason Chung, 16, from Thornhill and Thornhill Golf & Country Club, coached by Charlie Woo.

• Monet Chun, 14, from Richmond Hill and The Summit Golf & Country Club, coached by Don Lee.
• Jackson Bowery, 17, from London and Greenhills Golf Club.
• Jake Bryson, 16, from Dunrobin and Eagle Creek Golf Club, coached by Kevin Haime.
• Isabella Portokalis, 14, from London and West Haven Golf & Country Club

Joining the returnees, are the following graduates of the GAO Regional Team Program:

• Lachlan O’Hara (Team York), 15, from Mississauga and Credit Valley Golf & Country Club, coached by Jeff Overholt and Jon Roy.
• Ty Celone (Team Ottawa), 16, from Long Sault and the Upper Canada Golf Course.
• Peyton Callens (Team Waterloo), 15, from Langton and Delhi Golf & Country Club, coached by Ralph Bauer.
• Sam Meek, (Team York – 2014), 17, from Peterborough and Kawartha Golf & Country Club, coached by Henry Brunton.
• Hailey McLaughlin (Team York), 14, from Markham and Cedar Brae Golf & Country Club, coached by Gord Burns.
• Alexandra Naumovski, (Team York – 2014), 18, from Halton Hills and Brampton Golf Club.

Rounding out the team is: Alyssa DiMarcantonio, 12, from Maple and Station Creek Golf Club, coached by Thomas Youn.

GAO Head Provincial Coach Reggie Millage, a Class ‘A’ PGA of Canada professional from Milton, leads the Team Ontario coaching staff. Millage enters his third season with the team. Also returning this year are Athletic Therapist Andrew Hoermann, Strength and Conditioning Coach Nick Martichenko and Mental Skills Coach Judy Goss.

The team is already an accomplished group and they will look for even more success in 2016. Some highlights from the 2015 season included: Chung – CN Future Links Quebec Champion and silver in the Ontario Juvenile Boys’ Championship; Callens – AJGA Junior All-Stars at Ravenwood Champion; Celone – CJGA Mizuno National Champion; McLaughlin – Ontario Bantam Girls and Women’s Four-Ball Champion; DiMarcantonio – Ontario Peewee Girls’ Champion, Bantam Tour Hidden Lake Champion and silver at the Ontario Bantam Girls’ Championship; Chun – Ontario Junior Girls’ Match Play Champion, silver at the Ontario Juvenile Girls’ Championship and bronze at the Spring Classic; Naumovski – silver at the Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship; Meek – Bronze at the Ontario Junior Boys’ Championship; Bowery – Bronze at the Spring Classic; and Portokalis – bronze at the Ontario Bantam Girls’ Championship.

Looking ahead Team Ontario will train indoors during the winter months at Peak Performance Golf in Vaughan. ClubLink’s TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs, Florida will host Team Ontario training camps in January and February. During March-break, the team will head to the Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina for a training camp as well as to take part in the Can-Am Matches, 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.

MISSISSAUGA — The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) was pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Volunteer Awards on October 5, at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Day held this year at the Mississaugua Golf & Country Club.

The GAO volunteer recognition program has been designed to recognize outstanding performances and contributions by volunteers who have played an instrumental role in promoting the growth and development of amateur golf throughout the province of Ontario, while preserving the integrity and traditions of the game.

“Our volunteer team in Ontario is second to none and their dedication to the growth of the sport is inspiring,” said GAO Interim Executive Director Mike Kelly. “From course rating to championships to committee work, volunteers move our association forward with passion and for that we are grateful.”

This year, the GAO presented two Honourary Life Director Awards, two Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Awards, the Volunteer of the Year Award and the District Volunteer of the Year Award.

Honourary Life Director Awards — Bill Muzak & Jim Bristow

Honourary Life Directors are recognized for their outstanding achievements through their involvement as a Committee and Board Member. This year the GAO chose to recognize a pair of individuals who have made tremendous contributions to the association and golf in the province.

Bill Muzak, a resident of Baden, can often be seen and heard at many GAO events as a starter welcoming players and guests to the tee at tournaments. He has been volunteering as a Tournament Official since 2001. He also served on the Board of Directors from 2008 to 2014 during which time he sat on numerous board and operating committees.

Jim Bristow, from London, is a past Ontario Golf Association President (1996) and has been a volunteer with the GAO since 2002. He is a level 4 Rules Official, but also works as a Site Coordinator, Senior Rules Official and currently serves on the GAO’s Finance/Risk Committee.

Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award — Randy Millage & Kathy Hill

The Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award is considered the highest honour recognizing individual service to the game of golf in Ontario. The award is named after Richard H. Grimm, who was affectionately known as “Mr. Canadian Open” for his service to the event from 1965 to 1993. The GAO’s Dick Grimm Distinguished Service Award recognizes an individual’s meritorious service as a volunteer. Recipients of this award embody the principles of integrity, dignity and commitment, which are central to the volunteer experience and to Mr. Grimm’s persona.

Kathy Hill, a Mississauga resident, has been a course rater for more than 20 years. She has been a Team Leader and Chair of the Handicap & Course Rating Committee and is designated as a Master Course Rater. Throughout her time volunteering with the GAO, Hill has shown strong leadership and interpersonal skills. She has taken on additional responsibilities in the form of recruiting and training new course raters and has always been willing to help out when called upon.

Randy Millage, from Ennismore, has been involved in golf in the province since 1980. His work has concentrated on junior programs that began out of his home club: the Peterborough Golf & Country Club. He has also served as club president and on numerous club committees. Millage teamed up with the GAO in order to organize junior events. The events helped to open doors for junior golfers by making connections with NCAA schools. Millage is also a Certified Rules Official and has been a Site Coordinator at GAO qualifiers and championships for many years.

Volunteer of the Year — Pat Newman

The GAO Volunteer of the Year Award has been designed to recognize and honour a GAO volunteer who has demonstrated outstanding performance and contributions while preserving the integrity and traditions of the game.

Pat Newman, a native of Collingwood, has been a GAO volunteer since 2007. As a dedicated Rules Official, Newman has demonstrated his leadership skills in that role along with the positions of Senior Rules Official and Site Coordinator. One of Newman’s greatest accomplishments happened in 2014 when he took on the task of writing and introducing the GAO qualifying manual. It became evident that the manual is a valuable resource for new and returning volunteers and has provided consistency at qualifiers that are operated by volunteers.

District Volunteer of the Year — Shirley Egerton 

The District Volunteer of the Year Award has been designed to recognize those volunteers who embody the spirit of volunteerism and have shown dedication by making a significant contribution in promoting, supporting and expanding amateur golf within their district.

Shirley Egerton, who lives in Bath, has been volunteering with the GAO since 2009 as a Tournament Official and has been the Kingston District Coordinator since 2013. Egerton has fully embraced her district community and has taken a special interest in promoting and supporting junior golf in the district. She is always available to help and takes time to mentor new volunteers at qualifiers and championships.

The GAO congratulates all of the 2015 award winners and thanks all of the volunteers who put in countless hours to make GAO events successful.

UXBRIDGE— The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) is pleased to announce the 2016, 2017 and 2018 sites for the Ontario Women’s Senior and Mid-Amateur Championships.

This past season, the two events were combined for a successful three-day event at the Loyalist Country Club in Bath. Building off that success, the GAO has secured more great courses to host the event for the next three years, all of which will host the championships for the first time.

In 2016, the event will head to The Briars Golf & Country Club in Georgina. The championships will have a one-time, early-season playing (June 7-9) before returning to their regular late July/early August dates on the schedule for the following years. The Briars was established in 1922, with nine holes designed by legendary course architect Stanley Thompson. In 1971, designer Robbie Robinson added a second nine. The club is no stranger to hosting GAO events, as they were the site of the 2013 Women’s Champion of Champions.

“The Briars Golf Club is a private club and a “hidden gem” located just north of Toronto.  Players will certainly enjoy the beautiful surroundings and hospitality of the host club,” said GAO Manager of Women’s Tournaments Larry Longo.

The tournament will then visit the Islington Golf Club in Etobicoke in 2017. Another Stanley Thompson design, Islington Golf Club was established in 1923. It hosted the 2008 Ontario Men’s Amateur and was also a practice facility for the 2010 RBC Canadian Open.

Finally, the championships will be played at Markland Wood Golf Club in 2018. The Toronto course, established in 1964, was originally scheduled to host the 2013 Ontario Women’s Amateur, when major flooding forced a last minute move. Now, the course will finally get a chance to host a GAO event with the Senior Women’s and Mid-Amateur Championships.

“The GAO is very excited to have an opportunity to run the Senior Women’s and Mid-Am Championships at Markland Wood.  Known for its excellent condition, Markland is simply too beautiful a course not to play when given the opportunity,” added Longo.

With these sites being announced the GAO is confident that it can continue to grow both the Ontario Senior Women’s and Ontario Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships by attracting the best amateur players to compete for the titles.

Choi posts 7-under 65 as Korea completes wire-to-wire win

OTTAWA (Golf Canada/ Golf Association of Ontario) – As the temperatures cooled and fall was ushered in, the golf season drew to a close with the conclusion of the World Junior Girls Championship, Sept. 25 at the Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa. Team Korea completed a wire-to-wire victory and claimed both the team and individual titles at the second playing of the competition for the world’s best 18-and-under female golfers.

Hye-Jin Choi of Paju-si saved her best performance for last, posting seven birdies in a bogey-free round to finish 7-under 65 for the lowest round of the tournament.

“Through the first three rounds I was focused on improving my putting, but today I sank a birdie on the first hole and with it, gained a boost of confidence for the round,” said the individual champion. “I felt better out there today than during any other round. I knew I could do it and at the same time, I trusted that my teammates would get it done, as well.”

The 16-year-old credited her competitors for challenging her across the course. “On the 14^th hole I made a birdie and followed it up with a difficult par on the 15^th.  At that point, I had a good feeling that I was going to be the individual winner. Up until then, I was still worried because my playing partners from Sweden and Denmark are great players and they could have made a charge and caught up.”

“Team competition is not very common in golf,” added Choi, whose squad was making its debut in the championship. “So when I get a chance to play as a team and represent my country, my focus is always on the team. When I saw their scores, I was so relieved and was then able to turn my attention to winning the individual title. I am so happy and proud of us.”

The remaining two members of the Korean contingent completed the competition tied for fourth at 1-under 287. Eun-Soo Jang of Chang Hyung shot a final-round of even-par 72 to count towards her team’s winning total of 22-under 554. The final member of the squad, Shin Hye Kim of Icheon, carded a 73.

“This is a really big win for us,” said head coach Sang-Won Ko, whose trio was the only team to all finish with under-par rounds. “Coming into the tournament, we never expected that we would win. Our top priority was to learn since the environment and course would be so different to us. I am so happy with the result. It is an added bonus to win because we learned so much during the week. I am really proud of all of my players.”

“Hye-Jin was crazy today!” said Ko, when asked about the World Junior Girls champion. “I have mentioned during the week that she struggled with her putting, but today it was simply amazing.”

Finishing second in the individual competition was Cecilie Bofill of Denmark. The native of Silkeborg began the day tied for third, but tallied five birdies en route to a 3-under 69. The 17-year-old moved to 5-under 283 in the competition to trade places in the standings with Filippa Moork of Sweden. The native of Karlstad was 2-over on the day and finished 2-under overall to claim sole possession of third.

Bofill’s performance coupled with Frederickshavn native Puk Lyng Thomsen’s 1-over 73 propelled Denmark into the runner-up position in the team competition at 4-under 572. Four strokes shy of second was Team Sweden, which counted identical rounds of 2-over 74 from Moork and Frida Kinhult of Fiskebackskil to finish even-par 576.

Kathrine Chan led the Canadians in the field with a 3-over 75 performance. The native of Richmond, B.C., finished the championship at 15-over 303.

Tournament Director Mary Beth McKenna echoed the sentiments of all those involved when asked to reflect on the competition. “In speaking with the players and coaches this past week, I think this event was a tremendous success. From the coaching summit and the skills clinic to an entertaining and exciting tournament – I truly believe this was a very positive experience for not only the golfing community in Ottawa, but also the development of junior girls’ golf on the international stage.”

Additional information on the 2015 World Junior Girls Championship can be found on the tournament’s official website at www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

ABOUT THE WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

The World Junior Girls Golf Championship is an annual event conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario. The international competition features three-player teams of athletes under the age of 19. As host country, Canada will field two teams in the competition.

In 2015, the competition will be hosted at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa. The second edition of the tournament will see a 16-team field compete over 72 holes for both individual and team honours.

The event receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; the Golf Canada Foundation (Women’s Golf Fund); and Ottawa Tourism.

Admission and parking for the World Junior Girls Golf Championship is free. For more information, visit www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

BRAMPTON— The Golf Association of Ontario’s (GAO) season concluded on September 24 with the final provincial championship of 2015: the Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship. This year, Brampton Golf Club played host to the event that saw 64 teams and 128 players compete for the title.

At the end of the day it was the team of Robert Gibson and Colin Grieve that walked away as champions. Gibson, from Toronto and the Cedar Brae Golf Club, and Grieve, from Stoney Creek and the Glendale Golf & Country Club, finished the day at a combined six-under (65) to win the title by two strokes.

The leaderboard was a logjam after the winners as five teams tied for second with rounds of four-under (67). The list included: St. Catharines’ Michael Baines (Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club) and Burlington’s Mike Soucie (Twenty Valley Golf & Country Club); Chris Kertsos (York Downs Golf & Country Club), from Pickering, and Bolton’s Dan Partland (The National Golf Club of Canada); Caledon’s Ronald Kerr (Brampton Golf Club) and Glenn McClelland (Brampton Golf Club); Caledon’s Marty Quincey (Devil’s Pulpit Golf Association) and Oakville’s Brian Semkiw (Devil’s Pulpit Golf Association); and Newmarket’s David Stroud and Toronto’s Don McLean (Greystone Golf Club).

After the five teams in second, there were four other pairs tied for seventh at three-under (68).

For full tournament information, including the final leaderboard, see the tournament site at: http://gao.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/gao15/event/gao15101/index.htm

About the Ontario Senior Men’s Better-Ball Championship

The Ontario Senior Men’s Better Ball Championship was first contested in 1982. It is open to players aged 55 and older as of the date of the tournament. The championship trophy was donated by the Oakdale Golf & Country Club, who annually host the GAO’s Men’s Better Ball Championship. Notable champions include Ontario Golf Hall of Famers Nick Westlock and Stu Hamilton. The GAO would like to thank the staff and volunteers from Brampton Golf Club, along with the GAO volunteers, for their support of amateur golf in Ontario.

Sweden’s Filippa Moork jumps to second with third-round 4-under 68

 OTTAWA (Golf Canada/ Golf Association of Ontario)— The team representing the Republic of Korea continued its strong play in the third round of the World Junior Girls Championship at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa.

The trio’s depth was again on display – for the third time in as many days, a different player led the team. The unit finished the day 6-under and now sits at 15-under 417 for the competition – 11 shots clear of second. Icheon native Shin Hye Kim led the way with six birdies and a bogey-free 3-under across the back nine. She finished the day at 4-under 68 to move into a tie for third at 2-under 214.

“I am extremely happy with my round. I was very lucky with my putting today. There were times when I made six or seven footers and that is something that rarely happens for me.”

Teammate, Hye-Jin Choi, a native of Paju-si, fired a 2-under 70 to reach 5-under in the tournament and reclaim the lead she held following the first round. Round two leader Eun-Soo Jang of Chang-Hyung finished the day 4-over 76 and sits alone in fifth for the tournament at 1-under.

“Even though this competition has an individual component, all three of us are only focused on the team competition,” added Kim when asked about her relationship with her squad. “The first day I was worried because I shot a 4-over. Throughout the round, I thought about what my teammates were doing, when I finished and found out what they had shot, I was instantly relieved. It felt like I had shot a 3-under myself.”

Filippa Moork began the round in third-place at even-par, but a 4-under performance propelled the native of Karlstad, Sweden into second. The 18-year-old is one-shot off the individual lead at 4-under.

“It felt really good to tie for the low round. I played my own game,” said Moork. “It was fun out there today. It feels nice that my putts were going in.”

Team Sweden, consisting of Moork, Gothenburg’s Elin Esborn and Fiskebackskil’s Frida Kinhult, sits alone in second at 4-under 428 following a combined score of 3-under on the day. Esborn completed the round at 3-over 75 to sit T20 in the tournament at 223. Kinhult ended the day with a 74 and is currently alone in sixth.

“We did really well today,” said Sweden’s head coach Malin Thorberg.
“Filippa putted really well today and made a lot of birdies. Frida, as well. It was a very good day on the greens. We are all really happy with today.”

Despite some difficult circumstances, Thorberg reflected very positively on the importance of this competition. “This is a really good learning experience for the girls. For Frida and Elin, it is their first time playing in this championship. We were without our clubs for the first two days (due to travel issues), but that was a good thing for the girls to learn – that these things can happen. They took it really well. From there, we just tried to be happy and do our best and learn as much as we could, both from other players and the course.”

Rounding out the top three is Team Denmark. The squad members made a move early in the round and found themselves just one back of Korea for the lead. However, they would fall back and sit at 2-under heading into the final round.

Silkeborg’s Cecilie Bofill, who is tied for third, led Denmark on the day. Bofill got off to a fast start with three birdies on the first five holes, but would end the round at 2-over 74 to sit 2-under for the tournament. Teammate Puk Lyng Thomsen, a native of Frederickshavn, was 1-over for the day and sits T8 at 2-over. The third member of the team, Gilleleje’s Line Toft Hansen, is T13 at 4-over after an even-par third round.

Team Canada Two’s Kathrine Chan of Richmond, B.C., posted a 2-over 74 on the day – her lowest round of the competition. Tied for 27^th, she is the top Canadian in the individual standings at 12-over.

The final round of the World Junior Girls Championship will begin tomorrow at 8 a.m. Additional information regarding the tournament, including tee times and full results, can be found at www.worldjuniorgirls.com.

ABOUT THE WORLD JUNIOR GIRLS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

The World Junior Girls Golf Championship is an annual event conducted by Golf Canada in partnership with the Golf Association of Ontario. The international competition features three-player teams of athletes under the age of 19. As host country, Canada will field two teams in the competition.

In 2015, the competition will be hosted at The Marshes Golf Club in Ottawa. The second edition of the tournament will see a 16-team field compete over 72 holes for both individual and team honours.

The event receives funding from the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; the Golf Canada Foundation (Women’s Golf Fund); and Ottawa Tourism.

Admission and parking for the World Junior Girls Golf Championship is free. For more information, visit www.worldjuniorgirls.com.